We now interrupt your ongoing stream of disaster for an update on my health status for those interested.
Back pain sucks
I continue with the massive weakness I’ve had since my recent series of medical interventions, ranging from a heart attack, a new heart valve, kidney stone removal, a blood clot in my arm, and more.
The latest thing is less life-threatening than the above, but still hard. I’ve been having severe lower back pain for about a week.
One morning I woke up and my pack was throbbing so that getting out of bed or a chair was a great painful effort. I would bounce up and down on the bed or chair until I would launch myself upright. Then I’d have to stand for a bit to allow the throbbing to diminish, and then each step triggered shots of agony as I slowly shuffled with a cane from room to room.
This extreme pain also added to my risk of a bad fall, which could be fatal, as I’m full of powerful blood thinners to stop more clots from forming.
As a result, with eh combination of pain and weakness, I kept my walking to a minimum. Like the old World War 2 message, I’d think “Is this trip really necessary?” before I get up.
One result is that I do not eat much as I can’t stand to cook. I’ve lost a lot of weight, which could be a good thing. Another issue is that I am constantly getting alarms from my glucose monitor as my blood sugar goes low, below 70. I have been relying on glucose tablets to keep my blood sugar from crashing.
To those who have been suggesting it could be kidney issues, I coincidentally had a CATscan a couple of days before the pain began, and the report shows nothing that would indicate a kidney or other internal organ issue. Muscle spasms are the most likely cause.
I am still having visiting nurses and had physical therapy. The PT said that unexplained back pain like mine is not unusual. I just need to take things easy until the pain relieves on its own.
The pain comes and goes, with one day being agony and the next being almost normal, and repeats.
The pain has made my weakness greater, as not walking more than a few feet at a time is making me even weaker.
Mister Green Student Drawn Fan Art
I have been thinking about returning to substitute teaching. Indeed, I’ve had dreams about being in the classroom. I miss it, but it seems unlikely I’ll be able to go back until the Fall, if then. It would not be good for Mister Green to collapse in front of the kiddos.
I am probably going to have a cardiac procedure called Watchman, which I discussed in a prior post. After that, cardiac ablation for my AFib.
My medical odyssey continues. I have hopes that I’ll emerge out the other side able to function again, but in the meantime, I am worried about my ability to bring in sufficient finances to keep me living indoors.
Thank you to those of you who have kindly assisted me and my critters.
I need dry cat and dog food, plus kitty litter, from the Pet Supplies list.
My BlueSky
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One of my therapy criters, Thoth the Magic Kitty
