After the recent epsiode, life really slowed down. I was to take it easy and let my body adjust as it recovered and I got my mobility back. In all, it took about 3-4 weeks before I was back to "normal". It took a long time for my hips to get back into full mobility and so I had a limp for awhile but other than that, everything came back in due time and it remained a mystery as to what had happened. I just really hope that it doesn't ever happen again.
I continue to have more appointments throughout August 2009. The ultrasound revealed that I need further investigations so I have a Saline Infusion. We discover that I have a fibroid and will require surgery. Hopefully this will help with my anemia problem.
I start counselling for Rehabilitation back to work. Some things that happened at work before I left had to be dealt with before I could return to work. I see the therapist for a couple of sessions to see if this is needed. She confirms that I need to work through some work issues and the way that I was treated. My rehab consultant thinks otherwise. So goes the battle.
I restart the physio part of Rehab on August 24, 2009. Jay, my therapist, is being very careful and cautious with me as he doesn't want me to relapse again.
A follow up appointment with the Colposcopy clinic (seriously, they need to move this clinic out of the Cross Cancer center!) and we get good news there...things look really good since my LEEP procedure. Looks like all the bad cells are gone I should almost be done my treatment here!!! That is some VERY good news!!
August 29 - September 1, 2009 I fly out to Kelowna for some much needed R&R at my friend's lake house. It was a wonderful weekend of resting, sleeping (so much sleeping on the chair swing on the deck!) and soaking up the hot sun rays of the sun. It was so good to escape the insanity of everything going on back home.
So things sort of seem back on track as far as recovering and getting some things taken care of. But the question still remains...what is going on with my body? Will this question ever get answered???
Life's Path
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Major Relapse
The Monday morning after being in the ER for my cough, I wake up and am not doing well. I am finding it hard to move my body. I have to cancel my rehabilitation session for the day. I book a massage to see if we can limber me up again. I am unsure as to what is going on or what to do.
Tuesday morning, July 28, 2009...I wake up and I can't move. It takes me forever to get to the bathroom and to try get myself ready. I feel like everything is locking up on me. I call my friend Lisa to talk about what is happening. She tells me I need to call the Health Link and ask them what they think. I call health link and they urge me to get to the ER. This is just crazy. I call Glenn at work and he comes home immediately. We call an ambulance as Glenn doesn't know how he will get me to the car. My joints are completely stiff, I can move with minimal mobility.
The firemen and ambulance crew come. My hands are starting to curl in, I have lost movement in them. It is scary for us. What is going on in my body now??!! I am taken to the UofA emergency room. We don't have too wait too long before I am taken back into the examining area. They somehow get me from the ambulance stretcher to the hospital stretcher. We wait for the doctor...
Now I feel like I am in a soap opera. You know, most soap opera's, daytime television, they end up being in the hospital or the show is based around a hospital setting. I feel like this the moment the ER doctor comes in. He doesn' look like a doctor, he looks like an actor out of Hollywood who is trying to play the role of the doctor. Think, pretty boy. He isn't even in full scrubs. You know, tight t-shirt to show off his biceps which I am sure is the only thing he works on...no, I think he works on perfecting his hair as well...when he isn't playing doctor. Anyways...I am laying on a stretcher and can't move...back to that...
So pretty boy doctor comes in and asks me a few questions. He does a very quick, not very thorough physical exam of my joints etc. He says he will be back. He comes back a little while later. Remember how any doctor can check on all the medical history of what has been going on with me lately? This can be a good thing and a bad thing. So he has looked at my file and sees that I have been through numerous tests and blood work and he feels that he doesn't need to do anything. He says that I should follow up with my doctor as he knows best about what is going on with my care at the moment. We ask what do we do for now as I can't move. He prescribes me morphine, which I cannot take and I tell him that. He refuses to give me any other medication. He refuses to do any blood work or any testing on me today. We ask if it could be an infection taking over my body or something and should he maybe check for that. His answer is go see my doctor.
The problem is, my doctor is on holidays this week and the next. Isn't that always the case? I tell pretty boy that and he doesn't really care, just gives me the morphine prescription and tells us to have a nice day. Yup. How do I get off this stretcher?
