I haven't had the time to sit and write this out, but I had a great appt this week. Sometimes getting a pat on the back makes me realize how long it has been since I've been complimented. Everyone needs a pat on the back now and then! It also made me realize that there are other people in my life who could and should say "Well done," or "How are you?" once in a while!

I arrived at my appt to a full waiting room, and a kind man saw my cane (it's that time of the year!) and gave up his seat. Then when I was weighed in, I was 4 pounds less than last month (that ALWAYS makes me feel good, LOL!) and I also got in pretty quick, which is nice. I always ask the nurse and doctors how they are doing, b/c they ask ME. I know it is their job, but it just feels polite.

I get the same nurse every month and she was taking my vitals and talking to me about my pain and she kept smiling when I'd answer. She asks about pain levels, what I can and can't do around the house, etc. She closed my chart and just grinned at me, and told me I was a pleasure to have as a patient! She said, "You never complain, you take responsibility for your meds and you're always smiling. You are a joy to have here and it makes my day when I see you." She went on but the gist of it was that I'm an "easy" patient and she likes to hear from me b/c I rarely complain and never cause trouble.

Now I am the 1st to admit, I don't consider myself easy. I have RSD and as long as I take my meds on time, I have few problems. That's NOT to say I have "none" but I always know what causes them. If my pain levels are higher I am the 1st to say it's from the weather or I overdid it when out of town, etc. If I don't take my meds on time I DO have higher pain levels but after so many years I KNOW to take them on time. So I'm NOT perfect by any means. I complained last December that my levels were up and I was having a flare up. It just coincided with my appt. But I didn't make a big deal out of it b/c I know what to do.

I guess I'm lucky that way. If I had never had this disease and got it NOW, I'd likely be the biggest complainer in the world. But as I've had it 15 years, it has just become part of my life. I have to deal with it and I refuse to let too many things slip by the wayside.

But I have to admit, hearing the kind things that the nurse and PA said about me did make me feel good. I wasn't happy at the expense of others, as I KNOW that many people there are in bad shape. I SEE them in the waiting room and hear them through walls at times. I also see the looks on staff members' faces when dealing with a particularly tough patient. They don't judge, they just look sad b/c they can't take away ALL the patients' pain. Oddly, these are so often new patients.

Yet hearing the nice things they said to me, makes me wish that my hubby and the few members of my family who know about my RSD would say, "Hey, we know you have a rough disease and it makes things difficult for you, and we just want to say that you're doing great!" Now, wouldn't THAT be nice? I mean, the people TREATING me have nothing but good to say, while very few people ever even ASK me how I'm doing!

Maybe being treated well made me want more. Am I shallow? I hope not! But being complimented made me feel good, I'll admit it. I'm starting to feel like I'm just a big burden to my hubby, and I wish I had my 3 year old's energy, but I do TRY to be a productive member of society.

I guess I should just be happy that I received some kind words. I mean, who knows then it will happen again in this house!