another month on....

.....so I know that its been a while since I last posted and really there are a few simple reasons.

In summary  Im still not yet back at work. Ive been signed off by the doctor as my ribs were simply not healing with me trying to juggle working from home and my health. My boss supported the action and so Ive been continuing my R& R treatment -  doing nothing!  So I still have another week or so until the big formal return to my team and the office and even then I will be doing a 'phased return'. The 2 ribs on the right are feeling a lot better and stronger, the 4 ribs down the left side which I call my zip (as they pretty much broke in the same place all down the 4 like a zip undoing!) are improving well, however I still have 2 fractures in what I can only describe as the ribs going across underneath the left breast. (they are also 2 of the same ribs as the 4 broken down the side so a double break in a couple of the ribs!) Now I don’t  know how many people have ever actually fractured or split a rib but I can tell you in no uncertain terms that its not a comfortable process and in fact incredibly painful.....breathing, coughing, sneezing and rolling over in bed just for starters are all pretty sore, and Ive already explained issues regarding travelling, lifting and generally doing anything.

But I will say that Im now a bit more independent. Im driving again......a huge deal for me as of the last 2 weeks, Im back cooking meals and even baked bread the other day  and doing a few things around the house and can even carry a few shopping bags of groceries now. Im getting out and walking to get some air and stretch my legs, and trying to do a few nice things to get some stamina back again  -  galleries, theatre, and of course some pampering and retail therapy. Im off the booze generally with the odd exception of a glass of vino or spritzer here and there so my liver at least is probably thanking me somewhat. The painkillers are still part of the daily routine but Im managing to get down onto more reasonable levels now so Im not on planet Zorg anymore! so all good progress I guess.

Other smaller changes to everyday life include  being a bit more practical about my choice of shoes on a daily basis and generally relieved that with it being summer that means flipflops and pumps so I can get away without the heals for a bit (although I do miss them and look at my collection longingly in the bottom of my lovely new fitted wardrobes (some more of the progress Ive made with all this time Ive had!) I will say though that Im not a full on Imelda but prob not far off and still have no claim to a pair of Jimmy Choos or Louboutin’s  -  hint hint its my birthday in December!.)

And,  very unusually for me Im not haring about at 100 miles an hour anymore. I have had to slow down, in fact read practically stop! So you can imagine that when you are used to hooning everywhere, full speed, throwing myself into everything, game for everything and up for trying all things new and exciting, that has been something of a challenge and really quite a change! Ive watched entire box sets and several dvds and now officially stroll along the street! No where is reached at speed and my journey times have doubled to get anywhere as sitting down for a bit like an old biddy is often required! However I have been able to do a few practical things so that the last 3 months haven’t felt like  a total void and vacuum.  Ive redesigned my ground floor with an architect and chucked out some of my wardrobe as well as some stuff in the garden done by a builder and a carpenter fitted new wardrobes........but no Im not doing any sport, Im not running or riding  or swimming or anything that will affect the very delicate healing process that I now face with the osteoporosis so thoroughly slowing everything down so much. I cant afford to jeopardise any of the time I have spent over the last 3 months healing by doing something even like dancing an slipping over which might set me back again. Ive had to learn to sit on my hands at bbq’s where antics and games are being played and say ‘no not this time’ a lot more. It makes me think of that guy who said yes to everything for a year........well Im having to find a nice way of saying no to a load of stuff just at the moment.......but all in good time huh?

So in summary a bunch more weeks have slid by and this year of 2011 has continued to be strange and i am still learning what I can and cant do and how I have to adapt my life to accommodate this now and live with it without it hampering my  life and attitude too much. every day is a new day........