Tomorrow will tell

Last night I went to bed with a pair of mp3 headphones. I don't know if it was the meds or the eerie music, but I slept really well until 2:30. I woke up not knowing where I was or what my condition was, although it came back to me in a few minutes. Eventually I had to wake Chris to change my depends. I took a muscle relaxer and somehow went back to sleep.
I woke Chris at 6:30 for the first supplement and then lost track of the time. So the second one I took at 8:30. Chris made me oatmeal again. I tried to look up essential oils with anti-spasmodic properties. All I had was my phone and I am not very proficient at it. So I asked Chris to look it up, figuring he would use his laptop. He took the phone and shortly had the answer. Four oils were mentioned and I owned all of them. Chris mixed a few drops of each with coconut oil and rubbed it on my back. I also took more meds, though not the one for pain since they were almost gone. Chris cued up another episode of a documentary. I watched that. I asked him to water my plants and sprouts. Then the second one he played was on the topic of vitamin E. There are 8 forms of vitamin E and the speaker recommended gamma tocotrienols.
Late afternoon, I was feeling better and decided to try getting up. This is in contrast to earlier when I thought I would have to go to the ER because my progress was too little and too slow. There were a few failed attempts because I was so careful not to give my back an excuse to clench. But with Chris' patience and help, I was able to sit up. I relished the feeling for a few minutes before actually standing up. Chris brought me the walker and I inched my way to the bathroom. Walking was difficult because my back did not like having to shift my weight from one leg to the other.
I made a lot of slow careful steps for the rest of the day. I stood at my laptop and tapped out the Thursday blog, in sections. At one point before the sun went down, I put on clothes and inched my way to the mail box across the street. My neighbor happened to be coming home at just that time and checked to see that I was alright.
I was able to get my own supper and take supplements. I swept the kitchen floor, but Chris had to pick up the crumbs for me. He also stripped the bed and washed the sheets and mattress pad. I listened to the rest of the vitamin E interview while alternately sitting and pacing back and forth. Sitting was uncomfortable. But as the hours passed, it got a little better. I tried playing the flute and trombone. William called then, having heard from Patrick that I went to the hospital. After the call, Chris and I sat down to watch three episodes of “In Search Of”. However, I spent most of that time getting up and walking around where I could still see the TV.
Afterward, I sat for a few minutes at a time to type up yesterday's post and then today's. I took the evening supplements and a muscle relaxer. I missed a sewing event yesterday and today. There is another one tomorrow but I am not making any plans one way or the other. Tomorrow will tell.

The screaming is over

(Friday)
I woke Chris up about 6:30 to give me my morning supplement (prescribed by the NMD doctor). He was surprised that I hadn't slept all night. Later I asked for the homeopathics, and later still, breakfast. For breakfast he made oatmeal with fermented coconut milk. He did not know how to make my regular breakfast and it was difficult to describe. I could not finish the oatmeal. He put a fat bomb in a little dish with the breakfast supplements, and I ate that.
At 8:30 I took all three meds. About 10:30 the combined effect put me to sleep. I woke up about 2:30, still unable to move without pain and with my back looking for any excuse to spasm. I took the six hour pill. Chris played a docuseries on the laptop for me. I looked at messages on my phone. I called Faye and we talked at length. She said typical back pain treatment is 3 days in bed. She also said running out of meds was a perfectly good reason to go to the ER. At that point I was feeling a little less pain (as long as I didn't move) and the weather was nice, and an ambulance wouldn't wake up the neighbors. But when I mentioned this to Chris, he seemed to think that keeping up with the meds was going to take care of the situation. I thought it was better to go before the meds ran out and the pain was in full force.
After Faye's call, I finished my docuseries, then called Dad. He was resting with his feet up and fell sleep. His life was no better, but he sounded a little more coherent. He hadn't eaten his fat bombs, but he still had some left. His back hurt too, but then he was sitting on a foot rocker.
Chris left to get more Depends. My kidneys were working rather well. Regularity was not something I could claim, even though I had taken lots of magnesium and rubbed my back with magnesium oil. I was a little worried.
For lunch I had a can of soup. Then for supper Chris gave me chunks of beef heart and pickled garlic. Supplements came with that. The meds were harder to figure out. One was every 6 hours, another 8 hours and another 2x a day. Rather than taking them as needed, I figured I needed to keep the levels constant. But the shooting pains seemed to be telling me that only surgery was going to fix this problem. I hoped I was wrong.
I tried to meditate with Deepak, but the notifications kept interrupting. Chris could not figure out how to turn them off. Later I did, but it meant that I don't get notified about texts either. Sigh. But it made meditating easier. Except that for some reason the audio would take long pauses. Two good docu-series are going on right now: Broken Brain 2, and Quest for the Cure in Asia. The second one is about how cancer is treated in other countries. I wished I had been able to take notes.

