474. Forever Young

Yesterday, Roji and The Brunette (the 2 caregivers - R.S.) said that I have a secret which I am not revealing: how I keep looking young all these years. I disagree with them, as I see the ravages of my disease in my body, but I'll try to explain.

• First of all the appearance. Slim people, in general, look younger. Though not always. There are people who when loosing weight rapidly, grow old overnight. 
• Don't think about chronological age, but rather synchronize with your internal feeling.
• Eat healthy good. Decide that white sugar and flour are a sort of poison, and as such shouldn't be ingested.
• Eat only just as much as will almost fill you up.
• Drink plenty of water. Only water.
• Exercise. Not because you have to, but because it's important.
• Be curious.
• Learn something new all the time. My father studied English when he was 90.
• Be optimistic.
• Enjoy the small things and don't wait for big events.
• Enjoy your own company.
• Dress young.

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Translated by: Rina Shapira
Original Hebrew post on 5.7.13

462. I Discovered

I Discovered -
That doctors don't know anything about ALS. It's possible they don't know much about other illnesses too. That's why we, the sick, have to stand guard, and help ourselves.

That you can both eat or drink a vegetable salad. "I" put in a blender: tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, celery, parsley, red pepper and cilantro, with a little water, and "shoot" it directly into my stomach (through the feeding tube - R.S.).

That there is no need to drip the food and water over an hour, when you can pour the same quantity into the stomach in 2 minutes.

That for those in the starting stages of the disease, I recommend to sit rather than lie in bed. One can sit in bed too, but it's better to sit in a chair with the legs reaching the floor.

That I tried to say the 'a,b,c' and failed. I didn't know where to place my tongue. To the "newbies", continue to say words, even without vocalizing, so you don't loose the ability to talk.

That exercising isn't a punishment.  It helps the blood flow and keeps the muscles toned. Don't depend on physical therapy. I'm allotted 40 minutes per month. Exercise every day.

That a cup of fresh tomato juice is a good replacement for laxative.

That doing something to take your mind off your situation, like blogging, does the job.

That taking a shower in the shower is much preferred to washing up in bed.

That it's better not to wear a diper. It's sufficient to spread it under you.

That you need to drink 6 glasses of water a day.

That it's senseless to try to extend your life by 2 months, while destroying your liver. That's why I stopped taking Riluzole.

That you can use a cough assistant machine instead of "Deep Suction."

That it's not worth it to get depressed, you need to get out of it too.

That we are not dying.
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Translated by: Rina Shapira
Original Hebrew post at: 462.גיליתי on 4/4/13

Servitude

I'm a slave to my body. Let's start from my head.


My eyes are dry; I use drops twice daily to fight the dryness.

My lips are twisting, so I exercise them to avoid it getting worse. Roji also massages them.

I strengthen my arms by exercise, and the fingers by clenching them into a fist.

Moving on inside to the stomach. I can't tell if my intestines degenerated due to the disease, or because they didn't experience real food for the past four and a half years. In any case, I started eating soups and even a hard boiled egg, only to get constipated for four days.

The doctor who installed my PEG said, that ALS patients have a small stomach. Now I understand why, because we are advised to eat and drink using a drip system. I started dripping the food and water at once, to increase the stomach capacity.

I pay most of my attention to my feet. I tie them to a box, securing them with elastic, to sraighgten them. The rest of the time, I wear canvas shoes and turn the feet out. The purpose: try to stand up.

What did I forget? Oh, the two wounds that won't heal, the head, taking care not to get pressure wounds, and more.

If this isn't servitude to my body, what is it?

I want to be free!

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Translated by: Rina Shapira
Posted in Hebrew at 456. עבדות

Obama's Visit (to Israel)

Obama looks like a perfect Hollywood actor. The athletic body, his clothes, the way he moves, his speeches, everything was perfect. I found one fault in his perfection. Did you see how he write?

Where's Michelle? Too bad she didn't come. Our Sara'le (Bibi Netanyahu's wife - R.S.) accompanies Bibi everywhere.

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Translated by: Rina Shapira
Posted in Hebrew at 456. ביקור אובמה