"The most decisive actions of our life, are most often unconsidered actions."  Andre Guide

It all started back in May, 2009, when I was moving from one apartment to another.  I think everyone will agree, that getting a cramp (charlie-horse), is incredibly painful, and can interupt what you are doing in a dramatic way, etc. 

I got two cramps on that day in the arch of my right foot.  Both of them paralyzed me...as I had to walk them off for about 15 minutes.  Luckily...the cramps are quite painful...but don't last very long.  After walking the pain off for about 15 minutes, I went back to the work of moving...climbing stairs; carrying boxes; loading the elevator and putting things away, etc.   For the next four months...I got nothing in June; July; August; and September...no numbness; no needles and pins; no warning that the problem would be back, etc. 

"You must train your intutition.  You must trust the little voice inside of you, which tells you what to say and what to decide."  Ingrid Bergman

Then...in the first week of October (2009), I got another cramp under the right foot...only this time...it stayed with me...and caused me to limp around for the next ten days, etc.   It was not painful during the ten days...and I compared it to a volcano steaming and bubbling...but not going off! 

About two days after the attack on my right foot, I started noticing numbness on my right hand as well...needles and pins...would come and go during the week, etc.  I didn't think none of it was severe at the time, and I gave it a "4" on the discomfort chart of 1 to 10.   

"Myths and deeds are a heroic struggle to comprehend the truth."  Ansel Adams

On this day, which was the Friday before the three day week-end of Columbus Day, I had made plans to see my doctor the following week...but I didn't make it!  On my little pain and discomfort chart of 1 to 10...the discomfort grew to an "8" in both the foot and the hand, and that changed my plans for the week-end!  By late afternoon on Friday, the numbness in the right hand was all the time, and the foot had increased as well.  It was decision time for me!

Since I couldn't drive because the problem was on the right foot, I had to decide between calling a cab or calling 911 and an ambulance...I decided to call 911...and within five minutes, I was surrounded by 6-7 people and first aid, etc.  At the age of 64 in 2009, I am no longer a spring chicken anymore...tall, dark and handsome...YES...so I am now older than the mountain!   I could have some sort of currculation problem, because I had a discolored toe; or a possible stroke in the making...so I feared for the worst! 

Many years ago, I suffered from, what I called a mini-stroke...as I began to stutter...and I was devistated during this short period of time!  I had difficulty saying my name; where I lived; my phone number; the state where I live and so forth.  I knew at that time that it was a small stroke of some kind, as I stu...stu...stu...stuttered for about 30 minutes, and it was one of the most terrifying times of my life!  It was a day I will never forget! 

As I said earlier about the emergency room at the hospital...I said, "Oh my God!"  Look at all the people wearing masks, and I didn't know if I wanted to go in or not!  I had a choice...die from a stroke...or die from swine flu...I decided to take my chances with the flu.  I was looking at a long wait in the emergency room for sure! 

"When choosing between two evils...I always try to choose the one I've never done before."  Mae West

But, I didn't know if all those people in the emergency room were suffering from the flu...they were just trying to prevent themselves from getting the flu in a diffecult situation, etc.  To win the battle against the flu all across the country...everyone must do their part.  I think all managers; directors and supervisors in the work places should call off all activities where people gather and the activity is not necessary, etc.  The semester at school for the young people should be cancelled, and school can be made up later at some point in time.  The health of our children is more important than whether they finish school on time, etc.

I don't plan to attend any activities for the next six months, until the spring of 2010, or until the battle against this spreading flu in over!   Everyone has to work together and to do their part, to win the battle against the flu!

"There is nothing in this world, that doesn't have a decisive moment."  Cardinal de Retx

FINALLY...I was called by the nurse sometime after midnight and given medication and checked out.  The news wasn't good, as I was told I would be admitted to the hospital, and I followed a nurse to a room, where I was wired up with different devices on my chest to monitor my movements, etc.  I just kept thinking that there was something terribly wrong, but nothing would be for certain until the tests were completed!  Because it was approaching 1 o'clock in the morning, I fell asleep rather quickly and before I knew it, it was 6'oclock in the morning! 

As it turned out, I was in the hospital for two days, and about five tests were done; an EKG; an MRI; two scanning tests of the left and right neck area; and a scanning test of the left and right leg, between the upper theigh and the ankle.  A brain scan was not done, because I have a pace-maker! 

I was given medication during the two days I was in the hospital, and the foot and hand felt better, and all the tests were normal or negative...and I was certainly happy about that! 

I was released from the hospital about 6'oclock on Sunday night, and during that time, I saw about four different doctors, and all were perplexed about what happened to me.  Nothing definite!  Even my primary doctor, who I saw a few days later, didn't seem to know what happened to me! 

"Freedom is, first of all, the chance to formulate choices...and to argue over them...and then the opportunity to choose."  Barry Lopez

About four days after I was discharged from the hospital, I was doing my work and listening to the radio, when I heard a commercial for a shoe store.  "THAT'S IT!"  I told myself!  Maybe that's it...the problem is with my shoes...the footware!  My sneakers were older than the dinosaurs...and maybe the problem was the footware!  Millions of people all over the United States suffer from foot problems, and much of it starts with the shoes...corns; callouses; bunions; pain in the legs and back pain, etc.    THE SHOES...that could be it! 

Like everyone else, I have several pairs of shoes, but I generally wear the sneakers most often, because I'm retired and I have no place to go!  (poor baby!)  I have not gotten the support I have needed in the old clunkers...so it didn't take me long to go to the shoe store and buy myself a new pair of sneakers, which I was going to do some time this year...but you know how time gets away! 

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in comfort and convience...but the measure is where he stands in challenge and controversy."  Martin Luther King, Jr. 

At this point in time, I don't know if the shoes have been the problem from the start, but the new shoes feel great and feel like I'm walking with high-heels on.  It will take some time to find out if the problem is, indeed, the shoes!  What I'll do is to update this article on November 15, 2009 and let the reader know what has happened during the next month. 

"The open hand is out and waiting."  Carl Sandburg

You are number ONE!  If you don't take care of yourself...who's going to do it for you?  If I got sick again, and I had to go back to the emergency room filled with all those people wearing masks...would I do it again?  The answer is YES!  It's not certain that all of those people had the flu!  I have to be decisive in my life...I can't let a little money or guesswork get in the way, etc. 

I ask you...if I died of a stroke or anything else...who in the world would enjoy this kind-of-a-cutie...ME? Good health to you...SEE YA! 

UPDATE: (November 15, 2009) 
On November 12, 2009 I met with my neurologist for nearly an hour and she did several tests on me.  Electrode testing my arms and legs; pricking the legs; arms; wrists; elbows; with a sharp device and getting results on the computer as she went along; testing the reflexes all over my body, including on top and under the feet, etc.  I think she did a through job during the office visit.  The good news, is that she couldn't come up with anything wrong, except a small inflamation in my right elbow, which is not serious. 

Over-all, about a half a dozen tests have been done, and nothing has been found wrong, so that is good news for me, and it all served sort of like a detailed physical examination, that I otherwise would have never gotten, and I'm quite happy with the news, needless to say! 

She told me that it could have been several reasons for the cramps and limping on the right foot, including me jogging for over 24 years, etc.  Maybe it's taken its toll on my feet.  As of this date, therefore, I have stopped jogging, and I will continue walking to go easier on the feet...and continue to get my exercise in other ways.  Our feet take a beating all through life, whether a person jogs or not.  I don't want to lose the use of my feet, and have to push a walker around or be in a wheelchair!  That would be awful! 

I just have to take better care of my feet as I have now gotten older than dirt!  (64) 

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