Woody’s Back

Woody’s back after an extended stay in the hospital.

Most of us receive advice to restrict our salt intake and for most of us, most of the time, that’s sound advice. But for me, a bit over a month ago, low blood sodium wasn’t a good thing. I got up to answer the phone, only to find it to be one of those nuisance robo advertising calls. My legs collapsed under me and I fell backwards uncontrollably, striking the back of my head on a piece of furniture and the floor. Muscle weakness and loss of coordination are two of the possible results of low blood sodium.

As a consequence, I had a traumatic brain injury and a brain bleed – and spent seven days in the hospital’s intensive care unit. My old gray matter still doesn’t work as well as it did before my fall – but it’s improving.

Three weeks of in-patient physical therapy have been necessary to re-build the strength in my arms and legs. My balance is still not the best, so I’ll be going to therapy to restore balance.

I cannot praise the hospital’s physical, occupational and speech therapists more highly – they’re gems, each and every one, as are most of the nursing staff. My progress, as that of all of the other folks I met in the therapy gym, has been excellent – the improvement of some people who were far more stricken than I has been outstanding.

Apparently I also acquired a blood infection and have been receiving infusions of antibiotics twice daily, which will continue at home for four more weeks.

But, Woody’s back. 

Posts more typical of In Forest and Field will resume next week, including some that would have been posted during the last month had I not been in the hospital. Posts may be a bit irregular due to therapy sessions and follow-up doctor visits, and it will be a while until I'm be back in forest and field, but there will be posts on In Forest and Field.