Keep Moving check in

[Sunshine]

I swam 16 minutes today, 1/4 mile plus 93 Yards, or, 520 Yards. Pool is 79

[Sunshine]

Today I said Phuket and decided to swim more. So, I swam 18 minutes.640 Yards. It’s a little over 1/3 mild. Some mild muscle stiffening , but no spasms yet.

I decided to try this increase after watching the video of Shane James talked about in this thread:

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[Sunshine]

I went surfing today in preparation for the rainstorm from TS Alberto tomorrow. The forecasted wave condition looked junky as did the webcam. But, you gotta go before you really know. So , go we did.

As promised, the waves were small, about knee to thigh high, very short 5 second interval, choppy. The ocean was chilled to 76 ;and it was cloudy. So I was glad to be wearing some rubber.

Due to the junky waves, there were only about ten in the water, and several of them were our crew. So the male/female ratio was 1:1.... always a pleasure to have lots of women in the water, and we usually all know each other. There is a sisterhood out there.

We traded some funny surfing stories about guys, making the sisterhood bond even stronger.

One of them spotted a shark today, hard to see due to the murkiness. But it was a small shark, so she didn't bother to move over.

It was glorious to be in the salt water, and I feel so lucky to have friends who make it happen. I cannot drive that far after exercise and so some of my surfer friends go out of their way by 90 minutes to make it happen. They cut into their own fun time to pull the wheelchair around to the water, and leave before I turn into a pumpkin. Its a team effort.

I got several on the stomache, and my rule is I gotta get at least one ride standing. There was a fail when the wave rolled under me. Then I got my ride for the day, paddled hard for it, popped up to the feet and rode it until it died, about 10 seconds later. Some old salts on the beach, waved their arms and cheered me. So sweet!

Seems like I am tolerating more exercise the past couple of months in terms of leg spasticity. Sure, it takes an entire day and night of rest afterwards, but it’s worth it.

I am thinking of everyone here, and how we all seem to push the envelope of our illness in our own way. Some of the envelopes are much more narrow than others, suffocatingly so. And yet, even those envelopes are stretched by sheer will.

[Sunshine]

Double posted

[Sunshine]

I swam 560 Yards today. No spasms, just some mild stiffening. Yay!

[Sunshine]

I swam 640 Yards, just over 1/3 mile, in 20 minutes today with no spasms so far :) it felt good to push the bravery.

[Sunshine]

I swam 20 minutes and 666 Yards today. No spasms.

[stillstANNding]

Look at you! Go girl!

I have finally increased tizanidine to 2mg twice a day. This is in addition to the 45 mg of Baclofen. It took a long time to get past headaches and queasiness w the tizanidine. I'm glad I stuck with it as it works so much quicker.

ANN

[Sunshine]

That is terrific news!! And the dose is low enough that side effects aren’t burdensome? .. my doses are so high that the side effects are hard.

[stillstANNding]

It makes me tired and sleepy within an hour. I'd like a nap now!

ANN

[Sunshine]

I guess that’s why some abuse the drug, it relaxes them?

Today I swam 21.5 minutes, and it was 693 Yards.

[Sunshine]

I keep doing better. Swam 22 minutes today, 720 Yards. And still had some left in the tank.

[stillstANNding]

That's so good, Sunshine. Way to go!
ANN

[Sunshine]

I swam for 24 minutes today, 800 Yards. I am closing in on 1/2 mile. 80 more Yards to go.

[Sunshine]

We went surfing today. I walked down the boardwalk pushing the wheelchair. A mistake because that’s much harder than walking down pushing nothing. By time I got to the beach, I realized it would cut down surf time.

The water was refreshing, the air was sunny and 80-85F with light offshore breezes which made the waves translucent. The waves were pretty small which meant it was uncrowded. Thee were fish, a shark, and tiny amounts of sea lice.

It was fun riding lying down, which on smaller waves is easier for me to do, but I did stand up on several. One in particular was very satisfying.

I knew I should stop, because of the chatter starting to come from my legs. But, since it was so gentle decided to keep going...so, I paddled for a nice small wave, stood up, and the toes went spastic and crossed over each other. Yikes! I panicked, which is not a good thing to do, and fell off the board, neglecting, in my panic, to cover my head when emerging.

Yup. The board knocked me into the head. No apparent Concussion, well, just very very brief nausea. Mainly just shocked I let that happen.

Like I always say, it’s not the Sharks I am afraid of, it’s my board and the waves, and other surfers.

I hate Stiff Person Syndrome.....