Yikes - Red Hot Mama on Walker!

I went this morning to the Visiting Nurse Service (VSN). They let me try out wheeled and unwheeled walkers and crutches. I felt much more stable on the walker but can't decide which one - wheeled or unwheeled! When I return the one I don't want on Monday, I'll give the crutches another try. I found while on the crutches that I was putting the bad foot down to catch myself when I started to lose balance. I can definitely how convenient walkers are for indoor use. They are lots better than the office chair with wheels that I was scooting around on yesterday! I'm totally surprised at how much moving around a person does in the course of an ordinary day! My upper body is getting quite a workout and my wrists too. So far, I'm too utterly embarrassed to be seen in public using a walker. Crutches would look a lot cooler!! I called Walgreens to tell them that for the meantime, I had a walker and that I wouldn't be coming in to pick up the crutches this afternoon and I thanked them for telling me about the VSN. The VSN loans out, for free, the crutches or walkers if they have them available. Spouse will give to them through United Way.

Today, Dr. Richard Miller's triage nurse, Carla, called me. I asked her about how my right calf muscle gets so swollen compared to the left. Dr. Garcia said that was because of how I was limping around but I really wonder about that. I haven't been on my foot very much except to go out to the VSN and the library and yet, it's swelling up. Carla said that as long as it wasn't red and hot that it's OK. The swelling goes down overnight. The calf feels tight from the swelling.

I also asked Carla about the recumbent cardio machines at the LA Fitness Center and she felt that they would put too much pressure on my foot. Carla said that using the weight machines for upper body work would be all right. Later I called back and asked another triage nurse, Maggie, about deep water aerobics with zero impact but she felt that it would be too dangerous to be non-weightbearing around and getting into the pool. I don't know what my plan B is to get some exercise. I must point out, though, that it's hellishly hard on my wrists and my left foot using the walker - maybe torture counts for exercise. Here's hoping I don't get any new injuries from using the walker!!

No Progress on Non-Weightbearing

I just came back from Walgreens Home Care. They got the walkers in this afternoon but they won't let me open one up just to try it. They said I have to buy it for them to open it up - same with the crutches which they won't have in my size until tomorrow. They told me some blather about sanitary issues but they could easily cover any handles with paper towels or clean it with alcohol. Tomorrow I go to the Visiting Nurse Service to see if they'll let me try out a walker and crutches to see which I want. Dr. Garcia says I can have either. I'm also going to call the Albuquerque toll free number for Walgreens Home Care to ask if there is not a better way for someone to choose between crutches or a walker. The employees at Walgreens Home Care are very nice and just doing their job but it's kind of like a Catch-22 situation in that how am I supposed to choose between the two without trying them out briefly in their office first?

I went to Medical Associates as they were closing and asked if they knew of any place in the hospital with crutches or walkers to try. They didn't but I saw that Dr. Church had just gone into his office so I asked if the receptionist would ask him which was better. His reply was to ask my orthopedist. The orthopedist said it was my choice but I have no experience on which to base my choice - Catch-22!

I get this bad feeling that I'm going to end up with a stress fracture in my left foot also because this afternoon, while limping around, trying not to bear much weight, I felt like I twisted my left foot. It's beginning to get sore from bearing all the weight.

I'm going to try to visit the LA Fitness Center tonight. I'm really discouraged right now. Maybe I'll feel better after some exercise.

Old Lady on Walker or Crutches

Dr. John Garcia looked at my right foot MRI and he feels that while the posterior tibial tendon looks inflamed, it doesn't look torn. He says my main problem is a calcaneal or heel stress fracture. He recommended non-weightbearing for 6 weeks. I'm going into Walgreen's Home Care at the hospital this afternoon to pick up a walker with front wheels. I'd rather try crutches and Dr. Garcia says he has no preference but they don't have medium crutches in until tomorrow or next week and I need to be NWB (non-weightbearing) NOW!! I, at first, wanted the walker but I think that I'll get more exercise and strain my back less with the crutches. I may try both. After the 6 weeks, I won't be able to immediately begin hiking long distances - I'll have to work up to it gradually. Therein will lie the potential for reinjury or new injury if I'm not careful.

I'm considering going to a water aerobics class but the thought of slipping in a wet shower or on wet pool deck is scary. The YMCA doesn't have as many recumbent cardio machines as the LA Fitness Center. I have a free one day pass for the fitness center. I will have to buy some type of membership as I don't plan to just sit on my duff for 6 weeks!

