Walking Through Faith in Hard Times
November 21-23, 2022
Walking through Faith in Hard Times is challenging, especially when facing illness, fatigue, and uncertainty. In these journal entries from a few days in November 2022, I share my personal experiences of living out faith in hard times each day, trusting God through physical trials, family responsibilities, and daily life challenges.
November 21
5:00 woke hour or so ago because my left shoulder popped back out of place. I’m in severe pain and it’s keeping me awake. I cannot afford to go back to chiropractor this soon.
Looking up how to pop it back in place myself.
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:4-5; Acts 11-12; Psalm 147:11
Feeling very lethargic today and hurting all over. Managed to burn papers, take out trash, and unload dishwasher. Made fresh juice. Ate pumpkin oatmeal muffins for breakfast. Gave me sour indigestion. Pushed myself to wash a few loads of clothes just to run dryer to heat the living room area.
Need to rest a while. Fell asleep in recliner. Not sure how long I slept. Woken by phone call from Joe. Dezirae should be home soon.
Need to pick up few things from store. Dezirae drives and helps me shop so it won’t take as long. Employee grumpy. Tried to cheer him up, but he wasn’t having it.
I’m grumpy and hurting exponentially. My bones hurt horribly. Can’t seem to shake the sour indigestion.
Attempt to help Dezirae with math. Some problems I cannot seem to figure out or remember how to do. It frustrates me.
Feel like I have something stuck in my throat.
Brewing cup of chamomile tea to drink before bed.
Lord, please allow my appointments to go quickly tomorrow so Dezirae can get to school in time to be counted present for the day.
Excruciating pain in lower back. Took pm vitamins plus 1/2 Benadryl and tramadol. Hopefully, I’ll fall asleep quickly.
Thankful for . . .
- Having family around.
- I was able to rest some today.
November 22
5:24 trouble sleeping. Got hot. Left shoulder popped again. I think it might’ve popped back into place. It’s very sore now.
Song: ♫ Great and Mighty is the Lord our God ♫
Headache. Whole body aches deeply. Hands tingling and achy. Thirsty.
Scripture: Colossians 3:15; Acts 13-15; James 1-5; 1 Peter 3:15
Dr appointment at hospital (MRI and EKG). Praying it won’t take too long so I get Dezirae to school on time.
Well, appointments at hospital were frustrating, and they decided to do the pre-admin for my surgery next week. I didn’t know that was going to go on today. At the MRI, they had trouble finding a giving vein because I was slightly dehydrated. Took 4 pokes. Ouch!
The receptionist was very nice though. I let her know that I had EKG next and she went ahead and prepared the paperwork for me to show the receptionist at the outpatient registration desk.
Once at the outpatient registration, the paperwork helped me to see the registration nurse quickly, but that’s when she began pre-registering me. When she told me that they would need bloodwork, I told her no. Dr B told me I wouldn’t need to since I just had them done with Dr George. She thanked me and called Dr George’s office to request copy of labs. The registration process took as long as the MRI. EKG only took about 10 minutes.
Didn’t leave hospital until around 12 noon.
Called school to let them know what’s going on and let them know that Dezirae wouldn’t be making it. So much for perfect attendance. I feel horrible.
PCP called once I got home. My TSH is a little low. It’s 0.489. T4 was in normal range. Dr wants me to have test repeated in 6 weeks to keep an eye on it.
https://drhyman.com/blog/2015/06/10/a-comprehensive-6-step-strategy-to-heal-your-thyroid/
https://www.healthline.com/health/hypothyroidism/managing-your-hypothyroidism-in-every-season
https://www.healthyandnaturalworld.com/tsh-levels-normal-high-or-low/
https://drbrighten.com/natural-treatments-hyperthyroidism/
2:40p Dezirae went to school to pick up her holiday dish. She made pizza dip for her thanksgiving party for her class that she couldn’t attend because of taking me to doctors. Bless her heart.
