Re: emotional aspects of CMT

[Guest guest]

,

It seems that you were emotionally beaten up on all levels and I commend you for

pushing through and making a success of yourself despite your sad childhood

experiences. I hope the 2nd half of your life is full of love and respect. I

have several girlfriends in their 40's who have never been married and are

beautiful, successful

women and what a shame that people automatically see that as a strike. I also

have some friends who did get married when they turned 40 and have wonderful

marriages.

You sound like you have a lot to offer some lucky girl. Keep working at it and

don't ever give up hope.

Jackie

[Guest guest]

Jackie,

I really appreciate your comments. In fact, I am coming to the same

conclusions in my therapy. I, in fact, have a great deal to offer a

significant other/spouse. So much so, that I have recently have

increased my standards and decided not to simply, " take what I can

get, " where women and relationships are concerned.

I have had my hope nearly destroyed for a few years, but that has

returned, and my family and friends are able to see it.

Yoga has been a key element in this change. Although it was never a

goal and certainly isn't truly important, but my abdomen, which has

been distended via muscle laxity and some extra weight since I was 11,

has, in a short three months, begun to show a washboard/six-pack

shape, which is something I never thought possible.

I mentioned this to my brother on Sunday, and he said it was already

visible through my clothes. Wow!!! Thought I.

So giving up is not the way I choose to go. Instead I have chosen to

tackle my problems head on, and the response has been excellent.

Things are looking up.

Thanks again and regards,

[Guest guest]

,

I waited 18 years before I found someone later in life that was able to accept

me 100% and because of that I got a true quality person, one who is

compassionate but respects me for who I am and what I have had to go through.

Keep those standards up!

Great news about the yoga. Do you do it in a class or private? Did you have to

figure out how to modify or did the instructor help? I am really interested in

taking a class like this.I tried pilates, but they told me I would need a

private instructor to help accomodate me and the $$$ just were not there! I

really have no balance, stomach muscles are very weak and quads are gone.

Jackie

[Guest guest]

Jackie:

Thanks again for your support. The yoga teacher herself does the

modifications to my program, as she has also a semi-background in

physical therapy.

Balance is also a problem for me, and we have two strategies for

dealing with it.

The first is to do the standing poses flat on the floor. The second is

to use a doorway or passageway with flat molding, and the final is to

use the special shoes I have during the standing exercises.

Balance is massively compromised, as my ankles wrists and thumb

opposition are the worst problems I have.

My ankles are an extremely limiting factor.

But, my stomach muscles have been energized massively, to the point

that a rudimentary six-pack/washboard shape is emerging. And fast.

CMT is a peripheral neuropathy, my yoga teacher emphasizes, but one

have essentially full control of one's core muscles. And boy was she

right.

My progress has been very fast, and her comments are, " the gaps you

are bridging are amazing. It's inspiring. "

And the kind of encouragement she gives me is the kind I have never,

ever gotten in any physical activity before. I simply could not excel

to a place where anyone noticed, or even to where a perceived

self-mastery produced any fun or satisfaction.

Although I did a lot of biking in the Netherlands, it is still notable

that an old woman (60+) on a heavy Dutch bike can pass me while going

uphill, to the extent that there are hills in the Netherlands,such as

in Maastricht, where this happened, at night, in the winter, against

the wind, on newly fallen snow from an ongoing blizzard, loaded down

with two full wheel packs of groceries and a handbag, wearing a heavy

woolen coat, holding an -open- umbrella with one hand.

I had to laugh, otherwise I might have cried. :-)