Tuesday 11 February 2014

New Year New Challenge

Well, since November (can you believe that was my last post? Where does the time go??), anyway, since November I have been experimenting with walking without my stick. I had already pretty much mastered walking on the flat without it and had given lend of my spare stick to a friend who'd had a stroke as I felt I no longer needed to keep it in the car. On a whim I decided to walk to work without it (uphill) and I ached and my legs felt cramped but I did it. I used it on the way home. Then I decided to try both ways. The first few times I experienced cramping and pain in the legs but I persevered. I now can walk to and fro at the same pace (whole journey in 20 mins) stickless!
My next experiment was walking the dogs round the park. A circuit used to take 13-15 mins. I would slow the more I did and stopped at three. I now have that down to 10 mins and can do upto four on a very good day and generally aim for three laps.
My last experiment was a fitness DVD which has three levels and is based on strength. I started on level one once a week then increased to twice then three times a week. In between I bounced on my trampette for 10-15 mins. I then started interspersing level two on one of the days. Now I do level two on three days and aim to do level one on one or two days. I have a rest day on the Wednesday.
While all this is great I have gone again through Shingles (my dark friend) and that knocked me back, a virus that put me to my bed for two days (I don't do staying in bed). Most recently my sleep is being disturbed by hip pain on the right (what was my good side) and foot pain and cramping at night (an original cfs complaint which has reared its ugly head).
Still, I feel I am doing what is plausible for me to do, I don't feel I am pushing myself and - dare I say it - I finally feel that the cfs has made a permanent improvement rather than feeling I have improved for a few weeks and then being knocked back.
Life is good. I am socialising, I have a wonderfully supportive partner, I have a good support work of friends, family and last but by no means least parents and step-parents.Work continues at a manageable rate and I am fully enjoying teaching all my classes, participating as much as I did pre-cfs.
Maybe this is the year CFS and I start to part company......

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