physical therapy

4 Reasons There’s No Post Today

/ stimtheline / Leave a comment

I’ve been having a tough week, health wise (see Monday’s missing post as an example), but I figured I could leave you with a short bit of dark humor

1. I think my head might explode: I have the headache from hell, and since it’s in my neck too, I’m having a hard times convincing my anxiety that it’s not meningitis. Also, my cat Spike is a mother hen when I don’t feel good. It’s sweet, except that he’s 18 pounds and he insists on constantly touching my face.

2. I keep falling asleep: And not just in appropriate ways like when I’m laying down. Sitting up is fair game too. You know the warning they put on NyQuil about not operating heavy machinery? I need that on me.

3. The world is spinning: Since I started physical therapy a few weeks ago, my POTS has been in a consistent flare. It’s depressing that 7 minutes of laying down exercise can affect me this badly. I’m eating tons of salt, like the experts recommend, but my I can’t really feel my face anymore…

4. My hands are shaking: Another POTS symptom, it’s because my blood sugar is all over the place. My body goes into full on trembling shaky sweaty rebellion if I don’t eat exactly every 3 hours. I never thought my pancreas could hold me hostage, but here we are. Who knows, maybe next week my spleen will demand $10000 in unmarked bills.

Thanks for stopping by, and I hope your bodies feel better than mine.

6 Word Stories pt. 26

/ stimtheline / Leave a comment

See, just like I promised, no more medical stories! Technically only half of my steri-strips are gone, but I thought I’d let you guys off early. This week has been good. Quiet, which is what I’ve needed. Although the East Coasted is getting slammed by French Toast Weather (which is a phrase popular in St. Louis- it means a storm bad enough that people obsessively buy milk, eggs, and bread. I think it’s charming), we’ve been having lovely weather. I’ve been feeling a bit of a hole in my life now that the Winter Olympics are done. It was like a 3 week long super intense Special Interest that’s just abruptly gone. I also finished a big knitting project, so my hands feel a bit empty too. Guess it’s time to cast on something new!

  • Flapping to forget my wet socks.
  • I love sharing Special Interests together!
  • Sitting in the sun is rejuvenating.
  • On non-stop day I need quiet.
  • Knitting is such a productive stim.
  • My favorite TV show is back!
  • Pets are the best pressure stims.

This coming week should be good though, I finally start physical therapy. Time for some real progress!

 

6 Word Stories pt. 11

/ stimtheline / Leave a comment

Between last week’s hip injection, a bunch of physical therapy, and who I am as a person, I didn’t get a lot of sleep this week. Which is fine. Sort of. Actually no. Also, I’ve discovered that the Glitter Lamp with have in the bedroom has become part of my routine. I need it on to fall asleep, and if I’m awake after the timer it’s on goes off, I can’t sleep. Aside from that, I highly recommend glitter lamps. The only saving grace is that that St. Louis from from 90 degree days on Saturday, to 55 degrees on the following Monday. And we all know that that means. FUZZY SOCKS!

 

  • Time with favorite people refreshes me
  • Glitter lamp went off. Can’t sleep.
  • Some days PT is sensory hell.
  • I feel like I’ve forgotten something?
  • Is it edible from the ground?
  • Sweaty hands, nylon strings. Bad ukulele!
  • Fuzzy socks season has arrived. Huzzah!

 

 

6 Word Stories pt. 6

/ stimtheline / Leave a comment

If last week was a week of changes, this is a week of new things. New physical therapist, new volunteer opportunities, and new projects. I took a few days off from writing, partially because I didn’t have much ambition, and partially because I had some other stuff to do. Luckily, I had enough posts queued here so that taking a writing break wasn’t so bad. These stories are the only writing I do some days, and while I’m not in love with all of them, they’re still a record of my days, which is good enough.

  • Phone’s ringing. Ignore! Guilt. Sigh. Accept.
  • New physical therapist understands everything. Score!
  • Using person first language is uncomfortable.
  • Of course inanimate objects have feelings!
  • Doing self care requires self care.
  • Matching another person’s energy is exhausting.
  • Saturdays are for cartoons and crafts.

Signing off. Stay tuned next week for another episode of 6 Word Stories!