Glenn goes and gets a wheel chair and somehow maneuvers me into it to take me to the car. Again, with difficulty and maneuvering, he gets me into the car. It is now just before lunch time. I tell Glenn that there is no way I am getting out of this car unless it is to go see a doctor. We drive home, Glenn grabs me some shoes, we go to a fast food restaurant for food so we can order in the drive through and then eat in the car. At 1:00 I am going to go to my doctor's office and see the doctor that is covering for my doctor while he is away. You see the fun in all of this!!??
With lots of patience and time, we get me into the doctor's office. The poor doctor that is covering for mine... He has no idea what has been going on with me and tries to catch up real quick by looking at my file and asking me questions. The poor guy is scrambling. He wants and needs to help me but this is out of his scope. He orders a bunch of blood work and tells me to hang on until Dr. Boyko gets back and can see me. There really isn't any more that he can do for me. I feel bad for him as he is trying his best but he really is unsure as to what to do.
Glenn and I spend the rest of the afternoon getting me to the lab for blood work and then getting me back home. The day is now gone. When you have very little mobility, a simple task can take up most of the day. We get me settled into bed. Glenn has to come help me out of bed to get to the bathroom. Glenn has to get me off the toilet as I can't do this myself. It has been a long and trying day for the both of us.
The next day, I have a little more mobility so Glenn goes to work. I tell him if I need him I will call. I pray I don't have to use the bathroom much that day. Hopefully I can stay in bed and not have to worry about getting around. My friend comes over to visit. She can hardly believe it. I am totally like an old woman trying to move around and get up and down. At least it is a little better but what does it all mean and when will I have full range of mobility again? Rehabilitation has been suspended for 4 weeks. Jay, my therapist, doesn't want to work on me until they know what is going on with me. We have taken a major step back.
Tuesday morning, July 28, 2009...I wake up and I can't move. It takes me forever to get to the bathroom and to try get myself ready. I feel like everything is locking up on me. I call my friend Lisa to talk about what is happening. She tells me I need to call the Health Link and ask them what they think. I call health link and they urge me to get to the ER. This is just crazy. I call Glenn at work and he comes home immediately. We call an ambulance as Glenn doesn't know how he will get me to the car. My joints are completely stiff, I can move with minimal mobility.
The firemen and ambulance crew come. My hands are starting to curl in, I have lost movement in them. It is scary for us. What is going on in my body now??!! I am taken to the UofA emergency room. We don't have too wait too long before I am taken back into the examining area. They somehow get me from the ambulance stretcher to the hospital stretcher. We wait for the doctor...
Now I feel like I am in a soap opera. You know, most soap opera's, daytime television, they end up being in the hospital or the show is based around a hospital setting. I feel like this the moment the ER doctor comes in. He doesn' look like a doctor, he looks like an actor out of Hollywood who is trying to play the role of the doctor. Think, pretty boy. He isn't even in full scrubs. You know, tight t-shirt to show off his biceps which I am sure is the only thing he works on...no, I think he works on perfecting his hair as well...when he isn't playing doctor. Anyways...I am laying on a stretcher and can't move...back to that...
So pretty boy doctor comes in and asks me a few questions. He does a very quick, not very thorough physical exam of my joints etc. He says he will be back. He comes back a little while later. Remember how any doctor can check on all the medical history of what has been going on with me lately? This can be a good thing and a bad thing. So he has looked at my file and sees that I have been through numerous tests and blood work and he feels that he doesn't need to do anything. He says that I should follow up with my doctor as he knows best about what is going on with my care at the moment. We ask what do we do for now as I can't move. He prescribes me morphine, which I cannot take and I tell him that. He refuses to give me any other medication. He refuses to do any blood work or any testing on me today. We ask if it could be an infection taking over my body or something and should he maybe check for that. His answer is go see my doctor.
The problem is, my doctor is on holidays this week and the next. Isn't that always the case? I tell pretty boy that and he doesn't really care, just gives me the morphine prescription and tells us to have a nice day. Yup. How do I get off this stretcher?
Glenn goes and gets a wheel chair and somehow maneuvers me into it to take me to the car. Again, with difficulty and maneuvering, he gets me into the car. It is now just before lunch time. I tell Glenn that there is no way I am getting out of this car unless it is to go see a doctor. We drive home, Glenn grabs me some shoes, we go to a fast food restaurant for food so we can order in the drive through and then eat in the car. At 1:00 I am going to go to my doctor's office and see the doctor that is covering for my doctor while he is away. You see the fun in all of this!!??
