Physical Therapy Complete!

I'm happy to say that I have completed my physical therapy and feel tons better. Thanks to all who prayed for my pain in the butt over the last month. (That's funny to type out!) Of course, my chiropractor did his part, too.

We have 37 days until the due date for Ooh-Ah and I hope to remain (relatively) pain-free as we move forward. I highly suggest you visit your chiropractor for any kind of back/butt/hip pain. I didn't have enough of a chiropractic benefit for my chiro to do all the therapy I needed which is why I was referred out.

I must say the bare-butt massages will not be missed. They were necessary and did the trick, but pulling down your pants for anyone is awkward!

Diagnosis

I have mentioned my sciatic nerve pain multiple times in recent weeks. I finally have a diagnosis. Thanks to Amy's husband, Filbert, who is a chiropractor and muscle mangler galore, I have been told that the source of my pain comes from my piriformis muscle.

As I was googling the piriformis, I found it referred to as "the pain in the butt that won't go away." Lovely. As glamorous as it is, I'm really looking forward to the day that I can pick up String Bean without cringing in pain!

I gotta go. Time to heat up my heating pad and put it on my butt. Like I said, glamorous.

Give me the Drugs!

I went and visited my chiropractor, Filbert-Amy's husband, this morning because I am in extreme pain from an unknown cause. I didn't fall. I did not hear a snap or feel any pain from any one thing I did. I just cannot determine the cause of my moderate to severe pain.

12 hours later, I am still in extreme pain. (And I may be visiting Filbert again tomorrow.) Apparently I have a lot of knots on the left side of my back. It hurts to breathe. It hurts to lay down.

Since my chiropractor, despite his other wonderful qualities, cannot prescribe drugs, I called my doc and got a prescription for codeine. Wow. I feel loopy, but I'm still in pain. At least I'll sleep tonight.

I hope.

Fish Oil

I just watched a program on the History Channel about Alaskan Pollock. I'm really grossed out now by the fish oil pills that Amy's husband, the chiropractor, insist that I take. Blech.

Dear History Channel:

I do not need to know what happens with every part of the fish. Just seeing you catch it was enough entertainment. Excuse me while I go and puke.

Yours Sincerely,

Ear Aches

I woke up yesterday morning with severe pain in my left ear. It really felt like someone had shoved a stick in there and was swirling it around. Great visual, I know.

I took some ibuprofen and eventually the pain went away. My trusty friend, Google, told me that ear infections often have intermittent pain but are most commonly associated with fevers. I didn't have a fever. So, I went to work. After all, my pain had subsided (despite that living in a tunnel-effect that I was "enjoying").

My office is typically HOT during this time of year. It can be 40 degrees outside, but I'll wear short sleeves to work because the heat has one setting. Let's just say, I'll never freeze there. If we go through another ice age, I'll wait it out at work.

Yesterday's office climate did not disappoint me. I was hot and my coworkers complained about the heat too. Mild relief came, as always, when I used my stapler to prop open the door and get some kind of cross breeze.

When I got home, I kept thinking how abnormal that ear pain was, so I decided to check out the Take Care Clinic at Walgreens. After checking in at the kiosk, I chatted with a father-daughter pair who were waiting for wife/mom and daughter/sister to finish up their turn with the nurse practitioner. 30 minutes later, I learned the daughter/sister did not have strep, but several other (unmentioned) problems.

I was pleasantly surprised that the nurse practitioner visit felt like a normal doc visit. (Where I found out, I did have a fever.) She got my history, took my vitals, diagnosed my ear infection, and gave me an antibiotic prescription. She even took into account that I am breastfeeding and double checked the prescription she was writing to be sure it wouldn't be harmful to String Bean. This particular nurse is a firm believer in homeopathic remedies (especially for nursing moms). She was happy to hear I use a Neti Pot and that I visit a chiropractor on a regular basis. In fact, she said that my use of the Neti Pot is probably why I don't also have a sinus infection.

I was not thrilled that the ear drops I got cost $130. Insurance covered $72 and our health care savings account covered the other $58.

Well, laundry is calling...At least I think that's what I heard.

The Birth of Walnut

Super Bowl Sunday, every man's worst nightmare, missing the big game because his wife is inconveniently in labor. Although, when my labor started at midnight, on the eve of the Super Bowl Sunday, Filbert fully expected he would still be able to attend the big party at church and would be handing out chocolate cigars and showing pictures during the half-time. He thought surely, a chiropractor's wife would have no trouble and sail through delivery quickly and easily. Oh, if only....

I learned a few things in my 20 hours of labor which ended in a C-section. First, considering that it was my beloved Filbert's idea to do the Bradley Method, he is a lousy labor coach. Second, I don't like company while I'm writhing in pain for hours on end. Third, football is not really a great distraction, especially when there are 5 injuries in the first quarter (although, the distraction was greatly appreciated by my dad) and lastly, when an anesthesiologist who specializes in pain management and a chiropractor get to chatting, they end up trying stuff out on each other and forgetting about the pregnant lady waiting for relief over in the bed. (In case you were wondering, I don't think Vicodan actually changed hands, but Filbert did shove the guy up against the wall and crack his back.)

I would probably make different choices regarding birthing if I were able to start all over again, but I wouldn't changed anything about my first-born child. He is a delightful little person, he is the one who made me a mother and he teaches me about life, every day.

Oh, and Filbert just reminded me that he missed a chili cook-off in addition to the church Super Bowl party. To him I say, "Cry me a river."