6 Months Later

If you thought not updating for 2 months was bad, I think I just topped it.

I have been doing quite well. Of course, I will never be 100% pain-free. But the day-to-day pain is not nearly as debilitating as it used to be. Which is a very good thing, in many ways.

I still work at the two jobs that I mentioned in the previous note; SoHo and Jokers. I have adjusted to the routine quite nicely. I have also started my own graphic design business, D'nA, with one of my friends. We have already begun working with some local bands to help promote them. Hopefully, this will be a good source of income for me.

I still do not have health insurance. This mainly affects my access to the hydrocodone I was taking to manage the pain. Therefore, I have not used hydrocodone for several months. I have wanted it a few times, but for my daily routine, I have sufficed with ibuprofen.

The last few days, I have been in a little more pain than usual. Only time will tell if this will be a regular thing. I hope not, but if it is, I will manage it like I always have.

New Year, New Life

It's been nearly 2 months since I've updated. I know. I'm bad. Time for an update, huh?

In December, I graduated from college, which means that my jobs through the university ended. I did not immediately start looking for new jobs, since I needed a break after my incredibly stressful semester. The break was very good for me, I believe. It also confirmed how I have this need to stay busy pretty much all the time.

In mid-January, I was hired at both SoHo; a sushi bar and deli, and Jokers; a comedy nightclub. I do deli at SoHo during the day, and I am a cocktail waitress at Jokers in the evenings. Between the two, I've been averaging about 25 hours a week, but I am hoping that this will increase the more experience I get.

SoHo is relatively low impact on my back, though I have had my pains adjusting to standing on my feet again. The pain in the beginning wasn't really severe, anyway. I have since adjusted fairly well, so it has not given me too many problems.

Jokers has been a little more painful, though not unbearably so. The first full shift I worked (7 pm-4 am) really, really hurt. However, since I was adjusting to being on my feet that long, lifting trays that I am not used to lifting, and wearing a corset (which helps in some ways and hurts in others), I see this as an isolated incident. In fact, I have not had too many problems with pain since then, though adjusting has taken a little longer.

I have not had the coughing/allergy symptoms that I had during school. I think that this is due to the massive decrease in stress. I have, however, managed to get swimmer's ear currently, which has previously been a problem. The pain associated with that, unfortunetly, has been rather severe, but it should clear up in a few days. I hope.

I will try to keep you updated on my progress. Though I am not 100% pain free, I am managing my pain much better than I did previously. 

To the wonderful woman who has helped me in recent months (she knows who she is), thank you immensely. I just hope you read this sometime, and hopefully we'll be able to meet again under much better circumstances.