Feeling a little better. Still trying to cut back on the Percs. I try not to take them at all during the day unless I know I'm going to be out and about for hours. I've also been finding that I don't always need the one before bed. If I don't need it, I don't take it and I either take one when the pain wakes me up in the middle of the night or I wait until morning. During the day I try to take ibuprofen or extra strength acetaminophen if I'm uncomfortable.
I will probably get the opportunity to travel by myself tomorrow. I was planning to go to my mother's to do her taxes and the commute is comparable to my commute to work. The Boyfriend was planning to drive me (I don't drive) but he has some other stuff to do and I'm not sure I want to wait for him to work it into his schedule. Don't mean that as snarky as it sounds.
It's just that I just don't 'wait well'; when I'm ready to go, I get cranky if I have to wait for other people so I'm thinking I can probably manage the trip on my own if I take some OTC meds beforehand and/or pack some for the trip there and back, and leave early in the AM so that I can get back fairly early since I'll be using my cane, which makes me feel vulnerable after dark. Will keep you guys posted on this.
I *might* also delay my return to work. I've been stressing myself out about this and The Boyfriend gave me a possible solution: instead of going back in mid-April, delay it until May 1. He has to go out of town for two weeks in mid-April so I'll be on my own, which is fine. There's food in the freezer, a little grocery store on the corner and a bus stop to take me from the drugstore to the gym if I so choose. When he returns, he will pick me up from work for the first week or so. This way, I get practice going
to work in the mornings and if I'm tired and hurting afterwards, he'll be there to pick me up. Depending on traffic, getting home by car is 45 minutes to an hour vs. the 2 hours by public transportation. I'm just about out of sick time but my job is secure; if I need more time, I can take it and my surgeon will gladly write me a note if I need one. I'll see how I feel in the coming week and will make my decision then. We've also begun to actively look for an apartment closer to work. He's retired and likes where we live but recognizes that it's not fair for me to have to deal with an arduous commute for the next 5 years or so in the workforce.
Although I'm still fighting the blues a bit, I'm recognizing that a lot of it has to do with feeling "a loss of control", if that makes sense. I'm not used to having to wait for someone to drive me places; not used to having to pace myself when I go out to make sure I'm not too tired or achy; not used to having to accept help -- it's always been difficult for me to ask for help even when I needed it badly.
Anyway, still working through it but I feel a little better. Thanks to ALL for writing and CARING, and a big thanks to
@Josephine as well. I read her story about her recovery without much in the way of formal PT which is more or less what I'm doing and it was
VERY inspiring; I plan to read it again when I feel like I'm sinking!
((HUGS)) to all.
United States
