Category: Support

First Day Back at Work

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I went in for my first day of work yesterday. I showered the night before, so all I would have to do was fix my hair and face, eat breakfast and get my clothes pressed. Turns out, that may have been too much! LOL At least I’m not used to doing those things in a hurry anymore, so I was tired before I ever sat down in the car. Dave drove me to work.

Two other people have been using my office since I was last there on Oct. 4th, so I spend most of the day taking back my office, computer and my files. I had a lot of filing to do.

Just as it was when I arrive home from the hospital, it was a bit of a time warp in my office. File folders waiting for jobs to be completed and filed the week of Oct. 5th, were still sitting there on my desk. The catalog pages I had completed and had proofed, were sitting on my desk. My clock had stopped. My calendar on the wall was still on October. Just very strange. I had to become reacquainted with my office and my “stuff”.

I brought along some healthy snacks to munch on and made myself get up from my computer and walk down to the lunchroom to get them, as well as drank a lot of water. I was hoping to work until 4:00, which a lot of people thought highly ambitious my first day back. Turns out, they may have been right. Around noon time, I was pretty sure I shouldn’t push it until 4:00. I listened to my body today. I knew I probably COULD stay there until 4:00, but knew I SHOULDN’T.

So, after I ate and closed my eyes again for 10 minutes, for the 2nd time that day, I let Dave know I would need to come home. God bless him, he left immediately and drove the 30 miles up to pick me up. I was horribly tired and had a pretty nasty headache for about four hours in the evening.

Today, my head feels better, but I’m really, really dragging. I’ll try the work thing again tomorrow and see if it
continues to get better.

It was great to see everyone again. I really missed them and their humor. I laughed a lot, which I needed. I missed
the social interaction and feeling a part of something. It was small taste of getting my independence back again.

I am, by no means, ready for a 40 hours work week. But it’s a small step forward.

Speaking of work…

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…I’m going back. Not full time just yet, but to start to get back into the swing of things for two days a week. I HAVE been doing ads from home and a few other small projects, but at home, I’m afforded the luxury of being able to stop whenever and go lay down, or just rest or do some therapy. In the office, I’ll have to FORCE myself to stop and rest. I have a tendency to just sit for hours, then realize I skipped lunch! Somehow, I don’t think my head of body will allow myself to do that anymore.

I really KNOW when I haven’t eaten for a little bit. My head hurts more and I get the shakes…far more than I used to. The only “side effects” I’m having as a result of the ruptured
aneurysm and the surgery, are a headache, tiredness and the shaking. Mostly in my right hand, but both hands can be effected if I haven’t eaten in awhile, or do too much.

I always used to have a small shake, but it’s much more pronounced now and the rupture & surgery is the only thing that has really changed…..well, that and the fact I’ve become so darn lazy. I SIT very well!

The Ultimate

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The day I was wheeled into the operating room for my coiling, my boyfriend Dave, quit smoking.

To my knowledge (and I’d know if he were at this point!) he hasn’t had a cigarette in almost three months. I’m so very proud of him and am so thankful he did that. He needed to. He has low-grade emphysema and it’s also not good for people with aneurysms. I seem to recall the ER Doctor saying something to Dave about it as I was leaving the ER to get
into the ambulance for transport.

Although it was a horrible situation that caused him to quit, I’m glad things turned out this way. It’s so nice NOT
to smell that first thing in the morning and to smell it on his clothes, car and breathe. I hope it continues.

Christmas 2006

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I got through the Christmas season and holiday. Although not able to do as much as I would have liked, I enjoyed every
bit of the stress and hub-bub that goes with it.

One holiday party, lots of food and unwrapping gifts all overwhelmed me at times. I had headaches throughout the
weekend and was very tired by the end of each day, but for the most part, I did good.

Dave and I spent our first Christmas eve together alone since I moved to Maine six years ago and it was very special, then we were able to open our gifts first thing Christmas morning with our kitties. Very nice.

I’m just extremely lucky to be here this Christmas and reminded myself of that on a daily basis. God has blessed me and I should honor that be being good to myself and to others around me.

Here’s to a healthy and Happy New Year!