Slip Sliding Away

I’ve been tripped up the past year by some weird health issues. Last February, I found it impossible to stand with things in both hands unless I was leaning against something. I couldn’t flip my head upside down to blow dry my hair unless I had one leg in contact with the vanity. I had two bad falls in March and April with no warning, landing on my tailbone once and on my face and arm the second time. In June, I started working with a physical therapist who helped me understand how vision and balance were connected. He had me do many things to evaluate my balance. I would weave instead of walking in a straight line. When he gave me a dowel to use as a cane, I could walk more directly. I have a lovely set of hiking poles and found that walking with one was beneficial. I was given exercises to do at home that helped improve my vision-balance connection. I am still doing the last ones he gave me since they take less than 15 minutes a day. I am walking with friends and going to yoga. My studio has added chair yoga which is my new favorite class. I just saw a new neurologist for a second opinion and he is ordering some more blood tests just to rule out some things. I am no longer using the hiking pole and I was able to stand with a microphone in one hand and my notes in the other and give a four minute memory at a celebration of life. It has been a real challenge to my quality of life.

— KathyV