May 20 to June 2, 2013
Monday May 20tH:
No therapy…it’s a holiday…must do my own thing. Went for a coffee with
John, Grandpa and the Sarge on John’s deck. Nice to sit outside and suck back a
cup of java. Then it was off to the gym for a workout with Grandpa.
The story of the week is bowels…they ain’t workin’ all that
well.. I have been experiencing some episodes of diarrhea that can’t be explained.
I usually have a BM every night around 8 o’clock. This week for some reason I
didn’t go at night but went twice, Monday and Thursday in the morning. And each of those were accompanied by an
episode of diarrhea. I know diarrhea is probably too much information, but it
does impact on what I can do. The ol’ Depends go on if there is any chance of an
accident. On Monday at the gym I did
have an accident but thanks to the diaper, no-one knew, or if they did, they didn’t say anything,
The gym workouts are going well. The legs are getting
stronger and the workout takes about 1
3/4 to 2 hours. Need to shorten it a bit. I have been doing a pyramid on the
leg press which takes quite a while. All the other arm and leg exercises, I
have been doing 5 sets with low weights and 10 reps. Think I‘ll increase the
weight and do fewer reps and see how that works. Although heavier weigh causes
more muscle tone,
Darcy’s trike finally’ arrived on Thursday May 23. The Hawk
and Clarkie, a couple of old rugby teammates came for a visit on Thursday as
well. They timed it just right as they helped unload Darcy’s trike and did some
minor adjustments to the trike so Darcy would fit on fit.
Oh yes, on Friday, May
24. I walked into the gym with Yonna and Grandpa helping. Walked between stations and walked out to the
car after the workout. Didn’t know how well that would work as the legs were a
little tired. The left hamstring gets tired and then I can’t bend my knee to lift
my left foot. This complicated by the fact that I can’t lift up my toes and
that’s when I trip on them. At Parkwood they tie my toes up and that helps keep
it out of the way.
On Saturday, May 25, I hadn’t been on the trike since the
shorter cranks were installed. Think deep down, I was leery of trying in case
they didn’t work. Got on the trike but my left leg is not strong enough the
click my cleat into the pedal and Darcy isn’t strong enough to turn my foot and
click it in. Rode over to Karen’s and she was able to get my foot in. She was
excited to see Darcy and I on the trikes. She got her bike and we did a tour of
the subdivision and then rode down to Grandpa Bob’s. Just so happened that
Grandpa and Shirley were about to have an afternoon cocktail, and after much
arm twisting, we joined them. The beer was excellent but unfortunately it makes
me pee and I didn’t bring a urinal. Shirley provided me with a plastic
container and all was well. By the end of the day we did about 10k. Felt real
good, although Darcy did beat me up all the hills. Must learn to get into a
lower gear before the hill starts. The left leg isn’t strong enough to turn the
pedals up even the slightest rise if I don’t get into a very low gear. Karen
had to push me up one hill….grrr. The trikes handles quite well and really gets
going on the down hills. Just must learn to handle the muscle tone. My neck and
shoulders were very tight as the seat is a laid back position. I have to hold
my head up. Ordered a head rest that attaches to the seat…that should help.
The knee can bend far enough to turn the pedals but it hurts
a bit on full flexion. It was a bit sore by the end of the ride. There is tonal
overflow big time. When I got up on a Sunday it was hard to stand up straight and the legs didn’t want to move and stayed
very stiff all day. Exercise is supposed to help muscle tone dissipate.
Darcy really likes her trike as well. Sold the ‘Wizz’, my
titanium road bike…sob, sob…pays for the trike though.
Friday May 24th:
The physio must of thought I was nuts. There was some confusion about the
schedule as Tues, Thurs, Fri. was changing to Mon., Tues. Thurs. We weren’t
sure if it was on or off for Friday and no driver was scheduled and Darcy had a
Dr.’s appointment. Found out on Thursday, there was therapy but I had no
driver. I had emailed a friend, Paul on Thursday to see if he could drive. I
just forgot to have him call instead of emailing back as I wasn’t on the
computer to get his response. I assumed he wasn’t coming. Called Parkwood on
Friday at 8:30 and told them I wasn’t coming. A few minutes later, Paul was at
the door ready to go. Called Parkwood and left a message that I would be there
for 10 o’clock. While getting into the chair to go, I had a diarrheal episode….grrrr!
