14:18
No news from George.
It has rained for 3 days straight. Good because the average rain fall this year is below average.
Last night I tried to go to bed with no drugs. I slept well till 1:00. Then I awoke with very bad PLP. I got up, got dressed, drugged up, went into the kitchen, watched CNN and read my book until about 3:30. Then I slept in a spare room so as not to wake Maddie.
Belgium and France have both been bending over backwards to assimilate the muslim population into their society. Obama would like to do the same thing for the USA.
Hey Belgium!...How is that working out for you?
I want to read my book now, but it is way over on the other side of the room.
My cell phone is on charge.
I have had 2 cups of coffee today.
It has rained for 3 days straight.
That's all the exciting news, the rest is boring.
Maddie just went to bed to get under the duvet and read her book. Smart Lady. I am going to follow.
--
Thursday, 24 March 2016
Sunday, 20 March 2016
Mar 19 - Market and Walk in the woods
19:30
Today was a busy day.
There are 4 people staying in the other part of this house, so it is a busy place.
Maddie and I went to a Farm Market this morning. We walked lots on very uneven ground. There were hundreds of people there and 99% of them would not look at me, or else they would smile in a sheepish manner.
A boy walked up to me and asked what happened to my leg. I started explaining about it, and he invited me over to his parents stall. They were selling hippy jewelry. His parents quickly said he had a super curiosity about everything.
I explained about the leg, and he asked if I could take it off. He brought a stool over and I took off the leg. Now there were maybe 10 people watching. I showed them all how it worked, and they played with it. The kid wanted his picture taken holding a leg. I then put it back on. Everybody asked about the cancer, and we had a good talk.
Maddie bought us some Jalepeno poppers for way too much money, then we had some coffee.
Maddie's one grand daughter was supposed to arrive today, but will only be here tomorrow. So Maddie and I quickly went to the forest section of the parkrun course to see if I would be able to do that section.
It was very steep, muddy, slippery, and had lots of large roots crossing the pathway. VERY difficult for me. As expected, the down slope was much worse than the up slope.
If I try that section again, I will take my crutches along. We both were sweaty and muddy by the time we got back to the car.
On the way home we decided to get take away food, so Maddie didn't have to cook. Almost everything was closed, so we went to a Dros (fancy restaurant) to see if they did take aways. They didn't so we had to go in to eat. They stuck us off in a secluded corner. Probably because we stank, or maybe because we were muddy, or maybe because my leg would scare customers or maybe they thought we were homeless. We had very expensive hamburgers. (The cheapest thing on the menu.)
We also had a large draft beer each, which left us in a giggly mood, which only re-enforced the managements thoughtful precaution of secluding us.
--
We watched Kill Bill Vol 1. before bed. I like women with guns (or swords).
--
Today was a busy day.
There are 4 people staying in the other part of this house, so it is a busy place.
Maddie and I went to a Farm Market this morning. We walked lots on very uneven ground. There were hundreds of people there and 99% of them would not look at me, or else they would smile in a sheepish manner.
A boy walked up to me and asked what happened to my leg. I started explaining about it, and he invited me over to his parents stall. They were selling hippy jewelry. His parents quickly said he had a super curiosity about everything.
I explained about the leg, and he asked if I could take it off. He brought a stool over and I took off the leg. Now there were maybe 10 people watching. I showed them all how it worked, and they played with it. The kid wanted his picture taken holding a leg. I then put it back on. Everybody asked about the cancer, and we had a good talk.
Maddie bought us some Jalepeno poppers for way too much money, then we had some coffee.
Maddie's one grand daughter was supposed to arrive today, but will only be here tomorrow. So Maddie and I quickly went to the forest section of the parkrun course to see if I would be able to do that section.
It was very steep, muddy, slippery, and had lots of large roots crossing the pathway. VERY difficult for me. As expected, the down slope was much worse than the up slope.
If I try that section again, I will take my crutches along. We both were sweaty and muddy by the time we got back to the car.
