Victories big & small

Yesterday I went through my closet & donated a box full of clothing that is either too big on me or about to & I won't be able to wear anytime soon.    

I also had to buy some new 'jeans' (jeggings if we're being honest here) and purchased a size down.   They fit!   

I'm just short of 65# down.  

I'm about to start walking outside to test how well/how far I can go before my back pain kicks in. 

The back pain I was struggling with for awhile has been MIA.  The back pain in my tail-bone area is real.  It aches all the time.   

Hopefully it'll completely disappear once I lose more weight. 

OTHERWISE--   I have been stressed beyond belief.   It's been affecting my health. I have headaches and digestive problems.   It's not been nice.     

Either way I'm still plugging along

 

Going into February

 Anyone out there that thinks that GL1-P drugs are the easy way out is uneducated.
Anyone who thinks the "drugs" do all the work, is an idiot.

I've now been getting the injections for 6 months.   I am now down 55 lbs.    Recently had bloodwork done & my numbers are OUTSTANDING.   
I was in shock with my cholesterol.    Shocked I tell you.   NEVER has it been this good since I started having it tested (20 something years ago).

Taking this shot is HARD.   Recently my doctor upped my dosage because between November & early January I was at a standstill (and even gained some weight over the holidays --only 7#).

IF you've read through this blog or been following me a long time, you know I have STRUGGLED.   
I did excellent back in 2014, lost a significant amount of weight & was on track to be healthy again.   I wish I remember what happened that threw me off.    Going back even further, 2003ish I was at a healthy weight--but I blew that up by getting off the strict Atkins diet & not reintroducing foods properly.

When I started walking again after my RFA, I lost a little bit--but nothing that held.   

EVERYTIME I would gain it all back.   

IT was a struggle.   Exercise---very little impact.    Reducing food intake-- very little impact.   
My Fibro made it hurt. My back made it impossible to walk.   Enter peri-menopause & the fun that comes with that.   
I could not win.  

What this shot does for me.   It makes me feel full much quicker.   I don't feel hungry all the time.  I don't crave things like I used to.

I log EVERYTHING I eat (good or bad).  I stay within my calorie goal. Food is not on my mind all the time....

What else does this shot do for me? Every new dosage my blood glucose has to re-center itself.   New dosages mess with it & I drop very quickly--causing me to nearly nod off or pass out. 

I'm nauseous a lot.   If I don't eat enough, I'm nauseous.  If I try to eat something that doesn't agree with me, I'm nauseous. It has changed my taste buds--food I once enjoyed ---can't stand .  I went to eat a bowl of oatmeal this a.m.   I can no longer stand it.
My once favorite Strawberry Cheesecake Light & Fit greek yogurt makes me gag.  
My list of foods I want to eat dwindles. 

Sometimes when I am eating, I have to force myself to eat because I am hungry, nauseated because I am hungry, & need to calories.     I am actually struggling to reach my daily goal of 2100 calories.  
I try to go over when I can since a lot of days are struggles.

I had cut out my daily Rockstar's, but I think I am bringing them back.   That extra 260 calories was doing me a favor.   I have not noticed any "benefits" to cutting them out.  

The overwhelming exhaustion that comes out of nowhere near injection day.   I've never experienced anything like it. 

I do notice my fibro acts up more, in my lower limbs especially.  But it's not anything I haven't lived with before.

I am FREEZING cold  all the time.  I cannot get warm.   My hands & fingers turn blue often--the raynaud's is worse than previously.

Tonsil stones are becoming way to common & they're getting bigger.   

Joints ache a lot more, but I was dealing with that before.   There are days that I just want to throw in the towel because I feel like crap.

But then, when I'm walking to & from my car into the building....faster & lighter than before.   Waiting for the stupid ice & snow to melt so I can attempt to walk outside.  I need to see what I can handle.
Where I once felt uncomfortable in my clothes because they didn't fit right (too tight or not fitting my shape), now don't fit "right" in a comfortable way (they're very loose).

It's not an easy thing.  It's a tool, but I have to use it correctly (watch what I eat, stay hydrated, exercise) in order to make a difference.   

