Feb 17 to Mar 2, 2014

Mon Feb 17^th:  Remember that good resident I saw last Friday, well he had a cold and now I got it. Started as a scratchy throat last night. Had a bit of an anxiety attack last night at about 11 o’clock, for 2 reasons. One, I knew I was getting a cold and Two I had a pain in my tummy that was causing all sorts of muscle tone. Got up and worked on the computer, turns out the tummy pain was gas and several good flatulencies solved the problem. Now today my throat is sore and my nose is plugged up. I will have some problems if it goes into my chest. My chest muscles are so tight I will have trouble coughing stuff up. I did go to the gym with Keith and did a light workout. Was cold when I got home and I’m now writing this with a warm electric throw over my legs.

Well the light workout did me in. I started tightening up. First my legs and then my back went rock hard. Don’t know if it is all from the workout, or as the cold settles in, it could be causing some problems perhaps the same as a urinary tract infection does. I had a meltdown at about 7 o’clock and went tearing around the house in my wheelchair. Had to take a ‘relax’ pill and I finally was able to settle down. It’s just a horrible feeling when all the muscles are tight and there is nothing we can do to relax them. In addition my nose was plugged all day and I had to breathe through my mouth. Along with the dry mouth from my drugs it means I must sip water all day. Had to take a couple extra Hydromorphone pain pills to help me ‘relax’.

Given all my muscle tone caused by working out I think I will stop going to the gym for a while at least until this tone dissipates.....grrrrr

Tues Feb 18^th: My nose had cleared up overnight and I was able to sleep reasonably well from 9 to 1 and then I was awake for the rest of the night, good thing the Olympics are on. My nose did open up and stayed that way until I started moving around in the morning. Perhaps the stuffy nose is not cold related but my ‘normal’ stuffy nose from my tone. As I sit here at 9 AM I can feel my body tightening up.

I’ll skip therapy today because of the impeding cold, my throat is sore and my voice is ‘husky’. I have an appointment with the Dr. Potter today which I will cancel. Double...grrrrr! We have a sign on the door to tell people with colds they can’t come in. We let the night PSW know that I  had a cold and I would wear a mask if she wanted me to. She said it wasn’t necessary as I wasn’t coughing or sneezing. 

A rest day just did some stretching and weights and walking before bed. The pain pills were good yesterday but they cause constipation, there was no BM. Which means.... 

Wed Feb 9^th: ...diarrhea in the morning. I was able to hold off until 6 AM. Darcy got to sleep in a bit. The PSW arrived early and she took over the duties from Darcy. Offered to have me wear a mask and she said it wasn’t necessary. Another quite day, got into bed to stretch and do the weights on my arm at 9:30 and fell asleep for 1½ hours.  Not surprising as I was nodding off at the computer. Darcy had a lot of running around so I was on my own for the afternoon. 

We are trying to get my chair set up right. The back needs to be moved forward. We tried folding a sheet and putting it on the back. Every time I moved it would fall on the floor. Darcy got some foam and cut a piece to fit under the cover on the back. It is too thick and kills my back. Can’t get a piece of the foam removed until Darcy gets home. I’d like to get out of the chair but I had a pee and I can’t do my tear away pants up, if I stand to get into bed my pants will off...lol. I’m stuck in the chair. The ol’ back is on fire. Don’t want to take pain pills ‘cause I want to poop tonight. Darcy got home a little after 5 and it was out of my chair and into bed with some hydromorphone and stretching the back eased off a bit. The tone in my legs doesn’t seem to want to go away and I’m chalking that up to the cold although it was there before the cold but not as intense. 

I was supposed to go to see the Habs Old Boys play the Oxford All Stars on Saturday night with my friend Scott. Guy Lafleur is the coach. Don’t think I should go with this cold. Still got 3 days...we’ll see. Just don’t want to spread this cold around. 

Watched some of Canada vs Latvia, sure hope Canada is sandbagging, waiting for the Gold medal round. A hot goal tender doesn’t help either, after the 2^nd period, shots were 31/12 for Canada. The lesser teams play the same, collapse all their players in front of the net and there is no room to get the puck through. The corruption saga continues with the dance competition. The Russian and American judges are in cahoots and the Americans and Canadians have the same Russian coach...go figure! L’equippe Magazine knew 2 weeks ago that the fix was in, Russian to win the team skate competition and the Americans would win the dance competition and it happened. 

My nose is stuffed up all day but for some reason it clears up at night which allows me to sleep. Have no idea what’s going on. I just keep thinking that all those little bugs are multiplying in my lungs. Oh yeah had a wonderful big BM...LMAO!

