I slept on the futon last night, alone, but still woke up with the pain in my lower back. All these pains in recent weeks have been on the right side only. I don't know what to do. I still think the mattresses are at least partly to blame since when I get up the pain goes away and doesn't return until I sleep again. At least with this back or shoulder pain, I barely notice tingling in my hands anymore, an issue that my nephrologist blamed on my sleep position. Perhaps I need to lose the extra weight.

I made special Czech pancakes this morning. In recent months, it has been hard making a hot breakfast. Of course I screwed up the batter the first time around and had to dump it and start again. I almost cried.