Sunday, October 30, 2005

Back to My Back

  7:19 AM 10/29/05
    Ooooooh ... my back is NOT good!  I did invest in some gin; I did have a drink at bedtime.  I HAVE to get some things done on my house before WINTER; I must force myself to make use of the dwindling sunshine!  Yesterday, I overdid it (according to my back ... tho ... nothing heavily physical) ... now, I cannot sleep for the pain in my lower back.
     This morning, I felt the old-familiar "kinking twinge" in my left lower back; it hasn't been doing that too much lately.
     I'm having another gin, two Aleve, and hopefully going back to sleep.
     I ran out of MSM several months ago; it is not in the SS budget.  That always made a noticeable difference before.  Now, I have the "facets" injections in my back ... I wonder if MSM would be benefical still?
     I was told that "injuries act as a catlyst to the onset of arthritis in an area" ... MSM helps arthritis.  Also, B6, which I ran out of, too, has helped me before.
     Whenever I can, I stock up on quantities of at least generic aspirin; I am out of the generic Tylanol, Excedrin, Ibrupophen ... almost out of the generic Aleve.  I like to alternate these pain remedies ... prefer to stick to aspirin.
     The thing about the gin: I do not like to take drugs.  I know the effects of gin. Gin can make me relax; it is not really a joke when I say that "I take it for medicinal purposes only".  From back in the 1970's when my first two back injuries occured, when my back pain got to emergency proportions, slugging some gin right out of the bottle would  bring such heavenly relaxation and RELIEF!
    That's why, now, I can thoughtfully take some gin to relax  when my back figures I've overdone it.  The main result now is to have the main problem area, my lower back, quit cramping.  My back pain seems to travel upwards in progression.  I do have three separate areas of back problems (caused by three different injuries).  When my lower back pain is excruciating, it triggers maximum problems with my upper back.  Then, the next is my neck/shoulder area.  When the latter gets really bad, the problems start creeping over my shoulders, down over my chest/shoulder area.  When my mid-back gets really bad, my lower ribs in back start cramping severly.  Sometimes, when everything is really bad, it causes pain "echos" in my chest.  I cannot tell if it would be a heart attack or just echos  of my back pain!

  1:28 PM 10/29/05
     Four aspirins ... my back is just awful, but, this is one of the last decent days for my paint project ... so .... 
     I sat in the lounge chair to have my lunch to placate my back ... it was hard to leave the chair.

4:38 PM 10/29/05
     Three more aspirins ... my back is cramping and in severe pain ... mostly in my lower back.  I must do some more.

5:05 PM 10/29/05
     MUST feed my kitties.  No more painting or anything else for the day!   I cannot believe the pain in my lower  back.  I already had several gin drinks.  I had 20 minutes left on the project I was doing before dark; I had to surrender ... and just go lie down.  

8:51 PM 10/29/05
    I think I'll survive.  I had plenty of gin.  My back is relaxed.  I quit for the day.   I don't think I can do a hot bath.  I must just QUIT!

5:49 AM 10/30/05
     One Aleve, two aspirins, more gin.  My lower back has improved to only a severe ache.  The base of my neck has moderate muscle ache & pain; I am always worried that I could go back to not being able to turn my head.

8:42 AM 10/30/05
     I can walk fairly upright; my neck pain has subsided to almost nothing.  Bending over the sink caused a threatening sharp twinge.


Friday, October 28, 2005

Long Day

6:58 PM 10/25/05
     I kept pretty busy today, tho nothing heavy duty.  I finally got my long, soaky bath; I had just pooped out last evening!
     My back has felt increasingly better all day.  The difference is that I was not out there, busy on the house project.

10:31 AM 10/26/05
     I was up in the middle of the night for a while; some aches had me tossing around, so I got up.
     So far, this morning, I feel pretty good.  I am walking upright by now ... I am feeling ambitious.

5:13 PM 10/26/05
     A couple'a breaks ... things I had to get done ... my back is getting bad again, mostly my lower back and rib area.  There is pain, even when I'm sitting or lying ... not just in moving.
     I still didn't get the mail; I need to make supper.  I may have to quit for the day.  I'd love to get my dishes washed, and my wet laundry into the dryer ... the pile of tools in the kitchen waiting to bring down to the basement is really aggravating.  Those may have to wait until tomorrow.
     I just had a gin; will take two Aleve  ... almost out of them.

