Category: My Healing Journey

Sept 12

8:20a alarm went off at 7am. Hit snooze so I thought and fell back to sleep. So tired. Nightmares. Hence reason I don’t take muscle relaxer very often. Quoting scripture in head to combat them. 

Chest & back throbbing. Turned from stomach to back and neck and chest popped loudly. Ouch! Hands swollen and achy. Feet have warmed up but still slight cool. Low back throbbing. Tingling in lft foot and ankle.

9:40a- sharp stabbing pain in center of chest again. I don’t need this right now!!! Frustrating. Had daughter step on back. Popped little. Son lifted me up. Popped little more. Muscles randomly twitching in legs.

11:32a- think I stopped a migraine before it started. last night my feet were icy cold when I had a headache. I ate a bunch of pretzels before going to bed. started getting another headache this morning. ate a handful of pretzels. my headache went away

9:30p- I’m cranky, exhausted, extremely hurting. Laying down icing chest. Hands numb.

Sept 13

6:45a- woke up thinking I overslept. Hands swollen, achy, and tingly numbish. Center of chest starting to get sharp stabbing pain. Stomach hurts.

7:26a- Joe graciously is taking Jordon to work for me. 

Ears both ringing. Stuffy nose. Feet hurt. Rt hip aching. Low back aches. Hands ache & tingly. Eyes watery. Center of chest aches.

I guess I have spunk. Was told that yday. Trying to figure out if that’s good or bad in my case. I guess good.

Dictionary says spirit, courage, determination. Example sentence is “had the spunk to overcome a 

severe physical disability.” Anyone notice the sentence is laking a subject?

I think that describes me. Cool. I may not look disabled, but I sure do feel it some days while most others I feel excessively challenged. I’ve always having to rethink how I can accomplish things without extra effort because some physical effort causes great pain especially if it involves me arms.

7:40a- hands ice cold (that’s new?), lower legs throbbing, low back throbbing, feet are starting to feel icy. Ears both still ringing.   

12:13p- wore out from Sam’s trip. Rt hip throbbing. Low back aches. Chest hurts & icy starting, feet cold, short of breath. Need to go pick up cake & take to church. 

1:30p- got shocked more than 13 times in Walmart!!! That really hurts!!! Not like normal people bc it lingers somehow in my body. Each shock feels like it gets stronger. Told me family to keep their distance bc it’s not funny.

2:00p- finally arrived at church. We worked on sprucing up church some (pine needles in flower bed, guys blew off roof, Dezirae & Joe swept ceiling of porch – just spreading pine needles made me short of breath, set up tables in fellowship hall). 

5:00p- I’m exhausted and hurting all over. Center of chest icy. 

6:00p- crashed on chair in living room for little bit. Joe jumped in to help.

8:00p- center of chest throbbing. Icing my chest for little while. It helped not hurt as bad still aches.

10:00p- walking down hall to room got very dizzy. Grabbed wall for balance.

10:38p- sometimes deep breathing hurts my chest. Sometimes I don’t know if I should push thru or not.

Box fan making funny noise all of sudden. Joe noticed couple screws missing. Told him I found one on bed this morning or yday. He mentioned that I fell into the fan couple nights ago. I don’t have any recollection of it. Hmm?

Entire back aches and feels tight. Shoulders hurt. Feet ache. Skin itching some. Low back aches. Neck hurts. 

Sept 10

6:15a- woke in a sweat. Burning up. 

7:20a- Dad called in earlier for surgery today. Gotta hurry to hospital. I hate rushing…causes me to forget things and hurts my nerves.

8:02a- Dr’s anxious to start surgery. Joe & Jakob praying with Dad before they take him back.  

I have this problem

https://migraine.com/blog/my-weirdest-home-remedy-tool/?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=promoted&utm_campaign=Erenumab-CAS4&utm_confid=sovh175sq

https://results.wethinkhealth.online/topic/22/migraine+causes+symptoms+and+treatment/?utm_campaign=3JNHrS8&g_ci=23843874188640591&g_ai=23843874200330591&g_adi=23843874200590591

12:30p- talked with firefighters ate foosakley’s. Asked them if they encountered lightning survivors. Not really they said. Heard of them mostly. Joe introduced me. Wow that’s amazing. I really need to designed some type of business card to give to bring awareness.

