Three things

1. I got an epidural injection yesterday. The shot is supposed to help my pain. So far, I feel pretty good. The local anasthesia is wearing off, so I don't feel as great as I did yesterday, but substantially better than Monday-- which was a terrible day.

I had to leave physical therapy because I almost threw up from the pain. I told God that I needed him to send me a cab, because I couldn't face walking the seven minutes home. He did, praise him. The cab driver seemed to think I didn't know my way home until after I called Todd and asked him to meet me outside our building and pay for the cab and help me get out of the car. Then the cab driver was helpful.

I thought I had two choices-- the ER for pain meds, or the Pain Doctor. I'd been referred to the Pain Doctor through my PMR (physical medicine and rehabilitation) doc, and the Pain Doc's office and I had been playing phone tag since Monday of last week. I called Monday, at 11:47 and they said that if I were there by one p.m. he could see me. The office was in New Jersey, 41 minutes away with no traffic, or an hour and twenty minutes if there were traffic according to Google Maps.

The car was multiple blocks away; I had parallel parked it in a space with three inches in front and three inches behind. I'm learning patience parking this way, I tell myself, and it certainly increases the number of spaces available. But Todd, my rockstar husband, had to finagle the car out of the space, maneuver all the one-way streets back to our house to come get me, and we were on our way. He was a rockstar driver! We made it to New Jersey in perhaps less than the 41 minutes alloted-- two bridges, two construction zones-- and I was so thankful.


The doctor told me to come back Tuesday, yesterday, for the shot. This time we allotted 90 minutes for the trip, missed an exit, travelled with increasing frustration through NJ sprawl, found a map in the glove compartment left in the car by the previous owner, and thanks to a helpful policeman and the map, made it to the office exactly on time.


I see why my doctor referred us to this office. I was impressed with the facilities, the cleanliness, the professionalism... There was at least one nurse per patient. And they told me their names! I didn't love the anasthesiologist, who insisted on starting my IV in my hand... I have great veins, let's use them for something, OK? My appointment was at noon, and we were headed home by two.


2. I'm still working on fitting us into the apartment. Todd has sorted his bag collection (that is another post) and last night, I reclaimed at least five cubic feet. Hence:

The closeup:

In an hour, it was gone. I hope it went to a better home, with more light and more space. Now to make decisions about the bag collection.

3. Todd's work keeps sending peaches home from the CSA. Last night I realized that I had ten peaches to eat in twenty-four hours. My solution? Peach and Cherry Pie.

Yes, I had a piece for breakfast. I haven't gained a pound since the accident and I'll be able to exercise again soon. I can't wait to get my muscles back. And meanwhile, I'll eat peach pie.