I had an appointment with my neurologist, Dr. T. on Wednesday, July 12 to get Botox injections. It was also the first time I'd seen him since before having my battery replaced in my deep brain stimulation system. He surprised me by being the one to come and get me from the lobby (instead of his nurse). I think he did it so he could observe my walking. :) He did watch every step I took and then apologized for watching me - haha. He knows I hate when people watch me walk. I told him he shouldn't be sorry because I know that's how he can evaluate and determine what's best for me (even though I still dislike it!). Once we got into the exam room, he asked how the surgery went and how the rechargeable battery was going. I told him the surgery went fine, but that I felt like it took longer this time to see the effects of it, to which he replied that by the time I had the surgery my old battery was probably really, really dead, so it didn't surprise him that it took my body longer to see any of the effects of the new battery. As for the rechargeable battery - I told him it was interesting. He asked what I meant by that, and I told him it's just a learning experience. It's not as easy and carefree as having the non-rechargeable battery. I have to recharge myself every week. It's not as fun as it sounds - ha! Sometimes I lose connection with the charger and the battery, and I have to find it again and although that may sound pretty easy (and it is for the most part), it's just frustrating. The charger is beeping at me, and my device says it's searching, and I KNOW I am placing the charger right over the battery and it's still not finding the signal. OK, rant over! It really is a MINOR inconvenience in the scheme of things. It's just different. I have to make myself do it. I thought it would be all fun and games, and I could watch TV or check Facebook. While I do all those things, it's the fact that I have to charge myself up and I have to lie there that makes me not want to do any of it. Again, I know I sound like I'm complaining, but I'm really not (OK, maybe I am a little bit). This is how I vent - by writing it all out. I know people have it a lot worse off than I do and overall, I am SO thankful for the advancements in technology that allow me to charge myself up every week.
Back to my Botox injection appointment. Dr. T. checked my DBS battery, and it was good (it should be as it's brand new and I recharged it the night before). He checked my surgery scar (because I asked him if it looked OK - one side is "brighter" (for lack of a better word) and it worried me a bit). He said it looked great to him. He asked if there had been any oozing and I said no. He asked if I had been doing any excessive arm movements and I said no. So, everything is good with the scar. On to the actual Botox- he asked if it worked last time. I said I thought it had. Last time was the first time that he not only injected into my left posterior tibialis but also into the medial and lateral left hamstring. We decided to do the same on Wednesday. When he injected it into the tibialis this time, it hurt. He must have brushed up against the nerve because it felt like it was going through the bottom of my foot. He apologized when I winced and said he knew that must have hurt. I like a doctor who can sympathize! He asked about my summer so far (probably trying to distract me!) and I asked about his. He then had me lie down on the exam table so he could inject the hamstring. That went much better than the tibialis. My hamstring is fatter than my tibialis and there's probably no nerve near it. :) It was a really good appointment. I walked out of there much steadier than I walked in. That doesn't mean that it stayed that way. I started to feel some of the effects of the Botox that night and felt that my leg was weak. I didn't feel confident walking, but since then, it goes up and down. I feel confident walking; I don't feel confident walking. To please Dr. T., I'm going to start physical therapy. I'm not doing it just for Dr. T., but he's the main reason - ha! I go for my initial appointment next Friday, July 21 (which also happens to my grandmother's 97th birthday). Before I left Dr. T.'s office, he said that he was really happy that I'm going to PT. He said he thinks it'll help a lot. Next week (July 19) will mark the 6th week after my surgery, which means I get to work out again and have no physical restrictions from the surgery. To be honest, I haven't worked out in 6 months. I told a friend that being told I can't work out for 6 weeks after surgery has made me want to work out so bad! I really do believe reverse psychology works on me - haha! I had all the time in world and couldn't get motivated to work out and then I am told I can't do it and that's all I've wanted to do.
I am hopeful that I will get steadier on my feet and that exercise and physical therapy will help me. So, that's the update for now. I'll check back in after I have a few physical therapy sessions under my belt to update on how that is going. I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer. Always remember...God's Got This!
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