Thinking back

Today, I am actually thinking about my back because it is killing me.  I have my very first and hopefully last back issue.  I woke up in the middle of the night 3 nights ago with an intense pain in my back/shoulder area.  At first I thought it was a cramp because it was so sudden, but I couldn't make it go away be stretching it out.  With the help of ibuprofin, heat, and some massaging, it is getting better now.  I'm hoping that by tomorrow, I will be back to normal.

But, yesterday while I was lamenting about all of the plans that my back was causing me to miss, it made me recall how often I had to miss things before my transplant.  How many times I sat on the couch at home waiting for my blood sugar to get high enough for me to get up and do what I wanted/needed to do.  How many times at work I had to stop whatever I was doing, sometimes asking a coworker to finish something I had started, while I left to eat something and wait to feel alert enough to continue working.  How many times I would be enjoying a sport or activity and realize that I am weak and confused and have to stop.  It was frustrating and maddening.  And it happened so often that it almost felt normal.

That NEVER happens anymore.  Its one of the nicest parts of this experience.  That and not having to eat if I don't want to.  And there is probably a connection there.  I used to say that insulin is the treatment and also the demon.  Food used to be the same.  More food would mean more insulin.

So, suddenly this temporary back issue doesn't seem so bad.  I'm going to suck it up and go on a walk today and enjoy every step.  We also have plans for lunch with friends and floating on a pond later.  Not such a bad weekend.

My blood sugars have been steady lately.  The post-prandials are still running high, but the fastings are improving.

I'll add some pictures of our last kayak excursion to cheer me up about having to miss our trip yesterday.

And one from our backyard while it is at its summer peak.  We have two Ash trees that are infected with the Emerald Ash Borer that we will probably be losing soon.