12/20/12 – Thursday – It’s Christmastime again, not that it means really anything to me. I had felt so much better yesterday, it was amazing, both physically and mentally. Mostly because I felt stronger, but that seemed to dissipate as it usually does. Today I woke up with that unbearable pressure in my abdomen and back and tried to ignore it. Yesterday I spoke with Stacey by phone to ask her opinion about whether or not I should speak to a disability lawyer. She basically said that unless the MRI can document something wrong, I will probably be turned down. She went on to say that it is really up to the doctor and the notes whether or not I will receive disability. I do know that this condition that I have could still eventually be relieved, but who knows. In the interim, I feel horrible almost all the time except for an occasional reprieve of the symptoms somewhat. Nevertheless, she kept reminding me that this type of disability was not temporary, and I kept assuring her I understood. I wish I had not even spoken to her because she upset me so much that today I was in a major state of depression. The “what ifs” kept coming to mind about “what if” I don’t get better then how will I support myself, etc. The whole conversation upset me to the point that I decided I will only call her if I have a question about the birds, etc. It has taken me all day to at least feel halfway decent and I am still profoundly upset, but mostly because my right leg does not feel as strong and I just feel physically numb, with the burning all down my legs again. I think I did a lot of cleaning today and that is probably what did me in. I will go out tonight to see some people at a meeting so I won’t isolate and continue on my pity pot path.