THR So many ups and downs<

@MammaT I had no idea you were dealing with cancer. I’m so sorry if my analogy above seemed at all flippant. I pray you will find healing. After all you’ve been through, and are going through, your positivity and thoughtfulness are truly inspirational. Thank you - and everyone - for taking the time and effort to boost me up.

Today is an awful day for me. The sun is shining, birds are chirping, but I feel just totally exhausted and in pain. I worry so that if something were to go additionally wrong - if I needed a dentist, or specialist or optometrist - I’d be up a creek without a paddle because I cannot sit in the car and cannot ride in an ambulance. Can’t even sit on a chair for longer than a couple minutes with this new coccyx and SIJ problem. Even the coccyx pillows don’t help. And lying prone is awful for one’s digestion and inner workings.

But as MaamaT says, we must take things one day at a time. Buddhist philosophy says that living in the future creates anxiety, living in the past creates depression. Living in the now is all there really is - the point of all power. I have done one walk up the driveway today, but was dizzy during and after. I have days when my BP is very low, so it makes me breathless and whoozy. Hopefully I’ll get back my energy soon and have some good news to report.
 
I’m so sorry that your suffering so much. My heart goes out to you. Glad you were able to get outside if only for a short while. The fresh air is really good for emotional well being.

Are you on any medication for your BP? Getting that under control would help with your issues with dizziness. I believe eating smaller and often helps along with ensuring you have salt in your diet and drink plenty of fluids. I think ankle pumps and circulation is also benificial. I’m the opposite with high BP which I had since my early 30’s and which is well medicated.

I suffered with anxiety during the menopause and I agree you can only take one day at a time. I found meditation really helped. I know that mediation is believed to help reduce high blood pressure but I feel that it’s also helpful with low blood pressure as it balances the mind and body.

Wishing you peace and energy for the coming days. :flwrysmile:
 
Thanks @Jackie222. Yes, meditation helps when I feel able to do it. I have a biodynamic (or cranial) osteopath who treats the whole. He was here the day before yesterday and it often happens (as with Reiki treatments) that I have some strange things going on for a few days after a treatment because things shift to try to align with the health. But for the past five or six years, I’ve had what my doctor sees as exemplary blood pressure - though below “normal”. Occasionally, though - like just after my hip surgery and while in hospital - my BP really drops. When I measured today it was back to what is nearly normal for me - 113/70. But yesterday I suspect it was lower - thus the dizzies. If it dips below 95 or 65, I can feel quite faint. There isn’t any specific medication for hypotension that I know of.

Isn’t menopause the pits? I’ve been post for over ten years, but still suffer from a lot of the peri-meno symptoms. I’m extremely sensitive to hormonal fluctuations. I developed Graves Disease (hyperactive thyroid) at one point, but thankfully it went into remission after a year on intensive drug treatment and is still behaving. The anxiety isn’t as bad as when it first hit, but I will always have it. The crashing fatigue, creapy crawly skin and hot flushes still plague me. But after all these years, at least I know where they are coming from. :heehee:

I’m hoping my back/hip doctor will come soon to help work out some of my muscle and joint issues since the surgery. He’s consulting with a physiotherapist who also specialises in back and hips. Between the two of them, I expect we’ll figure something out. Fingers crossed.

Thanks for your input. I hope you are doing ok!
 
I believe that if it gets really bad there is medication that increases your blood flow.
I’ll keep everything crossed that the dr can provide some solutions
 
Sorry you're still suffering all those nagging menopause symptoms @MobiM
I hope you find some relief and are able to resume your walks.
Sending a hug and wishing you comfort and peace for the weekend!!
 
Oh @MobiM, I didn’t think you were being flip. But I think you really nailed it with the Buddhist philosophy. We have to find a way to live in the now and not let future or past worries control us. Everyone has something to deal with. We may not have a choice over what we have, but we have choice over how we cope.

With all of the things you have going on it is perfectly normal to be down at times. But you seem to find a way to pull yourself up.

