Recovery, Week 1

Sunday, 4-16

I felt wore out and spent the whole day in bed. I didn’t get out of bed until after 5 pm.

• tired
• short of breath
• some numbness in face

Monday, 4-17

Woke up early with a migraine and took a rizatripan for it, but it just dulled it. Spent the day alternating between working on photos and my blogs and resting in bed. Went to see my chiropractor to see what he could do for my migraine and for my back. He couldn’t do his usual treatment but what he did helped a little.

• migraine
• mild numbness in face and extremities

Tuesday, 4-18

Seems like I spent the whole day in bed minus a few hours I went out for an appointment with my counselor this afternoon. I started seeing a counselor about two years ago when I was struggling with depression spurred by health issues caused by Pseudo Tumor Cerebri. It’s been under control for the past year, but I still find seeing a counselor helpful. Especially in situations like this. I don’t really feel comfortable unbottling my feelings with friends and family so it’s nice to have someone I can talk to without a wall getting in the way. I essentially spent an hour updating her on last weeks events and bitching about how unfair it is and how weak and unstable I feel. People ask me how I am, but do they really want to know or do they just want to know that I’m better than before? I’m stable now but I probably have a long recovery ahead of me, and the stress, depression, and anger of the situation is just now settling in, but I doubt that’s what people want to hear. I’m thankful that I went to the doctor when I did, and I’m thankful that I will probably make a full recovery, but I’m upset and frustrated that this happened in the first place, I’m pissed that this will affect my plans for the summer, that I can’t do much of anything aside from sitting or sleeping at home right now, that I get winded from walking to the kitchen, that I feel wore out after taking a shower, that just bending over to pick something up is difficult and leaves me out of breath. I could go on but I probably shouldn’t.

• moderate numbness in face and extremities – Numbness in my face has gotten worse, apparently that’s a side effect of Xarelto that may or may not decrease. 
• light-headedness
• breathing is easier but still shallow
• a bit depressed and emo today 

Wednesday, 4-19

Feeling angry, upset, depressed, and frustrated. I imagine I’ll be a bit of an emotional yo-yo for awhile. I’m trying to channel my energy into my photography and blogging which is where I usually turn when I’m upset. I was laughing at myself earlier because if you know this about me you can tell when I’m in a funk because that’s usually when I’m the most productive artistically. At least there’s an upside to the lows. I slept from about 5 am to 2 pm and went to JSU to sit in on Dr. Henricks very last class. Sadly no one told me that class was starting at 1:30 pm instead of our usual 3 pm but everyone was still there. It was nice to get to visit with my JSU peeps. I checked out the senior show, talked about retirement party plans with Seth and Allison, and talked to a woman considering starting the MFA program in the fall. Afterwards Karl and I joined Stefanie and Karine for dinner at Cheaha Brewery. It was nice to go out, exhausting, but not as exhausting as the past few days.

• numbness in face and extremities (hands and arms)
• winded a few times, fatigued

Thursday, 4-20

Feeling a good bit better today. My body isn’t nearly as sore. Breathing is getting easier. I’m still a bit emo. I think I randomly started to cry at least 4-5 times and I started to laugh at how ridiculous I was feeling at the same time several times so I was a very confused mess. Karl got a good laugh out of it, though he did express his concern. I was feeling a bit stir crazy so I got Karl to take me to Lowes to buy some plants. Yay!

• mild numbness in face, numbness in hands and fingers
• migraine
• stiff and sore back and neck

Friday, 4-21

I woke up with a migraine at 2:30 am and was then attacked by heartburn. I didn’t go back to bed until around 11:30 am. I woke up at 4:30 pm so at 5 pm my day was just starting. I felt good overall aside from a bit of fatigue so Karl and I went out to dinner to celebrate our wedding anniversary. I was too tired to dry my own hair so Karl helped me. He wasn’t very good at it. lol. We went out to dinner and then walked around Target for a bit and that wore me out so we went home.

• migraine
• heartburn
• mild numbness in face and extremities

Saturday, 4-22

I got plenty of sleep but still felt so fatigued when I got up. I was supposed to go to the doc for a follow up but I passed out for 5 hours and missed my window so I’ll have to go tomorrow. Despite the additional sleep I still feel so fatigued. I feel so tired that I am not articulating out loud very well.

• Super fatigue
• arthritis pain
• moderate numbness in face and extremities