January 9 2016

January 9 2016 Greetings My Friend My ear infection is getting better which means I am thinking better, have more energy and not sleeping so much. My hearing is still not up to snuff but I am rolling with it. I have some giggles as I seem to hear sounds in the wrong places. For instance I hear the TV clearly in another room or I totally mess up what Junior is telling me. My returning energy means I am back to a few of my normal tasks. I made cheese soup and peanut butter no bakes. Today I plan on making a pot of chicken and dumplings. I love it when I am back to cooking again. I am thankful that Junior will pick up the slack until I can get back to doing things. With my down time I have begun doing research. While in the midst of so many health issues going on I had begun to wonder why I was told I had Chiari Malformation and then it was dropped. My research has shown I do have many of the symptoms but my doctor believes that the Chiari is not the cause of what is going on with me. Each time I go to the doctor’s they give me a sheet listing my illness’. I would look through the sheet and get confused with some of the big words. I recognized a lot of the past history of illness’ but there were a lot new big words. This time I took to the internet. In place of Chiari Malformation my doctor has been diagnosing my balance issues with Ataxic Gait. What the heck is that? A little research shows that this disorder lines up with a lot of the Chiari symptoms. Chronic Fatigue, dizziness, trouble swallowing, trouble with speaking etc. Another look shows that the part of the brain affected is right around the brainstem, right above it (maybe to the side but close). When I visited the audiologist and told her both diagnosis’ she indicated that indeed they are very similar. Both Chiari and Ataxia can have balance issues. I could not finish the testing for my balance issues because of the ear infection and impacted ear wax build up. When I finish up with the testing the audiologist will see if I am a candidate for some physical therapy. I was told that by keeping myself as fit as possible I would prolong my balance issues before they got real bad. I heard this same thought process when I was going through cancer. I have tried to live a fairly healthy lifestyle and wondered why I got cancer. I was told that because I took care of myself I will go through it easier. That comment took me out of the “poor me” mode and I was determined to work hard at getting better. This attitude has sustained me through the last few years as my health has gone on a roller coaster ride. Once I got a bit of energy I began the long arduous task of adding physical activity to my day. Today I don’t go to the gym but I attempt to be active throughout the day. I add band stretches to my routine day and as I sit in my chair I tighten my stomach muscles, leg muscles as well. I walk mostly at stores shopping one or two days a week for as long as I can. If I can add balancing exercises to my day to help me from declining as quickly I will. With Junior’s back as messed up as it is due his amputation I see that he is able to do a lot. He has learned to exercise, eat right and he has prolonged his ability to be active and is able to do much. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet