Decisions, decisions...

The time has come that I can no longer put of making a decision on accepting or declining the benefits that come along with disability.  I've been in touch a with a representative of Medicare Plans.  My attorney gave me his number and told me to hang onto it. The day I starting getting information regarding Medicare benefits I should give him a call.  Please don't try and figure it all out on your own.  I clearly see why now.  It can be quite confusing. 

We're clear on one thing.  It would be a lot less expensive premium if I take the medicare coverage.  Everything is different though.  I've had to do  a lot of research to prepare to sit and meet with the Humana Representative.  For example; checking with all my doctors to make sure they take this plan.  I also went online and entered all the prescription medications I take to see what they would cost under this plan.  Some were the same but several were more expensive. A couple they don't cover.  Mainly it was the newer prescriptions that haven't been around forever. It works on a tier plan and depending where the drug falls depends on your payment for it.   Certain tiers give you different coverage.  Long story short several of the medications I take are $20 to $30 more per month so it you multiply that times 12 it almost makes up half of the savings.  

I spent several hours on the phone today trying to get answers.  I called Humana directly since the website would not give me a clear answer on if some of my doctors were involved with the plan or not.  The most important ones are, but for the ones that aren't I want to see  what my options are to replace them.  I've seen some of these doctors since 2006 or earlier.  It all boils down to dollars and cents.  Honestly, my husband asked me forget the money, does it benefit you to be covered with Humana insurance? If not just leave things as they are.  I couldn't really answer that.  I think we will be close to breaking even.  I just have to do a little more homework tomorrow.  The deadline is closing in so I have to make my decision. 

My daughter and her family left for Disney World FLorida.  I was worried about the storm that was brewing around in the gulf but it turned out just fine. At half way they stopped for the night and completed their journey the next day.  My daughter has kept myself and P's other maw maw excited with a lot of pictures all day, everyday.  They are all so cute.  He is surly have a great time and making some wonderful memories.  Nonna is so happy for him.

I'm a bit worried about my daughter.  Her feet are hurting her after 2 days and 2 parks.  MAGIC KINGDOM & HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS. P, ha..he is a brave little fellow.  He's riding all those big rides with his dad and mom.  I thing some momma is very willing to sit out because of the long lines. This gives her a chance to rest her poor feet.  

Maw Maw and I (Nonna) have been in stitches all day with pictures and texts from mom.  P's little sister will get to hear all about big brother seeing all of his favorite characters.  It is so obviously clear how happy and excited he is to be there.  I have so many pictures. Here is a wrapped up preview she made for instagram.

Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom

Swimming is down to a minimum.  Last time I was in the pool was Thursday evening.  The temperature had made it back to 90.  I enjoyed that swim so much thinking it may be my last.  Thursday night P came over to sleep so mommy could get started with shopping, finishing up some work and packing in the early morning.  No swimming that evening.  

Friday morning P and I set out at 8 to go and pick up A at our usual meeting place.  We picked her up and came back to my house. They played and had a great time together.  After lunch P's mom came and A had to come to OT with me and watch me be tortured once again.  My right side the therapist agreed was better.  The left, worse.  She could hardly touch it.  After consulting with her peers she came back and told me we needed to add a harness to keep my wrist from moving.  Keeping my wrist from moving keeps the tendon at rest so it can heal.  I still need to do the exercises and stretches at home.

I have to admit I noticed a big difference the first day.  This brace is so much more comfortable than the one she made for me on the right hand.  I realized just how much it helped when I took it off Sunday to do some dishes. As I was unloading the dishwasher I could feel how sore and swollen it is.  Tonight after the stretches I rubbed the area with a medicated cream and then measured out of curiosity to see if it was still swollen.  Around my right elbow measures  an inch larger than the left one.  This sure does seem to be a slow healing process. However I am glad to be better on one side at least. 

A stayed until Sunday.  On Saturday night I took her to see her daddy when he got off work.  He is working 13 days and 1 day off until Thanksgiving so it is hard to get some visitations in right now. I was so proud of the them both.  When we left they both did so well.  I took a couple of pictures of them together.  (are you surprised?)  A likes to take 2 always!. One silly and one with a smile. Silly usually means her tongue out.  This has been her routine for quite some time now.  It's funny, as I mentioned earlier I'm getting a lot of pictures from my daughter and many have P's tongue out.  I asked if he got that from Lou Lou.  (her nickname at their house) and she said, no he's just so happy he is beside himself and don't know what to do with it.  Too funny, that kid.

