Fiercely Independent Pam

Category: Updates

  • Who’s Afraid of a Kidney Stone or It’s Stent?

    Somedays I think I am living in a comedy. How else can all these things happen but to make someone happy. In January, when I went to the hospital, it was found that I had a fairly large kidney stone. They placed a stent and honestly, I didn’t care too much about it except that I was going to have to have follow up care to “blast” the stone at some point.

    Follow up care is delayed because of appointment scheduling and my ability to walk. This whole time since the beginning of January, I haven’t needed to even think about the stone or the treatment.

    Fast forward to earlier this week, I was having symptoms that I thought were coming from a UTI. Now it all makes sense and the burning is coming from the stent that is mostly fallen out. I noticed something that was out of place last night and then it has increasingly come out.

    The urologist on call is going to call me back once she checks my chart, but told me I can remove the rest of the stent myself, as that might help the pain and irritation. I have to admit, I am a little scared to remove the stent, but I will try. I gotta believe it will help with the symptoms.

    How is it that I can’t just function “normally?” Why must something always be an issue. I am finally getting strong enough to stand on my own and I even snuck in a pivot from the wheelchair to my arm chair unassisted, but that isn’t enough, I have to have issues with the kidney stone and stent. Its exhausting.

  • The Name of the Game is to Stand at Many Different Heights and Gain Some Strength Too!

    Today was my last therapy session for the week. I worked with the OT assistant, who is wonderful. She and I figured out the best thing to do is stand up several times with one of them consisting of walking to the scale and getting a measurement.

    Each time I went to stand, I lowered my lift chair to make it harder. We have a goal of getting it lower than the toilet so that is not a problem either. Eventually it needs to be pretty low so I can get in and out of cars.

    My goal is to be using my Zeen at least part time by then end of next week. I know if I start using it, my legs will get stronger making my efforts to stand so much easier. It is just a matter of standing long enough to get in the Zeen.

    This weekend will once again focus on whatever I can do to help my legs and arms get stronger to make my efforts to stand easier. I know these extra exercises are making a difference. I will continue to complete the various exercises, especially any that involve lifting my botom

    I really want to be able to not only use the Zeen, but also start using the toilet again. That would be a huge movement towards independence. I don’t even want to try the toilet until I know I can be successful and because it is so hard to stand off the toilet and so embarrassing if I can’t.

  • Working Hard, Focus on the Goals of Independence and Success!

    I am a big believer that goals are only as good as who you share them with.I spent a great PT session today standing and walking a little bit from my arm chair and gradually lowering the arm chair. I did this until I was exhausted. I felt good about being able to stand on my own. Its all a matter of focus on what needs to be done.

    Looking forward, I would like to try being on the Zeen next week or the toilet. I have to decide where I am going to focus. It would be huge to be able to actually use the toilet and be able to get up from it unassisted. At this point the unassisted is the most important part.

    I still have a OT session this week and hoping to work on some transfers (pivoting instead of using the transfer board.) Again, it’s a matter of focus and energy conservation to get this done. This will be most possible from my arm chair to wheelchair and bed to wheelchair.

    In other news, I managed to completely get ready on my own today. I managed to set my clothes out and other than that, I was able to do everything!I needed to focus and make it happen. I am finding my independence one way or another!

    I even had maintenance install my new toilet riser so it set up for when I am ready. I got them to do it while they were here changing light bulbs. I am setting myself up not only for independence but for success as well, all through focus.