Toss & ripple has a new look.
I also cleaned up my side bar and organized certain links, regarding The Way and regarding recovery resources and books, into two different pages.
I'm proud of how the two new pages turned out.
Here are the links.
Beyond The Way International: Information & Connections
Restoring the Soul: Reading & Resource List
I've also updated About me, About this blog, and For the record.
Maybe with a new look, I'll start posting more blog entries? Maybe?
I've been thinking about writing about my reactions to the movie, The Martian.
I've seen it five times!
Five times! Oh my word!
So many parallels to what I've lived and continue to live through managing nerve damage. I won't go into the parallels here and I may never write them down. But they are in my head, and my limbs, and my heart...at least for now.
I literally knew nothing about The Martian until October when I saw its trailer roll across the theater screen before Everest played. I saw Everest the day before my first view of The Martian. (Everest is really good too, but I've only seen it once. The scenery is spectacular. The scale of the size of the climbers to the mountain, incredible. I saw the original Everest on an IMAX screen a few times back in the late 1990s; it's a documentary and one I'll not forget, at least as long as my brain continues to remember. Like Shakleton's Antarctic Adventure, which I saw more than once in that same IMAX.)
The disco soundtrack music in The Martian is especially significant for me. Since maybe May (?), 2015, disco has been one of my main body-and-soul recovery music genres. Ain't that funny.
My disco music has rooted me on as my nerves and muscles, and many abilities a non-disabled person takes for granted, have been coming back to life this past summer as I continued alone, but not alone, to just keep my limbs working. I'm still working at it. It takes priority over everything else in my life and continues to be my focus every single day.
And there, in that movie, was my music.
It sounded through the theater speakers as Mark Watney alone, but not alone, comes to terms with what seems to be impossible circumstances. And actually they are because it is a science-fiction movie.
All so serendipitous.
Last time I checked my life, and symptoms and struggle, are not science fiction.
My new favorite quote is,
"You just, begin."
~Mark Watney, Space Pirate
My second new favorite quote is my own,
"Wherever I go I'm never alone; I always bring Mia Long."
~Oneperson, Discoverer ;)
"At some point, everything's gonna go south on you and you're going to say, this is it.
This is how I end.
Now you can either accept that, or you can get to work.
That's all it is.
You just, begin.
You do the math.
You solve one problem and you solve the next one, and then the next.
And If you solve enough problems, you get to come home."
~Mark Watney, Space Pirate
November 8, 2015
November 3, 2015
Thought dump...with pictures...
***
Dump One
October 28, 2015, marked the day when ten years ago I officially left The Way.
But the bigger milestone than that 10-year anniversary is: I've now spent half my life as non-Way and half as loyal-Way; 28 years 'in,' 28 years 'out.' I'm at ground zero, so to speak.
I'm 56 years young. I got involved with The Way in Fall, 1977, at 18 years old. I 'left' The Way in Fall, 2005, at 46 years old.
Dump One
October 28, 2015, marked the day when ten years ago I officially left The Way.
But the bigger milestone than that 10-year anniversary is: I've now spent half my life as non-Way and half as loyal-Way; 28 years 'in,' 28 years 'out.' I'm at ground zero, so to speak.
I'm 56 years young. I got involved with The Way in Fall, 1977, at 18 years old. I 'left' The Way in Fall, 2005, at 46 years old.
28 in; 28 out.
It's kind of like I've been born again. *biggrin*
I say "officially" left because on the afternoon of October 28, 2005, Hubby was on the phone in the kitchen and I was on the bedroom phone. On the other end of the line on two different phone extensions, were the husband-and-wife team whom we had served with for the previous seven or so years. At that time they served as the state and region coordinators. I was letting them know I was leaving.
"Unofficially" I'd been 'leaving' The Way for at least eight years prior to October 28, 2005.
In a sense, I'm still unofficially 'leaving.'
***
Dump Two
The Way always stated (and probably still does) that a person can't "join" The Way, that there are no "members" other than the Board of Directors/Trustees. Right! *sarcasm*
All a follower has to do is commit her soul and her marriage and her family and her finances and her time and her identity to become likeminded and grow into the "new man" and live love according to The Word. The Word says to demolish your human logic and every imagination that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. The only way to have the knowledge of God is through God's rightly-divided Word, the Bible, of which there is only one right interpretation according to whom it is written and the context and various layers and nuanced definitions; otherwise, it's not rightly-divided. That Word is the end and the beginning of knowledge. Whatever does not line up with that standard is, at the least, unproductive evil; at the worst, destructive evil.
