Update a few years later

In prior posts I talked about Lyme Disease and Peripheral Neuropathy. Now I'll post about my fight for recovery and a normal life. In 2011 I had my right hip replaced which helped me to be more mobile and active. However, even with my back fused and the new hip I still was not comfortable in many circumstances and was limited in my ability to walk on hard surfaces like in stores. My left hip was replaced less than three months ago and now I can walk without a cane, shop in stores without even being aware that I am walking normally and can walk around the stores, and can do projects involving lots of movement and lifting. It is just so amazing that I have finally reached this point where I feel I have my life back. It has been a long journey over more than ten years to get to this point. I have stopped using any handicapped devices and the scooters at the stores. My son gave me a FitBit for Christmas and that is a big motivator to be active. I have found that my limit is about 7500 to 8000 steps or the PN is triggered at night. I've had more attacks than I've had in a long time as I try to increase my activity and have at least one day with 10,000 steps. The attack the other night felt like someone had smashed my ankle with a sledge hammer. PN is such a strange disease that is a silent burden that no one really sees or understands. It attacks without warning with charlie horse-like cramps that can last 4-5 minutes and paralyzes whatever part of my legs and arms it has decided to torment me with at that moment. It really sucks! My husband often witnesses the attacks but its almost like he is in denial that it is a strange problem. That's OK with me as he is very helpful and supportive when they happen. I have a good friend who is a doctor who also has PN and she has been really understanding and supportive. She also has a great treatment regime that she uses and has taught me to use. It has helped manage the disease tremendously. It is really important to be motivated to move. I've taken up photography again and am on a wonderful website with my own gallery where I get reviewed, critiqued, peer awards, and jury awards from professional photographers. If I do say so myself, I've done pretty well for only having my gallery for one month. I've been pulling photos from my archives of years of taking pictures and have done some excursions to take new photos. It is so much fun and gets me out of the house and most importantly, keep me moving. My daughter and I will are going to Mexico in two days for a week with my doctor friend and I can't wait to see what photos I'll take there. One of the other guests is a professional photographer so I hope I will pick up some tips from him. I'll keep you posted. I'm also getting back into my writing. As I pack up my precious books that I've used in my research for my novel I long for the days when there aren't a million things to do to get the farm ready for sale so I can write more. We just signed the contract to put a new roof on the house so someone else can enjoy the peace of having a solid roof over their heads. We have been painting, fixing, and staging the house room by room, packing up our things as we go and basically living in chaos while it all is going on. For relief I signed up for the LV Writer's Group Conference in a few weeks and that is always a weekend packed with great information on how to improve my writing. There's a lot on our plate right now but as always, things will turn upright in time. This uncertainty and chaos is all part of life. I'm just thankful I'm more up for the challenge than I have been in a long time. It's a good time to make the move. So, to all of you I will say good night and have a great day and week and month to come.