I have been pretty MIA on my blog in the last few weeks and have not been updating much. Why? you may ask. Well, I haven't been on computer lately. There has been a huge turn of events.......
As I have posted the last few months, I have been slowly making some interesting improvements since last February. They have been modest, but consistent improvements. I had been using my recumbent bike religiously...even on my really icky days. I had been slowly pushing the envelope, so to speak, with every day tasks. My stand times had continued to increase and my endurance had been slowly creeping upward. Just as I had thought I'd reached my maximum, I got a second wind.
Over the last 6 weeks or so, I have begun to make some significant improvements. The roadblock that I had seemed to reach has been slowly coming down piece by piece. My confidence has also begun to soar as I tested new boundaries. I have finally broken down some major walls and have and can honestly say that I've made some meaningful improvements!
I have been increasing my walking, stationary biking, and cooking time day by day. I've gone from 90 seconds of walking to about 30 minutes (brisk walking in the neighborhood). I've gone from cutting an apple to making a full dinner (some days). I've gone from recumbent bike to speeding around the neighborhood with the wind in my hair! I've played ping-pong, stood in a store, and danced it out all for the first time in 2 long years!!!!!
While I'm dancing, walking, cooking, playing, talking, laughing, and loving life.....I still cannot put my legs down for any significant amount of time. This is so puzzling to me. I can walk around and really exercise, but the second I quit moving I begin to feel ill. I'm also still battling with disabling dizziness, lightheadedness, off balance, nausea, low blood pressures, and significant blood flow issues. As long as I have such low plasma levels, I will probably continue to have these symptoms. Mayo Clinic is still working on this, and my visit in October will hopefully yield some new suggestions and treatments. My heart also continues to be a bit of a pain at times, but doesn't slow me down very much. I can feel relatively well for several days before the dizziness returns and knocks me down for a week or 2. My mother is currently here working on this with me. We are coming up with strategies to combat this thorn in my side. I am never fully 'pain free', and I am praying and hope that that will be the next exciting hurdle I leap across.
In the meantime, I'm rejoicing in the joy of today...and for a change...it's not something I have to force myself to do....Joy is coming on like a flood each day! I am a little frustrated at times because now that I am able to do more, I have more to lose. I can't stand having to stop something because my body won't behave naturally. I will have a long----long road of rehab and recovery ahead of me if I do continue to improve. After 2 years in the bed, my body has a long way to go! However, with 3 walks a day, a bike ride, and some home exercises, I would say I will knock that part out with all the 'heart' you can imagine!
Can you possibly imagine that after 3.5 years of illness and 2 years of being bed bound, I am jumping about the house and seeing the beauty in the smallest of things. I took a short walk in our woods behind our home and actually heard the crackling of the twigs beneath my feet. I walked into a store (for only a few moments, of course) and got to look "normal" for the first time in 2 years. I've felt the wind blowing in my hair as I biked down the street. I've been able to serve my family (my hearts' greatest desire) for meals once again. 2 years ....2 LONG-LONG-LONG-LONG years in the bed...nothing is going to go unnoticed, untried, or unchanged! It's like the song says..."and if you get the choice to sit it out or dance, I hope you dance." Well, I'm dancing...and often to my own tune. I'm sure the people in Steinmart thought my mother and I were crazy dancing to the music, but I was on my OWN FEET ...and we chose to dance!
For now, I'm needing to focus on the work ahead, months and months of rehab (again), the physical stumbling blocks ahead of me, the continued research on why my body doesn't always behave well, finding the how and why my body will suddenly 'stop', and learning to re-do many daily tasks. I am still in shock right now and everything is quite surreal for us all. We don't want to get too excited! (been there-done that) But for now...if you need me, try the bike, the pool, the woods, the neighborhood, or maybe even a restaurant! :)
