HOLISTIC HEALTH NOTEBOOK

To bring you current, I fell over a dog gate a few weeks ago and landed on my knee. Twice. My knee swelled up, and while it didn't really hurt and I could walk without difficulty, the doctor said I needed to stay off of it. So I tried crutches, unsuccessfully. That brings me to the most recent developments.

Since I could not use crutches, I rented a wheelchair. You can have fun in a wheelchair — if you don't have to be in one. And I had some fun. My dog Charley, whose gate started this whole thing, could not understand why I was so slow when I took him for a walk. He kept looking back me, saying (in his eyes), "Step it up, gramma!" I tried getting him to pull me but since he is a mini-dachshund, weighing no more than 11 pounds, that didn't work. I have never realized how many inclines there are in this world. Even the slightest elevation dragged me to a slow stop.

The ramp in front of my store was, the first time, a thrill. I paused at the top of the ramp, and then pushed vigorously to get started. My chair and I reached the bottom of the ramp going no less than 25 mph. The wind was whipping my hair. The trees were flying by. I laughed with exhilaration —until I looked up and saw my car, dead ahead, just 15 feet away, approaching rapidly. Gravity had not yet started slowing me down. I realized with panic that the braking system was inadequate.

My sneakers burned rubber in an attempt to avoid impact. At the last moment, I lifted my good leg and closed my eyes. Fortunately, there is a narrow grassy strip at the edge of the parking lot, just before the car, and it slammed me to a halt, nearly flinging me out of the chair.

The good news is, the natural (and OTC) anti-inflammatories are starting to work. I am staying off my legs as much as possible. I have eliminated as many dietary pro-inflammatories as possible (with the exception of some delicious, offending foods at Thanksgiving). The swelling is going down. I have no idea what I will tell the doctor when I see him this week. The only solution I can imagine is a threemonth vacation, being waited on hand and foot, leg resting comfortably on a silken pillow. Vacations are very healthy, aren't they?

— Carol is a certified lifestyle educator at the offices of Dr. Alan Gruning in Fort Myers, 939-3303. She owns the Island Nutrition Center on Sanibel, 472-4499.