Is there something special you did to treat yourself or make yourself feel better? We'd love to hear about it.
Well my wife and I decided to purchase a new car, well new to us. It's a silver Suzuki SX4 2009 with heated seats air conditioning automatic door locks, tinted windows, etc. and a 5 year warranty. We wanted something built high enough that we could both get into with ease and that was it. Gary
My hubby and I are heading to Charlotte in a couple of hours just for some time together this weekend! :)
After numerous trips for IVIG a treatments in the past several months, I decided to give physical therapy a shot again. It has strengthened my arms and legs and made me have something to look forward to each wee. I’m not sure if its the PT or just a change in attitude, but I am feeling stronger and more positive. I’m walking more and getting more involved in life in general. Feels good!
I am 56 and have played guitar for 45 years. When CIDP reared it's ugly head, the very first symptom was loss of strength in the left forefinger and inability to bend the left thumb. As a result, all of a sudden, I could no longer play. That was in late March,2012.
In the intervening months, I lost 50 lb and most of my muscles. I am now coming back, but the first to go seems to be the last coming back. To get around not being able to play conventionally, I relearned the guitar playing slide, or bottleneck. It's coming along well enough that I have been able to play in church the last two Sundays.
Life is good!
I’ve had the same problem, except I have a contracture in my left hand. I’ve had physio for my hand but I still can’t get my pinky to work properly, so my guitar playing is very limited. But I’ll keep trying and I’ll never give up.
I broke down and baked some cookies today. My dad rather likes all his recipes, and soon as he tries something new, its the best he's ever had and will go over it time and time again so you will remember how to make them the way he did. While I'll grant you, he can hold his own in the kitchen, and him being in the kitchen is good for him... gets him up out of his chair and doing something... hmmmm... I need to get myself up out of my chair and do something too. Everything these past few months has been around the tests that have been done and jumping through hoops trying to hang on to my house with out my job. I was officially terminated this last week because I was not medically able to come back from FMLA leave and I was not entitled to any more leave. Applying for Soc. Sec. Dis. and through DHS Disability benefits as well... piles and piles of paper work to fill out, now losing my insurance just as things start to get busy... Lots on my mind and I've admittedly been stuck in my chair feeling sorry for myself.
Today... Dad calls and is all excited about his batch of cookies and they are the best he's ever had etc etc. So I say "to hell with it!" I got up and made some Oatmeal cookies my way. While his are okay, and we eat them and call them good... I do like mine better. Today, I made my own... I don't use quick oats, I use the big ones... and I don't like mine gooey either. I like them a bit crunchy on the outside and a bit chewy on the inside... with some crackle on the top. And I put dried cranberries in them too. And they turned out awesome! Made me smile... I still got it! Packaged some up to take over to him tomorrow... so he can " test em. "
I guess I've been in my pit for so long, I needed to show myself that I was not all done yet. And I did. Then I called my daughter and tantalized her with them. It was fun. Most I've smiled in months today. Don't know what flipped my trigger to get off my duppa and get out in the kitchen, but what ever it was, was like a vitamin to me. Just had to force myself to get up and do it. I did several chores around the house today that have needed to be done, all in my good time. I needed breaks in between to rest my back. But I got back up and kept going back til it was done. It feels good to be able to accomplish something, and I think that alone is therapeutic... Pushing passed the questionable abilities to find the true ability to keep going. Just had to share it with someone.... think I'll also put this on my own page posts. ~ Blessed Be Sis
I have absolutely forced myself to drive for short distances when I feel it is safe to do so (about 3-4 miles round-trip). Big event for me. More importantly, I am going to an indoor walking pool, and walking while holding on to the ledge with one hand. Also, I am doing arm exercises in the water, using it as resistance. I feel like this is curbing the downward spiral in physical function. I could do something "special" for myself, but maintaining/mildly improving my functional capacity is the most important thing I can do for myself.
Mayberry said:
I have absolutely forced myself to drive for short distances when I feel it is safe to do so (about 3-4 miles round-trip). Big event for me. More importantly, I am going to an indoor walking pool, and walking while holding on to the ledge with one hand. Also, I am doing arm exercises in the water, using it as resistance. I feel like this is curbing the downward spiral in physical function. I could do something "special" for myself, but maintaining/mildly improving my functional capacity is the most important thing I can do for myself.
I take my truck and drive over to a really unique pond and lake that has waterfalls and beautiful plants growing in the shallower water. They have beautiful sculptures that are out In the lake. The pond and lake are full of wild ducks and geese. They have a neat bridge that you can walk to the other side, or if you would rather take the walking paths around, they are fun too. I take a bag full of cherrios with me and as I am walking I feed them in the water. There are benches and beautiful trees all around, so I can sit there when I get really tired and they all come up to my feet and eat. It is fun watching the people and birds flying around. This is so relaxing for me when I hurt so bad.
Mayberry said:
I have absolutely forced myself to drive for short distances when I feel it is safe to do so (about 3-4 miles round-trip). Big event for me. More importantly, I am going to an indoor walking pool, and walking while holding on to the ledge with one hand. Also, I am doing arm exercises in the water, using it as resistance. I feel like this is curbing the downward spiral in physical function. I could do something "special" for myself, but maintaining/mildly improving my functional capacity is the most important thing I can do for myself.