2:08p- I’m beyond exhausted…about to crash. Dad went thru surgery well. Finally in a room. Ran errands with family picking up donations for big day on Sunday. 

Nerves are on fire. Chest throbbing. Legs and back throbbing burning. Took rx. Taking a nap. Phone been crazy busy too. Mechanic can’t see car until next Tuesday. Ugh! I don’t need this now.

Stomach cramping rt side. Brain crashing fogged burned out too much thinking overload. Forgot where I was going with this. Muscles spasming randomly throughout body. Neck hurts mostly rt side. Headache. Lights & loud sounds bothersome.

4:30p- don’t know why I tourture myself going to vball games (except to cheer my daughter on as I’m able). I know it gives me headache with loud noises and the lights and cause my nerves to fire up. Love my daughter

6:45p- visiting my dad in hospital. He’ll be in at least one night maybe two.

Rcevd info from TBI about concussion… https://www.wndu.com/content/news/Dos-and-donts-when-dealing-with-concussions-559854391.html

7:21p- center of chest stinging

10:00p- I’m exhausted and hurting all over. Headache. Muscles and nerves on fire. Muscles in back stinging. Low back throbbing. Calves burning and ache. Toes throbbing. Hands swollen and achy. Center of chest icy burning. Lower left leg tourniquit tighten feeling with some numbness & tingling from mid lower leg to toes.

10:50 feet cold. Getting chilly. Tired but wide awake. Arms ache. Took muscle relaxer. Cramping in lft calf

Sept 11

6:45a- woke up freezing! It’s not that hot in house. Got about 7 hours of sleep. Feel better than I have in a while yet I feel like I could sleep longer.

8:00a- Co-op today. Kept not only messing up my words but also fingerspelling words backwards. Talk about ultimate dyslexia if I had it. Frustrating! Gained student today. Need more chairs.

12:25p- I’m exhausted. Brain feels scrambled from information overload. Lft Hand tingly. Feet tingly. Legs ache. Rt hip hurts. Muscles randomly twitching thru body. Need to rest a bit. Dezirae making lunch.

12:50p- lunch eaten. Feel like I’m gonna crash. Laying down for little bit.

7:00p- so don’t like taking showers anymore cuz they wear me out and make me short of breath. Have to rest afterwards before I can do anything else.

9:00p- think I’ll go to bed. I’m exhausted from today. Brain doesn’t want to work right. Muscles randomly twitching thru body. Lower back throbbing. Rt hip throbbing.  

9:30- feet are like ice. Put on socks. Pm pt exercises. Neck hurts. Rt hip throbbing. Lower lft lg numbish from mid to foot. Rt hand throbbing. 

Read something recently about migraine trigger indicators. One possibility is ice cold feet just prior. Hoping to prove that wrong. Slight headache I do have. Upper chest aching

Sept 8 

7:00a- overslept forgot to set alarm

7:30a- prednisone seems to be helping. Neck on both sides seem to be a little less swollen than yesterday. 

8:30a- choked on my drink. forgot to raise hands to ease it waving my face with left hand until my husband reminded me to. still didn’t raise hand. done choking by then.

9:00a- that I can’t wear heels right now and put the wrong shoes on. back started throbbing when I walking at church. had to take shoes off. 

10:00a- lost & confused in SS. Not understanding sheep & goat analogy (Matthew 25:31-46). Gave me headache. Magnified brain fog I already had. Ugh!

11:00a- can’t seem to get hands, brain, & eyes to coordinate to play piano. Gave it my best effort. I know importance of music in service so I will continue to do my best until God supplies another pianist to take my place. I will not be offended in the least – I love to sing.

11:30a- both legs from knees down shooting throbbing pain. Top of left foot & toes partially numb. Toes tingling in rt foot. Rt hip hurtd. Tingling in arms & hands. Neck hurts. Low back throbs.

It’s hard to follow preaching. Hardly ever get all the points down. I try to take notes to help understanding and comprehension.

Just realized I forgot to notate about confusion & trouble comprehension of atty call on Friday. Had to have her explain to my husband. I think I frustrated her. 

Sometimes (maybe a lot) I not know how to explain pain. I don’t remember how certain pains feel. Memory is a whole other issue. 

Like pain shooting in my legs right now are like a dull stinging pulsating shocking pain. Makes it hard not to focus on that instead of what’s going on around me. I have no clue what syntax would cover that type of pain. It radiates up and down from knees to feet up lft side then down rt side.