But you can't join The Way.
So no worries! (another *sarcasm*)
I once believed all that.
I don't anymore.
It tires me to think about it!
So I mostly think about other things these days.
***
Dump Three
One thing I'm thinking about is closing toss & ripple. By closing I really mean going dormant. I'd disable 'comments' and leave the blog be. I've thought about really 'closing' it from all public view, but other folks have links to entries which I think are important. I don't want those links to disappear.
How about yet another blog? I don't know. Most of my other start-ups end up flat because I don't post on them.
Nice thing is, I can choose.
***
Dump Four
Choice.
Wow, what a concept.
I remind myself regularly that I have freedom (at least in part) to choose...not according to another's dictates, whether that "another" be person or spirit or holy writ. I can choose based on what I deem important and/or desirable, on what will energize me and make life meaningful. I can choose based on the collective knowledge and experience and genetic code and whatever else is all wrapped inside, including intuition.
***
Dump Five
My health is faring well comparatively.
Except that the nerve damage moved into the nape of my neck on the right side on 10/26/15. I don't feel like typing out the details which includes the pattern over the last few years. But it scared and scares me. I ended up at Dr. Neurologist yesterday and got around 10 shots in my neck; it's 3 syringes, but around 10 pokes. I have a headache today. But Doc is good and quick with that needle.
From 9/22 through 10/17, I stayed at 1.25 mg of daily prednisone and was able to function. That hasn't happened since July, 2011, when I started taking daily prednisone. (I had to increase my daily dose beginning 10/18/15 which is a typical pattern in my 12-week cycles. I received my epidural and neck shots on 9/21.)
I was more social in October than I've been in the whole past year put together. It's time I back off again. And that's okay.
Between 9/24 and 10/24, I biked 243 miles over 23 different days. My goal was 600 miles this 12 weeks. But weather and now my neck condition and business workload are probably going to make that non-doable. And that's okay. It's been raining heavily again this week.
I can still pedal my bike standing up, and I can still clap my hands.
I'm still on tap for my lumbar epidural and more shots in the neck on December 14. But, I'll get less medicine in the doses. That upcoming round of injections is kind of scary too. I'll have to prepare a bit differently.
***
Dump Six
I love to ride my bike. It's my new passion and a good one. I could dedicate a blog site to my bike Olivia, and I'd include my 1999 Ford Explorer, Sir Edward.
At the top of my fullness-of-life rides is where I road on October 12 - the Railroad Grade Road between Fleetwood and Todd, NC, in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was a big day for me; to ride 20 miles on a paved road where cars drive; to ride in this strange place alone, though it wasn't really strange because I was with the trees and the river and the wildlife and my mountains. Though there are cars and trucks, they are few and drivers are biker friendly. I still felt somewhat naked along the road, exposed, vulnerable. Yet awed by the beauty.
At the top of my whew-that-was-close rides is my October 20th Salem Lake trip. A big, beautiful German shepherd lunged me as I was cycling by he and his walker. I figure I was going 7 to 9 miles an hour. I felt his top tooth hit my knee as he pulled away ripping my pants; he didn't break the skin. I pedaled faster to get away as I stuck my hand in the torn hole checking my knee for blood.
The dog was on a leash. Since I wasn't hurt I didn't turn back. I did warn three approaching cyclists; two of those were elderly. If I see that dog out there again, I'll have to dismount and talk to the walker. Hopefully, the owner has sense enough to not allow that dog where there are bikes.
The Salem Lake trail is a 7-mile, dirt, loop, road around Salem Lake. The dirt road is about the width to fit one and one-half cars. Only authorized motorized vehicles are allowed and are seldom seen. Walkers, cyclists, dogs on leashes, horses are all allowed. I've ridden the loop at least 35 times since the spring.
***
Dump Seven
On October 1st, I finally put flowers on my parent's gravesite. Dad died in 1996 and Mom in 2009. I selected the flowers and greenery and fruit, and arranged them myself. I like how the arrangement turned out. I think Mom and Dad would too.
Before visiting Mom and Dad's gravesite, I stopped in at the Catawba County Museum of History. It was fascinating going through the exhibits looking for names I knew; the polio camp; prohibition; pottery and arts; and all sorts of stuff. I bought a book for my daughter from the bookstore; she requested a copy over a year ago. A photo of most of Mom's family takes up a whole page in that book. The boys are missing; I think because they were serving in the war.
