6 DAYS TO GO

I have plenty to do before I leave on my trip. Lots of work to wrap up, packing and cleaning. Who wants to return to a messy home? 

Today I went to my last physical therapy before I leave. My heel and area right in front of my heel are killing me. It hurts to walk so I drove to the appointment. It amazes me how I went from feeling slight pain to horrible pain. I wish I never went to that other physical therapist. He caused the inflammation in my heel by being to hard on my foot. My therapist put some tape on my foot to help support my ankle. I am not sure it helped. 

The thing helping the most is soaking my foot in hot water. I make the water as hot as I can stand. I am also taking Advil to try decrease the inflammation. I have 6 days to stop the pain. 

Until tomorrow...

FINISHED A PROJECT

I am so happy! I finished one more big project for work. These projects are behind schedule but I'm getting them done before my trip. 

Tonight I watched some videos of my camper van in the cold weather. It made me feel more confident about camping in very cold weather. 

Lucky seemed better today. She isn't shivering like she was. She isn't cold, I think it is pain. I've also increased the gabapentin dose. 

I walked 5,120 steps today and my foot/heel is feeling a bit better. I think I found something that makes it feel better: I'm using a facial roller on my calf. A facial roller is a stone roller that you run across your face to get rid of wrinkles. Since my calves are so tight and painful, I thought I would try running my facial roller and it seems to be working. I'm still wearing the night boot to keep my foot in the right position and doing my physical therapy exercises. 

Until tomorrow...

STARTING PHYSICAL THERAPY AGAIN

I went to my first physical therapy today. The place would not let me continue from my physical therapy last fall so I had to start over. 

I need to work on my feet, shoulder and back. Do you ever feel like you are falling apart, one piece at a time? 

Until tomorrow...

pHYSICAL THERAPY

I am still flaring and exhausted. I had physical therapy today and he stretched and twisted my shoulder. He did some sort of ultrasound. At first it felt good and then it hurt. He said my muscle was twisted or cramping. 

My shoulder really hurt after my trip. Carrying my backpack did not make my shoulder feel better. He put more RockTspe on my shoulder. 

Until tomorrow...

BORING DAY

 I had another day of PT today. He is working on my shoulder. My shoulder hurts so much. 

Instead of my meditation class today I decided to do my own thing. 

It was a boring day!

Until tomorrow...

MBSR COURSE #6

 My family is visiting but today they went on a wine bus tour. They are visiting some vineyards to drink wine. I don't drink so I wasn't invited. It is probably just as well. 

The contractor was supposed to come and, possibly, finish. They did not come today so it is not finished yet. I am getting used to my new stairs. They aren't as slippery anymore. I think it was sawdust making is slippery. 

I had a physical therapy appointment for my back. He was surprised how much it hurts. He gave me some exercises to do. He said the exercises I have been doing for more than 30 years are not the way they treat back problems. Interesting!

Then in the afternoon I went to the dentist to have my invisilign checked. She filed the sides of my teeth so my teeth can move more. I can't change my "braces" for another 4 days. I am on #9 out of 12. 

The MBSR course was not too much fun this time. I got irritated when the instructor embarrassed me. I will get over it but I didn't like being embarrassed. 

I made the potato salad for tomorrow's barbecue. It is lemony potato salad. I am probably put some dill in it too. It tastes good. 

Until tomorrow...

SUCH A BUSY DAY

What a busy day! I was out of my house more than I was in it. I had a physical therapy appointment, eye doctor appointment, ran errands and then, an acupuncture appointment. 

I saw the physical therapist for my neck and shoulder. The PT used Rocktape to see if that helps my shoulder.

Then, I drove right over to my eye doctor appointment. They needed to check my eyes because I take plaquenil. Nothing changed. 

Then I ran over and picked up my clean comforter and to get my enlarged photos. The photos look fabulous enlarged! I'm hanging them in the kitchen where I am replacing my flower pictures from three years ago. The pictures are of some of my food photos. 

Then I ran over to my acupuncture appointment. I really needed it. I got lost going to the appointment. I knew where I needed to be but I forgot how to get there. I got a nice tour of the area. 