Center of chest feels like I’ve gotten frost bitten.

2:00p- face & upper chest area super flushed – looks like a sunburn. Face kind of feels like it too. I’m so tired. Need to rest a while. Stressed out about next Sunday’s event. 

4:00p- attempted to finish bulletin board by putting letters up “Thank You For Your Sacrifice”. Got them pinned up but had to ask Dezirae to help finish bc arms and chest started hurting. 

6:30p- trouble getting brain & hands to coordinate playing piano. 

 Chest starting to really hurt. Ugh! 

It’s almost like when I get this bad that I have to treat myself like a fragile ceramic doll. 

11:30p- low back throbbing, neck hurts, lower lft leg tourniquit tighten feeling with some numbness up to midcalf area, toes tingly, headache, sinuses draining, stuffy nose, hands swollen and achy, muscles randomly spazzing thru body, muscles in midsection cramping, center of chest aches, tired but still awake

https://www.chronicbodypain.net/learning-how-to-cope-with-degenerative-disc-disease-and-what-not-to-do-exercise-can-be-hurtful/

Sept 9

6:15a- feels like I just fell asleep. Rough night. Fell asleep sometime after midnight. When I shut all lights off, I saw spots like disco lights all over room. It was very strange kept me from falling asleep for quite some time. Woke again at 2am and 4:30am.

Taking Joe to work. Car still down. Hopefully take to mechanics tomorrow and not cost too much or it’ll be sitting longer. This stresses me bc I have lots to do this week for Sunday preparations.

7:00a- stomach hurting bad thru to back

8:00a- Jordon suggested I lay back down for half hour to rest. 

Stomach hurting bad. Hands swollen and achy. Sinuses congested making it hard to breath. Face hurts. Chest center aches & icy. Pain pulsating in upper left back. Feet like ice-put socks on. Legs ache. Muscles randomly twitching/spasming thru body. Tush hurts. 

12:45p- going to friends house to get help with finalizing plans for Hometown Heroes Sunday. Stopped at produce market and post office on the way.

5:00p- Think mtg went well. Have to stop at store on way home to pick up items for dinner. 

6:00p- Joe & kids helped bring in food and put it away while I started dinner. I’m exhausted and hurting.

10:15p- Have several businesses on hook for donations. Had to type up letter on letterhead. Will have Joe sign in am. I’m exhausted and hurting.

   Back throbbing. Headache. Lft leg tourniquit tighten feeling with partial numbness from knee down to foot. Hands swollen and achy. Eyes watery. Brain fogged. Dizzy. Lips parched. Muscles randomly twitching thru body. Lft leg aches. Feet hurt. Center chest aches.

   Forgot about calling Dr’s today about medical records. Gotta do that tomorrow. Ugh! 

   Today went good but I’ll be glad when this week is over. Too much stress on me right now.

11:45p- stinging needle pain in hands, arms, legs, and back

Sept 3

4:30a- still took me while to fall asleep at least until pain rx calmed some of intense pain. Woke at 4:30 feeling like my heart was racing, but it wasn’t. Still in lot of pain but not as bad as last night. Pain level maybe a 6.

6:30a- took Joe to work – my car down – body can tell I haven’t driven a standard in while…muscles in legs cramping/twitching especially lft leg, low back & rt hip throbbing

Anxiety kicks in on higway. So trying not to scream or jump when another car gets too close for comfort or car merging onto highway makes me wonder if they’re going to yield. I know in my brain that… God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind (2Timothy 1.7); but it’s like that part of my brain was injured and the anxiety rears it’s ugly head no matter what. I get enough criticism and I can beat myself up over it as well, but none of the negativity is going to help me overcome. It’s like my brain and body go into automatic fight or flight mode whether I want them too or not. Loud noises even set me off sometimes. How does one overcome ptsd? Simply by acknowledging the issues and taking it one day at a time. A few things that are helping me are: deep breathing, quoting scripture, grounding (be aware of your surroundings using my senses – taste, touch, sight, smell, & sound).

https://www.verywellmind.com/grounding-techniques-for-ptsd-2797300

Ears ringing, congested, rt shoulder/back icy hot throbbing, hands swollen, achy, & tingly, lft ear hurts, chest hurting, 

8:24a- started to do morning pt exercises but fell back to sleep. Feel like I could sleep longer I’m so tired.