On the way home we decided to get take away food, so Maddie didn't have to cook. Almost everything was closed, so we went to a Dros (fancy restaurant) to see if they did take aways. They didn't so we had to go in to eat. They stuck us off in a secluded corner. Probably because we stank, or maybe because we were muddy, or maybe because my leg would scare customers or maybe they thought we were homeless. We had very expensive hamburgers. (The cheapest thing on the menu.)
We also had a large draft beer each, which left us in a giggly mood, which only re-enforced the managements thoughtful precaution of secluding us.
--
We watched Kill Bill Vol 1. before bed. I like women with guns (or swords).
--
Thursday, 17 March 2016
Mar 17 - Lackadaisicalness
20:10
Not much to blog about. I have been feeling very un-connected to the real world.
Today I walked 3.35 km in 1:07. Thats 3 km/hr. A new dan record.
We sure seem to be busy all the time. I carried my latest book around for a week, and I was 5 pages from the end. The hero was about to die and the lady hero was trying to save him. I just couldn't be bothered to finish it.
I blame my drugs for the lackadaisicalness. But the alternative is worse PLP. Talk about hard decisions.
Common side effects of Lyrica include dizziness, drowsiness, loss of balance or coordination, dry mouth, constipation, edema, breast swelling, tremors, blurred vision, weight gain, and problems with memory or concentration.
Common side effects of Cymgen (Cymbalta) are Nausea, dry mouth, constipation, loss of appetite, tiredness, drowsiness.
Both drugs are very hard to get off of, and the withdrawal on both is supposed to be terrible.
I read about one of these.
http://powersports.honda.com/2013/vfr1200f.aspx
It is a motorcycle with an automatic transmission.
I had a blood test yesterday. I got the results today. All looks OK. Maddie has been feeding me well.
I tried to call the oncologist today, but she was busy both times. She will call me. After 3 weeks I was supposed to have an interview with her, but I am not in Pretoria, so I will have to call.
Africa is worried about Trump. He has said that weak people should not concern strong people, because they are weak. Also that strong people should not care what weak people think. I bet he would feel the same with countries.
--
Not much to blog about. I have been feeling very un-connected to the real world.
Today I walked 3.35 km in 1:07. Thats 3 km/hr. A new dan record.
We sure seem to be busy all the time. I carried my latest book around for a week, and I was 5 pages from the end. The hero was about to die and the lady hero was trying to save him. I just couldn't be bothered to finish it.
I blame my drugs for the lackadaisicalness. But the alternative is worse PLP. Talk about hard decisions.
Common side effects of Lyrica include dizziness, drowsiness, loss of balance or coordination, dry mouth, constipation, edema, breast swelling, tremors, blurred vision, weight gain, and problems with memory or concentration.
Common side effects of Cymgen (Cymbalta) are Nausea, dry mouth, constipation, loss of appetite, tiredness, drowsiness.
Both drugs are very hard to get off of, and the withdrawal on both is supposed to be terrible.
I read about one of these.
http://powersports.honda.com/2013/vfr1200f.aspx
It is a motorcycle with an automatic transmission.
I had a blood test yesterday. I got the results today. All looks OK. Maddie has been feeding me well.
I tried to call the oncologist today, but she was busy both times. She will call me. After 3 weeks I was supposed to have an interview with her, but I am not in Pretoria, so I will have to call.
Africa is worried about Trump. He has said that weak people should not concern strong people, because they are weak. Also that strong people should not care what weak people think. I bet he would feel the same with countries.
--
Friday, 11 March 2016
Mar 11 - Walking in the rain
14:33
There has not been much to blog about. I would have to invent something to get more than a few sentences. :-)
A few days ago we went to the big Train Museum. Lots of cool steam trains.
Yesterday we went to the main Museum in George. it wasn't that great of a museum. The best part was the ramps for the wheel chair access. That gave me good practice on walking slopes with my prosthesis. I did all the up slopes, but used the stairs going down. I almost have up slopes figured out.
When we got home I went for a walk around the block in Maddie's neighborhood.
From the house it is a .96km round trip around the block back to the house. We are in a hilly neighborhood. Not steep hills, but enough that I have problems with the slopes. The driveway is about 100 meters long, and very steep. I really battled getting down the driveway.
