Pain

My stress and depression often manifest themselves as pain. And this week has been especially painful.

I am doing the work of three people at my job and it is really starting to take its toll on my. I am very much worried that I won’t get to stay with my awesome company that is doing great work because I have a chronic illness and I can’t work as much as other people. (On a side note, I would like to take a minute to get something off my chest. Non-profits need overhead money as much as they need money that goes to the work. The work doesn’t happen if those doing the work don’t have support people to keep the lights on and the computers running.)

And Flirt has been in pain herself all week and that has had me very stressed out as well. We finally made it to the vet yesterday and it appears to just be a strain in her back. She has pain meds now and seems to be feeling a little better, but she is on exercise restrictions for the next four weeks and she is not liking that at all. I did not realize how much it would hurt me to see her hurting. We are also putting her on supplements because she is almost 8 now and that makes her a senior dog. I just want to see her happy and chasing tennis balls for many years to come.

Finally, I have been a bit depressed this week. My parents have headed back to their home and I will probably not see them again until next summer. And this year, that is hitting me especially hard. I have had such a good summer with them and now that we are all older, I am cherishing every moment I have with them.

All of these things has led to new pains that I have not really experienced before. My jaw hurt so bad earlier in the week, I was having trouble chewing. Plus side, I lost two pounds. Down side, it still hurts and while I can chew now, the pain is still affecting me. These are the types of weeks that have me really missing the days when I was younger and not sick.

With that, I am going to end the blog this week and go convalesce with my dog on the couch. I wish you all a pain-free week!