Category Archives: Just me

There’s no place like home…

After two days in the car with Dad, Dan, and Tracy, I am home.

It’s odd to be back in the real world after 12 days in the hospital. Everything seems a bit daunting. I am still learning to marshal and manage my energy and I don’t quite have the hang of it.

For example, we took the kids to the park today for a picnic and a little frisbee and that was all I could do for the day. It was time well spent but it knocked me right into a rising headache pain level. When I got home I had to take an abortive and rest. I’ve been resting since.

When Oliver asked when I could play more games with him I taught him spoon theory. I think he mostly got that I have less energy than he does and I have to be careful spending it. He suggested we play games first thing tomorrow so I don’t use a spoon getting out of bed and coming down to breakfast. He also told me he would manage my spoons for me. I am thinking I will be spending a lot of time on the Wii if I let that happen.

Tomorrow I tackle laundry, a little work, and some garden planning, depending on the spoons. I am also going to join the American Headache and Migraine Association and write to my fellow MHNI patients. It meant so much to find people who understood exactly how I feel most of the time, it was the best part of being in the hospital.

For now, good night! Thank you all for the kind notes, cards, texts, and emails during my hospitalization, it made me feel less afraid and more loved.

This one time, in pain camp…

IMG_20150316_121423~2Here I am in my room at St. Joseph Mercy Chelsea Hospital writing letters home to my loved ones.

I have a spacious room, one once intended for two. It has a ton of space as a result. I have cozied it up with a sari quilt, a fuzzy leopard pillow, and a bouquet of peacock feathers from the feed supply in town. It will be my home for the next week or longer, so I wanted to make as home-like as possible.

Today I began the day with “rounds”. Unlike most hospitals, we go to our team in the lounge for rounds and meet with everyone at once. My team and I discussed treatment for the day and the week, and analyzed yesterday’s failures and successes. I was informed what doctors I would be meeting with, what medications I would be trying, etc.

As I walked back to my room Nurse Joan came and took me in to see the plastic surgeon. We discussed my last horrific experience with nerve blocks and he asked me to try again. So, I had occipital nerve blocks done. Six injections into the back of my skull, leaving me a numbskull. For the next six hours I track the result. So far, numb. Can’t quite tell if the headache is better or not. Can’t say the experience is pleasant. It is not, but it was not the horror show I experienced last time so whatever he did differently, I’ll take it.

Dad has been coming to see me every day. He sits in the comfy recliner by my side while I deal with treatments and headaches, reading a WWII book on his kindle. Sometimes he will tell me a bit about the book, a memory from my childhood, something about when he and mom met. It’s been a cozy time to get closer to him. I am beyond thankful for his presence.

I try to stay cheerful with silly touches like Ruby Slipper socks:

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And letters from loved ones. Thank you to all who have sent them, they help a lot.

Today is a high pain day, but I managed to make my bed, eat some breakfast, and blog. My next mission is to take a walk and then I will come back and try the next medication on the list of hopefuls.

 

Picture/Pictoria…

On the way to Michigan for “Pain Camp”…

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Electrocardiogram or fancy new fascinator?

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A non-victorious bathtub part at A Victory Inn in Ann Arbor…

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Resting in the new hotel, with hot water and everything…

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We are waiting for Sunday. The room did not open up in time for me to be admitted yesterday. So a few more days hanging out in Chelsea with my dad. He is being very patient and sweet, resting in the room with me when my head gets too bad, walking about with me when I feel too restless to stand it anymore.

I am so glad he is here.

Best photo of all: Hazel and Penny chill out at home on Oliver’s bed. Thanks to Dan for the snapshot from home.

Cats and Dogs, living together! Mass Hysteria!!
Cats and Dogs, living together! Mass Hysteria!!

—– Update —–

We went into Chelsea for a little walk about.

We stopped by the Jiffy Mix factory:

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We walked up and down the clocktower shopping area:

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And we read up on the history of Chelsea’s village square:

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