Update on my PT - Day 2167 (Year 6, Day 328)

Zephyrhills, FL

Ok, I didn't think I'd write from this address again, but alas...

As you know, I've been going to physical therapy (PT) since March.  I started out going for the pinched nerve in my neck/shoulder for which I was on the 1-10 pain scale of a constant 9-10.  After a few weeks of PT, I felt relief and as of now, you'd never know I even had a problem there.

However, simultaneously, I was having lots of problems with my left hip.  I was well aware that the arthritis was bone on bone and nothing short of a replacement will solve the problem.  But I decided that since I have all these therapy sessions scheduled, I'd focus on the hip since the neck was resolved.

So I've been working with PT for the last 1.5 months.  Since we're moving on Monday, today was my last day at this location.  The outcome:  my therapist feels that I've made excellent improvement in most mobility.  There are, of course, certain movements I can't make without extreme pain due to the bone grinding on the bone, but for the most part, I do have improved mobility.

For now, the recommendation is the next step really needs to be seeing an orthopedic surgeon and planning a hip replacement.  The PT place does have an office near my new location but my therapist recommended to wait about 2 weeks -- to continue my daily exercises and see whether I'm feeling any relief, if it's gotten worse or stays the same before making an appointment for more PT.

So... stay tuned.

Feeling melancholy - Day 2164 (Year 6, Day 325)

Zephyrhills, FL

This is most likely the last time (after 16 months) that I will be posting from this location.  Next will be LOL (Land O'Lakes, FL), as G-d willing, with no obstacles, we will be moving out one week from tomorrow (Monday, June 1st).  When we first arrived here, after Mitch lost his job at the end of Dec. 2018 (we arrived at this location Jan. 4, 2019), we thought it would only be for a few months.  But we have faith that G-d has plans for us, and things turned out well when he landed a full time job (and I lost a lot of work from my clients) just as the pandemic hit.  If you've been following my blog, you know the reason we are moving.

I'm feeling a bit melancholy not only because I'll miss the aesthetics of this campground, but because of the friends I've made here, especially Ellie.  She also has a BFF here (Carol) who's been here for about the same amount of time (5+ years) and as it turns out, Carol is leaving on the same day we are (due to the virus, she lost her job and can't afford the rent here so needs to live with her children hundreds of miles away). Ellie also lost her husband a little over a year ago, so needless to say, this is a very devastating situation for her.

So we planned a special get together with us, Ellie and Carol yesterday.  Had to be outdoors so we could sit separated.  It was a very enjoyable evening, especially when Ellie brought out her guitar.

Thankfully, we'll only be about 25 miles away, and Ellie frequents a health food store that we also go to, which is about 8 miles from our new location.  So hopefully we'll still be able to see each other.

Anyway, will keep you posted from the other side of this adventure!  Confession: I really miss traveling!!!  But it is what it is.  G-d willing, someday we'll be able to retire, trade in our beast for something more travel-able, and really spend time in the rest of the country.  But, alas, plans are made in bubbles.  Just need to take one day at a time.

Moving? - Day 2144 (Year 6, Day 315)

Zephyrhills, FL

No real news since last time, but some updates:

Coronavirus - as of this writing there are about 1.2 million reported cases and about 69,000 deaths.  Of course, since there is still a lack of adequate testing, I'm sure those numbers are doubled or tripled.  There have been a lot of protests and many states are now re-opening, which I think is a huge mistake.  I guess all we can do is continue to protect ourselves (social distancing, hand washing) and wearing masks in public places so we don't infect others in case we're carriers.

Physical therapy - for the most part, I'd say the problem with my neck/shoulder is almost completely healed.  I have some stiffness sometimes but mostly you'd never know there was a problem.  I wish I could say the same about my hip.  The therapists have been focusing on exercises for that but right now (after about 3 weeks) I'm not feeling much of an improvement.  I definitely need a hip replacement but that clearly needs to wait until this coronavirus thing is over and the hospital staffs are better equipped to give me the attention I'll need (not to mention the risks I'd be taking even being in the hospital or rehab).  I'm sure I can find another doctor who's willing to do the surgery before I lose the weight, even though I've been doing pretty well with that.  Anyway, I have about 6 more sessions before we move so we'll see if there's any progress by then.

Moving - you can see from my last post how very unhappy I am about moving away from this campground we've been at for the last 15 months.  I enjoy seeing the grass, trees, wide open spaces and the company of my friends here.  At the "other place", the site itself is extremely claustrophobic and there is nothing aesthetic to look at, either sitting outside or from the windows.  But Mitch's 1+ hour commute is very tiring so there is really no option (especially in light of the next paragraph).  I am extremely grateful, more than words can express - to Mitch for giving me an extra month to adjust to this fact.  He initially said it was to give us both time to see if there could be another solution, and despite my researching, no, there isn't one.  But thank you Mitch for allowing me the extra time to "grieve".  I guess (like it or not), I'm ready to move on.  So unless (G-d forbid!) some kind of obstacle gets in the way, move out day is Monday, June 1st.  It will be to Land O Lakes, which is about 25 miles SW of where we are now, and about 15 miles and 1/2 hr closer to Tampa where most of his work is.

So today I learned that Mitch's work schedule has changed a little over the next few weeks.  He has 2 days off a week, which for now are Fridays and Saturdays (so he's working Sundays).  He's also been working 8-5 daily (leaving home at 6:30am, coming home around 6pm).  Starting today and for next ?? weeks, he will be working M-Th 1-10pm.  So that totally screws up our schedule, especially in the evenings when our routine is: he comes home from work (6pm), we have dinner while watching some tv until 8:00 and then he gets ready for bed (in bed by 8:30, asleep by 9).  So now I need to figure out what to do about dinner and our tv watching.  Maybe I can adjust my own work schedule so we can watch in the morning?  When he was out of town, I'd eat whatever I could make real fast or not eat at all.  I'll need to force myself to still cook a nice meal for 2, even if I just eat it myself so he can have dinner (leftovers) for the following day.

Yes, I accept this challenge.  As I know I've mentioned in one of my much earlier posts, that one of my many character flaws was the need to have everything in my life planned out to the minute.  If anything went wrong that delayed the plan, even by a few minutes, I'd have a major anxiety attack.  Since living on the road, one of the first lessons I learned is that "plans are made in bubbles" - there will ALWAYS be something unexpected thrown in as a monkey wrench, and I've been learning to cope with that and accept it as a new way of life for me.  I'd like to say I've been mostly very successful over the last 6 years.  So, again, although Mitch's new (temporary??) schedule is putting a wrench in our daily routine, I will figure out a way to make it work.  In the scheme of things, it's really NOT A BIG DEAL!!!  I always need to remind myself how much things could be worse, take every moment to THANK G-D for all of our blessings, and just deal with "the small stuff."