Here’s my favorite spot in my apartment, this area on my couch beside the lamp. When I sit down here, I have my laptop computer under my left hand and my phone, tv remote or cup of coffee in my right.
With the tv seven feet dead ahead, this is the ideal spot for my base of operations.
I’ve never been fond of the expression “couch potato”, but it certainly fits me very well, I’m afraid. (I’m just being honest here, and I very much hope no one gets the bright idea of schooling me on the dangers of being one, because I’m fully aware, thank you.)
Well, I haven’t been a couch potato for the last 6 days anyway. Since I started those heavy-duty hypertension meds the first week of September (that my doctor is inisisting I stick with for at least 3 months as they seem to be the only ones really working), and developing severe edema in my left leg and foot as a result, I began to notice that prolonged couch-sitting really seems to make the leg worse; even when my club-foot is propped up on a pouf.
On the other hand, my leg & foot are at their best when I climb out of bed in the morning. They’re still swollen, but only half as much. It’s only after I sit down on my couch, get on my laptop for an hour or so to answer emails or read blogs, watch tv for a couple hours, doze off… by lunchtime the leg & foot are fully swollen again.
Here’s how things look at 7am, right after getting out of bed. The left (bottom) leg & foot are stiff as heck, but the swelling is reduced by half until noon
So several days ago, I thought “What if I could stay off my couch for a week or so and see if it will keep that swelling down longer?”
And for the last week, that’s just what I’ve been doing.
I decided to make that my only rule. What I mean is, if I want to lie on my bed and eat bon-bons, or stand on my head in front of my tv or park my posterior on the toilet seat lid for the afternoon, whatever it takes to STAY AWAY FROM THE COUCH FOR 10 DAYS.
As of this writing, it’s been six days and I think it’s helping reduce the swelling some… I dunno.
I can’t say it’s helping my backside, it’s been pretty achy from spending my nights sitting bowlegged on the floor in front of my tv.
My stomach muscles are sore too, I’m typing this while laying on my belly on the living room floor and let’s just say the term “roly poly” comes to mind. Remember those round bottomed toys “Weebles wobble but they don’t fall down”? That’s me on my stomach.
(I tried typing at my dining table, but I have to reach up to the keyboard and it hurts my wrists.) Anyway, hanging out on the floor sure was easier when we were kids!
I’m sorry, I know this was a goofy-ass read. I’m just not in the mood to write or do much of anything else for that matter. In a couple hours I have appointments for my covid booster, haircut & flu shot, all in that order.
At least it will get me off of the floor and out of the apartment.
My brother Steve & sister Shawn on the couch, with me on the floor holding our family cat Mimi, my sister Donda & brother Duke in front of the tv set, circa 1972
I should sit on the floor more often but these days, it is harder to lower myself down gracefully and even harder trying to get up gracefully.
ReplyDeleteEd--my doctor (who is in very good shape) said the exact same thing! But she actually liked what I'm doing here, haha :^)
DeleteI really admire your effort Doug. My kryptonite isn't the couch so much as the computer chair. I have a small amount of edema in my legs also and found that if I just get up every 30 minutes and walk around the house for about 5 minutes then hit the stationary bike for another 5 minutes, it really helps and surprisingly, I am sleeping better. I use a kitchen timer or it would never work. This isolation routine plays havoc with our health. I use to Walmart walk every day but that is gone. No longer wish to mingle with the masses.
ReplyDeleteGlad you are getting the booster. I got my regular flu shot and think I will wait a week before getting the booster. My theory, not science. They say it is safe to get them at the same time.
Patti thanks very much for sharing and I like your term "kryptonite"! Anyway, sitting on the floor is making me get up and stretch my legs pretty regularly, so maybe this is what I needed to do. As for the shots, yes I had the same concern about 2 vaccines on the same day, but my doctor and pharmacist both said it was fine. I hope you get your booster soon. :^)
DeleteFloor sitting is definitely not as comfortable at our age, nor is getting up. What a pain to have to change your comfortable routines due to swelling! As the saying goes, getting old(er) isn't for sissies.
ReplyDeleteThanks Margaret, and yes didn't Bette Davis say that? So true!