Thurs Feb 20^th: Woke up at about 5 with a clear nose. Started moving around with PSW to get me into the shower and the nose plugs up. Beginning to wonder if this is a cold or I have something else going on. We know that exercise brings on a stuffy nose, it’s like tone in my nose and my ears get a numb feeling and across the end of my nose feels numb. I don’t have a fever and I am no blowing my nose at all. I’m not coughing. The only symptom of a cold I had was a sore throat and that could have been from it drying out. The only thing we have changed is my cushion positions on the chair which causes me back pain. Hmmmm...let’s see...exercise and pain cause tone. Changing the chair causes pain and may cause a stuffy nose.  Solution, test the theory by changing the chair back the way it was and see what happens...the science model....test the theory and evaluate.

Fri Feb 21^st: Same thing again, nose clears pp at about 1 AM and plugs up again once I start to move. Since this muscle tone is everywhere, it would be reasonable to assume there is something going on in my lower abdomen. I have been told that tone is cause by visceral problems... I get pain in my lower abdomen that could be intestines, bladder or prostate. I have an appointment with a Dr this afternoon. My Dr is away and I’ll be seeing a Dr. that doesn’t know me and will have no idea what to do with me. 

My experiment has shown so far that resting does not alleviate my tone or my stuffy nose. I did one walk on Thursday afternoon that tightened up my legs. Since my nose was already plugged up it had no aft on it. Today I did stretching and right arm exercises stayed in bed to watch the hockey game...rah Canada! Did a few stands at 3:45...we’ll see.

Explained to him about my condition and that an infection can cause tone and that I have a pain in my lower abdomen. He thought maybe I have an infected prostate and prescribed an antibiotic. Note my nose was still plugged up and he seemed to understand the tonal overflow.

Went to the pharmacy to fill the prescription and as the antibiotic he prescribed interacts badly with tizanidine an antispasmodic that I take. They tried to call his office but he had already left for the hospital. No antibiotic ‘til Monday. Nose cleared up as usual at about 1 AM.

Sat Feb 22^nd: Woke up with a clear nose and it didn’t plug up when I started moving around. Went to karate class and no stuffy nose. After class we went to Woodstock with some friends to look at bikes at Pedal Power. No stuffy nose. Went out for lunch and got home at 3ish and had my drugs. Was working on my computer, my tummy started to hurt and my nose plugged up. 

Started thinking about what happened last night. I know this is probably too much info but I had a big BM  and my stomach pain went away. It’s not the prostate, it’s my large intestine giving me the problem. Hopefully tonight the BM will alleviate the stuffy nose again. It happens every day at about 5 to 6 pm some stuff moves past a certain spot in my large colon and I get the stuffy nose response. If it stays there, I have a stuffy nose for a longer period...Dr. Steen’s diagnosis. It worked after the BM no stuffy nose. 

Sun Feb 23^rd: Woke up very stiff with legs tight and upper body tight. Got back into bed to watch the hockey game and kept dozing off and I missed all of the goals. Good game from what I saw of it. Now what am I gonna do now that the Olympics are over?

Didn’t do much all day. Went out for coffee with the guys for a 2 hour chat at McCafe. No bike riding all week which is disappointing as Byron and I had agreed to ride at least 20 k per week in our trek across Canada. Did one walk during the day but my legs are so toned up it is hard to lift them, particularly the left one. Did the usual walk at night before bed.

Mon Feb 24^th: Pretty much the same as Sunday, still toned and the legs are very tight. No gym and no biking as I trying to eliminate everything that causes tone. Did the stretching routine in bed and then off to the pool.  A good workout in the pool but it didn’t alleviate the muscle tone anywhere.

0Spent the afternoon trying to paint clouds, can’t seem to make them look fluffy. They just look like blobs of paint. Very hard getting used to painting with acrylic as they dry very fast and there is no blending of colours. Even when you mist the painting with water they dry out quickly. Very frustrating....grrrrr! 

The Dr. called and wondered if I could get off tizanidine...but I can’t. I am now on penicillin 3 times a day for a week. We’ll see if that does anything for the tone.

Tues Feb 25^th: Back to physio after a week off.     Stephanie listened to my stuffed up nose story and she just shrugged. As usual, I was very tight and she spent some time loosening me up. Did sit to stands, stepping up on a 6 inch step with the right foot which puts all my weight on my left leg and standing on the sponge pad to help with my balance. I was still tight and I walked to the standing table which was about 18 m away. Stood in the table for 10 minutes. Then it was up and walking.  A couple of walks with the walking stick and a couple without it. We walk now until I can’t lift up my left toe which is usually 10 to 15 m and then I sit for 2 or 3 minutes and it’s off again.