With lots of patience and time, we get me into the doctor's office. The poor doctor that is covering for mine... He has no idea what has been going on with me and tries to catch up real quick by looking at my file and asking me questions. The poor guy is scrambling. He wants and needs to help me but this is out of his scope. He orders a bunch of blood work and tells me to hang on until Dr. Boyko gets back and can see me. There really isn't any more that he can do for me. I feel bad for him as he is trying his best but he really is unsure as to what to do.
Glenn and I spend the rest of the afternoon getting me to the lab for blood work and then getting me back home. The day is now gone. When you have very little mobility, a simple task can take up most of the day. We get me settled into bed. Glenn has to come help me out of bed to get to the bathroom. Glenn has to get me off the toilet as I can't do this myself. It has been a long and trying day for the both of us.
The next day, I have a little more mobility so Glenn goes to work. I tell him if I need him I will call. I pray I don't have to use the bathroom much that day. Hopefully I can stay in bed and not have to worry about getting around. My friend comes over to visit. She can hardly believe it. I am totally like an old woman trying to move around and get up and down. At least it is a little better but what does it all mean and when will I have full range of mobility again? Rehabilitation has been suspended for 4 weeks. Jay, my therapist, doesn't want to work on me until they know what is going on with me. We have taken a major step back.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Rehab...and "ARE YOU KIDDING ME??"
I officially start my rehabilitation back to work on July 6, 2009. The goal is to have me there twice a week to do my exercises and stretching and then massage and physio therapy for my back. Jay, my therapist, is easy to get along with and he is trying to come up with the best plan possible to get the best results. In some ways I feel weird being there as most of the client's are trying to rehab back from serious injuries and I don't have that. In fact, we still don't know what I have!
I also get a call early July that I have to go for ANOTHER COLONOSCOPY! I can't believe this! They want to send me to another specialist as they feel the first one didn't do a good enough job with the first colonoscopy. At the same time, they will also do a Gastroscopy. Might as well do both ends while I am there. I just can't believe that I have to put my body through that harsh cleansing process once again because they need a second opinion! Glenn is scheduled to be away during this procedure to a coaching conference at Washington State University. He wants to cancel his trip but I won't let him. I have done this before and I have friends who are willing to take me and pick me up from the procedure. I am sure that I will be fine without him and I am not letting him cancel a trip for a colonoscopy, that just isn't right!
So July 17, 2009 I have my Colonoscopy and Gastroscopy. Everything seems to go according to plan and I spend that night at a friends house. I remember the weekend being very hot and the weather unstable. We had an incredible storm come through on the Saturday night. Many trees were knocked down and buildings took a hit. It was something I had never seen before. The weather was off kilter. So was my body.
Since the procedure, I cannot stop coughing. Something must have happened when they did the Gastroscopy on me. I cough all day long and I cannot sleep. It wears my body down even more. I feel the "falling into the deep black hole experience" coming on again. I don't feel like I am in my body anymore. My mind struggles to stay in the present. I am so weak and can barely function. Jay at Rehab is concerned and can't figure out what my body is doing.
10 days after the procedure I call the health link to tell them what is going on. They suggest that I get to the ER as soon as possible as I shouldn't have this problem with the coughing this long after the Gastroscopy. I barely remember the trip to the ER (Glenn is back home and has taken me) The best way that I can describe how I was feeling would be like an extreme drunk. I guess that is how I can describe it. Nothing feels right, nothing feels normal, I don't feel like I am in my own body, I am so weak, I fight to keep my thoughts together.
I lay on the examining table and I shiver so badly. They take x-rays of my throat to make sure there is no serious damage. They do some blood work and continue to do some tests. Nothing serious has been damaged but they need to get the coughing under control. They give me a drink of something and it is strong and numbs everything from the throat down. I FINALLY have relief. They keep me for a little while for observation to make sure the drink keeps working. It is a miracle drink. They also get the blood work back and they are puzzled by what is going on. Nobody can figure it out. They finally send us home. It is the first night in 10 days that I actually get to sleep. Maybe we can start getting my body re-energized and back on track after that last 10 days.
Oh for wishful thinking...
I also get a call early July that I have to go for ANOTHER COLONOSCOPY! I can't believe this! They want to send me to another specialist as they feel the first one didn't do a good enough job with the first colonoscopy. At the same time, they will also do a Gastroscopy. Might as well do both ends while I am there. I just can't believe that I have to put my body through that harsh cleansing process once again because they need a second opinion! Glenn is scheduled to be away during this procedure to a coaching conference at Washington State University. He wants to cancel his trip but I won't let him. I have done this before and I have friends who are willing to take me and pick me up from the procedure. I am sure that I will be fine without him and I am not letting him cancel a trip for a colonoscopy, that just isn't right!