I left a note for Dr. Church asking if I still need to see Dr. Miller. He feels, as I do, that it's worth seeing Dr. Miller. Dr. Church believes that I shouldn't be having pain from a stress fracture all this time. I have an appointment for a bone density test next Tuesday. That's a prudent thing to do in any case.

I picked up some carryout for lunch at the Pyramid Cafe. I bought 3 salads - the Salata Bitenjene (grilled eggplant salad with grilled onions), the Salata Mishiya (charred green chile) and Salata Houriya (spicy carrot salad) and hummus. The carrot salad tasted a little old. The green chile salad was an especially tasty way to get my hot green chile fix and the hummus and eggplant salad were good. Overall, though, I don't like so much oil drizzled on the salads. I'm more used to eating less oil now. I wouldn't order the carrot salad again unless they said it was freshly made that morning. Also, there was something hard that I bit on in the carrot salad but no harm was done to my teeth.

The people at Riverview Pines, in Estes Park, CO, have been so nice in helping to change our reservation from 4 nights to 3 and changing us from an upstairs room to a downstairs room. We offered the Riverview Pines room to son in law and daughter but they couldn't get off work to go up there. Truthfully, I would prefer to stay at home but I'm sure I'll enjoy driving around to see the park and maybe taking a baby walk using the walker or crutches around Sprague Lake. I'll also check out the local fitness facility options. I'm still debating, though, if I really want to stop in Denver to visit spouse's cousins but I guess I'll have to.

I just now called spouse and said since I'm compromising and going to Rocky Mountain National Park, that I'd like him to compromise and cancel the Denver visit to his cousins and he agreed to do that. That means we'll arrive early evening at Riverview Pines and have 2 full days at the park and then drive back home. That will be enough for me. Being temporarily a physically handicapped person is going to be an interesting experience. It will give me greater understanding of those who are permanently physically handicapped.

No-Refined-Sugar Apple Crisp

I actually made this and it was delicious either plain or with soy milk poured over it! I won't be giving amounts of ingredients because I made a huge one and you may want to make a smaller one. I basically had a certain number of apples to use and made the crisp around that.

First, find some wild apples in September. I found them near Porter's Landing in the Jemez Mountains and more on a tree right off Camp May Road. Crisp, mostly green ones seem to work well. I tasted the apples raw and believe me, they tasted better cooked.

Next, prepare the topping. Take a large mixing bowl and add what you think is enough old fashioned rolled oats with enough oil and some pecans or other nuts that you have chopped in your handy dandy food processor. Add some cinnamon to the topping. I also added cardamom and nutmeg. Add your favorite pie spices in an amount that pleases you. I like a lot of spices and used up my bottle of cardamom on the very large apple crisp that I made and it was delicious!

Then, wash the apples, cut in fourths, cut out any brown spots, don't peel or you'll lose the main source of antioxidants that apples have. I scoop out the seeds by cutting a crescent moon shape out of the center of each fourth. Pray there are no worms in the apples. Power up the food processor and put the slice blade on and feed the food processor the apple quarters, not your fingers!

I then tossed the apples in a large Pyrex baking pan in which I had sprayed some non-stick coating. I mixed in a generous amount of large flame raisins. I drenched the apple slices in Minute Maid lemon juice concentrate and orange juice to rehydrate the raisins and to tenderize the apples. I added a bit of vanilla extract and used up the rest of some angostura bitters that I had on hand - I love the taste of those. The spices, vanilla, raisins and oj provided the non-refined sugar sweetening. Finally, I spread the topping onto the apple slices and popped it in the oven at 325 degrees. It was so large that I had to bake it for much more than an hour. I wanted to make sure the apples were tender. The clue that it was done was when the juices started bubbling through the topping. Yum, yum!! It turned those hard apples into a delectable dish!!

Falling Apart

After the trail maintenance work on Saturday, my right foot was very sore from walking fast, trying to keep up with the group, through the Las Conchas Canyon drainage. All day Sunday, which included a short shopping trip to Santa Fe, my foot felt fine. When I went out to walk Sunday evening, I walked once to the airport and back and my foot still felt OK. Then I walked to downtown, crossing the lawn of the old Canyon School. That somehow set off the pain again and I limped through the rest of the walk.

This morning, I called Medical Associates and made a 10:30am appointment to see Dr. Daly because Dr. Church was not available. Dr. Daly said to try a walking boot which went all the way up to my calf and immobilized my entire lower leg but that didn't help the heel pain (nor was it helped when Dr. Daly pressed hard on my heel spur and I yelped!). Then we tried a low-cut shoe (I don't know the technical names for these rehabilitative devices) but that was no more comfortable on my heel than the walking boot. I talked briefly with Dr. Church and he said that Dr. Miller specializes in my problem. I called Dr. Miller's office to ask about coming in before the 23rd but no one has called me back.

