Well, I've thought about putting together a blog piece about how my trek went. But I just don't have the energy to put anything of more than general substance. That being, I made it through. It was really hard and still is. Each day is a still a struggle, but I keep a song in my heart, or on the speakers to help tune in my heart.
I first heard Michael Franti's song, Life is Amazing, a weekish ago. Been singing it ever since...
In Week 15, Day 2 of the trek, which was Tuesday, July 19th, I received my cervical spine trigger point injections. They helped take the edge off a bit and have helped my arms some, but I still have to be careful with my movements and wear wrist braces. And my legs are now having more of a struggle. But I keep moving.
The trek through the beginning of Week 15 would have been much harder without the laser treatments. They did help; Hubby can also attest to that, along with my lighter body weight due to less inflammation.
Insomnia added to my suffering. I think my guided meditations have helped tremendously with functioning despite the lack of sleep. I have been able to sleep the past week. Yet, I'm more tired. Maybe I'll sleep for a month. And wake up like a sleeping beauty. Haha.
I've had to go a couple weeks without the lasers because my doctor is on vacation. My energy is low, low. I start back up with laser therapy again on Thursday, August 4th. I'll be interested to see if my energy picks up, if I'll get a pilot light spark. And how the insomnia somniaizes (made up word).
I continue to work my 20-point plan, though I will revise it a bit to add leisure time, which has been sparse due to what I do each day. I will also be reducing the number of trips to Sparta for my laser treatments; I'll go twice one week and once the next week instead of two times every week.
Two other things that have helped are the first two things I do after getting up in the mornings, besides peeing and applying topical oils for pain. (1) I invert on my inversion table for 3 to 5ish minutes and (2) I ride my bicycle, Olivia, on my indoor trainer for 15 to 25 minutes which is about 4 to 8 songs. The inversion table feels good. The cycling helps my nerves connect and start working, and it helps reduce the pain in my legs.
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Sad news.
I'd taken about 6 weeks off from acupuncture while starting the low-level laser treatments and wanted to start back up with acupuncture to see what would happen. I texted my acupuncturist (A) on 6/21; texting is how I set my appointments with him. He was on vacation, so we made an appointment for July 2nd. But he didn't show at the appointment. I texted while waiting for him but didn't get a response, which is really odd. I thought maybe he got his dates mixed up, maybe he was still on vacay, maybe he was out of cell range. I decided to wait until after July 4th and contact him then.
So, I texted on July 5th, but still didn't get a response. The morning of July 6th I called his cell and left a voicemail. That afternoon when I hadn't heard back, I called and left a message on his business voicemail.
His wife, with whom he works at the clinic, called back and in her voicemail to me was very apologetic, and crying, and then she said, "(A) died last week." I was shocked to say the least. I called her back; she was on her way to New York with their 4-year-old son to see A's parents. I shared with her something I had told (A) a few months back: that he was a true healer. Never once, in his presence, did I feel blamed for my illness. If we tried something and it didn't work, we'd try something else.
I do not know yet how he died and may never. He had just turned 42 and as far as I know was in good health. He is deeply missed. I have shed tears multiple times. I first hired (A) in 2013.
The day after learning of A's death, my wisdom tree fell in our backyard up near the edge of the woods. Ole Pine helped comfort and teach me through some of my darkest times and worst years of nerve damage. He appears to have fallen gracefully, and even after falling has provided sustenance and delight for the deer. As I've visited him and viewed him from the back porch (my therapy room), I'm not so sad as I am thankful that he lived as long as he did. Even now he has baby pinecones in his crown, along with an abundance of unripen muscadines.
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| Deer feasting at Ole Pine |
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Well, this ended up longer than I thought I'd have energy for. I wonder when I come back to reread it, how many typos I'll need to correct. :D
"Life is amazing, then it sucks, then it's amazin' again...."
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| Me & 2-week-old Trouble, RR Grade Rd, 7/23/22 |