I got the rest of the results from my lab test. No UTI. My doctor agrees that it might be inflammation in my bladder or kidneys. I decreased the Prednisone last Sunday. I am down to 4.25. 

That is enough for today.

Until tomorrow...

GOOD NEWS FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY

 I finally heard from the insurance company about my home. The woman called and said that the company feels terrible that I was treated so poorly the first time the inspector came out and they are covering some of the damage. We are in negotiations to cover the rest. It felt good to hear an apology about the way I was treated. 

The builder called and he is ready to start work on Monday or Tuesday. I can't wait. I told him to do what he needed to do. I want it done before my parents visit. 

I had another physical therapy session this morning. I have been in a lot of pain in my neck and shoulder. Seems that by trying to fix my shoulder, my neck got tweaked. Now we have to stop the pain in my neck before we can work on the shoulder. Ugh!

Thought you might like to see Lucky in her new bed. I started noticing that her old bed was smelly so I bought a couple of new beds and she seems to really like them. They are soft and kind of furry. 

Until tomorrow...

NEW VEGAN SNEAKERS

My new sneakers from Inkka showed up today. I wear sneakers everyday and I think it is healthy to switch up shoes. 

I saw these cute vegan sneakers and decided to get them. They are made from vegan blue suede and textiles. They have a cute little koala. Plus a green is planted for each sneaker purchased. 

They are super comfortable. 

I had my physical therapy appointment this morning. My right shoulder was hurting so he just worked on my neck. I have lots of neck exercises to do. I hope it eases my pain. 

Until tomorrow...

RA SUPPORT GROUP MEETING

 Today was my PT appointment for my shoulders. I went in feeling pretty good and left with a sore right shoulder. I thought PT was supposed to make you feel better?! 

Tonight was my RA support group meeting. I arranged for a speaker to talk about stress and how it effects autoimmune diseases. She spoke about what you can do to decrease stress - build a community, learn coping skills, etc. It was all information I have heard before since I know her but the rest of the group seemed really involved. I shared what I learned two days ago about the Tiger Project. 

Until tomorrow...

PHYSICAL THERAPY SHOULDER #2

 Today was my second physical therapy session for my shoulder. He said he could see I was doing my exercises. I got this appointment because I was on standby. 

First he stretches my shoulder a few different ways and then I start doing exercises with latex bands. This time I did some neck stretches also. 

I asked him about the issue I had when I was driving. After hours of driving, I get pains in my shins when I have to press on the break in traffic. Kind of a cramping. He said it is shin splints. He showed me what to do to help the problem. Once again I was doing the absolute wrong thing to make it feel better. When you know, you know. 

Until tomorrow...

PHYSICAL THERAPY FOR MY SHOULDER

I had my first physical therapy appointment for my shoulders. I got good news: he says my rotator cuffs are not torn. He says I just injured them. Well, I injured my left one when I fell in 2019 and then I irritated the right one by overcompensating. 

He gave me some exercises to do to make my shoulder feel better. He said it was stiff from not using it for so long. 

Until tomorrow...

EASTER MONDAY

 I had my final physical therapy appointment for my Achilles tendon today. I spoke to my physical therapist about my new physical therapy order for my torn rotator cuff. He said he "loves" working on shoulders so he will continue being my therapist for my shoulder injury. It makes it easier because he already knows me and we work well together. I start next week. 

I heard from the vet about Lucky. She is doing really well and is in good health.  All her blood and urine came back good. The only item that was something to worry about was her blood pressure. She had this once before. Last time we went back and they took her blood pressure outside and she was fine. She gets too worked up waiting for the appointment. 

Until tomorrow...

DAY TWO OF INSURANCE PHONE CALLS

 This morning there was water dripping out of the holes I drilled. Not a lot but some. 

To add insult to injury, I lost the internet today for the whole day. 

I spoke to the insurance rep today and the inspector is coming tomorrow. 

I spoke to the restoration rep and she said their company can not come but she gave me a lot of tips. 