Hope you find some relief this weekend.
 
Well, I’m rather proud of myself this past week. I set my initial goal for steps to 2000 per day. Before surgery I was lucky to be able to do 200. This week I’ve done over 2000 five days in a row. I’ve been trying to replace the arm crutches with hiking poles, but it’s difficult because the poles offer no support per se, only serve as a stabilising effect. However, today I was able to use them to walk to the back fence of our larger paddock and back. Somewhat rugged terrain, and a hill coming back up. I have also been doing four walks a day for the past couple days as opposed to two or three. While I’m sore, I believe I AM getting a bit stronger. I never thought I’d see the back paddock again! We have it planted with protea bushes, and I miss going to cut bouquets. My after dinner walk took me around the house but also to the east boundary and our machinery shed. I feel like I’m almost alive again! I hope this is not just a fluke. The pain is still there, but I’m hoping it will continue to lessen as my muscles and joints become once again used to weight bearing and movement. My dr has assured me that he and the physio will get my coccyx and muscles affecting that area working properly so I will be ok to ride in the car. Six weeks ago I would not have been able to walk to the end of our driveway, let alone there and back 3 - 4 times per day. Fingers crossed it continues in this upward pattern.:egypdance:
 
Last edited:
That is so good @MobiM. Your recent update shows you have made significant improvement. You really seem to bouncing back from your times of setback. You know by now there can be a step or two backwards, but you keep moving forward after one of these spells.
 
Oh Mobi. I'm so proud for you!
I hope everything just keeps getting better and better.
:tada:
 
What wonderful news!! I'm proud of you too, Mobi.
You set reasonable and attainable goals for yourself and met them.
Navigating rugged terrain and walking up a hill! Impressive.
Slowly but surely with patience and perseverance you'll get there.
We're rooting for you.....I hope your week is great!
@MobiM
 
I’m still taking 50mg Tramadol plus 2 x paracetemol every 6 hours. But it sure doesn’t seem to help.
Mobi, if you're still having this problem, try taking 100mg Tramadol.

There were occasions when I took 200mgs the pain was so bad. Not to be taken routinely or carelessly but it's a safe dose for once in a while.
 
Thanks Josephine. I guess deep down I think five months on tramadol is far too long so I’ve been trying to get off, but wanting to doesn’t change the pain. I’ve also heard that using it for too long makes it less effective. But it’s still very painful, so maybe I’ll not try to quit just yet. What are your thoughts about being on it this long?
 
I’m trying to use this forum’s app, but I can’t figure out how to edit a post and can only find my thread by looking at notifications. There are no emoticons, not that that really matters, but am just wondering if I’m doing things right.
 
I have had five great days last week where I was walking with hiking sticks on our property. Four walks per day, one over a rugged hill paddock, total nearly or over 3000 steps per day plus a dip in the pool. I was feeling very proud of my achievement in the walking area until yesterday when I struggled with every walk. I was breathless and both my SI joints and surgery hip were very painful. Today I am the same if not worse.

I’ve only done two easy walks, one with sticks, the other I had to revert back to my arm crutches. It’s time for my third walk, but my hip is SO painful, along with my back, that I’m not sure I can manage it.

I have been trying to cut my Tramadol 50 mg and paracetamol 500 mg every 6 hours back to every 8 hours. I’m afraid that after 5 months on these meds, I will have awful withdrawal symptoms if I don’t stop. So am feeling very much like I’m damned if I do, damned if I don’t.

@Josephine, do you have any input on taking Tramadol for five going on six months? And do you know if the withdrawal, if I can ever stop, will be difficult?

It even feels as though I need more than the 50mg as you once said, but am terrified to up the dose since I’ve heard that tramadol tends to lose it’s efficacy after a while so eventually you need to take more to get the same result. When I wake at night I’m instantly drenched with sweat and my heart starts thundering. My BP is naturally low, so I also have dizziness and breathlessness. Could this be the meds?