MSM is definitely helping with my allergies. I’m still a little stuffy, but not as congested as I was couple weeks ago. Trouble with eye exercises this morning. Eyes didn’t want to cooperate and trouble with counting. Did complete them. Now have headache.  

9:00a- Decided this year for scripture memory for school this year to do it through teaching them scripture songs. Started with a fun one. 

Proverbs 17:22 – A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

Interesting how my memory is so messed up since lightning strike, but most of the scriptures I memorized have stayed with me especially those I leraned to music.

10:50a- Jordon just got stung on back of heel walking back into house. Have baking soda paste on it right now. Had to calm him down & tell him to breath. Ugh!

11:00a- Jordon noticed bee flying inside window in front of house. Do you know how hard it is to remain calm so your kids will stay calm when inside you want to spazz out!?! Dezirae gave me some hairspray. I managed to spray it but missed first time. Sprayed second time on spot. Once I knew I got it, I used vacuum cleaner on that sucker. 

11:46a- had to scrub filter for water purifier. My whole body aches, nerves screaming & lightly stinging throughout body. I’m exhausted. Need a calgon moment to calm my nerves. Too much drama in one day for me my nerves to handle. Still have volleyball game. People just don’t know/understand how much of a challenge that is still for me. My rear end is still bruised from bleachers of game last Friday. I’ll bring my earplugs for sure. 

4:00p- left for vball game. Pit stop at bank. Need cash for entrance. Made it safe and on time.

11:24p- double header went until 8:30. Half way thru couldn’t stand sitting in bleachers nor pain in chest…sat along wall to support back. We lost but they put up a good fight towards end.

ASL class ready for tomorrow. Stressing because of unknowns. Number in class? Will they enjoy what I prepared? Will I stutter or mess up what I’m going to say?

I did tonight while at game. Trying to tell my husband something I was thinking of but it wouldn’t come out. Had to pause to slow brain down and said, “Just minute, I need my thoughts to catch up to my brain.” Lol!

No! I need to take time to breath (deep breaths). Relax myself as best as possible. Ask God to help me do my best and let Him handle the rest.

Debating doing pm exercices. I’m exhausted and really hurting. Music will soothe me.

Pain in center of chest extenuating (not sure what word is suppose to be presently) thru to back, low back throbbing, lower lft leg tourniquit tighten feeling with numbness up to just below knee cap, headache, rt ear hurts, skin itching, joints hurt to bones, toes tingly, brain jumbled, neck hurts more on rt side than lft.

Need to pick up Rx’s tomorrow at pharmacy. Feeling shaky. Head pounding. Rt hip now hurting.

Sept 4

4:30a- fell asleep sometime after 1am. Excruciating pain in center of chest!!!! Yesterday was too much for me. Headache. I just want to cry . Have to take Joe to work again bc my car still down. Lord’s gonna have to get me thru today.

6:30a- laying back down for little bit with ice pack on chest. Hopefully that’ll help ease pain some. 

Muscles randomly throughout body, lower left leg numbish and tourniquit tighten feeling, headache

7:12a- whole body aches, ice seems to have taken edge off stabbing pain 

11:36a- thankful I only teach one class this year. It’s small. Helper in 2nd class. Free last hour. I’m wiped and nerves are all jittery. 

2nd hour we helped kids make haystacks. Chow mein noodles, 1 pkg of chocolate chips, 1 pkg butterscotch chips). Hands arms have chocolate on them by time we we’re down. 

2:00p- had to stop at store to pick up few items. Muscles/nerves in arms, back, and legs screaming. Feel like I’m fading. Set security alarm off walking into the store. Don’t know how or why. Odd. No wheelchairs available. Walked behind buggy slowly. Had kids split up to get items. Dezirae stayed close by to keep eye on me.

Feel like I’m gonna crash. Chest hurting more again. Hard time staying awake. Asked God to help get me home safely. He did. Kids put grocerirs away and cooking lunch. I crashing on couch as I type.

Muscles spasming thru body. Exhausted. Chest center throbbing.

Moved to adjust on lounge severe stomach cramp kept me from moving at all for several minutes. Ice pack helped ease chest pain back down. I feel plain aweful. Lightheaded and dizzy. May have to call Dr.

Feels like my body is one big muscle cramp. I’m suppose to be getting better not worse. 

