I love Italian food, but . . .

 

My last post on this blog had to do with the success of an epidural steroid.  The area where the steroid was injected is still comfortable.  But now a hearty dose of pain has settled into the other side of my back.

It’s borderline funny, this body!  There’s joy around me everywhere I turn, and I’m determined to keep a sense of humor foremost in my mind.  Especially on those days when some alternative medicine advocate tries to sell me on the idea of rubbing oregano oil on my back. 

Obviously, this person is trying to sell the oregano oil as well as the idea!  Of course I am not buying.  But whereas formerly I would have reacted in anger at the individual’s invasiveness, now I’m trying to see the humor of oregano oil allegedly “healing” disks that clatter and clash together because they long ago lost their padding, while popping out bone spurs which press on nerves. 

Meanwhile I know people–some much younger than I–who have terminal illnesses and devastating health issues that make me cry just to think of them.  In light of my friends who suffer so greatly, I simply can’t bring myself to grouse about my pain which is somewhat alleviated by getting off my feet and taking a pill!

And then if I ever am tempted to grouse, I can just think of the oregano oil and imagine myself going about smelling like a lasagna. 

Margaret L. Been–All Rights Reserved 

Another milestone . . . .

Two days ago I had an epidural steroid, and I cannot believe the difference in my back already.  Now I can get through a day without being sick with pain.  I can walk without a cane most of the day, with just a bit of support from the ever faithful stick at dinner time. 

I just took our corgi, Baby Dylan, for a nice walk in the fresh autumn air.  It’s the first time I’ve been able to walk him for over two weeks.  (Imagine handling a cane, an aching back, and a corgi who goes insane when he sees another dog–of which there are many here in our neighborhood park.)

The good part of my limited dog walking is that Joe is now walking Dylan several times a day.  With coronary artery disease and diabetes, Joe needs to walk–far more than I do.  In the past, Joe never cared for walking because it’s not a competitive sport and he likes competition.  Well, now he’s competing with Dylan going berserk over other dogs–and Joe is rising to the challenge beautifully.  Still it’s good to know that with relief from sciatic nerve and degenerative disk pain, I can walk Dylan again–at least some of the time.

The steroid is predicted to really kick in, relief-wise, in five to seven days after the injection.  This means I’ll be able to enjoy one of the great local farmer’s markets this weekend–and perhaps go antiquing.  Without a cane to mess around with, I’ll be able to carry a lot more produce and vintage treasures in my hands. 

How thankful I am for the wonders of modern medicine!

Margaret L. Been

Affirmation but please, no pity!

Months ago I wrote about what we need and don’t need when we live with chronic pain and illness.  I specified that we do need affirmation.  Friends who deny the fact that we have medical issues might mean to be helpful, but they definitely are not!  Facts must be faced, and there is strength in learning to live victoriously with reality!

Conversely, there are people who try to affirm–but in a disastrously negative way.  They “affirm” with an attitude that says, “Oh, you poor thing!  Oh, how horrible!” 

There is nothing creative about the “Oh you poor thing” doomsayers.  Metaphorically speaking, they are the proverbial chorus in the Greek tragedy–depleting and depressing to be around, even when they are simply standing there moaning in the background.  Pity is demeaning and insulting to one’s God-given dignity.  The pity mongers need to be avoided. 

Over the summer months I shoved my orthopedic issues backstage due to my husband’s urgent cardio-vascular emergencies.  Now Joe has been treated with stents which exude a substance that breaks down scar tissue.  Medical miracles have given him renewed health.  I praise God for that, and now I can return to the challenge of my own health.

Since we’ve moved back to Southern Wisconsin, I’ve resumed going to my former orthopedic surgeon who mended my broken bones and minded my ortho issues for years in the past.  After more x-rays and an MRI, this doctor (whom I trust!) has decided that my considerable back issues (degenerative disk disease, arthritis, and scoliosis) have augmented the knee problems, rather than the other way around.  A knee replacement would not address the back.

