Sigh.....

I had my appointment today where the doctor assessed my ankle and decided what our next course of treatment would be. To be honest, I was hoping that he wouldn't have me walking my complete route right away because I don't feel completely healed and it's a LONG walking trip that I take everyday. But I was hoping, and confident that he would agree, that I could start walking at least a couple of hours a day. But no. He said we'll see again in 10 days. There's still swelling and there's still discomfort and I still wake up at night when I turn my foot while I'm sleeping. So I have mixed feelings. I'm glad we're looking for complete healing before he turns me loose but I'm so frustrated. I've GOT to get moving. I want to cut my grass. I want to do a least part of my route. I want to clean up my flower beds and start making my ponds beautiful.

The height of my frustration came yesterday. What a touching, moving day it was. I participated (but couldn't walk in) the March of Dimes - March for Babies. I was part of Team James and Jake, a cause very near and dear to my heart. But, although I could fund raise and be there, I couldn't experience the walk. And there's something so fulfilling about finishing that route. You feel like you're doing it for all the babies whose names are on your back. You feel like you've REALLY done something physical to show how much you care. So I did the next best thing. I stationed myself where I could catch pictures of all these wonderful, beautiful, loving team members who did finish the walk.

















And some people got back before I was ready. Here they they are:



There were a couple more I didn't catch so to see pictures of the whole team, go here where Beth and other members of the team have posted some really wonderful pictures.

I couldn't walk but I was so happy to be a part of this amazing team. What a thrill!

Falling In Your Sixties

A week ago last Monday I fell, as I noted here.

It's okay. We all fall at one time or another. But when you're in your sixties and you fall, here's what you'll get: Have you had a bone density test? Do you take calcium? And here's what I answer. If I had poor bone density, every bone in my body would be broken because I fall all the time. Because I have an all walking job in every kind of weather condition that requires me to concentrate on something besides my walking all day. And, if you took a 20-year-old woman and threw her down on the ground, hard, 10 times in 3 months, she'd probably break something at least one of those times.

Also, when you're in your sixties and you go to the doctor because of your injury, here's what might happen. The attending doctor might treat your injury as a sprain. That's okay. But when you go back for a follow-up visit and she notes that the radiologist thinks you have a fracture, she might say, "Oh, I saw that on the xray but I just thought it was because I was not looking at the xray of a 20-year-old but that's what the xray of, you know, someone our age just looks like."

Now she might be right. I had new xrays today. And a different doctor. And this doctor said, "yes, I can clearly see the incomplete fracture on the large bone between your ankle and your foot. Have you had a bone density test?". Aaarrrgh.

Tomorrow I see an Orthopedic guy. And he might say there's no fracture. Nothing would surprise me at this point. Except maybe if someone judged me and my xrays for what they are and not for my age.