However, I AM making some progress. I’m walking without the cane inside the house. Outside, I’m still going to use it
only because of uneven surfaces.
Also, last night while driving to and from the ER, the light from headlights hardly bothered me, which it did a great
deal coming home from Scaborough on Tuesday night. I still hate headlights, but it was my normal dislike for them, not “put-on-your-sunglasses-at-night” dislike.
When I left my visit from work, I was very tired and my eyes and balance were bothering me, but I needed to run into Rite Aid and give them my new insurance info. Well, I suppose I didn’t NEED to go in, but I thought I’d give it a try since I need a few more items and thought it would be easier for me to go in and get them myself, rather than explain exactly what I needed to Dave. I wish I had!
The hairspray wasn’t difficult, but when I hit the toothpaste aisle….issues! I had trouble focusing. Had trouble concentrating on what items I needed to get. It was odd, frustrating and I got a little ill.
Once we got out of there, I was dizzy. I had to close my eyes on the way home and went right to bed when I got home. Still not feeling great, but I couldn’t get to sleep. I am just NOT a napper! LOL
So, that was my first test at going into a store. I guess I can’t do it just yet! Sorry Dave!
I stopped in at work today for a visit. It was great to see everyone and strange to be there and not go to work, but
I’m just not ready yet. I need to feel good for a string of days, not just one or two here and there. I certainly can’t drive yet.
I think people were expecting to see me with a scarf on my head covering a scar of some kind. Most don’t realize my incision was through my groin and it was only a puncture wound. No hair loss or scalp removal….again, I was very lucky. So, I’m pretty sure they’re remarks that I looked good, was that they were expecting something a little more ghastly.
I was pooped when I left.
I’m on day 10 at home. I’m having a headache pretty much every morning. Some days much worse than others. I’m finding that if I do too much in the morning, which is when I feel the best after breakfast and a pain pill, I feel much worse around 1:00 and the rest of the afternoon. So, today I experimented and did nothing this morning. Literally nothing. I have felt much better this afternoon and just took a shower. I guess I might be overdoing it. I didn’t think so, but perhaps my head is telling me otherwise. Some days it’s an all-day headache that even the Vicadin won’t touch. I’ve been given permission from the Dr. to take Sudafed when I feel it’s a sinus issue, so that’s good.
I go for my follow-up MRI on Tuesday down in Scarborough (south of Portland), but do not get the results until my visit with Dr. Kwan the following Tuesday. A nurse is coming in twice a week and the occupational therapist is in one day a week to work with me. They’re both really nice.
I’m trying to bend down a bit more each day and continue walking in the house. I can’t move quickly as that throws my
balance off and bending completely over is a no-no just yet. I’m feeling a bit more stable when walking and standing, so I think the cane might be history soon. It’s more of a safety thing right now. If I SHOULD get dizzy, or I walk outside to get the mail on an uneven surface, I’d rather have it there, than not. I haven’t attempted the stairs yet. Laundry is piling up, so I fear I’ll need to soon but I won’t be able to lift the wet clothing.
I am sleeping very well though. I’ve never been much of a napper, so just laying down in the middle of the day isn’t
easy for me. Once I do, I always fall asleep, but it’s making myself do it that’s difficult.
Yesterday I unloaded and loaded the dishwasher (sitting on a chair) as well as sorted out and threw out magazines and catalogs (threw them all on the floor and sat down) that
have accumulated throughout the house since I left on Oct. 5th. It took a lot out of me and I paid for it later in the day. Poor Dave came home to grumpy, whiny Heidi. She’s just so unattractive. I should have stopped after the dishwasher and called that my therapy for the day. But I felt good, so I pushed it. Bad Heidi, bad. I just fear I’ll become a couch potato, so I feel I HAVE to do something, but I can’t push it. A little at a time still. I just have to remind myself I’m recovering from brain surgery!
Heidi's Brain Blog 