Hi,
Thanks so much for all the positive and helpful replies to my recent
post. Sorry it's taken a while to reply, but I'm still doing all the
physio and rehab stuff etc. and find I don't have the energy most times
for much else right now. (Also I hurt my back so couldn't sit here for
a while). But it really did mean a lot to hear from you all, and I
appreciate it. :-) I'm seeing my dr tomorrow about getting on some
antidepressants, so hopefully things may improve.
I have another question if you don't mind; I've been pushing myself a
bit hard the last week, and trying so hard to get mobility. I went out
my backyard (down 8 steps) on crutches, (clinging on to the banister
mainly), and really hurt my wrists and arms, because most of my weight
was being carried by them. In the house I've been able to use a full
forearm support frame, which I carry most of my weight through my upper
arms, leaning on them and wheeling forward. It's OK for short time, but
I get very fatigued from it, and of course, can't use my arms when
using it. My left leg can't bear any weight at all, and isn't able to
move much, but right leg can bear some weight for very short time,
before it collapses and often goes spastic, but it's OK to propel
forward in a full forearm walker for short 'walks'.
However, my question is this; when I went down the yard, (and up steps
again on my bottom), I found that I really hurt my back, and the pain in
my back and left leg also was so severe it was really hard to cope
with. I also have gotten the bad back pain if I use the forearm frame
for too long. The pain really limits what I can do, because it can take
days or even a week or so to recover from it, and then I'm really stiff
again and have to start from scratch again. Is this a normal part of
TM? Is there a way of avoiding that, or working through it? It's hard
for me here, because none of the doctors (or even my specialist), or
physiotherapists, know much about TM. Most don't know anything about
it; so not really sure how to proceed. They're treating it in physio
similar to stroke patient. The physiotherapist I'm with says she's
never had anyone with this condition before. It makes it a bit hard.
Is recovery and physio similar to stroke patients? Anyhow; not blaming
the physiotherapist, because going down my backyard was my idea - the
physio's have actually been very gentle and careful about doing stuff.
But I just so badly need to get mobility again, because I have 7
aviaries in my yard, (it's a fairly large property, so is a bit of a
trek down there as well). I have been a wildlife carer for 14yrs now,
and over that time, have taken in quite a number of unreleasable
animals, and some unwanted pet birds, that are all beautiful and very
special, have become practically family to me. But I only have until
June or July before I'll lose them all, if I can't get down there to
tend to them; as I asked friends and family to give me that long to
recover, so I wouldn't have to lose them. I made a roster, and people
come and feed my backyard aviary animals every day, so they're all still
well cared for. But obviously I can't expect people to continue to do
this indefinitely. It's been a huge favour to even ask them to help me
for 6 months! Yet the time is getting away, and I still am so far from
being able to get out there, and into aviaries, to look after them all.
It will break my heart to lose them, and I don't think I'd cope if that
happens. I can't even be sure of getting good homes for them all; and
I'd need to be sure they'd all be OK. (This is mainly why I signed
myself out of hospital early (against medical advice); because I needed
to be sure they were all OK). I'd started a rare fauna network just
before I became ill, and we were going to be tracking and helping out
the rare yellow bellied glider in this area, and also to help monitor
and help with the koala atlas. (I did a koala care course in November,
a month before getting TM. All of this I've lost now. I was working
at Taronga Zoo last year at this time, doing very physical work. I
can't believe that I'm now in a wheelchair unable to walk.
On the positive side; one thing that I haven't lost though, is the
network for Australian wildlife carers, which I run, and do the website
for. At least I can do that whilst disabled. (The network forum and
website I designed is www.ozark.wild.net.au if anyone is interested to
have a look. The story about one of the ybg I cared for is under
'information' -->'discussion' if you were wondering what they are).
Also; am doing some crafts which help to take away the huge stress and
depression. It helps a lot. Anyway; sorry again for the long blurb.
(I'm waiting at present for one of my 'feeders' to come to do my birds,
but he's not arrived yet; (which is probably why this is so long!)
Thanks all.
Take care, and all my best wishes to you all.
Kate
