Temporary Postponment of --- Well Everything!

A delay has been called on my life!  On the plus side - having a ton of steroids running through me and not being able to do - well anything - has reduced my overall pain to a nice happy level of almost none!  On the negative side, I was quite sick.  Spent a few unhappy days in the hospital.  I do have MRSA, and I am home bound with IV infusions 2 x's daily.  I was anemic and very short of potassium, had pneumonia, and my oxygen levels were nothing to brag about.  I was on isolation in the hospital, and both hubby and I are on isolation at home.  We have to wash with Hibiclens for 10 days, and use a nasal gel for 10 days as well.  Additionally, all surfaces in our home have to be bleached daily for 5 days......  (This is heaven for me!)  At that point MRSA should be gone from our home and people can once again come and go.  We sure miss our grandchildren!  Instructions on how to rid our home of MRSA were given by an Infectious Disease specialist --- so we figure it is really accurate! 

For months I have felt "unwell" and believed I had just become a lazy slug!    Now I know I was "unwell!"  Doh!

Sleeping during a hospital stay is usually next to impossible.  However, Arrowhead bought beds that are motor activated at 60 second intervals (yes, I did time this).  The motor is at the head of the bed, turns on --- loudly, the bed then moves and adjusts.  When this is done, the motor grinds to a halt.  The mattress is about 2 inches thick and plastic.  So, sweaty, loud, and annoying!  OH  -  and virtually impossible to get out of!

On to healing and bleaching!

Physical Therapy?

I have not made it back to Physical Therapy since day 2.  I did go on Monday, but I had a temperature of 102.8, and every movement I made caused extreme hacking.  They said "GO HOME!"  I didn't have to be asked twice! 

Trying again next week, if I still have 2 lungs!

Day 2 of Physical Therapy

I had another PT session today, and somewhere between measuring on Tuesday, I had let's try to hurt you ---- real bad Friday!  Ow!  I don't hurt - mostly!  There are muscles in my neck - who knew!!!!!  I don't believe the movements actually hurt - as much as the concentration on specific muscles, the holding for a count of 30, and the repetitions!  It appears that the physical therapist is trying to alleviate my pain by trying to wound me - OW!

I know this will get easier, it is not my first time through PT!  However, I used to get a bit of a massage at the end - then ice.  Today, just ice!  That is not playing fair!

My intake of vitamin D is being "artificially" raised, to the tune of 50,000 per day!   I was perhaps a bit low on vitamin D - I had a measurement of 8 as opposed to 30-100! 

Waffle House with a friend - for breakfast this morning - yum!

Physical Therapy

I started physical therapy yesterday.  The therapist seems like a really nice person.  How is it that petite women have the pointiest fingers?  I have lost a great deal of strength and muscle tone protecting my Neurostimulator from myself!  Now I will be given exercises that are not going to affect the device's location - as long as I don't over-do it!  It is hard to be an over achiever and not over-do something!

Today I visit my family doctor to talk about my 12% bone loss in the last 2 years.......  Oops!

It's All A State Of Mind

I am not 21 anymore!  I didn't hurt all over at 30!  Or 40 - well most of 40 anyway.  But now at the end of my 50's, I do hurt just about all over.  Not the knock me down, count me out hurt.  Just the aches and annoying pains.  My least favorite right now is my left pointer finger!  But other areas are looking for a competition! 

Consequently, my decision, perhaps for today only - is moving, doing, and having fun ------- it's all a state of mind.  I am going over to a friends later for some card making - and I hope my state of mind follows.  When I come home, we are grilling with family and getting to enjoy our little Naomi!   I am hoping my state of mind will hold out until Wednesday - when the floors will be done!

So This Is What Has Been Going On......

Good morning - and happy Saturday!  I went for my monthly checkup with my pain doctor,  Dr. Carlson (http://www.thepaincenter.com/jonathan-d.-carlson,-md.html).  I am glad to say my Neurostimulator is consistently relieving pain and giving me confidence to do more and more each day.  I have not had to change settings, although sometimes I do raise the amount of stimulation.  Occasionally, I turn it off, just to get a reset and rest from the buzzing. 

I am starting physical therapy in 2 weeks, to learn how I can get some exercise while not causing problems with the Neurostimulator.  I am looking forward to this.  I have great confidence in the group I am going to.  I have used these therapists twice since my spinal surgery, both times with good results. 

I had my yearly Dexa scan done yesterday, and the results were unfortunately the same as last year.  Another 6% bone loss in my left hip.  In the last 2 years that is 12%!   It is time to use the Viactiv I bought after last years test!.  I find it interesting, that with much of my back pain relieved, it is my left hip that gives me the most pain.   That is the side I sleep on - of course!

I can feel change coming.  My family physician is taking a wellness approach to his practice, and since I have joined, I am suspecting weight loss and my activity level are going to be high on his agenda!  Not that I mind :).

Today I will be getting ready for the destruction that is going to hit my home on Monday.  Carpet is being replace with wood in two bedrooms.  The rest of the house won't be bad - wood will go over the tile - but taking beds apart ---- yuk!

I can almost bend my left index finger -- almost!

Fun awaits me!  Here is a fun card I made for my nephew who turned 32 this week!

New Year Catch-up

Happy New Year!  I am happy!  I have less pain than I have had in several years, the pain I do have is about 75% manageable, and I have learned that new/different pain should get my attention.  What is news, is that I can be up all day, doing "stuff", hanging out with my family, and parking lot stalking!  Silly, private joke! 

The best test I have that I am feeling well, and can keep up - my grandsons!  They just left from a 3 day visit.  All 4 grandchildren were here yesterday - and I had a blast!  Lots of laughing and pure joy!  Four kids are much messier than 2 - but since I can't bend - I don't have to clean up - yeah! 

I am thankful every minute of every day that I have a pain management Neurostimulator.  There is still pain elsewhere, and I still need pain medication.  However, once the pain medication works,  I am great!  Not tolerable, not "whew the pain is down and I can breathe!".  I am GREAT!

Looking forward to enjoying meditation, more spirituality, visual imagery for relaxation, and creativity!