BS: Accountability - exercise goals-Mar 2010

Subject: RE: BS: Accountability - exercise goals-Mar 2010
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 09 Mar 10 - 09:09 AM

Glad you are getting looked at Liz regardless of it being private or NHS. You need answers and treatment now not in a years time. Hope you are feeling better soon xxx

Subject: RE: BS: Accountability - exercise goals-Mar 2010
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 10 Mar 10 - 02:55 AM

Catherine-Jayne --- GO GO GO! Fantastic.

LTS - NHS did same tests on me last year around this time. I got breathless quite soo too, but the found nothing wrong.   Yet I have been feeling bloody awful since, get the horrible alarming thudding in my ears several times a night, have no energy, etc. My GP keeps prescribing different antidepressants. I am now off them. I take one codydramol before bed for pain and that is it.

In the last 3 weeks, feeling like the NHS couldn't give a toss, I decided to take matters into my own hands. I have been extremely careful re food intake, particularly near bedtime, also forcing myself to get bit of physical activity everyday. And this last week and a bit the thudding has become less strong and less frequent. I took Susan's (WYSIWYG) advice and cut any sugar (including my fav grape juice) in the evening. Down to 1 real coffee in morning and 1 decaf every other afternoon. I think of it as a treat.

I am feeling and sleeping better. Not lost any weight yet, even though I never exceed 1300 calories a day. Fingers crossed, when I get to pool (found out my local has portable steps I can use) I will start loosing weight.

Subject: RE: BS: Accountability - exercise goals-Mar 2010
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 11 Mar 10 - 03:01 AM

That's the worst feeling - when YOU know something isn't right but healthcare professionals can find nothing with all their expensive equipment and years of training.... The worst thing is, I'm finding that as tempus fugits ever faster, I'm taking longer to recover from a bad night, and my brain doesn't seem to function quite so well for a while after. The hardest thing to cope with is finding the right word for stuff. Got to the hospital on Monday for a treadmill test, only to find I couldn't remember the word 'treadmill'...

Anyway... once this stomach bug has run its course, I shall be back on track. I stopped hurling enough to go shopping last night so we actually have real food in the house, rather than a heap of processed stuff...

As for the perennial 'lose weight and get fit' argument from the doctors - this time 2 years ago, I was almost 2 stones heavier and did not get out of breath climbing one flight of stairs.

Go figure...

LTS - sorry, today is not a good day.

Subject: RE: BS: Accountability - exercise goals-Mar 2010
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Mar 10 - 04:25 AM

I've been having a lot of sleepless nights, LtS, and find the same thing...my brain is dull the next day and I forget words, too. It helps when I can take a nap which turns out to be restful, rather than restless, but it is still hard to catch up after so many nights. At least when I get good sleep, things seem to be better.

Subject: RE: BS: Accountability - exercise goals-Mar 2010
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 11 Mar 10 - 07:32 AM

Beat the bug, dear Liz, and then set those doctors straight.

Subject: RE: BS: Accountability - exercise goals-Mar 2010
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 11 Mar 10 - 03:35 PM

my GP says that it is age... this not sleeping well, these palpitations, this not having energy, the fuzzy foggy feeling in the morning and difficulty remembering words.
I have not been well (easily out of breath and palpitations) since that respiratory flu, then cold, then infection over course of 3 months (Nov08 - Jan09). Tried to tell doc this. Dismissed it.

I think it is a worldwide conspiracy to let women of a certain age just fade away. Nature is already conspiring against us. We don't need the medical profession to encourage it. We need to combat it. And truly the best way is to get fit. Fighting fit.

I have been very careful about what I eat during the day and no sugar in the evening at all, and I am sleeping better. Because I am sleeping better, I fell less awful in the morning. Cognitive functioning is only slightly better, but it is early days.

Today - I had to make second tightening of trousers with safety pins. First tightening was last week. Colleague said she noticed I am losing weight.

Subject: RE: BS: Accountability - exercise goals-Mar 2010
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Mar 10 - 03:55 PM

There ARE doctors who don't use negative attitudes as a diagnosis. I always call my docs out if any of them make some kind of comment such as "it's age." I explain to them that what I hear goes straight to my heart and I require them, as my partners in health, to watch their words around me. The docs I have now are very respectful and careful and wholistic themselves. I hope you can find one there, VTam.

Good for you on the no sugar and taking up your trousers!

I slept most of yesterday away. This morning, I drove for the first time in ages, with Morgan to Walgreens, then we came home and played ball outside. Sent him home at noon and will probably try sleeping a bit more.

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Accountability - exercise goals-Mar 2010
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 12 Mar 10 - 03:48 AM

(((Liz))) it's a nasty tummy bug that's going round at the moment, hte kids had it for a week and it wasn't pleasent. Hope you are feeling better soon.....drink plenty of fluids...water not gin!

Subject: RE: BS: Accountability - exercise goals-Mar 2010
From: maire-aine
Date: 14 Mar 10 - 10:03 PM

Walked in the St. Patrick's parade today; cold & windy, with just a very light misty rain. It was a little less than 2 miles, by the time we marched and then walked back to the car.

