Writing is the only thing that, when I do it, I don’t feel I should be doing something else. -Gloria Steinem

I relate to Gloria’s quote. Unfortunately, writing requires me to sit. All this talk about birthdays and being young or being old, seems to have backfired on me, and right into my middle back. It hurts to breathe.

Yesterday, I woke up in excruciating pain. I yelped and moaned like a dying animal. I tried to get dressed and collapsed to the floor, helpless.

I dialed my downstairs neighbor/landlady/future sister-in-law and told her what was going on. I tried to laugh about it, make it seem funny, but my laughter quickly turned into sobs as I laid there on the floor, pants halfway up one leg. I felt so sorry for myself.

In the midst of my crying to her on the phone, she had hung up and run up the stairs and entered in through the back. I was so embarrassed to be seen this way, and adrenaline got me up and hobbling for a shirt.

Bill came home from work to help me. I felt bad for Bill, having to drag me all over the place like a big heavy towel, but honestly, what would I have done if he wasn’t here in my life? The rest of my day, I dipped in and out of a hot bath and tried to remain still and comfortable. It’s hard to be comfortable when it feels like someone has just kneeed you in the spine and is pressing on it. Every time I moved even a little, my whole abdomen contracted and spasmed.

The pain however, did not diminish my appetite. I was starving. Bill brought me Hawaiian food from ONO down the street. I ate sideways in bed and watched many episodes of Magnum P.I. on Hulu.com.

I was impossible fall asleep, the pain was too terrible. Bill tried to massage me, but it hurt too bad.

The last thing I remember about yesterday is him saying, “I have an idea,” and he held my feet. I was waiting for him to act on his idea. I imagined he was going to find a wooden plank to stretch me out on, but he just sat there, still, at the end of the bed, my feet in hands, until I fell asleep.

When I would ask him the next morning what his idea was, he told me he held my feet to try to draw my attention from my back so I could sleep, which worked.

I woke up scared to move again. Bill was dressed and about to leave. I begged him not to go. I was scared to be alone this way. I moved, and found the pain was still there, clutching into my back and stomach. I screamed. He called his client and told him he would work from home and took me to see Dr. Sara.

I was apprehensive, since the pain was so bad, but Dr. Sara muscled her way in and cracked things I didn’t even know could be cracked. Dr. Sara asked me what, if anything, I had been doing differently. I thought. The only thing I’ve been doing differently is I’ve been writing and reading more. That’s all. I’ve gone back to school.

The diagnosis was that I’ve been sitting too much. My body isn’t used to that and is freaking out.

She relayed a story about her first year in chiropractic school. She ended up not being able to move the whole right side of her body, she was trying so hard to take in so much information. She said she finished off her first semester laying on one side, trying to read her texts.

I asked her what to do. There’s no way I can get out of reading and writing while I am in school.

She suggested taking many breaks, stretching and sitting at the edge of my chair.

I walked out of her office a new woman. She told me it wasn’t over yet, so I’ll return for treatments until I’m back to normal. At least I can walk now.

I have a question for you readers today. I know I’ve been putting a lot out there to read. I do it because I enjoy it. I want to survey how much is too much and how much is too little.

I don’t want to collapse while putting my pants on again, so I’m going to take advantage of the spring/summer weather and celebrate my youthful body and MOVE much more often than I have over the past 5 months. My question for you is: how often do you suggest I post? 

Do you find the amount that I’m posting overwhelming at all? Or is it just right.

Let me know what you think, if anything. I’ll tally the surveys up next week and make some decisions about where to go with this whole blogging business from there.

Just so you know, I do appreciate everyone’s encouragement and support with this blog. It really means a lot to me, so thank you.

P.S.

You’re answer won’t influence me sit like a potato to keep writing new posts. I know now that bodies are not meant to be like potatoes. I’d just like a little glimpse into what you all are thinking.