I have been monitoring Bill's fears and thoughts, actually just skimming
over the some 80 or so e-mails I came home to.
Bill, the first few days, I was flat on my back, being given IV steroids,
then the fourth day was the first day I could actually stand for the first
time. It seemed I improved daily for the first month, then all improvement
took a standstill. I was getting very frustrated, because I was feeling
that I was not going to get any better, but actually stressing over it
makes it worse. Stress can set you back. You have to keep thinking
positively.
Now I compare my improvement month to month. I can do a little more than I
was able to do a month ago, I can walk a little further without getting
fatigued. A month ago, I could barely muster up enough energy to make it
to the grocery store to buy a few items, then be absolutely exhausted (and
yes, the feet are very painful and legs very achy after that). Now I can
actually go to the post office, the grocery store and even Kmart, before I
have had enough and have to go home to rest. I had a back spasm while on
my trip to Amish country in Indiana, but I was also only getting 5 hours of
sleep each night. The doctor warned me to get 12 hours of sleep nightly,
so I was disobeying doctor's orders.
The main thing is to never give up, never let the frustration get you down.
You will get through it. Maybe you could look at this as a means to
channel your energies in a different direction, maybe less physical
activity and more brain activity.
Until later,
Debbie