Chronic Pain

Hi everyone -

Friday the 13th has always been a happy day for me (knock on something) so happy day! LOL. Excuse me, i'm delirious with exhaustion!

So, how are we?? Tami, Alex, Deb, Lisa and Stacy I hope you two are feeling better today! Bekah - can I just say you have the craziest social life! How fun! It's great to kind of dream about what some of these places are like you go to and so cool that your pain levels allow you to go there. You always have some adventure up your sleeve. LOL.

I'm doing pretty well. Earlier in the week I had a pretty bad few days. The pain got to where my meds weren't touching it and I was miserable. Now that I'm home with Lucy, it's not like I can take a day off and just purely rest anymore... or not pick her up... so it was hard. But I know I'll figure out some things to ease that as time goes on, I have to.. no choice. I am not sleeping that well at all. Which is AWFUl because I'm supposed to sleep when the baby does, right. well.. wrong.. I get her down and then I just can't stop thinking, I have so much anxiety over our new changes ahead, my pain is annoying me, etc.. I could take a sleeping pill but then I worry "will I wake up when Lucy does for her middle of the night feeding?" Because my husband is useless in the nighttime.. LOL. Anyway, all adjustments. I'm hoping that my bad days are few and far in between and I can stick it out a little longer without changing my meds.

My hubby is changing careers soon and so he'll be home in between jobs for almost two months at least, and that will help me with Lucy on those bad days when they come. Although, he'll probably drive me bonkers being at home with me that long!!! LOL. I told him since right now this is my "job" then he can be my "assistant"... LOL. He didn't think it was as funny as I did. We'll be able to get some long overdue projects on the house done and we are taking a few vacations. It will be great bonding time with him and Lucy because his job now he's had to miss so much. And as a threesome now, we have to get in sync also, so it will be good in the big picture.

As for Lucy, since a few of you asked... she's amazing. She's 7 weeks old now and holding her head up pretty well. She is smiling ALL the time. The best is when I come into the room her face lights up and she gives me a big ear to ear grin full of gums! LOL. It's the BEST feeling in the world. She does it in the middle of the night when I'm so annoyed I'm awake at 3am, but then she smiles HUGE and looks right into my eyes and I just can't be annoyed anymore. We think she's trying to giggle, it's almost there. We have fun together that's for sure. There really isn't a harder, but more rewarding job in the world. And the past 7 weeks have gone by so incredibly fast!! She is sleeping longer stretches at night, but still not through the night.. so I'm a zombie some days, however I've learned how to funcion pretty well on four hours of sleep.. LOL.

Well, that's whats going on on my end. I have family coming in sunday again.. seems the visitors are non-stop, and I'm looking forward to that slowing down soon. I hope I'm not getting sick because I feel very run down. The pain is less than it was earlier in the week but still not great. What can ya do though..

Have a great weekend everyone.. Can't wait to hear what you're all up to!

Nicole

Hi Nicole and Gang,

I'm doing well.. I've had an extremely high pain week. I had 2 migranes back to back along w/ doing my 16 hour days... No fun... I'm gearing up for my trip to Shanghai on Sunday.. Got everything ready to go except PACKING (minor detail). My dog freaks when he see's the suitcase come out, so I try and be sensitive to that..

Have ample meds to get me thru the 15+ hour flight.. My neck and shoulders have not been doing well, so I'm a bit anxious to see if they freak out on or after the flight.

Nic, so glad to hear updates on your baby and how much you adore her (well duh !). I keep getting updated pictures of my niece and she grins from ear to ear in every picture and it makes my heart melt.. SO I can only imagine what you go thru. I have 4 girlfriends w/ babies due in the next 3 months, so I'll be surrounded by those gummy smiles, I can't wait !!

Enjoy this time Nicole and I'm glad that dh is going to be around to help out.. They need to give longer maternity leave to men...

Hope everyone else is doing well.. Alex, how have you been ?? Get any meds lately ????

Tami

Hi everyone. So I've been mostly a lurker lately... but I'm around.

I am now in a splint, had trigger point injections (which were GREAT), and got a job offer this week. I'm not even looking for a job right now. But it let me know that I could if I wanted to so I am now looking into renewing my teaching certificate. Which is kind of exciting, ya know? And majorly scary.

Nicole I am very happy for you with your daughter. Mine is now 14 *gasp*.

I'm glad the work week is over. I'm taking flexeril again at night so I've been able to get at least some sleep the past couple nights. Hasn't done anything for the pain, but at least I'm not falling asleep all day. Whatever muscle I pulled while contorting myself to sleep earlier in the week is nearly healed. Work was super busy which was great since it made the day fly by.

I'm hating this weather. I like cold, but it's spring now. I bought a new pair of cycling shoes and a bicycle chain the other night, and here comes a Nor'easter. 6-8 inches of snow expected by Monday, last I heard. Ugh.

Two and a half weeks till I meet with the next surgeon. It feels like the purpose of each day is to get one day closer till the next appointment. Everything else just happens.


The baby is 7 weeks old already, time flies!

Hi- We just got back from our weekend at the cape. I was worried about going feeling so exhausted and with the shortness of breath I've been having. I still think it's neck connected to spial cord, etc. but I'm having the tests done they want and using the new inhaler and it has been helping. We stayed in a room overlooking the ocean and had tons of friends at the same conference. It was 50 degrees and sunny yesterday and I walked the beach twice. We hit the hot tub and pool friday night. It was a great break- we haven't been away since july and really needed it! my rabbit survived my mom and neighbor taking care of her. Re-entry is always tough and Alex is right, today it's raw and pouring- hopefully we'll miss the snow they predicted. i'll be at the marathon tomorrow cheering them on if I'm not too winded to walk the mile downtown to see it. Nicole, you are amazingly brave, Lisa- you sound so much better, good to see everyone else signing in- Deb

Wow Deb, sounds like a full weekend!! Thanks for your kind words.. I don't know if I'd call myself brave though.. I sure don't feel very confident most days. Pain adds a whole new element to being a new mommy that's for sure.

How was everyone's weekend? I have family in from out of town, not staying with me (thank god) but here for most the week. It's hard to juggle all of that when your life has no schedule and just depends on what the baby is up to. And with this particular group of people I feel like I need to be hostess... so that's hard too. It's just too soon for me but people don't get that. Oh well. Other than the company we just worked around the house, tried to sleep when we could, etc. I actually got to watch a movie with my hubby.. with about 25 pauses in between, but we made it through eventually! LOL.

Been up and down all night, so I'm heading back to bed soon for a nap before my house is full of people again!

have a good one everyone!