After I visited Mom and Dad, I met up with an ex-Way friend whom I hadn't seen since the early 1980s; she left The Way in the latter '80s. We "got in the Word" together in 1977. About five years later, she moved to the west coast and just moved back east this past year. Her 5-or-6-year-old granddaughter joined us for supper. We ate at Mellow Mushroom where a balloon lady just happened to be spreading smiles; she made a lady bug for Friend's granddaughter. Friend's daughter, whom I hadn't seen since she was a toddler, stopped by after supper to pick up her daughter who proudly showed Mom her lady bug.
That was quite a day.
Stepping back in time.
Surreal.
On the way home Pandora chose Forever Young to play through my Explorer speakers.
Bob Dylan was singing.
Pandora is god. *biggrin*
***
Forever Young
Bob Dylan
May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.
May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.
May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
And may your song always be sung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.
I say "officially" left because on the afternoon of October 28, 2005, Hubby was on the phone in the kitchen and I was on the bedroom phone. On the other end of the line on two different phone extensions, were the husband-and-wife team whom we had served with for the previous seven or so years. At that time they served as the state and region coordinators. I was letting them know I was leaving.
"Unofficially" I'd been 'leaving' The Way for at least eight years prior to October 28, 2005.
In a sense, I'm still unofficially 'leaving.'
***
Dump Two
The Way always stated (and probably still does) that a person can't "join" The Way, that there are no "members" other than the Board of Directors/Trustees. Right! *sarcasm*
All a follower has to do is commit her soul and her marriage and her family and her finances and her time and her identity to become likeminded and grow into the "new man" and live love according to The Word. The Word says to demolish your human logic and every imagination that exalts itself against the knowledge of God and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ. The only way to have the knowledge of God is through God's rightly-divided Word, the Bible, of which there is only one right interpretation according to whom it is written and the context and various layers and nuanced definitions; otherwise, it's not rightly-divided. That Word is the end and the beginning of knowledge. Whatever does not line up with that standard is, at the least, unproductive evil; at the worst, destructive evil.
But you can't join The Way.
So no worries! (another *sarcasm*)
I once believed all that.
I don't anymore.
It tires me to think about it!
So I mostly think about other things these days.
***
Dump Three
One thing I'm thinking about is closing toss & ripple. By closing I really mean going dormant. I'd disable 'comments' and leave the blog be. I've thought about really 'closing' it from all public view, but other folks have links to entries which I think are important. I don't want those links to disappear.
How about yet another blog? I don't know. Most of my other start-ups end up flat because I don't post on them.
Nice thing is, I can choose.
***
Dump Four
Choice.
Wow, what a concept.
I remind myself regularly that I have freedom (at least in part) to choose...not according to another's dictates, whether that "another" be person or spirit or holy writ. I can choose based on what I deem important and/or desirable, on what will energize me and make life meaningful. I can choose based on the collective knowledge and experience and genetic code and whatever else is all wrapped inside, including intuition.
***
Dump Five
My health is faring well comparatively.
Except that the nerve damage moved into the nape of my neck on the right side on 10/26/15. I don't feel like typing out the details which includes the pattern over the last few years. But it scared and scares me. I ended up at Dr. Neurologist yesterday and got around 10 shots in my neck; it's 3 syringes, but around 10 pokes. I have a headache today. But Doc is good and quick with that needle.
From 9/22 through 10/17, I stayed at 1.25 mg of daily prednisone and was able to function. That hasn't happened since July, 2011, when I started taking daily prednisone. (I had to increase my daily dose beginning 10/18/15 which is a typical pattern in my 12-week cycles. I received my epidural and neck shots on 9/21.)
I was more social in October than I've been in the whole past year put together. It's time I back off again. And that's okay.
Between 9/24 and 10/24, I biked 243 miles over 23 different days. My goal was 600 miles this 12 weeks. But weather and now my neck condition and business workload are probably going to make that non-doable. And that's okay. It's been raining heavily again this week.
I can still pedal my bike standing up, and I can still clap my hands.
I'm still on tap for my lumbar epidural and more shots in the neck on December 14. But, I'll get less medicine in the doses. That upcoming round of injections is kind of scary too. I'll have to prepare a bit differently.
***
Dump Six
I love to ride my bike. It's my new passion and a good one. I could dedicate a blog site to my bike Olivia, and I'd include my 1999 Ford Explorer, Sir Edward.
