This is now officially getting old.: seanan

This is now officially getting old.

While I was in New York the week before last, I did a lot of traveling via the PATH Train, a fairly simplistic transit system whose entire purpose is to get people from Jersey City to Manhattan, and vice-versa. This is normal for me. I am an old hand at riding the PATH, and no longer become in any way distressed about it.

Only the thing is, on Sundays, the PATH bounces through Hoboken on its way from Jersey City to Manhattan. This is a very jerky, bumpy, throw-you-around-y section of track, since it's not part of the everyday commute. Also on Sundays, they run fewer trains, resulting in a greater density of people on each individual train.

Can you guess what's coming next? I bet you can guess what's coming next.

Sunday, Kate and I got on the PATH to head into the city to have lunch with The Agent and another of her clients, followed by dinner with Betsy (Wollheim, not Tinney; it would have been a clever trick to somehow have dinner with my Seattle Maine Coon breeder whilst in New York). The train was very full when we got on; we had to stand. I got whiter and whiter as the train moved, trying desperately to keep from crying.

When I started screaming every time the car jerked to one side or another, some nice people let me have their seat. Thank you, nice people. I took my emergency pain killers and cried. "Take more painkillers and cry" was pretty much the mantra of the day, which would otherwise have been absolutely lovely. Because Betsy is a golden goddess who shall be renowned in song and story, she even drove us back to Jersey City after dinner. I have sent her a thank-you card.

My back has been out ever since. It's getting better, slowly, but it's been long enough since I had a flare-up this bad that, well, I'm being sort of a wimp about it. I cry a lot. I've been to the doctor for more painkillers, and I'm trying to schedule a spinal epidural, but right now? Right now, I just cry a lot. Part of me is glad that I'm missing OVFF and World Fantasy and my Alabama corn maze, because I am in SO MUCH PAIN right now that I wouldn't really enjoy them anyway.

So if I seem a little curt, or a little out of it, that's because I am either in extreme pain, or legally stoned to prevent the extreme pain from being a problem. Show mercy, I beg of thee. And please, Great Pumpkin, let this be over soon.

kyburg

October 22 2010, 18:54:29 UTC 6 years ago Edited: October 22 2010, 18:57:30 UTC

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You need help scheduling the epidural, let me know. This is needful.

EDIT: There are days I am grateful I don't have the heriditary nasy back issues (though I have a healthy scoliosis that makes reading my chest x-ray a treat) - this is one of them. If I could fix this, oh my dear, I would.

That said, I know how to find a spare appointment like nobody's business. Use me at need. I know too much about this to sit well during it.

seanan_mcguire

October 30 2010, 21:48:55 UTC 6 years ago

I will keep you in mind.

Deleted comment

October 30 2010, 22:47:53 UTC 6 years ago

Thank you!

groblek

October 22 2010, 19:58:59 UTC 6 years ago

My sympathies. I wish I could help, but I'm neither a doctor nor a massage therapist. If you were closer, I'd offer the use of a hot tub, in case relaxing the muscles would help. Best wishes for speedy healing in any case.

October 30 2010, 22:48:02 UTC 6 years ago

Thank you.

coyotegoth

October 22 2010, 21:15:32 UTC 6 years ago

Crap, I'm sorry :(

October 30 2010, 22:48:09 UTC 6 years ago

Thanks.

eevieivy

October 22 2010, 22:02:43 UTC 6 years ago

*HUGS* Sending lots of positive thoughts your way that you Get Well Soon. :/

October 30 2010, 22:48:23 UTC 6 years ago

I appreciate them, honey.

vincentursus

October 22 2010, 22:38:41 UTC 6 years ago

Have some good thoughts here.

October 30 2010, 22:48:30 UTC 6 years ago

ladyfox7oaks

October 22 2010, 23:19:09 UTC 6 years ago

Many *GENTLE* hugs, painkillers and heating pads/ice packs as you may need them... and cupcakes too.

