Polly did it! | Arthritis Information

Share
 

Some weeks ago I was with my wife on Ireland. We also visited Northern Ireland and read about a rope bridge called Carrick-a-rede rope bridge. Visit  http://www.northantrim.com/carrick_a_rede.htm  When I was at a conference in Vancouver many years ago, my wife walked on the Capilano rope bridge and she was very proud of it and got a diploma. Now, she just wanted to walk on the Irish rope bridge. We went there and I saw it was first a one kilometer walk and then about 100 steps down to the rope bridge. I made up my mind to try it anyway (After diagnosis in June 2005 I am now down to 0.6 mg = 1/4 of 2.5 mg tablet. I am male and 71). I was surprised that I could make it without any large problems. The walk up in the 100 steps I divided into 3-4 stages and just halted a few minutes in between. We did a lot of walking also and especially in Dublin as we lived in a central hotel and could walk rather than taking the buses (they had poor information about public transport by bus. After coming home after the 10 days´trip I felt OK!

I will probably stay on 0.6 mg yet for some months. I have the opinion that I would rather take the Pred than having problems with ache and fatigue. Especially now that I am down on such a low "maintenance" dose. In earlier posts, I have told about my way of tapering slowly and gradually.

In west Sweden will will have some degrees below 0 C and it is a bit slippery on roads in the morning. I will put on winter tires next week. It is a law that we have to have it when there is snow after a certain date - I think it is October 1 or November 1.

By the way - it was a strange feeling to drive on the left side of the road. I took my driver´s licence in 1958 in left hand traffic and we switched to right hand traffic in September 1967. There were very few accidents for a long time as the speed the first month was reduced to 70 km/h on main roads. Now it was like starting anew and I happened to get a KIA Rio car with the wind shield wiper and turning indicator switched. After five days I did mistakes the first couple of hours when coming back. I wanted to turn right but used the windshield wiper...

PS  We take care of a male golden retriver often, and he makes us walk very fast. I have to tell my wife sometimes when we are alone that "remember it is Polly you are walking with and not the dog"
 
Have a nice weekend
Ragnar
Congratulation.  So good to hear you were able to get around and do so much walking.  Geri

You can walk the dog slower by puting a gentle leader on him/her. I am sure you can buy those in sweden

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://dadtobe.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/gentleleader-golden-ball1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://dadtobe.wordpress.com/2007/11/09/loose-leash-training-walk-your-dog-the-smart-way/&h=400&w=400&sz=18&tbnid=2Is0yEjuFh8J::&tbnh=124&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dgentle%2Bleader%2Bpicture&usg=__fBBVQx8Wqf96u7vQC1Td4FE59Sw=&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=3&ct=image&cd=1

Copyright ArthritisInsight.com