Tuesday, September 14
Usual night with a break between 02:00 & 04:30. Usual perky wake up. Usual difficulty walking right out of bed. Morning walk included a couple of rather lengthy episodes of perfect feet surrounded by scuffing at best and rampant shuffling at worse. No voice in the morning. Several stops to chat on the way back, which was tiring. Exhausted by the time we got home, but only needed a short nap (partly due to RLS or whatever). Tendon in shoulder pretty sore, makes working at computer difficult. Voice better in the afternoon, but still very hoarse. Evening walk had flashes of perfect feet, then on the final lap (and almost all of it) the hips and shoulders became involved. It was so energizing that I wasn’t exhausted like I usually am after a walk. I even enjoyed sitting in front of Sant’Andrea and watching a large family slowly peel off on their separate ways.
Wednesday, September 15
Didn’t sleep until 03:00, not because of mental or emotional activity I just wasn’t tired, then only until 05:30, tried the recliner, no luck, back to bed at 06:00, slept until 07:30 when I apparently set off the emergency bracelet. Feel terrible about that, have to adjust my phone so no one else is bothered by my mishaps. Walking pre-walk feels better than usual, as does comfort in general. The morning walk was mostly near-perfect feet and significant portions were perfect feet, though having set a new standard I am more particular about what is perfect. There was no fatigue afterwards, and my voice was relatively strong. Around lunch I began to wear out, but only napped about forty minutes and was satisfied. Wonderful shiatsu early evening, powerful as ever. Evening walk was perfect feet right out of the gate, and although I couldn’t sustain it for the full seven laps, it was there or came very close most of the time. I’m learning how to walk! I’m so happy! It’s just a beginning, but it’s like having my life back, only better.
Thursday, September 16
Both walks, perfect or near-perfect feet for a combined total of 1.5 kilometers. Wasn’t tired at all, all day long. Went to Buongustaio with Susan and Maria for lunch, excellent food, wonderful company, beautiful view of Orvieto. Still difficult to move delicately, like getting in and out of chairs and cars, or cutting sausage, but all in all, a great day.
Friday, September 17
Pre-morning walk I was moving around the apartment with increased agility and courage so I had high hopes for the actual walk. They were disappointed, but in reality the walk was not bad; about 10 percent shuffling, twenty percent perfect feet, and the rest some version of near-perfect. I also expected to sleep really well having not napped at all on Thursday, and that was also disappointed; I was not at all sleepy until 04:00 then I slept like a stone until almost 09:00. I have no idea why. Evening walk, according to Roman, was 90 percent perfect. I would rate it a bit better than the morning, but I’m becoming particular. We did 16 laps (1.6 kilometers) today. Otherwise, creeping and slow around the house, typing is cautious but accurate, and I’m headed for bed at 23:30.
Saturday, September 18
Morning walk was on par with yesterday’s walk with the exception of the turns which were awkward and shuffling. However, I was able to maintain good posture almost all the time, and that reflected hints of upper body engagement with shoulder and arm movement; very subtle but there. Was tired but not exhausted afterwards and napped for a few minutes before and an hour after lunch. Both naps left me wobbly and shuffling, a complete antithesis of what I experienced on the walks. Early to bed last night didn’t work. I didn’t find comfortable positions until 04:00, then slept like a stone again until 08:30. My brain seems to be set for 04:00, so I’ll try to reset to midnight using melatonin.
Sunday, September 19
Slept from about 02:30 to 06:00 and that’s about it. Muscles were tight, and could not find comfortable positions. Morning walk about the same as yesterday except that there was occasional arm swinging that happened and more visibly than before. Upper body a bit stiff in gesture and positions at rest. Voice is not terrible, but still hoarse and broken from time to time. Envisioning good movement I still find difficult. Friend suggests giving the energy flowing into the medulla oblongata more attention, that recovery will be speeded up if I can get it back to pre-hospital levels. All such interior work has been extremely difficult after my hospital stay. The evening walk was taken at Piazza Gonzago, near my house in case of rain. It’s a macadamized parking lot about twice as long as the Duomo porch. Results were mixed, but I did manage to avoid bad shuffling. We did three laps, took a brief rest and did one more. Right after the rest I walked so normally for about ten meters that I let go of Roman’s arm. It was great. I also discovered, but was unable to develop, that we throw our feet out, toes first, with every step, ever so slightly.
Monday, September 20
Had this morning’s walk happened a week ago, I’d have been over the moon, but in context of the past few days, it was pretty normal. Some periods of perfect feet, minimal scuffling, involvement of arms, shoulders, and torso, occasionally a tiny bit of bounce. On the other hand, I went to bed at midnight, slept comfortably for about an hour, then could not reproduce any of the agreeable positions I’d just enjoyed. Finally slept at 03:00, woke again at six, slept again at seven. Not terrible when I look back from here, but frustrating at the time. Overall, I’ve felt good today, if a little sleepy. Evening walk was, according to Roman, 99.9% pure; almost no shuffling, good posture. The arms started to swing on their own occasionally, there was a hint of upper body involvement, still holding Roman’s arm but only for security.