Hospital visit

[Koalajane]

on January 10th I was rushed to hospital where they thought I had had a major stroke. I hadn’t and when my husband came to visit early the next day I shocked them all by sitting up and greeting him with a hello. I had actually had an infection caused by a kink in my colon. This was sorted and I came out of hospital a week later.

since then my legs have been really weak. I was in 3.5mg of pred before and whilst in hospital they gave me hydrocortisone and omeprazole. I have had to go up to 4mg but am still struggling with my walking, it is like my legs were at the start of PMR.

Does anyone have any tips please that might be useful to get me moving.

Thanks

Koalajane

[SnazzyD]

Do you mean weak or painful as well?

[Koalajane in reply to SnazzyD]

They were achey but now mainly weak

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Glad to hear you are on the mend.

Have you looked at the charity booklet on exercise? or maybe online for some gentle leg exercises ? Plenty for seniors - which would be your best option...

pmrgca.org.uk/wp-content/up...

[Groggrim]

What a shock for you and your husband. I'm so glad it was not a stroke and wish you a speedy recovery Koalajane 💐

[Koalajane in reply to Groggrim]

It was a shock for the family as my husband was told they could do nothing more for me and to gather the family. My daughter who lives in Australia but was on holiday in America changed her flight to dash to my bedside and I think was so pleased to see me alive when she got here!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I would look for a hydrotherapy option - or just find a warm pool where you can walk in the water on your own. I had a few hydrotherapy sessions and then joined an aquafit class run by the rheuma charity here. The difference is amazing - not immediate, building muscle back takes time.

Glad you are better though - how long were you in bed? Muscles fall apart very quickly during bedrest!

[Koalajane in reply to PMRpro]

I was in bed for over a week. It wasn’t until the last day that I got out of bed, chased by hospital physios to see if I could walk with a Zimmer frame and climb some stairs. They sent me home with a Zimmer frame and some toilet raisers. I am going to see the doctor tomorrow as with my discharge letter there is a form saying Do Not Resuscitate which now needs deleting from my files by a doctor!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Koalajane]

That's a bit blooming precipitate - I'd prefer to be ASKED about that! I mean, my daughters know it depends on my state but I'd expect to be in a pretty parlous one before they went that direction!

But after a week in bed I'm not surprised you feel wobbly, most people would.

[Koalajane in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks. Hopefully my GP will sort it tomorrow

[Q-owl in reply to Koalajane]

Have you thought of the hydrotherapy pool at RJAH? I think you're eligible to go there. Glad it wasn't a stroke! Joan

[tangocharlie]

Could you perhaps have had a PMR relapse/flare due to the infection? Have you/the docs tried increasing your Pred to say 10 to see what the effect is? Have you had a CRP to see if it's gone down again after the infection?

[Koalajane in reply to tangocharlie]

No I have gone up to 4mg from 3.5mg and seems ok.

I don’t want to go too high unless I have to as I am trying to keep my blood sugars down

[tangocharlie in reply to Koalajane]

I'm on 10 Pred but still manage to keep my blood sugars down, like you with low carb eating and timing of meals. Hope you get back to normal soon x

[Grammy80]

I'm so glad to hear that you are getting better~what a scare. You might try these gentle exercises...but effective. Stand at your kitchen counter (anything of that height to hold on to) and remembering to breathe evenly...holding the counter simply go up on your toes and down. Then, keeping the left foot flat, move the right leg out and then back. Switch, keeping right foot flat. Again, keeping left foot flat, stretch, gently, right leg backward and repeat switching feet. Starting these, do each 10 or 15 times...enough to feel; but not overdo. You can build up the number of times. Try doing them twice a day at first and build to three.

It doesn't seem like much but does strengthen the calves and thighs. Also, if you have a walker, take a walk around your house. All this will be slow building but hopefully, will help. Personally, I found these little things helpful over time. I now also ride a recumbant bike when I can a few times a day for a short while...10-15 minutes. Be patient. We'll never be 30 again...but we can gain. My best...💞

[Koalajane in reply to Grammy80]

Thanks. I saw my doctor today and he actually was amazed that I walked in with a walking stick after being so ill. I spoke to him about my tiredness, achey legs, chills I get and also oedema in my legs. He nodded and said you are doing well it can take 3 months to get over what you have been through. So I felt a lot better

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Koalajane]

I'd say 3 months is on the conservative side!

[Stills]

glad you are on the mend. Just want to endorse the exercises suggested by Grammy80 as I was given that routine by a physio to strengthen my leg muscles after an injury and they definitely helped. Take care

[Obscureclouds]

I found walking as much as you can is obviously a good way of building up strength but that needs to be balanced with not over doing it. Simple exercises when sitting can help - like stretching out legs individually when sitting, raising and bending them speeding up as you can. Also lying on the bed doing the same plus cycling your legs By far the best help for me has always been going to the pool (if you can get to one) even for 10 mins or so at first just walking up and down . The water is great for supporting weight bearing exercise so I find I can skip, jump, stretch and so all sorts of leg bending and balancing exercises I could never do on dry land I also try to do 4 Aqua fit classes a week as where I go they don’t mind if you get out early if you’ve had enough. It really is great for building up strength in your legs, the rest of your body and for general fitness . Good luck

[Temeraire]

My goodness, you’ve been through the mill! You’ve had good advice and I think you’re doing really well. You will get there but be gentle on yourself. I hope your GP reversed that DNR form - bit shocking that. Should have discussed it and reversed it pronto in the hospital! Anyway my best wishes and so glad you’re recovering 💐

[Koalajane in reply to Temeraire]

GP was wa star. He reversed it and discussed how I was feeling. I have oedema in my legs, achey legs that feel weak, I get sudden shivers. I feel tired a lot of the time. He told me I had been really ill and it will be 3 months before you get over these that are perfectly normal. I walked out of his surgery feeling so much better and he is a doctor with smiley eyes

[Temeraire in reply to Koalajane]

Lovely. He’s a keeper.