In the past two months, Mark and I have had more than our share of problem solving and character-building. I want my boring life back. At the end of April, I sprained my right ankle. I do this often. I have vertigo. Vertigo is orthopedically challenging. I have no idea when I wrench an ankle […]
For Better, For Worse, & For Lunch Read More »
I have a new mobility device: a rollator. It’s a walker with big wheels and a seat. After a family vacation in January, where I almost missed a flight because United Airlines could not figure out how to get an electric cart from one gate to another, I decided I was done being at the
Freedom, Mobility, and Exercise with a Rollator Read More »
One of the strange side effects of my hemorrhage was my inability to turn onto my left side while lying down without using my arms. I could roll over to the right, like any three-month old baby or a normal adult. However, I could not roll over to the left without propping myself up on
Roll Over, Johanna Read More »
During one of my workouts with Bill, my trainer, I was having trouble with something. I said, “Let’s do it again. I’m too stubborn to give up.” I was talking about doing leg lifts or some such. He said, “You’re the good kind of stubborn, the kind of person who grows from your stubbornness, not
Which Kind of Stubborn Are You Today? Read More »
You’ve heard the old joke, “I’ve got good news and I’ve got bad news,” right? Well, that actually happened to me. Back in 2009, when I had my first vertigo attack, I complained to my doctor of fullness in my ears. I’d seen an internist in my doctor’s office, and sure enough, I did have
What a Doctor Should Not Say to a Patient on a Friday Afternoon Read More »
We had a big Friday night. First we went to the synagogue for services. We stayed for supper and to hear Dr. Ann Lapidus Lerner discuss Yehuda Amichai’s poetry. Friday night services are Kabbalat Shabbat. The tunes are joyous, welcoming Shabbat. Services are short and intimate, with fewer people. I have trouble with services these
Riding the Emotional Rollercoaster of Change Read More »
I had another saccades attack a week ago. I am glad it was not a full vertigo attack. I was sitting at the computer, trying to finish writing an article, and my eyes started to go berserk. Saccades are involuntary rapid eye movements. An attack is when they go out of control. Sometimes, if I
Vulnerability Problem, Resilience Solution Read More »
During the past few conferences, I’ve been tired. My knee has been great, but my quads are not quite strong enough to support my weight for all the standing I need to do. So as the day proceeds, I have more trouble walking. The weaker I am, the more my vertigo kicks in. Figures, right?
Please Hold My Hand or Pair-Walking Read More »
I had my first dance class post-knee surgery on Wednesday night, 13 weeks to the day after my knee replacement surgery. It was a blazing success! Mark said I didn’t hang on him. Istvan said I didn’t have the death grip. (Just wait Istvan, we didn’t try any reverse turns. I’m sure I’ll have the
Happy Feet Are Here Again Read More »
No matter what, Mark and I are moving into a smaller house. That part is clear. So we need to clear out some of what I fondly refer to as our Stuff. When I was traveling last week, Mark told me sternly that we needed to declutter. I agreed. “My name is Johanna and I
My Stuff, Your Junk Read More »