In which I stick the landing

[klwilliams]

This past weekend two of my friends were elevated to the peerage in the SCA, and I really, really wanted to be there to see it. The event was held in Arcata, CA, at a campground, which means uncertain footing that is also very difficult for a walker. I'd been all ready to go when I realized the day before that I just wasn't walking well enough. It's almost time for my every-three-months steroid infusion, which tamps down the MS, which means I'm at a low point for walking. Sigh.

Then last night Chaz and I and my good friend David (aka "aikido buddy Dave") went to see "Star Trek: Beyond". It was a lot of fun, though there were some problems once you start to think about it, so I'm not going to think about it. After the show I was very stiff, since I'd been sitting for almost three hours, and the movie ended at the time I normally take my pills. I got up and was moving slowly, but as I walked toward the main area of the theater my muscles relaxed more and more. I decided to use the restroom, and as I started across the floor towards the women's room I turned back to point to the hotdog station as the place where I'd meet them when I came out. Oops.

One thing I've noticed in the last couple of years is that if I turn my body while walking in one direction I get very dizzy. Guess what happened last night? So when I turned to point I realized I was suddenly dizzier, so I turned back towards the restroom and tried to walk in a straight line to reach a wall to grab onto. Um, no. My balance was off and my legs were stiff, so after about a step I knew I was going down, facing forward. I remember thinking that was a bad idea, when I found myself suddenly falling backwards, and landing comfortably on my rear end, with my head tucked up. I didn't consciously do anything to make that happen. David told me I still had my chops, which is good since I practiced safe falling aikido for twenty years.

In good news, though, my neurologist got back to me. He'd checked with some oncologists, and they all said that they'd never encountered anyone catching PML when using the chemotherapy I'm trying to have. So that's encouraging.

Comments

[katerit.livejournal.com]

Good catch. I really hope this new treatment is something you can try and something effective. I would have loved to see you, but that is a long drive, especially for terrain so perilous for you (and I almost went down a few times). I'll just have to tell you stories.

[lifeofglamour.livejournal.com]

Sorry about your fall, glad you had the skills to do it safely. The site would have been a nightmare for you, holes everywhere I almost sprained my ankle.
Keeping my fingers crossed on your chemo!

[al-zorra.livejournal.com]

Dayem Girl -- I'm glad to hear you fell well, but I'm damned sorry you had to fall at all.

[dakini-bones.livejournal.com]

The body remembers. Glad you didnt get hurt!

[galeni.livejournal.com]

Wonderful news from the neurologist. Fingers crossed.

[loup_noir]

Sorry you couldn't make it north -- and if you are coming this way, please let us know.

Really hope this treatment is something that will work for you. You've got a lot of living to do!