Post by rramom on Nov 25, 2013 11:16:59 GMT -5
As Thanksgiving is almost here, I thought it was appropriate to discuss being thankful. Too often, we focus on what we don't have (especially as Christmas shopping gets underway), than what we DO have.
If you've read my other postings, you know it has been a difficult year. Going from walking a mile (slowly) last December, to not being able to be on my feet for more than about a minute at a time, by summer. That was a rough time in my life. I didn't know what was wrong with my muscles, and neither did the doctors. I've always been pretty independent, so having to depend on others was pretty humbling. Thankfully, the doctors at Mayo Clinic were finally able to figure out what was wrong, and I'm doing SO much better now!
Even during those days when I was so fatigued I couldn't even sit at my computer, or chew a hamburger, I tried to have an attitude of gratitude. I was grateful that our youngest had graduated from our homeschool's high school, so I didn't have to find the strength to teach, etc. Our chiropractor volunteered to sign the form so I could get a handicapped placard, which was such a blessing, so that my guys didn't have to push me near as far. I was thankful that I could stand up without another person helping me, even if it was for just seconds. That allowed me to transfer myself in and out of my wheelchair, go from chair to chair, stand up long enough to turn the stove controls, and other little things that we take for granted. My cousin, who is only about 5 years older than I am, got both legs amputated just last year. She can't do even those activities. Anytime I felt a "pity party" attitude coming on, I reminded myself of her, and others that had it worse than I did. Not all disabled persons have a caring husband who would use all his vacation & sick days this year to take their wife to medical appointments, or have a boss that encouraged him to go without worrying about taking the time off. My husband was also great about going shopping with me. I am also thankful for our two sons, who were available to go with me when their dad was at work. No matter how difficult things get for us, there's always someone who has things worse.
I was literally dying, and would have died from it, if they hadn't discovered the problem. Even then I could be grateful that I know the Lord, and have the hope of heaven. God gave me a spirit of peace, not fear, during that difficult time. I was thankful for friends who cared enough to listen to my struggles and pray for me. Even if they couldn't do anything to really help physically, the emotional and spiritual support meant so much to me.
The doctors at Mayo during the last week of June took me off a couple of my heart medications. The simvastatin does have a reputation of causing muscle problems, but my cardiologist had already taken me off of it for a month, without improvement, so I was back on it. I was told at Mayo that it can take up to 10 years to get out of one's system! The Mayo cardiology department noticed a prolonged QT on my EKG, and blamed it on my Renexa medication, so told me to stop taking it. Within a couple of weeks after getting off those meds, I noticed improvement - hallelujah! Even though I was still disabled, it was great just being able to walk a few more feet at a time.
A muscle biopsy in July, and then a visit with Mayo's neurologist who is a muscle specialist. She confirmed my suspicions that the Renexa also was bad for my muscles. (I believe God had worked through that EKG, because who knows what would have happened if I'd continued taking it for two more months, until I could get into that neurologist.) With the results from the biopsy, the neurologist at least knew what I have, and told me to start taking a couple of supplements. Once I started taking both of them, my recovery grew literally by leaps and bounds!
I've been able to climb a step ladder repeatedly to paint the interior of our new house - only a little bit more to go to be finished painting. Shopping at Walmart no longer means taking someone along who can drop me off at the curb, so I have a short walk to the electric carts. (I couldn't even walk from the handicapped parking places to inside the store.) I can now park in a NON-handicapped spot, push my own cart, and walk around the store as much as I want. Going from needing to use my wheelchair in the house, to jogging from one end to the other, is a tremendous improvement!
With all that I've experienced this year, it has made me so grateful for the little things of life. I'm even thankful to do laundry! Because I can now stand up the whole time, and don't need anyone to move the clothes from one machine to the other for me. Just imagine doing laundry while sitting down, and you might appreciate how being able to stand up makes that task much easier. I'm thankful that I can climb stairs without using a railing, instead of having to pull myself up using one, or going up each step on my bottom. It is great that I no longer need disability equipment. My sons are very happy that I can bake once again, without needing an assistant to do the things that require standing. The only downside I've found to getting well is that I've got energy to cook and eat, so the numbers on the scale are climbing, but I haven't lost all the weight my cardiologist wants me to lose.