Now I've really done it

(Thursday)
I woke up at 6:30, went to the bathroom and took the first supplement. I went back to bed but could not sleep. My alarm went off at 7:30. It took me a while to get up. I decided to have the day I had planned for yesterday, ie coffee morning, but without the exercises. My back felt like the lower spine was out of alignment. I went for a short walk to relax it, but it just made it worse. I laid on the bed and twisted my knees to the right and left. I did the push/pull thing, but the bones would not snap back into alignment. I sat against a heating pad and read for awhile. Then I tried stretching again. Since it wasn't spasming, I decided to go ahead with the plan, and took a muscle relaxer. but the first time I laid on the floor I had a hard time getting up again. So I laid on the bed to let the muscle relaxer kick in. I suspected my spine was out of alignment so I performed several exercises designed to allow it to snap back in place. instead, the back got irritated and went into spasm and didn't get up again.
That was around 10:30. My phone was in my purse and Chris didn't get off work until 3:30. needless to say, it was a long afternoon. I ate some banana chips and pecans from a bag at the head of the bed. Then I got a capsule each of pain, muscle relaxer and anti-inflammatory – also at the head of the bed. Finally, there was a can of coconut water and a bendy straw. I washed them all down and finished the water. But, though it all kicked in and made me loopy, it was not enough for me to sit up. And that was very frustrating because it was my only backup plan.
Chris came home and brought me my phone and got me situated. He set up the small laptop and brought me my quart of water, sitting it by my left shoulder. He brought me more meds. I wasn't in a great deal of pain, just my back threatened to spasm if I tried to get up.
That changed. I started feeling better and I forgot about the water. I rolled to the right and the quart measuring cup fell over, splashing cool water on my back. I was startled and my back spasmed again and again. I screamed and tried to make it stop. It was horrible. That muscle hung on for all it was worth, damaging itself in the process. Thereafter anything would set it off. If Chris touched me, or if I thought he might, it spasmed and set off another round of screaming. I threatened to ingest the rest of the pain pills and end it. Chris wished me luck because there were only 3 left. He convinced me to take a second round of everything even though it wasn't time yet.
That night he slept on the couch, running in to help me whenever I called. I could not sleep because I had to tense my butt muscles to get relief for my back. If I dozed off, I got quickly reminded. I had to change position every few seconds. Hyped up on meds, it wasn't quite as bad as it sounds. We considered calling an ambulance, but I wasn't dressed, did NOT want to be moved, and it was raining and cold outside. Plus I knew it would take hours for them to give me something for the pain.

The day started out so well...