Saturday night

Friday

We are experiencing a fall like week here in Baton Rouge. Cool in the morning and late evening.  Next week vacation.  Woo hoo, I just can't wait.  We've checked the extended forecast for Destin and it looks awesome.  October is our favorite time to go and we've never been disappointed.  The weather is perfect and the crowds are minimal.  Hopefully I will feel well enough to go to a couple of places we love to shop each year.  

I started typing last night and got really sleepy.  (this is a GREAT thing) I put down the computer and picked up first thing thing this am to finish.  I plan to head to AT&T before I let myself get tied into another survey and can't upgrade my phone. I want to look at the new iphones and see if I like them.  After that I'm off to OT.  Sometimes I don't like change.  I could very well keep the one I have.  Instead of my usual inspiring bit I have to leave you with some more pictures that will clearly show you how much fun my grandson is having.  Oh how I wish I could be there with him.

Living with H.O.P.E
Theresa

Dinner with Mickey & friends

One Happy Boy!

Hey look, it's Pluto

Think I'll take a picture with him :-)

It's a long one!

On Friday I went for my first appointment with the Occupational Therapist.  You know how it is on the first visit.  Just like PT, completing forms and a lot of history taking.  She measured everything from my elbow down all the way to my fingertips.  It was amazing the things she pointed out to me.  A few minutes into her exam she said to me, "your hurting aren't you?"  Yes, I answered, but it's my back.  I had sat in waiting area for 15 minutes and been in her chair for 15 minutes. I asked her how long did she think we'd be today.  About another hour she told me. 

She offered me heat and I declined.  The therapist next to her told her she should sign me up for PT on my back also while I'm there.  I told her I'd already been through that numerous times and continued at home to this day.  She asked me who I saw and was surprised I remembered her name.  As we proceeded she pointed out to me that my left elbow was swollen and fingers on left hand swollen.  I mentioned I had told my rheumatologist that it was obvious the left side was worse.  She put me in a BANDIT.  A brace worn on the forearm commonly used for lateral epicondylitis, carpal tunnel and other types of forearm and wrist pain.  She also recommended and gave me some gloves for when I'm sleeping to help with the swelling. She had me put one on to try for size and it was insane how it felt so soothing just to have a "glove" on my hand.

Whats weird is I'd been complaining to my husband that I couldn't wear my wedding ring for some time now. This is something he definitely notices.   After I'd been dieting these past weeks and dropped some pounds I still couldn't put it on.  If I did get it on I couldn't get it off without soap.  Now I know why.  

The BANDIT

During this exam they have you make various hand gestures and movements with your fingers.  You also have to squeeze and press on different instruments with your fingers/hands.  As we moved to the right arm she noticed that a certain placement with my thumb caused pain shooting from wrist to thumb area.  It's crazy the things they look at.  After this discovery she had me flip my palms over and flatten my hand.  The left side was flat across the thumb to other side of hand.  The right side was strangely uneven.  It was like an incline, not flat like the other side.  I'm assuming this had something to do with why the pain was created with the movement she had me make?  

When we're done I think I'm getting out of there and she tells me she is next going to make me a splint for my right hand. It will prevent my thumb and wrist from moving so that over time....a short time I hope, it will get better with rest.  I was cool with that.  I'm a compliant patient.  It took about 20 minutes for her to cut out this form, heat it and mold it around my wrist.  We get it on for good after trimming and smoothing ruff edges and I immediately begin to think this might be difficult being it's my right hand.  Then she drops the bombshell that I should refrain from texting.  If you use your thumb you won't be able to anyhow. 
Ha, Ha, I told her.  Most of the people I commonly text with on daily basis do not want to be on the phone.  Guess I'll be leaving some voice mails.  

Exactly at hour and a half mark we were done.  I walked out with apparatus on each side.  I asked how long I could expect my two visits next week to last and she told me an hour now that all the other stuff was out of the way.  We'll be starting the therapy next visit. 