7:44 PM 10/27/05
     Now, I did it!  My back felt pretty good today; I was most of the night working on my photos ... didn't do too much active most of the day.  But, near the end of the afternoon, I started some more caulking ... and kept at it longer than I should.
     My lower back is stiff and soresssssssssssssssssssss

8:51 AM 10/28/05
      Well ... that last word of last nite was where I fell asleep at the computer!  No gin either.
     I went to watch some T.V.  and fell asleep for the night.  My back is cranky this morning.  I tried to pick something off the floor, and decided that would have to wait until "later" ... my lower back is threatening to kink up ... esp. on the left side.  I cannot stand up straight, of course. 
 
10:53 AM 10/28/05
     I'm loosened up a bit now, been mostly sitting.  My neck pain is threatening to come back.  I really feel that, If I'd taken some gin last nite before bed to relax my muscles that I wouldn't be having so many problems this morning!

11:33 AM 10/28/05
     Three more aspirins.

3:11 PM 10/28/05
     FOUR more aspirins,

11:04 PM 10/28/05
     I am having a gin or two to hopefully keep my back from being so bad again tomorrow morning.
     I had to spend the afternoon on my paint project ... several times I had to take a break to ease my back.  It was getting so achy, esp in the lower back, and would be difficult to reach down for something.
     There were things that had to be done in the house after dark; I really just wanted to go lie down ... which I will now.

Tuesday, October 25, 2005

Just testing the IM feature.
Entry for Backlog:

3:14 AM 10/25/05
I am going back to bed soon ... the three Aleve I took earlier maybe kicked in; the pain has subsided. I hope that I can get back to sleep....=-O

:-)1:02 PM 10/25/05
I have had a good nite's sleep ... eventually ... have done a few minor chores around the house. When I got up, my back had improved over the pain level of last evening & thru the nite. I was worried that my neck pain would return; it did not.
I'm actually feeling ambitious ... something I could not force to happen yesterday.

Backache is back.

    6:00 AM 10/21/05
     Had a good sleep; I'm going back to bed with some more Aleve and some liniment of both kinds. My lower back has moderate pain; my whole spine up to my neck has severe aching when I try to flex & move it.  I'm walking bent over again; I hope that this goes away.  It was so nice to have some days with minimum discomfort.

11:25 AM 10/21/05
     I did get back to sleep.  My back is happier now.  I'm feeling ambitious ... will try not to over-do it again!
     I took three aspirins.

2:46 PM 10/21/05
     I took three aspirins.  Must finish my project.  My back is co-operating.  My project involves no great physical effort ...  just something else than lying on the sofa.

7:14 PM 10/21/05
     Relaxed I am.  Done I am not.  I must tend to my pets.  I am warming up a supper.  I finished my outside project ... impending bad weather dictated extra effort.
     Relaxed means that my back will not threaten me; I can finish my most important chores ... but ... much will have to wait until tomorrow ... as usual.    That means that tomorrow I start out behind even before I start!
 
   Sofa break ... three more aspirins ... back to caulking.

5:55 AM 10/22/05`
     Cannot sleep for the past few hours ... thinking about the things that I left undone when I pooped out.  I left the partially open paint cans out in the rain.  I did not feed all the kitties.  So ... I am up ... gunta do these things ... hoping that will let me relax and go back to sleep.  I do really want to keep my back relaxed so that it doesn't start the pain cycle again.  I just took three aspirins and a hot milk gin toddy.

In The Garbage   1:23 PM 10/23/05
     Yesterday was cold and rainy ... I got to rest ... didn't do much all day.  I felt tired.
     TODAY ... had some computer work to do ... so have not done much physically yet today.  I had two Aleve about 9 am ... nothing else.
      My aches in my lower back of yesterday have gone away.  There is nearly no discomfort, tho, when I first got up this morning, I couldn't stand up straight. I've been having a problem with my legs & feet cramping in the middle of the night.

Vacuuming   5:36 PM 10/23/05
    It's getting dark; my break is over.  I must go feed my kittens. I ruined my back cleaning up the mess of sawdust & tools in the frontroom and on the deck.  I just couldn't do it sooner; all my available time and energy and back has been directed to gettting the painting done before this wet, rainy spell.
     Three aspirins now.  I rested for more than an hour.  I will need my gin later on, when I get my chores done.

Coffee 2   8:11 PM 10/23/05
 FOUR aspirins!   Some hot toddieS coming up!  There were some emergency things that I just couldn't put off any longer ... In trying to get the painting done ... many things had been let slide!  There are standards of civilized living!  I used to be able to afford ladies to come and help me with my chores ... that is not in the budget anymore.  PRIORITIES ... and, now, I suffer. 
     Forget my rationing the gin until my next Social Security check comes ... my back is kinking and cramping!  BUT ... I did all the above.  There are standards!

