Just A Little Each Day

I can tell that my pain level is slowly but surely increasing with the passing days and weeks.  My hormones are relaxing my ligaments, which is surely contributing to the pain levels.  Since I am only on Tylenol, and won't be able to start PT until Wednesday of this week, I have to look at my schedule very carefully to make sure I'm not overbooked.  If I substitute teach one morning, that's likely all I will be able to do that day.  I made the mistake of going grocery shopping after a morning of subbing this week.  That night I took my kids to a birthday party.  When I came home after the party, I needed my cane and an ice pack, and was in tears from pain - I never cry from pain but I did that night.  WAY too much that day.  Note to self: keep commitments to a minimum.  It will all be worth it in the end.  I just keep reminding myself it's temporary.  Just about 6 months to go, and then I can take anti-inflammatories again.

Today I got all the laundry in the house done.  It's because I did nothing else all day, and took very frequent ice pack breaks.  It's good to know your limits.

Takin' It Easy

So I did something yesterday during my exercise - either during the walk in the cold morning, or during my floor exercises - which increased my pain level.  So, taking it easy today - just stretching.  The pain level definitely increases some when you can only take Tylenol, but I just remind myself that this is just temporary.  I am seriously beginning to wonder if I have hip involvement now as well, even though my hip MRI was clean 2.5 years ago.  I'll be asking the PT about that next week. 

I've been trying to substitute teach half days but have only found one job per week so early in the year.  I'm also doing some volunteer work for 4 hours per week, which I have also found physically challenging due to all the sitting.  So I've been home a lot the last couple weeks.  I know, I should enjoy it while I can, because everything will get crazy come April!

Tricare, Medicare, Rah Rah Rah

So I've decided to switch from Tricare Prime to Tricare Standard.  It will give me a hiccup of about a week, but I'm *hoping* that the change gets processed within a week, so I can go to a local family doc and get a written referral to PT before my appointment on the 27th.   Good thing I called this afternoon to find out though, because if I had shown up next week without a written referral and handed them my Medicare card, they would have sent me away, even with a Tricare Prime referral.  Since Medicare is primary, they have to have a written referral whether I have Prime or Standard as my secondary.

As soon as my Tricare change gets processed, I'm also choosing an OB.  I've been going on post which is required with Tricare Prime, and have seen a different provider at every visit.  That's ridiculous.  With 3 rods in my pelvis and a bicornuate uterus, I need continuity of care, and have been refused such through army medicine.  I've gotten a recommendation from a friend for a civilian OB.  I've never been fond of any of the 3 female OB's I've had before: for some reason the ones I've gotten have been femi-nazis who ridicule my choice of birth control (NFP, which, by the way, has worked perfectly for 8 years).  And I do mean ridicule.  It's kind of funny how some doctors will prescribe a grade one carcinogen for birth control and mock anyone who wants to do it naturally as backwards.  But I digress.  The recommendation I have is for a female OB, but I've heard nothing but good things about this one.  I am actually very optimistic about this change from Prime to Standard.  I will have insurance that costs a little more, but will actually give me choices, like most civilians have.

PT

My physical therapy referral was finally approved.  It's a new PT office, so not exactly continuity of care, but at least I don't have to go on-post.  It's two weeks before I can get an appointment, but they put me on the cancellation list should an appointment open up.

I got out in my garden today to till up the overgrown grass with my new tiller.  But alas, I hit a rock and it got stuck in the tines.  I will have to wait until hubs gets home because I can't figure out how to get it loose.  I've also been walking the last two mornings.  The increase in sleep has dramatically improved my morning sickness so that I can exercise again!  It's the little things...  :)

[I did finally get approval to go to my previous PT office, who's been with me for 3 years]

Pain Management

I went to my regular pain management appointment today, knowing I could not get an injection since I'm pregnant.  I was hoping to talk about other medication options, but she said there's really nothing else they can give me.  She was glad to hear I was headed back to PT, and also told me that they *CAN* give me a botox injection in my piriformis, if the pain gets bad, and do it without the xray.  Basically a blind injection.  Of course, if they miss the piriformis and hit the sciatic nerve, then I'll be paralyzed in my right leg for 3 months, but hey...  I said I would keep that as an option in my mind, should the pain get severe.

Oh, and the zofran won't fly.  Gives me killer headaches.  I'd forgotten that...

Sitting Ain't Easy

My kids are recovered from surgery and are back in school, which allowed me to do some volunteer work I've been wanting to do for a while.  I went in for a 4-hour shift, but after sitting 3.5 hours, was in so much pain I had to leave.  I am still waiting for final confirmation on my PT referral, and I do have a pain management appointment tomorrow as well.  Hopefully between these two, we can strengthen my sore areas, and also manage my pain during pregnancy.  All I know is the Tylenol extended release did very little for me, at least when it comes to sitting for long periods.  And standing in a static position for any length of time is completely off the table.  It's all muscle pain, no SI nerve pain, and for that at least, I am grateful.

I did get to finally pick up my zofran today, so with the nausea treated, hopefully I can exercise more.  That has been my biggest barrier to exercise, as you can imagine.

Survival Mode

Both my two boys (ages 4 and 5) had their tonsils out 5 days ago.  Due to the nighttime medication wakings, I have been exhausted and in survival mode.  I have done zero exercise, just trying to do some stretching to keep the pain at bay.  When I don't sleep, my morning sickness increases exponentially, ergo the lack of exercise.  However, this too shall pass.  I can do anything for 2 weeks.