otoh

One of my coworkers today remarked that I haven’t missed any days of work this year. And I haven’t. My health has been reasonably good lately. (”Knock wood,” I say while rapping my knuckles on the top of my head.)

In fact, I don’t think I’ve taken a sick day in the last four years. That is not to say that I haven’t been sick at all in the last four years — I have been sick, but I went to work anyway. As a teacher, I always feel like I have to do twice as much work to take a day off. But four years ago I missed an entire week!

I was still at work that Friday afternoon four years ago today. The students had been gone about an hour or so. I was sitting at the computer, but I don’t remember exactly what I was doing. I do remember feeling a little twinge of pain in my lower back on the left side. “Hmmm, that’s odd.” It felt similar to the way a pulled muscle does, but a quick mental review of my physical activity for the preceding days didn’t include anything that strenuous. So I kept working.

A few minutes later the pain got worse. A lot worse. Knock me to the floor worse. And then it went away again. This was no pulled muscle. But what was it? Like any self-respecting geek (self-loathing geeks too, I’m sure) who feels an unidentified pain while sitting at a computer, I started looking online. After all, WebMD was just a click away.

Damn, the symptoms (1, 2) were frighteningly similar to those of a kidney stone. This is something I should see a doctor about. Now, I’m really good at seeing my eye doctor and dentist twice a year, but I haven’t had a primary care physician for most of my adult life. (Yeah, I know. Spare me the lectures.) I couldn’t even remember where the walk-in clinic was….

Stay tuned for more.

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