Energy Level

When I left work today, I had an errand to run, and then headed home.  I knew I had several chores to accomplish when I arrived home, and I was well braced to do them. I had lots of energy and attacked my tasks and chores with lots of energy early in the evening. I was concerned that this expenditure of energy would sap me later in the evening, and to some extent, that has happened, but it is still early and I can go to bed early. I used to not have to worry about my energy level to this extent, but a sign of aging is that I need to be aware of this.

Listen to Your Body

I thought I was doing well starting the day today.  A co-worker told me I sounded congested, and as I listened to patients, sometimes their words were muffled, which made me realize I had some head congestion that was affecting my hearing. (Cotton head.) I apologized for same to my patients.

The same co-worker told me I looked "hurried."  Well, I was focused on getting to my office and going to the pod where I was scheduled to do a group.  I am often "tunnel vision focused" when I have a task to accomplish.  Some people think I am rude.  This co-worker recognized it as being goal or task oriented vs. not anti-social.

It was a full day, but not a difficult day. 

I had thought I would go to the Lifestyle Center http://www.covenanthealth.org/Our-Services/LifeStyle-Centre.aspx to walk and/or swim in the pool tonight. I saw the clouds building, but a check of the National Weather Service http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lub/ indicated that there were no storms in the vicinity of Lubbock. I had decided that if there were storms in the area that closed the pool, I would walk. I was set.

But, when I got out to the car, I realized that I had "hit my wall."  I wanted to just sit in the car and close my eyes.  My lower back hurt, which happens when I am tired, and is usually assuaged by analgesic patches or heat. I wanted to close my eyes and rest.  But the parking lot of a prison is not the place to do that.

As I drove home, I debated my plans for the night, and decided that I should 'listen to my body."  I felt feverish for a while when I was home, but did not check my temperature. I did some computering, while I ate a sandwich. Then, I sat back, relaxed, closed my eyes, opened my eyes after a while, read, and just chilled.  I really think this is what I needed to do tonight: relax; chill; just be.

I am not very energetic right now, but feeling less exhausted. I will go to bed early tonight.

As important as it is to stick to a routine, to push yourself, to keep going, it is also important to listen to your body.  Which is what I did tonight.

Background Noise

I very often have the TV or radio on for background noise.  Not because I want to watch something, but I grew up in a house with a lot of people, and even to this day, I like the background noise.

Today was a long day, for me.  I had a doctor appointment, I was very busy at work, stayed late to finish my documentation (but still did not work 8 hours) went shopping after work, mostly because I had to pick up a prescription, and then arrived home.  I ate a late breakfast.  If I have a morning doctor appointment, I have learned not to eat, in case they want to do lab work.  And, I forgot to eat lunch. 

So, I was running on empty when I got home.  I fed the cats and fixed a simple dinner for me. But I have never felt recharged.  Often, after I sit and relax for a while, I catch a second wind. But not tonight.

I watched the Celtics lose to the Cavaliers http://www.nba.com/.  I like basketball, but really prefer to watch teams I cheer for.  It is a loud sport to watch on TV, because of the crowd noise.  So, when the second play off game came on, I shut the TV off after a while. It was too noisy and gave me a headache. I had been flirting with "a light brown headache" since about 4 PM, (A co-worker introduced me to the term "light brown headache" years ago, and I immediately had a sense of what he meant.) I think ,because I forgot to eat lunch.  So even though I had dinner the "light brown headache" lingered. And the basketball noise was just too much.

It is a pleasant night, and I have been able to open windows and feel the fresh air. That has helped some.  But I can feel the effects of the day wearing on me. 

I have mixed thoughts about going to bed right after the news tonight. No matter how tired I feel, a 10:30 bed time is almost always a sure bet to find me waking up about 3 or 4 AM. Midnight is just about the right time for me to go to bed.  I like about 6 hours of sleep.

So, we shall see what the evening brings.  But right now, the gentle hum of the ceiling fan is very comforting to me.

Energy at the End of the Day

For years, I suffered from sciatic pain, and stubbornly refused to do anything about it.  Due to circumstances that resulted in my being at the doctor's office last fall, I decided that I might as well do something, if I am going to be at the doctor's office anyway.  So we started with celebrex, added physical therapy, and then went on to pain management.

The celebrex offered me some immediate relief, and I could do more, but I tended to over do it.  PT did not offer me extended relief, although one series of exercises would allow me temporary relief.  Well, so wouldn't sitting down, or driving in the Vue.  Hence the move to pain management.

And, treatment included a cortisone injection.  I was very concerned about doing this, and not sure it would help.  I had the procedure done on a Wednesday, and it was Saturday before I felt relief, about on schedule.  And the progression of relief continued.  By the time I had my two week follow up, I was really experiencing good relief.  I still have some twinges in my back, and "a foot drop" in my right foot when I do a lot of walking.  I am doing foot strengthening exercises from the PT which seems to be helping.  I am unsteady of gait sometimes, especially on uneven territory.  As when I am walking on the track around the park.  But, I am walking, which amazes me.

I think the most amazing thing to me is that I am not exhausted at the end of the work day.   I did not realize how much the pain was sapping my strength and endurance.  And how tired I was at the end of the day, so how little interest I had in doing much, except playing on the computer or reading. 

Wow, I have cooked, cleaned house, gone out and run errands, and even gone for a walk after work, since I have been feeling better. Things I had to "psyche" myself to do.  I had stopped running spontaneous errands, having to plan things around my energy level, or work myself up to do it.

Wednesday night, I stopped at the store to pick up a few items, and cash a check.  I had not thought about early voting, but I thought I might as well since I was there.  I few weeks ago, if I had not "psyched" myself, I would not have added that task to the list. 

At the bank, I told the teller how I was feeling energetic even at the end of the work day. I explained I had suffered from sciatica and had had pain management treatment. He asked what I did and I told him nothing in particular, it was due to poor posture, poor lifting procedures and general wear and tear and age, things I knew better but ignored.  He told me his grandmother was always lecturing him about those things, and he would have to go home and tell her I told him the same thing!  What a light moment and pleasant inter-change.   I hope, mostly, that he was serious about paying more attention to the things he needs to pay attention, unlike me.

I had not realized how introverted I had become, not feeling like using the energy to interchange with people. 

I am glad for energy at the end of the day.