Saturday, November 8, 2008

Final Medical Update

I have been given a clean bill of health from my doctor and released to do most things. I am much more mobile than I was 16 weeks ago, Duh! But I still have a long road ahead of me. I do what the doctors tell me to do and I am living proof that if you take care of your body (Save for this accident that got me to surgery) then your body will take care of you.

I have been eating well and taking it a step further and even cutting meat out of my diet. Having my daughter as inspiration helps me to keep going with my vegetarianism. I stopped taking my MS medications as well, for during my first few weeks home, the side effects from thee injection were too much for me and I thought my top priority should be the healing process of my back, I would think about the medication later on.

I am now going back and forth between bike riding (I have a 3 wheeler old lady style bike which is perfect for me and the doctor loves said bike) and walking. I had not been on my big girl tricycle for over four months and it felt good to be back peddling once again. I took it slow and will continue to do so until I am where I need to be to let it loose in the biking world.

The next thing my doctor recommends is Pilates. I know of it, but not 100% sure what it is all about. All I know is that it concentrates on your core, and with your back being your core, then my first from of real exercise, other than walking, will be Pilates. I am going to rent some DVDs from the library to see what this is all about and go from there.

I am off my sleep aid, which is fantastic and I am cutting down my Lyrica and should hopefully be off of that completely in about 1-2 months. I do not like drugs. Do not get me wrong, they serve a purpose, but many people run to drugs...I do not. In this instance, to me, less is better. I took what I had to and hoped I would not ben on anything they gave me for any length of time. I truly believe we are an over-medicated society and people think everything can and should be cured with a popped bill. I think not. Other than major surgeries or injuries, pills can become a crutch. I prefer to stand on my own, unless absolutely necessary.

I am glad this ordeal, for the most part, is behind me, and look forward to the day I no longer have to do things with aids. I look forward to lifting things on my own, without assistance, or asking for help. Judi Dench had this line from the movie Chocolat where she is in need of help from other due to her diabetes, she refuses the help most of the time, and her line that she delivered in true Dench style was, "When I need help I will ask for it." I may not have the quote exactly, but you get the meaning behind it. I asked for help when I needed it, it is not always easy but a necessity in life sometimes. I would live to be someone who never needed to ask for help, but that would be a fantasy world, this is real life.

I am on my way so move aside.

6 comments:

Denise Punger MD IBCLC said...

I'm glad you are doing well. I am going to bring the China Study CD to the office on Monday. I'll hold it for you. You still come by there for co-op, right?

Synia said...

Glad to hear you are doing so well! I have had several(9 to be exact) surgeries myself over the past four years and know what a struggle it can be trying to rest and heal yet not wanting to ask for help fom anyone unless it is crucial, so I know how frustrating it can be.
Pilates is similar to yoga but takes a lot more strength. Make sure to start off slow or you will be so sore that it will take you a week to be able to do it again! That's what happened to me the first time I did it. :)
Good luck!!

Paula Vince said...

Good news to hear. I completely agree with your sentiments about drugs. I like that quote of yours, "If you look after your body it'll look after you." I'm going to add it to my quote collection.
Blessings,
Paula

Anonymous said...

Congrats on the clean bill of health!!!! WAAHOOOO!!!!
I am glad you are still going to take it slow.
My YMCA offers Pilates, I haven't checked it out yet. Too busy during the day doing school!!!
Glad you are doing wonderfully. Keep up the good work.
bunny

besaroboy said...

Fantastic to hear you are doing so well. I totally agree with you on the concept of treating your body well and having it treat you well back. Be careful with the pilates, it can be intense. I am sure there a many intro level classes and much beginning material out there to check out. It would be great to get a physical therapist that could work with you individually, probably wouldn't be cheap though Good luck with the rest of your recovery and I am so glad to hear it is going well.

Tara B. said...

Glad to hear you are doing so well!

The pilates would be a good idea, but even better IMHO would be Yoga! Check out some Dvd's by Rodney Yee to get you started.

Yoga is as good for the mind as it is the body!