Much time has passed since I last posted a daily challenge. As I'd mentioned, I started having health issues. It started as a pain on my lower right abdomen. "Pain" is almost too strong of a word. Uncomfortable, sometimes becoming painful. Annoying, but something I could ignore. Most of the time.
When I went to a master class for writers a few years ago, we played a simulation of a writer's career called "The Game." In one part of the Game you rolled dice, and sheets were consulted to determine what happened. A "life roll," something that could impact your writing (often negatively).
This is my latest life roll.
At my day job they started a wellness program. Go in for a physical, get some blood work done, and we'd all get a deduction on our premiums and a credit against our deductibles. Since the problem wasn't going away, and I hadn't had a physical in a long time, I went ahead and made the appointment.
When I first showed up the doc was so enthusiastic to see me. "Someone who is basically healthy!"
I'd gone through the standard questions with the nurse before hand. Smoke? No. Drink? No. Never? Never. Any surgeries? No. None? None.
Then I went through it again with the doc. It really gives you a good idea of what they deal with every day when they're surprised to have someone healthy, that doesn't drink or smoke!
I'd mentioned my problem, the discomfort I was feeling, and when the doc did the hernia check I got the bad news. "You've got a hernia! I'm going to refer you for a surgical consult."
I had a vague notion of what she was talking about, that's it. I did notice that after she had pressed on my abdomen that the 'discomfort' I'd been feeling had become more painful. I expected it to ebb. Instead, after the appointment, it worsened. Now it was painful. Was it just in my head, because now I knew what it was? I don't know. Maybe I'd ignored how bad it'd gotten.
I ended up back at the doctor's a few days later, seeing one of the other doctors in the group, because the pain had become quite distracting. This doc did a careful exam, ran a few other tests and confirmed the hernia diagnosis. He also showed me where it bulged when I coughed.
Nothing to do except wait for the surgery consultation a week later. That went as expected. Yep, hernia. Yep, it needed to be repaired. Another week and I went under the knife.
I'd expected pain post-op. They all told me. Without having ever undergone anything like this, I imagined I could still write and make progress on my novel while I recovered.
Right!
After the initial drugs wore off, moving became very difficult. Even getting into or out of bed became an excruciating chore. The narcotics made me all fuzzy-headed, but oddly not really sleepy. Restless, in constant pain, there was no way I was kicking off National Novel Writing month!
Talk about a life roll! Health issues, having surgery, has an impact!
With the support of my family, I gradually improved and began to better. Moving became easier. I started taking notes on the book I wanted to write. I finished an online writing workshop. I still couldn't move easily. Sitting for any length of time, walking, doing much of anything was hard.
Was hard? Is hard!
It's gotten better. I went back to work this week. Tough, very tough, to make it through a whole day at work. It's good. It gets me up doing things instead of staying in bed.
Today I decided to go for a walk around our property. It isn't far, we do have a tiny hill. And I went barefoot. I want to build back up my strength and get moving. I want to improve what I'm eating. I'm still in pain and I have to take it very easy. No pushing. I still have lifting restrictions for the next few weeks. I'm not getting better over night.
I am, however, getting better. I'm writing the book now. I'm back at work. And now I'm getting out for a walk. Running and cycling will come in time. For now it is enough to take a short walk around the place.