Remember that my prosthetic ankle is stiff, and does not move. A steep downslope means the toe of the prosthesis never gets weight on it, so the knee will never break loose, and bend. The knee remains stiff as I limp/stumble/reel down the slope.
An up slope on the other hand means the toe gets lots of weight on it before I am ready for the knee to bend. It wants to collapse on me every step as soon as I put weight on the leg. I can use strong back pressure using my buttock muscles to keep the knee straight, and prevent it from unlocking. Long up slopes makes my butt muscles tired quickly.
Today is a cool, windy, cloudy day with light rain. But I wanted to walk and get some exercise.
Maddie went to pay bills, and I went for a walk in the rain. I first used both crutches, and walked up and down the driveway twice.
To go down a steep slope like the driveway, the accepted way is to step forward with the prosthetic leg putting weight on the heel, then use the hip flexors on that side to break the knee so the leg collapses. To keep my face from hitting the ground, I must quickly move my good foot to stop the fall.
If done properly and at the proper rate, the steps look even and smooth. While using the crutches, I was able to do a decent step about one time in ten. The other times the use of the crutches saved my life. But 10% today, and improving to 20% tomorrow. In a zillion years I will have it down pat.
I thn walked around the block 3 times. there are some hills, and I was able to walk up the hills good, but battled going downhill. I ended up walking 2.48 km in 55 minutes. Almost exactly half the speed needed for the parkrun.
Tomorrow is Saturday, and Maddie is planning on doing the parkrun so she can learn the route, so we can practice it together during the week.
--
There has not been much to blog about. I would have to invent something to get more than a few sentences. :-)
A few days ago we went to the big Train Museum. Lots of cool steam trains.
Yesterday we went to the main Museum in George. it wasn't that great of a museum. The best part was the ramps for the wheel chair access. That gave me good practice on walking slopes with my prosthesis. I did all the up slopes, but used the stairs going down. I almost have up slopes figured out.
When we got home I went for a walk around the block in Maddie's neighborhood.
From the house it is a .96km round trip around the block back to the house. We are in a hilly neighborhood. Not steep hills, but enough that I have problems with the slopes. The driveway is about 100 meters long, and very steep. I really battled getting down the driveway.
Remember that my prosthetic ankle is stiff, and does not move. A steep downslope means the toe of the prosthesis never gets weight on it, so the knee will never break loose, and bend. The knee remains stiff as I limp/stumble/reel down the slope.
An up slope on the other hand means the toe gets lots of weight on it before I am ready for the knee to bend. It wants to collapse on me every step as soon as I put weight on the leg. I can use strong back pressure using my buttock muscles to keep the knee straight, and prevent it from unlocking. Long up slopes makes my butt muscles tired quickly.
Today is a cool, windy, cloudy day with light rain. But I wanted to walk and get some exercise.
Maddie went to pay bills, and I went for a walk in the rain. I first used both crutches, and walked up and down the driveway twice.
To go down a steep slope like the driveway, the accepted way is to step forward with the prosthetic leg putting weight on the heel, then use the hip flexors on that side to break the knee so the leg collapses. To keep my face from hitting the ground, I must quickly move my good foot to stop the fall.
If done properly and at the proper rate, the steps look even and smooth. While using the crutches, I was able to do a decent step about one time in ten. The other times the use of the crutches saved my life. But 10% today, and improving to 20% tomorrow. In a zillion years I will have it down pat.
I thn walked around the block 3 times. there are some hills, and I was able to walk up the hills good, but battled going downhill. I ended up walking 2.48 km in 55 minutes. Almost exactly half the speed needed for the parkrun.
Tomorrow is Saturday, and Maddie is planning on doing the parkrun so she can learn the route, so we can practice it together during the week.
--
Monday, 7 March 2016
Mar 7 - in George with Maddie.
I have been very lazy. No blog for a long time.
On 2 March I drove down to George from Pretoria. I planed on leaving at 4 in the morning to beat the Johannesberg traffic. But PLP kept me awake, so at 12:00 midnight I decided to get up and leave. I left the house at 01:00 exactly. I couldn't decide whether to take the toll road and save an hour, or take the smaller road and save R200. I took the toll road. It was safer in the early hours of the morning. The toll road also has large truck stops along the way that are safer for sleeping in the car.
