A Bad Attitude to Middle Age

Today did not go as planned.  I had hoped to sleep well, wake up with reduced pain in my stupid shoulder, leap energetically out of bed and catch up on all the jobs that await me on a Monday morning after a weekend in the Gallery.

Fortunately, our darling daughter Vanessa had been up and had emptied the washing basket, tackled a mountain of ironing, assisted with the Sundowner and vacuumed our dog hair laden floors, repeatedly.

In spite of my optimism, the day did not get off to a great start. My shoulder was not improving. In fact, pain had woken me several times. And I was trying to cope with Panadol only for pain relief. Now, I know I am wimpish in the face of discomfort, but 5 Caesarian sections and multiple other surgeries are testament to a bit of courage on my part.

I just hate narcotics. They make me hallucinate and chunder, a very unpleasant combination. Which is why I could never become a drug addict or anorexic...

By mid morning, my pain tolerance was very low. I was miserable, nauseated and every time I moved my left arm, I descendended into a hell that was unfamiliar. I had an appointment with the York GP at 5.45 pm, but I knew I was not going to cope with my body until then.

So we set out for the Northam Regional Hospital. I had swallowed more Panadol at midday. I survived with eyes shut, attempting to doze on the way. We arrived on a quiet afternoon in Emergency.  First upside to the day. I was triaged and on a bed fairly rapidly. The nurses were wonderful, the doctor was thorough and pleasant. I was given an anti-inflammatory injection with an anti-nausea cover, x-rayed and ultrasounded.

We were released around five in the afternoon. I filled my script for Panadeine Forte, picked up some pizza bases (for MasterChef Michael to cook) and left for home. The diagnosis? Bursitis with severe arthritis in my cervical spine. Bummer. Middle age sucked this afternoon.

I need to see Suzy, my York GP for a follow up and referral to Ben, the orthopaedic surgeon in Perth. The Northam Hospital doctor has suggested he could do a cortisone injection to ease my bursitis if we wish after seeing the GP.

And now. I am sitting in front of the laptop, with my left arm propped up and the patient bracelet still on my right wrist. No bra. I have had Panadeine Forte ( and two glasses of vino) and am relatively pain free. Much better!

The end of an unexpected day...

gazing up at my saviour/chef!