Vacation -- part II

I say, part II, because I posted to Runnemede Remembered a tome about distant vacations.

Soon, Alan and I will be taking one of our 2012 vacations.  We're going to head out west (again) and we're praying we won't encounter the awful health problems we encountered last time.  As a reminder, Alan had shingles really bad, and we didn't even know what it was.  Because it was so hot I thought it was prickly heat.  Eventually, Alan decided to go to a hospital and get it looked at.  He was given some meds to lower the pain he was suffering and we moved on to our next stop, where I wrenched my knee.  I had been walking really well until I foolishly turned my body around 180 degrees, but left my knee in its original position.  Then to make matters worse, Alan ended up in the hospital for a week after he collapsed twice at the Grand Canyon.  After the second collapse we both consented to his being sent to a hospital.  After two weeks with friends in  Cody, WY, where Alan suffered quietly, we headed home. 

This time we're hoping to visit Hannibal, MO; Estes Park, CO; Pagosa Springs, CO; Mesa Verde, CO; and Albuquerque, NM. 

Again, I am so fortunate to have someone to take care of the condo while we're gone. 

I might BLOG while we're on the road, but I probably won't.  I hope because I can once again walk and, oh yes, climb stairs (with the aid of a railing), I won't have time to BLOG because I'll be too busy sight seeing.

ttfn

I've been neglecting my BLOG duties

I do apologize.  However, this is really a diary of my travels and travails through the 60s (age wise) into the 70s.  I can't believe I'll be 70 next year.  I don't feel that old (until I stand up, that is).  In my mind, I think I'm 20.  Young.

Lately I've been neglecting writing because frankly, I haven't been able to sit at my desk for any amount of time.  I rarely even read my e-mails any more. 

I have had such sciatica since the second knee was fixed that getting out of bed has been terrible. 

My knees are fine and I still do physical therapy to keep them strong and get them stronger.  My goal is to climb stairs.  I practice every day, but I don't seem to be progressing very much.

I had another epidural in my back for sciatica and while I am down to a 5 on the 1-10 pain scale (I was at 8 or 9) I still hurt and doing any kind of bending, even when I don't think I'm bending is awful. 

For instance, just reaching for the faucet in the kitchen, or trying to turn on the stove is terribly painful.  I can't fill or empty the dishwasher.  That little bit of bending makes me physically ill.  So, I do what I can, which isn't much.  I can fill the washing machine and wash the laundry, but emptying the wet laundry into the dryer is another story. 

I can cook, mostly, since I have learned to put my cooking items on the upper shelves of the refrigerator and my pantry has been changed around to accommodate the sciatic pain. 

My therapists are working on the sciatica and it does help some. 

I can now walk if I get myself into a stiffened position after suffering through the standing up process, which is okay.  I have been shoppinig a couple of times, but have not tried food shopping.

So, dear diary, that's where I am at this point in my recovery and frankly I'm quite proud since the knees don't hurt at all.  In fact, I feel like I'm walking on air, which is a hoot, because I tend to float and then almost fall, mainly because I am slow in moving one leg after another and I think I'm moving the legs faster than I am.  That's really hard to describe here.

Alan and I are going to be traveling to Colorado late in the summer and I hope I am able to walk and climb a little bit at least. 

ttfn