Just for fun

Here's a picture of me and the cat, in our "matching" collars.

Mondays With Marlene

In my opinion....

Do you remember when you got your first car; or at least when you learned to drive and could borrow your dad’s or a boyfriend’s car? Or when your cousin who was a year older than you got her driver’s license and the two of you would cruise Main Street, along with dozens of other newly empowered teenagers? Do you remember those trips to A & W when it was still a drive in and your food was delivered on a tray that was attached to the side window of the car? OK, I know I’m dating myself, but the excitement of those days was nothing compared to finally getting a car after over seven months of being unable to drive. Whahooooo!

Free at last. Free at last. Thanks to the universe and my ever present angels, free at Last.

One of the hardest parts of recovering from our car accident was not being independent; having to depend on friends, family, and sometimes strangers to get you to doctor’s offices, therapy appointments and grocery shopping. It was a very painful experience. I am the one who was always in charge; the leader of the pack, the helper outer and now the show had moved on and I had to ask others for help. Gulp. Perhaps that was the lesson I had to learn and believe me, it was a hard one. I’m sure that all of you reading this know exactly what I’m talking about. We take that independence thing for granted until suddenly we don’t have it any longer.

Every time I get into my new used car and drive away, I am grateful that I didn't lose the ability to drive. I can guarantee it’s something I will never take for granted again.

Now where the heck was that A & W drive in?

Mondays With Marlene

In my opinion....

When I was in grade school, I was madly in love with the boy next door whose name was Bill, but the bills I’m dealing with these days are not the least bit loveable. People-type Bills come in all sizes, shapes and personalities, but the paper bills I am now involved with are all big. Very big. In fact so big that they are painful.

Been there done that? I’ll bet you have. Appointments with doctors, physiotherapists, psychologists, and heaven knows who else, and the bills keep coming. Whether the pain you are dealing with was the result of a car accident, a fall, or is part of that big black hole of undetermined, I can guarantee you have not only had to deal with the pain, but with the painful business of paying bills. There is no question that those of us lucky enough to live in Canada have a pretty good medical system, but it’s not perfect, doesn’t pay for everything and can drop us into an endless round of bills that we often don’t have enough money to pay, or have to pay in instalments – sometimes for the rest of our lives. Granted, we do have the option of purchasing supplemental insurance to cover a portion of what the provincial medical system doesn’t take care of, but not everyone can afford it. It’s even more critical these days when so many people are losing their jobs due to the economic downturn. I tell you, this can be a combination of the perfect storm and the ultimate catch 22.

So what do you do when you’re in pain and trying to recover from the “sticker shock” cost of being ill? I wish I had some simple answers, but I don’t. I have protested one bill I received from a U.S. hospital, so we’ll see where that goes. If you have any ideas to share with us, please feel free to leave a comment. Perhaps if we get a dialogue going, we can all get some insight into how to deal with that bill thing and be able to put more of our energy into getting our lives back.

Mondays with Marlene

In my opinion...

I trust everyone had a lovely long weekend, and that the good old bunny left you a supply of chocolate that will get you through the next month or two. Mmmmmm chocolate.

I couldn’t get to sleep last night. No, I wasn’t laying awake waiting for the Easter Bunny and the gift of chocolate. I just couldn’t get comfortable. My back was sore, my hips achy and my neck seemed to take on a life of its own, shooting attention-getting pains here and there. Finally at three a.m., I got up and took a couple of ibuprofen. That seemed to do the trick and finally I slept like a baby – until ten a.m. as a matter of fact. Good thing I’m retired or I would have had a real problem getting to work.

I should have known better and took something for the discomfort right away instead of tossing and turning for hours. I think it’s called chasing the pain. I’ve never been much of a “pill popper” and always thought it was a sign of weakness to have to take medication of any kind, but as I grow older and hopefully wiser, and with sage advice from my doctors (and my daughter Deborah - LOL), I come to realize that wasn’t true. In fact I think the weakness is trying to fight pain or discomfort alone when so many helpful tools are available to us. It’s hard to change old habits, but I’m trying, and believe me, some days it is very trying for everyone.

I’m back to walking for an hour five mornings a week, enjoying the beautiful spring weather and watching the earth come to life once again. When I think of how close I came to never seeing this particular spring, I thank the universe for all of my blessings and this old dog is slowly learning a few new tricks.

Bring out the champagne!

When it comes to art (versus science), your creation is never done, but there comes a point where you have to walk away from it.

On March 31, I walked away from The Pain Diaries and called it a first draft. (feel free to cheer out loud here)

There are copies being read by a select few "critics" and we'll see what they have to say.

Now comes the exciting part - watching my "baby" go out into the world and take its first steps. Cross your fingers and lets hope it makes an impact.

My heart-felt thanks to everyone that had anything to do with this project.

Deb

Mondays with Marlene

In my opinion....


Probably one of the worst things about chronic pain is feeling alone, imagining no one can possibly understand and trying to figure out how to lessen the pain or live with it....live being the operative word. Who can you really talk to besides your doctor? Who can really understand the mess this pain has made of your life? How about seeking out others like you who suffer from chronic pain? I don’t mean a stitch and bitch session; I mean exchange ideas, ask each other questions, give each other hope and know, finally, that you’re not alone.

A long time ago I had a “nervous breakdown”, a different kind of pain but pain never the less, and I’ve never felt so alone in my life. I felt ashamed that I hadn’t been strong enough to work through the stress and just carry on. Thank heavens I had a doctor who was not only compassionate, but smart enough to not just put me on “the pill” and tell me things would get better sooner or later. She sent me to the hospital as a day patient where I met many other people who were going through the same thing I was. I wasn’t alone after all and I also realized that I had absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. My job was to get well and not let the “stigma” of a nervous breakdown break me down.

Although my relationship with pain wasn’t a long one, I would bet the family farm that everyone suffering from chronic pain feels very alone and a little ashamed at not being able to handle it. I think the key to starting a new life is to gather all the information you can about your “problem” then act on it. Communicate, question, search and if, after all, you do have to live with pain for the rest of your life gather all the tools that you will help you, in the end, have a life. Sign up for group discussions, family sessions and know that you are not alone and have nothing to be ashamed of. Live.