I was toned up after the walks but my nose didn’t plug up on the way home. I didn’t get stuffy until about 5:30 and it cleared up after the BM. Again no biking but I did do the walk before bed. I don’t understand the stuffy nose. It used to be after exercise, then it’s with the intestine thing, I don’t really know what is happening. Just play it by ear and see how it goes.

Wed Feb 26^th: Again stiff when I woke up. Usually in the morning the PSW helps me sit up on the side of my bed when I go for a shower. After the shower and after they dress me I’m a bit looser and I’m able to sit up by myself with a bit of a struggle. This morning I need help both times. No gym again just to keep the tone down.

Went to the pool with Darcy, Yonna is still away. Had a good workout for a little over an hour. Walking in the pool is getting better and several people commented on how well I was getting around. As mentioned my steps in the pool are more than twice as long as they are on land. The buoyancy helps a lot and I’m not concerned about catching my toe. On land I step with right, put the pole down and step with the left and pause to make sure the toe doesn’t get caught. In the pool even if my toe gets caught I have no fear of falling. For the most part in the pool I am on my toe so it can’t get caught.

Thurs Feb 27^th: All ready to go to Parkwood. The white out started at about 9:30. Linda arrived from Simcoe and she said the white out didn’t start until the out skirts of Tillsonburg. Listened to the news and there were lots of accidents and the OPP was telling people to stay off the road. We agreed called Stephanie and had a cup of coffee with Linda. Seems it cleared up quickly but it was too late to go. Wanted to go as we were going to visit Jody my Occupational Therapist who is have a very rough go with cancer.

Went to the pool again and had another good session. Did lots of walking. It tightens me up a bit and that damn lower left back starts to hurt and I have to stop and stretch it out. An observation at the pool. There are usually 15 to 20 seniors in the pool broken to 10 to 15 ladies and 5 to 10 guys. Hate to admit it but the ladies are all doing little programs or doing lengths while most of the guys are sitting in the shallow end gabbing...how times have changed! 

After being exposed to Olympic Hockey the NHL really isn’t that exciting any more. Shot the puck in, slam the guy who touches it into the boards and try to pass it to one of your open guys. Not real exciting.

Fri Feb 28^th: Oh yes no BM last night so on the John at 6 AM. Wore Depends all day and no pool....grrrrr! No accidents all day until I got the sup in and I waited too long. Finally the Depends were useful. I really don’t know how those people at the Casinos wear depends and sit at the slot machine for 24 hours. The gambling addiction must be as bad as the smoking one.

Tried painting again and this time it worked, I painted over the last painting with white and yellow ochre and I‘ll start another painting as soon as it dries. Beats buying a new canvass.

Sat Mar 1^st: Holy shit it’s March and we still have 2 feet of snow around. When is it going to end? Made a bet with Grandpa Bob that there will still be snow around when he gets back from Florida at the end of the month. Pretty safe bet I’m thinkin’.

Saturday Karate Class and during the class, I remember I was going to attend the public speaking competition where Ashely was speaking and her topic was me. She finished 3^rd...Well done Ashely!

Read an artist’s book on how to paint a landscape forest scene, it sounds so easy. I will try the forest scene on my newly painted canvass board. I put some paint retarder init  to slow the drying down.

All the paint is in the paint box which is supposed to slow the drying process. My painting table is low and when I paint I am hunched over in my chair. Linda brought my 4 wooden blocks which should raise the table about 6 inches. We’ll see what that does.

Sun Mar 2^nd: A quiet day. Just went for coffee with the guys. Rode the bike and did a total of 12.4 K for the week. Not holding my end up very well as we were supposed to ride a minimum of 20 k per week. Did 2x10 minute sessions with a 3 minute spin in between and at the end for a total of 5.9 k.

How am I Feeling?

I start thinking that I am not going to get a lot better than I am right now and then I look at what I am doing in the pool. Walking around without any assistance and doing a good hour of exercise and from time to time walking out of the pool. Overland walking has also changed a bit. At Parkwood, I’m walking almost unassisted with Stephanie or Darcy just holding onto the belt, just in case.

Now the things I don’t understand. What has happened to the Dysreflexia? Not that I miss, but it would appear that it is associated with intestinal impaction. All the laxatives seem to have taken care of that. I don’t understand the muscle tone. Whenever I do anything I tighten up. Exercise in other people reduces muscle tone. Walking, riding the bike and lifting weights all tighten me up. Sometimes if I overdue, particularly with the weights I’ll have an anxiety attack when all my muscles tighten up. Just don’t know what is going on there and the docs don’t seem to be any help.

Thanks for listening...

Jan 27 to Feb 16, 2014

Mon Jan 27th: Went to the pool with Darcy and did lots of walking. Just wish I could transfer pool walking to overland. I should be walking more at home but I am afraid of falling with just Darcy hanging onto the belt. I know it is silly; Darcy walks me at Parkwood with no problem.

