Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Following my own advice...

is often the hardest thing for me to do. What did I tell the congregation on Sunday? That when our spiritual reservoirs are drawn way down, we often get signals that we need to heed (hmmm, there's a useful pairing of words---tuck those away for future use as a title of something: "needing heeding"). One of those signals was "getting sick".

I'm not sick, exactly, but one of my classic signals (and I hate to get it because it is so hard to ignore) is muscle spasms in my back. I have one area that begins to warn me a day or so in advance---an upper back "tiredness", a feeling of having sat at the computer too long or hunched over something working. I have been fending off a real attack for days with ibuprofen, hot and cold packs, that sort of thing, but last night, after a day on the mainland shopping for catfood, litter, and those great chocolate covered caramels at Trader Joe's, I couldn't ignore it or put it off any longer and I succumbed to the heating pad and cyclobenzaprine.

This morning I still have it, only it's harder now to consciously relax and let the muscle go. The pain makes me clench up, which makes it worse. I may have to go to the doctor for a renewed prescription, but I hate to do that, knowing that it will subside on its own if I wait it out. The cyclo is over two years old and doesn't seem all that effective, though it did help me sleep.

The thing is, I have tons of stuff to do today and don't want to put any of them on hold. There are some that I can let go but we have a Pete Seeger concert meeting tonight here and that really does need to occur, if possible, as we only meet once a month. So I'm going to scan my to-do list and see what can wait, what I can skip entirely, and go back and lie down. I did take one Vicodin, in hopes that would deal with the pain, because ibuprofen and other NSAIDs just don't do it. But, of course, the big V has other effects which I don't like---sleepiness and trouble focusing.

Anyhow, I am going to take my own advice, look for the message in this trustworthy red flag, and let go of what I can. At least the cats didn't wake me up this morning----I think they may have learned that scratching at the door at 4:45 a.m. doesn't exactly endear them to Mama, what with all the shouted "NOs" and bangings and throwing things that it incurs.

So ta ta for now. Back later.

9 comments:

Stephanie said...

It does seem that the flags often appear at inconvenient times.

Berrysmom said...

Sorry you're hurting, Kit. When you have a chance, please send me a message: jcwelles@uumaDOTorg. I've been trying to get in touch with you to no avail. Sorry to have to ask in this public forum.

Take care of yourself! You're the only one we've got!

Robin Edgar said...

What is the possibility that the muscle spasms are due to stress? At least in part. Maybe a good massage might help.

Say hi to Max The Magnificent for me.

Lilylou said...

Thanks, Judy,
By the way, I have responded to every email I got from you, but I guess they haven't arrived. I have been having some trouble with that but I think it may be fixed now. I'll do it again.

Lilylou said...

Thanks for your kind suggestions, Robin. I think you're right---stress is a lot of it and a massage sounds awfully good right now!

Max is outdoors chasing things right now but I'll let him know you said hello.

Kari said...

Oh, dear Kit. Take good care of yourself.

http://www.megbarnhouse.com/music-27.html

Lilylou said...

Thanks for your kind wishes, dear Kari and other friends. The Big V has helped dull the pain and I've spent a good deal of time horizontal, which always helps. I'm doing all right and I appreciate your thoughts.

Miss Kitty said...

Hope you're feeling better soon, Ms. K. My sciatica/piriformis acts up when I'm most stressed out, but yoga's helping some. Oh, and a nice solid night of sleep, sponsored by Xanax. :-)

Lilylou said...

Thanks, Miss K. I am slowing way down and alleviating the pain. This morning I'm lots better.