I'm left in limbo. I have to wait 2 weeks for the Dr. Miller appointment and, in the meantime, haven't the foggiest idea of what I can wear on my right foot that would help me to walk normally. I went to FR181 and only walked 2 miles, very slowly. I'll try doing 2 more miles tonight, back and forth to the airport as that didn't bother me last night. Dr. Church suggested only walking on completely flat surfaces like the high school track. The airport walk is very flat. Tomorrow, I may investigate a temporary membership at the YMCA or the LA Fitness Center so I can get some decent non-weight bearing exercise. I felt like an arthritic old lady on my limping walk last night. I am quite frustrated by this foot problem of 9 months duration. How in the world am I going to enjoy the upcoming hiking vacation in Rocky Mountain National Park when walking is painful!

Sam's Fitness Club

Wow is about all I can say at this point. I'm a lightweight on lifting the heavy logs but I still get a good workout. Three volunteers came from Albuquerque (that includes Sam) and one more came from Los Alamos - Mike Myers. We did the Calzada Trail and the trail up the hill at the 3 way T intersection, wrapping around to it from Junction Meadow where we had lunch. We walked through Las Conchas Canyon but Sam didn't need to cut anything until he got close to NM4. This is because he skis on the creekbed in Las Conchas Canyon proper. The trail alongside the creek is only a cowpath. He did have to cut some trees on the part of the trail after the gate that goes up a ridge and then down to a huge meadow along NM4.

I got the MRI results. No surprise that I have a partial tear of my posterior tibial tendon. I can't stretch the calf very well on that leg. It got worse recently because I could stretch it a little bit before. There's also a question of a stress fracture on the heel bone but I wonder if that's an artifact caused by the heel spur.

Spouse, daughter, son in law and grandson went to Salman Ranch. They picked raspberries and spouse bought me some raspberry vinegar.

Suppertime!

Thankfully Quiet Day

Made 4 pillowcases for the neckrolls that I make out of polyester stuffing I buy from Walmart. Took a long time. Used as a pattern an old neckroll pillowcase that I had taken apart so I could reproduce it. The tricky part was the round bottom but it worked out very smoothly and the sewing machine behaved.

I also made an apple crisp from the apples I gathered in the wild on Wednesday. I haven't tasted it yet but it smells good. It's sweetened with raisins and orange juice. I ate such a big lunch (essentially eating what I would have eaten for supper) that I'll have a light supper of the apple crisp with soy milk poured over it and watermelon.

The WRSC group did the Cañada Bonita Trail. I identified nodding groundsel - lots of it in the meadow.

I've changed my mind on the Spanish class. Paying $104 for the textbook is too obscene. I'm waiting to hear if I'll be able to get a refund, minus a $10 processing fee.

I'm re-listening to Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert. That book is so good - I love it.

Tomorrow I'll meet Sam Beard and his NM XC Ski Club crew to work on the trails in the Corral Canyon area.

WI may be working on another VCNP trip but this time to La Garita Ridge. Spouse may even go. Why did I think I needed to sign up for Spanish lessons? My life is already full enough! Colleen asked if I'd hike with her next Friday but I couldn't since that's spouse's day off and our calendar is already overflowing that day. Well, at least I found time to cut my fingernails today! : )

LL Hike: From Porter Landing Along Rio de Las Vacas

I won't be writing much about this hike because it's been a very busy day. It starts at Porter Landing which is just downstream from where the Rio Cebolla and the Rio de las Vacas conflue to form the Rio Guadulupe. We drove in on FR376 which is a very good, all weather road. Even though it rained until after lunch, the road was safely driveable on the way home - very well drained.

We right away on the hike reached a river crossing. John and Jill, the English couple, didn't continue any further because they didn't want to tackle the crossing. Chuck dropped his miniature digital camera in the river and found out that it is very waterproof, as advertised!

Right before lunch, we had a second river crossing. It stopped raining shortly after lunch and we went back the way that we walked in - no one fell in the river. It got very pretty and sunny with blue skies in the afternoon. That area along FR376 and the Rio Cebolla is really lovely.

I got home in the afternoon and just had enough time to do a load of laundry (my pants got very muddy), eat supper and get ready to pick up daughter and grandson at 5pm to take them to the PEEC outing, led by Chris Judson, on Burnt Mesa. It was raining on the drive there but perfectly good weather for the outing. Disappointingly, only 7 people, counting us three, showed up. Daughter and grandson spread out a blanket and had their supper.

