Hi all,
Janet here. My husband has been an absolute godsend during this trying time. I mean, I knew he was a sweetie, but he really went above and beyond the call of duty... He took a week off work to attend to me, patiently got out of bed when I needed help getting out of the recliner to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night, bringing me food, making me comfortable... I could go on and on. I thank God for such a marvelous soulmate. :love:
I appreciate him updating you all. I felt a marked difference not too long after he posted here; no doubt your kind words, positive thoughts, and prayers made a difference!
Thanks to my wonderful fellow Editors Lynne, Kristen, Susan, Parthena, Eva, Sandy, Jaga, Sonja, Gillian, Jilly and Dan, Megan, and Laura for stopping by to wish me well. Gals, you are an example of why BellaOnline has such a wonderful reputation! I appreciate your heartfelt wishes and kindess; it warmed my heart, and no doubt help bring healing to my body. (Parthena, I had no idea about your back. I am so, so sorry. *hugs* to you. I agree about being careful of chiros...or any practitioner, really...)
Lisa, Morigaine, Wendy, Mindy, and Mary:
thank you, dear Forum friends, for sending me your prayers and encouragement. Words can't express how much I appreciate you being there in my time of need. :love:
An update on my condition:
I am steadily...and quite miraculously...getting better every day. The last 13 days have been among the most difficult I've endured. The pain was just as bad, or worse, than childbirth. At least with childbirth, in my case, it was over in 6 hours. This pain went on for days... I felt like my body was holding me hostage.
I was concerned at all the costs I've been racking up with the ambulance, ER, tests, etc., because we have zero health insurance. I'm trusting God to provide, as always, though...
I've been off Percocet for 2 days now. The mind-blowing sharp pain appears to be gone. I'm still stiff, and somewhat sore, and can't lie flat. Laying flat, and getting up on my own strength, was a BIG part of the pain and problem for me. This pain was exacerbated in the ER when I had to get up practially on my own strength for the X-Ray, the CAT scan, etc.
I think I'm going to forego the MRI on Tuesday because, quite frankly, I don't think my back can handle reclining and then getting back up without risk of re-injury. I don't think my pain had anything to do with the kidney stone. Once they saw it on the CAT scan, though, they were quick to dismiss the cause of the pain and send me home...
From my research and intuition, I believe I suffered a back sprain or ligament tear. (The medical doctor surmised a spinal sprain on Wednesday.) I'm taking an anti-inflammatory drug called Mobic, and I believe that's helping, too. Perhaps when the "catching" is totally gone, and I don't feel strain at reclining, I'll reschedule the MRI or even go to a group of specialists in a neighboring state.
Ron goes back to work tomorrow, so it will be my first day alone with my son. I can (thankfully!) walk up and down steps (albeit slowly), but haven't risked getting in the tub yet. (PU! <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> LOL Hubby does sponge baths, too, thank God!! But man...I gotta wash my hair! I'm going to try to risk stepping into the claw tub today, with hubby's help, and get a standing-up bath. We don't have a shower...)
Amazingly, we've kept our sense of humor through all this. I've had the biggest belly laughs since I've been unwell. I had to tell Ron "Stop it! You're going to make me spasm!" (I had to brace myself for laughing, coughing, etc.)
I have an even greater appreciation for what it means to "live in the now" and be "fully present". There were times I was in the bathroom and pulled a bath bomb off the shelf to smell it...appreciating the wonderful scent. Or, I'd hobble to my son's bedroom window and look out at our snowy back yard, illuminated by the the moon. I wished for a time when I was pain-free as before, but I was SO grateful for what I DID have...including my5 senses and my wonderful husband and son.
Well, I'm not supposed to be sitting long *wince*. I feel sitting at the computer too long is what precipitated my problem. If I'm not around the Forum much, you know why. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I'm going to have to scale back my writing, despite loving to do so. I had a new eBook in the works before this hit me, and most if it's already done. Adding graphics and doing some more writing, it should be done this month; it will be called
Peace, Balance, and Harmony. I'm not gonna push myself, though!
Here's the cover that I completed before this back deal hit me:
Alrighty. I must go rest now. Thanks again, everyone, and please keep those prayers and healing vibes coming my way! Bless your hearts. :love:
