Daily Journal #30 — Exhausted, Up 1.3 Pounds, and Now a Rib Hurts Too

I feel like crap today.

There really isn’t a nicer way to say it.

For the last few weeks, I seem to be stuck in this pattern where I barely sleep one night, then I’m so exhausted the next day that I can hardly keep my eyes open.

By the second evening, I’m usually falling asleep around 8:00.

Then the cycle starts all over again.

I’ve been trying not to nap during the day because I’m afraid I’ll make the problem even worse and end up sleeping during the day and staring at the ceiling all night.

At this point, the insomnia is getting old.

Really old.

Morning Health Check Wasn’t Great

This morning’s numbers weren’t quite as encouraging as they have been lately.

I gained 1.3 pounds.

Obviously, that gets my attention.

But right now, I’m not convinced it is fluid.

I had a bigger dinner than normal yesterday, so that could certainly explain some of it.

I’m also not seeing the usual things that make me immediately think fluid retention.

I can clearly see the veins in my feet and arms, and I’m not noticing obvious swelling.

So for now, I’m going to watch it closely rather than jump to conclusions.

That is one thing all this tracking has taught me.

One number gives you information.

The pattern gives you the story.

I Also Drank a Little More Yesterday

I did have about 12 ounces more water than usual yesterday.

It was hot outside, and I was sweating, so I’m guessing I lost at least some of that extra fluid through the heat.

Still, with my history, any unexpected weight jump gets my attention.

So today I’ll be watching my weight, body-water reading, swelling, blood pressure, and how I feel.

If the extra weight disappears over the next day or two, that will probably tell me a lot.

And Apparently I Hurt a Rib

Because apparently I needed something else to deal with, I think I may have injured one of my ribs the other day.

I was leaning over on my side trying to do something when I suddenly heard or felt a pop.

Then came the pain.

A lot of pain.

I obviously can’t tell from sitting at home whether I actually cracked a rib, bruised it, pulled something between the ribs, or did something else entirely.

What I do know is that it hurts.

And somehow this is the second time I’ve done something like this.

Which has me wondering:

Is this just getting older?

Is it because I’ve lost so much weight and there isn’t as much padding around me anymore?

Was I simply leaning at a bad angle?

I have no idea.

I never used to have this kind of problem.

Now apparently I can injure myself by leaning on something.

Getting older is fun.

Today Is Probably a Rest Day

Between the lack of sleep and the rib pain, today is not going to be particularly productive.

And that is okay.

I’m tired enough that my body is clearly telling me to slow down.

I’ll keep a close eye on the weight and fluid situation today.

Hopefully the scale moves back in the other direction and the rib pain starts settling down.

And tonight?

I would really, really like to sleep.

At this point, eight uninterrupted hours sounds better than just about anything.