Thursday, April 25, 2013

Appreciating Health

I've been a bit under the weather since April 12th and spent several hours in the emergency room. I do not recommend the emergency room, unless of course it is for an actual emergency.

I had been experiencing intermittent pain for a couple of weeks, but nothing I couldn't shake off. Until that Friday. I have a very high tolerance to pain, so when it doubled me over and made me want to... well, vomit. I knew I was past the point where I could do anything to diminish the pain.

I left work, met Husband and off we trod to the ER, since the doctor couldn't fit me in.

I explained the pain to the ER doctor. He did X-rays and informed me I had degenerative spinal discs and was experiencing muscle spasms. I informed him that even though that may be true, I was either trying to pass a kidney stone or had ovarian cancer! (Yeah, like I'm some sort of medical expert!) However, he performed no other tests than the X-ray and prescribed to some heavy duty pain meds (the very addictive type) and Valium to help relax the muscles.

You could have folded me up, placed me in a basket and I would have been happy to live there. The pain med did not eliminate the pain, I just didn't care about it and slept through most everything. On Monday I was able to get in to see my regular physician. It turned out to be a ranter nasty kidney infection, so I also had antibiotics to take. Between the physician and myself, I eliminated the pain meds due to my not liking to live in a semi-vegetative state and having to drive 35+ miles one way to work.

On Tuesday I was able to meet with a urologist and was most impressed. He did more UA's, cultures, blood work and is scheduling an MRI to rule out (or in) kidney stones. We will see where this adventure in aging is heading!

I returned to work yesterday and it was difficult. I'm still tired and need to get up and move at regular intervals. I am diligently drinking fluids, especially water and the urologist told me to get OTC cranberry supplements! Who knew?  And the paperwork on my desk abounds! OH MY!

I wanted to mention the music that is now playing on this site: It is "Sing Alleluia" by Roshanna Ariel in her album "Christmas Lullaby's" available as an MP3 on Amazon.

This very song is one that was played and sung for the pilgrims during the Walk to Emmaus. We were led into the darkened chapel lit only by candle light. Those who were singing to us reached out to touch and welcome us, then they slowly and quietly left us in the chapel with our spiritual mentors. I can only liken this event to that of "going home" to heaven. It was one of the most spiritually moving experiences I have ever had the pleasure of participating in.

This is all for the brief update. I would appreciate your prayers for a diagnosis and treatment plan.

I knew I was on the road to recovery when I began nesting, cleaning and purging items for an upcoming yard sale! And that - part of my year's theme of simplifying!


Simply yours,
Tamara

Proverbs 13:7

The Message (MSG)
A pretentious, showy life is an empty life;
    a plain and simple life is a full life.


4 comments:

  1. So good to know you are better. I've never had much luck with those ER Drs either. Pain sucks the life out of our days so hopefully you are on a good road to recovery now.

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  2. So sorry to hear that you have been in pain, my friend.
    Of course, prayers for a quick recovery for you.
    Don't get me started on the inadequacies of ER. Sigh.
    So glad that finally the appropriate tests were run.
    I am a kidney stone survivor. :)). I have had and passed them, and I am well aware of the excruciating pain you have been through.
    I send you warm hugs and prayers for a quick recovery.
    Love,
    Jackie

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  3. Prayers for an accurate diagnosis and a quick recovery on an acceptable treatment plan.
    Daughter recently had to call an ambulance the pain was so excruciating, she thought her time was up! Yep, was a kidney stone - ER determined that quite quickly and kept her in until she passed it.
    (The music is spine tingling by the way Tamara)
    I enjoyed your update immensely but not the health news, have you had your yard sale?
    Hugs
    Rose

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    1. The yard sale is scheduled for next weekend - Saturday only, all remaining items to be placed in the drive way - free for the taking! (This part won't be announced until 5 p.m.) It will be advertised in the local paper and via Facebook on our local sales, etc.

      In our area, most persons say "no early birds" I advertise, early birds welcome, help setup, free coffee and first picks of the day!

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