I hope that all of us will count our many blessings, and be sure to give our thanks to God, our family and friends. If we keep our focus on our blessings, and not our hardships, we CAN keep an attitude of gratitude all year long.
If you've read my other postings, you know it has been a difficult year. Going from walking a mile (slowly) last December, to not being able to be on my feet for more than about a minute at a time, by summer. That was a rough time in my life. I didn't know what was wrong with my muscles, and neither did the doctors. I've always been pretty independent, so having to depend on others was pretty humbling. Thankfully, the doctors at Mayo Clinic were finally able to figure out what was wrong, and I'm doing SO much better now!
Even during those days when I was so fatigued I couldn't even sit at my computer, or chew a hamburger, I tried to have an attitude of gratitude. I was grateful that our youngest had graduated from our homeschool's high school, so I didn't have to find the strength to teach, etc. Our chiropractor volunteered to sign the form so I could get a handicapped placard, which was such a blessing, so that my guys didn't have to push me near as far. I was thankful that I could stand up without another person helping me, even if it was for just seconds. That allowed me to transfer myself in and out of my wheelchair, go from chair to chair, stand up long enough to turn the stove controls, and other little things that we take for granted. My cousin, who is only about 5 years older than I am, got both legs amputated just last year. She can't do even those activities. Anytime I felt a "pity party" attitude coming on, I reminded myself of her, and others that had it worse than I did. Not all disabled persons have a caring husband who would use all his vacation & sick days this year to take their wife to medical appointments, or have a boss that encouraged him to go without worrying about taking the time off. My husband was also great about going shopping with me. I am also thankful for our two sons, who were available to go with me when their dad was at work. No matter how difficult things get for us, there's always someone who has things worse.
I was literally dying, and would have died from it, if they hadn't discovered the problem. Even then I could be grateful that I know the Lord, and have the hope of heaven. God gave me a spirit of peace, not fear, during that difficult time. I was thankful for friends who cared enough to listen to my struggles and pray for me. Even if they couldn't do anything to really help physically, the emotional and spiritual support meant so much to me.
The doctors at Mayo during the last week of June took me off a couple of my heart medications. The simvastatin does have a reputation of causing muscle problems, but my cardiologist had already taken me off of it for a month, without improvement, so I was back on it. I was told at Mayo that it can take up to 10 years to get out of one's system! The Mayo cardiology department noticed a prolonged QT on my EKG, and blamed it on my Renexa medication, so told me to stop taking it. Within a couple of weeks after getting off those meds, I noticed improvement - hallelujah! Even though I was still disabled, it was great just being able to walk a few more feet at a time.
A muscle biopsy in July, and then a visit with Mayo's neurologist who is a muscle specialist. She confirmed my suspicions that the Renexa also was bad for my muscles. (I believe God had worked through that EKG, because who knows what would have happened if I'd continued taking it for two more months, until I could get into that neurologist.) With the results from the biopsy, the neurologist at least knew what I have, and told me to start taking a couple of supplements. Once I started taking both of them, my recovery grew literally by leaps and bounds!
I've been able to climb a step ladder repeatedly to paint the interior of our new house - only a little bit more to go to be finished painting. Shopping at Walmart no longer means taking someone along who can drop me off at the curb, so I have a short walk to the electric carts. (I couldn't even walk from the handicapped parking places to inside the store.) I can now park in a NON-handicapped spot, push my own cart, and walk around the store as much as I want. Going from needing to use my wheelchair in the house, to jogging from one end to the other, is a tremendous improvement!
With all that I've experienced this year, it has made me so grateful for the little things of life. I'm even thankful to do laundry! Because I can now stand up the whole time, and don't need anyone to move the clothes from one machine to the other for me. Just imagine doing laundry while sitting down, and you might appreciate how being able to stand up makes that task much easier. I'm thankful that I can climb stairs without using a railing, instead of having to pull myself up using one, or going up each step on my bottom. It is great that I no longer need disability equipment. My sons are very happy that I can bake once again, without needing an assistant to do the things that require standing. The only downside I've found to getting well is that I've got energy to cook and eat, so the numbers on the scale are climbing, but I haven't lost all the weight my cardiologist wants me to lose.
I hope that all of us will count our many blessings, and be sure to give our thanks to God, our family and friends. If we keep our focus on our blessings, and not our hardships, we CAN keep an attitude of gratitude all year long.