Ouch  7:18 PM 10/24/05
     I give up!  I didn't do much today except get caught up on some desk-type stuff, so, I was going to do just a few things around the house, and have a nice hot, soaky bath.  Then I just stared at my to-do list, and instead headed for bed because of my back aching so badly.
     I just took three aspirins and rubbed on some liniment ... no hot toddies.

1:14 AM 10/25/05
     I cannot find a comfortable position in bed.  My legs & feet have been having severe cramping.  My back has been getting worse ever since early last evening.  Now, it isn't just hurting when I'm up or moving ... there is pain just sitting or lying down.
    I just took two Aleve.  I hope to get back to bed and back to sleep.

Thursday, October 20, 2005

Some GOOD, Some BAD

11:05 AM 10/15/05
     It certainly feels strange not to have so much back pain!
     I was awake many times  thru the nite (I think that these injections make me have to visit the bathroom more often).  BUT,  I did get a lot of sleep; my last sleep was til after 10 am.
     I do have a gripping ache in my lower back that prompts me to not stand up straight ... but, it seems that partly, I'm used to stooping over when my back hurts ... like a habit ... so it's partly out of habit.
     Just sitting here at the computer, my mid-back & ribs have a moderate soreness ... not really a pain.
     I can roll my head around all directions and look over both shoulders with no pain.  That neck pain had mysteriously disappeared by itself, after two days of especially vegging out ...  BEFORE the injections.

12:01 PM 10/15/05
     This discomfort that I had this morning feels more of a residual sensation than real pain.  Perhaps, each morning I will still have an hour or so of loosening up ... to feel at my best?
     I do feel quite ambitious ... that's always a good sign!

2:29 PM 10/15/05
     Still perking along, doing some light housework ... no major discomfort.  Just took three aspirins; feel like a short sofa break so that I don't over-do it.

12:06 PM 10/16/05
     I feel so strange, not having severe pain or muscle aches.  That is giving me a restless feeling; I'm not used to being ambitious so much.  I had trouble getting to sleep last nite... slept late, then did some computer stuff.
     There are residual aches ... not real pain.  Knowing that this improvement began BEFORE my injections, I'm wondering how long this relief will last?

9:20 AM 10/17/05
      It is rare that I can feel ambitous so early in the day.  I had a good nite's sleep, and, getting loosened up wasn't as much of a problem as usual.
    
3:45 PM 10/17/05
     My back is still feeling better ... perhaps the injections (lumbar facets) are helping?  I'm still not sure what had caused the mysterious improvement BEFORE that. I'm afraid to hope that it would continue.  I am being careful not to over-do it, and still am going to take occasional sofa-breaks to KEEP from getting sore.

11:04 AM 10/20/05
      I've been busy ... whether at the computer, or at my house painting.  Each evening, I went to bed early, because my back was very uncomfortable, and I didn't want to abuse it.  I was out of gin; I have been using it to relax my back in such situations so as to KEEP it from cramping.  The next best thing was to go lie down and try to relax.  That meant that I woke up in the middle of the nite, and cannot get back to sleep.   Now, I am building up a sleep deficit.
     Last nite, I took quite a few doses of Aleve and of aspirins.  Several times, I had a charlie-horse in my right foot and leg.
     This morning, I had a dull, gripping ache across my lower back.  My neck/shoulder pain has not returned ... that's a mystery.  My upper back may sometimes be a little stiff/sore ... but, not too bad.
     RIGHT NOW:  I'm feeling ambitious (a good sign) ... and most of my lower back discomfort has left.

7:21 PM 10/20/05
Ouch      ooooooOOOOWWWIE! ... NOW I DID IT!  RUIN'T MY BACK FOR SURE.   I wanted to finish some painting ... kept at it too long ... didn't take enough breaks!
      I just had one extra strong Tylanol and three aspirins.  I'm afraid to sit down too long, or I may never get back up again.  I for sure am headed to the grocery store first to get some "internal liniment" ... gin.
     That's the problem when I have a good day and my back doesn't hurt:  I am so behind on everything that I try to catch up and overdo it!
     The gin will relax my back and keep the tension from causing more pain ... because pain causes my muscles to tighten up and that causes MORE pain ... which causes MORE tightness ... then more PAIN ... etc.

