Let it Snow... Let it Snow... Let it Snow!!!

[Scotte]

Glad to see all of you in the UK are surviving your freak storm... Here in Calgary we are quite used to it and probably 90% of us have 4WD/AWD vehicles. Unfortunately 90% of them think snow tyres aren't necessary.... 😬!

I don't post very often, but I read everything from our special club everyday... first thing I do every morning no fail!!!

We got about 20cm of snow on Friday. This means that Saturday requires snow removal.

By Law!!! You are required to shovel the public sidewalk in front of your house, which is all I have been capable of doing this winter, with a struggle. I would end up with a flare that debilitated me for at least 3-4 days. (Once, I ended up with wrist drop in my left hand that lasted for 4-6 weeks and a boost in Pred from 10 back up to 12.5)

That said... I am down to 4mg right now... have more energy than I can remember having, so at 7:30 yesterday morning I ran to the Petro station to fill my Jerry Can and started my Snow Blower for the first time this year. Once I started it, I couldn't stop. First I cleared the sidewalks of my neighbours... 8 in total. Did my driveway, my next door neighbours ( they are in Hawaii) and another 3. Felt tired and a little sore after 4 hours, but I would have felt that before PMR.

Next worry was how would I feel today... sore and stiff, but that is, I'm sure, because I used muscles I haven't dared to for the last 11 months.

We shall see how the rest of the week goes. My OH is away on business, first time in a year. I will be Mr. Mom and Mr. Dad to our 4 year old daughter for the next 5 days.

The picture is from my fitbit, showing yesterday's activity...

[venezia1]

How nice that 90% of you can afford those big cars. Here we don't always have the choice but we manage nevertheless. My relatives in Calgary scoff every winter so I guess I'm used to It!

Sorry if this is a bit sour. Needed to let off steam.

[Scotte in reply to venezia1]

My apologies... wasn't scoffing... and you didn't sound too sour!! 😠

Despite my references to snow the post was more about PMR... and recovery/remission.

And FYI most people in Calgary can't afford their SUV's and Pick-up Trucks... it unfortunately becomes a necessity... lol! Calgary has the worst/lowest snow removal budget of any major city in North America... they rely on the warm winds from the Pacific Ocean (Chinooks) to melt the snow....

Scotte

[venezia1 in reply to Scotte]

I know, Scotte - I've visited my relatives in Tuscany Glen Place and other parts of Calgary many times - that's one weird climate! Beautiful area though. That side of my family came from BC which is much more like England, as I expect you know. Well done with all your snow-shovelling!

[Scotte in reply to venezia1]

Let it Rain... Let it it Rain.... Let it Rain!!!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to venezia1]

Here we have 4WD Fiat Pandas - don't HAVE to be big cars.

[venezia1 in reply to PMRpro]

Gosh, I didn't know Pandas were 4w - thanks for the info.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to venezia1]

Not all of them - but they do look funny!!!!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to PMRpro]

And forgot to say - that is what the police drive here!

[SheffieldJane]

Well Scotte you clearly are Superman, well done, 13,000 steps is my Fitbit record and I managed that without helping anyone at all. Seriously what a good neighbour you are. I would love to be down to 4 mgs. I am really stuck at 7 mgs with the odd sneaky 6 mgs and still feeling awful.

Happy for you. I suspect you’ve got it licked, I hope so, but be careful.

[Scotte in reply to SheffieldJane]

Being careful... though I felt good today I did nothing but sit on the couch watching/binging Netflix...

I'm not Superman just waiting to get back to normal... whatever that was...

[Hidden in reply to Scotte]

Those fitbit figures blew my mind. Well done and yes....rest. phew!!

[Scotte in reply to Hidden]

They blew me away when I had this silly light show going on the App... what did I do...??? Obviously now, quite proud...😳

[Hidden in reply to Scotte]

I have my settings so low I have seen that light show! It's silly but nice to see. I do find it encourages me so even though I can't do a lot (yet) it's vitally important that you do have a reward.

[Celebrant]

fellow Canadian and can't seem to find any local boards or forums. Do you know of any?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Celebrant]

There was an attempt to get a Canadian board going

pub32.bravenet.com/forum/st...

but the last post was September so not sure if anyone keeps an eye out. Boards only work once there is a critical mass of members to keep them going and if people don't keep posting they slowly die. There are 3 in the UK. the original one on Patient.info which gave rise to the charities and the other 2 forums. The second one. started by the NE group long before this one, has had server/host problems and lost many members as a result, now it is a small but close group of friends which still serves a purpose but doesn't get "found" on Google as often as the other two.

There are often complaints there are no US/Canadian boards - but you have to work on them to have them!!!

[PMRCanada in reply to Celebrant]

Hello fellow Canuck! I inquired as well when I first joined this forum. Looks like some North American forums started but did not thrive. I've reached out to find others in Ontario/Canada as I am interested in organic meetings as well as a forum. I know of a few other Canadians on here as well.

