Road trip

We're back to Madison for blood (drawn) and twenty minutes with Dr. Infection Control, one George Mejicano. He actually seems to be a very sharp man and is pretty informative. My sedimentation rate and something else are still too high, or were last week, although significantly improved. His job is to get every last one of the bugs that the Ciproflaxin is supposed to kill. My body tells me it's working, but he gets paid to obsess and I'm glad, mostly.

Gets you thinking about what might happen, though, doesn't it? I feel less immune to what might happen than I did this Spring. I'll be happier when the visit with Dr. George is over and I'm walking out, rather than checking in.

I've been back at work for the past two days. A colleague commutes from Cedar Rapids as well and has agreed to let me share gas as he comes to pick me up. What a mensch. He's saving my bacon. (Now there's a sacreligious mix: yiddish, followed by a pork reference. Nasty.) It is great to be back. I have a very nice office and comfy chairs, computer, copier, all the goodies, as well as a sofa to lie down and rest my back on, and permission to do so if need be. Why would a guy NOT go to work?

Because we're on a campus and our administrative offices are in a different building than my office (in the dorm basement, near my people, thank you!) I'm walking a whole lot more than I have been at home. I find I need to rest a while after these jaunts, but I suspect they are just what I need. I can work from home and telecommute if necessary, and I may do so rather than get worn down. Soon our people are coming and we'll have lots to do, so it makes sense to ease back into the groove now.

And, frankly, I'm tired to monitoring my own well being. I would like to expect to be well again, and this requires that I have things to do, to think about, to work on. I fear I'm running the risk of becoming one of those decrepit old goozers who reminisce about their bowel movements and haunt Bishop's, lurking by the cream pie. Get me the fuck off the lazy boy, pretty please.

These days, what I deal with is an ache, not sharp pain, or someone sliced me open pain. It's bone healing pain. I feel it when I remain in a position too long, or after I walk longer than usual. I feel it more as the day goes on. I find changing position, walking, taking short naps, keeping on the Tylenol schedule, and having something to freaking do help a lot.

I am going to have this ache to some degree for a long time, I suspect. On a cold rainy day it may be the cost of doing business. I have it when I stay home. When I go out it goes with me. It says "Why are you thinking about me? Do something."