Sunday, February 21, 2016

I'm getting better!

I'm happy to say I am getting better! Since having the cortisone shot and taking the cortisone pill pack almost to weeks ago, I am seeing more improvement. I'm getting out more and doing normal things. The most exciting was returning to choir rehearsal Thursday night and then singing in the choir in the worship service this morning. I had been away from choir for 10-1/2 weeks! I really love being back.

Another nice part of my getting better is that the temperatures here in Minnesota have been unseasonably warm this past week (highs of mid 40). It has melted a lot of of the snow and ice and made my sidewalk outside my home much safer. Also, my permanent handicap hanger for my car arrived in the mail this week. My doctor wrote it for five years. I certainly hope I don't need it for anywhere near that!

I'm not taking feeling good for granted. I have had a couple of down days, but for the most part, I am seeing progress. It feels wonderful!

Friday, February 12, 2016

Health Update

I am feeling better just this week. Monday night my physical therapist determined I have bursitis in my left hip. He suggested I go to either my spine surgeon or my primary physician to get a shot of cortisone in my hip and also to ask for the cortisone pill pack (6 day program of low dose prednisone) to attack any inflammation in my body—but specifically the nerve pain in my ankle and on the top of my foot. I was lucky to get an appointment the very next day (Tuesday) with my primary doctor. He gave me the cortisone shot and called in the Rx for the pill pack, which I started taking Wednesday morning. Yesterday I saw a lot of improvement, but had a little foot pain during last night and again a little this morning. I may have overdone it by going grocery shopping last night after working all day, but I was running out of some things at home. Bottom line is I'm praying for good results.

I hope I don't have to post very many more entries on my ongoing health issues, but it has been a big part of my life of late. 

Thursday, February 04, 2016

Storm Sisters

I have learned much in the past two months—I have learned about Storm Sisters.

There were many days in December and January when I could not go to work, to the grocery store, or to church. But a beautiful thing happened to me: friends called me on the phone, sent cards and emails, took me to doctor appointments, loaned me a walker, cleaned my house, brought meals and ate with me, helped me get some Christmas decorations out, and—this one blows me away—drove to my doctor's office to pick up the hand written prescription for a narcotic drug and then took it to the drug store, only to have to wait (or be told to come back in an hour and a half) while the druggist phoned a federal office and a state office. They had to supply their driver's license for identification, and when picking up the drug, had to give my age and address. This was all news for me!

One particular day, Nancy and Julie, two of my co-workers, who are also my friends, brought lunch from Culver's and together we shared our meals and caught up on all the news. Julie gave me a gift bag and said it was my surprise. After eating, I opened it and found a card with a scripture verse in Julie's handwriting (I have left this on my dining room table where I can read it during breakfast and lunch.), a chocolate bar, an apple and a clementine, a package of microwave popcorn, and a book, Storm Sisters: Friends Through All Seasons, by Afton Rorvik. This book was dear to Julie since the author is an editor Julie once worked with and this was her first book. Inside the front cover was a note from Afton to Julie. It was very personal. Underneath it, Julie wrote a note to me, letting me know I had many Storm Sisters who wanted to come to my aid. It's a wonderful book relating the struggles and challenges she (the author) went through when her mother was dying.

I never expected my handicap to last so long. It surprises me that my Storm Sisters are still coming to my aid. If and when I ever get back to good health, I know what I have to do. I have to be a Storm Sister to others.