Decided clean main bathroom and take out burn papers. It feels like it’s going to rain. My bones hurt deeply. Tummy hurts. Mom came to borrow a roaster oven. Informed me that someone is giving them a ham for Thanksgiving. We decided on ham and turkey. Thank You, Lord, for answering thought prayers.
Need to rest a little before getting ready for church.
God had food donated at church. It provided us with food to eat for dinner. After we ate, I divided leftovers up between our church families. It feels so good to be able to help others. Thank you, Lord.
Had to sit and rest a while afterwards. My lower back is throbbing like a toothache, and my left shoulder feels like it’s out of place again. It’s throbbing.
Tonight’s service is Thanksgiving Praise. Congregation gets to pick a hymn then we take turns giving praise for things God has done in between hymns.
By time we got home I was wiped out from today’s activities. Fell asleep in recliner in living room. Not sure how long, but woke around 11:30. When I looked around, we were all sleeping. Joe woke and suggested we all go to bed. I got up and was a bit dizzy, so I stumbled while holding onto wall to go to bed.
Thank you, Lord, for Your many blessings on me.
November 23
6:27 woken by extreme pain in left shoulder. I know it’s definitely out of place now. Can’t get comfortable. Tears leaking from my eyes. Need to figure out how to strength my muscles and ligaments so it won’t keep popping out.
Change positions to lay on my back and both my arms and hands go numbish with tingling needle pain.
I slept most of night and I’m still tired and exhausted.
Song: Thank you, Lord, for Your blessings on me
Scripture: Psalm 100:4-5; Acts 15-16
7:05 indigestion is getting pretty bad. I’m feeling a bit nauseous. Sucking on a ginger chew to help.
Information given during pre-admin y’day is conflicting from what I remember the surgeon told me. Decide to look up pre-op instructions.
Axillary Lymph Nodes: Dissection & Recovery
Is a Partial Mastectomy the Same as a Lumpectomy? – Biology Insights
https://m.newhealthadvisor.org/supplements-to-avoid-before-surgery.html
https://utswmed.org/medblog/supplements-before-surgery-anesthesia/
https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/patient-education/about-your-lumpectomy-surgery
https://marnieclark.com/your-breast-surgery-recovery-using-arnica-to-minimize-bruising-and-swelling/
https://marnieclark.com/my-top-favorite-things-to-promote-breast-surgery-recovery/
Told Joe I’m in lots of pain because my shoulder is out of place again. Joe saved me a trip to chiropractor. Said he watched how Dr did it and tried it for me. Last try it popped loud and back into place. I apparently gave Joe a dirty look and exclaimed, “That did it! Ahh. It feels better” to which Joe died laughing due to my facial expression. Lol. At least I feel better.
Called surgeon’s office to clarify instructions to follow for surgery. Not supposed to take any supplements or drink herbal teas for a week prior. Some of the supplements I take as natural preventative instead of drugs. If I don’t take them, I’ll be in a world of hurt. Nurse said I can take the absolute necessary supplements because they don’t want me to be a bad place come day of surgery. I thanked her. Surgeon will call me beginning of next week with results of MRI and EKG.
Will need to research which supplements can possibly thin blood to stop taking them. I’m allowing myself a “cheat” day tomorrow so I can enjoy Thanksgiving with my family.
Guys helped me out with grocery shopping while Dezirae stayed home to clean floors in living room and hallway.
Made coconut cake and homemade ice cream cake to celebrate Jakob’s birthday and Bri’s spiritual birthday. Cooked sweet potatoes in preparation for sweet potato casserole and sweet potato pie.
Joe made deer burgers for dinner. I helped start the Tator tots in the air fryer. Joe ended up finishing them up.
I’m exhausted and hurting immensely. Joe suggested I go take a nap before Jakob and Bri arrive. Slept for about an hour.
Nose is running and slightly bloody. I’m hurting immensely all over. Indigestion making me a bit nauseous. Sucking on a ginger chew. I took PEA supplement to prevent headache/migraine and tramadol for the pain. Slight headache.