Hi, my name is John. And I have CIDP (Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy). When you have CIDP or any type of neuropathy you must figure out how to deal with the daily issue of trying to move things both big and small while pushing a walker, or holding a cane, or ambulating unsteadily on your own two feet.
(Ah...for the good old days...)
Simply put, nothing is as easy as it used to be...
I've taken to tossing things like pill bottles, pillows, a TV remote, socks, towels, my phone or other items that like to fly. Food, not so much. But if it's carefully contained and the lid won't pop open, I might give that a try sometime. The bed and couch make nice soft landing spots!
This is definitely not the same as dropping things -- because my tremendous tossing efforts are totally intentional. Granted, sometimes what I'm throwing ends up on the floor so I guess that technically turns it into a dropped item. But against my will. That's for sure.
With CIDP, though, I give myself a break and if what I'm sending across the room lands relatively near what I was aiming for (and isn't too broken) it's all good. Such a success makes me feel happy about having gotten something close-ish to where I wanted it to go!
And isn't that sort of a win? There's nothing wrong with trying to accomplish a little something for myself. Seeking to get through my day with my held held high when I have constant trouble holding onto things.
I can and do use the bag on my walker, of course, but there are times when I just want to have a little more control of my own situation and move something where it needs to be. Or at least close enough.
Always asking for help can be hard. Tough on your pride. An imposition on others -- even when they're gracious and kind and truly don't mind. It's also taxing to what's left of your shrinking independence.
So if I choose to let something fly across the room once in a while, where's the harm?
Thanks for taking the time to read my Life with Neuropathy articles. Here's to new options, more strength, and greater healing. And thanks for listening.
John
P.S. To follow my Life with Neuropathy blog, visit lifewithneuropathy.blogspot.com. Find the three lines next to the search button in the upper right hand corner and click "Follow." You'll be notified of my future blogs. Would love to have you on my core team of readers! If you missed it, please read last month's article about exhaustion.
P.P.S. For further thoughts visit Let's Talk about Mobility, Let's Talk about Speed, Let's Talk about Changes, or Let's Talk about Giving Thanks. You can also read about Losing Your Doctor, Using a Handicap Placard, Walker Envy, Saying "Owww" when it hurts, calluses and dealing with Pain, or the Humor of finding out your personal walker was a star on the TV show Monk! If you have a grab bar try this link. For thoughts on Resolutions try this. Finally, if you ever find yourself dropping things like I do, please feel read this.
P.P.P.S. I still drop stuff each and every day! Sometimes two, three and four things at a time! Or more...
And thanks so much, Andrew, for the perfect picture. Photo by https://unsplash.com/@andrewkrueger.
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