We Can Do It!
Lightning Strikes – Journal Entries 4-5 May 2020
May 4
745 slept hard. Weird dreams but can’t recall. Tired. Bad headache. Nose congested. Bloody and starting to turn green. Nor good. Center chest hurts. Whole body aches. Hurts to move or lie still. Lights bothersome. I have screen brightness all the way down and screen is still too bright.
845 sniffing Vicks vapor rub to help with breathing. Might even think about nebulizer with colloidal silver in a bit. Can’t hurt. Going to go take a ginger and drink coffee to see if it’ll ease this headache before it becomes a migraine. Need to get decaf.
1230 listening partially to homeschool summit. Able to hang two loads of clothes on line. Had kids carry wet clothes to line. Arms & back hurt and I’m tired but don’t hurt as much as I used to post LS. Yay! Thank you, Jesus!
818 I have a health tracker app on my phone. I made a goal of how much water I wanted to drink a day and I have successfully been able come close to or achieve daily goal (because it reminds me thru day). I’ve not been able to achieve the steps suggested as my legs, back, & hip fatigue easily so I have decided to set a small goal and work at that for a week then gradually increase. I’m happy to report I was able to exceed 1200 steps today.
Think I’ve done too much. My back is stinging right now. Muscles in legs twitching/spasming.
1039 center of chest throbbing. I know I really did too much. Ugh. Why does pain have to hurt so much?
Took pm rd and pain rx. Applied eo pain roller to chest. It’s easing some.
Whole body aches. Headache still there but has eased from this morning. Neck hurts. Back stings. Center of chest intense pain. Hands throbbing. Legs ache with muscles randomly spasming /twitching. Skin itchy. Feet cold & hurting. Toes tingly. Rt hip hurts. Low back aches.
1153 symptoms of migraines
May 5
715 Jordon successfully dropped off at work. Could tell he was excited. Had to keep telling him to slow down driving.
I’m tired. Laying back down for half hour. Temp currently 65° outside. I’m chilled to the bone. Wonder if all LS survivors get easily chilled post LS?
Muscles in back randomly twitching/spasming. Back stinging. Hands throbbing. Eyes watery. Sinuses congested. Nose still blood tinged. Headache. Toes freezing. Chest hurts but not like last night but could easily get there.
1110 center of chest tingling chilly feeling
300 just got home from helping Dezirae with her job. I’m exhausted. Rcvd word that it was time to pick up Jordon.
420 finally back home. I’m exhausted and need to rest before finishing dinner. I’m not even hungry. Ended up crashing in chair in LR. Heard Joe in my daze ask Dezirae to brown the meat for me.
646 dinner done and dishes cleaned too.
1000 this is a shocker to me…energy drain can be related to migraine?
1100 I’m plum exhausted. Hopefully it won’t take me too long to fall asleep.
Headache pounding. Neck hurts. Shoulders ache and tingle. Hands throbbing. Back hurts. Low back throbbing. Rt hip throbbing. Legs hurt & burn. Feet hurt. Toes tingle. Sinuses congested Nd stuffy. Nose blood tinged. Light sensitive. Eyes heavy. Chest center hurts. Phlegm down back of throat.
Took night meds, C, zinc, pain rx. Lft knee hurts with occasional stinging.
Lightning Strikes – Journal Entries 3 May 2020
May 3
1206a guys finally make it home. Rae & I watching a Christian film. It only has a few more minutes. Twas going to finish but Joe comes to livingroom and tells us to go to bed. Ugh. I’ll have to try to remember to finish later.
1238p attempt to put new bandage on knee myself and mess it up. Have to use medical tape anyways to keep it on. It’s looking much better.
I’m feeling the effects of not enough rest through the day. I’m exhausted. Looking forward to working on Sea Hope vests tomorrow. Found the stencil I made but misplaced. It was with my character trait notes. Lol.
My whole body hurts. Jostling down the bumpy dirt road hurts a body. Sinuses acting haywire. Headache. Neck hurts. Shoulders ache & sting. Arms sore. Hands throbbing. Butt aches. Legs throbbing. Chest hurts. Nose slight bloody. Lft leg tourniquet tightening feeling with numbness and tingling. Feet hurt and tingly. Toes freezing cold & tingly. Low back throbbing intensely.
730a very rough night. Bandage kept sticking to sheets hindering my movement. Couldn’t get comfortable.
Just as I fall asleep sheets got taken away. Rest of night I either fought for covers or got stuck in them and felt like I was suffocating. Woke in bad mood and angry. I’m in lot of pain today too. Told Joe it’s a tramadol pain day.
