Yesterday I had one of my favourite days. A friend had me over and we had a total painting day.
I have never really painted before other than a few small watercolor projects, but I had around 20 different projects I wanted to do, including two large ones.
So I went in, picked out THE largest canvas and just started painting - thinking a large canvas would maybe take an hour or two at most.
Bahaha.
Four hours later, even though I was sitting on a super comfy couch and just sitting while painting, taking several breaks, I was about 10% finished and my pain had reached 6.5/10 already. I put that one aside, we took a food break, and I had to lie down on the couch for a while before I started anything else.
Then I worked on really small projects.
I did become quite frustrated a few times - not with the painting itself per se but rather my body's very severe reaction to a very low-key day. On the drive there, because I was so excited, my throat became swollen. I could not take my muscle-relaxant until I reached my destination, so I felt the swell become a little bit worse over the course of the drive. I even brought my saving medication in case I had to be taken to the hospital.
Luckily that did not happen.
Though because I spent so much time on a couch and not in bed, my Ankylosing Spondylitis was definitely screaming at me. I had to take a lot of extra medication and I felt as though I had Blades for Bones.
Seriously.
So 8.5/10 pain from AS feels like my bones are made of blades.
That's my new description.
Not just the joints anymore either. The joints were obviously inflamed, but because of that, my muscles were contracting, my back was entirely hunched over, I was vomiting from pain, and my entire spine, neck, and hips were excruciating.
PLUS - I had thought that since I would be half-lying down most of the time that I would be fine to drive myself. By the time we were nearing the end, I burst out crying. I had already been vomiting from the pain and could barely think let alone drive. I had to ask my hubby to take a cab to our friend's place to drive me home. I was in no condition. I looked like the Tin Man walking and I even passed out in the vehicle.
So next time - ONLY smaller projects, and maybe just one tiny part of a big piece, and I will have hubby drop me off and pick me up.
Definitely a naïve painting novice over here.