Tues Jan 28^th: Off to Toronto at 10 for a 1:30 appointment. Left early to make sure we made it with the Sarge driving. It was -19 when we left and the Sarge got very cold fingers filling up the window washer fluid.  Turned out to be a great day, the roads were clear and the traffic was reasonable. Note they have a lot less snow in Toronto than we have here.

Got into see the Dr. at about 2:30. The resident came in and did some tests to see how my arms and legs where working. He went out and discussed his findings with Dr. Fehlings, the surgeon. They came back in and we reviewed the MRI and everything was ok. The problem with my arm is not neurological...yeehaw...he thinks the weakness in my right arm is from not having physio on it. The simple solution is to start rehabbing it again. I think I should have got that in writing to take to Dr. Potter in London. Hopefully a report will go into my file for Dr. Potter. He also said that I have some old age issues happening...grrr...like arthritis that is affecting a lot of my joints.  I was then discharged and I don’t need to see him again.

Natalia, an Epidemiologist was also there and she was still trying to recruit me for a research project for a functional MRI. They trace the nerves from the spinal cord to where ever and they may identify the broken ones. This is a research project and not a clinical study so the results would not necessarily help me. I’d like to do it for the research but I’d have to overcome my claustrophobia.  We’ll see but I doubt it.

Wed Jan 29^th: Today was interesting. Got up this morning and I was having trouble peeing. I peed only small amounts and it felt like my bladder was full but I couldn’t pee and it was painful. Went to emerg and they did an ultrasound and there was 484 cc in the bladder. They put a catheter in and drained it. The Dr came in and said when they take the catheter out they wouldn’t let me go until I peed. Darcy got me a bottle of water and the nurse brought me glasses of water. I did pee in about 5 minutes and I was free to go.

Got home and started drinking and was able to pee a couple of times but the flow wasn’t that strong. Then the light bulb went off, the problem is not my bladder the problem is the enlarged prostate that is squeezing the ureter and stopping the flow. The pee that I had at the hospital was due to the fact that the catheter opened up the ureter momentarily.  Now this is Urologist, Dr. Steen doing the diagnosis so it is time to see the real urologist in Hamilton.

I rode the bike for 20 minutes, the first 10 wasn’t too bad but the 2^nd session was very difficult, the legs just wouldn’t go around.  My lower abdomen is very sore.

The rest of the story....for some reason I stopped keeping a daily log so the rest of the blog will be from memory.

Therapy: It has been going very well. Stephanie loosens me up on the matt and the time it takes depends on how tight the body is. We then do a few sit to stands to get the leg working and some stepping up on a step both in front and to the side. I put my right foot on the box that is 6 inches high and straighten up as tall as I can get. This stretches my hip and quads in my left leg. Note this is done with no assistance; Stephanie is there just in case. A two inch step is sometimes placed at the side and I step up laterally. All this done to get my hips forward and my back straight so I don’t walk bent over. It also is training my brain to trust my left leg and letting it know that the left leg can hold me up. When I walk I move very quickly to get off the left leg. My brain needs to have the confidence that my left leg can hold me up. For balance, I stand on a piece of foam that is about 2 inches thick. It is difficult to stay up when I get back on my heels but I’m getting better at balancing on it. There have been several quick sit downs.

Walking has been getting better. I am now walking without a walking pool. Seems when I have the stick in my hand I put the death grip on it and tend to lean on it a lot. Without the pole, I must lift my left foot to take a step. The left ankle not bending is causes all the problems with walking. I walk about 10 m before my leg gets tired and me and can’t lift up the toe anymore. I sit and rest for 2 or 3 minutes and do another 10 m. This repeats 3, 4, 5 or 6 times dependent on when the left leg won’t work anymore. We also do side stepping left and right. I side step for about 6 meters rest for a couple of minutes then go the other way. This does two things, teaches me to lift my left foot and to stand on my left leg.

There is a set of stairs at Parkwood and we have been using them more often as I have also been climbing out of the pool in Tillsonburg which has 6 steps. I’d climb in but you are required to enter backwards and I’m not that good at going backwards. Stephanie took Darcy and me into the pool at Parkwood to see if we had a good pool program. We have, and she showed us on additional exercise to loosen up my trunk. The pool at Parkwood is about 93 degrees and it feels real good. Oh yes, I was able to walk in and out of the pool. 