Decided to turn Rejoice radio on to soothe my tension. Music soothes and heals. It helps.
Joe prepares meat in crockpot and allows me to prepare the scallop potatoes in 2nd crockpot.
Today is Come back to church Sunday! Looking forward to seeing our people. Lots of prep work before 11am. Glad we have Kids to help.
800 getting ready for church. Went to closet to get something. I sneezed and I could not only feel it but I heard something pop inside my head. It hurt but my headache eased a little too. Weird.
1030 My back is severely throbbing and I’m wobbling like a penguin. Rae chuckling tells me she can tell I’m really hurting because I’m wobbling. Suggested I sit to rest a bit. Decide to sit and eat a nutrigrain bar so I can take my am meds. Have to eat something now before taking them so it doesn’t upset my stomach.
Joe offers us to sing accapella today. I refuse because I know music is important in the service.
1220 Joe discovered that we forgot to plug in meat crockpot. Now have to cook on stove top. I need fry pans at church. Ugh! My back is killing me.
Forgot it was metal pan and grabbed the handle. Lightly burnt my lft palm. Few minutes later I did same thing to rt palm. This makes me wish I had air fryer at church. Pork chops are cooked.
200p time to rest. I’m exhausted and in much pain. Guys are cleaning up kitchen. Head hurts. Feel crash oncoming. Laying down a while. Entire back throbbing with pain shooting like streams through body.. Hands ache. Neck hurts. Arms ache. Lft leg throbbing. Rt hip throbbing. Lower let leg tourniquet tightening feeling with numbness and tingling. Feet hurt.
224p sudden chilling burning sensation behind rt ear. Feels weird. Lasted about 30 minutes.
652 legs and feet are cold. Vision blurry. Back pain has eased but not gone. Brain fog. Head hurts on top of headache. Tired.
915 stumbled across info about migraines…
930 skin xtra sensitive tonight. Joe’s elbow next to my elbow. Tonight his hair on his arm felt like razors on my arm. Strange but very bothersome.
Lightning Strikes – Journal Entries 23- May 2020
Lightning Strikes – Journal Entries 1-2 May 2020
May 1
Took shower this morning. Stepped into shower lft foot felt like I was stepping on shards of glass. It was so painful but the hot water felt so goid on my aching low back & rt hip. Arms fatigued washing my hair but degree of difficulty has lessened ever so slightly. Yay! Entire process still very tiring. Thankful for the minor improvement.
Foot still hurts like I’m stepping on glass outside of shower. Had Joe look at it. He found tiny sliver of glass in my foot. He got it out. What a relief! Leave it to me to find. Have no clue where it came from.
Today Rae & I ran errands. Took us a little over three hours. Had to wait in line to get into Sam’s. No wheelchair available. Decided to try to walk behind buggy. Lines for checking out backed up to near back of store. Still no butter. Ugh! I’m so tired but we have one more store to get of items on list.
No wheelchairs at Wal-Mart either. Will have to walk it behind buggy. Rae noticed I was already limping at Sam’s. Asked God to give me strength to continue. Lines just as long at Wal-Mart. No butter there either. Egg $ astronomical. I can’t believe they were half the price just a month ago. This is ridiculous! Really considering getting our own chickens. Not sure how I’d keep up with them but it might just be worth it. Lord shew me the way.
I’m utterly exhausted now. I hurt all over something fierce. Feet, back, & rt hip fiercely paining me. Level 9. Need to rest a while.
Sat for while. Had to use restroom. Got up and almost fell back down on seat. Feet hurt horribly. Brain hurts. Eyes hurt.
Joe working on smoking a port butt for dinner. Glad he chose to cook dinner today. Decided to work on church bulletin some while Joe cooking dinner. We have house call to make tomorrow afternoon.
620 Joe decided to take dinner plates to our neighbors to check on them. Wanted me to go with him. Nice visit but I’m getting very sleepy. Feels like my brain is trying to shut down. She offers cup of coffee. I gladly accept. The caffeine I’m not suppose to be drinking will hopefully wake me up. It’s hard to follow conversations when I’m this tired.
1030 wide awake. Decided to work on blog stuff for a little bit.
May 2
12am finally going to bed. Struggled a bit with PT exercises. Lft leg cramping. Arms fatiguing and cramping. Pushed through.
