Tuesday, March 21
Not as flowing as yesterday, but there are little things that remain easy where that is not usually the case. And joy. Lots of it. And everyone is excited about spring.
Wednesday, March 22
Could walk hardly at all in the morning, a result, I think, of not sleeping except in one and two hour chunks. But Roman and one of the guys from Opera del Duomo spent a good deal of time discussing how I could get in to see the Zubin Mehta concert on Friday, which touched me so deeply that it was all I could do not to cry.
The evening walk was almost the usual.
Thursday, March 23
I slept what has become my standard pattern, but was (almost virtually) asleep on my feet all day until shiatsu at 16:30 when I was able to sleep lying down. Morning walk was wiped out by the callous on my big toe; the pain overrode all good intentions. The same happened on the evening walk.
Friday, March 24
Slept until almost 10:00 having fallen asleep for good at 03:15. Then I sat for more than four hours around and at the concert at the Duomo without a hint of RLS, which is close to miraculous. Walking before and after that was a bit weird, unhinged, and random.
Saturday, March 25
After shiatsu on Thursday, Michele said that my muscles were exceptionally relaxed. Yesterday and today walking was (technical term) weird. Especially at home where there was actual, spontaneous arm movement; not coordinated or rhythmic and totally random, but still. Today walking the sagrato was similar but difficult and the arms were tight, as usual, and symptoms are as annoying as ever; weak voice, stammering, drooling, typing a mess, all of which had retreated earlier in the week. But RLS is largely absent or at least mild. What is happening??? Don’t know.
Sunday, March 26
When I have to pace at night in order to sleep (which lately is all the time) I ask for, and follow, Friend’s instructions.
This was overheard Saturday night:
ME: How many laps or for how long a time?
FRIEND: Walk until you are walking normally.
ME: You mean without symptoms?
FRIEND: Yes.
ME: That could take weeks.
FRIEND: Yep.
ME: You can’t mean that.
FRIEND: I do.
ME walks for a long, long time. Buried in all that pacing are a few steps that are perfectly normal.
FRIEND: There! Did you catch those?
ME: Yes. And?
FRIEND: Repetitive action is difficult for you at first. Work on those. You can stop now.
Monday, March 27
Yesterday I attended a concert at Teatro Mancinelli. There was frequent clapping. Being repetitive action, clapping was difficult, but gradually I learned (again) and was able to do it.
Symptoms, so strong on Saturday, are now quite mild. RLS is lurking in shadowed corners, ready to pounce.
Attention must be paid to the subtlest changes. I am beginning to notice how the physical responds to the mental. And how even a butterfly’s fluttering of love can have a monumental effect. Just beginnings, but real.