Much Overdue Update; My New Equipment

Remember the $6 Million Dollar Man?  I feel like him today with all my new prosthesis and what not.

This is my CPAP (Continuous positive airway pressure) machine.  It forces air down through my nose to keep my airways open, used to help reduce sleep apnea.  My neurologist believe my difficulty sleeping is the cause of my exhaustion.  

I am still learning how to use it, it's pretty uncomfortable to wear.

Yay!  New Ankle-Foot Orthotics.  My pain doctor believes that the my pain is caused by the way I walk.  She sent me back to physical therapy and prescribed new orthotics and a TENS (Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation ) machine.  These new AFOs are hinged at the ankle, allowing me to move my foot like the TABs.  That flexibility in the ankle is pretty weird, I am having to relearn how to walk.  Aside from the new aches from unused muscles, I am taking to them pretty fast.  

The TENS (Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation ) machine applies electric stimulation to my nerves in pain spots.  I don't know why it works, but it does.  The electric shocks take a bit of getting used to, but using an hour a day has caused the pain in my hips to practically disappear.

Good News

It turned out that my potentially new doctor was an even bigger tool than my present one so I decided to stay with the devil I know.  The guy took a phone call during our meeting, badgered me to hurry up, then abruptly ended the appointment, telling me to make a follow up.

Plus his office staff was really rude.

I will  say this for my present doctor, I needed to have five prescriptions refilled this week and his office got four out of the five sent to the pharmacy before they close of business.  Although, of course, all without returning any of my calls.

But, I said there was good news to be told and here it is:

I had asked for a consultation with a pain specialist and yesterday was my appointment.  I was there for three hours before I got to see her-all of that spent waiting.  The only reason I stayed that long was so I could give her a piece of my mind about leaving me waiting so long.

Anyway, I am glad I stayed.  Not only did she have some strategies to help me, she also thinks I can get along with out my AFOs!  It is going to take some therapy, time, and probably some sweat also, but WAHOOOIE!

In other news, I decided to attend the stone setting at Natasha's grave in June.  It will be nice to see Vermont, especially some dear friends there.

Hazy, hot and humid

It is amazing how fast the seasons changed from cold, rainy and damp to hot and damp.  Living in an unairconditioned house is an endurance test.  Wearing long pants is insane.


I took a long walk yesterday before it got too hot. I have been struggling with wearing shorts and my ankle-foot orthotics. It is humiliating to expose them this way: the alternative would be to stay home or wear long pants.  


While walking, I had an epiphany: I was the one putting limits on me, not my CIDP. My desire to hide my AFOs was restricting my activity level when they are supposed to do the opposite. Wearing them means I can walk almost as fast and almost as far as I used to be able to walk.


What is the matter with me? Like anyone is going to care that I have these things on. 


 Like I care what anyone else may think about me wearing them.


Please feel free to leave your comments below.

Handi-can't

I am done being handi-can't.  
I am driving.  I am walking the monster dog.
As soon as I  get air in my tires, it is time to get the bicycle out.

Take that, CIDP.

Ash Wednesday

After our morning coffee in bed, Adrienne and I went to a local  beach so she could have her morning walk on the beach. There were several groups of people doing their morning exercise routines, some with personal trainers and bright equipment. Most walked or ran across the white sand.

Fat Tuesday

We flew into Naples last Friday night (and boy, were my arms sore!).

I can dish it out, but can I take it if I dish it out to myself?

Thursday, February 17, 2011 

I am preparing to recognize a milestone-my symptoms first appeared early in March, 2010. Whether I am going to celebrate or curse remains to be seen.
It depends on my perspective on the events of the last twelve months. A year ago I was healthy, employed, and looking forward to vacationing with my wife; two months later I was paralyzed and totally dependent on other people for everything.