Checking In

Just thought I would do a post to say that things are plodding along fine at this end.  I've been off work for almost a month now and have been focusing on building up my strength, mobility and confidence and it's been progressing really well. Going out in the car or wheelchair isn't really a big deal any more; my husband and I have got the knack of manoeuvring me about so it's more and more straightforward each time. It would be great if I didn't have to sit in the wheelchair to get about and could rely on my lovely trolley walker, but I don't think that will happen for a little while. In the meantime, I am just enjoying my new-found freedom, even if it does mean I have to sit and be pushed!

It's quite amazing to experience the world from this viewpoint and see just how much things aren't thought about for physically disabled people - things like dropped kerbs being wonky or broken, shops' A-boards in the way on the street and even people who just don't seem to see the wheelchair and act surprised when they nearly crash into it! But on the flip side, there's plenty of ways that things have been thought out properly and we're really appreciating those; I liked this trolley thing at Sainsbury's that clicked on to the wheelchair and we could shop quite easily with it (apart from avoiding the aforementioned oblivious people).

Another brilliant development was that, at the weekend, we discovered I am able to get in and out of bed with my husband's help, and sleep in my back brace. It's not the most comfortable of arrangements, but it does mean that I don't have to have four carers put me to bed at 9.30 pm every single night and wake me at 7.00 am every single morning. What it also means is that, when I have fab friends over for say, oooo Eurovision, I can cancel the carers and stay up late! So we are trying again this weekend and if it is still easy, I may just do it every Saturday night.  Hurrah for being able to manage my own time and stay up on a Saturday!

At least it wasn't nil points for the UK!

The only fly in the ointment is that I am so tired all the time. I assume this is a combination of my body trying to work to get me functioning again but also it's hard to sleep. No specific reason, just general discomfort and me thinking I guess. But it's annoying when I just randomly drop off in the day, especially in public! Need to sort that really, especially if I start to drool....  eek!