Fiercely Independent Pam

Tag: Don’t Let the Hard Days Win!

  • I Took the Zeen Out for a Spin and it Felt So Right!

    For the past couple of weeks, I have been trying to get strong enough to be able to stand up with my walker. I started this process in rehab and never quite finished. I was much more comfortable and motivated at home. All this work was for a very specific purpose- using the Zeen.

    Yesterday, I was able to stand with my arm lift chair at a “regular” height, which I counted as a major victory. It was also a sign that I was ready to try my Zeen. As a side note, I have been wanting a Zeen since I first saw them about a year ago. I tried to get insurance to cover the cost, but it wasn’t going to work. So I purchased my own Zeen. I was so excited on delivery day, but God had other plans for me and I landed in the hospital with sepsis.

    Fast forward to today. I was able to stand up in my arm chair an use my walker to get in position with the Zeen. I figured out the “controls” and in a short bit, I was navigating around my living room and kitchen. The carpet made things extra difficult but a few more times, my legs should be up to the challenge.

    I was so proud of myself for getting into the Zeen and navigating around. It was a goal In set for myself and it feels great having achieved it!

  • Setting a Goal and Striving to Meet It, and More!

    I am headed out this afternoon to the urologist to figure out next steps for my kidney stone. I am hoping the whole process of “blasting” the stone is fairly easy and able to be done soon. After all, the kidney stone is simply getting in the way of my PT and OT goals.

    In other news… I met my goal this morning with PT. I was able to stand while sitting in my armchair at a normal height. That means I didn’t use the lift function at all. It wasn’t the prettiest, but I did it! I also took a few strolls around my apartment with the walker and got a new weight measurement. All in all, I count that as a huge win.

    OT is coming by very soon and I am hoping we can start working on the goal of using the toilet. It would be a huge improvement if I was able to use the toilet instead of the bedpan. Having stood at a normal height, I think I am almost ready for the toilet.

    I am not a big fan of having PT and OT back to back since my body gets tired quickly, but I also don’t want to turn away services so I went with the back to back today. After all, I have goals to meet.

    Tomorrow during PT we are going to try the Zeen. I think the hardest part will be transferring into the Zeen and out of the Zeen. I think I am going to have to do a lot of thinking to come up with a plan to make it work. If I can get into the Zeen, it will go a long way to strengthening my legs. I would love to try to make it into the hallway. This is all lofty goals, but I have to put it out there to try to make it happen.

    The ultimate goal is to be able to use the Zeen and transfer with it when I go to MUSC on March 17th. I have an important eye appointment and need to figure out the Zeen, getting in and out of a car, and transferring from the Zeen to other chairs. It’s a big list of tasks, but I am determined and like to be fierce about deadlines like this.

  • Next Steps For a Giant Kidney Stone: A Lesson in Bravery!

    Well, I did one of the bravest medical things I have done- I pulled the rest of the stent for my kidney stone out. I was so frightened that something was going to happen but I feel so much better. I was able to make an appointment with urology for tomorrow to consult about next steps.

    I unfortunately had to switch doctors to make it work, but I was able to get an appointment tomorrow to figure out next steps for the kidney stone which means I am able to take the bus and my power wheelchair, which is crucial right now.

    I will hopefully find out tomorrow how they are going to treat the kidney stone, I’ve been told they are going to set something up to “blast” the stone apart.

    I joke on a regular basis that “They are going to make a nurse out of me yet!” Pulling out the stent is a great example of this. I hope my appointment goes well tomorrow and we can move forward from this stupid kidney stone.