Recruiting Help

As I said in my introduction post, the therapy session inspired me and I went out and bought some vegetables and herbs to plant in my garden.  It was a Saturday.  My intention was to plant the veggies and herbs the following Monday.  My timing seemed pretty good as I had recently endured a 5 day flare-up.  It felt like I shouldn't have to worry about getting slammed with another so soon.  Although, I really don't get to know exactly when the next one hits.

While I was sleeping on Sunday night, I managed to trigger another flare-up by scratching the inside of my nearly-constant, itchy right ear (neuralgia side).  Sometimes I can ignore the itch.  Sometimes I can't.  I scratched inside my ear and immediately triggered the repeating shocks of pain through the right side of my face.   I woke up on Monday morning in a full on flare-up.  I was so discouraged and thinking, "I knew it.  I knew the garden was a bad idea.  These plants will die before I even get them in the ground."

I opted out of putting the plants in the ground this day...because of the pain.  My husband and I ended up going out to buy a second car instead.  I would never recommend someone with Trigeminal Neuralgia go out and buy a car ALONE while they are in pain! My mental capacities are severely limited when I'm in pain.

As one gal was going through and explaining different warranty options, she mentioned how molding isn't covered.  In my head I thought, "I have NEVER driven in a car with a mold problem.  I've never even heard of anyone having a mold problem.  How does a car get a mold problem???  Do cars in Washington state mold??  Why is a mold problem even considered as being part of a warranty?" It wasn't until about 30 minutes later when she said the word "molding" again I figured it out!  It made me wonder how many moments I've had like this while in pain.

I'm so glad my husband was part of the process.  I didn't have to think about anything.  My husband is completely capable of buying a car to fit his needs.  All I needed to do was sign the papers where I was told to sign.

Through the entire car buying process, the neuralgia side of my head and inside my ear were so itchy, it was taking every bit of control I had to not sit there and scratch all over like a maniac.  Anytime the salesman would leave the room I took advantage of the opportunity to scratch away.  The bad part about scratching all the itches is that every touch to my head triggers repeating shocks of pain through my ear, face, and throat.  My choices are to let the itching drive me mad, or scratch all the itches and let the pain drive me mad.  They're both dumb. :)

Another frustrating part of this car buying process is, I had been praying for a second car for awhile.  We have needed another vehicle for awhile.  We had been a single car family, living in the boonies, for 2 1/2 years.  It was time.  I had been praying and the day was finally here....and I couldn't even feel a little bit excited.  It should have been an exciting moment, but it wasn't.  The only thing on my mind was the pain...and the moldy car problem....but mostly the pain.

I was happy to come home and be done with being anywhere but my house.  I noticed all the garden plants sitting on the counter.  These lovely, green, seeds-that-thrived, plants.  I thought about how sad it was going to be to throw them away considering all the money I had spent on them.  I felt guilty for wasting the money.  In the end, the pain trumped all of my guilty thoughts and I was able to walk away from the plants and go about my day, dealing with the pain.

We had family show up that night to stay with us.  I always dread having to be entertaining when I'm in pain, but nothing about their stay was anything to dread.  They didn't expect me to be anything more than I could be.

When I woke up the next morning, and thoughts of all those wasted plants came to my mind I thought, "Oh, heck no.  I have 4 kids.  My nephews are always willing to help.  The ground has been tilled.  The plants are purchased. We're doing this!"

I gathered all of the tools I had available to offer......

                                                          

I gave everyone a specific job.....

And our tiny little garden space was planted very quickly.

 

 It's thriving 3 weeks later, with the exception of 2 plants that didn't survive the planting.

I pitched in too.  It wasn't a pain free experience.  I wasn't excited about the process like I had been with past gardens.  Even the slightest breeze that touched my face was excruciating.  Bending over sent shocks of pain through my face.  Every instruction I had to give was painful.   I look back and wonder, "how in the heck?"  I can't promise I will ever commit myself to planting a garden while I'm in pain ever again, but I'm glad I followed through this time.  I'm glad I'm at least trying.

Stay tuned!  There is more to come...as soon as I get it written :)




P.S.  With the inspiration from my husband and a friend, I've decided it's in my best interest to sleep like this from now on......

Ok, not really with the cone of shame, but I have been sleeping with a sock on my right hand.  When winter comes back around I will buy an actual, real life mitten.  The socks always end up on the floor or under my pillow before I wake up in the morning.