I woke up early and pulled the PEMF heating pad over me. I pulled the blankets over it and created a kind of sauna effect. I think I drifted off a few times. Then I turned it off and pushed it aside. I got up to check the time: 8:30. I went to the kitchen to have some water and get my day started. I took the enzymes that the doctor gave me which are to be taken on an empty stomach with no food or supplements for 45 minutes. I left the bottle in the bathroom so that tomorrow I can take it a few minutes earlier.
I swished, and made coffee. I cleaned the master bathroom, vacuumed in several rooms and washed the dishes in the sink. I boiled water to soak the next day's nuts. Then I turned on the router. I tapped along to a video with Nick. I took some niacin, when it kicked in, I started my lymph-moving exercises.
And that was as far as I got. When rolling my head in circles, I looked down too sharply and the muscle in my low back clenched. I took a muscle relaxer and laid down. When I tried to get up, I couldn't, so I ate the bananas and pecans in a bag at the head of the bed. Then I took meds for pain and inflammation with can of coconut water that I kept at the head of the bed. The meds made me dizzy, but I was able to get up to use the restroom. I tried to sleep, but my mind was frustrated and angry with this turn of events. I tapped. I got a phone call, and then the sirens outside went off. I guess it was just a test, but darned annoying.
So I got up and walked in back yard. I wanted to lie down on the grass in the sun but was afraid I could not get up again. I sat in the den and read more of the NAET book. I made copies of some pages from the workbook so I could return it to her tonight.
At two I went to the korean clinic. I was slow walking in and they came out to accompany me. He sat me at the desk and asked me to figure out how he can apply for a TN license. I found the application by calling. While he printed it, she showed me mail that she didn't know whether important or not. Then he and I worked on the application. When we got to the part about a background check, I could not find info on how to get a fingerprint sheet. I had been there for two hours, and I told her I was tired. So then they assisted me in lying on a table and he did cupping on my back. Then I rolled over, and he did acupuncture. After half an hour, he took the needles out and she taped my back.
I had trouble getting off the table, and did not feel any difference. They walked me to my car and gave me two boxes of onion juice. She said if I drank one packet each morning and evening that it would help my back heal. (????) When I got home, I took a short walk, but at a very slow pace. It did seem to help, unlike the acupuncture.
I ate some beef heart soup. I found markers and marked my new supplements with green M's for ones to take with meals, and put dosing in red. But it was still confusing and no way to know what I had already taken. I decided I needed a spread sheet that I could mark off during the day.
I listened to episode one of Broken Brain 2. I made breakfast, ate it and took the mealtime supplements. I tapped through another video with Nick. I jotted notes for the blog, and then meditated with Deepak.
As soon as it was over, I played one song on my trombone. Then we watched a Netflix DVD called Robot & Frank. It was a cute flick about an old forgetful man who gets a robot from his son to keep him straight. Afterward, Chris rubbed Icy Hot just below the taping on my back. I took my evening supplements and washed the faucet and mirror in the bathroom when I brushed my teeth. Then I converted my blog notes into full sentences so I could post and go to bed.
* A wallhanging of amusing sayings that Jane gave away yesterday. Beverly W. got it. *

