It is cold and rainy. I have the Christmas tree lights plugged in and my little Duraflame stove going. I feel snug as a bug in the proverbial rug. I’ve found that I can turn my heat down 4-5 degrees with that stove on.
I woke up this morning and it was nearly an hour before I realized that it was Friday instead of Saturday. My days are all so similar that they tend to run together in my mind.
I want to thank all of you for your wonderful suggestions and advice for Liz. You came up with many options and ideas I’d never thought of.
She so appreciates all of you helping her to go down what is often a very lonely road in one’s life.
I Made An Appointment:
Yesterday I made an appointment for the afternoon of December 26th to get the cortisone shot in my neck.
I wave the white flag. Because I can’t take it anymore. I wake up at night with the pain throbbing. Then there might be an hour or so where it calms down.
And it is during those hours that make me rethink it, which is what has been happening for months. I talk myself out of going.
Applying ice seems to help the pain more than anything else.
My daughter will go with me. I’m not crazy about doing this. In fact I don’t want to do it at all. But I have read comments from some of you who say the injections have worked wonders. And I’m just so tired of the pain.
The afternoon I went to the appointment and left due to the doctor being so far behind, I happened to be talking to a woman. She told me that she gets the injections.
I told her I didn’t want to go that route.
She said to me: “When the pain gets bad enough you will change your mind.”
I guess she was right.
And I called the nurse to tell her about the upcoming appointments because she is the one who got yelled at last week. I wanted her to tell the doctor that the mission was accomplished in terms of me starting to deal with my neck.
I have an appointment with the neurosurgeon in February. She wants me to see him first I think.
But I saw his nurse practitioner a month or so ago and he said getting the injections should be the first option.
Ivy On The Spot:
This is what happens when you take your bed linens out of the washer and drape them over chairs to dry. A cat is bound to lay down on them. Every single time.
Doesn’t she look prim and proper on my gray sheets? The look on Ivy’s face is one of deep thought. She looks to be mulling serious matters. I wonder what she’s pondering?
Abi’s Spirit Shines:
I happened to be standing in a certain spot this morning looking out the patio doors.
From that particular view it appeared that the Christmas tree lights were shining ornaments on the bare branches of the hibiscus plant outside.
It is the red flowered hibiscus plant I bought last summer because it reminded me of my spirited Abi.
I felt my throat swell with emotion.
And I thought: Abi’s spirit is here. She wants me to see her all lit up just like her personality always was. My Abi is shining brightly. She wants me to sense her presence.
She has been gone 7 months this week.
Our fur baby’s are always with us. This is proof!
I too see Abi reflected in the lights! She is letting you know she is and always will be close by. Bless you Brenda
What a wonderful thing to happen with the Christmas lights !
A miracle !
I left you a late post on the 12 th about a TNS unit that I bought for my pain that has helped me between the steroid shots it is available at Walmart and does not require a doctors prescription .Hope this helps .
Oh and by the way the shots have never hurt when I have got them .
Have a wonderful weekend .
Brenda,
I probably do not need to tell you that this had tears running down my face.
Susan
I’m so glad you have an appointment. I think you will feel so much better once you start getting the injections! I’m glad you feel comforted by Abi’s presence, and yes, the see the little dog face also. Ivy is so funny and so pretty…a regular little princess! Love and hugs and stay warm! Have a great weekend!
Oh, my gosh, Brenda, I felt myself getting teary reading what you wrote about the lights on the hibiscus plant and feeling Abi’s presence. It seems like the lights from the tree shining out the patio door like that is a Christmas gift from Abi because you felt her presence so strongly. She wants you to know that her spirit is with you. To some folks this belief would seem like pie in the sky, but I am a person who allows that all sorts of mysterious things happen that suggest that there is a spirit life after physical death. I think that little occurrence might well have meant more than just the phenomenon of the lights because it was accompanied by your strong sense of Abi’s presence. Bittersweet. But still a gift.
I so hope that you can get relief for your neck pain from the injection. I’m like you, I don’t like the tho’t of a needle going into my body although I’ve had plenty of them recently. I had some bursitis in my shoulder a few years ago, I think from lifting and holding my twin grandsons when they were babies as I cared for them daily. I went to an orthopedic doctor and he gave me a cortisone shot in that shoulder. I hardly felt the needle as he used a numbing ingredient within the cortisone syringe. It definitely worked and the pain was gone in a couple of days and I haven’t had it since. Your case may be different in that your pain may be from a different cause, but I’m pretty sure you will have at least some temporary relief.
It’s really cold here and so much darkness is so depressing. At least after the solstice we will be heading toward more light. Yay! (How do people stay sane in Alaska??)
Have a cozy contented weekend with the four-leggeds.
I don’t know how Alaskans stay sane in the winter either. I’m already stir crazy.
Unless Charlie was standing right there and causing the reflection, which I don’t think would work out, that is definitely a yorkie reflection in that photo. Very, very cool.
No, he was asleep on the couch.
I scanned through the pictures before I read your text and immediately saw Abi. That’s truly wonderful – hugs to you!
I’m glad you’re going to see the doctor about the injections. I feel certain you’ll feel much better.
