Today was a free day, so everyone went their own ways. We went to an open market nearby with Larry and Josh . We shopped, and looked, and pondered the question, “How many pairs of jeans can one person own?” I had a really good day (balance-wise, walking-wise, and attitude-wise) Tomorrow I have my third treatment (second spinal)… I say BRING IT ON !
7 comments September 30th, 2008
Kind of a lazy day today. Accupuncture was cancelled this morning, so I got ‘electrocuted’ instead. I took a nap until it was time for PT. I was up during the night- for about 2 hours. I realized I was walking really stiffly because I wasn’t taking my medication all the times- dummy drill. My back still aches a little. Nothing a little ibuprofen can’t handle… Deana and I noticed a difference today in my steps! They were bigger today. bye bye baby steps! Of course, my medication (which I took conscientiously) helped a ton with my ‘stiffness”. Walked the halls, played cards, sat and read. Tomorrow is a free day. We’re planning on going to the open market. Next treatment is Wednesday…
5 comments September 29th, 2008
Deana and I went to the market today AFTER I had an hour long, little old strong-hand (and elbow) man traditional (aka NOT in a spa-like place) chinese massage (for about $17US). Deana wimped out of the authentic experience. It was fantastic. He even pulled my toes! Deana and I are getting around the market pretty well now. We can navigate up the conveyor belt (it’s a trip with my walker), find our way through electronics, sneakers, appliances, to the snack section, go around the corner to the one American Dairy Case (american cheese), then take the other conveyor belt downstairs to get fruit and bread, checkout, go around the ‘mall’ to find the way out, and get a cab back to the hospital. Phew! All before I drop from exhaustion. Balance still horrible (worse than when I came – I feel) Been told speech is a little better…say it with me- BALANCE , WALKING, BALANCE, WALKING!
1 comment September 28th, 2008
9:05 A.M. Woke up at 5:00 a.m. Couldn’t sleep anymore. Went to read in the common area so I wouldn’t wake Deana up. My lower back was really sore. Apparently another common side effect of the spinal, only the doctors seemed to be a little surprised that pains in my legs didn’t accompany the back pain. I’m starting to feel like I’m 90 years old. I found an ’amusement room’ with a stationary bike, and lots of room for stretching, push ups, leg lifts, etc. I told the doctors this morning I felt like I needed to stretch my back out. It took a little bit to get my point across, but then they suggested going to the pt room and getting assistance….rookies…(ha,ha). Anyway, I took some ibuprofen and feel a lot better. I realized that I didn’t write yesterday…I’ll sum up the good part…When the doctors came in in the morning, they did another assessment..close your eyes, touch your nose: tap your hands switching sides: squat down and come back up…They said there was definite improvements! Not enough for me however, but they seemed pleased. PT went pretty well too! I don’t know if it’s because I’m learning the balance exercises, or my control is getting better. I guess learning is part of the ability of control!
I got my schedule for next week. Not Happy. Apparently next week has Holidays, so we have 3 days of NOTHING. I do have another Spinal on Wednesday , .. it’s getting late in the a.m, Deana and I have a massage planned today. blog later…
Add comment September 28th, 2008
6:18 a.m.