I just don’t understand this setback. It has no obvious reason.

Thanks for any feedback. I know it will take longer for me because of my previous lengthy immobility, but geez, for a week I was walking and feeling ok...not pain free, but pretty confident. I was doing the four walks and feeling stronger. Now I feel I’m falling back to square one.
 
Hey Mobi. Not sure about your questions regarding medication. Jo may be off forum for few days or catching up so she will get this way.
When I saw progress with my activity it almost always came with a bit of increased uncomfortableness afterward.
I know you are trying to get a balance.
I'm so proud for your walking!
Hopefully Jo can address your medication concerns soon.
Hope you have a Good Day:loveshwr:
 
Aww, Mobi
Try not to let this get you down. You've been doing so well! You've had set backs before and rallied
and I'll bet with a little rest you'll be right back at it again.
Let's see what Jo has to say about the medication questions you have.
Try to see this as temporary. I'll bet in a few days you'll be out there feeling re-energized.
Take it slow as you have been...it will come. We're rooting for you!
Hugs
@MobiM
 
I was walking with hiking sticks on our property. Four walks per day, one over a rugged hill paddock, total nearly or over 3000 steps per day plus a dip in the pool.
Why are you still doing all this after 22 weeks?
I have been trying to cut my Tramadol 50 mg and paracetamol 500 mg every 6 hours back to every 8 hours. I’m afraid that after 5 months on these meds, I will have awful withdrawal symptoms if I don’t stop. But am terrified to up the dose since I’ve heard that Tramadol tends to lose it’s efficacy after a while so eventually you need to take more to get the same result.
All of that is rubbish. In any case, I took Tramadol for the same amount of time and had no trouble stopping. As for it losing efficacy after a while? Also rubbish!
It even feels as though I need more than the 50mg as you once said
I said that? Maybe I did. I often took 100mgs and once in a while, even 200mgs at a time!
When I wake at night I’m instantly drenched with sweat and my heart starts thundering.
It's either that you're anxious about taking the meds or something else. I suggest you see your GP about it.
 
have had five great days last week where I was walking with hiking sticks on our property. Four walks per day, one over a rugged hill paddock, total nearly or over 3000 steps per day plus a dip in the pool. I was feeling very proud of my achievement in the walking area until yesterday when I struggled with every walk. I was breathless and both my SI joints and surgery hip were very painful. Today I am the same if not worse.

Hi Mobi!....I would listen to your body "talking to you"....clearly, you may be doing too much. As for the heart thundering and night sweats...I agree with Josephine, have you had a complete physical recently? Maybe thyroid related?
 
Josephine, I really appreciate your input. I just feel that because I can’t do much else, the 3/4 walking excursions are important to strengthen my muscles - so I can at least hope to get off my back for SOME of the day. I can’t do much of anything else. Sitting is still too painful. You have made me feel much better about the Tramadol. I’ll keep taking it. I just haven’t heard of anyone taking it for so long. @Bumblebee yes, I’ve had a full blood test and heart check not long ago, including thyroid (I have Graves Disease but has been in remission for years). Other than low BP I’m ok, apparently. Thanks.

@mojo and @Layla, thank you for your input. I sometimes feel like I’m one step forward, two steps back. It seems a LONG time, 22 weeks. I don’t know any others posting of pain and immobility at 5 months. It’s impossible not to compare. :shrug:
 
Last edited:
I know it's hard to read others that have had easy recoveries.
But YOU are doing it.
Hopefully Jo has eased your fears some about meds.
If you feel better getting in your walk, just try to take the path of least resistance and expect to ice immediately after.
Progress is there, just slooooow!
We are rooting for you. Wishing you a peaceful week.
 

BoneSmart #1 Best Blog

Staff online

  • Jaycey
    ADMINISTRATOR Staff member since February 2011

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
65,167
Messages
1,596,863
BoneSmarties
39,356
Latest member
JanieMarie
Recent bookmarks
0
Back
Top Bottom