The dehumidifier showed up today and it is so large I can't lift it. My handyman is coming tomorrow and he can help me take it downstairs. It is useless unless it stops raining. 

It was really windy today but the rain seems to have stopped for a bit. 

I had my last physical therapy appointment for a few weeks so I will see how that goes. 

Until tomorrow...

VERY BUSY DAY

 Today was very busy. First I got up early and took my car to the shop to get checked. It turned out it just needed fluids. It is in good shape. 

Then I went to physical therapy. My therapist thought I was in good shape. Turns out most people do not do the exercises at home. I have been doing them and I seem to be getting much better. 

Then I came home to let in the landscaper and handyman. The landscaper finished up some last minute things. The handyman waterproofed the standing garden, capped the non-working plug. He is coming tomorrow to finish the work. 

The poor landscaper had the catalytic convertor stolen out of his truck. He had to take the bus and has no tools. I felt so bad for him. 

It was a busy day. 

Until tomorrow...

NO PHYSICAL THERAPY

 I had to cancel my physical therapy appointment. A) you are not supposed to go if you are not well but I think it is in case you have Covid and I do not have Covid and B) I was afraid I would get sick at the physical therapy appointment and there is nothing more awful than being away from home when you get ill. 

Until tomorrow...

QUITE UNWELL

 I woke up yesterday with a gastrointestinal issue. I won't go into details but I didn't feel well which is why I didn't get much done. I thought it was a one-off. It was not. I think it is food poisoning. 

Why, you might ask? I was at an early physical therapy appointment and it struck again. I had to leave the appointment right in the middle. 

I haven't eaten anything but toast for two days now but I keep having issues. 

I did a COVID test yesterday and it came out negative.  I checked because I was at the dentist on Friday and obviously unmasked.

I am going to sleep early. 

Until tomorrow...

PHYSICAL THERAPY PROGRESSING

I had physical therapy this morning and it went well. I received more exercises to do. I have been told I am progressing well. 

I took Lucky on a long walk again today. She is really doing well on her walks. 

I am so busy at work!! 

I spoke to my friend tonight. It was so good to hear from her. It's been a month since we spoke. 

Until tomorrow...

I MADE SHOYO RAMEN

I had another physical therapy appointment today. He couldn't do much because my ankle is a bit sprained. He put this tape on my ankle to stabilize it. It isn't an ace bandage or sports tape. It is a type of Kinesiology Tape that is stuck on me for days. It is making my ankle feel better. 

Then I took Lucky to the pet store. I needed bird food and I want to get Lucky used to being in the car more. I want to take Lucky on a longer car ride. She did great. 

In the evening I made Shoyo ramen. I used the dashi stock that I made overnight to make the broth. Then I boiled some noodles and cut up some tofu and veggies. It was delicious! 

I'm hoping I sleep good tonight.

Until tomorrow...

SECOND PHYSICAL THERAPY APPOINTMENT

 I got up early and took little Lucky to the vet. My vet is so nice. He didn't even charge me for the visit. He looked at her walk and said there was nothing broken but he thinks it is a muscle strain. He said up her meds and make her sleep for a few days and see if she feels better. She probably pulled a hammy. 

Then I got home for the electrician. He found the problem and it was not good news. The electric plug in the backyard where I was going to plug in the water feature has died. Died in like not to be revived. The line is dead. Something happened and it isn't the plug but the whole line. ERG. He got the rest of the backyard working again. Darn rain!

Now I have to problem solve and figure out a way to get electricity to the water feature without digging up all the newly laid landscaping. If the plug died a week ago this would have been a lot easier! I have a plan but I need an electrician to come back and implement it. 

Then in the afternoon I went to my second physical therapy session. It has been ages since my first physical therapy session because the scheduling person messed up and put me with the wrong PT person and then when I tried to change it, the hospital said I could not change it in the new year because they were checking to make sure everyone had insurance. Then when that date passed, I called and they said that now my order for PT had expired and they needed a new order to make new appointments. The bureaucracy! It was easier to foster a kid! 

I have my new PT exercises and the physical therapist was quite pleased with my progress. 

Until tomorrow...