October 30 2010, 22:55:29 UTC 6 years ago

Yay cupcakes!

cleothyla

October 22 2010, 23:26:30 UTC 6 years ago

Gentle hugs and positive thoughts that you get the epidural soon. And lots of cupcakes.

October 22 2010, 23:27:04 UTC 6 years ago

P.S. Can u use Thermacare pads?

6 years ago

pyre006

October 23 2010, 01:56:27 UTC 6 years ago

feel better!

October 30 2010, 22:56:00 UTC 6 years ago

yellowblackhaze

October 23 2010, 02:55:20 UTC 6 years ago

Being a regular commuter on Melbourne trains, which can get really crowded, at times I think the entire cities population has managed to fit into my carriage, I sympathise. Doing it with a back injury would be sheer hell. Hope you get back to your pumpkin patch real soon.

October 30 2010, 22:56:23 UTC 6 years ago

I just hate the people who are like "you're young and healthy, you can't be handicapped." Bastards.

kitrinlu

October 23 2010, 07:24:00 UTC 6 years ago

*very careful hugs, being sure not to hurt your back*

Hope you get better real soon, or at least that the drugs are good.

October 30 2010, 22:56:32 UTC 6 years ago

The drugs are excellent.

scholarinexile

October 23 2010, 14:02:03 UTC 6 years ago

::careful hugs:: Back pain sucks a lot. I really hope yours goes away quickly.

October 30 2010, 22:56:40 UTC 6 years ago

laughingfalcon

October 23 2010, 15:55:19 UTC 6 years ago

Don't think you are a wimp, back pain is really harsh! I pray you have a swift recovery and a lessening of the pain in the meantime. Be good to yourself until it actually feels better, Coyote Girl! You have my sympathies to be sure!

October 30 2010, 22:56:50 UTC 6 years ago

I appreciate them, truly.

deire

October 24 2010, 01:16:30 UTC 6 years ago

*gentle thought hugs* I hope that you feel better soon.

October 30 2010, 23:07:57 UTC 6 years ago

I'm trying!

saffronrose

October 24 2010, 06:34:57 UTC 6 years ago

I'll drop a word with Brigid tomoorw morning on your behalf. I've known enough folks with back pain to have an idea of what you're enduring.

October 30 2010, 23:08:05 UTC 6 years ago

arison

October 24 2010, 08:37:47 UTC 6 years ago

Aww, I'm sorry lovely! I hope it stops hurting soon.

October 30 2010, 23:08:14 UTC 6 years ago

Me, too. :(

janeg

October 24 2010, 13:14:52 UTC 6 years ago

I can't cope with public transit when my back is bad, and I don't think it's anything like as bad as yours. Maybe taxis are a necessary expense. So sorry someone as wonderful as you has to suffer like this.

October 30 2010, 23:08:23 UTC 6 years ago

It sucks so bad.

joecoustic

October 25 2010, 00:44:18 UTC 6 years ago

I'm late in commenting but I'm so, so, so sorry you're going through this!!!

*gentle hugs*

October 30 2010, 23:08:31 UTC 6 years ago

Thank you, honey.

lysystratae

October 25 2010, 18:43:34 UTC 6 years ago

ouch... I'll add my prayers to the Pumpkin to yours, see if it'll work faster

October 30 2010, 23:08:41 UTC 6 years ago

dornbeast

October 26 2010, 00:59:31 UTC 6 years ago

For what it's worth, I sent a wish to the full moon that you find your way down this road and back to where you physically were before the train ride as quickly as possible. I know you've traveled this path before, so you at least know how to get there, but I want it to be a trip with as few detours and dead ends as possible.

(The moon reflects wishes to the appropriate deity if you ask it politely. Or so I believe, on a night with not enough sleep due to a mix of filk and a friend's toddler.)

October 30 2010, 23:08:57 UTC 6 years ago

The moon is lovely. Thank you.

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