Joint Ventures

This morning was my "joint camp." They call it so many things: "joint venture," "joint clinic," "joint camp." It was an interminable two hours in length. We sat through that to get about twenty minutes of useful information. The worst part was that there were about twenty patients in the room (mostly getting knee replacement surgery, but some getting new hips) and two of them thought this little class was for their benefit and theirs alone. And, yes, there IS such a thing as a stupid question -- they can typically be avoided if you SHUT YOUR MOUTH and LISTEN. By the end of the class I hated all people.

I ignored everything the nurse/instructor had to say about diet. Everything. They have a list of thirteen exercises that I'm supposed to do two or three times a day in addition to the nine exercises that I have to do from my physical therapist. I'm supposed to do the physical therapy exercises twice a day, which I don't. But seriously. All I would do all day long is exercise if these people had their way. They want me to purchase an elevated toilet seat which I have resisted strenuously. I don't know why, but the idea of this depresses me completely. It doesn't matter that it's temporary. This is not rational. I'm not sure I'm going to do it (in fact, I'm pretty sure I'm not).

The best thing I learned today is that I'll have a private room. The worst thing is that they expect you to leave "all electronics" at home. I figured I'd have to live without my laptop, but I don't see that it's possible to not have my phone or my Kindle for three days. That's just crazy talk.

After class I had my "anemia clinic," which is their way of saying that they draw your blood to see if you're anemic. I am not.

They have you walk all over creation to go to these different things. By the time I got home I was exhausted. It just floors me how hard it is to do things when you hurt. It has nothing to do with "being in shape." I'm NOT in good shape, but my problem isn't my fitness level, it's my pain level. Anyway -- we got home, ate lunch, and I got in bed and napped all afternoon.

My husband is wonderful. I'm so grateful for his patience, for his presence, for his care. He is never negative (which drives me crazy sometimes). When I'm in a grouchy mood (like I was after the class today) and I take it out on him, he is understanding. It means everything to me to know that he's going through this with me. Thank you, thank you, Bruce. I love you.

More later...