DeleteThat is certainly an honorable effort! Amlodipine commonly causes the puffiness and swelling side effect. I tried it for 3 months, and then told the doc to switch to something else. Exercising those legs should help with some of the daytime swelling. Might want to add to your daily walks to "earn" your time to sit on the organized couch. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteLinda thank you--I was hoping I'd get your input. Starting tomorrow, I plan to get on one of the treadmills downstairs for 15-20 minutes, been avoiding them since this began. I like the earning thing. :^)
DeleteOh, your poor legs, Doug! I agree with Linda in Kansas. A nice walk to 'earn' quality time on old faithful. Depriving yourself of it's comfort just seems too cruel. I'd also recommend a 'desk top' computer, operated from an office chair with good back support for your browsing pleasure. (Notice how polite I am in not mentioning a whole food/plant based diet?)
ReplyDeleteHaha thanks Florence :^) Well, if I had room in my place for a desk I sure would get one. Maybe I should get rid of my dining table and replace it with a mini-office. You've given me something to think about. :^)
DeleteI enjoy your posts Doug as they are real life issues that we all deal with on a regular basis! We all have a favorite spot such as yours on the couch. Tom and I each have a recliner with a table in between and we can basically run our own small part of the world from that spot. I don't know if a recliner would make a difference in your swelling but they sure are comfortable! Many others here have mentioned walking a bit every day and I do agree because that can help with the swelling and circulation in your legs. I don't think you need to give up your favorite spot if you get in a little walking. I wear a Fit Bit Smart watch and every hour that I don't get at least 250 steps in, it reminds me at 10 minutes before the hour so I can get up and walk a little. It's nothing big like training for a marathon but it does keep up the circulation in your legs and feet and that helps with swelling.
ReplyDeleteI hope all goes well with your booster and other appointments. We got our over 65 flu shots two weeks ago and boosters last Friday. It's good to get those done with even if you do have sore arms for a bit!
Thanks very much Bonnie, you're very kind! Well, to be honest I've been avoiding walking since Sept (it seemed to really flame things) but more & more, I'm realizing I need to make it a daily habit. We have a nice pair of treadmills in my building's exercise room, so I'm lucky to have that option. I like the idea of that Fit Bit watch too, thanks for the idea. :^)
Deleteummmmmm...perhaps a recliner, so that you can keep your legs elevated.
ReplyDeleteDebby I was actually looking at those, good idea :^)
DeleteOr get a footstool or ottoman to put your feet up when you're sitting on the couch. A nice sized tall one is $40 at WalMart, covered in material with a padded lid top. Just don't trip going around it! I have one when I'm sitting in a heavily-upholstered rocker.
ReplyDeleteOr, you could be like old nurses: if you're going to be in the floor anyway, get on your back and put your tush right up against a wall and put your legs straight up the wall. Yep, the trick is to roll over from this position, get on all fours and crawl to a chair in order to get up off the floor.
If you can go to sleep on your back, one of those $40-60 leg lifting pillows is really nice to eliminate pain and swelling. I got mine from a catalog, and one for a friend from a local medical supply store. I've seen them in the bigger CVS stores. I use mine with a regular pillow on top of it. That gets my knees and calves higher than my heart. When I'm ready to really sleep, I kick it off the bed. Just remember where it is, so you don't trip on it in the morning!
Linda in Kansas
Linda I like the idea of those lifting pillows for the bed, I am looking into that--and as a matter of fact, I've been looking at ottomans earlier, I think I'm getting one of those too. Thanks again. :^)
DeleteOh gosh, it's me again! IF you want to get a recliner, PLEASE go to a medical supply store. They will measure you to make sure the recliner is correct. This is important to keep your body from getting numb in spots and to keep calves and feet from getting pressure sores and wounds. The ones that can REALLY recline all the way flat are the best. They're about $1500 but worth the health benefits. Many people get hand-me-down recliners or cheap ones and injury themselves directly or gradually from incorrect ones. Signing off....Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteI didn't know any of this... thanks Linda, I appreciate your expertise. :^)
DeleteI'm surprised you still have the edema, your right foot looks puffy too, is that the normal look for your feet? Have they looked at ALL the possible causes? You should have to "just live with it" forever.
