I have been in pain for the past 5 months. Up until just a couple of days ago nobody knew why I was in pain. The MRI finally revealed what was going on. I had been to see and Orthopedic Surgeon, a Chiropractor, a Urologist, a Neurologist, my Primary Care Physician, and a pain management specialist. I have had a CT scan, an Ultrasound, many blood tests, several x-rays, and EMG/NCVT, and so many different physical exams, and several MRI’s. Having been a healthcare provider myself even I was baffled as to what was causing my pain. Currently my pain levels range between at an 8 to 10 out of 10.
Most days I can’t do anything except ice, lay on the couch, hobble my way to the bathroom, and sit for short periods of time. I have watched so much TV that I am expecting a pop-up message from Netflix congratulating me for having watched everything they have to offer. It is hard to concentrate, even reading long diaries seems impossible at times. I have to keep a log of when I take pills that tells me when my last dose was and when my next dose is, so that I don’t over medicate, which would be really easy to do given my pain levels. I have also read almost everything there is to read in the news, but very little has any effect on me right now, and I am sure that some of it would normally make me outraged. Even writing this short diary is taxing my abilities. To say that my attention levels are not what they normally are, would be an understatement.
One might be sympathetic to my situation and forgive me if I were to forgo voting this time. But that is not going to happen. This year voting is not optional. I am going to vote because I feel that this vote is as significant as the vote for independence was to our founding fathers. Even though I am in California and a Harris win is a sure thing in my state. I am going to vote, and I am going to do it today.
So, today I have resigned myself to reading my voter guide and filling out my ballot. I would have liked to do this two weeks ago, but believe me when I say that it was not possible. It will probably take me all day to do this. As my concentration levels are not that great right now. But no matter what I am going to trudge along until I have completed my task, then my husband will deliver it for me.
It may seems silly that I am proud to be voting. But believe me if you were in excruciating pain like I am and have not been able to do anything for as long as I have, you would probably be proud as well given all that rides on this election. So the moral to this story is this, if I can do it, so can you. Just make a decision to vote and do it.