I am 78

I woke up about 3:30am to use the restroom. I collected a sample as per the doctor's orders, and went back to bed. I don't remember hearing Chris get ready for work, but even if I did, I went back to sleep.
I got up around 7:15, a little before my alarm went off. I got dressed, boiled water and soaked the sprouts. Then I headed out to the doctor's office. On the way, I saw an accident leading into Gate 9 and traffic was backed up. But I had no trouble getting out of the gate and getting to where I needed to go.
When I got to the office, I was slow getting out of the car. I went inside and surrendered the cup of urine to the receptionist. She gave me a small cup to fill with saliva to a marked line. I paced the waiting room trying to work up spit after not drinking for 12 hours. When the job was done, I gave it to her and left.
When I got home, I ate a handful of soaked nuts and read e-mail while taking supplements at intervals. I also brushed my teeth and drank a quart of water. Then I took things I might need out to the car and went to quilting.
The ladies were waiting for me. Jane had cleaned out her sewing room (with help) and was inviting us to partake of what she didn't want. Quilting fabric was arrayed on two tables. Another table held non-quilting fabric, and some others held 'stuff'. I took my bag and joined the ladies in walking around the tables and pulling out fabric. Each piece was wrapped around a cardboard core. Smaller pieces shared a core. I checked the other tables and got some netting, some file folders, and a quilting stencil. Then I sat down to see what Beverly W. was working on. I did go back later for another look as the crowd dwindled. I gave Jodi some excess fleece that I had. I also brought in a bag of batting and fabric scraps for dog beds. I stayed while Anita looked through it. Any leftover fabric (not much) went back to the quilting closet. Jodi found someone who wanted the cabinet machine that was taking up room in there. Anita put the machine on a cart and I rolled it out to the parking lot. She and Beverly C brought the cabinet. Jodi drove up to get it loaded in her truck.
I went to the Asian store for kimbap and went home. I realized I was out of kimchi so I ate it with sauerkraut. Kimchi would have been better. I was going to take a short walk, but I got a phone call. Then it was time to go back to the doctor for the results.
I got there a few minutes early and paced the waiting room until the doctor called me back. She looked at the test results and told me I had the cells of a 78-year-old. She said the white crenelation on my tongue could be pre-cancerous and to see a dermatologist. Then she explained the charts on the test results: parasites, fungi, metals, viruses, low thyroid, poor lymph circulation, poor liver function, adrenal stress, low mitochondrial function, etc. She set out a collection of 12 supplements and told me when and how to take each one. I told her it was overwhelming, since some were with meals, apart from meals, one to three times a day, not with any other supplements, etc. She wrote the directions down, as if that would be enough. She had me put my hand on a xyto machine. She tested me for specific heavy metals, parasites, etc. Then she put in the supplements so the computer could tell her if that was enough to cure my deficiencies. She added some frequencies to one bottle and said we were done. I went to the front to pay and make appointments for NAED treatment and a detox foot bath. The $800 price tag made me seriously reconsider following her line of treatment. Half was for the test and her time, and half was for the supplements; some of which will last three months. Elaine came in for her treatments. She said her cellular age was higher and that 78 looked pretty good.
I drove from the doctor's office to the church in a little over half an hour. I entered data into the church computer and took the offering to the bank. I told the teller about the doctor (since she asked if anything exciting happened today). We had an interesting discussion. Then I went home.
Chris was home. I brought in the mail and threw the junk in the recycling. There was a package for Chris and one for me. It was an eye chart. I had read that just having an eye chart on the wall to look at everyday seems to improve eyesight. So I ordered one.
I ate some liver with papaya seeds. I also had some heart soup and some sprouts. I took two of the new supplements. It was just too complicated to ferret out which ones I should be taking right now. I sat against a cold pack and played Solitaire while listening to podcasts. I meditated, too.
I looked up Dad's number and at the moment he called me. It took him 10 minutes to explain that he had put olives in his cup instead of cruciferous juice and he wanted to know if he could eat them. After the call, I practiced five pieces on my trombone, playing one verse on flute between each piece to give my lip a rest. I sat against a hot pad and read more of the book on NAED treatments.
When Chris was ready, we watched two episodes of ST:NG. I took the drops between episodes. After the second one, I started the cell salts. Chris went to bed. I stayed up to write my blog post from scratch.
* This is the quilt that Beverly W was working on. *

Back to sewing

I got up at 8:30. I brushed and swished and re-arranged scraps on my sewing table. I turned on the router. I drank water and took supplements. I boiled water and soaked the sprouts. I wrote two checks and put one in the mail. I kept the other for church.
I read e-mail and checked on the charity block for the modern quilt guild. Chris came home while I was preparing breakfast. I asked him to put my sewing machine in the car. He worked on his laptop, then prepared food and put it in the oven. I went to quilting.
All the ladies were gathered around the lunch tables. I talked to Rebecca until it was time to light the candles and sing to this month's birthday girls. Later I found a place to sit and set up shop. I looked at scraps from a bag and made decisions about how best to use the fabric and leftover blocks. I cut squares and strips for sashing and cornerstones. I packed up at 3 without ever taking my machine from the bag. I was able to get it in my trunk, and I drove home.
I jotted notes and listened to a podcast while eating apples and nuts. Then I collated the recyclables and put them out in the bin. Chris came home. He took the beef heart out of the oven and pronounced it ready. I ate a bowl of the soup which had chunks of meat and onion.
I took a walk and carried my phone. I took pics along the way, and then checked for 5g because I saw a WoW van at the neighbor's house. There was a 5G signal, but it must have been coming from somewhere else because it disappeared by the time I reached my yard.
William called just as I reached the door, and gave me an update on the cars. I called Dad but he did not answer. I spend some time making some blocks for the modern quilt guild. Chris brought my machine in from the car. I listened to the last 10 minutes of the podcast and started playing Solitaire. It was coming up on 8pm so I quickly ate, drank, and brushed my teeth; all for the test tomorrow which requires me to not do any of those things before I get to the doctor's office.
Then I practiced my trombone and flute. We watched two episodes of ST:NG. Then Chris made his lunch and went to bed while I looked up characters in the episodes and got caught up in clickbait. And now I am posting to my blog so I can go to bed.
* Alice and her quilt *

