Patrisha

August 22, 2007

Yesterday and Today

Yesterday first. Quite unexpectedly, we got taken out to dinner again yesterday. Fred’s son-in-law called and said he was taking his parents out to dinner at the Longhorn and did we want to come too? The other choice was he would bring his parents by to visit us after dinner… Well, Fred let me decide and I decided we would go out. I really like E’s parents and it had been actually years since we had seen them. It was a very pleasant evening.

And something else about yesterday was that I got the walker and the other stuff I used when I was not allowed to bend over down to the basement and stored away. The only thing I forgot was the raised toilet seat which I will get stored today. I also cleaned the floor in our bedroom and picked up all the stuff lying on the floor on my side of the bed. I have a bunch of recyclable paper ready to go out to thr trash later on.

This morning I called my doctor {the regular doctor not the surgeon} and got an appointment for next Tuesday. I am having trouble staying asleep. I sleep from 11 to 2, get up until 3 or 4, and then go back to bed to sleep a couple more hours. And my restless leg syndrome {RLS} is a large part of it, I think. {If you don’t know about RLS, go here.} When I am tired or anxious, it becomes MUCH worse and moves into my arms too.

I am tired because I can’t get a good night’s sleep and I am anxious about the forthcoming trip to Italy and so not only am I getting this stuff at night, I am also getting it during the day, too, like right now. Well, normal movement during the day assuages it a lot but it is definitely destroying my sleep. And I am very anxious about being on a plane with this… I am actually taking nortriptylene for this {and for depression} and under normal conditions, it does a reasonable job. But these are not normal conditions. I may even have to give up my long-held dislike of using drugs advertised on TV in order to get some relief from this and to not have to cope with it on the planes next month.

One thing that is making me anxious about traveling is that although I know I can walk with a cane, I have no idea how far it will be from the landing gate to the next boarding gate when I fly from Philadelphia to Rome and from Rome to Pisa. So, a few minutes ago, I called the travel agent and asked her could she arrange for wheelchair transportation for me in Italy. She said she could and did I also want her to arrange for this in the States, too? YES! So, all I have to do is to be sure to have a goodly number of dollar bills and euros available to tip with!

Pool therapy today! We are having company this weekend so I need to do a little tidying up. But actually, not much more than tidying since I have been mostly staying on top of what has to be done…

QUOTATIONS:

"Step by step. I can’t think of any other way of accomplishing anything."

Michael Jordan

If you have the courage to begin, you have the courage to succeed.

— David Viscott

How cool that Fred’s son also has a diary!

TheWoodsprite

August 23, 2007

I hope you’ll soon be able to sleep better. And it’s a WONDERFUL thing, that you have got the assurance of wheelchair transportation at the airports!! hugs, Weesprite

Orange Sorbet

I know about restless leg syndrome as David has it and him suddenly twitching wakes me up! It’s good that you can get the use of a wheelchair!

VeronicaCorningstone

ryn: I *might* have a mentor in the district. I’m supposed to. The principal hasn’t mentioned it again since the day I came out to order supplies. According to several of the teachers, even 2nd year staffers are supposed to have one. Other than that, my “help” comes from asking teachers questions about things. Not that they aren’t helpful, I just don’t want them to think I don’t know anything.

darlingnikki

I’m sorry your restless leg syndrome is bothering you so much. I think that sounds miserable. But other than the bad night’s sleep it sounds like a good couple of days. yay!

RYN: Oh! Oops! Helps to read ALL the words! I just think it’s cool that OD is something you all share. I couldn’t get my mother on here for all the tea in China!

momof2boys2

Dinner sounds nice, I can’t believe you packed up everything already, you are moving right along. I think you will do just fine in Italy. Of course they are on a different time schedule maybe that will work for you.

Violet

It’s a good thing anxiety doesn’t trigger those symptoms in me; I’d be one big walking twitch right about now. Want me to sent you some Xanax? 😉

Telynor

Having that wheelchair on hand when I travel is a godsend when I get to the airports — they get a nice big burly fellow to whisk me right along, and mentally, it was a huge help knowing that I wasn’t going to have to worry about getting to the proper gate. And it’s -always- longer to the right gate than you think.

Shi

Mezzo

There now. You solved your own problem just like you always do!!!! The wheelchairs will make it all easy, and hopefully you’ll get some good looking Italian lad to push you!!!!!! *Wink*… Glad all is well otherwise. Smooch the Fred for me, will ya????

Pat

I think that getting a wheelchair is an A-1 idea! I hope the anxiousness about Italy is really just excitement. I’m sure you’re going to have such a wonderful time there. (((Hugs)))

I’m telling you–having someone zip you from gate to gate without having to joust with all the other folks rushing around the airport? That’s gong to be heaven. We cadged a ride once for my grandma, and it was the pleasantest flight experience I’ve ever had.

Ghost of Gettysburg

I’m glad they have wheelchair transportation. It does sound like you’re making good progress, and I suspect you actually might not need it as much as you fear you will… But, it never hurts to be safe, especially if you might be at risk of missing your flight.

gray tabby

i read fred’s sil’s diary. i’m glad you decided to get wheelchair transportation for the airports. that probably would have been too much walking. i imagine those airports are huge!! how nice to go out to dinner. take care,

That’s a great idea about the wheel chair. Some of those gates are far apart…even for people that are supposed to be in good shape.

SOunds like a pretty busy day. I have RLS too and am out of my meds right now. The past couple of nights have been pretty bad. Have you tried Lyrica for it? That’s what my dr. has me on and it helps so much!! Hope you get some sleep tonight! Hugs, M

SomeKindOfACircle

August 24, 2007

I have RLS too & have had, probably for 20 years. It doesn’t bother me much unless I am stressed OR sitting in a vehicle straight-up too long will bring it on. But I can attest there definitely is a stress factor involved in it’s appearance. When is it you leave on your trip? How great you put away all that stuff you needed before! Anna

rapson Hussein michigan

I think that when being wisked thru the airport in Philly you should shout ‘get out of the way’ in Italian. Then in Rome shout it in Proper British. That sure seems like fun to me. Apologise profulsely (sp on both)and hand out dimes. They will know and tell stories of the crazy lady for years. have fun…dan

RYN: Copy and paste this: http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7d605b3127cceba5c87144f2000000026108IZtnDhqxa4 That is the back of her shirt. I didn’t post it for obvious privacy reasons, but I totally trust you. lol Her mascot is the Otters. 🙂