“Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to set in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have – life itself.” — Walter Anderson.
Once again the sun is shinning in my life. –Photo by Pat Bean
They Hurt
As most of us who embrace life fully, I’ve had my share of emotional pain. But until this year any physical pain I suffered has always been minor. Even the births of my five children weren’t that painful.
And the geese are playing. — Photo by Pat Bean
Until this year, I’ve never even used all the pain pills I was given for broken bones or other grievances of my body. And never until this year did I actually ask for them.
A back problem a few weeks ago, not only had me asking for them, but then asking again for something stronger. I was then given a prescription that I had to pick up personally, and then show my ID before I could pick them up from the pharmacy.
I went through the first bottle of 60 pills, in which I was allowed to take eight a day, in about 11 days, and then asked for more. Thankfully, physical therapy is finally getting me back to normal. I had my last pain pill four days ago, with half the pills still remaining.
I’m thankful the pills were available because for the first time in my life I was in serious pain, such that I lay curled up in a recliner for eight days straight with nothing but bathroom breaks. But I hated taking them. They made me sick to my stomach, zapped my energy and attacked my brain.
Perhaps I have a different chemistry than others, but it still bewilders me why anyone would want to take pain pills for fun. Today is the fourth day I’ve been pain-pill free, and the first day I’m feeling myself again. I woke at 5 a.m. with some of my energy back. And I just got back from walking my canine companion, Pepper.
Life is getting to be good again. I’m sure hoping it stays that way. One thing for sure, I’m going to let others do all the heavy lifting for me from now on. Like all the other lessons in my life, I seem to only learn the hard way. But I do learn.
Bean Pat: Hasty Words http://tinyurl.com/ph4nz8z I love this.
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There is nothing like back pain. Glad to hear you’re on the mend.
Thanks Andrew
Back pain is the pits, Pat. Sure glad to hear yours is resolving.
Me too. Thanks for the kind thoughts Sam.
Hang in there, Pat. Nice to know you are on the mend.
Today has been the best day in about three weeks. It feels great. Thanks for the kind words Len.
I am glad you are feeling better and off the meds.. I know how much you dislike them… so since you are better my email is due hahahaahhahahahahaha
I hope your days continue to get better!
A bad back can be life changing, I’m so glad you’re feeling better. Take it slowly!
Glad to hear you’re feeling better. Back pain changed my life for a while, too.
Nothing in the world like back pain. Good for you: you ultimately chose to take care of you. One of the hardest challenges for an independent individual is to ask for help. It always feels like you can take care of it, or handle it, because you always have. No one can tell you about the anguish you feel when you’re going through it, but now that you’re out the other side, you’ll know what to do and what to ask for if, God forbid, it happens again. I wish you all the best.
Thanks to all my well-wishers. I am doing much better. I’m completely off the pain pills and the physical therapy is going well. I’m even back to walking my beloved Pepper without pain. I do know that at my age, it can easily happen again, but I’m going to do everything I can, including no more heavy lifting, to assure it doesn’t. Thanks again all.