I've stuck with it. Some days, Insanity feels like it is kicking my butt and other days, I feel like I am kicking its butt. I am seeing positive changes in the shape of my body and have lost several inches just from exercise alone.
Now if I could find a little more willpower, I would stop eating nachos and pizza and see even better results.
My mother was taken into the emergency room today. They've ruled out a heart attack and are now doing x-rays and CT scans to check for stroke due to the stroke symptoms.
My mother is being her normal ornery self - lying to the doctors about her symptoms (she doesn't like/trust doctors so she isn't claiming to have any symptoms), refusing to be put on medication (she doesn't like prescription medications), and is insisting somebody bring her a radio so she can listen to Rush Limbaugh (she doesn't like Obama obviously) - in the emergency room!
I asked my oldest sis to see about getting power of attorney in case my mother can't, or won't, make appropriate health care decisions for herself. My sis is looking into it. She used to have one (when my parents went thru divorce...my mom didn't want my dad making medical decisions for her in the middle of their nasty divorce) but it has expired.
I am in another state so I sit and wait for test results. Waiting is the hardest thing. It feels pretty damn helpless to sit here and wait while my siblings rush to the hospital and hope that she doesn't have a large stroke at the hospital. From the way my mother is acting, and how worked up she gets over President Obama, it's a possibility. I hope nobody brings her a radio so she can listen to Rush and get herself riled up.
One of my sisters said our mom seems to be doing better (symptoms improved) but my sister is doing a big OMG over her behavior in the hospital. I am literally getting texts from my little sister with "omggggggggggg".
I sit. I wait. While I make a list in my head of things to pack and wonder what to do about my four kids - take them or leave them with a friend...ack.
This is just gross:
Today is my 40th birthday! Yikes! Happy Birthday to me!
What does 40 mean to me?
I am on day 2 of the no-fat/low fat eating plan (hate to call it a diet because let's be realistic, it's the way I'm supposed to be eating anyway and haven't been) so I don't have anymore gallbladder attacks before my next doctor's appointment on Friday. So, how's it going so far? It stinks. Seriously, I feel hungry all day long.
I miss fat in my food.
I miss melted butter in every nook and cranny on my english muffin.
I miss chocolate candy bars.
I miss pizza.
Oh boy do I miss chocolate and pizza!!
I miss feeling full.
I'm assuming it is my gallbladder that is causing me all the pain so I'm eating like it is to prevent anymore attacks. I'll find out more on Friday.
What is really sweet is my teenager told me last night that since I can't enjoy so many foods right now, she is going to eat like I have to eat so I don't feel left out. She actually ate oatmeal for breakfast!! She said she'll pick the salad at lunch instead of the nachos. She has slept in my room for two nights in a row so she can "keep an eye on me." She was upset to see me seriously crying the night before last when I was in so much pain (crying during sad parts in movies doesn't count). She said she's only seen me cry once before and that was during an argument with her dad years ago (about the ex/stepkids of course). She remembers listening on the stairs when she was supposed to be sleeping. I guess my crying really hits her hard. She's being so helpful. She got all her siblings ready for school yesterday too!
I have good kids. :)
I think I am having gallbladder attacks now. I was in a lot of pain Friday night for about 4-5 hours and then excruciating pain last night for about 2-1/2 hours - pain on the right side under my rib cage, pain radiating around to my back, nausea, and vomiting. It was a fun night last night!
When I couldn't take anymore and got up to get dressed to drive myself to the hospital, it stopped. It was over in between getting my pants on and putting my t-shirt on.
I would seriously rather give birth. That kind of non-stop pain was awful.
I "think" it was gallbladder because of the symptoms that occurred after a fatty meal and because I know I have stones in my gallbladder (showed up in ultrasound/CT scan earlier this year for non-related illness) that have been asymptomatic (until now apparently). I am waiting to hear back from my doctor to see what I need to do next.
I just finished reading Dr. Erika's Hormone Solution for Your Daughter (Dr. Erika Schwartz) and it was a good book. I like solutions that give you other options for behaviors other than just Prozac and other options for regulating a teen's menstrual cycle other than birth control pills. There is a lot more information in the book as well (such as weight and acne) and the use of supplements like natural progesterone (natural, not synthetic), Coenzyme Q, L-carnitine, B-complex, Omega-3, Vitamin C, Iron, Magnesium, and calcium supplements.
