Hellos and Goodbyes

As I said, I didn’t sleep well Monday night (along with the back pain, there were thunderstorms as well). So, I gave up at 5:30 AM and got started with Tuesday.

After all the usual “stuff,” I took a shower and got dressed. I headed out to work a little before 9:00 AM. I’m not going to work to work, just to see Michelle (the woman I will be backing up while she’s in Hawaii for her sister’s wedding). Today is her last day before she leaves and I wanted to get a feel for how much trouble I’m going to be in.

No bosses were around, so it was nice to see the folks at work! I visited for about an hour and then had to leave (I had my physical therapy appointment at noon).

She showed up early (a first for any at-home nurse or therapist). I began by confessing I hurt myself taking out the garbage. She asked if I put it on my walker and wheeled it out (I guess the "usual" solution for people like me). I said, no, I put it in the car backseat and drive it out. She was impressed and said she'd never heard of that one.

She said that is a real problem with starting to feel better. You forget to take it easy like you did when you were really hurting. She said I probably twisted my back pulling out one of the bags. She asked how it was feeling today and I said it was much better (because it is).

The weather was beautiful (although a bit windy) so instead of exercises, we took a walk down my road. We went almost to the end before turning around, chatting all the way. When we got back, she officially discharged me.

Sidebar: At-home infusion works differently than physical therapy. At-home therapy stops when you go back to work (you then have to switch to outpatient therapy) while at-home infusion lasts as long as the doctor wants.

I asked what else I need to do and she said the bad thing about the brace is that wearing it will atrophy my "core" muscles a little. So, once I get the brace off (NOT before!) I should start building up my stomach and lower back muscles (preferably under the guidance of an out-patient therapist). But, she stressed the main thing I should be doing now is taking it easy and letting my back heal.

I will miss her. She was a lot of fun and interesting. But then I always miss most of my nurses/therapists. They help you through difficult times and it’s easy to become attached to them (or maybe it’s just me).

That reminds me I need to call the home nurse and tell her she needs to come back next Monday (timing this while at work might be tricky).

I spent the rest of the day straightening up the house, reading and resting. I did take another outdoor walk (this time in my yard with my cane) and took a few pictures. Spring seems to be coming way too early this year!

I caught an interesting bit of information on the evening news. They said that if you looked to the west in the early evening, you would see what looked like two bright stars. They are not stars, though; they are the planets Jupiter and Venus very close to each other.

Now, long-time readers may remember just how many times I have missed seeing meteor showers, eclipses of the moon and/or the northern lights here in Redford (due to either the bright city lights, clouds and/or rain, etc.) So, I was interested but not convinced I’d really see them.

But, I remembered about 9:00 PM and looked out the bathroom window. WOW! There they were and they were beautiful! I smiled for the rest of the evening. Too cool!

I watched a special about Yellowstone National park (I spent some time sole-camping there as a young man) and then went to bed.