Monthly Archives: September 2020

I have been trying to make standing a part of my regular routine.  Maybe not daily but as much as I can with my schedule. Ever since my last blog, September 19, I have done the following:

9/20       1 hour 18 minutes

9/21       40 minutes

9/23       30 minutes

9/26       50 minutes

9/27       1 hour

9/29       1 hour 20 minutes

9/30 55 minutes

I would stand longer but my blood pressure tanks.  However, something very bizarre did happen last night.  My BP went extremely low but for whatever reason it jumped back up.  That was after an hour and twenty minutes.  That is the first that has happened as far as I can recall.  No rhyme or reason, just my weird unpredictable body.

I scheduled a call with Restorative Therapies this coming Monday.  They are the manufacturer of the bike that I ride pretty much every day for 2 hours.  When I say bike, here’s what I mean if you’re not familiar – (https://restorative-therapies.com/ifes-systems/rt300/).  It is beneficial.

Since 2005 Restorative Therapies systems have been cleared by the FDA to:

• Reduce muscle atrophy
• Reduce muscle spasms
• Improve local circulation
• Maintain or increase range of motion
• Facilitate muscle re-education

The one I have is giving me some problems lately.  Not to mention I have been using it hard for the past eight or nine years.  Over 17,000 miles.  They are extremely expensive.  I figured it would not hurt to talk to someone and at least get an idea of the cost.  Maybe I will just have to start working on a new fundraiser!

When I woke up this morning my blood pressure was really low, compared the usual.  It was 99/65.  Typically my blood pressure runs right around 110/70.  Give or take.  I took it 45 minutes later and it dropped a little bit more (92/56).  Again, not the usual for me at all.  I got out of bed and rode the bike for 2 hours.  My plans were to stand after I got off the bike.  I took my blood pressure before standing, just to know what the starting point was.  Well, it was high.  Extremely high.  170/115.  I’m assuming it was because of my pain in my foot when I ride.  I slowly started to stand, going in small increments like I’m supposed to.  Going up too quickly will make my BP drop really fast.  50 minutes after my really high blood pressure, it dropped to 110/72.  It continued to drop to the point where I had to come down.

4:15 PM 94/66

4:25 PM 83/61

4:30 PM 75/51

4:35 PM 72/50

At that point I had to quit.  I took it once I came down the whole way and at 5:00 PM it was back up to 118/81.  It’s crazy what the spinal cord injury does to your body that some people don’t realize or understand.  It’s not just the fact that I can’t walk.  Just wanted to share with everyone.  Oh yeah, I was able to stand for 46 minutes.  21 more minutes than I could yesterday! Thank you for reading!

I haven’t been able to stand anywhere near 1 hour 45 minutes like I did last weekend. Not sure what I did differently to be able to tolerate everything but I haven’t been able to get anywhere near those numbers. The past few days it’s been in the 20s. I forget what the numbers were Tuesday but Wednesday I didn’t stand, Thursday I was able to do 22 minutes and 25 minutes today. It’s pretty good but not exactly where I’d like to be. I had to stop because my blood pressure keeps tanking. Today it dropped to 67/51, which is ridiculously low. I decided to come down and see if it went up rather than take a pill. Fortunately it did. I’m thinking the more I do it, no longer I’ll be able to stand. Anyway, here are two pictures from the past two days. Just thought I would share.

Last week I stood for 23 minutes before I had to stop because of my blood pressure dropping. Today I stood for 1 hour and 46 minutes! It was crazy, in a good way. I haven’t stood that long in quite some time. My blood pressure jumped all around the place. It went down to 85/67 but I kept going. Normally, as far as my routine goes, when I have blood pressure below 90 I need to take a pill to raise it. I decided to hold off and keep standing. We kept monitoring my blood pressure and surprisingly it actually came up. The only reason I came down was because my heart rate increased and we wanted to do other things! It’s crazy how the body works! Glad to be standing again.

Hard to believe 9/11 was so long ago.  I hate seeing documentaries where it replays everything from that day but at the same time, I think it’s extremely important.  All of the life lost from the actual accidents.  From first responders and citizens stepping up, to the bystanders in the planes, buildings and on the ground that were killed.  It’s a sad but great thing to hear about because we should never forget.  God bless the USA!

Two exciting things day. I wasn’t able to stand since July, per doctor’s orders, because I previously injured my ankle. Yesterday I did 4 minutes. Today I did 23 minutes. The only reason I stop is because my blood pressure starts to tank. Before I stood for the first time today we took my blood pressure and it was 137/98, which is actually kind of high for me. Typically I’m around 110/70. So I was able to stand and we periodically took my blood pressure. I wasn’t feeling ill but I could slowly feel my blood pressure starting to tank.

1:45 PM 137/95

1:55 PM 105/78

2:05 PM 98/68

2:10 PM 90/62

Once it got to that point I had to stop. Once it goes below 90 I need to take a pill. Instead I stopped and sat down. 2:20 PM it was back up to 107/78. It’s strange how my body works now with a spinal cord injury.

That’s my update. Hope everyone is doing well!