EXERCISE:

I'm limited to time/freedom to work out.  So I have begun exercising in my seat.  
When I am at work--leg lifts, arm stretches.  I am going to have to come up with more since I will be returning to the office FT.   

When I am at home & sitting down-- arm exercises with weights. Leg lifts.   
I am not just doing nothing.  I am doing a little bit throughout the day.   Need to work on keeping my muscle mass.   

So, no....these drugs are not an easy fix. 

End of 2024

 It's taken me forever to get the motivation to actually write this entry.   
I've just had other things going on & just not wanting to sit to type.

This year is definitely ending different than it began-kind of.   The beginning of the year I was very dejected about having to return to work in a few weeks.   The financial loss that it would bring & the dread of the pain I would endure walking to & from the car to work.

My back was very messed up at the beginning of the year and the extra weight made walking difficult. 
To give a glimpse of how miserable it was.   After work, I was struggling to return to my car. I had to stop to catch my breath.  I realized on the way to the car that I could not find my phone.  I decided since I was nearer to my car I would continue on to see if it could possibly be hidden in the bottom of my bag or in my roller case.   Also, it would allow me a chance to rest a bit in the car. 

Sure enough, I didn't have my phone. I had to walk back to the building.  Struggled to get there. Once I got to the elevator, I stood against the wall trying to reset.   Once I got back to my floor, I had to again rest.  Then continued on to get my phone. 

Found it, took the elevator down, & continued back to the car.  I had to stop & sit at one of the tables to rest before continuing back to the car.  By the time I got back to the car, I was in tears. It was the most excruciating time I'd had in a long time. I was miserable.   

These days I make this trek without stopping, without pain, & almost speed walking.   It's such a difference this experience in January vs how it is now in December. 

I'm down about 40+ pounds. The starting point is difficult to determine as it wasn't my scale. I won't get on that scale again until January--so I can only use their starting # (their # is always less than mine).

My problems these days are eating enough to reach my daily goals.   Based on my activity level, weight loss goals, & basic needs I find myself struggling to reach my 2100 daily caloric goal. The end of the day comes & I have 400-600 calories to "use" but it's past eating time & almost bedtime. 

I find that the more I finish the day below my max, I tend to end up plateauing.   I'm getting better at eating more in order to get nearer to the goal. 

Some other positives:  I struggled for YEARS....DECADES with my left leg & ankle swelling.  The ankle seemed to be swollen on a permanent basis.   This has all but disappeared.  I wore compression socks regularly.  I have worn it once or twice in the past 4.5 months.   

My almost daily headaches have disappeared.   I had a headache of one sort of another daily for years.  Whether it be a tension headache, migraine, stress, sinus... I always had a headache.  I was constantly on something to alleviate the headaches.    They have disappeared.   I've had 2 or 3 sinus headaches in which I took allergy meds to alleviate them.      

I need to start monitoring my blood pressure--I haven't got around to retrieving my monitor.   
I don't monitor my A1C, but I have that under control.   

I don't crave sugars.  No candy, no sweets. No alcohol.  

I am "switching medications".   I will be switching from the weight loss approved version to the diabetic approved version.   Why? Insurance.   Insurance will be close to $767/mo starting 2025 (Up from $24.99), but the diabetic version only goes up $10.    

I am actually awaiting Pre-Auth now. I wanted to switch a few weeks early to have the weight loss version on hand if the PA took to long or was denied.  Also I wanted to do it while it was still affordable.   I think they (INS) are waiting until the weekend to approve (my next round of refills would be approved then).  

I think if it was a no go, I would have heard about the denial (the last time they denied the meds, when I first went on them, it was quick).

I would post pics, but I don't have any I want to share at this time.  Yes the differences are obvious--but I need to take some pics to provide consistency (same outfit).   Wish I had taken more beginning photos, but I didn't know how it would go and I didn't think it would work. 

It actuality, I'm doing most of the work. I watch what I eat. I log all my foods.   The meds just help fill me up quicker & allow me to go longer in between meals before my head kicks in with "Hey you should eat".....

