PT

What with all the lying around and napping, I could feel my strength deteriorating. I was so happy the doctor suggested seeing a physical therapist, though I must confess, I don't see how she can scrounge up enough energy for me to do any sort of serious exercising to get my muscle tone back.

I hauled myself through the door when I heard my name called, and shook hands with a woman whose face radiated sunshine and joy. We made our way slowly to the end of the hall and entered a room where a cart labeled Physical Therapy sat waiting, filled with balls and ropes and gadgets. It looked daunting.

She put me through a few tests to assess how much strength I had lost. "Push against my hand. Hold your leg up while I push down. See if you can keep your foot from being moved." Yes, I have definitely lost some strength, but nothing that can't be reversed.

She looked at my face and laughed. "Don't worry. I'm not going to ask you to run a marathon. We will start simply. Stuff you can do during the commercials when you are watching a TV show. Little things. And I have pictures!"

She was so right. We started with the ankle pumps. Every hour at the start of the hour, wiggle your feet back and forth for ten wiggles. I can do that. Once a day, while you are sitting in a chair, lift each leg up and hold it for five seconds. Do that ten times on each leg. I can do that!

When you go out to the kitchen to get a drink of water, put your hands on the counter and lift your leg to the side ten times, then do the other side. Do it to the back and to the front. Only once a day.

She gave me a handful of simple movements and suggestions of when to do them, complete with instruction sheets. Things I can do without burning up much needed energy. She guaranteed that my muscle tone would improve even with such simple exercises.

On the cardio side, she suggested a five minute moderate walk four times a week. Every week, try to bump it up by a few minutes. The eventual goal is to be able to walk for thirty minutes without feeling wobbly. I can work on that. Sugar can help if I can convince her to stop sniffing everything in sight!

I have good hope that this will fit me to return to work more easily. Meanwhile, I will try to at least take a short car ride every day, just to make myself move about more. Staying with it! Working on returning to a normal schedule. Yes!

Doe and Two Fawns

Sugar and I wandered down the stairs at 7:45 am for our morning walk, opened the door, and greeted blue skies and cool air. We took our time, wandering leisurely down the sidewalk, Sugar sniffing at grass and bushes, blops of goo on the blacktop, an inviting aroma of coffee and bacon wafting from a nearby house.

With every car that pulled down the drive, Sugar would stand stock still, watching, hoping someone would come pet her. She chased a few birds, ran a squirrel up a tree, and whined at two dogs in the yard across the drive.

We did our usual loop around the building, Sugar wandered from side to side to make sure she got to smell all the good smells and touch all the grassy areas. We were just coming down the homestretch when suddenly, a doe ran out of the wooded area between our building and the backyard of the house next to us.

She stood still for a minute, sniffing the air. I was half afraid Sugar would bark and run towards her, but Sugar just looked at her. When the doe was sure all was safe, she crossed the drive and disappeared into the woods on the other side.

I was still in awe of seeing her so close up when two tiny fawns appeared, legs half wobbly. They followed their Mom across the drive slowly and into the woods on the other side, disappearing into the lush greenery.

What an amazing way to start the day! And right in the middle of the city.

The Day After

Not so bad, this time around. I actually have energy and am out walking Sugar without feeling the jello legs. Leaving off the Rituxan piece and the drugs to control reactions seems to make a huge difference. Of course, I am on Prednisone which boosts my system, but I am hopeful that crash day won't be as crashy either.

My strength kept up most of the day, until just about 5pm. Not bad at all. And I was able to do a productive Library meeting without feeling the brain drain. I am encouraged. Plus I can see the end of feeling yucky approaching, life picking back up.

Every day I get emails about fall semester start up events. Its quite exciting to think of all the good things that will happen this year. Yes, there is still phase 2 of treatment, but the pieces will get picked up as necessary. I am in no hurry. And definitely feeling better.