So July 17, 2009 I have my Colonoscopy and Gastroscopy. Everything seems to go according to plan and I spend that night at a friends house. I remember the weekend being very hot and the weather unstable. We had an incredible storm come through on the Saturday night. Many trees were knocked down and buildings took a hit. It was something I had never seen before. The weather was off kilter. So was my body.
Since the procedure, I cannot stop coughing. Something must have happened when they did the Gastroscopy on me. I cough all day long and I cannot sleep. It wears my body down even more. I feel the "falling into the deep black hole experience" coming on again. I don't feel like I am in my body anymore. My mind struggles to stay in the present. I am so weak and can barely function. Jay at Rehab is concerned and can't figure out what my body is doing.
10 days after the procedure I call the health link to tell them what is going on. They suggest that I get to the ER as soon as possible as I shouldn't have this problem with the coughing this long after the Gastroscopy. I barely remember the trip to the ER (Glenn is back home and has taken me) The best way that I can describe how I was feeling would be like an extreme drunk. I guess that is how I can describe it. Nothing feels right, nothing feels normal, I don't feel like I am in my own body, I am so weak, I fight to keep my thoughts together.
I lay on the examining table and I shiver so badly. They take x-rays of my throat to make sure there is no serious damage. They do some blood work and continue to do some tests. Nothing serious has been damaged but they need to get the coughing under control. They give me a drink of something and it is strong and numbs everything from the throat down. I FINALLY have relief. They keep me for a little while for observation to make sure the drink keeps working. It is a miracle drink. They also get the blood work back and they are puzzled by what is going on. Nobody can figure it out. They finally send us home. It is the first night in 10 days that I actually get to sleep. Maybe we can start getting my body re-energized and back on track after that last 10 days.
Oh for wishful thinking...
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Recovery and More tests
It did take some time for me to recover from all the wedding festivities. The week or so after was a blur as my body tried to adjust to some sort of normalcy and tried to make up for the punishment that I had put it through.
And now I am back into the routine of going for tests and seeing doctors. I have to go for an E S & D on June 3, 2009. They are still trying to figure out all my stomach problems that I am having. More drinks and more pictures of my Esophagus, Stomach and Duodenum.
On June 23, 2009 I have my follow-up appointment with the Fibromyalgia clinic as they want to see how you are doing since the course. It is pretty standard. Later that day I have my first appointment for my rehabilitation to go back to work. I meet my physio therapist and we go through many questionnaires, range of motion testing all sorts of things like that. My therapist (Jay) needs to know how I am doing so that he can set up a treatment plan for me. He is a little baffled by my symptoms but is going to work something out so that we can get me back to work for August, that is the target date that they have set out for me.
June 26, 2009 I am scheduled for an ultrasound as I am bleeding lots with my monthly cycle. They are tyring to see if I am anemic because of this and what is causing me to bleed so much.
So there we have it, another month of things going on and trying to get the old Lisa Harper back up and running. July looks to be an interesting month!!
And now I am back into the routine of going for tests and seeing doctors. I have to go for an E S & D on June 3, 2009. They are still trying to figure out all my stomach problems that I am having. More drinks and more pictures of my Esophagus, Stomach and Duodenum.
On June 23, 2009 I have my follow-up appointment with the Fibromyalgia clinic as they want to see how you are doing since the course. It is pretty standard. Later that day I have my first appointment for my rehabilitation to go back to work. I meet my physio therapist and we go through many questionnaires, range of motion testing all sorts of things like that. My therapist (Jay) needs to know how I am doing so that he can set up a treatment plan for me. He is a little baffled by my symptoms but is going to work something out so that we can get me back to work for August, that is the target date that they have set out for me.
June 26, 2009 I am scheduled for an ultrasound as I am bleeding lots with my monthly cycle. They are tyring to see if I am anemic because of this and what is causing me to bleed so much.
So there we have it, another month of things going on and trying to get the old Lisa Harper back up and running. July looks to be an interesting month!!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
An exciting week!
May 15-24, 2009 is like a complete whirlwind! Nicole and Jared's wedding date is May 23rd and there is still much to be done. Because I am off work, I offer to help Nicole with any of her last minute errands. Nicole doesn't drive so I offer to take her where ever she needs to go to get her wedding stuff all finalized and done.