My sweet Abi. I miss her so much.
I had the same thoughts when I looked at the lights! I could see the reflection, too…so sweet. Your tree is so pretty, too! Neck pain is no fun at all…hope they can help you with it soon, Brenda!
I can’t believe that I didn’t see the shaped reflection. Just the lights.
For 5 years I had to have those shots every 3 months. They ddidnt hurt. I this past year started having pain in my neck, going down my arm. I was in pain management for other pain. 5 oxycodone a day wasnt touching my neck pain. Had mri and showed , my C4, C5, C6, C7 were buldging. I stopped pain management stop my pain meds. Haven’t had any since!My primary Dr sent me to Orthopedic Dr in Bentonville. She gave me neurotin/gabapentin. After a month of the most excruciating pain I’ve ever had…taking one pill…just 1…I woke up the next morning and my pain was gone!!! Just one pill!! Ive been taking it every since and haven’t had any pain in my neck. Just wanted to share. Hope you get something to help. I truly understand your pain.
I also saw Abi in that picture!!! Awesome!
How weird!
Abi will always be with you. Our loved ones appear to us in different ways, sometimes at surprising times when we’re not expecting it. I never cease to be amazed. There’s something about Christmas tree lights, isn’t there. Just so comforting, somehow. Maybe it goes back to childhood when trees seemed magical (they still are!) and very special because it was only for this one short period of time a year that it happened. I load my tree up, this year it’s a real mish-mash, and lights (although the tree is so old, at least half the pre-lit branches no longer light up, so I’ve thrown on battery-operated strands and regular plug-in strands here and there to fill in “bare light” spots), and it’s always front and center in the living room window. I have a gel fuel fireplace that burns 100% clean, it’s wonderful. The cans of fuel produce actual flames that crackle and dance in the fireplace behind the metal screen and warm the room. So at night I’ll pop a couple of cans into the fireplace, light them up, and settle back on the sofa wrapped in a cushy afghan to enjoy the fire and the glowing Christmas tree! This is the kind of stuff that gets me through this dark time of year. Brighter days will soon be here, after Winter Solstice the days will begin to inch toward more light again, YAY!
Sounds very cozy!
I see the reflection too and the angel statue is right beside it Brenda!
I’m sure your having a great day today! ?
Yes, I noticed the angel as I took the photo. But not the “dog” in the reflection.
Me too, I see Abi’s face also. Love when things like this happen. A true gift…
I guess I was meant to see it then.
I also saw a dog’s reflection and yes, it does look like a yorkie. I didn’t think I was crazy, I thought that is why you posted it, to show us Abi’s spirit. So she must be there if we all saw her. A Christmas miracle!
No, I didn’t see it until you all mentioned it.
The cortisone shot isn’t as bad as you might think, so don’t dread it. Ivy looks so clean and well groomed, she takes good care of herself. BTW, I see the dog in the picture, too!
That helps. Thanks.
For 5 years I had to have those shots every 3 months. They ddidnt hurt. I this past year started having pain in my neck, going down my arm. I was in pain management for other pain. 5 oxycodone a day wasnt touching my neck pain. Had mri and showed , my C4, C5, C6, C7 were buldging. I stopped pain management stop my pain meds. Haven’t had any since!My primary Dr sent me to Orthopedic Dr in Bentonville. She gave me neurotin/gabapentin. After a month of the most excruciating pain I’ve ever had…taking one pill…just 1…I woke up the next morning and my pain was gone!!! Just one pill!! Ive been taking it every since and haven’t had any pain in my neck. Just wanted to share. Hope you get something to help. I truly understand your pain.
Thanks. I’ve read about gabapentin. Will mention to my doctor. I won’t take those pain pills. Not on a regular basis.
Cortisone is a great anti inflammatory medication. Most Doctors I have worked with recommend only one injection every 6 months. Some patients only have pain relief that last 2 months. But on average the pain relief does last 6 months. Each person is different. My mother’s pain relief lasted for 6 months. Hopefully your pain relief will last for 6 months.
That sure would be nice. This has been going on a year next month.
Oh my goodness! Then I too am nuts! I was just thinking that I saw a dog’s reflection in those lights. I noticed the eyes first. How beautiful is that. Hope you continue to have a warm cozy day with Charlie, Ivy, and the spirit of Abi.
I’m so glad you all saw it. Otherwise I wouldn’t have.
Am I the only person who sees the dog face in the lighted area on the patio face?
Several others have seen it. Now I see it too.
No your not the only one!! Wow I see it too!!
Looks like Miss Ivy might just be thinking,hmmm,what shall I get into next:)
I get cortisone shots in my hip,no fun,but they do keep me walking like a normal person for a little while.
Have a wonderful Friday
I’ll give it a try anyway.
Ok you might think I’m nuts but I see a dog’s face in that reflection – complete with perked up ears. Do you see it? I see two eyes, a nose, and perked up ears. I think your sweet Abi’s spirit is all around you, maybe that’s why you felt so ‘snug’ and content this morning!
Oh good, you see it too. Looks kinda like a yorkie
I didn’t see it until you mentioned it.
Oh wow! I see the doggie in the reflection! ? ?