September 25 - In the Kitchen

This past week I had coffee with my friend, Sue. Sue is completely without sight and we often chat about some of the challenges associated with this aspect of our lives. When we talk, I am often reminded that my challenges are minor compared to Sue’s. As well as having no sight, Sue’s husband passed away several years ago and she now lives alone. Over our last coffee chat, we spoke about the difficulties of managing in the kitchen.

For both of us, the stove seemed to be the biggest challenge. After a few minor burns, Sue has given up on using this. I am able to use our own kitchen oven and stovetop without too much difficulty but I also give up when we stay elsewhere with a different stove. That is when Lyle takes over the cooking!

One of the problems for me is the lack of tactile knobs on newer stoves. My own stove is an older version and so I can turn the knobs to temperatures by guesswork. I can’t do this when the surface is flat. The microwave also has a flat surface but on this I have attached little tactile buttons. A crockpot and air fryer are more easily manageable.

Cooking meat is also tricky. While it isn’t a health hazard if the vegetables are over or under cooked, meat is a different matter. If I am frying meat, I will often call Lyle to ask if there are still any red bits left in the pan. Sue doesn’t have the advantage of calling for someone with sight.  If I am alone and cooking meat, I will often put the whole meal in a casserole dish and give it that extra boost in the microwave.

It’s helpful to talk things out with other people who might experience similar challenges to my own. For instance, I remember discussing the problem of peeling and cooking potatoes. Sue’s solution was to buy small new potatoes that have no need of peeling. Norma, another friend with no sight, said that she would feel the outside of the potato to see if it felt smooth. If it was peeled  properly, the potato would feel smooth as opposed to the otherwise rough outer skin. I like the potatoes from our garden so I use this method.

In our chat last week, Sue and I also talked about transporting dishes from the kitchen counter to the table. It’s hard to do this if you have a cane in one hand and the dish in the other. Another friend with no sight solved this problem by using an old-fashioned tray mobile. She is able to put the dishes onto the moving cart and wheel them across the lino floor to the table. This friend also had a few mobility issues so it was a good solution for her.

I like talking over shared problems and solutions with friends who also have no or low vision. I have learned a lot from the ways that other people have adjusted and coped. This is especially so when it comes to working in the kitchen.

 

 

 

 

September 10 - Counting Steps

I often count steps. I do this in the same way as many people do. I use a step counter to keep track of how far I walk each day. Currently I am doing a virtual walk along the coast of New South Wales in Australia. I have found this to be hugely interesting as I have been to many of the spots along the way in real life. The most exciting point to date was at the halfway marker when I passed through Terrigal on the Central Coast. This is the town where Lyle and I return to for family visits in Australia.

This isn’t my first virtual walk. I started the walks as a solitary exercise back during COVID. I didn’t think that I would continue but here I am on walk #7.

I also count steps in a different way. As a partially sighted person I count steps because it helps me think of where I am. This is especially so on stairways. I count my steps going up and know that there will be the same number coming down. I know the number of steps in many familiar locations. There are fourteen steps to our basement. There are four steps leading into my sister’s flat. There are six steps leading to the downstairs area of the church we attend. I even remember that at a club where we often eat in Australia, there are 22 steps leading upstairs.

I have learned never to quite trust when other people tell me how many steps are in front of me. Their method of counting might not be the same as mine. For instance, I know that Lyle counts one step leading into our house, but I count it as two.

At a recent support group meeting, Chelsea told us that counting steps was a valuable tool for her. Chelsea has less sight than I do, but likes to be outside in her yard. She said that if she doesn’t pay attention and count her steps to orient herself; it is easy enough to be lost even there.

I often find myself counting steps – sometimes even when there is no real need to do so. Counting steps is a small strategy for someone with little vision. For myself, I find it a very useful tool with no other technology or device required.

September 1 – Sight, Speech and Fatigue

In the past, when people have asked me what I can see, I explain that I don’t see print and other details of central vision. This explanation usually suffices. Sometimes though I will go on to say that I don’t see as well in certain lights, or when I’m not feeling well, or when I’m tired. I know this to be true although I’ve never thought of putting any sort of measure to the phenomenon of fatigue.

With speech, this fatigue factor has been way more obvious. I might be conversing close to my pre-stroke normal speaking voice when out of the blue, my speech becomes quite broken and hesitant. Although I might not be feeling tired physically, I now know that this change is a sign of fatigue. It is my brain telling me that it has had enough and needs time to rest.

I am sure that this brain overload can happen in many ways and for many reasons. Most of us realize that our reactions are not as quick when we are tired. Now as I am recovering from the effects of my stroke, I have become more aware of this phenomenon.  I realize that I need to pay attention to the signals my body is giving me.

It has been a hard lesson for me. Although the words of a familiar song tell me otherwise, I have learned that I am not invincible. My brain does get weary of all the demands I make on it. The feeling of fatigue and the changes in my speech are a definite reminder that I need to take a break. Although it has been a hard lesson, it’s also been a, good one and I find that I am more balanced because of it. Giving in to fatigue, taking a time out and coming back refreshed is a good strategy for all of us.