Finally moved out!

On November 27th I finally got my own apartment. After turning down the previos apartment I was offered another in another building..in another city. Still there are no balconies but this one is closer to everything the other one wasn't. The manager here even told me I made a smart decision not to move into the previous building..Theres to much drama there she said. And thats what I was trying to stay away from.

It's in Elyria, Ohio (E-leer-Re-Ah) and is just blocks from downtown. So  in the summer I can easily take the power chair and go sit or explore the square. Plus its right across the street from the police station. Guess that means I can either feel safe..or not have to call for a ride home if I get arrested.

The apartment is on the 5th floor..out of 5 floors. So I can turn the thermostat down while people downstairs heat my place! Not that it matters, utilities are included. The rooms are spacious, new carpeting and clean. I really like it here. The residents I've meet so far are all friendly and nice. There are two community rooms, one which has a kitchen and tv with cable. Not saying I don't have a kitchen or can get cable. I didn't want cable. No sense in paying $100 a month for just a handful of channels. As for the internet, There is a room with 5 computers in it, plus my iPhone acts as a modem. Sure its not the fastest, but its faster then the old fashioned dial up. Which is something else I don’t have..a phone. Unlimited talk and text on my cell phone covers that. There is also a laundry room with 7 washers and dryers so chances of waiting for an open one are slim.

There is a resident that takes care of the grounds and flower beds. I may have to lend a hand in the spring with plants. There is also a area set aside for residents to grow their own veggies, also any extras produce can be left in the kitchen for others to help themselves. So now I know extra tomatoes will be used and not go bad sitting around.

The hallways all have rails installed on the walls. Yes, this is a building for the elderly and disabled. Unfortunately no college girls or 20 -30 somethings live here. But it doesn’t mean they cant visit!
My bathroom is equipped with many rails to assist in standing in the shower, with my shower chair it makes it even easier and less of a chance at falling.


 The bathroom and bed rooms are equipped with an emergency call button on the walls. So now If a fall does occur in the bathroom, help will be on the way. I just have to make sure I don’t fall in the kitchen or living room, they don’t have the call button. Just thinking, if I fall and get knocked out, how am I going to press it?

There is a receptionist on duty during the day and they’re trained to notice a residents routine, if for an extended period of time they don’t see you in the lobby then they’ll come check on you. So if I am knocked unconscious eventually someone will be around.

I'm going to like it here I believe. The area isn't considered the hood. Visitors have to buzz your room number, and thru the intercom you can open the front doors. Sure I would of rather of moved south, away from the cold, gray Ohio skies but the funds just aint there. Maybe if I get lucky at the casino I can fulfill the dream of moving somewhere warmer.

If anyone wants to visit or send mail, my address is 15 Chestnut St. #504
                                                                                   Elyria, OH
                                                                                   44035

Government housing

I was approved for an apartment in a building for the elderly and disabled. What I don't like is there are no balconies. No sitting outside in the sun..no growing plants in containers. BUT there'll be enough room inside for my seed rack. Just hardening off the plants outside would be impossible.
Making friends with the elderly would be nice..hearing of all their stories about years gone by..the complaints about my hair length etc.

But I decided to turn it down. There is nothing out that way. No stores. At least not with out driving 5+  miles to get to one. I'd want to live closer to everyone else to..OR if my luck ever changes I'd hit it big at the casino, get off government assistance and move south! Just to get away from this cold Ohio weather. So hopefully sometime soon I'll be accepted for another apartment, closer to friends, family and stores! I'll deal with no balconies and catch a tan else wear.

Challange won!

So this past Monday at the Horseshoe Casino in down town Cleveland, it was the last day of their cullinary giveaway. I missed out on the first weekend which was pots and pans, went the 2nd weekend and got my bakeware, the 3rd and final weekend I couldnt get anyone to go with...maybe it was because of the hurricane?

Walked this route there n back 4 times.

The walk from the parking garage to the casino is a bit of a walk and other times going I always had someone push me in my wheelchair. I got tired of trying to find someone to go with, so I said screw it and went by myself. I had 2 hours to get there and claim my stoneware and by the time I got my voucher, I had 30 minutes to spare.

Its kinda messed up how they have it, you need to go into the casino to pick up your voucher, then back out to the gift shop, next to the parking garage to claim your give away. The easy part was that traffic was light, the hard part was the wind and driving rain, but I did it! Being right there of course I had to go back in and play the slots for a while and build up enough points for free parking and try my luck..which isn't ever good. So it was back to the casino.

I found a machine and decided to settle in and play. The man next to me was hitting on his machine and me, I figured I'm going to loose all the cash I brought. That was until he had to leave and turned  his machine over to me. I didn't win as much as him but it was better then the one I started on. All together I spent $60 and lost only $5.

That was a challenge to me. To cover that much walking with out a wheelchair. Sure they had complimentary wheelchair rentals there, but if I feel like I can do something, then by God Im gonna do it! Im tired of relying on others for help. Not going places cause others don't want to or cant, if I have somewhere I want to go, then Im going! If its a great deal of walking, such as an event at a convention center, I'll do my best to wheel myself.