After driving for about 6 hours at near the half way point, I stopped and had breakfast, and a one hour nap. I arrived in George at 16:15...1285 km (899 miles) later.. It was great to see Maddie again.
You would think that after not any sleep the night before, and driving for 15 hours, that I would be sleepy that night, but PLP once again ruled my life, and I only got to sleep after 02:00. I was up at 08:00. Then around 10:00 I fell asleep for real. This sleep pattern would not fit in with Maddie going to bed at 22:00 and getting up at 06:00.
I now try to go to bed at 22:00 and get up early. Today I got up at 06:30, then took a nap till 09:00 then after breakfast I took another nap till 15:30. I don't think sleep tonight will come easy.
My good leg has been swollen for about a month. The Oncologist gave me some diuretics. They seem to help. But the leg is also very red, and the toes are white. With my IR temp detector, I found my thigh was 29.4C, my red lower leg was 32.5C and my toes were 25.6C. I have been sending pictures of my leg to Maddie for about a month, and we went back and checked them. The red area is growing up the leg. Tomorrow we go to a doctor. There are many things that cause a red, hot area on the lower leg. Some are serious.
The last few day have been chilly here. I am wearing a sweat suit. The low today was 15C (59F, 288K) and the high today was 18C (64F, 291K). It has also been raining lightly for the last few days, and I have not put the leg on for 2 days, which has helped with the PLP.
--
On 2 March I drove down to George from Pretoria. I planed on leaving at 4 in the morning to beat the Johannesberg traffic. But PLP kept me awake, so at 12:00 midnight I decided to get up and leave. I left the house at 01:00 exactly. I couldn't decide whether to take the toll road and save an hour, or take the smaller road and save R200. I took the toll road. It was safer in the early hours of the morning. The toll road also has large truck stops along the way that are safer for sleeping in the car.
After driving for about 6 hours at near the half way point, I stopped and had breakfast, and a one hour nap. I arrived in George at 16:15...1285 km (899 miles) later.. It was great to see Maddie again.
You would think that after not any sleep the night before, and driving for 15 hours, that I would be sleepy that night, but PLP once again ruled my life, and I only got to sleep after 02:00. I was up at 08:00. Then around 10:00 I fell asleep for real. This sleep pattern would not fit in with Maddie going to bed at 22:00 and getting up at 06:00.
I now try to go to bed at 22:00 and get up early. Today I got up at 06:30, then took a nap till 09:00 then after breakfast I took another nap till 15:30. I don't think sleep tonight will come easy.
My good leg has been swollen for about a month. The Oncologist gave me some diuretics. They seem to help. But the leg is also very red, and the toes are white. With my IR temp detector, I found my thigh was 29.4C, my red lower leg was 32.5C and my toes were 25.6C. I have been sending pictures of my leg to Maddie for about a month, and we went back and checked them. The red area is growing up the leg. Tomorrow we go to a doctor. There are many things that cause a red, hot area on the lower leg. Some are serious.
The last few day have been chilly here. I am wearing a sweat suit. The low today was 15C (59F, 288K) and the high today was 18C (64F, 291K). It has also been raining lightly for the last few days, and I have not put the leg on for 2 days, which has helped with the PLP.
--
Wednesday, 24 February 2016
Feb 23 - 24 - Last Chemo (KOW) :-)
Feb 23, 08:00
I have a busy day planned.
First, my last blood test is this morning.
I have a prosthesis appointment at 13:00 to get the leg adjusted for my new shoes.
Then at 14:00 I have a physio appointment.
Tomorrow will be my last chemo for awhile. I have done 16 weeks of weekly blood tests and chemo. I am looking forward to no needles for 6 weeks.
I am also looking forward to finding out how much of my chemical imbalances are chemo related, and how much are drugs related. I believe my narcolepsy is chemically induced from the chemo. That is why I will wait about 5 days after my last chemo before I will risk the drive to George.