Where are you located? I'm in Tillsonburg, Ontario.

[MaryA_]

Oh my goodness! I do less then that and I’m flat out for two days! Listen to what your body tells you the next day. Miss PMR likes to pay us back. Though I know how it feel to accomplish things, like in our old days before she came into our lives. Please take care. maryanne

[daworm]

We have snow for at least five months up here in the U.P. Of Michigan...seems everyone owns a 4wheel or all wheel drive car or truck...it's a must!! Enjoy your winter!! Just be safe on the roads..

[Scotte in reply to daworm]

Yes you guys surrounded by the Great Lakes certainly get a real winter...lol. But... most people have no idea how awesome your summers are... stay safe...

[daworm in reply to Scotte]

they are nice..I live 25 miles from Lake Superior and its beach, some days its 75deg F. inland and by the time you get to the lakeshore its low 60's or even in the 50's...that water stays cold along time...

[Celebrant]

Thanks Scotte for your reply. I don't think this is so readily diagnosed here in Canada. Perhaps our doctors look for the more esoteric.

[markbenjamin57]

Hi Scotte, nice to get your news from Calgary

I was interested to hear about the proliferation of 4x4 vehicles in your part of the world. Actually, it's pretty similar in the UK - many people now drive them (or at least SUV's dressed-up as 4x4s) in order to traverse the often treacherous 5-degree gradients up to supermarket car parks here :-D. Fortunately, only a few of our supermarkets are in mountainous regions. But that's not the point - Us Brits need to keep up appearances - even in the Summer..!

For me: my vintage, hand-built 1928 Straight-Eight 9 Litre Le Mans Bentley ('Gloria') has been perfect transport in the recent blizzards. One 'blip' of her throttle and the straight-bore, 4 inch diameter twin side exhausts blast enough scorching hot flames to clear my driveway in about 5 minutes. The only downside is that the exercise consumes about 75 litres of fuel, and so I'm reluctant to offer the driveway clearing service to my 16 needy neighbours due to the costs (not to mention the deafening noise, or the Danger to children and domestic pets through severe burn injuries). Oh well...

Also, the Bentley is superb in the snow. Its ancient but capable 28 inch diameter, 4 inch wide wooden-spoke wheels and cross ply tyres cut through the snow easily with the help of some regularly applied Opposite Lock to keep the 'Old Girl' pointing the right way - a driving skill that many modern 4x4 owners would envy (if they had ever heard about it). The trouble is, Opposite Lock doesn't really apply nowadays due to the vast majority of modern passenger vehicles being FWD (or some, AWD) - and with Traction Control, ABS, ASD to boot. So, fighting with Terminal Oversteer remains one of the finer points in the Art of Vehicle Control in a RWD vehicle - for me at least. But it keeps the local Traffic Police amused when I career down the main street in a blur of smoke, noise and sideways snaking in my dear 'Gloria' with a fiendish grin on my face..

Glad you're bearing-up Pred reduction wise. Like you, I'm 'down' to 4-ish mgpd and not feeling too bad, all considered. In fact, through the Icy (but DRY) cold snap I felt relatively good symptoms-wise. Now things have 'warmed-up' but become damper (i.e. 8-10 degrees C and rain), not feeling quite so good. But this is PMR after all, and I agree with you about trying to keep active on the Journey - within reason..

Keep smiling - and in touch.

Best wishes

MB

[PMRCanada]

Hello fellow Canadian (Scotte). So glad you posted. Always interested to hear from fellow Canadians. I've been to Calgary a half dozen times or so, lived in Saskatchewan 24 years and Northern, B.C. for 2 years. Great ski country nearby at Banff. I remember hearing of the chinooks Calgary would experience weather wise.

Thanks for posting your "numbers". Sometimes we don't know our abilities until we try, and that results in some negative consequences if our bodies are not yet ready for that level of activity (DOMS). Listening to our bodies helps. Good for you for getting to this level of activity, and hoping there is no fall out. I recently responded to a post by another man who reported almost the same level of physical activity and no fatigue on his PMR journey, and a brief discussion about the difference of this condition on men vs. women.

And to be down to 4mg, my dream (I'm tapering to 9mg currently).

Of note, last night we received 15cm of snow and it was mild and late (midnight), and I got the desire to go out and get some fresh air and shovel (something I've left to the OH for the most part so far this winter). Well it ended up that I was out there for just over an hour, and stopped once my shoulders began to get sore. I was half afraid to wake up this morning, but to my surprise, I was able to get out of bed as usual, and am only a little stiff (how I would normally feel after shoveling snow for an hour). Can't help but feel it is a bit of an achievement and I'm "sticking it" to the PMR for once (instead of the other way around).

Sounds like your a great dad and neighbour, and my best wishes for your continued "smooth" PMR ride.