A Need to Slow Down

I know I need to slow down. Just because I am feeling better doesn't mean that I can resume all activities. I know that but doing it is really hard. My mind tells me to get up and go but my body is saying SLOW DOWN, I'M NOT READY TO RESUME YOUR ACTIVE LIFESTYLE! I have tried to resume my activities at the genealogy library. I go and I try to get some work done but then I hit a wall and lose any and all energy. Last Monday we rescued the old school records (pre 1955) from the soggy vault. Mold was everywhere on the books. We spent a couple of hours cleaning the books. Then I did treasurer work in the afternoon. I should have gone home at noon. I went to bed that night a little after 9 and didn't get up until 8:30 Tuesday morning. I had no energy, or desire, to do anything Tuesday. Wednesday morning I started physical therapy on my elbow--more about that later, then on to the library where I spent all day. Church business meeting was that night and then Thursday afternoon I was the speaker at retired teachers. Friday was another therapy day and after therapy I came home and did nothing the rest of the day--Saturday, too. This morning I taught Sunday School. Too much, too much, too much! I have to learn to listen to my body!

My elbow is broken. I broke it when I fell back in September (see a previous post). I didn't know it was broken. All I knew was that it hurt, especially when I tried to get dressed each day. And I can't straighten the arm out. I finally went to the doctor, hoping for some medication to relieve the pain. He had xrays taken and it clearly showed that I have a radial fracture. It was too late to try to set it so he consulted with an orthopedic doctor and they decided that therapy would help. I started those treatments last Wednesday and will go every MWF for two weeks. I have a heat pad on it right now, getting ready to do some at home work on it.

The bills are coming in now for the hysterectomy and the insurance notices are also coming in. So far it looks like I will have about $1500 to pay when it is all said and done. I don't think that will be too bad considering the hospital bill alone was over $54,000. When I had my first physical therapy session the receptionist said the insurance approved 20 sessions and I had met my deductible so there would be no charge for these. Thank goodness for insurance! I guess that $551 I pay every month is worth it!

This week will not be quite a busy for me, although there is something on my schedule every day. The only bad day will be going to Springfield Wednesday to the surgeon for my 4 week checkup. That will be a long day and then I have to be back for therapy at 3. I do plan on going in to work at the library, but only half days. They're just going to have to get along without me for a while longer! And I need to keep telling myself SLOW DOWN.

confused

I am either bored or not feeling so hot. Can't decide which one it is. This has been the longest day! The minutes have just dragged by. I can't stay focused on a book long enough to make any sense of what I'm reading. I have no desire to play computer games. There's nothing good on TV.

I have one spot that is oozing a little pus. It doesn't hurt and it isn't red or hot, just oozing out under the steri-strip. I have another spot that is stinging a bit. Again, it's not red or hot, not oozing either.

What really hurts is my arm from the fall at church on the 13th. I guess I am going to have to go see the doctor to see what's wrong with it. It feels 100 times better than it did the week I fell, but I'm having a hard time trying to dress myself. Pain shoots out of my shoulder and/or elbow. I never know which place it will come from. Then, trying to find a comfortable way to lay in bed is almost impossible. I have not gotten very much sleep the last few nights.

So I don't know if I'm bored and need to be around people, or if I should go to my regular doctor this week about my arm.