Tuesday, August 24
Second day on antibiotics and a small lessening of cough frequency. Also an improvement in energy, though not being able to leave the house (because of fever) puts a bit of a damper on that. Slept well, night and afternoon. Walking is a little smoother, tremor comes and goes. RLS is gone. Feet have shown no signs of swelling in more than a week. Left ear remains deaf. Being alone and idle no longer frightens me. Moving in bed is usually slow, but is relatively easy. Vague discomfort is no longer an issue, at any time.
Wednesday, August 25
Cough less frequent but still strong and provoked by speech, and chewing. Meals are hell, between cough and volumes of clear nasal discharge. No fevers today, morning or evening which will clear for a walk in the morning. Tremor is most consistent while eating, or on my back trying to sleep. Also, a shaking is usual right after waking for a brief period, and usually in both arms. Sometimes while in bed, I try to recall symptoms and come up with walk, tremor, and nothing more. Other times I have to add agility issues and slowness. The variations are either normal with the disease, or normal with Recovery, I often don’t know which.
Thursday, August 26
Slept well in 2-3 hour chunks, and rose to pee more because I was awake than because I had to. Getting in and out of bed was in at least three of those times, fairly easy and fluid. I finally woke (and rose) just before Roman arrived, and was feeling pretty frisky. The experience of breakfast, which I forced myself through with all its drippy, messy, phlegm-filled glory wore me out. I relished the brief rest after leg massage, and the morning walk was a get there, do it, and get back kind of thing. I napped immediately, endured a snotty lunch, and napped more, being unable to face the small accounting I have to do. Emerged about 15:30 feeling better and frankly dreading the next meal. The work went well despite the awkwardness of a lap top in a bucket chair from Ikea, and typing was smooth throughout – given the chair, etc. Evening walk was closest to normal than it has been for months, even the three steps in the building’s front hall.
Friday, August 27
Slept in a five and three hour chuck, with a middling need to pee at 05:00. Felt more agile than usual all morning until Roman left me wondering after foot rub when he went down for filing for state aid (for me), as I didn’t quite catch the schedule. That put me into extended rest mode without really wanting or intending it. Then followed a cleanup and treatment from Jana which always put me into a blissful state. After lunch I took a nap (last thing I really needed), and rose from that slower and less nimble than I was earlier. Perhaps it’s time to get the study functioning again. Cough is less severe and less often. Everything else seems to be recovering, but my talent for sleep is supreme.
Saturday, August 28
Slept solid from midnight to well after 05:00! Then because I misunderstood that Roman was beginning rising ceremonies at 06:30, I transferred to the recliner to wait. Once again fooled by the sei/sette similarity. Roy took us to the doctor (ENT) who promptly declared my ears full of wax, cleaned them, and restored my hearing. What a joy! But the cough was bad all night and morning, so by the time we returned home, I was beat. Traditional mucal flood after lunch, napped from 13 to 15, woke less agile than I was before the nap, and more eager to move. But the wobblies kept me from indulging in other than a nap. I think I must set up the desk again, or risk atrophy in legs and arms. And brain! I cannot keep on sleeping this much!
Sunday, August 29
Another solid night’s sleep. Felt chipper and clear this morning, but the walk wore me out. I slept a half hour before and an hour after lunch, and ended up with a pretty bad typing day (improving). I miss writing, I miss not coughing, I miss walking. I miss projects and having the capacity to do them. Evening walk, I realized I’ve been walking on my left foot, all the focus there, on my “naughty” left foot, my right foot a well-behaved ghost. Also had the strong intuition that I’m blocking the brain’s tendency to walk, automatically – that I’m still using override to accomplish what the brain is ready to do on its own. I’m not sure how to address that, but it seems significant, if true.
Monday, August 30
Horrible experience with AUSL specialist this morning. Slept two hours after lunch. Bruce helped me set up the studio again. Feeling slow, but steady.