But now it’s a life and death situation. So my brother gave me a pair of trekking poles a couple weeks ago and I’ve been using them to prevent falls and walk around the block. I haven’t quite got the hangover it yet but it’s working pretty good. I haven’t fallen yet. I need to get out and walk just for my mental health with nothing else. but those faceplants on the sidewalk can be painful.

When working in the garage recently, I found such a pole and thought, "Maybe I can walk safely with two of these. Trick is to find one that matches the one I had. I don't want the neighborhood to know I'm a dork." (Of course, as I've lived here for nine years, they already know I'm a dork. Take yesterday: I closed the trunk lid on my head.) . . .

And they really are pretty cool. I’m seeing more and more of them. It’s better than not walking and kind of fun. Good luck, my pair was like $40, I think, adjustable with wrist straps, cork handles. my brother has had multiple hip replacements and he goes out to the park and walks for miles with these things.

Truly helped my balance and lower body strength, which has made other exercise and PT possible. Still have a messed up spine, but better balance and movement has made life a lot better. As I add simple targeted exercises, all over pain management is much better and I don't end up crying in Epsom salt baths very often now.

About two years ago, I could not get Trulicity and had to change to Ozempic. I have now switched to Mounjaro but I am still at the second dosage level. My doctor is going to move me up to the higher dosage levels as fast as possible.

So far, I have had fewer side effects with Mounjaro compared to Ozempic

I had been on .75 for 2+ years, they upped me to 1.5 last year, but I haven’t noticed much difference. My dr may need to up my dosage. They said the .75 was the induction/trial dose. So far no side effects either. My dr wanted to switch me to Monjouro, but since I knew I had minimal side effects with Trulicity, it was decided to just increase my Trulicity dosage.

You'll need to be monitored by a prescribing doctor for the first year. After that, you're probably safe ordering it from a doc in a box online. You might want to get a glucometer to make sure it's not dropping your blood sugar too much, better safe than sorry.

I don't know if it has the same rebound weight gain problem as Ozempic, but I'm guessing it does, so finding a program that will teach better food choices and good portion control while you're on it will help prevent that from happening.

Good luck. Trying to lose weight when you can't walk well is no fun and it usually doesn't work unless you're next door to a gym and can afford a membership. Recumbent elliptical machines are a favorite of mine, they require no balance and are low impact ways to build endurance and burn calories.