Life Happens

So, it has been nearly a month since an update...partially because I had a few weeks of NOT going to doctors, and partially because I had a few weeks of PURE crazy busy-ness with surgery, school starting, football starting, my "baby" starting Kindergarten, my oldest starting high school, losing a sweet friend far too early in life (more on that in a different post to come), and more.  By the time I had a chance to write again, I figured I should wait for the next round of appointments, that were within days of each other, before updating.  So, I have had 3 appointments since the last post...one at each member of my "team" of doctors.  I will give a synopsis of each appointment, along with sharing how I have been feeling in the process of sharing about the appointments.  I'll try to be brief (smile).
The first appointment was a check-up with the nose surgeon (ENT).  It was a VERY brief appointment.  He asked me how it was feeling, looked in my nose, told me it looked great with only a little swelling, and then told me he would see me back in 6 weeks to check again and remove any remaining stitches.  I need to continue to do my 2X daily saline rinse but other than that have no restrictions.  My nose is a tiny bit tender if I bump it too hard or rub it too roughly, but otherwise it feels back to normal and I do notice that I'm breathing through my nose significantly more than I did before.
The next appointment was with Dr. C, fondly known as my shot doctor!  Dr. K, the main doctor/dentist had asked Dr. C to look at my lower back area as the next target area of injury to "fix".  He re-checked my foot first, to find that it is completely healed up.  If you have followed my story for the last few years, you will know that these shots he gives are, in the simplest explanation, shots to shoot inflammation into the area so that white blood cells attack and heal.  They are extremely uncomfortable to receive and remain uncomfortable for awhile afterwards.  It has been a few years since I got these shots in my neck and I had forgotten how rough they were and I found that the back/butt area is not easier by any means!!!  I had about 15-20 shots across my lower back and butt area and they were pretty rough to get. Once he was done, I didn't feel too bad and went to pay at the reception area.  I had to wait about 5 minutes before being waited on and then it took another 5 minutes or so to pay, schedule next appointment, etc.  By the time I left there I was feeling very stiff and tender and ready to sit down.  My original plan was to stop at Target and do some shopping on the way home.  Instead, by the time I got to that area I was feeling pretty miserable and headed for home.  By the time I got about 10 minutes from home, I was beyond uncomfortable and was near tears driving a stick shift and wanted OUT of the car as soon as possible!  I stopped at home briefly but was on worship that night, so had to head back out.  I didn't sleep the greatest as all positions seemed to hurt and the next day was still pretty miserable.  It literally hurt to wear pants, so I wore some looser/stretchier pants to school and had a no hugging rule! I moved very slowly all day long.  Thankfully that was a Friday and I was able to take it easy over the weekend and be just a little tender by Monday. As I was texting a sweet friend about the shots (she has gone to the shot Dr. too), she reminded me of something funny her husband said as he watched her get similar shots to what I got in the lower back/butt area.  He told her afterwards that he didn't know how the doctor didn't puncture an organ he was going in so deep!  We laughed about it and agreed we are glad we are face down on the table and can't watch!  I go back to him in a couple of weeks and I'm praying that one round of shots takes care of it so that I don't need another round.  It is likely that I will need a second set of shots though. Ugh.
Last week I went back to Dr. K, the dentist.  He did some strength testing and is extremely pleased at my progress and believes that it is possible for the next appointment that I may begin starting to wean off of my day appliance slowly. I will need to wear the night appliance for quite awhile.  Each time I go, I fill out a form to show them my pain levels, areas of pain, concerns, etc since my last visit.  He noticed that all my pain levels and concerns had increased since the last visit and he wanted to know what was going on, what had changed and what was happening in my life...so I explained the 3 weeks that I had since seeing him last with starting work, my babies hitting milestones in school, with the youngest struggling to adjust, unexpected death of a friend/funeral for her, and more.  He looked at me and said "No wonder you're feeling worse!"  I told him that I was discouraged and had felt down about all of the rougher days.  I had significantly increased in neck pain, had more and more severe headaches and jaw pain. He asked me to think about it from a different perspective.  He said to think if all of these same things had happened last year BEFORE he began treatment with me...physically would I have done better, the same, or worse with the pain/headaches.  Without a thought I said "Much worse!"  He agreed and reminded me it's about perspective.  Yes, I have dipped into a bit of a valley lately, but it is STILL so much better than before.  I have to focus on how far I have come and know that I will have dips and valleys, but not to give up, because I will come back up the mountain.  He did a tension release "thing" with my jaw and that immediately improved the pain in the jaw and even the neck area somewhat. Most times I go, they laser my jaw and neck are as well which always helps too.
I am still on the gluten free, dairy free, sugar free diet...which was challenging through my birthday and Brock's birthday, along with Blueberry Festival time!  But, I'm hanging in there!  Thank you all for your continued prayers and concern for me/my family.  Trusting in God's promises to take care of me.
Deuteronomy 31:6 So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.
He hasn't failed or abandoned me yet...so why would He now, right?  Blessings to you...