Spring is Sprung

"Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush."  ~Doug Larson

A beautiful dawn on the morning walk, pink and gold streaking across the sky.  On the return journey, I notice the trees beginning to flower. Spring is coming.  Black clouds in the background and rising breeze off the lake warn of an imminent storm.  An hour later, my one window with the rooftop view is streaked with raindrops.

Mundane corporate frustrations tighten muscles and aggravate chronic pain.  With another injection on the horizon, Hot Doctor has banned my herbal pain tea (a blood thinner).  I detest taking medication but with the herbs out of my system, it becomes easier to justify.  Too easy, maybe?

Another chemically induced pain free day.  I miss my tea.

New Year's Resolutions

“Though the doctors treated him, let his blood, and gave him medications to drink, he nevertheless recovered.”  ~ Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace

I don't generally make New Year's resolutions, but unofficially, I usually have a few in the back of my head.  This year I resolved to do something about my neck pain.  

I know I have mentioned before about my car accident and the chronic neck pain that was the result.

After 18 years and several unhelpful and unwilling doctors later, if I have to get rude and belligerent to finally get some treatment, I can be a bitch if I absolutely must.

It had been about 8 years since my last attempt at treatment and at this point, I didn't even have a primary care physician anymore, I was so disgusted with my past experiences.

Picking a name from an insurance list obviously wasn't a viable tactic.  So I went to one recommended by a colleague.  This doctor listened, asked questions, and surprisingly, actually touched my head and neck.  She didn't discount or disregard what I said and didn't treat me like a drug addict seeking a fix.

Through her I was sent to a specialist called a physiatrist.  Have you heard of a physiatrist?  I hadn't.

Physiatrist. Physical medicine and rehabilitation physician.

This Physiatrist, whom I will call Hot Doctor, is younger than me, exceptionally personable and flat-out gorgeous.  Irrelevant, of course.

Hot Doctor listened to me, asked questions, touched my head and neck, then sat down, explained what is going on in my spine and said he could help me.  I wanted to cry.  Then he, without blinking, prescribed me some painkillers.  Hot Doctor is my hero.

First treatment: Steroid injections.  Ummmm...Needle in my neck...

Prognosis: possibly immediate complete relief and never need to go back.  More likely complete relief and need to go back maybe once a year for another injection.

Actual result:  Nothing.  After the first injection, no pain relief whatsoever.  After the second...(not quite complete) relief for a few days but back to regular pain by the end of the week.  Psych.

I am not deterred.  No treatment at the time of the accident did anything for me either.

So, that is where I am with this morning's follow-up visit.

Next treatment: Another injection, this one done a little differently to disperse the steroid a little more uniformly between the vertebra, or so Hot Doctor took the time to explain.

On a side note, have I mentioned, the procedure involved a room full of pretty men?  Hot Doctor, along with Hot Nurse, Hot Assistant, and Super-Hot Anesthesiologist.  All male.  I think I like this office.  If you're going to endure pain, you might as well have something pretty to look at.  Is that shallow?

Sometimes New Year's Resolutions give you something to look forward to.  :)

Family Vacation: Scotland Part 7: The Final Chapter

"Nothing good can ever come from staying with normal people."  -Harry MacDougal {Outlaw Star}

 

Finally, the end of the tale.

We didn't reach the mainland until after 10pm and it was dark.  We docked in Oban and headed for our B&B.  The only problem was, the GPS was getting a very limited signal and kept cutting out.  We had no idea where we were going.  It didn't matter that we were driving on the wrong side of the road.  This area was built up on the side of the hill with all these old stone buildings packed in with what must have been foot paths at one time separating them.  There was no "wrong side" there was only one side...with parked cars.  

Driving around and driving around, we finally got a signal and made it to our "destination."  No B&B.  My Mom is trying to "help" from the back seat which, tired and frustrated and cranky as I was, was no help at all.  Called the B&B and got voicemail.  I didn't even know the number to the British sim card so I couldn't leave a message.

When I finally did get in touch with the B&B it turns out that most GPS aps don't map their place correctly and we were at the wrong end of the street.  The narrow, single lane with parked cars street.  That dead ended.  After a 15 point turn, was finally facing the proper direction and got us to the place.  The proprietor was kind enough to go stand in the middle of the road.  I would have missed it yet again if he hadn't.

It was a fantastic old building made of stone perched on a hill and beautifully decorated.  Unfortunately I was so wiped out I couldn't possibly appreciated it.  I was still wired on adrenalin and frustration so I took a sleeping pill and went to bed.

Luckily, the next morning, we had a leisurely schedule.  We lingered over a fantastic (full Scottish) breakfast then took the landlady's recommendation of an area downtown to shop for a few gifts for people back home.  (and a token or two for ourselves)

Then we tooled up the coast a bit to visit the Scottish Sea Life Sanctuary and coo at the adorable  otters and seals.

Then back to Glasgow.  We backtracked over much of the same route we took out and I have to say, after days of driving through Scotland, I was able to enjoy the scenery much better this time around.  Argyle and Loch Lomond I think have some of the most beautiful countryside I've seen in Scotland.

After that, it was all travel.  We dropped our rental car off with only one tire damaged from the (few) times I "brushed" the curb trying to orient myself.  I consider it a success not to have removed half the left side of the car!  Overnight in Glasgow, plane to London, Overnight there and on a plane back to the States.

I don't know why I avoided writing about this trip so much for so long, but it is done.  It was a fantastic journey and I love being able to spend the time with my parents.  We used to do family vacations when I was small and I appreciate the opportunity to revive the activity.  My parents are great travelers in their retirement and I love that I can occasionally join them on their journey.