My eating habits will improve while I am being fed by Maddie in George.
I think that eating only a hand full of rice a day, is healthier than eating a box of Twinkies and a bag of Doritos. Healthy eating isn't only about eating healthy food, it is also about NOT eating unhealthy food.
Except that some foods, such as ice cream, are nourishment for the soul, not the body. :-)
Today is cool and cloudy. A relief from the high temperatures from the last week. This whole week should be cool and cloudy with afternoon rains.
Yesterday I walked 2.0km in 41 minutes.
--
16:00
Blood taking was normal. Hopefully I will not see the blood ladies again soon.
I had a long list for Bradley, the prosthesis guy .
Bradley says he has a good friend, Allan Oats that does prosthesis in George, and he recommends him highly. He says I'll be in good hands for any emergencies while in George.
He grounded off part of the socket.
He adjusted the leg for the new shoes.
He changed the setting to be better for faster walking.
Whew...Physio was rough, Leonie must have some Nazi blood in her. :-) We first went over all the exercises she wants me to do while in George. Then we did all the exercises. Then she played like she was my girlfriend, and had me explain each exercise to her and teach her how to help with each one. There are about 10 exercises, and maybe half need a partner.
Maddie and I will have to go shopping in George for exercise toys. I'll need a brick, a tennis ball, a soccer/basket ball, and a heavier sand filled ball.
I had to shower when I got home.
In the parking lot was an Indian guy selling samosas, so I bought lunch.
The physio has me tired, but also lots of Phantom pain. I am trying to cut down on drugs. I have picked a bad time to do that.
--
Feb 24, 18:00
I ran out of pre-paid internet last night and couldn't publish yesterday's blog.
Today I first went to the prosthesis place and got some stump socks. Many people on the internet use stump socks.
When I wake up in the morning my stump is a bit large, and won't go into the socket as far as it should. So I walk around with the leg too long for a few hours. I sleep with a compression sock on the stump at night, and it helps, but not 100%.
By around noon the leg fits perfect. This is usually the time I go for my walks.
The fiberglass socket is shaped like a cone, so as the day progresses and I keep putting weight on the leg, it squeezes the stump and forces it to get smaller.
By around 2 or 3 in the afternoon, the stump is fitting too far down into the socket. As the volume between the stump and the socket bottom gets less, the vacuum tends to get more. This extra strong vacuum makes blood blisters on the bottom of the stump. This can be painful.
The stump being too far into the socket not only makes the leg too short, but it allows the stump to hit the bottom of the socket. This also is painful, and it is often on the blisters.
Bradley came up with two ideas. They make soft "volume control pads" to fit in the bottom of the socket to decrease the volume between the socket and the stump. This helps to reduce the vacuum, and the soft pads keep the stump off the bottom. He also gave me some stump socks. Because I don't have a problem with the bottom of my stump, the socks have the ends removed. I put them up high near my groin and hip. This widens the upper part of the stump, so the leg doesn't go in as far. He gave me 3 socks, so as the stump shrinks, I can keep adding socks.
Some guys on the internet have stumps that shrink a lot. They may add up to 5 socks as the day progresses.
I next went to get the blood test results. My Leucolytes (white blood cell) count was fine. My Haemoglobin count was the lowest it has ever been. So I recon Maddie will be feeding me chicken livers. Yech!
I was early, so I checked in with the chemo place on my way to get coffee at the restaurant. They said they had a cancellation, and could start me then. I went straight in.
All chemo patients have an interview with the oncologist before each session. Since I was early, she quickly asked if everything was OK, and I said yes. She said she would talk with me after chemo instead.
They started the IV and the four pre-chemo bags of chemicals, then started the actual chemo drug, Paclitaxel. I saw this bag was labeled 152mg, where I normally have 132mg. It is normally chilled, and I could feel the cold go in the arm. Air tends to stay in solution of the Paclitaxel, so they put a 2 micron filter in the line to trap any air bubbles. This dose of Taxel was very milky with trapped air particles, and it was cooler than normal, so less air escaped the solution.