Next week I will have an epidural steroid.  If the steroid injection fails, back surgery will probably be the next step.  Plain and simple!  I have decided I will not mention either of these measures to those people whom I know would respond with, “Oh, you poor thing!” 

Pain and illness pare us to the core, and we must reserve our compromised energy in order to live fully.  There is no room in our agenda for individuals who like to say, ”Oh, you poor thing!”  By tempting us to indulge in the sin of self pity, the pity party party folks distract us from our God-given mandate to live victoriously in the bodies we’ve been given.  

We are not playing out a Greek tragedy.  The “Oh you poor thing” chorus is irrelevant as well as disgusting.  Illness and pain are never tragedies for the mature adult Christian.  If all else on earth fails, we die–and for us, to die is gain!  Our ultimate goal is Heaven.

Those of us who live with chronic pain and illness need friends and acquaintances who encourage us with their upbeat spirits.  We need affirmation but please, no pity!

Margaret L. Been

Peace in the storm!

We could say this summer has been a bit of a storm, metaphorically speaking!  Early in the summer my husband’s health issues loomed large, and spurred us to begin the process of moving our life.  Since Joe’s hospital sessions in June, he’s had 2 other medical emergencies which (praise God) have been resolved–at least for now. 

My knee replacement is waiting in the wings, to be re-scheduled at our new home location.  Meanwhile, we’ve had a pleasant summer amidst change–enjoying family visits and feasting our souls on the nature around us.

I rest my silly leg whenever possible, and thrive on the pleasure of a night of rest after each satisfying work day.  What a joy, to flop into a fresh bed at the end of the day.  What a delight to get a leg up (on a pillow, not a horse) and sip ice water or my husband’s beautifully prepared iced chai with soy milk. 

What a thrill to know that I have 8 or 10 hours each night to do nothing but read, sketch, listen to the wind, and sleep before getting up for another interesting day of packing for our move!

Our “stormy summer” has been eventful and fun.  God is faithful.  He always gives us peace in the storm!

Margaret L. Been

A Green Pasture!

Those of you who have been checking in on my other blogs realize that my husband, Joe, and I are in the midst of big change.

Three weeks ago today, we scurried down to Milwaukee, where over the course of two weeks Joe had two cardiac artery procedures.  The first one was very difficult, and there was concern that Joe would need by-pass surgery.  (He had six by-passes in 1987, and does not want to repeat that experience!)

But prayer prevailed, and the second procedure went beautifully.  At that time, the troublesome first repair was improved.  As of this moment, all is well.

Now we are back up north, packing to move our lives and lifestyle to a new pasture–actually, not new to us.  After eight years of living in the wild boonies of Northern Wisconsin, we are returning to Waukesha County in the southern part of our state–our longstanding home territory “from whence we comest”.

All of our in-state family members live there, and we’ll be settling within minutes of their homes.  My long awaited knee surgery will take place down there, courtesy of a fine orthopedic surgeon who serviced my broken bones and aching back for years before we moved north.  (I cancelled the knee surgery which had been scheduled for June 26th up here, because hearts and arteries are far more important than knees.)

If all goes as planned, we’ll move after July 31st.  Along with my life, I’ll carry my computer and blogs to Southern Wisconsin where there will be plenty to write about.  We’ll be back in the beautiful farm country, in a county abounding in lakes and woods. 

Things thrive down there in a rich soil belt that grows even richer as it spreads into Illinois and Iowa.  Crops and wildflowers (plants that can’t handle the short growing season and 35 below zero winters here in the north) flourish in Southern Wisconsin.

The most wonderful crop in our new pasture, is our great-grandchildren.  They keep increasing in numbers, even more precious than all those amazing things that spring out of the soil.

Our Shepherd is moving us to a green pasture!

Margaret L. Been

Staying Cool

The above fellows–little James (one of our great-grandsons) and Joelly and Nathaniel (two of our grandsons who are also great)–have nothing to do with what I’m going to write about in this entry.  I just wanted to include the photo, so I nebulously tied in the topic of “staying cool” with these cool young men.  Sneaky, eh what?!