Cooking Dinner10:07 PM 10/20/05
     My supper is ready; I've had my warm milk/gin drinks ...  Coffee 2  ... hoping that I can get my back to quit bothering me and get caught up on my sleep.  I  am leaving so much housework undone.

Friday, October 14, 2005

Is This Really Me?

10:40 AM 10/10/05
     I woke up late ... had gone to sleep early the evening before (Sunday, the 9th) because my back was just ruined.  

     When I first got out of bed, I was thinking, wondering if my injections had "worn off" ... and wishing that I hadn't missed my appointment.  This week, I get some more injections, and will print this out for my doctor to have a history of "How'm I du'in?".

Coffee 2  After midnite, I had to get loosened up and finally was able to get up to make my "supper"... and have some more gin.

9:20 PM 10/11/05

... I was gone all day, taking a drive.  I was mostly in the car, but made frequent stops to get out to take photos, etc.
     This long drive was what my back really needed ... a "day of doing NOTHING".
     Having been short of sleep, I slept very well last nite.  My back has aches and pains all over, mostly in my lower back ... but not too bad right now, that I'm loosened up.
      I'm going  to have some aspirins now, had some Aleve before bed last nite.

Aerobics  5:09 PM 10/12/05
     MY BACK FEELS ABSOLUTELY MARVELOUS ... NOT A TRACE OF EVEN DISCOMFORT!
In The Garbage     I've spent most of this day at the computer, doing ABSOLUTELY NOTHING PHYSICAL!
     Is my prescription to completely become a couch potato ... and suck gin?  Those two seem to be the only common denominators to my back's feeling comfortable!
    I cannot believe just how great I feel after two days of vegging ... it did take two days in a row to achieve this level of comfort.  There is absolutely no ache anywhere, no matter how I bend and flex in any position!  It is as tho I never had any problem with my back! 

      It's hard to believe that my neck & shoulders have no trace of discomfort after two months or more of terrible pain when I try to look over my shoulder, esp. over my left shoulder!

8:21 AM 10/13/05
     TODAY  .... I am finally getting to keep my appointment at the pain clinic for my "facets" .... some sort of injections into my back.  If I had kept my original appointment of several weeks ago, I would have attributed the last two days of feeling WONDERFUL to the injections!

Aerobics  6:11 PM 10/13/05
     I am just so happy that my back feels so great!  AND ... wonderfully opitimistic about maintaining this now that I have had the "lumbar facets" ... four injections on both sides of my spine between my hip area.  He had intended to put these in my upper back area in the shoulder blade area, but, since my back was feeling so much better, and the worst discomfort was my lower back ... he decided to put the injections there.
     He did say that if my upper back returned to being unbearable before my next appointment (in two months) that I should return for more injections there.

     I printed out a copy of this Journal for the doctor ... it is in my files there.  Perhaps it would be a matter of interest to have an idea of my daily battle with my back problems ... and help to figure out what triggers either lasting agony or times of relief ... there never seems to be a direct cause & effect!

10:30 AM 10/14/05

    When the Pain Clinic called for its follow-up check on me this morning ... I told them that my relief level was at least 50% better than yesterday ... which had been UNUSUALLY pain-free.  I said that the improvement over my usual level of pain/incapacity was at least 95% or more!
     Dare I hope that I can carefully resume some minor activities, and not have to just veg out on the sofa?  I've put on at least ten pounds the last few months!
Coffee 2     Just prior to these heavenly days of relief from back pain, I had had to take a lot of gin to relax my back when it was in such major agony.  So, now, that I don't need the gin, I haven't had any at all for several days ... I always have to tell the doctor that I don't know ever what triggers either lasting agony or times of relief ... there never seems to be a direct cause & effect!

Aerobics     Aerobics     Aerobics     Aerobics     Aerobics     Aerobics     Aerobics

Wednesday, October 12, 2005

I wish I could be lazy!

9:19 AM 10/6/05
    Cold & rainy ... that's never good for aches & pains.  I'm feeling only slightly ambitious and still have some threatening twinges in my left, lower ribs ... severe aches in my lower back, and a slight ache in my neck.
Tired     I slept poorly last night, but, had gone to bed early.  I do feel short of sleep, tho.