Maryanne

Subject: RE: BS: Accountability - exercise goals-Mar 2010
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Mar 10 - 12:45 AM

Good for you, Maryanne.

Qi - 30 minutes

Free wgts - 16 reps of 4 lifts each

Subject: RE: BS: Accountability - exercise goals-Mar 2010
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 15 Mar 10 - 05:59 AM

Over the weekend I ran 4 miles. Walked lots. Did 2 spinning classes and a body pump class. My lovely fiance bought me a skirt and top in my new size 14!! I have to keep saying it because I just can't believe it. I haven't been this slim and light since I was 19 years old. When I look in the mirror I still see the size 22 Catherine but I'm getting there with the confidence to wear the right size clothing instead of things that are 2 or 3 sizes too big. I sorted out my wardrobe again today and have only kept the UK size 14 and 16 clothes (don't have many size 14!)So there is a shopping trip needed in the next couple of week to restock and get some nice summer clothes. I couldn't have done this without the love and support of Paul.

If I can lose this amount of weight anyone can! Keep up the good work people!

Subject: RE: BS: Accountability - exercise goals-Mar 2010
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 15 Mar 10 - 08:48 AM

Bloody freezing rain and snow and slush- I brought in 4 loads of sopping wet firewood, and that was all the exercise yesterday. More rain all day today. I need to stretch!

My yoga-teacher friend is starting a spring session of classes next week- I have GOT to get on board!

I'm glad some of you are having spring. My ground is still entirely covered with snow.

Subject: RE: BS: Accountability - exercise goals-Mar 2010
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 15 Mar 10 - 12:57 PM

Had a good long walk today, in the sun, wearing sandals for the first time this year! My feet are soooo happy!!!

Mind you, the chest was complaining bitterly by the end of the first bit of walking... sharp pain, shortness of breath and light headed. And they say they can't find anything wrong yet. Humph.

Still, altogether it must have been about a mile and a half, which is longer than I've walked for some time.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Accountability - exercise goals-Mar 2010
From: manitas_at_work
Date: 16 Mar 10 - 05:49 AM

Cycled to work yesterday and today. Bloody painful today but I expect I'll get used to it. It currently takes 45 minutes to do 6.5 miles. I've a choice of 2 basic routes - straight down the main road and cope with the traffic, not being able to get past buses and taxis in queues and too many traffic lights (yes, I do observe them) or the designated cycle route, longer and bumpier with pedestrians wandering aimlessly into the bike lane and cars driving straight across without checking but on the whole more pleasant.

Subject: RE: BS: Accountability - exercise goals-Mar 2010
From: katlaughing
Date: 16 Mar 10 - 11:50 AM

manitas, sounds as though you are really brave!:-)

Last night - qi gong

Subject: RE: BS: Accountability - exercise goals-Mar 2010
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 16 Mar 10 - 07:38 PM

I think the 10cm loss has sunk in.... wore my black concert gown tonight for the first time since Christmas at the Ritz. I need to take it in again!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Accountability - exercise goals-Mar 2010
From: LilyFestre
Date: 16 Mar 10 - 09:30 PM

I went to yoga tonight!!! I did a LOT of stretching and 2 sun salutations....I feel incredible!!!!!

YAY!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Accountability - exercise goals-Mar 2010
From: Catherine Jayne
Date: 17 Mar 10 - 04:41 AM

Hurrah Liz! Thats great!!!

Last night I had a 4 mile brisk walk, an hours body pump followed by an hours body step. I have missed step aerobics lots and it felt great to be doing it again. I ache this morning but it's all good!!

Subject: RE: BS: Accountability - exercise goals-Mar 2010
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Mar 10 - 10:36 PM

One of the things the therapist and biofeedback person and I have been working on is getting myself mentally motivated. Anyway, something is working as we walked to Morgan's house and back this evening, at my request. I still don't feel steady enough to do it without Roger's help, esp. as the O2 tank is heavy, but we did it without my having to stop but just for a couple of seconds 2-3 times. AND, when we got back my pulse ox was in the mid-90s which is great and my blood pressure was really happy. It's actually been almost too low lately, so I was glad to see it come up slightly, still lower than it used to be. I think the weight loss has contributed a lot to both the mental and physical. It just feels so good. My bod has been *begging* me to get out and walk and it just hasn't been possible before this, unless it was at the store or something.

I am also working with a Thera-Band ball, kneading it in my hands to strengthen them and work my lower arm muscles, plus the hand-weights. I have what I call "cave-ins" where the fat has disappeared and there's loose skin, so I AM motivated to tighten things up!:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Accountability - exercise goals-Mar 2010
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 05:48 AM

walking... sharp pain, shortness of breath and light headed

Liz, get that too but only sometimes. So weird that some days, I can go up and down flights of steps, end to end of the building (it's a big building) with no symptoms. Other days, I only need to walk half the length and find I am out of breath, and have thudding pulse in ears and visual phenomenon of strobeing lights with the pulse. I still think it is random blood pressure events.

Yay for Michelle's yoga success. CJ- 4 miles? I am envious. Can't put in a quarter mile before the hips seize up.

