It's been awhile since my last post and some milestones have occurred. For one thing, at my last appointment with the neurologist, I was told that I couild wait a MONTH before coming back! It was like graduating! I was also told that I was "almost there" and to "do everything" so that we could see if there was anything that is still difficult for me. Of course, almost there means that I will likely always have this pain in my neck and upper body. But I guess that is just the new normal for me. Needless to say, I was very excited by the idea of being able to go one month without an appointment.
Fast forward to this week....
As part of doing everything, I practiced driving out of necessity. I had been saying that in July I would drive, and lo and behold on July 1 that is exactly what I did. My furbaby was in the emergency vet most of the day on the 1st for not eating, not drinking, vomiting and diarrhea. When we got her home that night, I discovered that we need some foods for her to eat on her bland diet. No one was available to drive me, so I ventured to the grocery store in MY car (I have been practicing around my parent's neighborhood in their cars). The grocery store is right down the street and it was later in the day so there was not much traffic. I felt like I might have a heart attack, but I did it!
The next day proved to be even more trying. I needed to get some treats for her to take her medicine with so I had to go up to the congested shopping mall. I kid you not, I had been driving not even 10 minutes again in my car when some woman in a Mercedes CUT ME OFF and came quite close to hitting the front end of my car! Ugh! I avoided her but was NOT pleased.
But the real trial came later in the afternoon. My furbaby had a follow-up appointment with her regular, amazing, awesome vet up in our County. No one was able to take us because they had appointments of their own. So I HAD to DRIVE in MY car ALL the way to the vet, which INCLUDES driving by where my accident was. Only for my furbaby would I do this! I don't think I breathed most of the way there, but we made it without too much freaking out.
However, since those driving excursions. my neck and shoulders have regressed and feel incredibly painful. I really don't want to go back to the neuro until my appointment so I am trying to do what I can to alleviate the pain. If it isn't better by next week, I will give in and change the appointment to sooner. It's disheartening b/c I was really thinking that I was able to drive again and was building up my confidence. But luckily I have a few more weeks to practice and build up my confidence (and stamina) again before I have to drive on a daily basis.