ReplyDeleteThanks River--my right foot is a little swollen, but no problems with shoes or anything like the left. I may be getting some scans this week if my PCP sees no real change. I'm trying to be more proactive, moving around every 20 minutes and doing stretches. It's helping. :^)
DeleteI would think if you kept your legs elevated on an ottoman every time you sit down, and or with a recliner that elevates them, that would help reduce the swelling. Sitting in a chair at a table with your legs hanging down would not be helpful. I find my LazyBoy does just fine and the bigger one my husband had even better because it has padding from the seat to the footrest which I recommend, plus it reclines further than mine. He never needed a cushion, but I've found on my chair sometimes sitting on one of those pressure-type cushions with a hole in the center can ease tenderness. What works for one may not for another, but fwiw that's been my experience.
ReplyDeleteJoared, thank you very much--I am so clueless here, I appreciate your input. :^)
DeleteHi Doug, so sorry you are going through this. I always read all the comments and you certainly are getting lots of good advice.
ReplyDeleteAt 57 my days of sitting bow legged on the floor are over! I love the photo of you and your siblings in front of the tv.
I was having some knee issues a year ago after falling off our deck. As you know I usually walk a few miles a day and at that time there was no way I could do that. With time and glucosamine I am almost back to what I was. I hope you will be soon too Doug. Walking on the treadmill sounds like a good plan.
Take care!
Robin
Robin, thanks so much--I am sorry about your bad fall last year, I do know you're a big daily walker. (Why does glucosamine sound so familiar?) Anyway you're right, a lot of good advice here and I'm grateful. And I begin the treadmill today. :^)`
DeleteI am glad that you got the booster and I hope that your new regimen gets rid of the edema. It is so sad that we have to endure bad side effects from medications to get good results for our illnesses.
ReplyDeleteThanks Gigi, this edema makes me think of you everyday! (In a good way, I mean.) I appreciated you sharing your story about the drug with me.
DeleteSorry you're having to work your way through this. Hope something comes together soon for you. Sitting on the floor is out for me, too hard to get up. Does support hose help, or maybe a massage (which I like cuz it feels so good no matter what).
ReplyDeleteThank you Celia, I've never had a massage but you're giving me something to think about. And you just reminded me, my doctor supplied me with a dozen compression socks (you wear up to your knee) and I keep forgetting I have them. Thanks again. :^)
DeleteI too hope the meds can be changed, since that swelling looks more than a little painful. I sit in a cheap zero-gravity lawn chair with added padding. I like sitting halfway between up and down with my laptop. But otherwise I just lie completely flat when watching TV or whatnot. I am so grateful I don't have swelling to deal with, and I sure hope you can get this worked out. Sending you lots of virtual hugs. :-)
ReplyDeleteDJan, thanks so much for this very sweet message! Zero gravity lawn chair sounds very curious, I'd like to see that. Anyway, I'm very glad you don't have to contend with the swelling, but you've always taken care of yourself. Every time I walk somewhere and grumble in my head about my sore feet, I think of your 8 mile jaunts. :^)
DeleteI'm late coming to the party here. (It's been a rough week - more on that later) But your swollen legs look painful, Dug. That would scare me... and I'd be off those meds pretty quick (but that's me). But the advice of keeping them raised when sitting or lying down is good, I think. And as for the floor, I can still get up and down alright... might be a little harder getting back up these days. Got our flu shots earlier, getting our Pfizer boosters tomorrow or Monday, and as stated in an earlier post - finally got a haircut after 2 years!
ReplyDeleteI really do Hope that the swelling subsides for you, it looks incredibly debilitating and painful! As for fav spots, The Man is content in his Media Chairs in front of a Big Screen TV with absolute monopoly over the Remote... his Bliss. Mine on the other hand, since I'm an ADHD Adult is being in constant Motion and I find it torturous to be Still. As I'm Aging I find that my Body rebels to what makes me so Hyper and would like for me to slow my roll, but I find it very difficult to, so I can relate in some ways to having to change one's preferred Routine to the opposite end of the spectrum. I do Hope you can get it all worked out.
ReplyDeleteI confess I'm often stuck to my stressless chair, but my feet are elevated on the hassock it comes with. Your sofa looks like it could be a sofabed too. I looks very comfortable.
ReplyDeleteI try not to sit anywhere for too long and keep active, but the older we get the harder that is. I hope they find the right meds for you to help with the swelling. It looks painful.
ReplyDelete