Right arm

Left arm

My husband and I had plans to take my grandson to members night at the zoo.  I thought to myself as the day progressed, and I saw how challenging it was really going to have this brace on my hand, was I sure we could still go?  I just felt so dysfunctional.  I knew D would be able to do anything I couldn't and I was really looking forward to taking P to this event.  

We headed out at 4:15 to make our way to the zoo and instantly was shut down with a back up on the interstate.  An update from D's app told us there was a lane closure ahead and an accident on the Mississippi river bridge.  Holy cow, what luck.  We crawled for 30 minutes to get to a loup that puts you on another interstate and then we took Airline Hwy to I-110.  It was 6pm when we made it there.  An hour and a half.  It's typically a 40 minute drive from my house.  

All was well though.  We made it.  P had a great time.  He wanted to get his face painted and was willing to wait in a seriously long line.  Never complained once.  I guess he really wanted this.  His mom told me via text that he'd never had this done and we may be waiting for nothing.  Oh well, it's what he wants to do and thats what this trip was all about. How are you texting she wanted to know?  With my left thumb...slowly. 

His first face paint

After that we went to see some other activities they were having and then we came across the bubble activity.  It was a huge circle around you attached to a rope.  As you pulled the rope the circle came up and made a bubble ring around you.  It was pretty cool and P definitely wanted to try.  So, we get in another long line that he had no problem with.  It was around 7:15 and the sun was just starting to go down.  I took a picture of a young girl doing it so I could show mom what we were waiting for.  I was confidant that by the time we made it up there it would be dark.  It was as you could see by the difference in the pictures.  The mosquitos ate up my ankles and neck.  Even D was bothered with them.  He rarely gets bitten even when I end up covered with bites. I definitely wore the wrong shoes to walk around in especially when getting warm and sweating.  Just because some shoes are comfortable for some things, they are not for others.  I ended up with huge blisters on both pinky toes.  We stopped to eat on the way home then met my daughter to return P.  

Too proud!

Go Go Go everyone cheered!

I think it was around 9:30 when we made it home and I couldn't wait to take the brace off of my hand.  First I took off the BANTIT.  Other than leaving an imprint, it was fine.  I realized that it definitely was working.  There were things I did that normally cause it to really hurt and it was so mild vs moderately painful.  The brace was another story.  As I removed it I had deep imprints on the top of my hand near my knuckles.  I knew something wasn't right earlier and I should have taken it off then.  The OT said if it bothers you somewhere, take it off and we'll adjust it Tuesday.  With us being busy and I kind of brushed it off thinking it was hurting because of the correction.  I can tell you I had no pain in that area AT ALL before she put that brace on me and at that moment when I took it off and stopped to rest my hand/wrist was throbbing!  Almost to the point of tears a few minutes later.

I took some advil and propped it up on a pillow with ice.  I took pictures to show her on Tuesday and decided at that moment that I was not putting that contraption on again until I saw her on Tuesday. I'm sure it just needs to be trimmed but I can tell you I have a bad taste in my mouth for it now!  

Saturday I woke up with no pain at all in that hand/wrist. The brace today is right where I left it Friday night.  It was cutting me in between my thumb and pointer, the top of palm and on my wrist on bottom side.  My husband and I both said, "we're not doing anything today...let's take it easy."  Let's face it, that never really happens.  The morning I just did laundry but later I got into the pool and swam laps.  It had been two days off from exercise and I just had to do it.  Before that swim only my back was bothering me.  My hand had felt better when I woke up and I wore the BANDIT at all possible times.  

After swimming I decided to set up the vacuum to clean the pool.  It had been awhile.  It really wasn't too dirty but it seemed like a good time to do it.  There is a lot of hoses to be joined together involved in set up.  A twisting motion.  I told my husband after that it's crazy how you don't realize the muscles you use until they are painful to use.  Every hose I attached I cringed as I twisted it on.  As soon as I was done I put the BANDIT back on.  The plants still had to be watered.  