6:30p- crashed around 4:40ish. Joe woke me to feed me dinner in bed. Still feeling lethargic but not as wiped before crash. Muscles still quite jittery. Chest center starting to ache again. Trouble holding phone.

10:30p- took muscle relaxer to calm nerves around 7:30p still awake. Muscles not twitching as bad.

Lower lft leg tourniquit tighten feeling with some numbness, rt leg some numbness and tingling, back throbbin, lf t arm throbbing, nerves are stinging

Sept 1

 having hard time waking up

Whole body aches, tailbone bruised throbbing – it so hurts to sit down. Didn’t fall asleep until after 1am.

Feeling dizzy this am.

https://noravisionrehab.org/patients-caregivers/about-brain-injuries-vision/dizziness-balance-problems-related-to-vision

12:30p- tired, sleepy, eyes hurt 

2:00p- laying down feel like I’m going to crash.

4:00p- tried taking hour nap but I was still wiped out. Feel like I could sleep longer. Need to work on bulletin board for 9/11 & Hometown Heroes Sunday.

7:24p- lower back & rt hip throbbing, brain feels weird, eyes hurt, neck aches, lights bothersome

10:20- in lots of pain , skin itches, having trouble keeping eyes open, headache, rt hip screaming pain with periodic stabbing sharp pain shooting down rt leg to knees, low back throbbing, lymph nodes on both sides of neck swollen, sharp pain in rt neck, under rt arm skin hurts feels like shirt too tight though it’s not, lower lft leg tourniquit tighten feeling with some numbness feeling with some numbness 

Sept 2

8:00a- crashed fast and hard I did last night. Long I slept though broken off and on too. Entire back and arms throbbing. Nose stuffy. Headache. Face itches. Eyes watery.  

10:00p- decided to go to thrift store to look for hangers for boys room. Found soft pillows for livingroom, two tops, basket for give away, tablet although screen cracked, 3 packs of hangers though I had to search them out.

12:00p- thrift store trip wore me out. Feel out of breath. Headache.

1:30p- sweet corn bread casserole in the crockpot. Sitting now to rest while watching hallmark. Wifi keeps buffering. Ugh!

5:00p- dinner at parents. Played couple games. 

7:00p- tried to help Dezirae unravel volleyball net. Jordon took over. Decided to trim grass with scissors by my outdoor table. Don’t have weedeater. Got 1/4 area done before tiring out and hurting too much.

8:42p- shoulders throbbing, back throbbing, hands swollen and achy, headache, neck throbbing, bones ache thru body, legs feel heavy, low back throbbing. Haven’t taken pain rx all day and boy can I tell. Pain level about 7/8 right now.

10:30p- sharp pain in rt side, shooting pain in legs, skin itches, muscles spasming randomly throughout bod

Trying something…having kids charge their phones in kitchen and I’m turning mine off…want to see how it’ll effect my sleep if any.

August 29

7:30a- having trouble waking up today. Took a benadryl last night due to severe congestion. Also took pain rx & migraine rx. I guess it made for sleepy combo. Able to breath this morning. Severly stiff and in much pain this morning but at least migraine has eased. Still have slight headache.

Listened to wholetones music for almost an hour trying to calm overactive stinging nerves. Helped.

Lots to do today to get prepared for Joe’s birthday party after church tonight. What would take normally couple hours will take me all day. I’m learning to think outside box in order to get things accomplished.

1:00p- Eclaire cake made and in fridge. Sloppy Joe’s in crockpot. Jordon cut up the broccoli and cauliflower for me. Much appreciated. Broccoli Cauliflower Salad made and in fridge.  I feel like I’m forgetting something. 

I’m really sleepy. Slight headache. Pain level is a about a 4 but I did take pain rx around 9am.

1:40p- decided to wash some of dishes I dirtied. Only got part way before back was hurting too much to stand any longer. 

1:30p- really tired feel crash oncoming laying down a piece 

7:44p- rt hip throbbing, rt jaw aches

Headache

11:50p- low back & rt hip throbbing, lft hand and wrist numb & tingling, lower lft leg tourniquit tighten feeling with some numbness and tingling, headache worse, tired, upper back hurting, center of chest hurting, can feel my heart beating, muscles randomly twitching thru body 

August 30

6a- woke with headache, eyes watery,  toes tingly, 

1;00p- PT with neuro students. Had me walk 6 minutes up and back. Determined that as I get tired from exercises my right side gets more wobbly. About half way thru my legs started feeling like lead.  Toes tingly after walking.

