mike-huddleston
Forum Replies Created
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Hey Kevin and all –
I usually stay in my chair once I’m up. My schedule varies based on whether I’m going to the office (up at 4 a), work from home (up at 7 a), or have the day off (up whenever I wake up). I do need help getting out of bed, more along the lines of getting my pants and socks and shoes on, and then sitting up. We are considering buying a sleep # bed, with head incline, and I’m interested to see if that alters my behavior any. I can transfer with a board. Once up, I very seldom get back out of the chair until I’m heading back to bed (between 9 p and mid). I do tilt/recline and other pressure relief measures throughout the day, but nowhere near like I should. I do get out for aqua (pool) therapy, but that’s only on Fridays. I also have a NuStep, but haven’t been using that much lately. I just got a leg stabilizer and am hopeful that will help, and if so, plan to integrate that into my exercise routine a few times a week. But that is still sitting.
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Saw that and read your response, Kevin. There are a stunning amount of clueless and ignorant people. But, fortunately, they are outweighed by the supportive and compassionate folks out there. As if his original tweet didn’t convey it, his reply about not being “bullied by a gang of losers on mobility scooters or wheelchairs” proves beyond doubt to me that he’s nothing more than a troll trying to make controversial comments to stir some nonsense. His suggestion is never going to happen. I don’t mind educating those genuinely interested in learning or establishing a dialogue. I don’t give people like this moron a second thought. With trolls, responding only gives them motivation to continue.
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Thanks Kevin and DeAnn!
It went reasonably well. They had fluoroscopy available, but tried the LP without it. After the “pin cushion” experiment was over and they actually started using fluoroscopy, it went fine. About two hours in recovery, no headache and just a little discomfort (more of a light ache) in my back. Popped a few Tylenol and by the next morning, I was feeling fine. I jut got back from my weekly aqua therapy session, and no concerns. I had checked previously and again on Wednesday about the pool today, and the doctors said there were no risks or concerns from the LP, as long as it wasn’t the next day.
Will definitely provide updates.
Silly question: They asked me if I wanted to keep the Spinraza box. I said, “No thanks.” Is that a common question and if so, how do you all feel about keeping the box?
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Could not agree more. Love me some New Balance shoes in wide widths. Double wide (2E) usually works for me, but I believe I’ve seen them with up to 4E widths in some styles. They have the typical athletic style shoes, but some of their colors, like black and brown, masquerade quite nicely as casual shoes.
If in need of some dressier styled shoes, some Rockports are available in wide widths. I mean, I’m not going to make the GQ cover anytime soon, but I’m in a good place with that.
Interestingly, for pants, the nice ones like I wear to work, I buy the year round wool pants from LL Bean or Lands End. They are thin, meaning lightweight, so not horribly hot in the summer. Not much in the way of warmth in the winter, but I don’t hang outside anymore than necessary when it’s really cold. I get them with the comfort waist (built in expansion) and they do seem to do the trick. ALSO, the material of these is excellent for board transfers.
One question I do have is about tucking shirts in. What do you all do? I usually don’t, unless a dressier occasion, but for polo style shirts, whether long or short sleeved, I just leave untucked and kind of gathered at the waist. Again, not GQ material, but that’s about 110th on my top 50 list. Those commercials for the no tuck shirts seem interesting, but I’ve priced them and they’re much more expensive than what I normally spend on button up (dress) shirts.
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Thank you, Michael.
And Kevin, this is a great community here. Glad I stumbled upon it.
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That’s seriously a good point. Last summer on vacation, one of my wife’s cousins and I were talking. He asked what I’m sure he intended as a harmless question: “Are you still working?” Me: “Of course.” Him: “Really??!! Good for you. That’s really, really good for you.” And this was surrounding a conversation about work in general. Now, I’ve been working for the same company for over 30 years [uh, ahem, I started when I was 5 as the child labor laws were different back then 😉 ] and he didn’t ask if I was planning on retiring anytime soon, but seemed surprised that I was still working since my transition to a w/c full time back in 2015. And this is someone who has known me for over 35 years. I wasn’t offended, necessarily, but rather amused that he didn’t think I’d still be working.
Don’t get me wrong, lose my mortgage payment (shocker #2: some people in wheelchairs do own their own homes!!) and have some kind of stability or decent (read: affordable) healthcare options and I’d consider retiring, but I have expenses and obligations (just like most others) that makes that impractical at present.
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Hey DeAnn – Definitely agree that it’s a “to each their own” kind of thing. I just haven’t talked with others about it, so was a little surprised when they asked. I didn’t know if it was an often asked question. With the price, I can understand why. Didn’t mean for it to sound judgmental if it came across that way.
Next two loading doses have been scheduled for 5/16 and 5/30. 🙂