I had my first spinal treatment yesterday at 3:00. The hardest part is staying flat on your back after for 6 hours. The best part is they put you out while they do it and you stay out for about 4 hours. So, really, we’re talking 2 hours – piece of cake. I feel really good today. I made a decision last night to be always up and positive! I was starting to get stuck in a ‘poor me’ mode. I found an exercise bike on the floor above me, and I’m going to start excercising (walking the floors, push-ups,etc) other than the 45minute PT time each day. Deana and I have not been out of the hospital for 2 full days. We’re going crazy! It’s tough with my walker, I’m pretty slow (and jerky). I told Deana I’d suck it up and grab a wheelchair just to get out. Everyone keeps reminding you of 75 days for maximum improvement, but I’m hoping to see a little (even a small percentage) soon. But then again, I still have 3 treatments left! Well, gotta get ready for accupuncture…write later
1 comment September 27th, 2008
I woke up this morning at 4 a.m., couldn’t sleep… I did push ups, sit ups, leg lifts..still wasn’t tired. I didn’t want to wake Deana up, so I went into the ‘common area’(I didn’t fall OR make a lot of noise) I feel good. It’s just after accupuncture, my head feels ‘loopy’. I think it may be my medication. I’m not going to take it until AFTERaccupuncture tomorrow. They’re now only doing 4 needles on me, to increase my energy, Dr. Frank said. I also started “Electric Shock Therapy”. I call it ‘electrocution’. When I asked what this is for, I was told ‘to stimulate and break down your muscles (calf). I told them I’ve been working out for 25 years to build those muscles! I like them, I want them! I am definitely going to sit down with him today and get the whole meaning/story. I am sure I misunderstood.
7:15 p.m.
Physical therapy went okay today. Boy, it makes you realize how far you have to go. Andy is my therapist who doesn’t speak much English, he is very funny. When he shows me something to do, he can tell by my reaction and he says (in perfect english- mockingly) “I can’t”, and then proceeds to help me do it.
I did learn that electro therapy (aka electrocution) STIMULATES the muscles to help them work better. Phew! that’s a relief. Tomorrow I have my first spinal treatment (between 2 and 4). I am excited and nervous. Excited because this is why I’m here: nervous about lying still for six hours after (I told Deana she’s gotta sit with me and hold my head down for the 6 hours so I don’t forget and lift it) also nervous about what if it doesn’t do anything? It’s gotta work, I came to China (and dragged Deana with me)!! I probably won’t be blogging tommorow, wish me luck!
6 comments September 25th, 2008
We’ve been here almost a week now…sorry I haven’t written, we’ve had very limited internet access until now. Our flight was good. Long, but good. When we got to Bejing and had to change to go to Qingdao, the staff saw my walker and insisted on taking me in a wheelchair. What a godsend! Bejing Airport is beautiful AND HUGE. They took us around the whole airport (it seemed), through customs, got our baggage, checked us and our baggage on the domestic flight, and took us to the waiting area of our next flight. Then they showed back up 20 minutes before our flight took off to assist in boarding! Deana and I joke saying that we’d still be stuck in the first of four elevators that they took us through! There was a driiver waiting for us with an interpreter. We were supposed to go to a hotel for the night, and check into the hospital on the 20th, but they had our room ready for us, so we came directly here. It was a whirlwind… Nurses and Doctors, temp, blood pressure, initial exam, no time wasted! The next day I had a PT evaluation and we went to the store with a couple of other folks from here and an interpreter. It is a visual experience, There is so much going on it’s wild. We got what we needed for the time being. Sundays here are free days for us. Everyone on our floor is really nice. They each have their own story… well David (Boston) arranged this awesome trip…POLAR WORLD, JESSCO (shopping and lunch) MAY 4th SQUARE, THE BEACH, and back. We were all so exhausted, we never did make it to the beach. Monday, pretty much everyone had a treatment. I had my first treatment via IV, they do that to make sure you’re not allergic to the stem cells. I had a headache that was all consuming on Tuesday. There’s a team of doctors that come in every morning to see how you’re doing, they cancelled everything I had scheduled for the day and ordered me some medication and told me to rest. They didn’t seem concerned, apparently it’s a common side effect. Well, those two little pills did the trick! I slept all day, was still able to sleep all night, and woke up headache free! Deana and I ventured out to the store ourselves today armed only with my electronic translator. We got everthing we needed from the grocery store, and even did a little side shopping! Came back and I had PT (where1 I realized everything I need to work on- balance wise). OOPS-dinner just came, gotta eat it while it’s hot
3 comments September 24th, 2008
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5 comments September 23rd, 2008