Clothes line exercise showed issues with my shoulders. Wish I could remember the verbage they used.

They did several other tests to check my eyes motor control. Eyes show I’m still having trouble with vertigo. 

Update: yday session went well. They definitely tested my limits (in a good way) and discovered new information along the way. i.e. – I was struck on left side of brain and right side of body  is affected.  Convergence insufficiency in eyes.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/convergence-insufficiency/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20352739

*I guess that would explain why it’s been difficult to read since the lightning strike.

Some of the students admitted they were intrigued about lightning survivors and said they went home after last session and looked up information about lightning survivors. 

At the end of session, several had questions about what I deal with now versus prior to strike. I was able to tell them about the lightning strike and electric shock survivor Facebook group that has been helpful. I was even able to share some of the struggles I’ve dealt with regarding finding Dr’s willing to help and some of the things that have been beneficial along the way.

 Some were even intrigued at the lack of medical help for long term recovery. 

They were very appreciative of my willingness to participate. They even gave me a “Thank You” card.

I am thankful they were interested in learning and for their professor’s willingness to help me. God worked in mighty way & allowed seeds to be planted.

11:00p- wore out from today’s events.

Center of back left side aching with stabbing pain. Having troubl3 holding phone in hands – keep dropping. At least my headache is gone. Bloody nose.

August 31

7:30a- I’m in much pain. Whole body hurts. Tailbone feels bruised from sitting on bleachers. Shoulders and arms ache. Hands nd arms were numb uopn waking. Low back throbbing. Rt hip aches. Hands swollen and throbbing. Lowr lft leg tourniquit tighten feeling with some numbness. Rt ear hurts. Neck hurts. I don’t want to get up.  Left ear ringing. Bloody nose.

9:00a- started taking bulletin board down to change it out for 9/11 & Hometown Heroes Appreciation Sunday. Had to ask for help to finish taking it down. My arms started stinging & rt arm cramping. 

10:00a- so sleepy today. Joe had me drive car once we got to street to knock doors. Guys able to lead a lady to Christ.

12:30p- Mom, Dezirae, & I work on sprucing up front of church. I was able to rake a wheelbarrow full of pine needles for flower beds before pain was too much to bare. After resting a bit, Joe told me he needed to take me home bc I was going to overdo it.

Dezirae found my biology books! They somehow got put in clothing closet area? Weird?

3:00p- need to lay down feel like I’m going to pass out. Guys working on hunting stuff keep moving bed little. Make me feel like I’m tossed on stormy sea. Decided to move to Dezirae’s bed.

4:30p- still feel tired but need to cook dinner & do bulletin for tomorrow. Really need to start on it earlier in week. Gotta try to get my brain in gear.

11:30p- finished bulletin about 10:30. Got dizzy when going to restroom. Sore all over. Neck hurts. Hairline itches like crazy like allergic reaction to something. Hair touching skin bothersome. Lower lft leg tourniquit tighten feeling with numbness more than usual, lft hand went numb, lower back throbbing, center of chest tender with mild icy feeling, upper shoulders and back achy with pins & needles sensation, pins & needles sensation in  legs below knees, lower back/butt bruised and painful to touch, bruise on left upper arm (think I fell into dresser but not 100% certain), cramping in middle back region, neck hurts, periodic ringing in ears today, middle toe on left foot throbbing like it was bit, periodic coughing like I’m choking on fluids, tongue still looks odd 

Didn’t drink enough water today. I’m very thirsty. 

August 27

6:30- whole body aches

8:00- headache oncoming, rt hip & low back aches, face hurts

12:15p- just folded load of clothes from yday. My arms especially rt arm started cramping pushed thru until load was folded. Rt arm burning cramping, out of breath and exhausted. Time to rest til cramping subsides. 

4:30p- put clothes away. Remembered I needed to shred chicken for dinner. By time I get chicken shredded my back throbbing and shoulders burning. Need to lay flat to rest back a while.

6:00p- muscles twitching in lower lft leg outside

7:45p- stomach cramping and hurting

8:30p- lower back really throbbing. Heating pad applying. 

10:15p- doesn’t seem as if heat is helping…hard to think strait hurting this bad. Sipping chammomile tea.