At the top of my fullness-of-life rides is where I road on October 12 - the Railroad Grade Road between Fleetwood and Todd, NC, in the Blue Ridge Mountains. It was a big day for me; to ride 20 miles on a paved road where cars drive; to ride in this strange place alone, though it wasn't really strange because I was with the trees and the river and the wildlife and my mountains. Though there are cars and trucks, they are few and drivers are biker friendly. I still felt somewhat naked along the road, exposed, vulnerable. Yet awed by the beauty.
 |
| Olivia along the New River. Railroad Grade Road. Fleetwood, NC. |
At the top of my whew-that-was-close rides is my October 20th Salem Lake trip. A big, beautiful German shepherd lunged me as I was cycling by he and his walker. I figure I was going 7 to 9 miles an hour. I felt his top tooth hit my knee as he pulled away ripping my pants; he didn't break the skin. I pedaled faster to get away as I stuck my hand in the torn hole checking my knee for blood.
 |
| ~whew, that was close~ |
The dog was on a leash. Since I wasn't hurt I didn't turn back. I did warn three approaching cyclists; two of those were elderly. If I see that dog out there again, I'll have to dismount and talk to the walker. Hopefully, the owner has sense enough to not allow that dog where there are bikes.
The Salem Lake trail is a 7-mile, dirt, loop, road around Salem Lake. The dirt road is about the width to fit one and one-half cars. Only authorized motorized vehicles are allowed and are seldom seen. Walkers, cyclists, dogs on leashes, horses are all allowed. I've ridden the loop at least 35 times since the spring.
***
Dump Seven
On October 1st, I finally put flowers on my parent's gravesite. Dad died in 1996 and Mom in 2009. I selected the flowers and greenery and fruit, and arranged them myself. I like how the arrangement turned out. I think Mom and Dad would too.
Before visiting Mom and Dad's gravesite, I stopped in at the Catawba County Museum of History. It was fascinating going through the exhibits looking for names I knew; the polio camp; prohibition; pottery and arts; and all sorts of stuff. I bought a book for my daughter from the bookstore; she requested a copy over a year ago. A photo of most of Mom's family takes up a whole page in that book. The boys are missing; I think because they were serving in the war.
After I visited Mom and Dad, I met up with an ex-Way friend whom I hadn't seen since the early 1980s; she left The Way in the latter '80s. We "got in the Word" together in 1977. About five years later, she moved to the west coast and just moved back east this past year. Her 5-or-6-year-old granddaughter joined us for supper. We ate at Mellow Mushroom where a balloon lady just happened to be spreading smiles; she made a lady bug for Friend's granddaughter. Friend's daughter, whom I hadn't seen since she was a toddler, stopped by after supper to pick up her daughter who proudly showed Mom her lady bug.
That was quite a day.
Stepping back in time.
Surreal.
On the way home Pandora chose Forever Young to play through my Explorer speakers.
Bob Dylan was singing.
Pandora is god. *biggrin*
***
Forever Young
Bob Dylan
May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.
May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.
May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
And may your song always be sung
May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.
September 29, 2015
Try again? "Hello out there..."
This past Sunday, I rolled down my window and gave a shout out.
(Meaning, I published a blog post on toss & ripple.)
I wanted the whole world to hear, so I allowed GPS satellites to find me.
(Meaning, I enabled search engines on toss & ripple.)
And then, within fiveish minutes, I rolled up that window real quick-like and locked the door.
(Meaning, the post went into draft and I disabled search engines.)
On Monday, I asked myself, "What was that all about? Why did you de-post?"
"I'm not yet ready to come out and play," was the answer.
"Well, just because you post a blog piece does not obligate you to 'come out and play.'"
Ha! ;)
Below is a longer rendition of what I posted Sunday.
***
September 27, 2015
It's been over four months since I've published a blog piece.
I have thought about blogging.
I have thought about a lot of things.
"So Carol, what word could describe your Summer, 2015?"
Answer: "Dynamic."
Yes; dynamic and, actually, quite incredible.
Maybe...just maybe...this has been the best summer I've lived since the onset of nerve damage in Spring, 2011.
Between July 5 and September 9, 2015, I bicycled around 420 miles. That's approximate because I didn't have the app yet on my phone to measure my mileage. (I had previously estimated 460, but after measuring with the app now on my phone, I think it was closer to 420.)
Four hundred miles in a 2-1/4-month time frame is not much for a cyclist.
Then he said, "Your improving..."