This is a 30 minute project front and back.  By the time I unwound and put back the hose front and back I was in tears.  When I came inside I told my husband I was going to lay down.  I literally cried my elbow hurt so bad.  What was it?  The lap swimming?  The twisting motion with the vacuum hoses. Watering the plants.  Heck, I guess maybe a combination off all things.  I don't know, but I went into depressed mode and shut down.  I put an ice pack on my elbow and alternated with heat ice heat ice for about two hours until I could stand the pain without it.  I had a HUGE pity party.  Why me?  Isn't my back enough.  Why?  Why?  Why?

Unfortunately we don't get these answers when we want them.  I tried to think of thing of things that could be worse and I came up with a lot.  When you deal with chronic pain everyday it becomes really easy to slip into depression and feeling like it's only you and why you?

The last two nights have been worst since revision surgery in May.  Friday night my hand and wrist throbbing and last night the elbow pain was unbearable.  I never left the bed after I came in from watering at 6:30.  Today has been better.  My hand has some relief but I'm dreading Tuesday to be put back into the brace after an adjustment.  It really brings some limitations. I question only because I didn't go there with pain in that area. 

I've had my BANDIT on the left side all day.  It's tender and sore but I've also REALLY taken it easy today.  Hint hint this long post. Typing is something you do that causes irritation to both problems so you'd think I'd keep it short.  I didn't type this all at one sitting.  It's been through out the day.  

My husband deals with shoulder pain on and off year after year.  He goes to PT it gets better then it comes back.  He's been swimming a good bit following seeing me swim laps.  Yesterday and this morning he volunteered at church helping prepare for a fundraiser at all masses today.  Yesterday was a lot of prep work and today he said he did a repetitive motion a lot.  I arrived home from Sam's to see him holding his shoulder (as near tears as a man can get) complaining about how bad he was hurting.  My husband rarely complains.  How can he?  I don't give him a chance.  Multiple times today I've heard some moaning and groaning while holding his shoulder.  I told him that people say they know how you feel but really they don't.  I really know how you feel babe.  Can you imagine at this moment if that pain doesn't go away with rest?  That's my life EVERYDAY!  I made sure he didn't think I did't have any sympathy for him.  It was just pointing out that I DO understand how you feel because I know, I feel it everyday.  Be grateful you always end up with relief at some point.  Something I'd give anything for.  I'm sure he'd give anything for me to have also.  Then I'd be like the person he married 9 years ago.

Maybe this caused it? He says "No"

The good news is two weeks from yesterday we're heading to the beach.  Surely when I leave my home I will take it easy and relax.  I can't believe September has just flown by us.  Tomorrow, Monday the beginning of a new week.  Let's just be joyful we're here and see what it brings us.  I know it's hard to believe here from what I write but there are many things I am thankful for.  

Have a blessed week.  Never giving up H.O.P.E. (hold on pain ends) Theresa

how the bubble ring looked with daylight

DESTINY

Watch your thoughts; they become words

Watch your words; they become actions

Watch your actions; they become habits

Watch your habits; they become character

Watch your character; it becomes your destiny

It's that time again!

On Oct 12th of last year I had a guest post by my daughter.  She had participated in the Alumni week end with Tiger Band.  She wrote a post about her experience being with the band again. Unwilling at first but enjoyed it in the end.(writing) Today was a great day.  It was that week end again and I was able to go this time.  D and I drove to LSU this morning and meet up with my son in law and grandson.  

We were able to sit on the field to watch and listen while the alumni practiced alone.  They sounded great!  My daughter told us she hadn't played the piccolo since lasts year alumni game.  When they moved on to practicing with the rest of Tiger Band we went up stairs to watch.  It was just like old times when we went every home game to watch them practice.  It doesn't matter how many times you hear them march on the field and play it gives you goose bumps. 

I was so happy to be there to see my grandson be out at LSU for the first time and see his mommy march with the "Big Band"  He was a little nervous at first.  It was so loud and we were up high on the observation deck. At first I don't think he knew what to do with himself.  All and all I think he enjoyed it after all. 

After rehearsal was over we went down to see mom for a little bit and take a few pictures.  Then P left with Poppa and I while mom and dad stayed around to tailgate and have fun at the game. 

