CIDP And Me - Abs of Flab

This may come as a shock to you (it certainly did to me) but it would appear that I do not have abs of steel. I know, how can that be? I was sure that I had a lovely six-pack underneath my 'insulation'. Alas, it is not so. At least not according to my new physiotherapist. She has determined that my core is weak and needs to be toughened up stat. This will help with my standing and is required if I ever hope to stand unassisted. I now spend part of each evening sitting on an inflated disk with proper posture and one or both feet off the ground. At least no one is trying to balance a book on my head while I do it. It's actually kind of nice to be thinking of something other than my legs.

Changing physiotherapists has been interesting. I'm so used to working with people who know me and are aware of the progress I've made that I sometimes forget how far I have to go. My new therapist doesn't know me and is assessing me for the first time. She is not so much interested in celebrating how far I've come as figuring out how to get me where I want to be (not that my last physio wasn't working toward that too - I cannot say enough good things about her and the work she did with me). It's a little humbling in a way. We have had a good first week and my assessment went well. My numbers in the strength tests continue to improve, which is great. She has completely overhauled my home program, so that I have fewer exercises to do with a focus on key muscle groups. My core and glutes in particular. That's right, I don't have buns of steel either but that is no surprise.

In other news winter is creeping up on us (I refuse to use the Game of Thrones line here) and I'm not impressed. I quietly hibernated last winter in the hospital and rehab but will not do the same this year! It is a pain and messy and cold but I refuse to be a shut-in. I'm entertaining ideas for wheelchair winterization, so fire away.

Finally, I seem to have a better handle on fatigue this week. My secret? An 8:30 bedtime. Yup, I'm living the life of a five-year old. Naps included. This is all good when I have no plans... I did manage to stay out until 9:45 last night and seem to be fine so far today, so that's a good thing:)

ciao ciao.