Keith, a Karate student who works afternoons, is taking me to the gym on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9:30 now that Grandpa Bob is in Florida. We work out for about an hour to an hour and a half. Work on both legs and arms. Darcy tells me not to overdo it. But last Wednesday, I was feeling very good, not a lot of tone and did add some extra weight and some extra sets on the leg press and knee extensions. Working the arms is hard as the lightest weight on the pulley machine is 7 pounds. Keith is very good at assisting and moving my arms through its full range, this particularly valuable for my left arm. I walked hanging on to Keith’s arm between stations.

 After the gym it was off to the pool with Darcy. Felt good to be in the water after the weight lifting. Got some good stretches in and walking. I can now walk quite comfortably in the pool with no assistance and away from the wall which was my security blanket. I also do some side stepping and I am able to keep more upright than on dry land, the buoyancy helps a lot most of the time. Whether on dry land or in the pool after a few minutes of walking it feels like there is a knife stuck in my lower back on the left side.  It’s the show stopper and I need a couple of minutes to stretch it out and get going again. After the pool it was home for a late lunch, some painting and a ride on the bike. I was starting to get toned up. Legs and back were very tight. Bowel care time rolled around at 7:15 and my butt was so toned up Darcy had trouble getting the suppository in. Then onto the commode but there was no BM, everything was too tight. Woke Darcy up at 4 to get me over the toilet, (she was not a happy camper and threatened to cancel my gym membership) and it was the usual diarrhea. On with the Depends and off to therapy.

I was so tight, I could hardly move. Had difficulty getting in and out of the car. Darcy explained to Stephanie what I had done the day before and I was chastised by Stephanie because it was interfering with my therapy. However, after a few stretches, some sit to stands and step work, we walked to the standing table and even though I was very tight it was one of my better walks. Didn’t have the belt on and walked without the walking pole with Stephanie’s hand on my arm. 10 minutes in the standing table and 2 more walks. We spent some time adjusting my cushion in my chair. Seems every time I sit in the chair for any length of time in my back gets very sore.  I had been moving the cushion back and that seemed to help a bit. According to her that was makes my hips slouch and if I put the cushion all the way out my hips are in a much better position and I sit up much straighter.

Stephanie corrected my standing technique. To stand, I have always moved my body forward and curled my back in a ‘C’ shape, rock forward and used the momentum to get up. Sometimes it would take 2 or 3 tries to stand. She had me tilt up my hips forward which arches my back and I use more of my quads to stand. It is the same technique that all of you use to stand. I have to think about doing it. It turns on my core as well and makes standing so much easier.

Another thing that happened when I had the Depends on at Parkwood. I was straining to straighten up in the standing table and the inevitable wet one occurred. Darcy said it wasn’t noticeable but now I know why kids cry when their diapers are full. Note the Depends were far from full as we found out a little later. I didn’t feel good just the same. Darcy had brought some extra Depends so into the washroom for a change. The toilets in Parkwood are a little taller than domestic ones and there was a handrail. I got on ok. Interesting sitting on a toilet for the first time in 2½ years. Now the problem, how to get off something this low? Even with my new found standing technique, we knew it would be difficult. Darcy held my hands and pulled and after 2 tries I was on my feet. Not only is she the love of my life she’s a strong little Lady.

On Jan 15^th I had an EMG on my left hand and right arm. My Family Doc ordered it and we don’t know why. The EMG Doc called and wanted to see me again last Thursday a 3 o’clock. That meant hanging around at Parkwood for 3 hours after therapy. We went up to my old stomping grounds, the lounge on the 4^th flour and watched Canada beat Austria. Sitting in the wheelchair hurts my back, I got out and sat in one of the lounge chairs. Don’t remember chairs being that low...ha! Getting into it was easy, getting out was another thing.  After several tries Darcy was able to get me to my feet. I was assuming that the EMG Doc was going to do some more testing but no. It seems on the 15^th he was in a hurray and didn’t make proper notes to write his report to my Doc. Needless to say I wasn’t too pleased to waste the whole afternoon for his incompetence....grrrrrrrr

Had another appointment with Dr. Fabre the hand specialist. They really wanted the MRI of my right shoulder that hasn’t occurred yet due to a mix up at my Dr.’s Office. Interesting what happens being a Guinea Pig at a teaching hospital. Two Resident Drs. and 2 students come in and the Resident does the assessment.  He was very thorough. They leave and have a discussion with Dr. Fabre and Dr. Sequora, a Parkwood Physiatrist, then they all come back in and the Resident goes over his findings in medicaleses and the Doc’s agree or disagree. The bottom line is the resident didn’t think surgery would be beneficial on my left and may in fact make it worse and we should continue with the Botox which seems to help and the Docs agreed....yeehaw. As for the right arm the resident thought that physio was the answer and Dr. Sequora said he’d write the order to OT and they would be in touch....another Yeehaw.   Once I get the MIR they may reassess the right arm. Two hours well spent, I missed the gym and the pool but I did get lunch at Angelo’s.   