That amount of time was just enough for me. I had kind of stumbled coming in the door and jarred my self trying not to fall.  That along with climbing the stair case did me in.  When we got home we had lunch then P asked to watch a movie.  Guess what Nonna did?  Lay down and rest while he was watching the movie.  It was just what I needed to be able to go some more.  

P's Maw Maw came to get him later in the day to go to his cousin's birthday party.  I decided to try and get up enough strength to go exercise in the pool.  The solar blanket is working great.  It was only in the 80's today and the water was 96 and comfortable.  As hard as it was I felt better when I was done. 

I'll be around Tuesday for weight in.  I don't want to jinx myself but if nothing changes from weighing this am I'll be a happy camper.  See you around on Tuesday :-)

One more thing.  I noticed the strangest thing happened.  I have a post missing.  The one I typed on my sons birthday.  It is so strange how it just wasn't there anymore when I signed in to blog.  Very strange...Not sure I can go back and type the same thing over again.  May have to wait until it is his birthday again.  

Full of H.O.P.E.

Theresa

Tuesday blues day

Why do we wake up with these days?  I can't put an answer to why I just woke up with the blues.  Maybe it had something to do with getting on the scale and I'm up half a pound.  No bother with a picture.  I know you believe me about gaining.  137.5.  Measurements the same.  Or maybe it was the idea of getting out of bed when I really didn't want to.  Hurting everywhere for no explainable reason.  I shouldn't question this any more, but I continue to do so.  

Could it be the stress of trying to track down a package thats been lost with the United States Postal system for over a week?  It's been to 3 different postal hubs since it arrived in BR.  Never mind that there is a link to track it.  It says it's being delivered that day and it doesn't come.  You check it the next day to see it's somewhere else and the dates been pushed two days later.  That day comes....no package.  Maybe it is the fact that yesterday afternoon I spent 30 minutes on the phone with them and got no where.  My package was at a zip code long from here.  Or just maybe its the fact that I FINALLY got it today, a watch I was very excited about getting, and the crystal was cracked all the way down the middle.  I wonder why?  Could it be that it is because it traveled to multiple places before arriving here?  So the wait begins again.  I emailed the company to see what they will do for me.  What ever the reason today has not been a good day emotionally or physically.  

I mentioned pushing myself in the pool to do more than physical therapy exercises in the pool.  When I changed to this app I'm using it has swimming as cardiovascular unlike Run Keeper that I use for walking and riding my bike.  I started bringing the clock out with me and timing my laps and jogging.  I was just casually swimming after PT and as soon as I felt a little tired stopping.  My PM doctor has assured me that I cannot hurt my stimulator or the appliance I have at L4/L5 fusion site.  I can bring on pain but will not do any damage to my back.  At lease not any that is already there and continues to get worse.  There is no stopping it. I can make it worse by stop moving and I'd be bed ridden in a short amount of time.  I refuse to let that happen.

I started out 8-10 minutes of continuous swimming and now up to 15 minutes.  I did 20 once! So I won't say I can't do that yet because it was very difficult.  I started with 10 minutes of jogging and slowly each week adding minutes.  I can now do 30 if I am not going to swim.  My usual routine is to do 15 of each.  I do change it up some time though.  If my back is hurting too bad I may only swim laps and no jogging.  

Between my update with Mr. R and increasing my swim time I'm now down from 3 pain pills a day to 2.  In between each of those doses I needed 4 liquid jell Advil.  I've cut back to 3 twice a day.  I think some of my blues today came from being in the water this morning thinking about the short time I have left to be in the pool.  I rarely swim in the am during the week.  I like for D to be home when I am lap swimming since I'm clueless to anything going on around me for a period of time.  I use a plug in one ear that gives me trouble and with the swim cap I don't hear much unless it's pretty loud.  D has startled me on occasion trying to get my attention while swimming.   My appointment with my therapist wasn't until 11 and I was up at 7 so I decided to give it a try.  I'm really thrilled about it this evening that I'm done with that part of my day already. 

Sunday my time with this Samsung Galaxy S4 phone is done.  It really is an amazing phone.  If I didn't have a mac book I'd keep it.  The huge screen is great.  You can work with multiple windows open, the camera is awesome and many other things.  I've come to agree there are more things I like than don't.  When it comes to getting pictures and other data onto my computer that is a BIG part I don't like. 

