Jan 19 - Blood day and a visit to the prosthesis place.

18:00
I sit here feeling stupid.
The oncologist gave me new pills that help with the phantom pain. They also make me sleep lots, and I feel dumb all day. They also produce "Lackadaisicalness". I just couldn't be bothered with stuff like blogs,  TV, computers, and books.

I have been taking the pills for 4 nights now. I sleep for about 12 hours a day, and am dozy for another 6 hours.

Today was a busy day. I did blood tests, because tomorrow is chemo day. :-(

 Then I went to the prosthesis guy, Bradley. There were many things that needed to be done. And I like that place.

My stump is loosing mass very fast because of all the wrapping, and liner, and socket. My socket is now loose, and a week ago it was hard to get my leg even into the socket. Also my leg seems to want to be in the socket at a different angle than last week.
Bradley was ready to build a new socket, but decided that maybe a thin piece of leather in the inside of the socket would give enough added volume to allow another week with the socket.

The left leg is getting skinnier daily.

While I sat on a bed, and waited for my socket to be redone, a very fit looking guy came in to the same room as I, and asked if they could use this room for a consultation. I said sure. This guy works for Bradley and sells shoes in their running shoe store. They specialize in "Natural Running". It is a return to running for long periods without injury. The shoes are different, and very expensive. They have less padding, and most of the natural runners hit the ground first with the center of the foot, not the heel. This guy was having calf muscle problems. Because he works for the same company, the whole staff knew him. He brought with 8 pairs of shoes he wears. Each shoe has a special purpose, and helps with certain injuries. They have a large pad that records the pressures of the foot. He had to run back and forth many times with each pair of shoes.

We looked at all the computer analysis of each shoe, and how it affects his foot strike in different ways.

Running was never this high tech with me. I just bought shoes and ran them till the soles came off.

They finally decided to have him wear a certain pair, and do a certain exercise to strengthen a certain muscle in the calf, without strengthening other muscles in the calf.

Then they are back with my socket. The white leather looks good. it was cut and glued inside the socket.

 Now my stump fits tight. Bradley cut the silicone liner a bit as it was rolling up at my groin and pulling out my pubic hair. With the chemo I don't have enough pubic hairs spare to have some pulled out.

Bradley's assistant is a very nice Serbian lady that actually builds the sockets. She asked me what color I wanted the out side of my final socket when she builds it, as she can make it any color. I told her I wanted a Texas flag. She made some drawings. After I got home, I made a demo model from a Texas flag I have.

This is what I am thinking about.

Bradley then did his normal adjustments, as I walk back and forth.

Bradley said that next week would be with a physio lady, as I have reached his knowledge of how to walk best. He said I need to get rid of the crutches more, and walk natural more, BUT DON'T FALL. He also said that walking in large figure 8's would be good. 

I left Bradley's and headed for home. Then I started thinking about a small park near my house. I bet I could walk there, and if I fell it would be onto the grass. I drove to the park, and it was empty. I found an area with relatively short grass. I set my crutches down about 10 meters apart, and started walking figure eights around the crutches. I did this till I got bored, and I never fell. 

Then I decided to drive home. I need to do shopping, but need someone to go with me. I was feeling all competent with the leg, so decided to try shopping. I tried last week to hang on to the trolley and walk behind it, and I failed. I tried again. This time I concentrated on just walking, and only used the shopping trolley for balance. I put the crutches in the trolley. It actually went pretty well. The chance of someone bumping me while I am behind a trolley is minimal. So I walked along behind my guard/shield trolley and bought stuff. I told the cashier lady to put everything back into the trolley, and took it straight to the car, loaded the car, and paid a car guard to take the trolley back.

Selfie of me shopping.

When I got home, the real problem began because I don't have a shopping trolley to move stuff around the house with. So I made 4 trips from the car to the front door.

It was good to take off the leg after 10 hours. It always feels good to take off the leg, because if it doesn't bother you, you will leave it on. Only when it bothers you, do you take it off. Then it always feels good. :-)

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