As I get older (I am 67), my balance is worse & walking can really fatigue me. Also it seems the weather bothers me more. I use a walker at home & try to only use my cane when going out if I have someone on the other side to hold onto & steady my walking. When I go to the grocery store I use one of their riding cart & the housekeeper does the actual shopping. I just make the shopping list & direct. I find as I have more problems with walking I tend to stay home. Try to get to grocery store once weekly, to Dr. appointments, & the American Legion monthly (to wrap my lips around some scotch & soda)! I use an exercise machine 5-6 days/week to try & maintain my muscle strength. Even after 81/2 years with TM, I am still uncomfortable being around people I don't know well when using the walker or cane. Linda E .
________________________________ From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Saturday, January 26, 2013 11:19 AM Subject: Re: [TMIC] Tonight, Today, Tomorrow Linda, It sounds like you loved to use your hands. I'm sorry for your loss. Are you able to walk? Just curious, Jude In a message dated 1/26/2013 12:10:55 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes: I lost a wonderful job working in a local Public Health Department. I had worked there for 12 years & loved every minute of the job. I went to the doctor with severe numbness & loss of motor function, I then saw a neurologist & after a 36 years as a nurse, my career was over. I left work that day & was never able to return - very hard to deal with & probably took 2-3 yeas to finally accept. >I miss dancing; I was not the greatest but I enjoyed it. >The main thing I miss now is only having partial use of my hands. About 2 >years into TM I developed essential tremors in both hands (especially the >right hand & I am right handed). I take Primidone but it really doesn't help >a lot. The main thing that helps the tremors is alcohol & I can't drink every >4-6 hours, (but some days I try). Between the severe numbness & tremors, >using my hands can be difficult. I had always enjoyed sewing, needlework, >crocheting, scrap booking, & just anything involving arts & crafts. I got >rid of 95% of my craft & sewing items because I could not stand not being >able to use them (I had a whole room for crafts). I have found I can do >jigsaw puzzles - the 3-D ones with larger foam pieces or a little crocheting >if I keep it at 15 -20 minutes. >I try to be positive as much as possible, knowing there are many people with >much worse difficulty than me. On a good note, I have a wonderful supportive >husband (helps with laundry & tries to help cooking), good medical coverage, >& am able to afford someone in to help with the house 3 days weekly. >Life is what you make of it. >Linda E. > > > >________________________________ > From: john snodgrass <[email protected]> >To: transverse myelitis <[email protected]> >Sent: Saturday, January 26, 2013 5:44 AM >Subject: Re: [TMIC] Tonight, Today, Tomorrow > > >i was a work-a-holic >i sure miss that! > > > >________________________________ > From: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> >To: [email protected] >Cc: [email protected] >Sent: Friday, January 25, 2013 10:32 PM >Subject: [TMIC] Tonight, Today, Tomorrow > > >Hi everybody, > >Tonight, sitting here doing nothing, I'm wondering how Transverse Myelitis >has affected your life. What has it stolen from you. Maybe everything, >maybe nothing. I'm sure it is a personal thing. > >Some people choose to focus on life and believe that everything in life >happens for a reason. > >I love life and refuse to let TM steal one minute. Life is made up of many >joyous moments and I choose to focus on those moments, not TM. > >Because of my love for life, I refuse to feel sorry for myself. I've learned >to be outspoken about my TM and I've become a demanding person because of TM. > > >I hate that I've had to give up driving and remember how it used to feel >heading down the highway with my arm resting on the window turned all the way > down. > >Always remember that today could be potentially the best day of your life. >Never take today for granted. When you wake up each morning remember to >thank God for giving you another day. > >Always end the day with a positive thought. No matter how hard thing were, >Tomorrow is a fresh opportunity to make it better. (unknown) > > > > > >