  

skip ahead to 2024

 Oct 24 2024

Since the 2022 updates....

RFA was a success. I walked & walked. Until I couldn't anymore. 

RFA's that followed had less & less of an impact until they were a failure in early 2024.

Gained all the weight back.    Ended up going to aqua therapy to build core muscles.   I had to pause it because they were relining the pools or something. Have not been back yet. 

Back still hurts.   I "tolerate" pain a bit more than before, but I still get some incredible pain.

No matter what I did, losing weight was not happening.    

I started a semaglutide at the end of July, very beginning of August.  

It is no joke, particularly if your diabetic.   The side effects are tough.  There are days were I just want to say Screw this! I'm tired of feeling this way--but I'm down close to 30lbs. i'm keeping to my meal plan and rarely go over.  Funny thing is I eat a lot of the same stuff I was having before.  The only difference is I feel sick a lot because I either held off eating too long or the smell makes me sick. 

My sensitivity to smells is a lot worse.  I've gagged way too many times. 

Some of my other issues are "being taken care of" by the meds/my diet  (ankle & foot swelling, blood pressure, my glucose)  and others are flaring up (my fibro has been flaring, I have problems with nerve pain at night, being super thirsty, & sudden blood sugar drops).

Only 1 person said anything & they were unaware so that made me happy.   My clothes are either baggy or fit comfortably. Depends on the fit/size.   

I have such a long way to go so this will be a long journey. I'm just glad I have that push needed to get the scale #s moving.   It was stalled for so long & then one day it moved.   

I want to return to the pool, but the Kaos Krew--my dogs seriously make leaving this house without them an impossible task.   I hope to go this weekend to start back up. Hopefully move the #'s a little quicker. 

Left Diagnostic 2-Medial Branch Block

 Had my 2nd Facete Joint Nerve block of the left side a few hours ago.   

We're ramping up to have the RFA on the left side.  

Those unaware, for years I have had limited mobility due to debilitating pain.  I was unable to stand or walk for more than a few minutes before the debilitating pain would begin. I would would not be able to stand without sitting or leaning against something to help alleviate pain.

When the pandemic hit & I began working from home, this made matters even worse. I was not walking to and from my car to the building, I was not going out often and sitting at my desk I would not leave it or move around as often as I might at work.

Weight gain was minimal, but I was unable to lose much because of my lack of movement. I already had pain associated with the Fibromyalgia, but adding the back pain made matters worse.

Living with chronic pain - describing it to anyone who has not had debilitating or severe chronic pain --they will never understand.  It takes over your whole being.   I was miserable and depressed and so exhausted of wanting to do things, but not having the physical capacity to do it. 

You feel judged.  When you tell people you can't join them on a walk or you need to sit when you've been standing in a line for only a few minutes.  Real or imagined, it weighs on you.   Do they think I am lying? Do they think I am lazy? Do they think I am fat because I want to be? The list goes on.  You internalize and the guilt and depression just build.

When I finally pushed and pushed to get to the point where I met my Pain Management doctor who told me I was a possible candidate for procedure that could reduce or eliminate my pain...I held out cautious hope.

Insurance requires 2 Lumbar Facet Joint Block diagnostic procedures to determine if an RFA would work.    

For the Lumbar Facet Joint Block, the doctor, using local anesthetic, injects a temporary nerve block into the joints.   The injection lasts up to 8 hours.    

As a patient, you keep a diary of your pain and are told to "go out and get busy". You are supposed to do what you can and would do that would normally elicit pain.

They follow up and you report your pain levels and % of pain reduction. If the procedures work, you are then scheduled to have the RFA.   

The RFA is a procedure to heat the medial nerve by damaging it to stop or greatly reduce pain signals to the brain.  For some patients the pain goes away, for others there is a significant reduction.    Unfortunately, it is NOT permanent.  Further RFAs are needed as the nerve regenerates.

I had the right side done in August and it was life changing.  I am walking and standing and have more range of movement than I have had in YEARS!!!

I can tell the nerve is regenerating as I am having some pain creep.  However it is nowhere near the level it was before the procedure, so I have time. 

