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Thursday, February 24, 2011

Clotpocolypse Update...


Well, I saw the specialist(s) yesterday. It seems that I have not made as much progress as they would like, in fact I haven't really made any progress since the diagnosis. So, the specialist passed me off to another specialist who wants to get a better look at what is going on. He suspects that I have a full obstruction somewhere in the vein. That means I get to have a contrast procedure...yay. O_o

Not the best news, but the first specialist was talking about using a clot busting drug. I guess once they get a look at what's going on they will decide how best to approach the whole situation. The bottom line is, I don't seem to be in the agonizing pain I should be, my leg is still swollen, and there is more bruising appearing down by my ankle now. All in all...not what they want to see. Send me some clot busting vibes, I think I need them.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Moving right along....

Not much new going on with me. Still hitting the gym 5 days a week. Last week I did strength training on Monday, Wednesday and Friday with my trainer and then cardio on Tuesday and Thursday. I can make it 1/2 mile now running non-stop. Anything over that really kills me. I just gotta keep at it.


Here are my stats this week:

Starting weight: 210 lb

Last week: 199.0 lb

This week: 196.2 lb



Eating wise things are still going relatively smoothly. It's hard sometimes when I cook dinner for the kids and they get to eat fried chicken, french fries and the like and I get stuck with veggies, fruit, lean chicken breast but I just gotta keep telling myself to stick with it. I know it's not going to be easy in fact most days are really hard but I'm trying to stick with it and not ride myself to hard if I mess up.


Hope your having a great week so far.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Someone stop the rollercoaster, I want off!

As some of you know, I'm bipolar. It's a relatively mild case, but it's still bipolar disorder, and it comes with all the wonderful highs and terrible lows that come along with it. I was diagnosed 2 years ago, but was unmedicated until recently. For a long time, I decided that I was ok without meds because it was such a mild form and I didn't sink into deep depressions or have manic highs all the time (I've learned that this is what all people with bipolar disorder say, no matter how severe or mild their case may be).

PK & I have always had an interesting relationship. We like to tease each other and pick until one or the other is screaming and ready to lose their mind (I swear, we do it out of love... and because I have 4 brothers and I can't resist tickling PK's feet or pretending I'm going to stick my finger in his nose - yes, I'm aware of how weird we are). Well, until a few months ago I was perfectly ok with this. I was used to him poking my arm while I'm writing or touching buttons on my Kindle while I'm reading. It's part of our relationship. But when I started bursting into tears or throwing an absolute fit, I realized that maybe I didn't have my emotions as under control as I thought.

I went to the doctor, and because of the type of birth control I'm on, they could only offer me one type of mood leveler (not an anti-depressant), which is lithium.

Yeah, I had that reaction too. "Oh shit! That's scary stuff!" but in reality, it's not really that scary when you look at the statistics and the results. The reason it's been on the market as long as it has been is because it WORKS. The biggest problem? It makes you HUNGRY and all you want to do it eat (which obviously leads to weight gain).

I went to the doctor last week, terrified that I'd gained 20 pounds, but feeling much better (emotionally) than I have in years. Well, I've only gained 1 pound, and that was mostly because of water retention. WOOT!

So, yay for the rollercoaster slowing down and nearing a stop, AND for only gaining ONE POUND!

How are you doing with your weight loss? Met any goals? Overcome any obstacles?

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Hi Everyone!

I took the plunge. I decided to hire Megan (personal trainer) for six months. I’ll be working out with her two times a week. Figure the money I’m saving since I quit smoking will be well spent on her.

I’m really good about going to the gym 5 days a week but on the two days that I’m suppose to strength train I sort of slack. She’s definitely going to help me with this issue.

Here are my stats this week:

Starting weight: 210 lb

Last week: 198.6 lb

This week: 199.0 lb

That’s pretty much what’s going on with me. I was able to run 4/10th ‘s of a mile straight today (without stopping) which is totally awesome considering I started out running 1/10th of a mile at the beginning of the year. I would like to be able to run 1 mile without stopping by time summer gets here. Anyway, hope your having a great week!

Thursday, February 10, 2011

Waves Hi!


Just wanted to pop in and say hi! Not much new to report health wise (when did this turn in to a health blog?). I am heading back to work next week and just rolling along in my day to day. No more shots (yay!) and my Coumadin dose is stabilizing. Not sure when I get to start "working out" and even when I do it will probably just be walking or stationary cycling. I am pretty sure I will not be doing any activity that could lead to me bruising myself for obvious reasons. So, that's it...talk to you guys again real soon!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Personal Trainers


Today I had my second workout with Megan, my trainer. I signed up for the jumpstart program and I worked out with her this past Friday. I started getting sick later that night with a sore throat and head cold and by the time Saturday rolled around I was pretty much out of commission.

I was supposed to go to the gym Saturday and do some cardio to help with the soreness but I didn’t make it. I could barely move all weekend. I was pretty miserable with the cold and sore muscles but I sucked it up. Still wasn’t feeling 100% on Monday and talked myself out of going in to do cardio but the voice in my head wouldn’t shut up so I ended up dragging myself there late Monday night. I’m glad I went ahead and went. Only walked 2 miles on the treadmill but at least I did something.




