I’m just back from my 2 week holiday in sunny Kos. This has been the single most powerful event in my 2 year recovery journey, by far. A miracle; I’m walking all over the house without my stick.
The sand, sea, salt, air and of course, but of course the sun for my poor traumatized run down cells. They live in the muscles. They provide us with 90% of our energy. They are powered by the sun. To see me before and after is to witness an alien life form possess my body. They’re called mitochondria!
Oh, Naughty industry hid the truth from me!! (& you)
or as my Radiologist friend has just put it
“you’ve unlocked the secret to recovery”!
Near Infra-Red panel is already on!!, ciao, Roland
I’ve come to suspect this, as to why folks with conditions move to warmer climates. My father did it from Wales. I have expressed it myself, considering the state of our health services and half my own family being in Portugal. It’s not an absurd idea, are you tempted to move to Italy?
Recently, Billy Connelly moved to sunnier climes because of his condition.
Addendum: “you’ve unlocked the secret to recovery” Ah, I’d be careful of such crows. Just my opinion.
Yes, last week I told my wife that if she wanted to retire to Italy (Puglia in the South) I’m game. She has 27 first cousins down there. Thanks for warning, but my Radiologist friend does know a little bit about the human body !! (not just my opinion)
Sounds like your holiday has done you the power of good. So pleased it has had such a great affect for you. As @Rups mentioned people often move to sunnier climes with health conditions & report positive effects.
How was Kos in general for getting around with mobility issues etc? I’ve never been to Greece & am looking for somewhere suitable for my needs.
Welcome home. Long may the positive effects continue.
Hey Ann, on the first week, although utterly exhausting, I got to the pool and beach without a mobility buggy, but (after swallowing my pride / being kinder to myself, etc) hired one for week 2. They were only a mile away, and delivered it within a couple of hours. That allowed me to do more and visit restaurants in the evening. 95 Euro for a week, and as my energy improved, I still did trips to the beach without. It felt good to have the buggy as an option, since not every day is equal. It was the only 4 star hotel in the bay, Royal Bay, so a bit pricey, but the in-laws were generous & treated us, even though they didn’t come. The swimming pool area was nice and flat, but the beach required plenty of steps.
We have such dull Summers in the UK we quickly forget the power of the sun. But our mitochondria & instincts do try and remind us. Yet it’s not until we get there that we realize what we’re missing !! Back in Bristol, I got a good hour in the sun, au naturel, today, and some Red light therapy in the morning. Have to update my book, on this amazing holiday, now.
I’ve lived in Cascais for a while, family are in Coimbra and Lisboa. My favourite city is Oporto by a long shot. I love Sintra, a world unto itself. I used to go back every year but lockdown and then stroke stopped that, it was like a second home to me. Will go again next year, I hope.
Bando, I cannot find the creatine post, so I am giving my update here. Taking a few grams creatine powder made me urinate a lot at night, so I quit taking it. Instead I am eating a lot of food with creatine which has no side effects for me. Ground turkey, fish, brocelli, onions etc. Cheers, Trooper
Good for you Pando. I try to take in as much sun as I can in the garden or walking as far as I can outside (not much more chance as autumn descends and the sun loses its strength). I’m told by a lot of folks that I look well which does wonders for the self-confidence. How was flying? I’m loathe to strike out into something like an airport - or railway station - just yet because of the numbers of people around. Cheers and best wishes Neil
Hi Roland
What a fabulous boost. Great to hear of your progress. There has been a distinct lack of sunshine this summer. I am off to the Algarve this week and hoping/feeling/intending that it will have a similar effect.
Already booked mobility scooter and there is an amphibious wheelchair! One of many things i miss is sea swimming so a good dunk will be just the thing.
Blessings
Algarve is lovely but the sea was cold when I went 3 years ago. Never heard of an amphibious wheelchair, but it makes sense… I felt like Robbie the robot getting into the sea ; I’m sure it was a spectacle, but everyone cheered me on wherever I ventured !!
Do enjoy your trip ; and may the sun regenerate you !! ciao, Roland
my reply to you seems to have gone missing. Anyway, I too, can feel the sun weaken day by day. Looking well is a good sign, you’re looking after yourself and on track ! I get the same compliments ! Easyjet assistance was brilliant all round, not a finger out of place. Crowds frighten me, but every time I mingle I come out 1 notch better.
Even though you’re loath to venture rail or airports, there’s no harm in just visiting them.
Trial runs as part of your rehabilitation to descensitising yourself to them. That way you have no other pressures to meet, such as tickets and time scales and getting from A to B quick. Visiting busy market places is another one, riding the bus just for the hell of it is another. Doing them on your own time, in your own time, without any other pressures is taking it one step at a time! Why wait 'til you have to do these things😉
Thanks Roland.
Amazing that you got into the sea. Was someone holding your arm? I have only managed a minor paddle so far. Live about half a mile from a beach but need a willing person and weather to coincide.
Yes, my wife offered her hand but I just used it for balance, and not for leaning on. If you check my Flickr album there’s a video of me walking without a stick in the airport, because the sand and beach effort resulted in more proprioception in my leg and better feedback. Around the house, on a good day, I now walk without my stick… progress indeed
We did go most days in my first couple of years. I guess I got to the point where as long as I stop and have a rest I can go reasonably well.
What I do notice is I stumble all the time.
I seem to have just as fast reflexes at least on the left hand side as ever in my feet so don’t fall.
Having said that if my leg right leg isn’t stable I do fall like yesterday when trying to put some stuff in the compost: ( !
Do you have things like a balance board and do you do exercises like imaginary tightrope walking backwards with your eyes shut? I used to do those everyday too
Caio
Simon
I see images isn’t fixed yet. I’m guessing that somebody wasnt monitoring space utilisation in the media library so uploaded images are failing to store and will need to upload them again when it’s fixed.