With all my walking, I found my left side acting up.  The left is NO WHERE near the pain of the right, but it still hurts.  

So my next step is a follow appointment with the doctor in the next 4 weeks and we will schedule the RFA for the left. Plus I would like to discuss the Right side for future follow up.

How much has my life changed?   Here's some news.... I'm down 40+ lbs since July.  I walk regularly and I walk my dogs.   I have NOT been able to walk my dogs in more than 5+ years.   

I want everyone to know about this wonderful life changing option and will post about it every chance I get.   
Sharing some videos that provide more details ...

11.23.22 update

 Nov 23 2022

I don't know if it is because of the nerve block or my eating food that triggers inflammation, but my lower back has been bothering me something fierce since last Friday.

I'm still walking, just cutting it short due to the pain. ..

Facet Nerve Block

 This morning I had the first of my Facet Nerve Blocks on the left side (1 of 2 diagnostic procedures). 

There was a Fellow assisting the doc who did my block.  I don't know if it's because it's a different side or if it's because he was not as skilled as Dr Girgis...but my god. 

Earlier, I was walking around with no issues. Hubby said it looked like I was doing pretty good movement wise. 

However, the injection side HURTS.   Now, 6 hours later my lower back is irritating me.  I am so sore.  The site still hurts and the nerve block seems to have worn off.  I feel like it's swollen down on my lower back.     

I'm going to take some pain meds in a bit, since I can't use my pain cream.   It did NOT hurt like this at all when i had the first 2 facet nerve blocks.   UGH.  I go through this again in a month.

Just needed to vent......

Oct 21, 2022

Hey! 

Thanks for checking back.

This morning I had my pain management appointment.   A few things of note from this appointment. 

First, I was incorrect in my assumptions about the 2 diagnostic procedures that I had.   They were not for the Left side and then the Right side.  They were both for the right side.  I have to have 2 diagnostic on each side.   I will be contacted to schedule the first of those.

Second, the RFA I did have is considered a success so no more diagnostic procedures required.  If & when my nerve regenerates, I can automatically get the RFA scheduled without them.     

The N.P also noticed me when I walked in & immediately recognized my weight loss.    She was extremely happy for me that I am walking --which is all I wanted.  

I am down about 30-35#s.   I've plateaued. I've lost maybe 2#s in 3 weeks.  That is all on me.  I have been eating a bit more "richer" foods.  My BC is staying within range, but I'm not doing enough to continue with the quicker weight loss.

I would have been seeing my primary next week, but she's out for an unknown time period.  I don't think that will stop me from being able to get labs put in for my bloodwork, but I do want to see her about some things.

Rich is concerned, and frankly I am as well, about a large "lump/bump" on my left back near my shoulder blade. It hasn't shrunk & it is tender when pushed on.   It's been there for about 3 weeks now.   I will have it looked at next week by the NP to determine who I should see (Dermatology?) about what it is.

Walking--still walking a minimum of 3 days a week.    yesterday I actually had 2 walks.  One after dropping my car off at the shop and walking home. Then the next on the way back to pick my car up.   

With my trip to TN in 1.5 weeks, I took it in to get an inspection & tune up.  That cost me big.   Next I need to take it back in on Thur for $1500 more work.   YIKES.   Considering I haven't had any major work on it in years (besides a battery & cosmetic work) you figure that's $500/yr of work.   
He did indicate I will need rear brakes when I get back from TN.   UGH.   

Unfortunately this is cheaper than a monthly car payment for 5 years.     Still ....

Overall the only health issue i have had lately is my sleep.  I have been waking exhausted. I haven't had this happen in ages. 

Otherwise--doing well....  Blood pressure has been down.   BG has been within normal range. Weight down.   In fact, today I wore a jacket that I had not been able to comfortably wear for the past few years!!!

Yay

Since my last update

•  RFA was a success. 
• I am walking regularly now (3-4 times a week) about a mile. 
• I am down 30 lbs. 
• My blood pressure yesterday was NORMAL for the first time in years. 
• Feeling a lot better. "Flare ups" reduced considerably

Sept 16

 Anyone still reading?