I am taking it a little easier on the bike and I’m doing 2x10 minute sets with a 3 minute cool down between sets and 3 minutes at the end. I’m getting 3 k in 10 minutes with an average speed of 18.3 kph. I’ll be upping that to 2x15 minute session soon. 

How am I Feeling?

It is a bother that I can’t do gym in the morning, swim at noon and ride the bike in the afternoon on Mon, Wed and Fri as that seems to create too much muscle tone. Although Dr Steen may have another explanation for the muscle tone. Theoretically, exercise is supposed to relax muscle tone and visceral things like bladder and intestines increase it. I am taking a lot of laxatives and two of those laxatives irritate the large intestine. Perhaps that is causing the tone. Another Catch 22, if I don’t take the ‘irritant’ laxative I may get impacted again as there is nothing to move the stuff along. When I take them the irritation causes muscle tone. I’ll consult with Dr. Potter when I see him next week to see if he agrees with my diagnosis.  This muscle tone is the bane of my existence.

Ah yes painting!!  Getting very frustrated painting, seems the table is a little low and I am all bent over the table and it really hurts my back and increases my tone. The real pain is the paintings aren’t coming out the way I want them to...you know they aren’t a masterpiece...lol! I can only paint for 45 minutes to an hour which really isn’t long enough to get into it. I have found this website called ‘Paint my Photo’. Photographers upload pictures and artist paint and post the paintings. I tried painting one of the landscapes and I keep comparing my painting to the other 4 paintings which I know I shouldn’t do....grrrr

It’s the little things that get me upset and this is really silly. While I was at Parkwood Darcy had to go and get a parking pass. She parked me in front of a big fish tank in the main lounge. There was a little hatchet fish swimming vertically. Dr. Steen the vet diagnosed the problem as an air bladder problem and he had to get to the surface to gulp some air to fill his bladder. Try as he might he’d get about half an inch from the surface and run out of gas and sink back down about 2 feet. After a little rest he’d try again. If I could I would have helped him out but after the 3^rd attempt it bothered me so much I had to move...guess I am a big suck.

Thanks for listening....

Jan 13 to Ja 26, 2014

Mon Jan 13^th: Felt kinda crappy. Body was tight and I couldn’t do much all day.

Tues Jan 14^th: No BM last night so up with Darcy at 4:45 and on the can ‘til  5:45 with very little to show for it. As you are aware the usual is I have diarrhea in the morning put Depends on and nothing happens. Normally I wouldn’t go to Parkwood but I took a chance and it was a good thing we did. Stephanie stretched me a bit on the mat and we did some sit-to-stands and she did a lot of work on my arms. When my arms are away from my body with my palms turned down on the bed and my left arm away from my body she had me doing kicks. Funny, I can’t kick both of my feet at the same time You know, sitting on a chair and kick you right foot forward and your left backwards, I can’t do that. When I kick both legs go in the same direction. Once all the  sitting was done  it was time to walk.

Got up with Stephanie holding the belt and me with the walking stick. I try to pick up the left foot so I don’t stub my toe as much. We did some work on the mat and did some stuff to keep my arms away from my body which seems to lower my tone. After that it was up walking. Walked I about 30 feet but since I am trying to lift my foot we rest as soon as I trip on my toe. Then up and side walking tot right for 20 feet then to the left. Another rest then up again only this time walking sideways without the walking stick. Believe it or not I was walking without a stick and with no one holding onto me. It was quite scary when I found out that Stephanie was holding on. Seems I do better without the walking stick as it takes my arm out of the equation.

Wed Jan 15^th: Family Dr. order an Electromylogram (EMG) on my left arm in London. An EMG is a test that is used to record the electrical activity of muscles. When muscles are active, they produce an electrical current. This current is usually proportional to the level of the muscle activity. An EMG is also referred to as a myogram.

EMGs can be used to detect abnormal electrical activity of muscle that can occur in nerve damage to nerves in the arms and legs.

As I am experiencing unexplained muscle weakness in my right arm, EMG helps to distinguish between muscle conditions in which the problem begins in the muscle and muscle weakness due to nerve disorders. The EMG can also be used to detect true weakness, as opposed to weakness from reduced use because of pain or lack of motivation. EMGs can also be used to isolate the level of nerve irritation or injury.

The Dr. had requested the test on my left arm when actually the right arm was where the problem was. It was nice of them to test the right arm even though it wasn’t on the requisition.
The results showed there were no problems with any of the muscles. This leads me to believe that the problem is occurring further up in the nerves coming from my neck. I will be seeing the surgeon next Tuesday and he will look at the MRI  that I had in December that may shed some light on the problem.