Then he enthusiastically followed that with, "Just keep doing what your doing!"
And I will!
(Meaning, I published a blog post on toss & ripple.)
I wanted the whole world to hear, so I allowed GPS satellites to find me.
(Meaning, I enabled search engines on toss & ripple.)
And then, within fiveish minutes, I rolled up that window real quick-like and locked the door.
(Meaning, the post went into draft and I disabled search engines.)
On Monday, I asked myself, "What was that all about? Why did you de-post?"
"I'm not yet ready to come out and play," was the answer.
"Well, just because you post a blog piece does not obligate you to 'come out and play.'"
Ha! ;)
Below is a longer rendition of what I posted Sunday.
***
September 27, 2015
It's been over four months since I've published a blog piece.
I have thought about blogging.
I have thought about a lot of things.
"So Carol, what word could describe your Summer, 2015?"
Answer: "Dynamic."
Yes; dynamic and, actually, quite incredible.
Maybe...just maybe...this has been the best summer I've lived since the onset of nerve damage in Spring, 2011.
Between July 5 and September 9, 2015, I bicycled around 420 miles. That's approximate because I didn't have the app yet on my phone to measure my mileage. (I had previously estimated 460, but after measuring with the app now on my phone, I think it was closer to 420.)
Four hundred miles in a 2-1/4-month time frame is not much for a cyclist.
But, it's quite a feat for an amateur cyclist with nerve damage in all her limbs.
So how'd I end up being able to ride that far?
On June 10, I began taking the Stanley Brothers Charlotte's Web hemp oil (CWHO). That subject deserves its own blog post...someday, maybe. Suffice it to say, the CWHO has been like a linchpin that has catalyzed, what feels like, my body under reconstruction.
Since five days after started the oil, the incredible overwhelming heaviness in my limbs began to lighten a bit. (And it has continued in that direction. And now... that dark, deep hole is ... GONE!!! That heaviness has been my worst symptom; it's panic inducing and indescribably horrible. And every 12-week cycle, I knew the heaviness would befall me around week 10; the dread would be overwhelming. I still have some heaviness, but not the earth-sucking nightmare.)
Then on June 29, I received my routine, regularly scheduled, 12-week lumbar steroid epidural and cervical-neck steroid shots.
My body's response to the 6/29-injections was like never before...
By July 5 I was riding my bike approximately 12 miles a day. I kept that up for 20 days in a row! I began to feel my leg muscles working; they were getting juice. I cannot describe the elation. The closest I can come is that it was like my limbs were having orgasms. And maybe they were!
After those 20 days, due to the injection-effects beginning to diminish (which is normal), I had to cut back to around 6 miles a day. During the second week of September, I had to stop cycling.
And, there's the recent blood work results...
So how'd I end up being able to ride that far?
On June 10, I began taking the Stanley Brothers Charlotte's Web hemp oil (CWHO). That subject deserves its own blog post...someday, maybe. Suffice it to say, the CWHO has been like a linchpin that has catalyzed, what feels like, my body under reconstruction.
Since five days after started the oil, the incredible overwhelming heaviness in my limbs began to lighten a bit. (And it has continued in that direction. And now... that dark, deep hole is ... GONE!!! That heaviness has been my worst symptom; it's panic inducing and indescribably horrible. And every 12-week cycle, I knew the heaviness would befall me around week 10; the dread would be overwhelming. I still have some heaviness, but not the earth-sucking nightmare.)
Then on June 29, I received my routine, regularly scheduled, 12-week lumbar steroid epidural and cervical-neck steroid shots.
My body's response to the 6/29-injections was like never before...
By July 5 I was riding my bike approximately 12 miles a day. I kept that up for 20 days in a row! I began to feel my leg muscles working; they were getting juice. I cannot describe the elation. The closest I can come is that it was like my limbs were having orgasms. And maybe they were!
After those 20 days, due to the injection-effects beginning to diminish (which is normal), I had to cut back to around 6 miles a day. During the second week of September, I had to stop cycling.
And, there's the recent blood work results...
In latter July, my blood work showed an abnormality; my vitamin B6 levels are toxic, which can cause nerve damage. So I have reduced my intake of seeds and nuts and fish, as much as reasonably possible. And I quit drinking a food supplement which was providing 5 mg/day of added pyridoxine (supplemental B6). I'd been drinking that supplement for over a decade.
And, there's my yearly test results...
And, there's my yearly test results...
