Ellis Health Update - 201020

Finding that the 0ne-mile walk was wearing me out and leaving me listless the next day, I did just half a mile on 13 October. I also found that using the yucca pole for support was causing some residual pain in my right. On the 14^th I walked eight-tenths of a mile and carried my pole mostly in my left hand.

Apparently prompted by the description of my first post-operation walk in my last update, daughter Julia sent me some pictures she took of the event. The photograph shown here (right) was taken on 23 August, just two days after surgery.

The rat's nest of tubing seen at lower left are the drain tubes from my chest to the four receptacles now mounted just out of sight on the walker. In the photograph, I have located the brakes and am now ready to go. With the monstrous walking machine, the rolling stalk that carried my feeding and medication tubes and measuring instruments and three attendants who accompanied us we pretty much took up the entire hallway.

But back to the present. On the 15^th, 16^th and 17^th I walked a mile each day, although I must admit that I was very tired at the end of the walks. On the 18^th I stopped taking Gabapentin, a pill that is supposed to help with nerve pain. It comes with the warning that it may cause dizziness and I had been feeling pretty dizzy. In any case, I really don't know how to distinguish nerve pain from other sorts of pain and the present regimen of one Tramadol at night followed by three Acetaminophen (taken six hours apart) works well to control the pain.

Most of the pain I feel is concentrated in my right chest around the rib cage and just below my right shoulder blade. It comes after I sleep in a position that puts a strain on that area or forget and use my walking pole in my right hand for a prolonged period. I estimate the level of pain using a scale (below) provided by a nurse at the Baylor Clinic. Usually I am pain free or the level does not exceed level 2; occasionally it reaches level three but never for long.

Wong-Baker Pain Scale

I didn't walk on the 18^th because I felt too dizzy and didn't want to chance falling in front of a car.

On the 19^th, I was preparing for the normal one-mile walk when I found that Rosemary was leaving for a book sale at the Clarkdale Library. She asked that I take an easier walk as she would not be at home to come to the rescue should I fall. I could hardly argue as the main reason for the trip to the book sale was to buy books for me to read during the forthcoming trip to Houston. However, the “easier” walk I chose actually turned out to be 1.4 miles long when I later measured it.

I am still watching the slow march of fall colors as they spread through the neighborhood. The predominant color is the bright yellow of turning cottonwood foliage. There are only a few houses that have fall flowers planted. The most striking of these are a house along Brook Hollow with an assortment a Chrysanthemums, our own dwelling with the still-blooming yellow and red Lantana beds and a gorgeous Pyracantha (left) growing at the intersection of Brook Hollow and Arroya Vista Drive.

We are off to Houston for my follow-up appointment with Doctor Sugarbaker next week. Depending on what he finds we hope to return home by Friday.