Dark day. Deb just now got off the phone with her pain-management doctor and called me.
Because of the surgery not being indicated, because she's got numbness in her legs, because she has to have prescription narcotics in her system to blunt the pain she experiences (lower back) enough to function, her doctor says she should not be driving, and he will support her application for Social Security Disability.
Swearing isn't appropriate -- as she says, it beats having your obituary in the newspaper. But we're going to have to adjust our thinking from "this is an episode and it'll go away" to "it's going to be like this from here on, so get used to it." An August trip up to see relatives in Boston for a week is probably not on -- we'll have to discuss it.
More news to selected friends and family.
Posted at 6/16/2005 4:57:57 pm by
psevetson
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Barb
June 16, 2005 06:57 PM PDT
I'm sorry this is happening; it's very difficult to lose the ability to drive, and to have to face the fact that you're always going to be somewhat (or more) disabled.
Michael was very supportive of me, and of my disabilities, while reminding me of the things I can still do. I miss him every day, but I remember what he told me. (In case you missed the announcement, he died 9/21/04, and I still can't believe it.)
You're doing the right thing, Phil, and I'm glad you are. Remind Deb every day of what she can still do, and that should help blunt her depression over this. I hope the two of you will continue to have many happy days ahead, and that there will be some remission of symptoms, somehow. |
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