Thanks to God’s grace, I’m staying cool and living each moment to the max.  I was all geared up for my knee replacement, scheduled for June 26, but a new development may postpone that surgery.

Last week my husband, Joe, experienced what may be the sign of needing another on stent on an artery connected to his heart.  Twenty two years ago this June, he had six by-passes.  Since then God has preserved Joe’s health beautifully, with the aid of occasional stents–those little inserts which keep the arteries open.

We’ll know in a day or so, whether or not Joe needs to have a procedure soon.  We go to Milwaukee (300 miles from home) for his heart issues–to St. Luke’s Hospital, where cardiac work in our state was pioneered in the 1970s.  Now other hospitals around Wisconsin have gotten into the heart repair scene with good success, but we are partial to St. Luke’s.

If Joe needs another stent immediately, without a doubt I will postpone my knee surgery.  Hearts are far more important than knees!  Meanwhile I’m hanging loose and staying cool–ever ready to put my knee on hold and embark on a short notice trip to Milwaukee if necessary.

Joe is one of those intelligently inquisitive people who loves to watch medical procedures on a screen.  He’s always cool.  Maybe that’s where the three amigos pictured above get their “coolness”.

Now didn’t I do a great job of working the photo into the theme? 

Margaret L. Been

No pain without purpose!

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”  Romans 8:18 NIV

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”  Romans 8:28 NIV

Recently my neighbor, Betty, shared her experience of surgery–the very same surgery which I’m scheduled to have on June 26th–a knee replacement.

Betty said what impressed her was how the pain was “pain with a purpose”.  After this surgery (which has a 95% rate of success, according to my surgeon) most individuals can be confident of getting better every day. 

The post surgical pain, albeit not fun and sometimes severe, is a healing pain–as opposed to the seemingly futile pain we endure for months (and sometimes years!) while waiting for a firm diagnosis and plan of action.  After surgery, Betty felt she was actually “getting somewhere”!

Pain with a purpose!  I think the best illustration of that is the pain of childbirth!  What a glorious, creative purpose!  All but one of my deliveries were natural, and I experienced the birth of these babies right down to that final contraction where you think you simply cannot take anymore pain and VOILA!  A screaming baby (or in the case of our Eric, a baby born while contentedly chomping on his fist).

Pain where we realize the purpose, and know the outcome, is certainly easier to bear than pain we don’t understand.  But according to God’s Word, when we belong to the Lord Jesus all pain has purpose.  Through pain we grow closer to our Lord, depending fully on Him and experiencing His enabling.  His strength is revealed in our weakness.  Our finite minds can’t begin to comprehend the work God is doing in us and through our lives.  All of this will be revealed someday, when we are with Him in glory. 

Meanwhile, we trust!  For the Christian, there is no pain without purpose!  Dear readers, please do me a favor!  Pray that I’ll remember that statement a few weeks from now when I’m tempted to grouse about pain!  :)

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.”                                            II Corinthians 4:17 NIV

Margaret L. Been

I’ll dance!

What is a Christmas picture of a healthy young couple doing in a May posting, on a blog for “illness and pain”?

The young lady pictured above is our granddaughter, Nicole, with her beloved, Travis–who, last Christmas, got down on his knees before God and everybody at a party and asked Nicole to marry him.

Of course, Nicole said “YES!”  They plan to marry in August of 2010, and I expect to enjoy dancing at their wedding.

Why?  Because this week’s knee arthroscopy revealed hidden gremlins, grinches, and trolls in my left knee.  Soon I’ll go the proverbial “whole nine yards” with a total knee replacement. 

Then, after diligent therapy, I’ll be able to do something I’ve done all my life up until a few years ago:  DANCE!  Whether a frenetic jitterbug from the big band era, a sedate tango, or (most recently) a whooping Allemande Left, I love dancing.  Yes, Nicole, thanks to medical technology I plan to dance at your wedding.

No, the above photo is not a non sequitur.  I have a tricky but valid excuse for posting a lovely granddaughter’s picture!  Both Nicole’s engagement to Travis and my upcoming surgery have something to do with knees. 

Margaret L. Been

Satisfied with less . . . .

