Living with my chronic illnesses for as long as I have, you’d think I would be used to having my life interrupted by chronic pain and more…. But my lack of productivity over the past two weeks clearly shows that it is not something that one can just get used to.
Welcome to my Word of the Week submission. The host for this blogger linkup is Raisie Bay. Be sure to see the link at the end of this post to read her post and more.
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Interrupted by Chronic Pain
I have been enjoying what I call a honeymoon period of not experiencing pain from adhesions ripping from my sidewall for a few weeks. It’s hard to explain to people who do not know what it is like to live with more than one or two forms of chronic pain. They will never understand what it is like to have 10 pains down to 9 or 8. It brings a sigh of relief and comfort, even though my other pains haven’t let up.
With that said, I was not without adhesion pain. No longer being pulled from my sidewalls, they tightened their hold on my intestines last week. The pain is exhausting. I never know when they will loosen up and allow food to pass or how soon after my bowels are emptied that they will decide to pull tighter.
If that wasn’t enough, our weather has been all over the place. In the past two weeks we have had been on a meteorological roller coaster. We were hit with a sweltering heatwave a few days ago. My body can only handle small increases in temperatures. Experiencing a 20-30 degree jump in daily highs in less than 3 days is too quick.
When this happens I experience swelling around my spine. As low as my tailbone all the way to the top of my neck. If not addressed ASAP, it triggers debilitating migraines. Thankfully by treating my neck and spine with PEMF therapy the moment I felt the slightest amount of swelling, I have been able to keep my migraine down to a dull roar.
Interrupted by News
As I shared in my last word of the week post, I had greatly reduced how often I was watching and reading COVID-19 related news. I could blame the fact that there was a lot of news to keep up with over the past two weeks, but the truth is I think it was my own frustration that had me tuning in more than I would have preferred to.
Instead of rationing my news intake, I was on a feast or famine cycle. I either watched all day or none at all. I couldn’t concentrate or think about anything else when I watched all day. You’d think the days that I took off would have been relaxed or productive, but they weren’t. In fact, I felt they were more stressed because I feared missing out on an important announcement.
The past two weeks have taught me that I need to go back to rationing my news intake. That a little is better than none. That it is okay to spend a high pain day bingeing The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills or New York and watch the evening news.
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Cynthia, I can’t even imagine how exhausting living with chronic pain must be. You and I both wrote about missing our “normal” lives this week. I think it’s probably a common feeling right about now. I am finding it difficult to be productive too. I think I need a good long soak in the tub. Maybe with a glass of wine! 🙂
A soak and glass of wine sounds perfect!
It sounds like you’ve had a really tough time of it lately with your health. Sending love and hugs.
I have rationed how much news I watch. I was stressing myself out watching too much. Now I watch the daily press conference and a littlel before bed. I feel calmer for it. x
Thank you!! I need to do what you are doing, just a little news every day.
I’m sorry the change in the weather causes you pain. I watch the forecast to figure out if I need to cover garden plants or water, but yours is a different take. I find I go through stages of watching the news updates and then skip it for a few days. It can feel so overwhelming. #wotw
I watch weather reports like they are the stock exchange. LOL Although I cannot fully prevent the swelling that weather pressure causes around my spine, I can use those reports to begin treating the area of my body sooner. I also use weather reports when making plans. If I see a major shift in weather coming, I know not to make plans…..
It’s strange to think that everyone all over the world has had their lives interrupted by COVID19. I certainly know what you mean about being interrupted by pain 🙁 Stay Safe and thanks for joining in with #WOTW
Right?! Not just one city or country, but the whole world… a little mind blowing. I hope your pain has been manageable. Hugs!
I have adhesions too. They just add to my MS pain. I can’t take painkillers because of kidney problems. I take paracetamol when it’s too bad to sleep. I agree that rationing news intake and binge watching TV series is good for us! Great post. Interruption is the story of my life!
Hugs!! So sorry to hear you have adhesions too! They are awful!! I can manage pain from my other conditions pretty well, but nothing stops the pulling and ripping pain from adhesions…….