In August, I received my yearly electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction study (NCS) tests.
As my neurologist read the computer monitor while needling me during the tests as my arms and legs jerked around in response, he slowly said, "Well, you've not progressed."
Then he paused. Then he said, "Your improving..."
Then he enthusiastically followed that with, "Just keep doing what your doing!"
And I will!
In 2013, I began receiving EMG & NCS tests, but my at-the-time-previously-undiagnosed-nerve-damage had begun in 2011.
In 2014, my EMG and NCS results showed that my condition was worsening, which was obvious by my worsening symptoms.
In August, 2015, my EMG and NCS results show I am not yet back to where I was in 2013, which still wasn't good. But I'm headed in that direction and maybe on my way out of the woods-of-horror. (Woods-of-horror is not an exaggeration.)
And, then came my next round of injections...
On September 21, around 4:30 PM, I received my routine, regularly scheduled, 12-week lumbar steroid epidural and cervical-neck steroid shots.
On September 22 around lunchtime, I began vomiting. By 5:30 I was at the emergency room. We finally got the vomit-fest under control. I got home after midnight and vomited a couple more times, the last being at 4:00 AM. Then I slept until noon on September 23 and woke up like the vomit-fest never happened, except that I'd lost 6 pounds. I'm hoping the vomit-fest means that I really am getting well and the medicine in the injections is now too strong. I see the neurologist again next week.
(I typically lose 2 to 4 pounds when I get my injections. Of those, I gain back most or all as the next round of injections approaches. That said, I've lost over 25 pounds this past year due to muscle loss and due to appetite suppression. Appetite suppression is another symptom of B6 toxicity. It is also a side effect of one of my medications, generic Plaquenil, which I began taking early January, 2015.)
And in the midst of all that, there is the physical and occupational therapy story and my improved strength test results. That too deserves its own blog post...someday, maybe.
I want to believe this is really real, and I hope it is.
In 2014, my EMG and NCS results showed that my condition was worsening, which was obvious by my worsening symptoms.
In August, 2015, my EMG and NCS results show I am not yet back to where I was in 2013, which still wasn't good. But I'm headed in that direction and maybe on my way out of the woods-of-horror. (Woods-of-horror is not an exaggeration.)
And, then came my next round of injections...
On September 21, around 4:30 PM, I received my routine, regularly scheduled, 12-week lumbar steroid epidural and cervical-neck steroid shots.
On September 22 around lunchtime, I began vomiting. By 5:30 I was at the emergency room. We finally got the vomit-fest under control. I got home after midnight and vomited a couple more times, the last being at 4:00 AM. Then I slept until noon on September 23 and woke up like the vomit-fest never happened, except that I'd lost 6 pounds. I'm hoping the vomit-fest means that I really am getting well and the medicine in the injections is now too strong. I see the neurologist again next week.
(I typically lose 2 to 4 pounds when I get my injections. Of those, I gain back most or all as the next round of injections approaches. That said, I've lost over 25 pounds this past year due to muscle loss and due to appetite suppression. Appetite suppression is another symptom of B6 toxicity. It is also a side effect of one of my medications, generic Plaquenil, which I began taking early January, 2015.)
And in the midst of all that, there is the physical and occupational therapy story and my improved strength test results. That too deserves its own blog post...someday, maybe.
I want to believe this is really real, and I hope it is.
I hope it is.
I hope it is.
I'm ready to get back to biking, but we are in the midst of a week-long stretch of rain.
I haven't set a mileage cycling goal for this 12 weeks, but I'm thinking maybe 800 miles? Maybe? (I later changed that from 800 to 600.)
Until then...
"I will dance in the rain and let my dreams know I haven't forgotten them..."
Hello out there!
xoxo
***
One more thing. My son hitchhiked and backpacked Iceland for 52 days this summer. Oh my the stories!
I'm ready to get back to biking, but we are in the midst of a week-long stretch of rain.
I haven't set a mileage cycling goal for this 12 weeks, but I'm thinking maybe 800 miles? Maybe? (I later changed that from 800 to 600.)
Until then...
"I will dance in the rain and let my dreams know I haven't forgotten them..."
Hello out there!
xoxo
***
One more thing. My son hitchhiked and backpacked Iceland for 52 days this summer. Oh my the stories!
 |
| Dudes in Iceland. Son is 2nd from left. |
 |
| Trekking pole selfie-stick. Son is far left, front. |
 |
| A glacier in the Highlands. Son is far right. |