Note: Depends do work. Called Parkwood again and left a message that I wasn’t
coming…lol! Off-On-Off again in a space of 5 minutes.
Monday May 27th:
Went to the Doc to get some prescriptions filled. He had no solution for the
bowel problems. Still have lots of tone. Very hard to move and to do sit to stands. Went to the gym
with Grandpa and had a good workout. Lifting tightens me up even more. Going to
have to make some decisions about working out. Was able to get through the
workout but all my muscles were like a rock after and it doesn’t go away.
Tuesday May 28th:
Must find out what is causing this bowel problem. Missed therapy today
because of it, but there is a story there. Thought I’d take a day off and rest
to see if that would reduce the tone…it didn’t. Bowel issues continue. Lots of
gas and some intestinal pain as it moves around. Had to go to the can early
before the PSW arrived so Darcy did the work of getting me there. Although, undressing
me is easier for Darcy as I can stand to
get the pants off rather than rolling around in bed and requires a lot of
pulling. Again probably too much info but I needed a shower to clean me up
after this episode…
Wednesday May 29th:
Had to cancel my gym workout with Grandpa as I was just too tight. After an
internet search it seems that pain associated with bowel problems does cause
muscle tone so it may not be the exercise by itself. Time to experiment.
Hopefully it is the bowel issue on top of the exercise causing the increased
tone. I can live with the tone if it isn’t too strong. I did some net surfing
about stretching and muscle tone in people with spinal cord injuries. Guess
what? Muscle tone is a shortening of the muscle fibers and stretching is a
lengthening of the fibers….dah!!!!!!!!!!!
If I can manage it, stretching needs to happen before AND after any
biking, walking or weight lifting. Hmmmm… time to do my favorite exercise. Two
things I am not good at doing are, drinking and stretching…guess that’s gotta
change. Another thought, what if the increased exercise is causing diarrhea? Something else to look at. Here’s
something else that is too much information. Muscle tone not only affects my
legs, arms, back and tummy, it also affects my lower intestines and tightens it
all up and makes it difficult to do any bowel functions.
Interesting night. Got ready for bed as usual but then I got
very hot and the legs were all burny/tingly and I needed to get outside. Darcy
put my shoes on and got the chair ready. I was very uncomfortable and outside
seemed to calm me down. When I did get back inside the agitation started again.
Don’t know if it was a real panic attack or just because it was hot and muggy.
Then it happened again and outside again doing laps of the driveway…settled
down and I got to sleep by about 12:30.
The bowel issues seemed to have cleared up. Don’t know if it
was caused by a bug or heaven forbid…too much exercise. Don’t want it happening
again…as the Doc doesn’t have an answer, we will just muddle our way through
it.
Thursday May 30th:
Went to PT for the first time in a week. Stephanie started by loosening me up
and then we did a bunch of sit to stands that went ok. Given what went on the
past week, I was a little leery about the walking. Didn’t need to be. Tied my
toe up and put on the thin walking shoes and
ready to go. The first lap was the best walk that I have done to date. I
was able to keep my bum in for most of the walk and I could actually stand on
my left leg. Must think about it but I can actually bend my left knee and the
hamstring is strong enough to lift the foot off the ground for about ¾ of the
lap then I start tripping on my toe. Doesn’t happen with every step and I must
think every move to make it work. Don’t get me wrong, if the physios weren’t
there I’d fall on my butt on occasion.
The physios hold my hands and move them away from my body
when they walk me. That is to take my
hands out of the equation and let my brain focus entirely on my legs and
walking. Even though my hands are away from my body, walking still causes tone
in my arms and at the end of the lap, Stephanie pries my left hand open to
extract her hand. If I don’t trim my nails she would have wounds on her hand. She
says her hand goes numb half way around. I squeeze the right hand as well, but
it does squeeze unless I consciously think about opening it, which they cue me
to do if it squeezes too tight. There is muscle tone in my back and ribs that
won’t go away and walking seems to tighten me up just like biking even with
stretching….and that is a very big, bolded, caps….GRRRRRRRRR! Dah…perhaps
a stretch after would help. Remember after the treadmill Barry and Janelle
would aggressively stretch my legs and trunk…why didn’t the penny drop
then??????
