(Apologies for missed typos in advance…)
- Overall, I’m so happy with how things are right now. I mean, given the fact that I have a fracture in my arm that I didn’t expect to have, they’re going as well as I can have expected.
- The difference between now and a couple of weeks ago is amazing. I know everybody was freaked out when I said I had to have surgery, but honestly? It’s much better having had the surgery, than feeling the bones move around in my shoulder. Sorry to all of those who get squeamish about these things, I tend not to given the whole ‘nurse’ thing… However, I’m sure you can imagine that having a fracture that was unstable and moving around is a lot more painful and difficult to manage than having a fracture that is now stabilized even if it’s with some metal.
- I am now within two days of being able to take a regular shower. I can’t tell you how excited I am about this. I already have my plans for Wednesday morning. If I get to my clinic appointment, and they tell me I can’t take a regular shower? I think that may be the point when I lose it. 😊
- This experience has made me realize just how lucky I am. I’ve been in this area for five years now. I kept saying I didn’t have friends, and my parents would worry about me. But it turns out? I actually kind of do. This has been a revelation to me. One of my friends came and made my bed for me two weeks in a row. I told another friend, who promptly offered food, visits, etc., despite her own stresses and challenges (3 kids under 7, etc.). And then, there’s the person who is a year ahead of me on the tenure track, who was unbelievably understanding when I had to back out of a guest lecture. She’s someone I actually would like to get to know better … except for the fact that we’re both dedicated introverts. Ha!
- My students have been amazing. This shouldn’t be unexpected, since all of them are in Health Sciences, and one would expect them to have a little bit of empathy for a medical problem. However, they’ve been so understanding of my need to move things online for several weeks. That wasn’t the plan for this course, and it’s not what I signed up for, and it’s not what they signed up for. Their flexibility, their support, and their cheerfulness in the face of all the change, have made my summer that much better.
- I’ve started off my days in a very different way than I did before. I’m not able to work out right now. I simply don’t have the reserve, and as I’ll get to in a second, my body has a lot of challenges dealing with physical stress. So instead, I’m sleeping a little later, and I’ve been starting my days by having a phone call with my parents. I love connecting with them, and I love the daily check in before I start my day.
- People around here are unbelievably nice and helpful. I strongly suspect this is partly due to my location, but I also like to think that anybody with a sling who’s looking rather lost and in pain in a grocery store will be helped by someone! I’m very grateful for this.
- That’s not to say there haven’t been some challenges. Sleep has not been great. I’m only really able to sleep sitting up, to lessen the pressure on my arm and my shoulder. This is not conducive to prolonged sleep, as you can imagine. So, essentially, I’m up about every hour on the hour during the night. If I get 2 hours in a row, it’s cause for a middle of the night celebration. I’ve also had bizarre headaches, which I think are due to both allergies, and not having dessert. More on that in a second. So I’ve been eating saltine crackers in the middle of the night, which is a bit unusual. And no, I am not pregnant!!!
- My appetite goes away completely when I face physical stress, or injury. This is common for me. I may be physically hungry but I’m not able to eat. I literally sit there and look at the food, and I’m unable to stomach it. Which means I lose weight, and I really can’t afford that. I’m also completely deconditioned… sigh. I know I’ll get back in shape, but my stamina, flexibility, and strength all disappeared in the last almost-month. It’ll be (another) long road back…as before.
- Also? I’m not eating dessert right now, which is driving me crazy. I know that having dessert would probably help my middle of the night headaches, as well as the fact that I need to gain back the weight I’ve lost. But every time I’ve sat down the last week or so with a cup of tea and dessert, my stomach has completely revolted. I don’t quite understand this, and I’m hoping it resolves soon. My evening tea, dessert, and reading time is precious to me.
- One good thing that came out of this is that we changed our family vacation – we’re no longer going to Canada (sorry, Nicole and Elisabeth) but instead we’re going to the Finger Lakes in New York State. This means that I’m the only person who has to fly. We had already had multiple flight changes and issues, and knew that even if we GOT there, by some miracle, we’d then start worrying about getting home. This is a much better choice. My sister-in-law has already been actively researching, so we’re all relying on her to fill our days with good activities. I should be good to go, but I won’t be able to climb up the side of a mountain or anything.
- OK, this is getting long – time to wrap it up! So what’s been keeping me going this all this time? The end date. My clinic appointment is Wednesday morning. I should get the stitches out then, and my hope is that I’ll be able to take a regular shower that day. I will probably come home from the clinic appointment and do so. 🙂
- The other things are reading your blogs, even if I’m really late in commenting. My parents, of course, and the rest of my family. The texts and the pictures and the showing me what they’re up to, when I’m mostly restricted to my apartment, are so wonderful. Believe it or not my air fryer is saving my life, too. It’s so much easier to work with than the oven when you only have one arm!
- At the same time, it hasn’t been easy. I’ve had times when I’ve been really really down. But that happens. I will get through this, I know I will. I’ll definitely be different and changed afterwards as I am after every one of these major health events but that’s the way it goes! Thank you all for being here, as usual. You sustain me.
I’m so happy to hear you turned out to have good, helpful, caring friends! Isn’t that wonderful! Overall I really love the positive vibes in this post. Having to fly doesn’t sound great to me. The total mess in the airline industry at least in Europe at this time has made me decide that I won’t fly again in a long, long time and they will have to fix the problems before I do. And this even though from this Thursday, I will have a decent passport again! I hope things are better with flights in the US.
