Whew
Still very ill and not getting much done, but I've started a new medication that may help. I had a few side effects the first week, but also reduced pain and a wee bit more energy in the mornings. In the second week the side effects went away but the benefits remained. I'll be pushing it up another notch next week. I'm supposed to expect perhaps a 30% benefit, but I've been so flat that any benefit would be greatly appreciated.
I've also gotten the technology that allows me to walk the dog! It's a long lead that I can loop around myself, with a sliding ring so it acts a bit as a slip knot. I wear it cross-body like a purse and it gives me some "reins" that I can use to absorb the shock of all of the bouncing and lurching. He can still yoink me around if I get inattentive, but in general it's a great arrangement; it gives me enough leverage that I'm not worried he's going to pull me over, and it lets us use the greyhound collar instead of the halter, which is far more comfortable for him. I'm going to try out a harness because if he is going to insist on pulling, I'd rather him pull on parts of his body better suited for it; we'll see if I still get the leverage with a harness. Shopping for a harness led me to the world of skijoring and bikejoring, which is very tempting! But I am just not cut out for it. Maybe if I see a scooter with GOOD BRAKES on deep sale. If he had my weight to pull it would slow him down to manageable speeds, but he'd still get a great workout. But I'm going to go more moderate with a simple belt arrangement, and hopefully he will be one of the dogs that a slightly springy leash helps discourage pulling with, rather than encouraging it. (I am sort of betting not, but we'll see.) This should work better than the long leash, which is anchored above my center of gravity and asymmetrically, and less flexible so less shock absorption. But for now I'm enjoying being able to walk him at all, even if it's hard. I'm certainly getting a better workout this way.
Other than the walks I've been very flat; I am usually completely out of it by ten or eleven. But the mornings are nice.
I've also gotten the technology that allows me to walk the dog! It's a long lead that I can loop around myself, with a sliding ring so it acts a bit as a slip knot. I wear it cross-body like a purse and it gives me some "reins" that I can use to absorb the shock of all of the bouncing and lurching. He can still yoink me around if I get inattentive, but in general it's a great arrangement; it gives me enough leverage that I'm not worried he's going to pull me over, and it lets us use the greyhound collar instead of the halter, which is far more comfortable for him. I'm going to try out a harness because if he is going to insist on pulling, I'd rather him pull on parts of his body better suited for it; we'll see if I still get the leverage with a harness. Shopping for a harness led me to the world of skijoring and bikejoring, which is very tempting! But I am just not cut out for it. Maybe if I see a scooter with GOOD BRAKES on deep sale. If he had my weight to pull it would slow him down to manageable speeds, but he'd still get a great workout. But I'm going to go more moderate with a simple belt arrangement, and hopefully he will be one of the dogs that a slightly springy leash helps discourage pulling with, rather than encouraging it. (I am sort of betting not, but we'll see.) This should work better than the long leash, which is anchored above my center of gravity and asymmetrically, and less flexible so less shock absorption. But for now I'm enjoying being able to walk him at all, even if it's hard. I'm certainly getting a better workout this way.
Other than the walks I've been very flat; I am usually completely out of it by ten or eleven. But the mornings are nice.