My stepson was diagnosed with ADHD years ago and I can say, by experience, that Omega-3 made a HUGE difference in his ADHD symptoms. He wasn't hyper or misbehaving while on them and when I'd forget to give them to him - wow! Noticeable difference. I give all of our kids the gummy Omega-3 supplements, not just my stepson when he's here, for their health. At first, they hated the taste of them but within a week, they all loved them. My stepson's mother wouldn't give him Omega-3 though unless his pediatrician told her she could and his pediatrician only had him on ADHD drugs that made him tired and hurt his stomach. Big Pharma won out there.
I saw my doctor yesterday as a follow-up to my hospital visit and for my thyroid disease management too. He doesn't think the reason the hospital gave me for my illness is right. He doesn't have another reason for me but he doesn't think they were right. He has increased my thyroid dose which is what I wanted. I wish he'd have done it two months ago but hey...it's done now. I want my memory back, the exhaustion to go away, and for this extra weight to take a big hike. I know I could learn more about weight loss pills but I know in my heart that it's my thyroid. I was a size 2/4 before kids. I was a comfortable six after them. I just want to be a six again. I'm not asking for bone skinny...just healthy.
Read more...We thought after two weeks of no cheerleading or weights due to three different snow storms that blew through here cancelling school for 1-1/2 weeks that my daughter's costochondritis had a good chance to heal. She had her first game back Thursday and then another today for tournaments. We were wrong. She is back to hurting again. There is one more game and then basketball season is done. I will be glad to see it over because of all the running back and forth. The kids don't seem to mind, but I am tired! I guess I need youthology (or a whole lot of caffeine) so I don't look haggard and ancient next to the younger crowd. My daughter definitely needs some time off from activities so she can heal fully.
The doctor didn't restrict her activities for cheerleading or gym (I restricted her from weights personally with her teacher myself) but maybe I should have restricted her from the other activities as well. He said if she's not better in four weeks to bring her back so if she's not improved in the next two weeks, back we go to the pediatrician.
My sister has lost a lot of weight doing something she calls figure eight fitness. She told me it was toning without bulking up with muscle like a body builder. I don't think it involved using supplements or anything like conjugated linoleic acid but she's definitely lost weight. The picture I saw of her shows a big change. I can't tell what her muscle tone is like from the pictures but I have never seen her this thin before. I am hoping the picture was at a bad angle because now her head looks too big for her tiny body. I really hope it was a bad photo. I'll see next month when I see her again. I'm curious to find out exactly what this program is.
Read more...My stepdaughter's heart test was fine. She has a heart murmur, which most kids get at some point in their life and doesn't require treatment of any kind. My oldest daughter has a heart murmur and we didn't need to freak out and get the expensive tests at the elite treatment center to get that diagnosis. Thankfully we have insurance so most of it will be covered (the rest is out-of-pocket...oh joy). It's no wonder my stepdaughter has an appointment with a psychiatrist (Her 3rd? 4th? I've lost track). She lives with a person who instills in her a neurotic fear over everything and everybody. It's going to hurt when those apron strings get cut!
My oldest daughter was diagnosed yesterday with costochondritis according to our pediatrician after an exam. It's an inflammation of the cartilage connecting the ribs to the sternum and is common in athletes. It's expected to clear up on its own within the next several weeks. She was diagnosed based on the area where the pains were and her activity level. I guess I could've freaked out and requested heart tests be done, like the ex:) Meow.
Still no word on my stepdaughter's heart test that was done last week. I guess we're waiting for the results to get sent to the doctor.
We received copies of their report cards today from their school. They are both doing very well, which is a relief because my stepson almost failed all three years of junior high. I'm glad he's taking high school more seriously. He must be doing his homework, probably because he seems to have outgrown video games like the xbox 360 unlike our ten year old son who still loves his, but whatever the reason, I'm glad to see it. It grated every last nerve to see such a bright kid almost fail those years with it seeming like his mother didn't do much about it at all. My stepdaughter's grades have fallen slightly from straight A's but A's and B's are good. It seems like she's very stressed this year.
