Not Just One, but Two
Dear internet friend(s),
Posting has been pretty infrequent here over the past few months. Most recently it is because I’ve been stuck in bed with two herniated discs. While it’s true that I’ve been spending most of my days online, putzing around and reading some blogs I needed to catch up on, the truth is that actually typing is a bit hard for me because I’m stuck on my stomach and can’t hold my head up very well.
So, the story goes like this: Ten or eleven years ago, I hurt my back weightlifting at a local gym. I briefly saw a chiropractor who took x-rays, and after I felt better, I carried on with life as usual. For the past ten years I’ve had pretty bad episodes of back pain. For a long time they weren’t frequent, but since Jude was born, the pain has become a pretty normal part of life. Occasionally my back would “go out” and I’d spend a day or two in bed, but for the most part, it was just a consistent kind of pain that made me have to take my time putting on pants and bending over and lifting things, etc. In the early part of December, something changed and the pain got worse. I saw a new chiropractor at the beginning of January, and she decided to send me for an MRI. Jut this past Wednesday, something even worse happened to my back, and Friday’s MRI showed that I have not one, but two herniated discs (L4 and L5 for those who care).
Since Wednesday evening, I’ve been stuck in bed. I got up and went to the chiropractor/massage therapist on Thursday, for an MRI and x-ray on Friday, and to the ER for pain meds on Saturday morning. Other than that, save for getting up to use the bathroom, I’ve been in bed. The pain meds are only just touching the pain, and since about half an hour ago when I turned a bit funny and caused myself even more pain, they aren’t doing much of anything for me. Up until this point (that is, about 30 minutes ago), I had been able to get out of bed for very short periods of time. Now I’m lying here, unable to get myself up and to the bathroom. A friend is over babysitting Jude (and me), and I’m grateful for her. I simply don’t know how I’m going to make it through the rest of the day. I mean, I really need to use the bathroom, but it just isn’t happening right now.
About 20 minutes after writing that final paragraph, I called the ambulance and went back to the ER. I was admitted to the hospital that evening, and just returned home last night. Stay tuned.
Awwww…I’ve been thinking about you pretty much non-stop since I read Josh’s updates on FB. I hope you’re ok, and I’m glad you have good friends who can help you guys with Jude. I know there’s probably not much I can do in Ohio, but I’ll definitely be thinking about you and your family as you heal a recover. Muah!
Oh no!! I was going to say “That Totally Sucks” but an ambo ride to the ER?! Yikes.
Just know you got some friends going crazy thinking/praying for ya all around the city!
Oh my. I came here to thank you for the #FF on Twitter & read this post about your severe pain. I hope you are feeling better today. My thoughts are with you & I’ll be checking in regularly.
Thanks, everyone. I’m doing a bit better today and am hopeful that with some major physical therapy I’ll be able to heal. There’s an “Update” post coming later today or tomorrow if you want to read all the juicy details of my hospital stay.
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