A Taste of Flava

Today Requires a Little Maneuvering

This morning, I am hurting badly—especially when I put weight on my right hip.

I am trying to work, but pain has a way of interrupting your concentration. It is hard to keep your mind focused when your body keeps reminding you that something hurts.

Still, I am taking care of business.

I updated my manager about my health, my diagnosis of severe bone-on-bone arthritis in both hips, and my upcoming appointment with a hip surgeon. I am also keeping the accommodations team updated with imaging reports and after-visit summaries while I wait for official medical documentation from my primary care doctor.

I also contacted someone from my surgical care team and asked whether my in-house surgeon could update my physiatrist about his findings and let him know that I am moving forward with hip-replacement planning.

She said she would ask the surgeon to speak directly with my physiatrist because they are both in clinic today.

Perfect!

The information may be sitting in my chart, but doctors are not necessarily looking through every new report unless someone prompts them. Sometimes the patient has to help the medical information move from one doctor to the next.

That is what advocating for yourself looks like.

Meanwhile, back in my tower, I am performing another kind of maneuver.

My hips are hurting, so I turned on my electric blanket and placed it over them. The heat feels good—but my body decided this would also be the perfect time for a hot flash.

Now I am sweating with an electric blanket over my hips and a fan blowing on the rest of me.

Is the fan defeating the purpose of the heat? 🤣

I don’t think so.

My hips are receiving heat therapy while the rest of my body is receiving emergency climate control.

This is life today: updating my manager, coordinating communication between doctors, trying to work through pain, and operating two different weather systems on one body.

Sometimes taking care of yourself requires planning.

Sometimes it requires advocacy.

And sometimes it requires an electric blanket and a fan running at the same time.

That is my normal morning story.

A Taste of Flava 🌻

From Flava in Her Tower 🌻