August 28

5:00a- stomach and back cramping/throbbing most of night. Fell asleep doing breathing exercises. Tossed and turned most of night trying to get remotely comfortable.

6:00a- cramping has eased some. I hurt horribly from head to toes. Feel like I was beat up. Hurts to move. Sinuses congested severly. Trouble breathing.

8:00a- headache, feet tingly lft more than right, lower lft leg just above ankle tourniquit tighten feeling, hands swollen and achy, eyes watery, center of chest aches

Going to see if hot shower will help.

2:00p- PT study went well. There were 10 advanced neuro physical therapy students in the class today. Their assignment was to do an inital evaluation to determine what was wrong and different injuries. It was quite interesting and challenging at times.

I brought my usual paperwork that I bring to new apts but gave at end of class. They were amazed but very thankful that I chose to participate. 

They even challenged me…asked me what my goal was in all of this. I wasn’t sure how to answer.  Told them to be able to do more physically bc I’m not able to do half of what I used to and to be able to encourage others to get the help they need.

They will meet with professor (my physical therapist) tomorrow to discuss they’re prognosis and come up with action plan. 

Friday they will finish up testing they weren’t able to complete today and discuss action plan with me. I will ve able to give my input as well. 

11:50p- I’m exhausted and hurting all over. Migraine included. Rx taken. Hope to sleep some tonight. 

August 25

2am- awake

5am- awake

7:00a- alarm goes off. I’m in much pain especially my lower back. First thoughts why does it have to hurt so bad?! 

8:48a- still in lots of pain. Had to get daughter to help curl back of hair as my arms already cramping. Just want to lay down til pain goes away. On positive side, migraine has eased some though still have a headache.

11:30- Reni made my day. She decided to sit with me during church. She paitently waited until I was done playing piano then scooted to snuggle next to me once I sat down. Decided to take pic and noticed our toes were painted same color. 

Decided to make list of items that I see need to be done around church so 1. I can feel like I’m getting something done, be focuzed on what needs done, and 2. I can delegate help when people ask to help.

A lot of times when  when people ask how I’m doing I really don’t know how to answer. I’m always in pain sometimes more than other times.  It’s hard for me to know where I’m at  compared to where I’ve been because of my memory until I refer to my notes.    When people ask how they can help I’d not sure how to answer. Sometimes I don’t know how to help myself  because I’m uncertain on what exactly is going on.  To be frankly honest, I’m finding to relearn how to do lots of things.  Some is due to the fact that I’m limited in physical function. The muscles on my rt side have become weak and cramp easily at the simplest chore. I’m having to learn how to go about daily chores in differents. It’s almost like learning how to be left handed instead of right handed. Yet even then I face challenges bc if I do too much I cause severe muscle and cartlidge inflammation in my chest which is very painful and puts me down for days sometimes weeks. 

Planning meals has been quite difficult. I have trouble making decisions. I’m unsure if the family is going to like it. I don’t even remember if I like it half the time. My taste buds have changed. My husband is having to relearn me bc things I used to like I don’t like anymore. I don’t even remember what my favorite meal was prior to strike.

I remember that I like strawberries and still do. I loathed the color yellow. Now I like sunflowers but I still dislike yellow – go figure?  

Basically, I’m learning to rediscover myself all over again.  It’s frightening and exciting and overwhelming at times all in one package. 

Sometimes I feel like a new child discovering all the different things in the world for the first time again. Sometimes I get frustrated because I know in my brain I should know things already (how to cook, how to clean, balance checkbook, name of objects, etc.), but for some odd reason I just can’t remember it. Sometimes my mind is just blank and I have no clue what I’m suppose to be doing.

I’ve been trying out avenues of meal plans to simplify that part of taking care of the home. Right now I’m working on planning a six week rotating schedule. Having a meal schedule not only helps me know what I plan to have for that day but also what items I need to have on hand for that week.

10:09p- severe cramping under rt rib!!!!

Pic insert x2

August 26

6:00a- pain in back pulsating like bad toothache. Lights bothersome. I hurt all over. Sinuses congested. Eyes watery. Weird dreams.

9:30a- chilling in livingroom Jordon asks me about how long my apt would be. Oh, no! I totally forgot about it lost track time. I’m going to be late!!! Ugh!

11:06- PT tested gait walking. I have improved speed by .7 millimeters per second. I don’t recall all she said but that’s a good bit of increase since starting PT in end of May. Thank you, Lord!!!  Something about it decreases chances of falls and improvement of well being. She’s adjusting pt exercises to help with coordination skills bc they’re quite lacking presently. 

