Update August 21, 2009

Well, I can hardly believe the difference between now and the last post. Let me start off by saying that the pain is well under control. In fact, most of the time during the past week I have not had any pain. That’s a show stopper.

Two weeks ago, I had to stop taking my Arthrotec (an antiinflammatory) because I was having the steroid injection into the piriformis muscle. I began taking Cymbalta several weeks prior to that. I’ve had to stop the NSAIDS before and couldn’t wait until the time I could start them again because of the increase in pain. Believe it or not, I didn’t even notice the difference. I was stunned. After a couple of days I thought the inflammation would come back and the pain would get worse. Nada. And now it’s been two weeks and I haven’t taken a single antiinflammatory.

Good News but more Magnesium Citrate :-(

Had a second x-ray. Really started cramping and my doc wants me to see a surgeon. YUK! Went to see her again because nothing from the surgeon – I could sit her forever in pain waiting. Because of the cramping now she was able to give me meds that have helped tremendously.

The second x-ray totally ruled out a blockage which is fantastic. Still wants me to see a surgeon. Could be twisting in the lower colon from the surgery I had in 1994…

Ordered a second purge and clear fluids though to clean out the colon. Still too much stuff hanging in there. Have to contact the neurosurgeon now to make sure it’s not the result of complications for the Laminectomy…

Contrast MRI

Tomorrow I’ll fill you in on the results from the Contast MRI. 4 pages and not all of it as expected. However, I need to rest now. So more tomorrow…

You know, a radiologist isn’t just some joker off the street. They have to go to school for 12 years to do the specialty. And my neurosurgeon doesn’t agree with the radiologist. I wonder how he’d feel if it were the other way around. I, for one, do not believe it. Especially when the radiologist is confirming what I am feeling.

I have to get the files. But when I sat there in the neurosurgeon’s office, I thought to myself, “I don’t care what he thinks or says. I’m not having another surgery until the pain is so bad that I don’ t have a choice.” I could run out now and get a second opinion but so what? The only result would be yet another surgery. I’m sure the day will come when I don’t have a choice and I feel that I do have one now.

I am able to 45min one day of the elliptical and 30 minutes the next for 6/7 days. Each day I start out that way and then I do either one hour on the mat or one hour of the reformer. When I finish that, I do some stretching or yoga.

I manage my pain with the MS Contin and the dilaudid. AND the Arthrotec which may be gone. I am still not feeling well after the purging so I don’t think we’ve come to the bottom of this yet. Without the Arthrotec movement is much more difficult.

I also have managed my weight through Weight Watchers and the exercise. I have lost 15 pounds that I put on slowly as my level of activity decreased because my level of pain was increasing.

Got to Be Careful

Well, I was doing not too badly for my back lately. Not totally without pain but still feeling pretty good. Especially after recovering from that yoga. Whew! That took a long time.

So I have been doing the elliptical and trading off one day of Pilates Matwork with one day of Pilates Reformer. I always do my yoga stretches or a 20 minute routine from the yoga-download podcast. That is nice for variety.

Anyway, I have been having a real sore stomach and I’m afraid I’m getting an ulcer from the anti inflammatories. That is really scary because I don’t know how I will manage without them. But I guess that is not the point. First got to find out what is causing the stomachaches… Lots of fun. Haha. Not really.

The other day I thought I would do the Reformer Jumpboard routine for something different. Not a good idea. What can I say? I should know better.

Tomorrow I see Dr. Gul about my MRI. Boy, I have never been claustrophobic before. I always thought it was mind over matter. But I couldn’t get it together. I managed to get by by thinking of my sister, Joan. I knew she wouldn’t let anything happen to me and I just imagined her there. Like she was so many times in Holland for all the tests I had to go through.

Yoga and Lost 3.4 pounds- Hooray :-)

I spent a very restless day yesterday. Did not feel well at all. More or less slept all day. I figured I wouldn’t have a good night but I think I slept right through. So tired.

