Do I really need something more to help me?

I have been falling quite a bit lately (including today again) and have been thinking I need more support when I am walking than just a single point cane I have been using for 10 years.

I spoke with the occupational therapist last week.  She did not think the quad cane would be great.  She actually had me thinking that a rollator walker might be OK!

So she is bringing both for me to try on Thursday.

But since then, I have been having second thoughts about whether or not I really need something else.  I know that I need to eat better (and I am addressing that) and that I need to get more exercise (and I am just starting to address that).  Perhaps if I do both of those things, my balance and walking will improve.  And I might not need this extra aid I am contemplating now.  But, too, my condition is progressive.  I will continue to get worse.  Even if my eating and exercise help and get me to the point again where I am OK with just a single point cane, there will come a time when I will need more.

It's a lot to think about and pray about.


What I have eaten today:

Breakfast
1 smoothie with frozen fruit, yogurt, milk and 1 egg

Lunch
1 BLT on whole wheat bread
chocolate milk (chocolate fix!)

Dinner

spaghetti with homemade sauce.
(shhhhh  Don't tell a certain 17 year old that I cooked and blended up broccoli, onion and green pepper and put it in the sauce.  More veggies for all of us and she is none the wiser!  And the sauce was amazing!)

PLUS
3 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
chocolate in the milk at lunch and the ice cream
Yes, I said ice cream.  I had 1 bowl of Heavenly Hash ice cream!  It was a treat,  I REALLY wanted a sweet treat tonight.  So much for all that exercise today!  :)

At least 2 sets, 10 reps each leg of hip extensions
1-8:20 am
2-5:16 pm
3- 10:30 pm

I think I did about half an hour of walking today too!  Which included a fall into a snowbank getting off the bus.  :(  My glasses and I went flying!  A young lady was there to kindly help me.  I am OK.  Just more wounded pride and loss of dignity.  :(

Toodles!

Veggies! Plus something else...

Something I have not mentioned is that I have a genetic condition called Spino Cerebellar Ataxia It is a condition I inherited from my father's side of the family.  This affects me in a number of ways.  My balance is very bad, my memory is awful, I have double vision, I fatigue very easily.

I have been using a single point cane for 10 years.  I have been starting to think I needed a quad cane or a rollator walker UGH!  The OT (occuptaional therapist) came today and tested my strength and talked about the pros and cons for both the quad cane and the  rollator walker. In a week or so, both are going to be delivered to the house and the OT will show me how to use both.  I am going to test both out and see what works best for me and helps the most.  I have always thought, "Ewwww", rollators are for old people.  But this OT had me thinking that maybe that would be best for me.  We shall see.

In testing my strength, the OT said my glutes are very weak.  So the exercise starts TODAY, not April! Leg extensions- 2 sets of 10 reps for each leg.

I got 2 new grab bars installed in the bathroom yesterday!!  It's funny how different things are exciting to different people.  :)

I fell in the kitchen today.  :(  But I did not hit any walls or appliances!  The butter knife I was using fell.  I am not sure if I was trying to grab it before it hit the floor (stupid) or trying to get out of the way of the knife hitting my foot (smarter).  Bruises tomorrow I am sure.  :(

What I have eaten today:

LATE Breakfast
1 bowl of fruit yogurt with bananas and strawberries
I slept until 10:30am.  Massive headache!

LATE Lunch
1 toasted ham and cheese sandwich with mayo
AND some raw broccoli florets dipped in ranch dressing

I was not feeling like eating at lunchtime but I did,  The sandwich was good and I ate the broccoli plain!  But I am SO full right now. That sandwich and broccoli should have been lunch and a snack later.

Dinner
meatballs and rice

Snack
1 piece of apple pie

PLUS
only 2 cups of coffee with flavoured creamer
no chocolate in the house=no late night chocolate munching

Hip extensions-2 sets, 10 reps each leg of hip extensions
1- 1:30 pm
2- 3:00 pm

Toodles!