Ouch  5:35 PM 10/6/05
    I had a carpenter here to do some major repair on my house today. Hammering It was necessary to assist by getting tools, providing extra hands ... nothing heavy.  I had to retreat to the sofa several times.  Pain pills didn't help.  I would lean upon something, and not be able to disengage myself to move out the way, even.  Eventually, I hit the gin bottle big time.  That did relax me.  I fell asleep early, but woke up in the middle of the night, and couldn't get back to sleep, because I had important things left undone, and couldn't make myself get up to do them ... like feed the kittens, and bring in my flowers so they wouldn't freeze.  So, now, I'm short of sleep again .... BUT ... tho my back is stiff and somewhat sore, I am walking upright, and the pain level is only moderate ... NOT incapacitated as I had expected!  GIN?  It seems to be the common denominator.

11:17 PM 10/7/05
     I DID IT ... I DID IT!  Although I hadn't wanted to get into the same problem as last night, when I couldn't sleep most of the night because I hadn't finished some important chores ... THERE WERE SOME THAT I HADN'T FINISHED.
     So now, I scolded myself into getting the last of the plants covered or brought in.  The kitchen doesn't look too bad ... AND, I EARNED THE RIGHT TO GO TO BED!
     I fell asleep on the sofa again, and my back hurt so much that I didn't think that I'd get myself dragged up to finish my tasks ....
     Now, I put some liniment on, took some more aspirins ... and some gin.  I hope something helps so that I could get back to sleep.

  11:09 AM 10/8/05
     My back is shore getting even with me for forcing it so that I could get my plants all in!  I had started earlier in the day, but, had been able to do a little at a time ... The last plants that I brought in look a little sickly ... but I won (last nite).
     I was up in the middle of the nite for a while hoping that I could keep the stiffness away.  Whatever ... I spent hours in bed this morning getting able to get up.  USUALLY ... I can roll around in bed, to change posititions and get loosened up ... BUT ... NOT THIS MORNING!
     I had to make breakfast to eat so that I could take some aspirin ... I'll have four.  I had a hot milk toddy ... then a coffee toddy ... I think I shall overcome!
     The carpenter is coming later; I am supposed to get some tools, etc. ready.  His son, the hunter, has promised me some venison if he gets one here; the freezer, saws, wrapping, etc. need to be gathered.  The neighbor is gone for the day; I have to drive over to let their dog out.

11:53 AM 10/8/05
    Okay, so I ate ... I think I'll lie down on the sofa for a bit  ... rub some liniment on my neck and back.

Ouch  7:33 APM 10/8/05
     I really ruined my back, nothing strenuous ... just steady, being a carpenter's Gopher ... getting tools, holding things ... etc.  Several times, I had to retreat to the sofa when my back got so bad that I couldn't even set something down onto the floor, or reach for something.
    Lots of internal and external liniment, and Ibuprophen and aspirins.

5:12 PM 10/9/05
     FOUR ASPIRINS ... have to drag myself outside ... need to finish a few things before dark.  Not hurting just too much, but, my lower back is getting that severe, gripping ache that is hard to ignore.

  2:13 AM 10/11/05
     I guess I'll survive ... kinda overdid it again!  I started out slowly, doing "sitting down jobs", until  late morning.  My goal was to finish painting the  back of the house.  Then, the carpenter came, and, I had to be gopher for several hours first. 
     I had to take several breaks when my back (mostly lower) got too bad.  I had to force myself to finish the painting.  Some of it I could do while sitting on my stool.
     Thank heavens the carpenter helped by getting my plants dragged in.  My last chore, to feed my pets ... used up all my GO.  I just had to force myself and lean upon my walking stick, and not move very fast.
     Now, after a nap on the sofa, this change of position ... sitting at the computer ... should help me sleep better.  I have an EARLY morning appointment "tomorrow".
     I took several stiff drinks to loosen up my back muscles about 7 p.m. .... now, I have another.  I'm eating my supper now, couldn't before for the pain. 
     My left hip has severe pain and I cannot walk upright.


My regular Journal ... (click  Upper Peninsula, MI and beyond  here)

Thursday, October 6, 2005

Mid-Nite

I'VE KEPT THE TITLE OF "MID-NITE" ... THIS IS MY THIRD TRY AT GETTING THIS POSTED! 

    AOL (or my laptop) kept kicking me offline.  What an aggravation when I had all the decorations and everything just so!

 

4:30 PM 10/2/05
     Gotta take a break ... and, one extra strength Tylanol  Pill and three aspirins   PillPillPill  .

9:59 PM 10/2/05
     I just took one extra strength Tylanol  Pill and three  PillPillPill  aspirins.  I'm trying to pry myself off the sofa to drive to go get the gin that I promised myself if I kept caulking until dark and if I clean the kitchen before I go to bed.

