An Apology and A Reason

First, I want to apologize to all my followers out there.  I know I’ve been incommunicado for quite some time.  I have a reason.

About a month ago, I found out that the disc in my lower back that was causing me an increasing amount of pain had herniated.  Also, the disc right above it is bulging.  Due to work responsibilities, I am unable to have surgery until November.  Needless to say, I’m in quite a bit of pain and some days, it’s an effort to walk or just function.  To top it off, the pain seems to increase on an almost daily basis.

In an effort to combat this pain, I am in physical therapy three days a week.  While it seems to help some, today, as I am typing this, I’m propped on the sofa with a heating pad on my back and pain radiating to my knees and down to my left foot.

Since pain and work seem to consume my days, I’ve lost all interest in almost everything.  It’s a temporary condition (the pain has caused my bi-polar disorder to flair up too) I’m assured, but one that is frustrating none-the-less. 

To top this off, work has gotten increasingly stressful, along with my personal life.  Louisiana is in a budget crisis, and I work in higher education which is once again facing massive budget cuts.  I’m looking at having to run a department on quite possibly a smaller budget than I have had in almost 10 years!  Also, my mother-in-law whom I love dearly is driving me nuts because she isn’t working and is suffering from depression and self-induced problems (she wants to move in with us & she’s in her early 60’s!), and we have the cute new puppy at home that is stressful in and of itself.

My psychiatrist is adjusting my medicine accordingly and I’m in therapy to learn how to cope with all this too.  They are the ones that assured me this disinterest  is temporary and are helping me to less the effects the chronic pain & stress have caused. 

So, between physical therapy, a psychiatrist, a therapist, and support from my family, I hope to be able to handle the pain until I can have surgery in November.  In fact, it’s scheduled for November 5th.  Yes, I’m counting the weeks LOL!

During the 6-8 week recovery, I hope to begin crafting, creating, and blogging all the time again.  I really do enjoy this.

In closing, please bear with me.  I have lots to show you when I’m up to it (I’ve won a few on-line auctions and got some neat stuff before losing interest) and still have a ton of things I wish to accomplish when life stops throwing me curve balls.

Until later……………………..