Pain, Pain, and more Pain

I am in pain; so much pain. I googled pain and this is the image that came up that pretty much summed it all up. My head is throbbing, my shoulders and neck in spasms, my hips are inflamed, my back is shooting bolts of lightning up my spine and down my leg as well as the pinching in my butt, and last but not least, my knees aching so much I could barely stand. I know I am getting old, I am forty, but I feel like an 80 year old woman.

This week, I tried to explain to my boss how this disease- no it should be THESE diseases- affect my ability to go to work. He looked at me and TOLD me he understood but then immediately after stated it was important I attended extended day planning every Wednesday. For those of you who don't teach, this is like after school tutoring for teachers. We are herded into a classroom while they watch us do our homework. Anyway, I was sitting in his office telling him how my body was not able to tolerate being at work longer than the regular work day-that I needed to go home immediately after the end of the school day so I could rest and be able to return to work the next day, but after my whole song and dance he still asked for me to stay after work not only for extended day but for duty.

It is frustrating! These past two years I have figured out that every time I stay at work past 4 or insisted on doing something after work, I have been unable to get out of bed the next day. This school year, I have already been out 1 and a 1/2 days. One day was the day after "Meet the Teacher Night" and the 1/2 day was after my Thursday duty where I come in early and leave late. It is really so stressful for me because I pride myself in being a good teacher, but when I can't get out of bed, I can't get out of bed. 

Oh well, I think I am just going to be a bad teacher and not show up for duty and leave right after school ends because in the long run, my health and the time I spend with my students is the most important thing. To hell with the extended day planning!