I got up around 7:00 this morning and had a coffee before going to the weight watchers meeting. I go every Saturday. I lost 3.4 pounds this week. That sounds like a lot but I last week I should have lost more. I weighed in after drinking a litre of water. Anyway, I’ve been on the Core plan so I’m pleased about the results. I was nervous to get away from the Flex plan where you could all the points and really control what you are eating. I like control. With the Core plan you have to pay attention to your body and stop eating when you are full. That is the tough part. Of course, I was sick this week so I didn’t really have any challenges. didn’t want to eat in the first place. But I also didn’t do as much carrdio because I was sick.

Anyway, what I did to help out with the Core transition was to eat the portion sizes from the Flex plan. If I was hungry, I’d eat more. Never happened.  So if you look up the points for spaghetti, it will tell you how many points there are in 1 cup. So on the Core plan you are eating as much as you want until you are no longer hungry or satisfied. I would prepare 1 cup of pasta and eat that. Anyway, it has working and is working and I just wanted to share that. The bottom line is that you chose the foods you eat from a list of pretty normal foods and you don’t have to count points or anythign else. You just listen to your body. Ya right. But you can do it.

MRI Postponed

What can I say? The machine is broken. No MRI. The appointment was the pits anyway. I didn’t want to complain but it was at 6PM and takes 2 1/2 hours. That’s really late for me. So they’ll phone when the darn thing is fixed. Being behind is difficult for them…I’m sure it’ll be another night appointment to play catch up. Your health dollars hard at work.

Bill short shifted from night shift – got home at 1AM and then went to work at 6:30AM so he could come with me this evening. Can’t plan for anything.

It’s All Coming Together

Started New Year’s off with a positive, out of the box experience (for me) was a great idea. I really do feel better. Granted I have kept my dosage of MS Contin up but if that’s all I have to do to be able to get stronger, then so be it. I can actually feel my core for the first time in months. I went to my second yoga class since the last surgery and I felt strong enough to do the moves. I don’t hurt all over. I did an hour on the elliptical and actually – wait for it- sweat! That’s a first.

Ok, reality set in. Gained 1.4 pounds but had one heck of a New Year’s Eve party

Well, what can we say. A BIG New Year’s celebration. But I had one heck of a good time and that’s what matters.

I was tired of being tired and in pain. I was lucky enough to have a GOOD day. I didn’t do anything to jeopardize that. No walking, bending, very careful movement. So it worked. We got a room at the Pan Pacific so that I could rest in between dinner and midnight. We went early to have a jacuzzi which was outside in the freezing rain. I don’t think so. And we thought we’d do a little cardio but the gym was closed. And the Spa was also closed. Never mind. Wasn’t going to let anything spoil the night. I just wanted to be normal for a night and bring in the New Year with a smile. some fun and lots of positive energy.

Lost a pound over Christmas! Yippee

Just a short post as my hubby is dying to go out and do something and he knows that I burn out quickly so he is getting antsy. I went to my weight watchers meeting on Saturday and I was down a pound. Whew! Let me tell you I don’t know how but I am relieved. That brings the total up to nine pounds and I worked really hard to get here.

We also bought an elliptical machine yesterday. It is tough to get in the car and drive all the way to the gym to exercise for 20 minutes. That’s the max on the machine at the gym. We had thought about it before Christmas but I wanted to keep costs down. I just got to the point where I either have to walk in the freezing rain or snow and it was getting me down. The cardio is what the rehab doc recommended and it’s what I need to do. I really miss my running.

So there you go. Life is tough when you can buy an elliptical. My poor husband is willing to do anything to make me happy because I am having such a tough time. I had to promise not to do 3 hours on the thing just because it was here though. :->

Cheer Up

Things have been going well for the last few days and I’m quite happy about that. it’s not easy but I feel like I’m moving forward. However I did overdo it a bit yesterday and today I’ve been taking it easy but still doing okay.