Good news about the other survey I told you about.  They picked me!! I'm so excited about it.  Just in time, it starts on Monday and I have to download an application for my phone by Sunday.  I will be doing a study about television programs.  I'm not allowed to give to many details until it is over.  It lasts for 21 days and I receive $100 reward.  Just in time for the "new Iphone", Christmas, P's birthday. Oh my, what will I do with it?

I was blessed to spend time with my grandson on Friday and granddaughter on Saturday.  Sharing a couple of my favorite pictures I took.  I know most of my friends have seen on Instagram but I have several friends who are not on Instagram and a lot of readers who do not see them there.  Besides, who could ever get tired of seeing these cute faces a second time.  Even if it is the same picture.  I know, I'm prejudice.  Soon enough I'll have a new grand baby to show off too :-)

What is Love?

Love delights in giving attention rather than attracting it.

Love finds the element of good and builds on it.

Love does not magnify defects.

Love is a flame that warms but never burns

Love knows how to disagree without becoming disagreeable

Love rejoices at the success of others instead of being envious.

Father James Keller

3 down 7 to go

137

I guess it's for real.  Three days in a row for this number so I guess it will hold.  I've stayed with the water plan I started a couple of weeks ago and it is really working well for me.  I'm honestly eating what I want just small portions of it.  I have worked hard to increase my exercise the most I can.  I've only lost 3 pounds in 5 weeks.  Slow I know, but I'm seeing most of the difference in my measurements and that means wearing some of those clothes I was complaining about not wearing.  It was fall when I met my goal last year so they happen to be clothes that I'm ready to start wearing.

Before I signed on to do this post I checked to see how many surveys I have waiting for me. I saw the next, the third and final, smartphone survey.  I hope this means I can go back to my iphone.  I'll miss a few things about the new phone but the ones I miss on the iphone out weigh that I believe.  I have a big decision to make regarding the fitness app.  I was so upset about changing but I ended up liking the one I had to change to.   I feel as though when I see the other I will want to use it again.  I will have to weigh pros and cons I guess.  I never did recover my photos I lost.  I worked on it until 1 am.

So last night I couldn't show you the solar blanket installed and rolled up.  I took a picture this evening so I could.  It is across the pool, but we don't keep it like that right now.  When we have to start using it to keep the water warm it will be there all the time and moved before we swim.  You lift on one side and you swing it to the side.  D is building a shelf on the fence to store until we need to have in place all the time. 

rolled up and ready to move 

I'm excited to see the announcement tomorrow on GMA of who the next stars will be on DWTS.  I hope it will be some I know.  That will be the deciding factor if I watch or not.   From the advertising it sounds as if they will be changing things up a bit so I'm at least curious.  

I'm sure it's that way in all stores but over the week end I was in Sam's and today Marshalls.  I'm so overwhelmed of what to look at as far as seasonal.  They have Halloween, Fall and Christmas out at one time.  I don't know what to look at or think about putting out.

I'm keeping it short tonight since I was so long last night.  I have some things to tell you about.  An experience I had, a project I'm trying and a product I like you might want to try.
Enjoy the rest of your week.  I'm looking forward to a visit with my mom on Thursday.  It's a long time coming.  See you then mom, I love you!

Theresa

EXTREME VIRTUES

Truth, if it becomes a weapon against persons.

Beauty, if it becomes a vanity.

Love, if it becomes possessive.

Loyalty, if it becomes blind, careless trust.

Tolerance, if it becomes indifference.

Self-confidence, if it becomes indifference.

Faith, if it becomes self-righteousness. 

Exercising with Back Pain

I recommend you discuss any exercises you do at home with your PM doctor or your PT if you have one.  Even they sometime do not know what is best for you.  A doctor I saw for a second opinion, at my one year mark after fusion surgery in '09, sent me to PT.  I trusted he knew the best place for me to go.  

During the time I was going 2times a week I felt like I was hurting more, not less.  The PT kept telling me it was just soreness and I was working out some of the tightness causing my pain from loosing mobility at L4/L5 site.  I not only fought through for the 6 weeks but continued to do them faithfully at home for another 6 weeks.  At some point I felt as though I was sure I was feeling worse. 

