> ... and can no longer do?
HOUSE REPAIR & MODIFICATIONS (E.G. WIRING, CARPENTRY, LADDER WORK)
GARDENING (WEEDING, LAWNMOWING, CHAINSAWING)
MECHANICS (VEHICLE MAINTENANCE, DEVICE FABRICATION)
HOBBIES (BEE KEEPING, RADIO CONTROLLED GLIDERS)
PHYSICAL SEX
> Can you drive... a standard?
YES, BUT I SHOULDN'T, SO I RARELY DO.
> Can you travel?
YES
> How has tm affected your work?
ALMOST NOT APPLICABLE; I'M RETIRED.
I DID HAVE TO QUIT A PART TIME JOB IN A HOBBY SHOP.
I'M STILL VERY ACTIVE IN MUNICIPAL OBLIGATIONS.
> Do you use a wheelchair or other walking aids ?
ALL THE TIME.
WHEELCHAIR FOR LONG SITUATIONS (TIME OR DISTANCE).
WALKER FOR TOILET, SHOWER, & FIRST IN THE MORNING.
FOREARM CRUTCHES OTHERWISE.
WHEELCHAIR OR WALKER WHEN I HAVE TO CARRY THINGS.
> Can you swim or hike?
SWIM YES! THIS COUCH POTATO HASN'T HIKED IN YEARS.
> Can you walk on uneven surfaces or up slopes?
ONLY WITH CRUTCHES.
WITH DIFFICULTY IF THE GROUND SLOPES DOWN TO MY RIGHT
(THE RIGHT ANKLE WANTS TO TURN UNDER LIKE A CLUB FOOT)
> Can you climb stairs?
ONLY WITH CRUTCHES. EASILY IF THERE IS A STRONG RAIL,
ONLY WITH FEAR AND WITHOUT SAFETY IF THERE IS NO RAIL.
> Can you balance on ladders of various sizes?
UNKNOWN. PROBABLY NOT, BECAUSE I CANNOT NOW BEAR MY
(CONSIDERABLE) WEIGHT ON THE FRONT OF MY FEET.
I COULD NOT USE THE LADDER AT THE SWIMMING POOL.
AND MY BALANCE IS NOT VERY GOOD.
> Overall, how has fatigue affected your quality of life?
A DAMN INCONVENIENCE!
> RECOVERY
>
> If your legs feel tired, numb, tingly or painful, when you walk, did
> they feel this way BEFORE you were able to walk?
NOT NEARLY AS MUCH (E.G. 5% OF CURRENT PROBLEM)
> If proprioception was a problem did it improve?
A BIT. I STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT MY RIGHT LEG IS DOING.
> If your gait was poor did it improve?
GETTING BETTER ALL THE TIME.
> Did exercise improve your gait and proprioception?
GAIT ABSOLUTELY YES. Proprioception NOT REALLY.
> If you have numbness or lack of sensation in your lower legs is it
> better than it was? Is it improving? Does it prevent you from walking?
NOT REALLY. NOT REALLY. NOT REALLY.
> Did you have problems with bowel and bladder?
I RECOVERED FROM TOTAL INCONTINENCE (KNOWLEDGE WITHOUT
MUCH CONTROL.) but PROBABLY AS A RESULT OF RECENT HEART
MEDICATIONS, I NOW HAVE DRIBBLE & DROPS PROBLEMS.
> Are you still seeing recovery?
YUP!
Alton