Day 2 (429) Grocery Shopping

First things first. I posted the wrong website yesteday (I used .com instead of .org) but it's all fixed now. Seriously, it's the best website I've found for info on RSD so definitely check it out!



Ok. So let's talk grocery shopping. Seriously. One of the things about RSD is that it changes your life in ways that most people don't think about. For example, today I went grocery shopping. Now on a day when I just need to run in and get something, it's not that bad. I get a little basket to carry and whenever I take something off the shelf I put the basket on the floor, put the food in the basket and then pick the basket up again. Or, I do the one-legged flamingo stance. This will become a recurring phrase during these blogs because I do this stance often. It basically means that I lean the cane against whatever's nearby and stand on my left leg with my right foot against the side of my left calf, thus freeing up my hands. It's very attractive trust me.

Anyway, that's the tack I take when I only need a couple of things. Now, the problem is... you can't fill up a pantry like that! So what does one do? Well I'm sure you've all seen the people on those motorized scooters. You know the ones that I mean. They're usually being driven by a person who is four to five times my weight. And of course we all look at them and say, "Sigh. If you would walk and push a cart you wouldn't be in this situation in the first place." Don't look at me like that. You know it's true.

So yes, I confess. I have to use a motorized scooter. And let me tell you, the looks I get! Wowser. You ever get the hairy eyeball before? It's a doozy. But seriously, most of the people don't see my cane propped against my leg, but they are pretty nice about trying to help me whenever they can. They stay out of the way, get things off the high shelves or open a freezer door for me like the nice man at Price Chopper did today.

Now the problem isn't motoring around inside the store so much as after the checkout. Anyone who wants to come with me on a trip will get lucky enough to see me tooling along at 5mph across the parking lot to my car. Vroom vroom. Dale Earnhardt Jr look out!

So that was the highlight of my day. Ok, serious time now. The thing with the shopping, I laugh now, but I still hesitate before I go. A small part of me still cringes when I think about a big trip. To be honest, I make all those little trips over and over and hope to stretch them out so I don't have to run around in the scooter and get the hairy eyeball. But, I'm blessed. I have a wonderful boyfriend and family who want to go with me to make it easier. It's sweet really, but I have to do it on my own. For me and for anyone who has a little difficulty doing anything. I shouldn't be embarrassed and neither should they. Next time, I'll laugh a little more and cringe a little less.

Ok, here's the nitty gritty. Status update. The pain level was about a 4 all day because the weather was cool and I wasn't upright very much. However, I did some laundry in a slightly warm atmosphere and am now laying here wishing that I hadn't run out of Lortab and that I was brave enough to try more than one glass of wine. Ice pack, check. Fan, check. Loving boyfriend trying to make me comfy, check. So pain level now is definitely higher. Last night I slept pretty well. I'm continuing to have my foot up on a pillow outside the covers and that seems to be helping. Tomorrow's another day.

Medications: Lyrica, one glass of white merlot
Activity: Laundry, groceries, driving.
Temperature: Cool, rainy
Pain: 8/10