Thurs Jan 16^th: Well I have a new problem. I had a little red spot on the side of my thigh a week or so ago. It grew to about the size of a quarter and opened up and was really quite ugly. The area turns red and then opens up and there were a couple of other red areas and I was concerned that it was spreading. Of course, Dr Steen starts thinking it is the beginning of ‘Flesh Eating Disease’, woke up at 4 AM to worry about it. Tried to get a Dr appointment but he wasn’t in today. Decided to go the emerg to make sure they could stop it. I figured I’d get an emergency room Dr but they called my Dr office and he showed up. Took one look at it and said it was a Staph infection and I should put Fusidin on it and he gave me antibiotics, 4x500 mg a day for 7 days. Now that much anti-b may mess up my tummy but we’ll see. Good service at the hospital in by 2:45 out by 3:30.

Oh yes, therapy in the morning. Stephanie did her thing loosening me up and doing sit to stands. She had me put my good right foot on a 2 inch step and then stand up using mostly my left leg doing the work. That was a bit of a struggle. Got up and walked about 50 feet had a short rest and walked another 40 or so. A rest. Walked sideways to the right and then to the left and all this without a walking pole...a rest then a forward walk for

Fri Jan 7^th: Darcy is cleaning out the closets and I have the double breasted suit that I was married in in 1973. In the pocket was a yellow rattail comb, Darcy’s charm bracelet and a tampon. I have no idea why the last item was there. As for the charm bracelet, Darcy thought the girls had lost it years ago. We found a shirt made by the Arrow Shirt company in Kitchener. I think they closed in the mid-seventies. Lots of neat stuff, 5 suits, 62 ties. Let me explain about the ties. When I played rugby I was the Captain of the Brantford Harlequins for 5 years, captain of the Niagara Rugby Union Rep team and Captain of the Ontario Rugby team and when we played touring teams or rep teams from other provinces we exchanged ties...I just kept them all, ‘til now...some of them were very ugly.

Sat Jan 18^th: I was not feeling all that well. Think the antibiotics and the infection were catching up with me.  A lazy day, did some stretches and my normal routine before bed.

Sun Jan 19^th: The usual Sunday but not feeling all that energetic but went for a coffee at McD’s. Haven’t felt like riding the bike for a while and that means I really am not feeling well. Haven’t been on the bike since Friday, Jan 10^th...grrrrrrr!

Mon Jan 20^th: Starting to feel better but not good enough to get on the bike. The quads are all toned up which makes it hard to walk. Went to the pool and did quite a bit of walking. If I could only take the same size of steps on land that I take in the water, I’d be walking around the crescent with the dog.

Tues Jan 21^st: Off to Parkwood for a swim in the Parkwood pool. Stephanie was going to show us what to do in the pool or if what we are doing is ok. Got there at 11 as usual and then I remembered I was supposed to be there at 10. However, there had been a mix up and the pool was double booked at 10 and we couldn’t go in at 11. Did the usual stretching and did some walking. When I walk for a short distance, a knife gets stuck into the lower left side of my back and that becomes the show stopper. Did 3 walks of 15 m and then on the fourth, Stephanie took my walking stick away. Walked about 15 m with no aid, that’s all by myself with Darcy hanging onto the belt....yeehaw. Seems with no stick in my right hand it relaxes a bit, nothing to squeeze the life out of.

Another problem is the left ankle. The ankle won’t bend and it is difficult to pick up the toe. I can’t speed up the walk as I must make sure I don’t trip on the toe. The weak left leg doesn’t help either. When the leg gets tired it is very hard to pick up the foot to take the step.

Interesting situation at home with the hydro. We have been connected to the neighbours for a month now and they finally started to trench in the new line. Didn’t realize how deep they went with the trench. They had a tough time digging through the frost. The furnace started making funny noises and every time it came on the lights would go brighter for about 30 second and then flicker for a few minutes. I lost the internet connection as the modem had gone dead. Darcy checked the surge protecting powerbar and it was burned out. She replaced the bar and the  modem came back to life. The TV also started acting strange. Every time the furnace came on the TV would go off and then come back on. We called The PUC and they came out and checked it out but they said everything was ok. They did mention that we had half our normal power which could explain why the furnace fan had trouble getting started.  

Wed Jan 22^nd: Woke up in the morning with severe spasms. When I moved, my legs would seize up and feel like they were cramped up. They would go straight and all the muscles would tighten up, very uncomfortable. Felt a little nauseous but put that to the 500 mg of antibiotic I took at 7 o’clock.

The PUC was working in the backyard again and the furnace was still not working properly. We turned the thermostat down on the furnace and turned up the one for the gas fireplace. That means the rest of the house gets cold. They said the power would be back to normal in the afternoon.