So...RFA worked.   My pain has decreased to nearly non-existent.  I have gone on several walks since and am doing well.

Still eating well...better.    Had an appointment with my rheumatologist today. My first "official clinic" visit since all this started. My official medical record weight loss is currently 29# down. 

Some items are looser than others. But overall, I'm more comfortable in my clothes. 

Other things of note:  the swelling of my left ankle has disappeared. This is something that has been going on for YEARS!    MANY MANY YEARS.   It was especially evident when working from home & i was not wearing shoes.     

I've been wearing compression socks to help ward off some of the swelling for a few years now.    
I've had no swelling in a very long while.  My flare ups from FM are gone.  I only have issues with dealing with high temps & humidity. rain (weather changes), & just joint pain in my knees.

When I sleep, I sleep deeper. I sleep in on the weekends...

When i did the walk with R yesterday, we took 2 of the dogs. I actually walked Peryn for a majority of the walk. Do you know how long it's been since I've been able to hold a leash when walking?   
I'm debating about taking both boys for a walk when i get off work in a bit.  Thing is, V won't walk long--it's not his nature.   So do I risk it...try?  Maybe do a short walk around the neighborhood?
 i'll let you know.....

September 1- So Far

 Yes! Another post!  3 in 4 months time? What is going on?    A lot actually.   I think most is positive in the long run.   

I have struggled with my A1C & cholesterol #s for the past few years.   I do good and they drop and then I eat the wrong stuff and it rises.    I was considered pre-diabetes & then diabetic but "diet controlled" for so long.    This year my #'s jumped. My doctor gave me a stern talking to and gave me 3 more months to get in shape.   

I tried. I thought I was doing good--but my A1C jumped and here I am clearly in the diabetic category-Diabetes controlled with medication. Yes I am now on meds to regulate my blood glucose.    This probably was a good thing as I've seen the results of people with unregulated blood glucose.  I started eating healthy, took my meds, & really started watching my choices

Additionally in June I used the free membership to the Rec Center & began using their therapy pool.  It was suggested that I start water therapy in prep for the RFA procedure.

Between all that I've maintained my blood glucose in normal range, built up my core with walking in the pool, eaten better & log all my meals and have lost approx 20# in just over a month's time.

Very proud of that.    
I also had my 1st RFA on the 24th.  Did my first walk outside with the hub & pups this weekend.  I walked a significant (my small) part of the trail (includes a big hill) and survived without any excruciating pain.  Hoping temps start to drop so i can do more.

my membership is coming to an end next week.  I have to decide if I want to pay $40/mo to keep it or just go to paying $8/visit.  I really do love the water therapy/walking in the water.  I don't like the whole showering & chlorine smell afterwards--but It is my favorite form of exercise.     
I may not be super active, but compared to before June, I'm rocking it. 

Just how well the RFA was successful is still "in process" as it may take up to a few weeks for the nerve to 'die'.   

to be continued......

Part 2-Did she just post?

 I'm breaking this up into 2 different posts to give you a break in reading everything. Besides I think this is the best place to break it up.  Everything leading up to the visit and the visit and aftermath.

So I had some glimmer of hope before seeing the Pain Mgmt doctor.  I have A LOT of self-hatred. I have a lot of embarrassment & guilt over my weight.   I also feel like no one believes me.  Fibromyalgia has taken a lot from me.   I have lost A LOT of mobility, energy, strength, & normalcy. I lost a lot of my feeling of self-worth. I have lots of depression. 

Besides my mental health struggles that I had prior to FM, it has brought a lot of other issues to the table. Being social is PHYSICALLY DRAINING. It is equally mentally draining. This is also a lot of the reason I tend to self-isolate.   Throw in I am so dang sensitive to heat, light, noises, & smell--Covid to boot, WHY WOULD I want to be out & about?

When I went to the chiropractor the first time, he asked what I hoped to achieve? The pain management doctor asked the same?? Can you guess what my answer was? To be able to walk again.  I want to be able to go on a walk without debilitating pain. Not much of an ask. If I can walk without debilitating pain, I can walk to gain some of my health back.   

