For several years now, musings85 has been the coordinator for the Saturday night bitch-a-thon we all know and love as WYFP. He's done a fabulous job, lining up hosts weeks, even a few months, in advance, stepping in whenever someone can't host after all, and generally keeping this community series going. But Michael has a life, as do we all, and he needs a break.
All through that time, I have been a regular in this weekly series, sometimes hosting, most often commenting. The last few years have been among the hardest, emotionally speaking, of my life. And this community has been there to offer virtual hugs, kind words, helpful advice and an outlet for the deep-seated hurt that has weighed me down too often. So when Michael noted last week that he didn't have a replacement, I decided it was time to volunteer.
WYFP is our community's Saturday evening gathering to talk about our problems, empathize with one another, and share advice, pootie pictures, favorite adult beverages, and anything else that we think might help. Everyone and all sorts of troubles are welcome. May we find peace and healing here. Won't you please share the joy of WYFP by recommending?
Yeah, my "sucker" light went off big-time. Damn thing is brighter than all the neon signs on Miami Beach.
In a way, though, this is serendipitous. My neurosurgeon says I can't work right now, so my night-baker job has vanished into thin air. As one of the long-term un- and under-employed, this has been simply awful, to be so quickly back out of full-time work. I've been feeling pretty frightened and worthless. The self-pity party with brown balloons was getting boring. I needed something to do that would get me out of myself without causing me significant physical discomfort. This fits the bill.
However, there are still limits to what I can do, and in about a month, I'm going to hit a major limitation. It's called anterior cervical discectomy with fusion.
According to the lovely packet of information I received from the hospital this week, this is going to not just cramp my style, it is going to put my life on hold. I am likely going to have two incisions and two types of pain. Obviously, there will be the incision in my neck and the pain associated with that. In addition, the odds are very good that I will self-donate the bone necessary for the fusion. Cadaver bone is sometimes used, but I will have less trouble with rejection if I self-donate. And my bone density is for my age is extremely good, so there's no reason to not self-donate. That will come from my hip, and that part is going to be extremely painful, according to the documents I've received. (Note: when the medical people say something is going to be painful, they mean it is going to be simply excruciating.)
My surgery date is September 23. I expect to be drugged out of my mind that Saturday. I also expect to be on very efficient pain medication the first week or two after the surgery. So I need a deputy, somebody who will be absolutely reliable and won't forget to help get the diary up, keep the calendar filled, and hang out and tip the community for the last Saturday evening in September and first Saturday in October. Please step up and volunteer – you'll save me from playing the conscription bad-ass, which I guarantee will put me in A. Bad. Mood., because I hate playing the heavy.
Getting the house ready for post-surgery recovery is an FP all on its own. I will be in a two-part C-collar for several weeks. I won't be able to drive for at least a month. I will need to sleep in my recliner, not my bed. I will not be allowed to shower until the sutures are removed, about two weeks out (and bathing out of the sink is just so much fun – NOT). That means I have to get the den ready for a temporary bedroom, and prep the powder room as my bathing quarters. Getting up the stairs could be really unpleasant, so I have to stock my clothes downstairs. Don't ask about my hair – I have no idea how I will shampoo for two weeks. I will not be allowed to lift or carry anything weighing more than 5 lbs. I will not be allowed to raise my arms above shoulder level for about three months, so I have to set up a spot on the kitchen counter for glasses and mugs. All blouses and pajama tops have to be button-front – I won't be able to put on a T-shirt. On top of all that, the swelling in my neck will probably affect my ability to swallow, so I'll probably be on a liquid or semi-solid diet for several days.
That's just taking care of me. Then there's the house, cats and food prep. I'm not going to be able to vacuum – the canister will be too heavy to move. Other cleaning tasks are probably going to be off-limits too. I probably won't be able to clean the cat boxes for a few weeks. I'm already at the point that I can't take care of my gardens and yard. I won't be able to grocery shop on my own – and if I send Dear Husband, I'll have a kitchen full of junk food. Fortunately, I have a long-term dog-sitter lined up, so I won't have to worry about trying to take care of my black ball of furred lightning. And rescue will soon find a permanent or long-term foster home for the Mali-boy (and yes, Violet will miss him, but the cats will cheer).
Just contemplating all this makes me want to crack open a bottle of wine. I might as well – I won't be allowed to drink while I'm on pain meds!
So that's my FP collection for the week. What's yours?