By 5 o’clock it felt like I had a knife stuck in my back.
Put Dr. Ho muscle stimulator on my back and that seemed to help a bit. Don’t
know if it was the walking or sitting at the computer for 3 hours. Once I got
into bed it began to ease off. I think Dr. Ho helped relax it. It should have helped
as I had it on for about an hour.
Friday May 31st:
When I wake up every morning I’m very stiff as I don’t move at all during the
night. Just stay on my back and don’t move for 10 hours. Need to start a
stretching in the morning. The back was a lot better but still tight.
Went to the gym with Grandpa a 9 o’clock. Starting to be able to get on and off the
machines a lot easier. Tried to concentrate on keeping the upper body and the arms
relaxed when doing leg presses. Must concentrate on both, lifting and staying
relaxed. Seem to be getting the hang of it. I think the weightlifting is paying
off. The left hamstring is still very weak but I can notice some changes for
the better. Can bend it enough to get the foot out of the car with the seat
only ½ way back and it can lift my foot for about ¾ of a lap when walking.
Still can’t curl 5 pound with my right arm… grrr. Only did
weights twice this week. It’s better when Yonna comes, she won’t let me cheat
on any lifts and it saves interrupting Grandpa’s workout. I know he doesn’t
mind but I don’t like bothering him.
Had a coffee with the Sarge and Steve after their golf
game…they are so full of it. Had a score card with them shooting under par for
the course…yah right…in their dreams!
Did ½ hour on the trainer, that’s 9 k. Haven’t been on the
trike, as I sit in quite a laid back position my neck and shoulders get tired
from holding my head up. I have ordered a headrest that should be here next
week. Holding my head up causes a lot of muscle tone everywhere. Darcy can get
me on the trike but she can’t get me off of it, need one other person to give me
a boost up. Just can’t get off the 14 inch high seat by myself.
Saturday June 1st:
Where did May go? Woke up tight. Didn’t stretch as I had to get to Karate class.
A good class and ol’ Frank is hanging in there. Since was very tight. Decided
to take the day off. Sat at the computer for the afternoon and my back was very
sore as lean forward to type. Darcy got me this power chair like a ‘lazyboy’
that moves up and down and will even stand me up. I think it will be more
useful when I’m walking. I have trouble sitting in it because I can’t get my
bum back far enough to sit properly in the chair.
Sunday May 2nd:
Karate at 9:30 and coffee with the guys and in the afternoon. Muscle tone is getting
to be a bother. When I’m in the house and I am tight I sometimes need to go
outside to distract myself from the tone. It’s not really a panic attack but
just, how should I say, it’s almost similar to one. Need a change of scenery to take my mind off the tone.
How am I Feeling?
I was thinking the other day about how handicapped I am
and how dependent I am on other people. I am a lot better and Darcy’s job is
never done. Just to get me ready for bed, she puts the splint on my left hand,
puts heel cozies on to prevent getting blisters, moves the night table into
position, makes sure the urinals are handy, gets a bottle of water, pulls up
the covers, gets the CPAP mask ready, tops up the CPAP machine with water, gets
my night time pills, puts the TV remote on my lap. To use the urinal at night,
I need light. The remote is to turn it on so I can see.The workers dress me,
and shower me and do my bowel care.
A little concerned about the ‘anxiety’ attacks on
Wednesday and Sunday. Don’t know if I need to see the shrink about them or not.
It could be dysreflexia. It happens when I am in pain and I get some of the of
the symptoms, sweats, a bit of a headache and a type of panic attack. A major
symptom of disreflexia is high blood pressure. We checked my BP and it was normal.
Don’t know if high BP is a mandatory symptom or not.
Thanks for listening…
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