Neck hurts. Mild headache. Sinuses congested but nose feels dried out like I need to moisturize it. Slightly bloody. Neck muscles tight. Lots of knots. Shoulders tight and sore. Arms hurts and ache deeply. Back hurts. Rt hip aches. Hands swollen and hurting. Legs ache and cramping. Muscles periodically twitching like mini spasms. Lower lft leg tourniquet tightening feeling with some numbness. Feet hurt and tingly. Toes tingly. Brain wore out and fatigued. Hurts to stand. Knee is looking much better and doesn’t hurt as much. Think the Vitamin C and frankinsense oil are helping. Knot feeling in rt side of back.
Thanking the Lord for another day. Think I’ll look for ways to bless someone else today.
930 Rae reminded me I promised to take her shopping for bathing suit. I forgot. Joe decided to go with us and make a morning of it…family time. Found bunch of goodies at Dirt Cheap. I had to take it slow as my hip was throbbing. Rae commented that she could see I was starting to limp. Next store Target. Found a more modest bathing suit that Rae liked but it was bit pricey. I decided to look online for coupon. Found same suit on their website for 30% off online. Asked employee how that’d work. She informed us that they price match. Yay! Love when I can save $.
We have house call to make at 3pm. It’s 1:00. Rae & Joe are hungry. We decide to go to Taco Bell. Lines are long everywhere due to in dining not open yet. We wait anyways. Make it home just long enough to freshen up and change cars.
2:15p I’m so tired I need a nap. Not gonna happen. I close my eyes for a little while on way to their house.
745p Enjoyed visit. Haven’t seen them in quite a while. Looking forward to seeing them in church tomorrow. Joe worked it out for someone to pick up their kids for church tomorrow. Their van broken down and they can’t afford to get it fixed. I so wish I had the money to give but I don’t so I pray for God to provide a miracle.
While their my allergies start acting up, oh I can feel my sinuses itching like crazy, my eyes begin to water. I need to crash but I have to mind my p’s and q’s. I pray under breath asking for God’s help. Thankfully, I manage to hold it together until we get down the road and I begin to sneeze. Ugh. Joe thinks it’s pet dander.
830 home again. Need to post next Scripture Journaling and I don’t have it completely written yet. I ask God to help and He does. I get so overwhelmed at the going at times. I just can’t seem to keep up with it all.
Able to get new post uploaded by 10pmish. Thankfully, I remembered that I noted the steps to convert a word doc to jpeg and saved for future use. It saved me a lot of time. Whew!
1100p I finally finish printing bulletins. Now waiting for guys to come home.
Lightning Strikes – Journal Entries 29-30 April 2020
April 29
845 woke from a very strange dream. [I was in search for finding myself – I was looking for me. I found myself at a conference of some sort sitting at a table with an army recruiter. I had just taken the entrance exam and they were revealing my score. I had scored in one of the highest percentile and excelled in the computer knowledge aspect. The news was shocking and exciting. They wanted me to start right away. I told them I’d have to pray about it and discuss it with my husband because I had a family it would affect also.
I immediately shared the good news with “-” (blonde girl we were houseparents to at Hope – her name escapes me presently). She was so excited for me. I sadly told her I probably won’t be able to walk that path because it would affect my husband’s pastorship and I couldn’t take that away from him but there had to be a way I could do something similar instead. Maybe I could pursue getting a degree in computers via help thru a retrain program or something. I cried. ]
1100 Decided to open the wholetones chroma DVD and listen/watch on my laptop while working on few things. Started listening but only hearing music. My vcl player needed to be updated. Ugh. Always something.
At first the videos were a little hard for me to watch. All the movement is hard for me to follow (mind you that I’m working thru a brain injury). I decided to watch the “How to use Chroma” session. I just wanted to cry. Hearing and seeing what the healing frequencies are suppose to work towards healing. I’ve read the book but I cannot remember what I read. I struggle with memory and comprehension. This in and of itself is bothersome, but a peace comes over me when I recall the Scripture and hymns I memorized as a teen.
I never thought about the possibility of people not feeling worthy of receiving healing. Why would someone not feel worthy? Why would they feel shame? Do I feel that way? No! I want to be healed. I just don’t know how.
900 fear is the hardest to overcome. It is a stronghold that can govern our lives if we let it.
1159 moderate pain. Headache minimal about 4. Neck hurts. Shoulders ache. Bloody nose though not streaming just when blowing nose. Sinuses congested. Hands swollen and achy. Low back aches. Rt hip throbbing. Lower lft leg tourniquet tightening feeling. Legs ache.