Muscles in lower back aches and tingly.

12:20p- I’m exhausted and hurting all over. Just tried to move bed out from wall so can put headboard at head of bed. Had to ask Jordon for help. Don’t have right kind of rails to attach head and foot boards. Looks good though.   Wish I could remember what she said about the gate speed thing.

1:09p- center of chest rt side hurting, low back throbbing, hands ache

10:40p- lower back & rt hip throbbing, stinging needle pain in lft thigh, lower left leg tourniquit tighten feeling with some numbness, chest aches, upper back & shoulders ache and hurt to move much, headache, hands swollen and achy. Skin extra sensitive to touch – hair on lft arm couldn’t see it but sure could feel it about drove me crazy until I could get it off me. Random muscle spams in legs.

Just remembered to order MSM. If only I could get relief from pain once in a while. 

August 19

11:15a- hiccups already in day one of homeschool. Desktop CD/DVD player not reading any discs whatsoever. Ugh! Follow all kinds of online instructions to no avail. 

In middle of this my Mom pestering me about books I need to mail for my sister. She decides to help by coming over to take them to post office bc I can’t buy media mail postage online. Misplaced a textbook and can’t remember where I put it.  Jordon trying to jog my memory by asking questions. Refuses to let me lift anything heavy. I know this is true but my stubborness wants to say No I can do it.

Stress doesn’t suit me. Middle of chest now is hurting and has icy burning sensation. 

5:16p- Mom dropped off a store bought lasagna to help for dinner. Made homemade bread but the yeast never rose

11:18p- whole body hurts, hands swollen and achy, low back throbbing, center of chest throbbing, upper back stinging, stuffy nose, lower lft leg tourniquit tighten feeling, 

August 20

9:00p- busy day. Food pantry a big blessing. School. Still can’t find textbook I misplaced and don’t remember where I put it. Headboard and footboard given and delivered to us. Answer to prayer. Feel like sinus infection oncoming. Short of breath easily. Lethargic. Severly congested. Blowing nose much. Sneezing much. Homemade Chicken noodle soup. Harvested Greek oregano. Went to store to get rx filled and few groceries. Former student now a store manager there. So happy for him. 

Inflammation still much in center of chest. Limited activities. Cut son’s hair…in doing so my rt arm cramped up. Had to rest little bit before finishing up even then rt arm burning.

Stiff body upon rising. Sinuses amuck. Face hurts. Ears ringing periodically. Chest hurts. Lethargic. Exhausted. Hands swollen and achy. Rt ear hurts. Rt hip aches. Low back aches. Upper back stinging. Neck hurts. Limited  turning range.

10:27p- trying to wait for oldest son to get home. My skin itches & muscles cramping. Lymph nodes on lft side neck swollen. Difficulty swallowing. Feels like meds got stuck in chest. Miss my little night light. Have to remember to grab it. Teeth hurt rt side. Nerve endings starting to feel like they’re on fire. Headache worsening. 

August 21

5:30a- woke to terrible pain in lower back. Whole body achy and stiff. Head hurts but not as bad as last night. 

Thinking I may need to add zinc to my routine. Looking for multivitamin that will have most of vitamins I take so I can reduce amount of pills taken at one time. https://livenaturallymagazine.com/timing-is-everything/

10:00a- Co-op mtg today. Kids sign up for electives. I’m teaching ASL for 8th-12th grades.

3:00p- wore out trying to figure out where I put that textbook. Daughter’s been doing the lifting. Whole body aches. Upper body tensing. Neck hurts.

9:00p- Costocondritis trying to rear it’s ugly head. Heating pad & ibuprofen. Lower back throbbing. Headache. Whole body achy and stiff. Sinuses congested. Trouble swallowing. No PT exercises tonight…maybe just breathing.

10:00p- whole body hurting. Hands swollen, achy, numbish, tingling pins and needles thru body, feet hurt, lower lft leg tourniquit tighten feeling, shoulders stiff and burning, sharp pain shooting down lft side of torso, skin itchy, stomach hurts. Hey, hey, hey, at least my pain is letting me know I’m alive. 

11:02p- becoming more clutsy. Just spilt my water on my night stand. Tripped over my feet getting up from dinner almost fell. Caught myself.