SO I met with my new Dr.  He had me do a number of movements. Then he felt along my spine, asking "does this hurt?"  When he got to my lower back, I reacted.  Reacted significantly because he had pushed right on the spot.  

He tells me to sit & says "It is arthritis."  I almost cried because to date, other than some medicine & injections , nothing helps.  However he took it a step further. Brought out his spinal vertebrae display and explained in detail what was happening.

This meant a lot as just being told you have arthritis & the detailed explanation of what is happening and why helped ME understand.

My L4 & L5 and S1     vertebrae, where the pain originates, the joints get inflamed when stress is put on them. Stress of walking, standing, & sitting.  When they get inflamed the nerve radiating out sends the pain signals.   This is specifically located at L4-5 and L5-S1. 

The better news was that there is a procedure that can help significantly reduce or even eliminate the pain.   However in order to determine whether or not this would work, I was required to undergo TWO diagnostic procedures. 

The diagnostic procedure, Medial Branch Nerve blocks, involved injections that would temporarily block nerve pain in the lower back (one side for each procedure. Depending on my results would determine if the treatment would be best for me.

My first diagnostic test was April 13.  We would definitely call that a success.  This has given me hope that it would work for the right side.  After which would be the treatment-RFA Ablation.

was set to have diagnostic procedure 2 on May 18. It was cancelled last minute.  I am severely disappointed.  The reschedule is June 15.  This means I have to wait a month to have the second diagnostic--which is required before we can even talk treatment.  This means another month of pain. Another month of waiting for relief. Another month of waiting.

I had been kind of hoping to have it over so when I attend a concert next month, I could actually enjoy it. But alas...more waiting.
As I said, I'm severely disappointed at this time. I just want some relief.

WHAT IS RFA Ablation?

below info directly from _Radiofrequency ablation | North Texas Pain Institute (thentpi.com)

AN ELECTRICAL CURRENT PRODUCED BY A RADIO WAVE HEATS A SMALL AREA OF NERVE TISSUE AND THROUGHOUT THAT PROCESS, DECREASES PAIN SIGNALS FROM THAT AREA.

TYPICAL BENEFITS OF RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATION:

• Longer lasting pain relief in comparison to steroid injections
• Reduction or relief of pain
• Short recovery time
• Improved range of motion
• Reduction in pain medication
• Semi-permanent disturbance of the pain signals
• Targets nerves part of the spinal column sending pain signals to the brain
• Reduced need for anesthesia as this has a reduced degree of nerve damage.
• Decreases the pain from severe knee arthritis without needing a knee replacement
• Pain-free benefits of 6 to 12 months on average. Some patients claim pain relief for up to 2 years.
• 
  
  

TO BE CONTINUED

Holy Freaking Sh!t. Did she just post? What's going on.

 So obviously I have not posted in years.   A lot has happened during this time. 

A few months after the last post I lost my father.  This also happened to occur during a very stressful time of selling our home, building a new one, & moving in. This all happened in a 4 week time frame. The moving in had some major hiccups.  

The stress of witnessing his passing, the memorial, taking care of Mom, packing, moving, and all things that come with moving, I did not have time to deal with my grief.  I also had major anger building within me.  Anger at so many things.  

This was affecting me greatly.  I thought I was keeping this anger internalized, but apparently not as someone who dealt with me daily made the comment that they had witnessed a change in me overall. 

December threw another blow with the complete & unexpected loss of one of my beloved fur babies. Her illness came out of nowhere & was devastating.   

I ended up being put on additional anti-depressants (the Cymbalta I am currently on is mostly for fibromyalgia & depression stemming from that).  I also returned to therapy in order to deal with the trauma from witnessing my fathers passing & the passing itself.  

Enter 2020.  Starting the year off ill & by March we all know what happened. I began working from home & being isolated.   

I also found myself diving into my work.  No breaks. Becoming much more productive...and glued to my desk.   

Eventually, walking & standing became excruciating. The pain so intense that when I did force myself to walk more, I ended up vomiting because of the pain ( & overheating thanks to my Fibro). 

