I went to a new doctor about two weeks ago. She ordered some tests for me.
I am now getting PT twice a week. I haven't had PT for eight years so it has made my frozen ankle a bit sore. I am also gettilng a different kind of brace for my RSD foot and a lift for my right leg because it is shorter than my left.
She told me to be very, very careful because my hips have osteoporosis and my spine shows osteopena (sp) which is the beginning of osteoporosis.
She thought I may have had a stroke, so she ordered an MRI. I did have a mild one at one time. I also have sinusitis. I caught a cold on Nov 15 and still don't feel well. Now I know what it is and can call my PCP and get some meds.
Just think! I will get over this cold AND have a handy dandy new brace AND will be able to walk straight with even legs! The stroke explains the problems I have with my left hand (I am left handed). Now if I can just remember where I lost my memory.
I am so glad to find this new doctor. She actually took the time to examine me and to explain in detail what she thought and what we could try.
Wishing all of you painfree days. Lil

Are you adding any supplements? did she recommend any- or foods to increase Calcium levels?

My legs are uneven too-but so are my shoulders, ribcage & hips etc - so I'm going to a very good chiropractor {I'm 51}
I also have RSI/TOS & some c spine issues which he is helping too.

He suggests a good Cal/Mag blend to add in with my multiple Vits and other supplements. And of course eat way more veggies

Hey Lil,

This new doc sounds just what you needed - although the results weren't what I'd call "good", it is good that you know as much about your condition as you possibly can - we can only start helping ourselves with the right knowledge, of course.

I hope the fittings and all that side of it goes well; did she volunteer any possible causes for the stroke? How clever of her to catch it.

Take care, I hope you find significant relief with the new set-up,
all the best

Hello jo55: Thanks for the advice. Taking calcium supplements and eating properly is a good idea. I remember when I was about 9 years old I had to suck on some pink wintergreen flavored calcium wafers, because my body was not absorbing enough calcium. I have had the short leg all of my life and this is the first time a doctor is going to address this issue.

My husband told me that the first time he saw me he remembered how great my legs were when he saw me in an orange mini-dress. The joke is on him because I have never ever worn an orange mini-dress! I don't know who he saw but it sure wasn't me !!

When I was in my teens, I worked in a shoe store with older ladies. A shipment of legfitting high heeled shiney boots came in and they talked me into modeling them for them. When they saw me in them, they laughed till they cried.

I hope you are having a good day, and thanks for the reply. Regards, Lil

Hello Artist: While I was at my appointment I mentioned that I thought the RSD had gone from my left foot to my left hand. I am left handed but that hand is weaker than my right. This woman is really alert. She noticed the difference in my leg length when she saw me walk. Most doctors would not have mentioned it so they would not have to deal with it.

How are you doing? I am curious, how do the people in Hong Kong celebrate the holidays? Or do they celebrate at all? I know that countries have their own customs. What is it like there? Do tell!! Regards, Lil

Hi Lil,
I am so glad you are getting help. I have changed my diet. It's a bit rough getting started but I think it helps some. Big Hugs, Roz

I'm OKish, you know...mutter mutter, grumble, grumble.

Well, very big and very commercial. Hong Kong has more public hols than anyone; we get all the Western ones plus the Chinese ones, which is good news - luckily the HK Chinese will use any excuse .

You can count the time between Christmas and Chinese New Year (usually around late Jan/early Feb, another long holiday for that - it's the Chinese equivalent of Christmas..!) as one long public holiday in terms of decorations - they go bananas and light up every conceivable place, spend a fortune on lights and stuff. It only takes a minor alteration to switch from Christmas (Santa, reindeers, snowmen, the whole 9 yards, to whatever the new year is - dog, rabbit, ox etc...) so we have the decorations up for 2 - 3 months.

Nearer the time I'll try to post a pic of the lights.

About 10% of Chinese Hongkongers are practicing Christians (the missionaries made great inroads in China), so many do actually celebrate Christmas, the rest are Tao-Confucion (sort of Buddhist, ancestor worship, kitchen gods, that kind of thing, very superstitious) but no formal religion. There are many other nationalities here, though, apart from Westerners, lots of Indians and S. E. Asians, so Hindu, Muslim or Buddhist and many Philippinos (mostly Christians).

Regardless of race, people will often decorate their balcony or roof with fairy lights and/or chinese lanterns. So it's pretty.

Usually the locals have a big barbeque outside (any excuse for a barbeque, here) - the weather is often good, although it can be cool - and invite all their friends and family. So it's noisy.

The shops start playing carols in October (!) Westerners usually have a traditional Christmas, the shops sell everything, including Christmas Crackers - it's based on a British Christmas, since they were the previous management. The whole thing, as you'd expect from HK, is one giant capitalist enterprise...and we lap it up .

You might spend the day on a boat or the beach, but always with friends. Many people's families come from overseas for it, since the weather's fine usually and because many Westerners here drink like fishes, major hangovers Boxing Day... Me, I don't care where I am as long I'm with my doglet... turkey sandwich on my local beach with the dog-lovers will do us perfectly. (With a little bit of stuffing).

So not too different, once you've got used to a Chinese Santa Claus, plastic snow in the sub-tropics and the festive season lasting from Oct - Feb
all the best!

Artist...what are "Christmas Crackers?"

Hahahahaha Lisa
I wondered if they had crossed the Atlantic and thought perhaps not!
Here are a couple:



Christmas crackers are *essential* for a Proper British Christmas. You put a couple by each person's plate when you lay the table.... They are rolls of crepe paper, (very fancily decorated) twisted at both ends, with enough paper left at each end to grab hold of, and they contain a present, a paper hat, a joke and a small fire cracker. They're cunningly made so they break apart when pulled hard.

The fire cracker itself is like the cap in a toy gun, big bang and a bit of a spark. It is right in the middle of the inside of the roll, stuck on a length of thin card that runs lengthwise through the roll. At the end of your main Christmas meal, you have a tug of war with everyone else, you take one end of the cracker, someone else takes the other and you pull hard as you can. The fire cracker pulls apart and someone gets the "big" half of the cracker - plus all the presents inside....then you put on the hats, read the jokes, play with everyone's toys and....that's *Christmas* UK style!!!

Shops everywhere sell them, some are cheap and useless with really lame jokes, others not so bad...you might find a dog whistle, or small magnifying glass or compass, a puzzle, that kind of thing...some of the best contained indoor fireworks, but I think they've banned those now...so, I think you wear paper hats in the US, yes? - that's how those started! Funny ways of foreigners, huh ?

Or are you now going to tell me "oh that old thing, that's what we call so-and-so when we have them at Easter"??
all the best!

Hello Artist: Thanks for the reply. It sounds like so much fun to be in Hong Kong this time of year. Everyone is celebrating something all the time. How I wish I had the opportunity to travel to distant lands and mingle with the people. It sounds like people in Hong Kong really know how to throw a great party. Have fun!! Regards, Lil