7:57 AM 10/3/05
     Been awake for about three hours; I'd hoped to get back to sleep ....
    I spent a lot of time loosening up, some of my physial therapy routine, too.
Coffee 2    I had been up for a while during the night, mostly watching T.V., had some more gin and went back to sleep for a while.
    This morning ... from my back being so mean to me last evening ... to now, it is the best it's been for a long time.
     My lower back has just minor muscle soreness in my lower back between my hips. 

Aerobics1:04 PM 10/3/05
     My back feels better than it has for a long time.  I never know for sure what makes it feel good ... I never know for sure what makes it cause me such agony! ... OR ... why? or why not?
     I just could not force myself to do my dishes and other housework last evening ... it just hurt too much.  So, here I am again with half the day gone doing YESTERDAY'S tasks!
     I'm going to do a little more scraping & caulking ... and hopefully a little painting.  The weather is going to turn cold & wet.
 Coffee    I'd hate to admit that it seems to help to keep a little gin in my system when I feel my back wanting to cramp/go bad.  But, I don't want to drink if I'm going to drive or climb the ladder ....  For right now, I'm going to take two Ibuprophen and two aspirins as a precaution before I go outside.  AND ... I poured some liniment on my back ... to soak my waistband and to soak my shirt collar  & shoulders, etc.

6:32 PM 10/3/05
     I kept at my project until dark ... but, had taken several breaks and some pain pills.   Coffee I  had also made a stiff drink to quiet my muscles, and all in all, was only at the severe ache level of pain ... like all over.

    9:02 AM 10/4/05
  Washing Dishes   RAINY DAY ... working inside today ... keeping kitchen tidy ... actually had forced myself (eventually) to tidy it up last night.
     My back must feel good; I feel ambitious.  I didn't sleep too well, so, kept getting up and therefore wasn't too stiff & sore this morning.

1:45 PM 10/4/05
     I sat in front of the computer for several hours doing some "catch-up" work.
 Books    I laid on the sofa a bit, then, spent an hour sorting books & magazines.
     NOW ... MY LOWER BACK IS THREATENING TO CRAMP UP NEAR MY LEFT HIP ... something that it hasn't done for months.
     Time for a serious break, some aspirins, maybe a hot bath ... maybe a drink.  LIKE ... NOW!

Ouch  3:02 PM 10/4/05
     Go figure ... no strenuous work ... moderately active ... some rest ... some physical therapy exercises ... and now, EMERGENCY!
    FOUR aspirins, ANOTHER drink, MORE sofa time!

  5:06 AM 10/5/05
     Miserable night ... up and down ... didn't get much sleep ... am going back to sleep now, I hope.  It took me until after 1 AM to get all my stuff done.


2:11 PM 10/5/05
     I did get loosened up; I did a some housework.  I took a long, hot bath ... didn't do much sofa time.
     But, the weather threatened to rain, so there was only a little outside stuff that I got done.  I just took four more aspirins ... Almost went to town.  Almost went for a walk to pick apples ... but, then it really started to rain.

5:13 PM 10/5/05
     A sofa break sounds good, BEFORE my back gets to be a problem.  I had put on a goodly amount of "IcyHot" liniment ... feels pretty good!
     I had forgotten about an appointment at the pain clinic for more injections (facets?) in my back.  There is a new appointment made for next Tuesday ... It is Wednesday now.

2:44 AM 10/6/05
     I've been awake for about an hour.  Coffee   I had to fix something to eat so that I could take three aspirins.  I'll have another drink, too.
     I slept pretty well; the previous nite had left me short of sleep.  I hope to get back to sleep.
     Right now, it is hard to stand up straight.  There is moderate pain in my left hip & lower back there.  My lower ribs and base-of-neck have an ache only when I try to loosen and exercise that area.
     While I'm up (and eating) I might as well post this before it gets SOOoooo long.  It is probably a nuisance that my entries run from the oldest first, which might make it confusing, especially when the entry gets over-long.  But, this is the way I make the notes ... just sit down and post the current observations.

9:00 AM 10/6/05

THIS HAD BEEN MEANT TO BE POSTED HOURS AGO ... GLITCHES KEPT ME FROM GETTING IT DONE UNTIL NOW.  That annoying twinge that threates me sometimes is in my left, lower ribs when I wriggle... otherwise, my mid back is moderately stiff & sore (like muscle aches) ... and I'm walking fairly well.  It's enough to ruin my ambition, tho.