Tomorrow is the Santa Fe trip to get the locks repaired on my car.

I have signed up for Advanced Beginning Spanish (per the instructor's advice) through UNM-LA's community education. It will be on Wednesdays from 6-8pm, through November. I hope I don't regret this!

Morning Pages Typed Instead of Longhand

I just today reread about Julia Cameron's (of The Artist's Way) Morning Pages. Only problem for me is that she recommends writing them out in longhand and I'm perfectly happy to legibly type this blog. The idea of Morning Pages is to write 3 pages of longhand every morning to empty out your mind. Julia calls it, on her website, meditation for Westerners.

The MRI of my right foot and ankle was OK to undergo (no results yet but I bet it's perfectly normal) but my left foot got a little uncomfortable because I needed to put a towel underneath that knee. It wasn't supported and became increasingly uncomfortable. I was cursing the MRI machine under my breath because you can't move and I so much wanted to move that left foot.

After the exam, the radiologist told me he had only done the ankle area of my foot rather than the whole foot and ankle, as the doctor ordered. He did this based on where I said the pain was and to try to save me money as otherwise it would have been 2 separate MRIs - one for the foot and one for the ankle. I didn't ask him to do what he did and hopefully it will be an adequate exam considering that the doctor ordered it for the right foot AND ankle. Truthfully, getting the MRI was probably overkill. The next patient in line for an MRI was on crutches and here I was, waltzing around unaided.

I hope I didn't goof today when I saw Tom at the hospital. It looked like he was a volunteer there. I asked if he and Cynthia were going on the LL hike and then I mentioned the WI hike tomorrow because I know they like local hikes. I really don't know what the WI policy is regarding disseminating info about their hikes and since I'm such a newbie, perhaps I should have kept my mouth shut.

I am calmed down somewhat after having a break from 4 days of spousal companionship. I just needed a break from the enforced togetherness of long weekends. Nothing personal but when spouse comes into the bedroom, not really to say anything, but just to see what I'm doing, it breaks the whole train of thought of what I am doing. Last night I was studying a few pages of the beginning Spanish textbook when he stuck his head in. Of course, I compound matters by blowing my top and telling him emphatically to stop checking up on me! Poor man!

I'm going to sign up for Spanish for Absolute Beginners through UNM-LA's continuing education. This afternoon, I was listening to a Spanish cd from MPL and I enjoyed "talking" Spanish along with the cd. Como esta usted? Muy bien, gracias!

Welcome Quiet Time

Dorothy called off the hike today. She said we'd get too wet going through grasses and vegetation. Spouse and I took a nice hike this morning on FR181/American Springs Road. (I like to go on that road year around - it's my favorite hike of all time!). We met David and Faye up there. When I called David this morning to tell him the Dorothy hike was off, after Dorothy called at 8am, he and Faye wanted to get together for a hike. I talked spouse into going along and it worked with the tight time schedule spouse is on. Right now, he's out taking grandson to Space Chimps - Ebert gave it 3 out of 4 stars. I'm home doing another load of laundry and computer related stuff. Daughter will pick grandson up at 6pm tonight - she works today.

Spouse is following Hurricane Gustav with interest but I'm largely ignoring it except what I overhear when I'm in the kitchen. It's good right now to have the TV off - so quiet! I keep chiding spouse about the vulture-like coverage on CNN and telling him that he's anxiously awaiting seeing chaos and destruction and blood in the streets! At one point, the vultures were trying to keep the mayor on the phone but he said he had to check on some barges. He has more important concerns than if CNN sells lots of commercial time and scores big in the ratings!

It sounds like it was interesting in the Jemez yesterday for those who ventured up! Daughter and son in law had visited son in law's Mom and step-dad near San Ysidro and they had to drive back through Bernalillo and Santa Fe as the Jemez River overflowed onto NM4. Ex son in law and his fianceé have to go back up to Redondo Campground today to retrieve their tent. They were camping and when the rains came, their tent leaked badly so they cut short their 2 night campout.

The Acura has a trunk leak that spouse will try to get fixed this week. My driver side car door lock no longer works. I have to go to Santa Fe on Thursday to get that repaired. Miraculously, the roof leak is non-existent!

I would love to go with the LL gang up in the Jemez to Porter Landing for their hike along the Rio de las Vacas. I'm wondering if I really shouldn't go on that one after all. I do miss the gang.