I didn't do any exercise yesterday as I had terrible crick in right side of my neck. I could barely move. TSO has massaged, I iced several times and took pain killer last night. It is a bit better today, but TSO had to brush my hair for me and I will not be playing guitar today at Lower Stoke session.

Subject: RE: BS: Accountability - exercise goals-Mar 2010
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 21 Mar 10 - 10:51 PM

An overly active and very stressful three days has culminated in a day of inertia, coupled with a new bout of chest pains, sleeplessness, loss of appetite (even for chocolate!), anxiety and breathlessness.. I am getting SOOOO sick and tired of this. Got a referral in the wind for an MR myocardial perfusion scan, which should hopefully tell us once and for all what the *&%k is going on.

But the surgery from 5 years ago (catheter ablation for an arrythmia) is holding well and not causing additional problems. The symptoms would indicate angina, which makes sense to me as my mother was diagnosed with it when she was 3 years younger than I am now.... but no-one is saying anything just yet.

The most frustrating part is not being able to do things now without getting breathless, that this time last year - even this time 6 months ago, would have been as nothing.

Ah well, it will sort.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Accountability - exercise goals-Mar 2010
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 02:03 PM

Scan confirmed for Wednesday morning at some stupid time... &%"@ reducing candles and words to various deities would be much appreciated - never had more than my head in one of those MRI machines before and am a tad aprehensive.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Accountability - exercise goals-Mar 2010
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 02:31 PM

Liz

You will be in my thoughts. Do you want a special &%"@ reducing thread?

Subject: RE: BS: Accountability - exercise goals-Mar 2010
From: katlaughing
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 04:55 PM

LtS, I am slightly claustrophobic so I had a lot of apprehension about one of those machines, too. They gave me a small amount of sedative which helped a lot. Maybe they could offer that to you, too? We also, now, have a facility which has open machines so you don't feel as though they're stuffing you into a sausage tube.:-)

{{{{HUGS}}} and thanks-givings going up, now.

Subject: RE: BS: Accountability - exercise goals-Mar 2010
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 05:00 PM

I am very claustrophobic. Even my own hair in my face makes me breathless. But I had not probs with the MRI (they did my neck to see if osteo arthritis in cervical spine was causing pressure on carotid artery). There was like a fan blowing light breath of cool air in my face and they gave me my choice of music to listen too. The most difficult part was not wiggling feet to da blues. Got to keep still.

Subject: RE: BS: Accountability - exercise goals-Mar 2010
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 05:13 PM

I should have posted some accountability stuff for me. I took post duties today to help out colleague again. I was up and down back and forth all over the building. Did not get out of breath. That's good. But shortly after, the rash on legs flared up, big time.

Getting annoyed with this rash. Looks and feels like allergic reaction but the prescribed E45 cream only makes it burn like hell on top of the itching. Suddenly getting a lot of swelling in lower legs too. Used to in feet and ankles only, but now getting it in legs. What's up with that?

Subject: RE: BS: Accountability - exercise goals-Mar 2010
From: katlaughing
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 06:38 PM

Last summer, one of the leftover residual effects of the steroids etc. for pneumonia was my feet, ankles and lower legs swelled up horribly and diuretics didn't help much. I was told to keep my legs up, higher than my heart. I couldn't stand that, plus one is supposed to exercise to keep the lungs clear, etc. I also had a few little rashy bumps. None of the docs were too concerned; one thought they might have been related to the water retention. They mostly went away, until recently.

In the past week, they popped up, again, and were very itchy. I thought it was dry skin, so we put more lotion on...that made them itchier. Tried a couple of other things including antihistamines which made no difference. Finally, last night, I washed them really well with soap & water and a soft washcloth. Then, I kept them free of all lotion, etc. but dabbed each one of the spots with 10% iodine solution which I get at the local drugstore. It's an antiseptic and I always use it on small cuts, etc. I thought to use it on them because they were red and, when I messed with one of them, it oozed like a blister. I wanted to make sure I didn't infect it, so swabbed it. Noticed it didn't itch anymore, so I did it to the rest of them and I had an itch-free night! I have a call in to my doc just for clarification, but until I hear from her or see hear, I will do the iodine once or twice per day. Maybe that would help you?

Subject: RE: BS: Accountability - exercise goals-Mar 2010
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 24 Mar 10 - 02:05 PM

thanks Kat

Going back to Doc next week. Don't know if I can get iodine here. I thought I would try hydrogen peroxide to see if it is bacteria based, but I defo cannot get that in the UK. I was in such a bad way last night I had to take a benadryl in order to sleep.

Subject: RE: BS: Accountability - exercise goals-Mar 2010
From: LilyFestre
Date: 27 Mar 10 - 09:36 PM

Walked to and from church this evening....making a grand total of one mile. :) It felt pretty darn good!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Accountability - exercise goals-Mar 2010
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Mar 10 - 12:03 AM

VTam, maybe PM Micca? If anyone would know if you can get iodine or hydrogen peroxide there it would be him. Do the hair salon places use hp for hair? Also, what about a dentist's? Over here they recommend it as a mouth rinse. Good luck.

Lots of activity the past two days...pruning, cleaning, playing. I'll post it all later.:-)