Time to go swimming at 11. Got ready to go and the lift in the garage wouldn’t work. I really wanted to go. Parked the chair and with some assistance, I walked down the 3 steps and walked to the car. Had a good session in the pool and Rosa once again worked my left hand.

Now how to get into the house. We parked the chair at the top of the steps and with some assistance. Karen on one side and Darcy on the other, I climbed the steps and got into the chair.

I haven’t been on the bike for over a week so I did a short easy 15 minute spin. Remember all those spasms this morning. We found out why. My Tuesday night pills were still on the table. I can’t imagine going any length of time without the antispasmodic meds. It wouldn’t take long and I’d be one big knot. Going to stay up and watch19 year old Canadian, Eugenie Bouchard in the semifinals of the Australian open...go Genie go! Grrr...she lost in straight sets to Li Na who went on to win the tournament. As the announcer, Chris Everet, said as Genie walked off the court, “There goes the futre of Women’s tennis!”

Thurs Jan 23^rd: A little tirued from watching tennis but some of the tone seems to have gone away. I consulted Dr. Steen and he figures I may have had a bladder or a prostate infection and the anti-b got rid of it thus reduced tone.

Felt good when I got to Parkwood. Stephanie stretched my legs and back. I don’t know how she does it but it feels great. I asked her to come to Tillsonburg 3 times a week and I’d pay her mileage, but she declined. After stretching, it was walking time. Did 4 walks of 15 m each with one walking pole and Darcy hanging onto the belt, just in case. Had a little rest between each. Did 2 walks sideways, left and right with no pole. Stephanie didn’t give the pole back and I did 2x10 m without it. Since I did the stairs at home Stephanie took me to the flight of 5 steps and I went up and down 3 times, a physio in front and a physio behind holding on to the loops in the belt. They don’t help unless I’m on the way down. A good day because the legs were tired but not too tired to do a 10 minute and a 5 minute session on the bike and only a couple of sit-to-stands before bed.

Fri Jan 24^th: Damn nobody to take me to the gym.  I am not doing the things that got my legs strong in the first place, that is, biking and the gym. Last January I was doing 40 minute bike sessions regularly and even did an hour ride on the bike. Now I’m only doing 15 minutes total. Better be a slow build up or I’ll set myself back again.

Darcy took me to the pool and we did the normal work out but added some arm exercises with the foam barbell and dumbbells. It is quite interesting how hard it is to push them under water and it does give a good workout. I’ve started standing with my back against the wall and my heels as close to the wall as I can get and then arch my back as much as I can. I sit a lot so I am in flexed position which causes my spine to be in a ‘C’ shape. This means when I stand to walk I am in a bent forward position. I try to sit up straight when sitting at the computer but it is difficult, as everyone knows how hard it is not to slouch.

Sat Jan 25^th: Holy snow. One of the few times the weatherman was right. Guess we are in for it for a couple of days. Must be bad, Karate class was canceled. It’s very good that my neighbor does plough the driveway. There was no way we were getting out of the house until it was ploughed. Seems global warming is causing the extremes in weather and we’ll have to put up with crazy conditions ‘til April.

Sun Jan 26^th: A very quiet day with pinnacle of excitement being a coffee at McD’s with the Sarge. Had a call late Thursday evening from Dr. Fehlings’ Office, the neurosurgeon that did my neck. I had an MRI in December and perhaps that will shed some light on what is going on with my right arm. Seems he is very busy as the nurse stated that we had to guarantee that we would be there on Tuesday at 1:30. Darcy said ‘yes’, dependent on the weather. She wouldn’t accept that. We had to say we’d be there. Darcy spoke to the Sarge and he said he would drive us. Couldn’t ask for a better driver as he taught driving at the Police College for 2 years.

Not doing much painting, just playing around with practicing trees and clouds and other landscape stuff. Waiting for a couple of instruction books from Amazon.

How am I Feeling?

I am very concerned about my right arm, it is getting worse. Have difficulty shaving now. Since I don’t have as much control with it, I cut myself more often now. If I read the medicalese of the MRI, there may be some narrowing of the channel where the cord passes through at C4 and C5. Note that is my interpretation of the report.

I am also getting a little down about being a quadriplegic. I figured if I worked hard things would get better. That doesn’t seem to be happening. If I walk too much or bike too much I really suffer the next day or the next couple of days. Even if I sit too much there are problems. I haven’t found that middle of the road yet. If I don’t do anything it’s even worse as I start to lose everything. Perhaps some of this melancholy is the January blahs that I’ll just have to get over.   

I went and looked at these short video clips of me when I was in Toronto

  and I really have come a long way.

 

Thanks for listening...