There are some health problems going on right now with my stepdaughter. The docs are doing tests to find out what the diagnosis is - Reynaud's Syndrome, mitral valve prolape, stress, etc. She has had some chest pains and she's lost about 20 pounds (and she was already too thin to begin with). The chest pains may be anxiety and not her valve - the sounds the doc heard in the stethoscope is also common in very thin people. She's getting a heart test this week and was referred to therapy (psychiatrist I think). This will be the kids' 4th or 5th therapist between them I think since she was four. The diagnosis is always the same - her mother! Maybe this time it'll be different. Yeah, sure. We are too far away to participate this time so maybe her mother will be able to fake her way through this therapist this time.
I am not surprised about the stress. She's been taught to fear everything and she's always been a worrier. She also pushes herself for perfect grades in her honors classes.
I asked hubby about the possibility of an eating disorder with the weight but he said she claims she's eating (she claims she is eating more now than even before because she was a vegetarian for the last couple years but she's been forcing herself to eat chicken to help with weight but it's not helping). People with eating disorders do claim they are eating so who knows if what she is saying is true. She admitted to only eating one meal a day (dinner) previously but says she has been eating lately and still dropping weight. I asked hubby if the ex didn't notice she was never having to pay for the kid's school lunch or make the girl breakfast? Apparently the ex doesn't notice much. Assuming what sd is saying is true and she's been eating and still dropping weight, it could also be a thyroid problem with unexplained weight loss and anxiety.
I'd get some basic blood work done first while waiting for the heart appointment, including a full thyroid panel done, if it were my child to rule that out but she's not my kid. SD said her mother wants the heart test done first to see what that says before they do any other tests. Not sure what mitral valve prolapse, which is usually nothing to worry about or treat, has to do with a 20 pound weight loss but what do I know? Go for the most expensive test first and rule out doing any other simple tests in the meantime. Makes sense to me!
I think hubby is going to let the ex handle this the way she wants to. Burns me up a bit because if it was one of "our" kids, he'd have input. I'd expect him to have input. He mentioned the thyroid during his discussion with sd (he's lived with my thyroid disease for 8-1/2 years now - we both are familiar with it). SD told her mom but sd came back and said her mom won't do that yet. Ex doesn't want to consider a simple blood test for it. Probably because I have it so she's just not going there.
Hubby said he wished she would come live with us. Never going to happen. Wishing things were different doesn't mean a whole helluva lot. If she'd been living with us, all those therapists we paid for wouldn't have been necessary to begin with and she wouldn't be afraid of everything and needing ANOTHER therapist now.
A couple months ago, she was having stomach pains and her breasts felt lumpy (it was nothing just like I thought though they - sd and ex - worried frantically over it). She was on her period for god's sake! One ultrasound later, yup, nothing. So glad for insurance! They couldn't wait for the period to be over with to see if the stomach pains and changes in the breast were related. Had to freak out. Sounds like it's a freak out again over this.
I hope that there is nothing seriously wrong with sd. I really and truly do. Despite the ex and sd's treatment of us the past few years, I love that girl. We will obviously pay for anything that the sd needs to be healthy just like we would for any of our children. I just wish they (the ex, which makes it worse for sd) didn't jump to the worst conclusion right away and go automatically for big tests and not even consider doing anything else in the interim - looking at the more likely scenario. Use common sense instead of a freak out. Though the fact that we have to pay for another therapist because of crappy parenting just ticks me off.
Speaking of acne in my previous post, do you know anybody who uses or needs Murad? I found murad reviews about it and thought I'd share. I haven't hit this stage personally with any of my kids yet and am hoping they'll just have normal teenage acne and not get a chronic case of it. Do they (with "they" being the scientific community) even know what causes chronic acne yet? You'd think with all the advancements out there for medical treatments, that figuring out why people get chronic eruptions of acne wouldn't be so difficult to figure out.
I'm having my own skin crisis at the moment with these hives that have been spreading over the top half of my body these past two weeks. It looks awful. I have to cancel my daughter's speech therapy today because I can't walk into the school with a rash all over my face. Until a doctor confirms it is hives, I don't want to freak anybody out by walking into a school with an undiagnosed rash.
Oh my gosh, the hives are even worse this morning! I just want to scratch my face off. I thought it might be the new laundry bleach I bought but realized this morning that the hives would be all over my body if that were the case (I think anyway). I don't look like I need body acne treatment; they're on my trunk and head wit a few patches on my arms and only one on one leg. Not all over the body. The ones on my face are really bothering me. Not just because of how they look but they are intensely itchy. My lips feel tight so they're spreading to them too it appears. What is the deal with that?
