Chapter 182 - Bad Days

It's all relative I suppose; and we have such hazy recollections of what went before. This morning she needed to spend a couple of minutes on the tread mill to be able to "step out" before showering. Following that she needed help pulling on her underclothes, partly because her skin was still damp. It seems lately she has had sharp pains extending down her legs so she wanted the TENS machine attached to her lower back before dressing. I can't remember the last time she needed the TENS.

She has lost most of her fear of the tread mill, possibly because she has been allowed its use at her physio sessions.Yesterday afternoon she decided to visit a friend around the corner suffering a "bad day", so before going around using her walker, she wanted a few minutes on the tread mill to help her stride. I stand behind her to minimise the fall should she freeze or her steps not keep up to the speed. Usually I keep my hand on her buttocks so that the pressure on my hand indicates that her steps are not long enough to keep her at the front of the machine. She daringly clicked the speed up to 3 kms/hr this morning. I took advantage of her visit to the friend yesterday to see "2012" - great computer generated effects hid the lousy plot & the "end of the world as we know it" theory based on Mayan calendar cosmic predictions.

I recently mentioned to her that she no longer has the need to soothe her emotions by listening repeatedly to Andre Rieu DVD's. Instead much time has been invested in embroidering lace bookmarks, Xmas cards & 'fridge magnets. At the moment she is constructing a several aprons embellished by a couple of Xmas digitisings I did as a change from attempts artistic. I suspect such activity is contributing to her leg pains since she now sits in her office chair or a kitchen chair while at her embroidery & sewing machines. So this morning I returned her ergonomic stool, the one she fell off, for her to use while sewing. Strict instructions not to bend forward on it while trying to pick up items dropped on the floor. I checked that the wheels lock readily when weight is applied to the seat.

Also yesterday before showering she said that she "can't step properly", "I can't stand up properly", "I'm not game to have a shower" although she did after some trad mill, some stretch exercises against the kitchen bench top. She believes that her steps are longer, she can stride, when out and about away from inside the house. She referred to the supermarket the other day when I left her to push a trolley about while I went to the paper shop for her puzzle magazines. After I returned to the supermarket I had difficulty finding her and she didn't seem to be moving all that quickly, but what counts is that she feels better about her actions.

On Thursday I took her embroidery machine in for an over-due service. She "felt at a loss for the whole day" until I collected it late in the day. Thank goodness she has the desire and ability to still occupy herself this way; what do others do to keep themselves active 20 years after diagnosis?

I continue to do Wii Fit exercises in the mornings. She has decided that she is not ready for such activity at that time and exercise in the evenings calms her & much later helps her to sleep.

Chapter 181 - Nothing Out of the Ordinary

My fears about problems with the CT scan were unfounded. During the 24 hours before hand she drank plenty of water and kept herself rugged up even the the weather was on the warmer side of mild. She drank the 3 or 4 sachets of iodine gunk without difficulty. Her tremors were insignificant to my eye as we went to the scanning lab right on her meds time at noon. The technician had no difficulty inserting the syringe needle in her arm so that must have helped her remain reasonable still during the scans. Afterwards we had lunch at the club. Calls to the Caring Physician's secretary resulted in "If anything is amiss then you will be called for an appointment; otherwise a letter in the post if all is clear." Well over a week now without a phone call or a letter so we are reassured.

Most of last week was busy & entertaining for her when her 2nd cousin & wife visited for three & a half days when she had plenty of female company & chatter. They had brought their caravan, leaving it at the south side park, so we didn't need to accommodate them. Unfortunately she missed doing her Wii Fit exercise. On the Wednesday we drove about 30 minutes to Rusty Bovine Farm (not the correct title) to look around the beautiful gardens. She was happy to go but immediately wished to be seated once inside the gardens, partly because her meds were due 30 minutes later. Fortunately, there were plenty of seats in shady spots so I helped her from one to the other as we progressed around the gardens. We were there about an hour & a half, then retired homewards for coffe at the club. We last saw the cousins on Wednesday evening & when I asked how she felt afterwards she said she "was at a bit of a loss for company now."

A few days ago a bruise about 5cm in diameter appeared on the inner side of her right forearm, slightly domed & sore to touch. Since there was a small white area at the centre she assumed that she had been bitten. Perhaps at the gardens. I'm not so sure.

Yesterday was the family gathering in our village hall. She was able to do most of the preparations allocated to us without assistance. A very hot day that she coped with very well. Afterwards we had coffee at the club with her sisters & our lot with 3 grandchildren.

This morning her legs ached on rising so after I completed my Wii Fit she did her routines (normally done at night). I asked how she was feeling; "My legs are OK now & my back is better."

Chapter 180 - 46

On Monday last we celebrated our 46th wedding anniversary. In an email our daughter suggested doing something exciting. So we did. We attended the funeral service for a friend from our village. I'm sure the fault was not his to have his service that day. Anyway, a reason for dressing up, except I went tieless. Late that afternoon we decided to have dinner at the club, long after we had donned our "at home" clobber. While at the club we had a chat with the widow, for the after service cuppa (which we didn't attend) was held at the club. So that was a pleasant ice-breaker since we had not spoken to her after the service.

As we crossed the street outside the church after the service I was nearly pulled off my feet by her propping & tugging backwards on my arm. A car had just negotiated the round-about at the corner about 100 metres away and she thought it was travelling too fast. She is becoming more cautious. Always checks that we have a mobile phone with us whenever we go out; "Just in case we have a break down." I know the vehicle is aging more quickly than we are but there is suggestion of fear of an accident. Until recently she was always concerned that all the doors were locked before going to bed yet not now; well she doesn't ask me anymore. Which usually meant I had to check a second time because I could never be sure I had checked the first time and that sort of thought prevents sleep coming.

Speaking of sleep, one night recently during my sleepless stupor she was snoring & snorting quite loudly, then yelled out quite loudly (fortunately I was already awake so did not jump in fright) then began to yabber gibberish, although she at one coherent point she seemed to say something about "buying". I can only assume she was dreaming about visiting one of her favourite dress shops.

A few nights ago I was nearly run over in our village on the roadway near the pond, although on the opposite side of the road to the previous near miss last year. This time we were on the side of the approaching car so I guided her up onto the grass while I remained on the slope of the gutter. My reaction time was be reasonable because I stepped onto the grass as the car's wheels mounted the gutter. She saw portion of the number plate although I failed to notice such a trivial thing. Our neighbour at the back returning, we presume, from bell ringing practice. Life in a retirement village is likely to see one dead.

During her recent visit to the Caring Physician he decided she should have a CT scan now that 5 years have passed since her kidney operation. She delayed making the appointment for the scan, saying "I want to leave it until after Xmas" until I insisted. I am concerned that she is breathless after walking on rare occasions (in view of the danger on our village streets). So the appointment has been made for tomorrow. The nurse receptionist was keen to make the appointment just after her noon meds and seemed not able to understand that was not a good time. Anyway she agreed with her, so I lost out. Perhaps the reasoning is that the receptionist checked the records after being told of her "difficult vein" problems and said that their doctor is at the scanning rooms at the local hospital at that time should he be needed. Since the timing of taking sachets of yucky stuff will conflict with our monthly PD group we will skip that.

She still sits on a donut inflatable pillow on her TV chair and the special pillow with the slot when in the truck.