20260510 - My daily walking routine...

For about 5+ years now, I do a walking routine twice everyday.

I can't use a regular walker as my right hand is paralyzed and I can't hold/ grip the walker. 

Instead, I have a custom contraption which has an armrest where I can rest my arms & strap my right arm. It has wheels so my nurses pull it slowly and I walk up and down the length of our living room. This routine I have been doing for about 15m twice a day everyday, 7 days a week.

This routine has done nothing for my physical improvement. I realised it 3-4 years ago. But I still do it religiously everyday without fail (even if I am not feeling up to it some days).

Thing is, I am bedridden and many of my muscles don't work - including my bowels/ rectum muscles (which is also why I suffer from constipation regularly as I can't contract the muscles and excrete)

Another consequence of this muscle inability is the inability to pass gas. My feed is protein rice - generally causes more gas. Since I am bedridden and flat on my ass most of the day and can't expel the gas due to the muscles not functioning, my abdomen gets very bloated and extremely painful. I can't effectively convey the pain and discomfort I go through because of it.

However, when I walk, because I am vertical and there is movement, my organs put pressure downwards on my bowels and the gas gets expelled. Yes, very long, loud and very smelly farts!

I can't just describe the relief I get when the gas gets expelled!

It's extremely embarassing no doubt! But I do it twice a day anyway despite the embarrassment and discomfort I undoubtedly cause to my family. Unfortunately, it is "necessary evil" for my day to day survival.

Some days, I don't walk when we have visitors or my daughters' friends are home etc., to not cause this embarrassment! My younger daughter has told me as well that I should not change my routine because of her friends. She probably thinks I avoid coming in front of others because of my condition/ looks, but she doesn't know what scene I am really avoiding.

But yes, while no use for physical improvement, my daily walking routine is precious to me...