Yesterday I went to a favorite shopping site where it is hard to say “No”:  the local greenhouse.  All the plants were out–annuals, perennials, vegetables, shrubbery, young trees, and hanging baskets of flowers. 

What a temptation!  In past years I’ve purchased perennials to add to what we already have–plus some annuals, especially snapdragons and marigolds, to fill in a few vacant spots.

But next week, I’m having more knee surgery.  I’m presently unable to kneel in the garden, or use a shovel. 

My husband volunteered to do some of this, but I hesitate to add to the extra work load he will have after my surgery:  going downstairs to do laundry, preparing meals, etc.  So I said “No” to most of the plants, as inviting and irresistable as they looked.

But I will still be able to do some gardening.  We have 3 barrels full of soft, rich dirt where I plant herbs every summer.  These barrels are in full sun, and they are a delight to my heart. 

I purchased a bunch of my favorite herbs at the greenhouse:  cilantro, parsley, Italian parsley, lavender, sage, thyme, rosemary, Greek oregano, Italian oregano, and sweet basil.  These I can handle, as kneeling is not required to maintain a garden in barrels.

And the perennials we have will thrive, as they are hardy for zone 2 and 3 where we live.  The mint and catmint come back with a happy vengeance every year, and we’ll soon be clipping chives for salads.

When the summer heat sets in, we’ll set some houseplants out in shady spots.  We have an indoor jungle (houseplants are my means of showing off a green thumb) and it’s fun to put the hardy ones outdoors for a few weeks.

Finally, as you see in the above photo, there’s one kind of gardening that never fails to flourish no matter what:  junk gardening!  The rummage season is in full swing.  I’m finding extra enameled kettles and pots, plus some rusty odds and ends to add to the plethora of junk collected over the decades. 

My husband and I will have a wonderful, laid-back summer, admiring our gardens and thoroughly satisfied with “less”.

Margaret L. Been

Sun Tea Days

 

Although I’m a great fan of English teapots (I’ve lost count of how many I have) and English teacups (also like “the sands of the sea” around our home) I have a strange confession to make:  I’m not overwhelmingly crazy about hot tea.

Oh, I drink plenty of hot tea because:  1) it’s gracious and lovely; 2) I enjoy using the teapots and teacups; 3) dressing up for a tea party is fun, and one can hardly have a tea party without tea!  4)  I identify with many things English, Scottish, and Irish.  Yes, I like hot tea.  I”m just not incurably addicted to it.

Iced tea?  That’s something else.  I’m passionate about iced tea.  Despite my Yankee roots, I have the Southerner’s proclivity for iced tea.  And now it’s that glorious time again–the beginning of sun tea days, which should last from now into October.

A recent foray at a resale shop produced a large tin tea strainer into which I can pack a lot of loose tea, for a gallon of sun tea.  I prefer  real black tea, and think that loose is best–Twinings, Yorkshire Gold, Lyons’, Bewleys’, Lifeboat, etc.  To have a huge strainer is quite the luxury, as now I won’t have tea leaves floating all over my gallon jar–needing to be run through a strainer.

We sometimes drink what I call the “wimpy teas”–chamomile, mint, and others–for tummy aches and sore throats.  They’re helpful when served hot.  Celestial Seasonings Tea is worth buying because the boxes are so pretty–and I have a fond memory of touring Celestial Seasonings in Boulder, Colorado when our grandson, Nathaniel, was a toddler.  He snuggled into the lap of the giant Sleepytime Bear. 

But I consider herb teas to be medicinal.  You don’t get a fine jolt out of drinking them, and they’re not my idea of abundant living–Hercule Poirot and his tissanes notwithstanding.

Actually black tea is rather medicinal, too–but in a stimulating,  refreshing way.  It’s good for body and soul–especially when steeped to maximum strength in the sun, poured over plenty of ice, and consumed all day!

In two weeks, I’m scheduled for another meniscus surgery.  Then I’ll have a few days’ excuse to do nothing but sit in the sun and swill sun tea.  As if I needed an excuse! 

Margaret L. Been