April 30
128 still wide awake
530 woke when Joe gave me kiss to go to work. Couldn’t go back to sleep. Purposely stayed in bed and tried to no avail.
600a have nosebleed. Took few minutes to get it to subside. Feeling weak and lousy.
715 Decided to get up after reading my Bible. No sense waiting time.
730 Rae left for work. I’m by myself for few hours. Ah Peace and quiet. I put on Wholetones Chroma but only listen to first one Open Door. Fiddled around doing little chores I haven’t been able to do. Took couple hours to find right size box to ship a pkg.
1000 my where has time gone? Still have lots to do. Need to figure out classes for next year and order books. Finally have Jordon’s classes figured out. Placed one order today for Math & Home Ec. Still need to nail down Raes classes. I’m so perplexed. Ugh.
Recvd email bank statement was available.
1230 Raes home from work. Ugh. I didn’t get near as much as I wanted to. I’m tired. Decided to take lunch. Ate lunch and began balancing checkbook asking God to help me not take as long as last time. I have to go through it few times because I’m missing something. Several errors. Took me 2.5 hours to balance checkbook. My head is throbbing and I’m exhausted.
300 I feel a crash oncoming. I try to get comfortable. I’m hurting. Rt hip & low back throbbing something aweful. Feel myself about to crash and lay head down. Next thing I know it’s 4pm and I’m coming to. I’m so tired still if only I could sleep longer.
415 gotta get up to get ready for church. Joe picking us up tonight. Glad he’s driving.
AHIF posted…
Interesting read…would you say that you still feel fatigued years after your injury?
I answered…
Yes. I’m 3 years out this July. Though I’m doing better I get so wore out especially when needing to use my brain for thinking and processing for lengths of time. Wish I could get someone to understand it and explain it to me.
They replied…
Hi Melissa! Here is an article about fatigue…https://www.brainline.org/article/fatigue-after-brain-injury-brainline-talks-dr-nathan-zasler
1159 I’m exhausted by awake. Rt hip & low back intense throbbing as if caught in horrific knot. Cramping in rt side. Legs ache & random twitching. Neck hurts. Bad headache. Feet tingling. Hands achy & swollen. Lft knee is looking better but hurts. Applied frankinsense oil roll on to knee to aid in healing. Also taking 2-3,000 mg Vitamin C. Random sharp stabbing pains through body.
Taking pain rx & muscle relaxer or I won’t get any sleep.
🎶 Rejoice in the Lord 🎶
Breast Cancer Diagnosis
Lightning Strikes – Journal Entries 27-28 April 2020
April 27
Muscle & joints ache upon waking. Sleepy but need to get moving. Let hand hurts where I cut it. Used colloidal silver to rinse it last night. Looks bit better this morning & not as red. Knee hurts when I up too long.
Have house call to make this morning. Looking forward to it.
913 recvd call from a local pastor’s wife. Wanted to know if I’d be interested in some sheet music. Oh, what a blessing. She has three totes full plus a bookshelf to store them in. Praise the Lord! An answer to an unspoken request.
936 recvd phone call to postpone house call. Ugh! Her daughter not feeling well this morning. Try again on Wednesday.
945 music & bookshelf delivered to my doorstep.
1000 recvd message that my mom is coming over to help me clean my house windows in preparation for caulking them. Not what I planned today but it needs done. Kids will help.
119 Windows are cleaned, shrubs trimmed, sidewalk & driveway pressure washed. Oh, Jordon & Jakob took tree stand out of woods. Whew! Time for much needed break.
Oh, I helped as I could but mostly sat to supervise kids. Even if I tried to do stuff I was being fussed at to not do too much. Work for 5 minutes or so then I was sitting to rest bc low back throbbing and out of breath. Sun and cool breeze felt so good.
230 need to lay down feel crash on coming like I’m about to pass out.
400 crashed for two hours.
Key to good nutrition is three ingredients: amylase, bromelain, lipase
https://www.facebook.com/657510594395291/posts/2075878905891779/
420 headed to store with Rae to get few items. I forgot to look for butter.
445 Joe had a rough day at work. Coworkers acting like children. Ugh. Joe having to take a stand.
1000p KL checked on me. Reminded me about applying eos. Thanked her. Decided to apply frankinsense. I remembered I used it for a while to heal the wound on my head after LS.
1159p decided to try my PT exercises. Not able to put much pressure on my knee so unable to do half squat and cat/cow. Only able to do partial bridges. Sore all over afterward. Can tell it’s been a while. Definitely need to get back into my PT exercises routine.
