A Terrible Flare-up

Hello Friends

After a week off work nursing my back, I had to do a lot of catching up when I went back to work on Monday.  Unfortunately my deteriorating memory let me down badly & I battled to remember a lot of the goings-on which led to some pretty embarrassing moments.  But in the end I managed to get through it all with my ego bruised but dignity somewhat intact.  But the effort & excitement of everything that happened had its repercussions.

On Friday evening my legs started paining from top to bottom.  I had stabbing & burning pains all the way up to my thighs.  My left waist ached.  Oh and of course my back was still not completely well yet, so that I also had to endure.

Yesterday morning when I woke I felt like I'd been hit by a bus - a double decker bus towing a train....  My body ached all over.  My legs, sides, lower back, chest, lower ribs, between my shoulders & neck were in the worst pain.  My head felt like it wanted to explode each time I coughed or lent over - and it wasn't my blood pressure.  To put the cherry on the top, my finger tips had gone completely numb.  When I touched them I could feel pressure from below, but no sensation as per normal.  This was by far the worst flare up I have ever had.  In my pain scale this one was a very high 8.

But because things had to be done in the garden, and the electrician was in to do work, each time I tried to rest (much to some peoples disgust) I was called out again to agree to things.  

In the afternoon I took Missy to school for her concert practise.  When I came home I was finally able to collapse into bed for 1,5 hours.  What a pleasure.  I didn't want to wake up.

The way I was feeling I was certainly in no mood to cook so we got pizza takeaway.  I eventually collapsed into bed.  then in the middle of the night I woke up to find my pyjamas were completely soaked in sweat from top to bottom!  I never realised it was possible for a person's entire leg to sweat!  I got changed into new pyjamas and went back to sleep.  

This morning I woke feeling slightly better.  My legs, lower back & side are still the main cause of my pain, but at least my head doesn't feel like a time bomb waiting to go off.  And I'm taking it easy. 

This morning I was asked why I'm always OK during the week but always sick and in pain on the weekend.  The truth is... at work I'm expected to perform.  I have a job to do & it's not in me not to do it to the best of my ability.  Also, its not common knowledge to people at work (apart from a handful) that I am ill.  But by a Thursday evening my pain has generally reached a level where I cannot continue without the assistance of pain relief (and I try to deal with the pain on my own for as long as I possibly can).  So by Friday I'm climbing the walls (thank goodness for half day Fridays). 

Therefore, when its weekend, I have a chance to wind down and regenerate.  Yes, my family suffers because of it at times, but its the only time I have available.  This is not an illness which will ever go away.  There is no miracle pill.  No fairy god mother to wave her wand.  Its something my family & I have to come to terms with & deal with.  There is only so much sick leave to take in a year and only so much that an employer will take before questions start being asked.  

So... to all you "Normals" out there - I urge you to think before you criticise someone when you don't have all the facts.  Your comments hurt... a lot...