After about 10 minutes the drip stopped. They pushed and pulled the IV in my arm, to try to get it flowing. They decided that they needed a different vein for the IV.
They put in another needle and IV. Grrr...
This one also failed to flow, so they tried another Vein and IV. GGGRRRRR!!!!!
Now my sense of humor had fled the room.
I start trying to trouble shoot the IV system. It must be very similar to aircraft hydraulic landing gear. Right? So I shooed the nurses away, and squeezed the hose. When I squeezed near the IV, the little bubbles moved back and forth like they should. If I squeezed up at the bag no bubbles moved, so obviously there was a blockage. I then squeezed on each side of the filter. On the IV side the bubbles moved, and on the bag side nothing moved. Therefore the filter was blocked.
I explained that if the Taxel solution is too cold, then there will be too much air, and the filter will get full of air, and this will not allow any fluid to flow. I told them to bring me a different filter, and I would change it. I must have said something blasphemous. They looked shocked, and sort of backed off and then said THEY would change the line AND the filter.
Of course then the Taxel started flowing again.
After I chatted with the oncologist, she gave me a form to get blood checked in George after 3 weeks. Then she gave a 6 week prescription for all the drugs I will need. She will call the PET/CT scan people after reading the blood results after 3 weeks, then the PET people will call me with a date for the PET scan, and I'll drive back to Pretoria. So the next time I'll see the Oncologist will be when I have the PET results in my hand.
My precious wind up, single handed watch took a real hard knock today, but thankfully it kept on working.
Now to sleep lots, or stay awake lots, what ever the chemo Gods proclaim for the next few days. Then to start packing the car for the trip. I can't wait to "be on the road again".
--
PS: KOW = Knock On Wood
Friday, 19 February 2016
Feb 19 - Shoes and falling
10:00
I woke up at 07:30, and then fell asleep in the wheelchair in front of the coffee machine.
I have much that needs to be done today. I hope I don't nap the day away.
I worry about having a nap attack in a mall.
I need to buy new shoes. Shoes are not a simple thing for an amputee. I want good shoes to protect the vital good foot. The heal height is important. Otherwise the prosthetic leg will think it is on a slope, and I have talked many times about the dangers of slopes. Usually the prosthesis guy will readjust the prosthesis for each pair of shoes. So I plan on buying new shoes as close as possible to the heel height and slope as the ones I have now. If the shoes are identical in height and cushioning, then they can be swapped without going to the prosthesis guy.
--
I prefer going to the mall with a friend. I worry about falling. My one friend has been given a lecture by me about how to handle things if I fall.
This advise is for a relatively strong amputee that has fallen. It does not work well with elderly, or frail people. They have a totally different fall recovery technique.
One thing is for sure....Never pick a fallen person up without their permission!!!
If I stumble and fall in a mall, I have asked my friend to:
1. Stand and block, so nobody will trip on me, or step on me. Make sure nobody tries to pick me up.
2. I will be in shock. I was walking along, and now the floor is in my face. This will take a few seconds for me to realize what is happening.
3. Maybe I broke something, or injured a shoulder or wrist. If you try to pick me up you can cause major damage. Let ME safely check to see what I may have hurt.
4. If I have hurt something, or you can see damage, call 911 and get help. Let me just lie there and keep me safe from other people wanting to help stand me up.
5. If I am undamaged, then we can think about getting me back on my feet. Balance is more important than strength in getting up. If I am trying to stand, and someone pulls on me anywhere, then my balance is put off. Don't help me up.
6. When I am ready to try to stand, I want someone standing close, and acting like a tree.
7. Stand with wide legs. Put one hand on your hip,and grip it with the other hand. I will climb up you like I would climb a tree. Don't help unless I ask for help.
8. If you are not strong enough to be a tree for me, then once I am sure there are no injuries, drag me to something I can use to climb up, or ask someone strong to be a tree.
9. Only as a last resort ask for someone to help lift me up.
If I fall in a house, bring a strong dining room chair, and put it close. I can climb up it.
--
19:00
At about 13:00 I walked out to the beetle. It started right up, and I started moving out the emergency
equipment out of it into the Atos.