Headache. Low back throbbing. Rt hip hurts. Shoulders hurt. Hands burning ache. Legs ache. Toes stinging tingly. Skin itchy. Muscles in legs jittery feeling. Lft elbow hurts…bruised. Pain about a 7/8. But I feel good about myself because we were able to stuff done around the house.
April 28
730 rough night. Nightmares (snakes, & woke myself up at one point yelling fire) bad headache. Nose stuffed up. Trouble breathing. Used saline nasal spray to moisten nostrils a bit. Mouth feels parched as if I’m a little dehydrated.
930 going with Rae to sit with LM while Rae cleans her house.
Lightning Strikes – Journal Entries 24-26 April 2020
April 24
Mom came over today for her & Dezirae to perm my hair. Took about 3 hours. Had to get up periodically bc sitting in hard chair hurts.
Friend called asking me to make home visit on Monday. Told her I would. Praying I can be an encouragement to her.
Another friend called 30 minutes later asking for help with a mutual friend. LW fell yday. LJ hurt her back and put on bed rest for weekend. Asked if I’d go get few groceries & pick her up some dinner. Told her I would. Took about two and a half hours by time all was done n said.
Wore out. Took cat nap.
Rae asked me to go for walk. Took my wheelchair so we could walk farther. Able to walk to Sassy then had Rae wheel me back. Trying to push me up incline on our driveway she almost too me out of chair. We just cracked up laughing. Piping out possible headlines. Lol.
It was good day for me. I’m wore out but in good way. Glad to be a blessing to someone else.
Headache mild. Neck aches. Torso, legs, n hands throbbing. Periodic stinging stabbing pain in rt leg. Jerking makes body hurt worse. Toes tingly. Stinging pain in shoulder blade area. Tired. M
April 25
945 clearly I’m still at risk for falls. Twas watering my small garden. Peripheral vision still off. I think I accidentally stepped on edge of sidewalk and I went down. Hurt my hands and scrapped up my knee pretty bad. Had to hollar for help. Lft hip & left arm bruised too. Ugh!
I was sore with deep bone ache now I plumb throb all over. Guess I’ll be taking it easy for a bit. Ugh!
Decided to go lay down in bed for while. I need a nap.
345 still very sore all over
430 Joe grilled pork steak for dinner. Delicious.
515 lft knee swelling. Putting ice on it for 20 minutes.
1045 knee still bleeding slightly when I keep it down. Joe changing the bandage. Headache. Exhausted. Knee stinging. Whole body aches.
1130 took pain rx & muscle relaxer. Humming His Eye Is on the Sparrow in my mind.
Headache. Neck throbbing. Arms ache. Hands swollen and hurting. Lft arm near elbow bruised. Torso throbbing. Low back throbbing. Tailbone bruised with line where I landed on edge of sidewalk. Legs throbbing burning. Lft knee burning. Joe had to change bandage. Feet & ankles throbbing. Toes tingly. Chest hurts. Glad it wasn’t though it makes me feel like a crippled old lady.
April 26
Decent day. Not as sore as I thought I’d be. Joe changed bandage on my knee twice and applied pain massage oil to my back/tailbone area.
Had moderate difficulty playing piano but was able to sing some to the hymns I was more familiar with. Wasn’t able to do that pre lightning strike. Also can transpose 4 hymns from 4 sharps to flats. Don’t know how nor can I explain except I just can now. Thinking maybe if I could afford in person piano lessons I might just get better. Rae really wants to take lessons. Praying God works that detail out for her.
Took almost two hour nap. I was tired out. Can tell I haven’t been doing PT exercises. Core keeps cramping horribly if I turn too far in one direction. Takes minute to several minutes to get it to subside. Guess I’ll try to start back up tomorrow.
Able to paint two more life jackets for the Sea Hope boat. Couldn’t do anymore because my hands started cramping and my right hand started shaking. Had to fix one of letters because the edge was not straight.
Headache minimum. Bright lights bothersome. Neck aches. Shoulders ache. Low back & rt hip throbbing. Hands swollen and hurting. Tailbone aches. Lft knee hurting. Toes freezing. Feet ache. Lft elbow area hurts. Fingers throbbing. Rt ankle twitching and itching. Random stabbing shooting pain in forearms. Brain fog. Tired but awake. Overall pain 7/8 but able to get down to 5 with pain rx. Took pain rx & muscle relaxer to help me sleep tonight.