The drive home was a challenge also. Damage everywhere, power out etc.. But it was only wind and rain. Had it been snow I maybe wouldn't of gone. Everyone was taking their time driving on the highway, me..of course I was flying. The others will be the same ones that'll be flying on snow covered roads and kissing the median wall. I know my limitations..that or I just don't care.

Getting Horizontal

 Last night was going well. A Friday night sitting around with a friend, talking..playing on the lap tops. After he left I got on the phone with a friend. All was going good.. that was until I decided to shut off the fan. getting off the couch and walking over and hitting the switch..making a turn I went over like a tree, coming down on my cane and my left shoulder. Being on the phone at the same time, I never lost the call either!
The fall bent the cane to the point where it's unstable to use now, the light to the left also fell. It could be worse, my shoulder could of ended up like the light bulb...broke.



So that ended up with a trip to the ER the next morning just to make sure things are alright. After X-rays it was found no fractures or broken bones, just soreness. It feels fine..but trying to lift my arm hurts like hell!
So in the ER, they gave me a Motrin and a Vicodin. Its to bad Vicodin isnt sold over the counter. This stuff works great! Sure it put me sleep once I got home, but what else is there to do on a rainy, cold October day in Ohio

 I would guess the 5 beers I had didn't help matters much either.

Fatigue

My kinda place..so I thought.

So this weekend I went along for a ride in a big truck to Somerset PA to pick up a trailer and meet some friends. Leaving early afternoon there was no chance of fatigue setting in, because for one, the passanger side seat is not air ride, and bob tailing (truck with out a trailer) makes the ride even bumpier! Fatigue didnt stand a chance!
Through the weekend I never felt the fatigue I usually feel, sure there were bouts of yawning hard, but no signs of shutting my eyes and having that peaceful feeling and just drifting off.

Lisa Driving

Now come Saturday night, everything was fine, I still felt no fatigue. Even being up till 3:30 am watching for meteors. Sunday was another day of not feeling fatigue. Sleep Sunday night was normal as ever.  

Monday though, sitting around it hit me, like 3 times thru the day. Sitting outside I felt slight dizzy, laid my head back and closed my eyes. Didn't sleep though. Still sitting outside talking to someone now, I caught myself falling asleep. Couple hours later after being up and playing in the kitchen, Sitting at the kitchen table I dozed off. After dinner, sitting on the couch on the lap top, it happened twice! I was worried I was having another relapse. Jump to Tuesday, no fatigue, no nap's
The double vision makes me close one eye quite often to see straight, and next thing I know the other is shut and I'm out like a light. Fatigue is no fun when it just comes on like it does. At least no one puts shaving cream on my hands and tickles my nose. Not that I know how that works.

Visit to the eye doc..

So on the way to the Cole Eye Institute we decided to swing down W. 11 and pay a visit to this house since we were in the area and had time to kill. You can almost picture Ralphie and Randy running down the sidewalk. Or another neighbor helping deliver another wooden crate marked "Fragile"
Or the Bumpass's dogs running through the neighborhood. My cousin asked me whats so special about this house? She didn't know..Yeah, I'm talking about the house that A Christmas story was filmed. Well at least the exterior shots, the rest was filled in Canada.

It was then onto the Cleveland Clinic for the eye appointment. It was scheduled for 1:30 pm and the technician got me in rather quick. Through all the questions and tests I thought this was going to be a fast visit. 2.5 hours later and they call me back in a room and finally the doctor shows up..with a rather cute Asian girl..and up and coming ophthalmologist who was shadowing her. Honestly I wouldn't mind her being my shadow! Anyhow through a few questions and small exam she places these glass's on me with removable lenses. Everything is always much clearer with these on, But I wouldn't be caught dead going out in public with these Jetsons glass's on.
She finally concluded that maybe my current glass's have to much prism in them, that maybe the Gilenya has helped my optic nerve. So now there is a prescription for yet another pair of glass's. That makes 4 pair in 5 years. I also found out, by her definition I don't have nor did I ever have optic neuritis. According to her optic neuritis is a change in vision of one eye...well here my eyes aren't seeing in stereo. Double vision sucks!

Latest Update

So had my latest MRI and there were no changes from the one 6 months prior.

Of course the day couldn't start off easy, seeing there was an accident and the right lanes were blocked and traffic was tied up.Nothing like going from 75 mph (in a 60 zone) to 35 mph!  I was 20 min late but they still got me in on time. The machine is nice. 6 minutes in, slide out for the contrast injection then back in for another 6 minutes and your done. Its nice but no time to sleep. Sure beats the 2 hour long MRI's I was used to






Afterwards was the meeting with the doctor. Just the normal check up and questions. Then the review of the MRI.
Here are some of the images taken by camera off the doctors computer scree.

 

The white areas are the lesions on my brain. 

 

Vitamin D levels are always low in MS patients. In March blood was drawn for tests and my vitamin D level was at 12.0 The acceptable range is 31.0 - 80.0 Unusually low. So I started taking vitamin D3supplements and went on a two week,  weekly prescription of vitamin D. As of September5th and another blood test, the levels have increased to 78.0. The supplements and laying out napping in the sun seem to be paying off, though I'm still not walking the best...but better and have a nice tan to!

I found out why I have Louisiana on my mind so much !