I had to stop walking, Having been glued to my chair 8+ hrs a day with less breaks than when i was in the office took its toll.   

I brought it up at Dr appointments, but it was attributed to my weight gain during this time. During 2021 I decided to try a different route & began seeing a Chiropractor.  Through visits with him & massages, upper back felt better, but the lower back was still painful.

Numerous masseuses have mentioned my lower back has felt inflamed.  The chiropractor also indicated the lower back was inflamed.  He wanted me to go for some Xray's.

I ended up catching Covid & was unable to go back to him or get that Xray before I ended up seeing my primary. I forced the issue and ended up getting some x-rays.

X-rays indicated "significant" arthritis in my lower back.  Shortly after I ended up seeing my rheumatologist and we discussed my back & the x-rays. She recommended me seeing a pain doctor.  Perhaps I would be able to get an injection (kind of like I did on my knees.)

 The thing is, even though most of my friends  are understanding of my issues, there are those people that you can tell think you're full of shit.  They are the ones who silently judge you, but you can see it in their face.   

They see an overweight individual that doesn't walk or do much exercise. They think LAZY. They think they eat too much.  It gets to you.  I hate being perceived in that light.   Even though I stretched in the mornings & eat very little--there are those that judge without knowing or UNDERSTANDING the pain I feel.

Being told I had significant arthritis in my lower back, being told by others that they "felt" the inflammation made me feel a little better. There are those in the medical field that were finding something physical related to my pain. 

If getting an injection like that in my knee were going to help--I was all on board.

Doing we

Recovery has gone quite well. Still am unable to lift more than 10 pounds for the next 2 weeks.

Continue to lose the weight slowly, in spite of all the swelling.   Blood work recently, doing better.

Went for my post op.  Pathology confirmed Stage 1A cancer.  Surgery got it all, so no radiation needed.    Continued monitoring for the time being.

Feeling well for the most part. 

Thanks for checking in.

Big surgery last Thursday....

So had my surgery last Thursday and I'm doing pretty good.   There is the occasional swelling in the mid section, but otherwise all good.

I'm off the pain meds. I've rested plenty this week.   I was actually bored not being able to do anything.  

I start back to work on Monday--working from home the rest of the month.    I've not gotten on the scale.   Afraid to. 
What is due to swelling and water retention? What is do to my sitting on my butt all week?   What is due to my enjoying being pampered by my neighbor?

I know I shouldn't put too much stock into it, but  I can't help it. 

I am pretty excited to move to my new home.  Because of the location AND what comes along the back, there are ZERO ....NONE ...NO EXCUSES not to start walking again!


i had to miss my 2 concerts AND a visit to my folks because of the surgery.....   Hoping all is well.

EDIT: 5/21   been sitting in my drafts.  From 5/10

Majorly bummed

Had my surgery on Thursday.  Sitting here "recovering" and being bummed.

Tonight NKOTB is in town.   I have been a fan for over 30 years.  I've not missed a Cleveland show and I have to miss tonight's show.   I was supposed to see them in Nashville next week as well, but have to skip that show as well.

No one seems to care/understand how bummed this has made me.  Some of that is due to the few that know not understanding.  There are only a handful of people I've shared this with --- Explain to me why sharing with a bunch of strangers is easier than sharing with those that "know" me.

Ugh.....
Healthwise--
Blood pressure was really good --prior to surgery.
Weight, still on the downslide.

Recovery-  with the assistance of the meds prescribed--doing ok.     

They found no cancer-so they got everything and hopefully that'll be the end of that. ..
sigh..... we shall see

April already...

Crazy!!! It's April already. Time flies.    

Summary for those just joining us:  Most of 2018 I spent in a cast of some sort (air & fiberglass).
A stress fracture that came about in Dec of 2017 caused me to see a Dr Jan 2 of 2018. 
Never healed... May of 2018 I had surgery to have a titanium screw inserted into my foot to assist with the healing. 
Finally in late August I was cast/boot free!!

Spent the rest of the year working to get rid of the 20 #'s gained from lack of activity.

