Ambulatory – Or Not?

Two images remain with me this evening. Images of two people on the bus that carried me from Hexham to Allendale this morning. One of an elderly man, the other of a young man – late teens early twenties perhaps. Do you want let off at road end, or the bus stop? The driver called to the old chap as he lurched up the bus, bent over with but a tenuous relationship with gravity. Nothing about him was inspiring ambulatory confidence. My confidence and probably not his either. Even with two crutches he waved perilously as he proceeded. Road end! cried the elderly gentleman. The bus stopped and he stepped out onto a snow bank! He just stood there waiting for the bus to move. I didn’t look back.

All the while, as we drove onwards, my eye kept on returning to a young man. I had a three quarters view of him as he texted – yes probably texting. He was curled over in a C shape. I could see him in the same shape at his computer. He was the same shape as the elderly gentleman.

It strikes me we are a bit like memory foam. We take a shape be it while sitting, standing, lying down, walking and while moving generally, out of habit. However, unlike memory foam, when we move we forget to change shape in response to the new, and ever changing, circumstances we find ourselves in. Too bad. Goodness knows the consequences that flow from ones mind adopting a shape and then not changing shape in response to ever changing circumstances. Food for thought.

Tomorrow Ayse (Dealings with Pain) will be in hospital having surgery and can use all the good thoughts and best wishes we can muster. So let us muster well! For obvious reasons of respecting privacy the details of her surgery are withheld.

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8 thoughts on “Ambulatory – Or Not?”

  1. I missed the article in “Jade Mountains” as I was in Cyprus at the time, – no access to a PC. However I got to read it in the lataest OBC journal.
    For what its worth, as a retired nurse I can picture only too well the incident with the nurse who probably had an oversized caseload. But there did come a time when yours truly had to be a patient himself. It was a singular lesson being on the other side of the bed. It made me a better nurse I think.
    Maybe all nurses should have a spell as incognito “patients”?

    Anyway, please pass on my good wishes to Ayse. Lets hope this is pain free or leastways less painful.

    _/\_
    Norman

  2. Jade Mountains seems like a wonderful “place” to post our thoughts and tranfers of merit for Ayse.

    Ayse, I know that your posting on Dealings with Pain has been of benefit to many besides myself. You pointed directly to that fundamental and inseparable peace we all have in common. May our thoughts for your well-being serve you well.

    With great gratitude, Jim, Nancy, and Muji

  3. David and I send you all our good wishes, Ayse and thank you for the excellent article.

    Kind wishes – Karen

  4. My thought are with you too Ayse.

    I wish you a speedy recovery from your surgery and hope that you are doing well today.

    With love and best wishes

    In gassho

    Julie

  5. Dear rev Mugo, dear all,

    My operation went well and without complications. It was somewhat more substantial then I had reckoned for, but the good news is that the pain level has been quite reasonable, it barely came above a 6. Now a week after the surgery it is around a 4 / 5, when I lay still sometimes even lower.

    Last Monday I flew back home, the journey was bit of a challenge the fourth day after the operation but all went well. I have been keeping to bed mostly but today I am somewhat more up and about. The recovery is going very well, the wounds are healing fast and I am already mostly off the painkillers. Usually if the pain is below 4 or 5 the disadvantages of the drugs start to outweigh the benefits, although the tipping point is probably very personal.

    I find it really touching to see all the good wishes here. Thank you all so very much!

    Love & Gassho,

    Ayse

  6. It’s good to know that you are doing well Ayse.

    I find the way you talk about dealing with the conditions of your situation an inspiration. The journey home must have been quite difficult.

    Months after I had major surgery I would even dream about the pain. Dark days but . . . . . .

    The days are (literally) getting lighter and longer and spring won’t be far behind.

    You remain in my thoughts.

    In gassho

    Julie

  7. Nice to know all is going well. I have not experienced what you’ve gone through but as a retired orthopaedic nurse I have nursed plenty of people who have, so I have some idea.
    All the best to you.
    Good luck.
    Norman

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