A Week in the Life of a Really Achy Lady

(Played a lot of Sublime on my daily commute. Was instantly happy)

If you ever get sick of having a busy Inbox:

You can unsubscribe from emails from Susbtack but still be a subscribed reader by checking things out on your own timeline using the website or the app. (I hate too many emails so… I get it)

If you need a scholarship? Just ask!

Word Nerds who give even just $5 a month help make that possible.

I truly need your support, use your support, cherish your support, and won’t let it go to waste.

Want to change up the pace? You can read some of a fiction novel I shared here as thanks.

Want to read some novellas? Here are some on Kindle (though I can send to anyone who needs the help). There are even more than you see listed here, so reach out if you’re in a reading mood!

Want to read on?

Shutting up now…

But one last thank you for the road: THANK YOU!

I only had 2 large incisions from this most recent spine surgery…

But it hurt nearly as much as when I had 6 or 7 at the same time.

They opened 2 of the old ones to be considerate, and I didn’t have an incision down my stomach at the same time like I did last time [this time last winter]… but something about the swelling in my lower back and the overall taughtness of it all was not what I was expecting.

As I’m writing this, I’m the only person awake in the house (shocker) and I’m truly in too much pain to fall asleep. I’ve taken enough medicine to tranq a horse, and yet Mr Ed and I are just metaphorically staring at each other, blinking - duel fingers to the sky, “Peace”.

I’m going to try another stab at listing out some things I did this (last) week, each week, without passing judgement on myself… Except for that whiny bit about not being able to sleep through pain.

This Week:

I spent hours going in circles trying to schedule gloriously overdue medical appointments (because I’ve been gleefully working away so much), but did manage to make a full-time office job’s worth.

I saw my neurosurgeon for the first time since surgery (blew off my post op awhile back. Not on purpose but… well, here we are). My hardware removal was a success but the unrelated pain in my left hip and left side cervical spine continues and is worsening.

It’s a delicate dance of quality of life versus acceptance of a lifetime of spine problems, yet for now: we are just getting more data. An ultrasound and a cervical CT are ahead of me, along with a head CT, liver CT, labs and other tests I’ve long since neglected. The waiting game begins.

Had McDonalds breakfast. Was instantly happy.

Played a lot of Sublime on my daily commute. Was also happy.

Was treacherously and dangerously sad, as I am a couple of times a week now at best- in the last year only (due to all the loss). Still here.

Wrote.

Went to my daughter’s last basketball game (she’s on the cheer-dance team) and embarrassed her as much as possible by cheering.

Went to a meeting at a future place of employment, even though sometimes getting ready for the next contract or job or busk or gig in this world can take longer than some of the contracts or busks themselves.

Had extensive rehearsal some of the nights (stage week is next week!) though snow days and half the cast out with flu recently has been tough timing. I’m experiencing such a surreal lack of sexism with the group I’m working with at present that they deserve their own celebratory thesis. Pinching myself daily with gratitude.

I had a callback from my agent but couldn’t accept because of the travel cost and timeline… but trying to count the wins I used to discount, because isn’t this part of the process?

Failed at skincare, showering, eating nutrients that weren’t 80% made of cheese everyday. Answered some work and medical emails, but not nearly enough.

Barely made a dent in listing this weirdo week but … a dent is a start?

QUESTION FOR YOU:

“What’s the biggest dent you made in your week?”

(Translation: Something you should really take a second to let yours let celebrate, no matter how big or small)