Here are my stats this week:

Starting weight: 210 lb

Last week: 200.6 lb

This week: 198.6 lb

Yay!!! I lost a couple more pounds. 

So, that’s pretty much what’s been going on in my neck of the woods. How’s your week going so far?

Here are a few more songs I listen to on my iPod when I workout:
  • Tonight (I’m Lovin’ You) – Enrique Iglesias (feat. Ludacris & DJ Frank E)
  • Like A G6 – Far East Movement
  • More – Usher
  • Dynamite – Taio Cruz
  • The Climb – Miley Cyrus

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Holy Crap...



Well, it seems it was a very good thing I finally broke down and went to the doctor this week for my leg issues. After deciding I had not broken my ankle, the doctor scheduled me for a vascular exam to look for blood clots in my leg. Lo and behold, I have a freaking HUGE one in the leg that has been bothering me. Well, what does that mean?

The main cause of deep vein thrombosis -- also called DVT -- is poor blood flow. When circulation slows, blood can pool and more easily form clots -- raising your DVT risk.

Deep vein thrombosis occurs when a blood clot forms in a vein deep inside a muscle in your body. It usually happens in legs, but can also develop in your arms, chest, or other areas of your body. And though DVT is common, it can be dangerous. The blood clot can block your circulation or lodge in a blood vessel in your lungs, brain, heart, or other area. The clot can cause severe organ damage and even death -- within hours.

from WebMD

So needless to say, I had a crazy day yesterday. I dashed out of work around noon thinking I'd have time to eat when I got back from the silly little precautionary test the Dr had ordered. Ha! Instead, I ended up spending my afternoon at urgent care where they ran blood tests and an EKG on me and then gave me a shot and a pill. In addition I received an info dump on the medicines and procedures I would be living with for the next 4 to 6 months. Yeah, that's right. 4 to 6 months.

I get to take a shot of Lovenox 2xs a day until the feel the Coumadin has built up enough in my blood stream to help me. The Coumadin I will take once a day. But wait, I haven't got to the best part yet. Apparently, while we wait for the Coumadin to build up I get to go take a blood test 6 days a week. Yup, every morning before 9:30am, except Sunday. Then once I am off the shots, I get to reduce those lab visits to 2 days a week until they feel I am stabilized. As I stabilize on the Coumadin the visits will tapper down to once a week, then once every two weeks, until I am at once a month. Then I continue at the once a month level until I am off the meds all together, which is whenever the blood clot is gone I suspect. Yeah, that's right I won the freaking medical lottery today.

So, all this makes you wonder...just how big is this clot? Well, apparently its huge. It goes from my inside knee area all the way up to my inner thigh, almost to my groin. That translates to FREAKING HUGE. Needless to say, the DH is freaked out and all worried over me. I am hoping he reins it in, because I can't deal with him and all of this. Sigh. And, of course, I STILL can't exercise for at least another five days. Maybe longer once I see my regular doctor.

They still can't tell me exactly how the clot formed, but suspect that it is a combination of my muscle pulls, my fall at work earlier this month, and my birth control pills. It apparently doesn't help that I'm fat either. Go figure. Well, that's my news folks. Kind of outweighs my weigh-in and general update, but hey the doctor's scale on Monday was not kind to me. (I really wish they'd let me take my shoes off!) I weighed in at 209lbs fully dressed with Doc Martin's on (those are what they look like, I still love those shoes!). Double sigh.

For now I am focusing on getting healthy so I can then start working out and losing this dang-on weight. that means shots, pills, and blood tests for the next little bit. Hope you all had a better day than me yesterday.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Relapse...sorta


Hi everyone! It’s Wednesday again. I got my cardio in for the day. Things had to be re-scheduled with the trainer last week because my youngest son had to get some dental work done. So my new appointment with Megan (trainer) is this Friday.

I’m looking forward to it…sorta. I know she’s going to work me out hard. I really want to get a strength training routine worked out so that I can do it on my own two days a week. She’s going to help out with that along with the nutrition issues.

Here are my stats this week:

Starting weight: 210 lb

Last week: 201.2 lb

This week: 200.6 lb

I’ve managed to lose a little more weight. Not much though. This past weekend was really bad for me. I cheated a little bit more than I have been doing. I felt really bad afterwards too.  I will try not to do that again. (easier said than done)

I’ve been doing cardio 5 days a week. I tried to run a little on the treadmill this week. I still can’t run very far but I’m working on it. I’ve also upped my treadmill incline so I’m getting a little more of a workout.

That’s pretty much how things have been going for me.

How’s your week going so far?

Thought I would list a few more songs on my workout list with you.
  • Shut It Down – Pitbull (feat. Akon)
  • I Like It – Enrique Iglesias (feat. Pitbull)
  • Yeah! – Usher (feat. Lil’ John & Ludacris)
  • Girlfriend – Avril Lavigne
  • Imma Be – Black Eyed Peas
 

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