Last frost?

Chris came back to bed at 8am to wake me up. I don't know when he got up. It took quite a while because I was very tired after not having slept well at all. I finally gathered the energy sometime after 8:30. I washed up and got dressed for church. I drank a lot of water and took supplements. And that was all I had time for.
It was cold out so I put on a coat and headed to church. I wasn't sure if going to church was a good idea for my back. But I hit green lights all the way and got there just in time to warm up with the choir. They could see I was moving slowly. I could see that Jennifer, our choir director, looked like she wasn't feeling well.
After the warmup I talked to the couple behind me. Then I headed towards the bathroom. I ran into Elaine and we talked about our common experiences with Dr. Jarvis. After using the restroom, I picked up a bulletin and sat in my pew. Tamara was there and we discussed back pain. I was about to tell her about a video I saw on adjusting your own spine when Pastor started the service.
There were announcements, and then the usual liturgy. I had trouble kneeling and standing. For the sermon, the pastor read the parable of the prodigal son, asking the congregation to make the sounds the listeners might have made as they heard the story for the first time. That really got people's attention and kept them engaged.
After the service I was determined to go home. I had forgotten that today being the 5th Sunday meant there was a brunch afterward. I was talking to Stacey the pastor's wife, sharing contact info, when Scott walked up. He issued us an invitation to join him and his friends for brunch on Easter Sunday afternoon. As I was talking to her on the way out, her husband joined in. Then Bill invited the pastor and his wife to come to the brunch and bring Fern. I said “Fern is in a lot of pain and needs to go home”. I was surprised how much harder it would have been to say “I am in a lot of pain and need to go home”.
I got in my car and drove home, taking pics along the way. When I got there, I was hungry so I made and ate breakfast. I also started a loaf of bread for Chris. Chris went grocery shopping by himself since my back was hurting.
I read about the history of Edward IV and wife and sons, the Princes in the Tower. To this day no one is certain what happened to the two boys. Then I looked up Mystery Hill in NH. And finally, videos on how to align your own spine. Tamara had left early so I did not get to tell her about the video. I found a similar one and e-mailed her a link.
Following the video, I laid on my bed and went through the motions. I heard my back pop, though the pain did not go away altogether. Chris came home and I helped him unbag the groceries. I changed my clothes, and went for a walk. I foraged along the way, but did not find any nettles. When I got back, I moved some plants closer to the house because it is supposed to go down to 32 tonight.
I read an article on plastics in salt. I played a game of Solitaire. I practiced flute and trombone. I made a list of sewing projects and found it was longer than I thought. I look through a bag of scraps, and got an idea. I looked up morse code to follow it through. I decided one short word would be best.
I got sidetracked looking at quilt blocks. Then I made a salad and had some liver. I listened to a podcast on gut analysis. Chris brought in the houseplants. I moved the rest of my new plants to the makeshift microclimate on the front porch. I downloaded pics from my camera taken on the way home from church. I made a cup of tea. Then we watched two episodes of ST:NG. I took supplements before, between, and after. Chris went to bed and I stayed up to post to my blog.
* Last sign of spring? *