I obviously had other issues going on with my back, including constant inflammation.  What I learned when I started seeing my PM doctor and we discussed more PT was that I needed to see a PT who specialized in patients recovering from back surgery.   He was skeptical since we'd tried everything but knowing I would see someone who works with patients like me he wanted to give it a try since I was willing.  The first thing I discovered was some of the stretches I was still doing at home was a "no no" if you'd had a spinal fusion.  ONE of the reasons I wasn't feeling any better.  

Make sure if your orthopedic or GP orders PT for you that you see someone who knows how to treat someone with your specific conditions.  I knew before I read this article because the second PT I saw went over with me what to do but more importantly what NOT to do if you'd had back surgery.  I couldn't seem to get the link to copy and paste but at least you can see what you would need to search for to find article if you cannot read from here.  I would also recommend signing up for the newsletter.  Your able to choose specific subjects you are interested in reading.  I chose chronic pain, back pain , pain medications and sleeping/ insomnia with chronic pain.  You are not bombarded with emails either.  I believe I get one every 3-4 weeks.  Under the 5 foods for fighting pain is cherries.  One of my personal favorites.  Yummy.....love this season especially for that reason.  

Top Picks: 10 Tips to Reduce Pain

Chronic Pain Thursday, May 23, 2013

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I'm sure my fellow pain suffers out there understand good days and bad days.  I'm so grateful for the good ones but they don't come often enough.  It also messes with your mind making you think, " is something really wrong with me?"  You wonder how you can feel that way one day and another barely drag yourself from bed.  I've been experiencing that often lately.  

On Saturday (day before Father's Day) my brother, his family and my mom came over to visit. 
My daughter and her family came for a short time and my son also spent the afternoon with us.  We had a grand time.  My niece really enjoyed the pool.  She loves to swim and does it well.  My husband spent quite some time with her and P in the pool and later when my son came he stayed in a good while too.  My niece should have been water logged.  

I got up that morning thrilled that I was having a great day!.  I went out with my husband to take care of a few things and even did a little cleaning when we got back.  After I had food prepared my daughter and her family arrived.  From that time on until 9 that night I didn't stop.
I was in the pool for awhile, (relief) but other than that I was mostly on my feet.  About 2 hours before everyone left I could really feel the break through pain starting.  I start fidgeting when this happens.  I start to hurt but can't do anything about it and don't know what to do with myself.  No sooner than we closed the doors from saying good bye I was crying.  I picked up a few things, took pain medicine and got on the heating pad.  I couldn't get to it fast enough.

Sometime we want to just enjoy ourself so much we're able to distract ourself from the pain.  One of the reason my therapist encourages me to get out with friends.  Sometime it works, sometimes not.  Being with my family worked.  When it was over it hit me hard though.  I was awake until 1 before the pain medicine finally took the edge off.  I then took 4 ibuprofen and was able to go to sleep.  Would I do it again...absolutely!  I guess what I'm trying to get across is what I mentioned earlier.  You can be fine one day, one hour, or one moment and then it slams you from no where.   When I read my fellow pain bloggers they describe the same kind of feelings which helps me understand I'm not crazy. 

My incision is looking better.  I've starting putting some butter cream on it so hopefully in another few months it will be back to the way it looked when healed the first time.  I can't remember what happen, I think I lost my balance, but I bumped my battery area and it's been sore about a week now.  Hoping that's all there is to it and it will go away.

At 5 weeks

Poppa with P and look closely you see my niece underwater

My son with my niece on his shoulders

I see my therapist this Friday for the first time since before surgery on May 8th.  I think she'll be surprised to see how well I'm doing.  We'll have a lot to catch up on.  I've been thinking all week all the things I wanted to talk about next time I'm on here writing and I can't remember the first thing.  I guess I need to start writing them down.  Hope your not bombarded with the pictures.  I had a hard time choosing a few.  Most of my family has seen but you guys have to understand I do have several friends who are not on Instagram and obviously my followers who are not friends/family haven't seen either.  

My mom and brother on top and my SIL and niece in the middle

Four generations <3

Hugs to everyone with H.O.P.E.
Theresa

What does not satisfy when we find it was not the thing we were desiring.

C.S. Lewis