Pain: The Alarm System

On Wednesday I had some intense dental work, it has been painful since then.

I am a human who can tune out all but very intense pain. If I feel it, if it makes it past my defence of denial, it is bad. I am always surprised when doctors think I am complaining about the actual pain, because that is seldom the case when I take myself to see a Doctor because I am in pain. I take myself to see a Doctor because I know that pain is an alarm system, but not an early warning system in my case, and if I can feel pain, my alarm systems are screaming to get my attention… I’d best pay attention.

Yesterday, while we were at the Rideau Camp, I became extremely fatigued, so very tired. I felt as if I was coming down with a bad flu bug. But I knew just what it was; pain. Being in pain from Wednesday to Saturday had worn my body out, to the point where at last I was feeling ill. I took two Ibuprofen, sat with my feet up, and within an hour I was feeling much, much better. I wish I noticed the pain BEFORE it wore my body down, not after it wears me out.

I have had this “ability” since I was a small child. When I was pregnant with Terra, I had an infection underneath my big toe nail, the doctor had to drill through the centre of the toe nail into the bed, using a drill, to treat the infection. Since I was pregnant, and it was a very difficult pregnancy, he refused to freeze the toe, or provide any pain medications. I felt it, I was aware that there was pain, but I sat perfectly quiet and still through the entire procedure. The Doctor was dismayed, and confused that I reacted in this way. Another example was when I had my bad fall here at Mist Cottage in June of 2015. After breaking my tailbone, and sporting a huge sacral hematoma, I skimped on pain killers and kept up a very active pace. After a few days I ended up passing out from the pain, and was taken to the Emergency Department. Although I knew the pain was there, I wasn’t willing to feel it, but it was still having a big impact on my body. I learned well the power of pain, and now understand that it is best to heed it, and to take pain medications on medical advice, even when I am not feeling my pain.

Hopefully the pain will diminish over time, and my energy levels with return to normal. In the meantime, I will prescribe myself painkillers and rest.

I enjoyed the weekend though, pain or no pain.

On Saturday evening Attila and I sat around the camp fire at the Rideau Camp. Suddenly we heard loud thrashing noises high in the trees, very near where we were sitting. Something large, larger than a crow and an owl, was up there. Finally Attila caught sight of the culprits. Wild Turkeys, finding their roosting positions for the night, high in the tree tops. It must have been the rafter of turkeys that we saw a few weeks ago, several adults with 21 poults.

I listened for those Wild Turkeys this morning, when I awoke at the Rideau Camp. Not a sound. They must have left at the crack of dawn, before we awoke. They must have left silently, as our windows were open, and if they had been as noisy leaving, as they had been arriving last evening, we would have been awakened.

We have very interesting “guests” at the Rideau Camp. But I suppose it is more accurate to say that the local occupants at the Rideau Camp are interesting, and tolerant. They certainly do not seem to find us very intrusive, or intimidating.

Worldly Distractions

Weather

24°C °F
Date: 5:00 PM EDT Sunday 20 August 2017
Condition: Mainly Sunny
Pressure: 101.7 kPa
Tendency: Falling
Temperature: 23.8°C
Dew point: 20.0°C
Humidity: 79%
Wind: SSW 20 km/h
Humidex: 31
Visibility: 24 km

Quote

“We only know of one duty, and that is to love.”
Albert Camus
1913 – 1960