Every day we run here and there getting things done. It is exciting seeing her get all excited and get things finalized. I even have the chance to help her find a place for Jared and her to live...there was much to do! I know that each day is wearing on me physically but I am trying to suck it up the best that I can so that Nicole can have the best day. Looking back, I would do it all over again for her. But boy, it sure did do me in.
Every night I came home just exhausted and didn't know how I was going to make it to the next day. But somehow I did. Thank goodness all the running around went smoothly so there weren't any disasters or anything like that to deal with.
Come the Friday, the day before the wedding, Glenn and I were very involved with the decorating at the church with my aunt. I just kept pushing the pain and exhaustion to the back of my brain and refused to let it get to me. There was no time for this in my life! Everything went well, everything looked beautiful and the rehearsal went off with a bang. We were ready for the big day. My body was telling me otherwise.
That night in bed, I was at one of my lowest lows. I didn't know how I was going to make it to the wedding. My body was screaming in protest to me and it was screaming loud. It was so bad that I looked at Glenn, and honestly, I asked him this question in all seriousness "Do you know where we can get some marijuana? I have heard that helps people and I am in desperate need of help." He looks at me funny cause he just can't believe that his wife has asked him this! But that was the shape I was in, I was ready to resort to pot to get me through the wedding. Of course, I knew that it really wouldn't happen as I don't smoke anything but when you are desperate, you mind takes you to places you thought you would never go before.
Needless to say, Glenn did not go get me any pot. We had a little laugh over the discussion and then tried to figure out other ways to help me through the night and through the next day. Thank goodness for an amazing hairdresser and makeup because I was so drugged for Nicole's wedding but you wouldn't know it to look at the pictures. I just kept smiling and kept going through the day and popping pain pills like there was not tomorrow. The wedding went off so well and the bride and groom had a lovely day! And in the end, that is what mattered to me. I could deal with me later. This was their one day for them and I was determined not to ruin it for them. I just knew that I wouldn't probably be moving off the couch for at least a week!
Phew, I did it. But don't ask me to do anything like that anytime soon. The body can only handle so much at one time and I got my one free pass.
Every day we run here and there getting things done. It is exciting seeing her get all excited and get things finalized. I even have the chance to help her find a place for Jared and her to live...there was much to do! I know that each day is wearing on me physically but I am trying to suck it up the best that I can so that Nicole can have the best day. Looking back, I would do it all over again for her. But boy, it sure did do me in.
Every night I came home just exhausted and didn't know how I was going to make it to the next day. But somehow I did. Thank goodness all the running around went smoothly so there weren't any disasters or anything like that to deal with.
Come the Friday, the day before the wedding, Glenn and I were very involved with the decorating at the church with my aunt. I just kept pushing the pain and exhaustion to the back of my brain and refused to let it get to me. There was no time for this in my life! Everything went well, everything looked beautiful and the rehearsal went off with a bang. We were ready for the big day. My body was telling me otherwise.
That night in bed, I was at one of my lowest lows. I didn't know how I was going to make it to the wedding. My body was screaming in protest to me and it was screaming loud. It was so bad that I looked at Glenn, and honestly, I asked him this question in all seriousness "Do you know where we can get some marijuana? I have heard that helps people and I am in desperate need of help." He looks at me funny cause he just can't believe that his wife has asked him this! But that was the shape I was in, I was ready to resort to pot to get me through the wedding. Of course, I knew that it really wouldn't happen as I don't smoke anything but when you are desperate, you mind takes you to places you thought you would never go before.
Needless to say, Glenn did not go get me any pot. We had a little laugh over the discussion and then tried to figure out other ways to help me through the night and through the next day. Thank goodness for an amazing hairdresser and makeup because I was so drugged for Nicole's wedding but you wouldn't know it to look at the pictures. I just kept smiling and kept going through the day and popping pain pills like there was not tomorrow. The wedding went off so well and the bride and groom had a lovely day! And in the end, that is what mattered to me. I could deal with me later. This was their one day for them and I was determined not to ruin it for them. I just knew that I wouldn't probably be moving off the couch for at least a week!
Phew, I did it. But don't ask me to do anything like that anytime soon. The body can only handle so much at one time and I got my one free pass.
Monday, March 21, 2011
Let's get you back to work!