There isn’t much writing going on from me, after I was in Sweden we had Covid (not because of my travels, probably) and then the actual summer weather came (I do NOT sit inside to write blog posts when there’s sun and 25 degrees out!) and we’re busy with music.
I wish you continued good recovery, a real shower, and a good family trip!
You are absolutely right Susanne, finding out that I have friends who are willing to help me is an enormous thing for me. I was feeling so disconnected and friendless, and I’m not! I’m never going to have a whole bunch of friends, but as long as I have a few people with whom I’m close, who are willing and able to help me out when I need it, then I’m really good to go. And oh my, the mess with flying is real. I hate that we’re having to restrict our travel, or think again about how we’re getting somewhere, now that we’re finally able to go places.
And of course you shouldn’t be sitting inside writing blog posts! You don’t have a fracture in your humerus, and it sounds like the weather has finally taken a turn towards summer. Oh! I need to e-mail you, they finally confirmed that my conference is in Ireland next June, and I’m already plotting to figure out how I can add time on to the conference, so that I can see more of the country…you may find me on your doorstep, if you’re not careful. 😉 Always so good to hear from you, and I’m so glad you’re over COVID, and that you’re enjoying the summer weather. Soak up the sunshine!!!
You sound like you’re in much better spirits now! It’s nice that you have a vacation to look forward to, people are helping you out with chores, and your work is accommodating. It’s not IDEAL, that’s for sure, but it does sound like things are going okay. I’m happy to hear that!
You know, as long as things are going relatively well, I’m good. Like I said, this isn’t going to last forever, and even though some nights I’m really frustrated with the fact that simple things take so long, I also know that there is an end date in sight. I’m super excited about the opportunity to see my family again, although this time, if we go out to dinner, I am going to be really really careful! Overall though, things are good. It could be a lot worse!
I’m so glad that the surgery went well and that you have friends looking out for you. Here’s to that shower!!! Seriously, the “little” things are never little.
Dude, the little things are always the most important… and that shower is getting so close I can almost feel it!!! Fingers crossed so hard there are no unexpected twists during my appointment that derail that dream…
I am so glad you are on the mend and feeling more like yourself! That is so heartening to hear.
It truly is in times like these when you find out how good your support network is. Sometimes, it’s so easy to feel alone as a single person, but it’s nice to be reminded that we have so many people in our corner who want to help us – we just have to ask. <3
I definitely feel more like myself, and even though I’m frustrated some nights, I know that there’s definitely an end date insight. That helps a lot. Also, dreaming about the shower. 🙂
And you’re absolutely right about life as a single person, and finding out who your people are. I never would have guessed that people would be so willing and able to help me! I guess I should have thought so, but one learns never to assume these things! It just makes me feel a lot better about where I am, and with whom. <3 (Also, soooo need to catch up on your blog...)
Oh, thank you for the update!!! I am so glad you have people around you that are helping and that you can take a shower tomorrow. I would be so excited about that as well. Sorry about the sleep, your appetite, and no desserts though. I guess that will all come in time but yeeeeeshhhhh if I were you I would find it so difficult to be patient. But you are on the mend and that is the main thing!
(Spoiler alert: two showers have happened since my appointment this morning, and both were fabulous…:>) Thank you so much for checking in! I am hoping that the opportunity to shower – and relax my muscles a bit will help with dessert and sleep. Fingers crossed! And yes, it’s still a looong road (a month until PT starts officially…) but oh, the shower. 🙂 It nearly made up for the last 2 weeks.
I’m glad you’re healing and things are starting to look more hopeful. I can only imagine how amazing that shower is going to feel! Fingers crossed all went smoothly at your appointment.
Sorry you’re not making it up to Canada (I’m biased, but love it here!)…but hey, it’s amazing that things are less of a logistical burden now.
Also – it made my heart so happy to hear about the various support networks that have come alongside to make such a tough time a bit…less awful.
(Spoiler alert: you get the same one as Nicole…two showers have happened since my appointment this morning, and both were fabulous…:>)
I’m sooo sorry I’m not making it up to Canada, either! I spent a memorable day in Banff in HS, when I visited a friend in Calgary (she now lives in Edmonton), and oh, I wanted to go back. But I also wanted to enjoy my limited time off and my time with my family, so this is really better. This year.
And yes, the unanticipated support is, well, an unanticipated benefit of an unexpected challenge. <3
Now, that’s the type of post I wanted to read after the last one. You sound in such good spirits. I am so glad you feel good about the surgery, you’re connecting more often with your parents (I love that morning call routine!) and that you found out that indeed you have some good people around you that you can rely on. Isn’t that a blessing? <3
I hope you can soon sleep better (insomnia is awful and the cruelest form of torture!) and that you can enjoy your dessert again. It sounds like a nice ritual and you can use the calories 😉
Hugs my friend. Glad to hear you're doing so much better.
Thanks, San! And a late reply to your comment – so sorry. 🙁 Life has been bonkers again, more related to typical-life-stuff vs. hey-you-fractured-your-arm-and-need-surgery stuff. So unfortunately I haven’t had much time to do much of anything with the blog. Sigh. Anyway! The morning calls continue – and I still love them. The incremental improvements also continue – albeit with some hiccups due to catching up on other stuff that was postponed due to the arm.
The insomnia, well, yeah. That continues. Although! I can now sleep on my right side without waking up in sever pain, so that’s something, right? 🙂