Additionally put on medicine to help lower my BP which had skyrocketed during this time period.
AND put on something for "pre-diabetes" but had a side effect of being an appetite suppressant.

2019
How are we doing? 

Lost all the weight and a few more lbs.  BP has dropped to a better range.
I even lost an inch of height!(WTH????) 

My knees--- this weather has been brutal.   I have had MANY issues with them. The changing weather makes them hurt without my even using them. 

I'm afraid where I was once "too young" for knee replacement, I'm probably "just right".     I've held off going to the Ortho.   Why? 

While I've been doing better otherwise, there have been some issues.  So thanks to a biopsy--I'm having surgery to take care of some "pre-Cancerous" cells.

Funny thing. I haven't shared that with many close to me, but I'm sharing it here for all to see.        

So I'm not looking forward to putting another surgery on the books....

Happy New Year

Is anyone still reading or checking up on this?

Happy 2019.    

I have no clue if this will be a happy year or not, but we'll try.    

2018 was a semi-cruddy year with my foot and all.   I closed it out with a cold that turned to bronchitis and the cough that would not go away.   I think it's safe to say that I finally got over the cough last week.     Caught the cold from Hubby right after Thanksgiving.   I hadn't been sick with a cold in almost 2 years when I got it--so it SUCKED.

On a positive note.....I've S L O W L Y been losing the weight that I had gained while being incapacitated last year.   So far that's 15ish lbs.  How am I doing it?  No clue.  Well, I'm not consciously doing so.   I've noticed my appetite has changed.  I am eating a lot less than I used to. 
Additionally, we started doing Hello Fresh.   So our dinners are home cooked and healthy.

On a different note, this bitter cold is awful.  I cannot begin to tell you how miserable I've been since it started.   My fibro-- it's horrible. I'm horribly achy all over.  It hurts just sitting in place.  ON top of that, my arthritis in my knees is off the charts.     The past 5 days have been miserable.   Standing up, walking steps, and plain just existing is PAINFUL.

Those with Fibro /arthritis, how are you feeling?

Emotionally , just not in a social mood.  Was not in the mood for the holidays...and then dealing with the reality of aging parents /parents in hospice ....  Not the best companion.



SO there you have it. Positive-weight loss. Better eating.   Negative---I'm falling apart

Super busy

Hey! I apologize, it's just that I've been super busy the past month and a half.   It's crazy. 
Work was busy.   Life was busy.     I took on a 2nd job as a Norwex Consultant, so that's kept me busy.       I barely have time to myself these days.  Today is a fluke.

Good news: Out of my cast.  Down 15-ish pounds since June when I was in my cast.  Foot is great.  It aches occasionally when the weather changes, but I can walk on it!!   My right knee has paid the price of 7 months of adjusting my gait to walk.   Just had a SynVisc injection.


Bad news: Sleep is horrible.  I'm struggling to stay awake most days.   I will have 2 tests run at CC Main campus at the end of next month.   Checking for narcolepsy and any other sleep disorders before they decide to put me on any more medication.

This heat & humidity are beating me up so I enjoy the few cooler days that we've had. Right now the windows are wide open!!!!!

Hoping to start walking now that the foot and knee are "fixed".

whoa is me.

Hey.  First I'm thinking of changing the name of the blog since this is not necessarily about my weight loss journey and more about just getting healthier.    I'll have to think about it more

Second- over all I've been having some good days.   On the flip side, my bad days seem to hit me harder. 

Today I was scheduled to work from home and I started at 6am as I always do.  By 8 am the internet was down in my area and a friend and co-worker offered her home and wifi for me to use.

She had her windows and doors wide open and a nice breeze was flowing through.  UNFORTUNATELY, the humidity was also there.  Humidity and Fibromyalgia do not go well together. 

Four hours later I felt incredibly ill. I said thank you and goodbye to my friend and came home to the AC and a nap.    Hours later I still feel horrible. 

This is also affecting my mood. I'm angry and bitter and miserable.   So it's going to be a "fun" evening........

no one and no where but here to complain to...... so yeah I'm just feeling peachy.