Pain Fog: Living in spite of Chronic Pain
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Resources
    • Body Scan
    • Trial and Error
    • Relationships
    • Parenting in Pain
    • Mental Health
    • What the Doctors Don't Tell You
    • Travel
  • Contact

Day 196. Day to Day.

9/13/2015

2 Comments

 
Yesterday started out as most of our days do. We check in to see if the other has gotten any sleep and vaguely remember being awake at all hours.  We have settled in to somewhat of a routine and the most difficult thing for me to accomplish is still a shower. It is physically difficult and exhausting at the same time. It seems my energy drains down the drain with my bath water, then I still have to dry off and get dressed.  Those days in which I wash my hair it is about all I can accomplish that day. I know this will get better, but for now it is the one thing I wish I could do because it feels so much better afterward.

So when friends called to offer a home cooked dinner, and some company, I was equally excited and concerned. My hair looked as though it hadn't been washed for a month but it had only been a day. I knew if I used my energy to do my hair the dinner would be ruined because I would be too tired. I opted to have a quick shower, leave my hair and rest before they arrived.  I'm so glad I did. We so enjoyed having the company, the aroma of curry cooking in our house and an evening with friends renews our energy.

They had just celebrated their 25th anniversary and we love to live vicariously though others right now so it was fun to hear all about it.

You know you have good friends when you can look your worst, not apologize and still have a wonderful evening.  Thanks Mark and Loretta.

It's amazing how long days are when there is no set agenda.  On Friday, later in the day, a friend called to say he'd like to visit with dinner in hand.  We were thrilled to have both the food and the company. It's great to have people around for short periods of time because it brings the outside world to us and we can have another soul to converse with. Jeff also hit the nail on the head because I had been craving (damn steroids) shrimp and there they were in front of me.  Now that's a serendipitous moment.

Then on Saturday we decided to venture out for the first time. We needed friends close enough that I could lay on their couch so when Lynn and Rick called it was perfect. We just sat (well I laid) and talked for a couple of hours and it was wonderful to get out. It really must have zapped my energy because I had the best sleep last night.

There are still some friends we want to catch up with but we are spacing everyone out so we have not only something to look forward to but being careful it is not too much for me.   There is still a concern that my immune system is vulnerable, so any kind of cold or virus means staying away.  

The pain is controllable and the mobility is coming along.  I have some weird neurological systems from time to time, we are assuming it is the nerves settling down, but other than that I feel good. We know I won't "bounce back" as quickly as before as three major surgeries in one year will take some time to get over, but I am hopeful.

There's a little snippet of what life is like around here one week into recovery. A little boring, but we are grateful to have friends and family who help and more than anything we are happy to be home.

2 Comments
Loretta de Sousa
9/14/2015 10:27:20 pm

Holy cow ! We made the blog! We had a great time too and you looked ravishing, Maureen. We shall do it again as soon as you want.

Reply
Mary
9/15/2015 08:30:18 pm

Maureen , you have the best friends in the world !
I'm so happy that you and Barry have the support of friends until family gets there as well.
Love you
Xo

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Maureen Clout

    I'm going in for a 4th neurosurgery; this time it's a repair to my lumbar fusion. Here, I will post my daily updates on dealing with diagnosis, surgery and recovery. Join me on my journey.

    About

    Archives

    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015

    Categories

    All
    Bad News
    Chronic Pain
    Crisis
    Daily Life
    Depression
    Doctors Appointments
    Family
    Fear
    Focus
    Friends
    Frustration
    Goals
    Help
    Insomnia
    Laugh
    Learning
    Leg Pain
    Meditation
    Memory
    Mindfulness
    Nap
    Neurosurgery
    Pain
    Pain Management
    Planning
    Preparing For Surgery
    Rehabilitation
    Risk
    Serenity
    Service
    Sleep
    Stress
    Strong
    Support
    Surgeon Appointments
    Surgery
    Toronto Western Hospital
    Travel
    Waiting

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.