At this time tomorrow, I will be on my way to my doctor's appointment. I am so anxious to get rid of these hives that I'm willing to get a shot of steriods in the backside if I have to. Me, the person who gets whoozy at the sight of a needle, will glady take that shot tomorrow.
*Fingers crossed* that the doctor know why I erupted in this rash and how to treat it quickly tomorrow!
Everybody has been struggling in this economy and we managed to hold our head above water for the better part of last year but towards the end, it all fell apart. How are people getting approved to refinance the mortgages they struggle with in this economy? We tried with our mortgage company and they wanted thousands of dollars to do it. If we could afford that, we wouldn't need to refinance! Bank of America kind of stinks in my opinion. I wish they'd not taken over our old mortgage company's loans. That was a bummer. They want it all caught up by Feb. 6 or they intend to accelerate the loan and call the whole mortgage balance due. Yeah, good luck with that.
Stress is getting to me. I've had hives for a couple weeks. I thought it was an allergy but I'm beginning to wonder if it is stress. I'm SO itchy! They are even on my face. In addition to the best under eye creams to cover the circles under my eyes, I'm lathering on benadryl cream to minimize the hives.
I see my doctor Thursday. He'll probably want to give me a Steriod shot. I'd rather take them orally than with a needle. I can't stand needles.
Over the last couple years, I've taken a more active interest in my health because I'm tired of pharmaceutical companies and doctors pushing drugs, drugs, drugs on us all the time. I am not actively managing my thyroid disease myself using more natural means as opposed to synthetic. I've stopped using fluoride toothpaste because of the effect it has on iodine and the thyroid (you should google it...makes you wonder why it's in our drinking water). I've wanted to look at detox products as well but I never know what is real and what is just disgusting lies.
Does a body need detox? Does your body take care of that fully itself? Does detox rid the bodies of toxins and metals? What about parasites? I'd like to know more myself. I'm curious to find out if this is important and helps your health or not.
I found a colon cleanse review site but wanted to see what other opinions were. What do you think? Is it good for the health? It is necessary? Does water flush the body sufficiently or is more needed with all the chemicals that hit our systems on a daily basis?
My stepdaughter doesn't have scoliosis. The specialist who saw her and looked at the x-rays says there is nothing wrong with her spine. That's good news.
The ex had x-rays of my stepson's back done too (let's just keep radiating the kids without ample cause to) and his spine is within normal range. The ex took him to the chiropractor anyway! She sent an email asking hubby what he thought about it (chiropractor care and paying for it) right before she took him to his chiropractor appointment - nothing like giving hubby time to actually SEE the email! She knew he wouldn't see it for six hours after she'd sent it - after she'd already taken him to the chiropractor. So why did she take him? No idea. Hubby did end up responding back about not seeing the medical necessity of it. Like we can afford to send a kid to the chiropractor who doesn't need it!
My daughter, who fell from a swing and fractured her wrist and hurt her back could use a chiropractor right now for her back pain. Trying to figure out how to pay for it when we're struggling not to lose our house at the moment. My stepdaughter is still going to go to the chiropractor to see if it helps with her TMJ and hubby will pay for his share for this month and then has requested another review to see if it is helping and medically necessary. However, we will not pay for my stepson to go when there's nothing wrong with him. Yeah, right.
It's too bad she didn't show this much interest in his mental health all those years he needed help.
My stepdaughter has been seeing a chiropractor for the pain she's in due to probable scoliosis (the orthopedic surgeon will confirm the diagnosis next week). We knew the ex was going to take her to the chiropractor and were agreeable to paying half of the cost to do so, but then we didn't hear anything about it from the ex for several weeks. We assumed she hadn't scheduled any appointments yet because she's supposed to let their dad know about them. Come to find out by my stepdaughter, she's been going three times a week for several weeks now. Well, that was nice of the ex to let dad know! If not for my husband asking about it, we wouldn't have known until we received the bill.
Unfortunately, it hasn't helped her pain yet. So we wait until after the appointment with the orthopedic surgeon to see what can be done now. I wonder if she'll let hubby know about that or if he'll have to chase the information down (does it give the ex a thrill to have hubby chasing after the information in some warped way?). Sure would have been nice if the ex had let my husband know about this scoliosis condition a couple years ago when the doctors first brought it up - you know, when my stepdaughter was still growing and before the pain started. Sure would be nice to stick the ex under some grow lights to grow a more cooperative parenting style as well!
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