Then I decided to go shoe shopping at a big mall. Arriving there I realized it was 14:00 and I had not eaten anything all day. Nothing except lemon water and coffee. So I had a pepper steak pie.
I went to Takkie Town and looked at lots of shoes, and tried on many. I ended up with some New Balance for 799R.
Then I decided that since it was 16:00 and rush hour, I would walk up and down the ramps in the mall. So I went up and down and up and down the steepest ramp in the mall. I got much better, but still not comfortable enough to do it with out hanging on to the banister. Then I drove home in the traffic.
Once home I put on my new shoes to see if they would work with the leg.
They seem to. I was very careful about heel height and slope of shoe.
I decided to go for a walk. I tried Leonie's suggestions to walk fast.
I did 1 km in 18:30. That is 3.3 km/hr. Zoom Zoom. That would be a park run
in 1 hr 30 min. I'm getting there.
--
I woke up at 07:30, and then fell asleep in the wheelchair in front of the coffee machine.
I have much that needs to be done today. I hope I don't nap the day away.
I worry about having a nap attack in a mall.
I need to buy new shoes. Shoes are not a simple thing for an amputee. I want good shoes to protect the vital good foot. The heal height is important. Otherwise the prosthetic leg will think it is on a slope, and I have talked many times about the dangers of slopes. Usually the prosthesis guy will readjust the prosthesis for each pair of shoes. So I plan on buying new shoes as close as possible to the heel height and slope as the ones I have now. If the shoes are identical in height and cushioning, then they can be swapped without going to the prosthesis guy.
--
I prefer going to the mall with a friend. I worry about falling. My one friend has been given a lecture by me about how to handle things if I fall.
This advise is for a relatively strong amputee that has fallen. It does not work well with elderly, or frail people. They have a totally different fall recovery technique.
One thing is for sure....Never pick a fallen person up without their permission!!!
If I stumble and fall in a mall, I have asked my friend to:
1. Stand and block, so nobody will trip on me, or step on me. Make sure nobody tries to pick me up.
2. I will be in shock. I was walking along, and now the floor is in my face. This will take a few seconds for me to realize what is happening.
3. Maybe I broke something, or injured a shoulder or wrist. If you try to pick me up you can cause major damage. Let ME safely check to see what I may have hurt.
4. If I have hurt something, or you can see damage, call 911 and get help. Let me just lie there and keep me safe from other people wanting to help stand me up.
5. If I am undamaged, then we can think about getting me back on my feet. Balance is more important than strength in getting up. If I am trying to stand, and someone pulls on me anywhere, then my balance is put off. Don't help me up.
6. When I am ready to try to stand, I want someone standing close, and acting like a tree.
7. Stand with wide legs. Put one hand on your hip,and grip it with the other hand. I will climb up you like I would climb a tree. Don't help unless I ask for help.
8. If you are not strong enough to be a tree for me, then once I am sure there are no injuries, drag me to something I can use to climb up, or ask someone strong to be a tree.
9. Only as a last resort ask for someone to help lift me up.
If I fall in a house, bring a strong dining room chair, and put it close. I can climb up it.
--
19:00
At about 13:00 I walked out to the beetle. It started right up, and I started moving out the emergency
equipment out of it into the Atos.
Then I decided to go shoe shopping at a big mall. Arriving there I realized it was 14:00 and I had not eaten anything all day. Nothing except lemon water and coffee. So I had a pepper steak pie.
I went to Takkie Town and looked at lots of shoes, and tried on many. I ended up with some New Balance for 799R.
Then I decided that since it was 16:00 and rush hour, I would walk up and down the ramps in the mall. So I went up and down and up and down the steepest ramp in the mall. I got much better, but still not comfortable enough to do it with out hanging on to the banister. Then I drove home in the traffic.
Once home I put on my new shoes to see if they would work with the leg.
They seem to. I was very careful about heel height and slope of shoe.
I decided to go for a walk. I tried Leonie's suggestions to walk fast.
I did 1 km in 18:30. That is 3.3 km/hr. Zoom Zoom. That would be a park run
in 1 hr 30 min. I'm getting there.
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