So you see, now that I have completed the Fibromyalgia course, my insurance company for long term disability thinks that it is time to get me back to work. It isn't that I don't want to go back to work, that is my ultimate goal. The problem is, I am not better, getting worse some days and we still don't know what is wrong with me. That is why I don't feel it is time to start thinking about me going back to work.
I meet with the Rehabilitation consultant on May 12, 2009. She comes to my place and the meeting is for 9:30 AM. She shows up at 9:00. Oh well, she can see me with my hair still wet from the shower, bed unmade etc. It is an interview like session...can you do this, can you do that, have you tried this, have you tried that. Some of it seems silly, some of it seems legit. I don't get warm fuzzy feelings from this lady. You can tell she is by the book and her job is to get me back to work and she will do whatever it takes to make that happen. I do stress to her that we are still working on getting my situation figured out. She doesn't really care, she really likes the Fibromyalgia diagnosis and is content on working with that. She doesn't get it. But then again, I am getting used to that. The meeting finally wraps up and she will get back to me as to what my plan will be as far as getting rehabilitated. She sees me back to work by August. Let's hope she is right!
After that meeting, I need a nap. That was an emotionally draining meeting.
I meet with the Rehabilitation consultant on May 12, 2009. She comes to my place and the meeting is for 9:30 AM. She shows up at 9:00. Oh well, she can see me with my hair still wet from the shower, bed unmade etc. It is an interview like session...can you do this, can you do that, have you tried this, have you tried that. Some of it seems silly, some of it seems legit. I don't get warm fuzzy feelings from this lady. You can tell she is by the book and her job is to get me back to work and she will do whatever it takes to make that happen. I do stress to her that we are still working on getting my situation figured out. She doesn't really care, she really likes the Fibromyalgia diagnosis and is content on working with that. She doesn't get it. But then again, I am getting used to that. The meeting finally wraps up and she will get back to me as to what my plan will be as far as getting rehabilitated. She sees me back to work by August. Let's hope she is right!
After that meeting, I need a nap. That was an emotionally draining meeting.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Fibromyalgia Clinic (May 4-6, 2009)
Here it is...I am going to be spending the next 3 days in a room full of people with Fibromyalgia. When I first get there it is kind of depressing...everyone seems to be 50+ and I am the young one in the bunch. Do I really belong here? Thankfully just before we go into session, another young lady joins the group and I don't feel so isolated.
The purpose of the clinic is for you to learn about your diagnosis, learn how to deal with it, get nutrition and fitness tips etc. Remember, I don't think this is the right diagnosis for me but I have to attend the session anyways. If anything, it is good to get out of the house for 3 days and to interact with people. Information is always good, regardless, so I go in with an open mind and participate in the sessions over the next 3 days.
The thing that I really don't like about the sessions is that it almost becomes a contest with the group as to who's pain is worse, who has suffered the most etc. It can really bring the group down. The administrator's try to keep the group from having the conversation go that way but it is inevitable in a group setting like this. It is sad to see so many people suffering from ailments that hinder their everyday life. It is sad to hear of people who don't have the support system that I have...their spouses don't support them or understand what they are going through, their work places aren't treating them well etc. It makes me thankful that I have such a great support system and that I have a job with benefits so that I can go on disability so that I can get myself better.
In the end, the 3 days weren't all a waste of time. I was out, I was getting some good stretching in, I met a potential new friend and I came away more determined to get to the bottom of what was ailing me.
The purpose of the clinic is for you to learn about your diagnosis, learn how to deal with it, get nutrition and fitness tips etc. Remember, I don't think this is the right diagnosis for me but I have to attend the session anyways. If anything, it is good to get out of the house for 3 days and to interact with people. Information is always good, regardless, so I go in with an open mind and participate in the sessions over the next 3 days.
The thing that I really don't like about the sessions is that it almost becomes a contest with the group as to who's pain is worse, who has suffered the most etc. It can really bring the group down. The administrator's try to keep the group from having the conversation go that way but it is inevitable in a group setting like this. It is sad to see so many people suffering from ailments that hinder their everyday life. It is sad to hear of people who don't have the support system that I have...their spouses don't support them or understand what they are going through, their work places aren't treating them well etc. It makes me thankful that I have such a great support system and that I have a job with benefits so that I can go on disability so that I can get myself better.
In the end, the 3 days weren't all a waste of time. I was out, I was getting some good stretching in, I met a potential new friend and I came away more determined to get to the bottom of what was ailing me.
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