As the year has progressed, one of the most consistent Dysautonomia symptoms has been the feeling that I’ve just ridden a horse for the last 4 hours.
My legs feel “spread” and weak, whether I’m walking, standing or sitting. It’s uncomfortable and, to be honest, a little annoying.
We had horses when I was younger and I loved riding, so I know the feeling. Horses are a gift with unique personalities. Blaze was a quarter horse, spirited and feisty. I loved him and he was considered my horse. Sheba was a trained show horse who could jump obstacles, trot and prance with grace and style. She was more of my brother’s mount.
And while I loved everything about the horses, from their soft, searching muzzles, to their earthy aroma, to the feel of their coats as we brushed them after a ride through the woods, being thrown because of a imagined spook or a flock of horse flies or a sudden turn was an experience I could live without.
My father, always one for sage advice, would yell from the barn, “Get back on the horse that threw you!” Helpful words and a scary proposition.
As the symptoms of Dysautonomia play out in my life, this familiar phrase from my childhood rings more true with each passing day! The feeling of riding doesn’t equate to the bow-legged cowboy stance of movies. My legs remain straight. I don’t stride up Main Street in front of emptying saloons looking for a gun fight. But it feels like I could. I know the feeling and wish it would go away.
What’s a symptom you experience in your life that doesn’t go away? How do you deal with it? How do you “Get back on the horse”?
I’m interested to hear your story.