Sunday, January 23, 2011

Interactive Health Partner


My awesome new treadmill comes with a USB port so I can download and sync my workouts with a program called, Interactive Health Partner. It's really neat stuff.

My treadmill counts and records the number of steps I take, calories burned and all sorts of cool stats per workout period. It's the Lifespan 1200i model and so far, even though I haven't used it, I love it! ;)

I plan on hopping on the beauty tomorrow morning, regardless of my respiratory health status. I'm just going to do it!

On a side note- I just changed my weight loss ticker to reflect my lengthy "Band Holiday". There are no excuses, but MAN, I am feeling crushed. Geez Louise. It's better than being UP 50 pounds from my starting weight though.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Chomping At The Bit


My treadmill was delivered several days ago. BUT, because I am STILL recovering from the flu, I haven't had a chance to use it yet.

I feel like a horse at the starting gate- I just want to GO, GO, GO!!!!!!

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Shop Amazon???

This isn't spam- just a really good deal!!! :) Thought I would pass it along to my fellow bloggers.

Buy a $20 giftcard for Amazon.com for only $10!!!

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

All is Calm, All is Bright


Well, there is light at the end of my tunnel folks. Phew.

My esophagus HAS healed, and my allergic symptoms (although still there) have faded as well. My surgeon highly doubts I have an allergy to the band. HUGE sigh of relief. I am going to be going to the allergist soon to have him test me for what might be causing my symptoms.

I have gone back three times now for fills since my esophagus "blew up". The first fill brought no restriction, it basically primed the tubing. The second fill was cut short when my doctor hit a nerve on the way in and I passed out cold on the floor. EMBARASSING. So, I went back today for my third fill, which FINALLY brought some restriction. I can definitely tell I have a band again. THANK YOU GOD.

Besides fighting off the flu, things are good right now. I am so relieved that things are looking up. My new treadmill is even going to be delivered tomorrow! Woo-hoo! There is one thing I hate more than running on a treadmill, not being to run at all. Since I can't run outside because of my asthma, treadmill it is. I plan on posting a few of my "before" photos on the dashboard for some inspiration to KEEP GOING even when I want to stop.

I am up 25 pounds since all hell broke loose two months ago. That's a lot to lose all over again. BUT, it's something I have done before, and something I can and will do again. By golly.

One very important lesson I have learned from all of this: Do not assume that a "Band Holiday" is going to be short lived, go out and go hog wild with food, only to have your brief stint in Buffet-ville extended until before you know it, you've packed on 25 pounds. I will not make that mistake again. Poor judgment call big time on my part.


Friday, January 7, 2011

Scared Out of My Shorts- CHECK!

About five weeks ago I had to go to my surgeon's office for an un-fill. I was having horrible reflux issues (ie. stomach contents coming back up and choking me during the night). It was just awful!!! I didn't get any sleep for about three nights. It turned out that I was swollen shut and I had to be un-filled completely. During the fluoroscope, the surgeon noticed that my esophagus was unusually enlarged. It was SO large in fact, he told me that if the esophageal cells remained that enlarged, they would become aplastic- a fancy word for cancerous. In an effort to reduce the swelling and return my esophagus back to normal, I was given a round of steroids and told to come back in two weeks.

SO- three weeks ago I went back in for my recheck. Esophagus looked a little better, still not back to normal. Only put 2ccs back in which gave me NO restriction. I was told I needed to wait another two weeks before putting any more fluids in. Oh- and by the way, my cardiac hernia is back. F-A-N-T-A-S-T-I-C. What does this mean? I may need to have another surgery to correct my hernia. Okay, okay. Whatever I need to do. Not my first choice, but lets get this band a-rock'in! I feel like out of the 17 months I've had this sucker, I've only had about 7 months of "good" restriction. Other than that, I've been too full and had to be drained due to swelling. That's my routine! I swell shut after a fill and that's all she wrote.

I am anxiously awaiting my appointment for this Tuesday. My husband plans to go with me to hear if/why I need surgery. It helps for the surgeon to explain why we'll be dropping another $5,000+ on our out-of-pocket expenses this year. Joy!

So why am I scared?

Weeeeeeeeeelllll.... in the meantime, I have been experiencing some not so nice symptoms. It's been about a month, but I have off and on spells of all over body chills and itching. I occasionally have what I describe as a "racoon face"- flushing all over my face but not around my eyes, in a mask like fashion. Sometimes the itching is so intense it actually reduces me to tears. I feel like a mental patient constantly digging at myself. Then, I will have two to three days of no itching at all.

My general practitioner prescribed an antihistamine and another round of steroids to combat my body's inflammation. He said we may never know what caused my allergic reaction, but the medicine should take care of it.

It didn't.

I continue to have flushing, dizzy spells, itching, burning up and chills. I have even started having bad night-sweats where I wake-up during the night and can't even move because I am stuck to the sheets I am so wet! So I went to the doctor again today.

He wants me to take another round of steroids and he drew some blood. All of my symptoms sound like Lymphoma, so I have been nervous. My doctor stuck his nose up to my Lymphoma theory and acted kind of aloof. He wouldn't give me any ideas as to what is going on with me. He was about to leave the room, and I blurted out, "Could I be allergic to my band!?". He looked down at the floor, shook his head and very sheepishly said, "Yes. I didn't want to go there, but that is where I am afraid this is heading".

ARE YOU SERIOUS!?!?!?

I am beside myself with the fear of the possibility of losing my band. I called my mother to tell her what the doctor's theory was and she calmly said, "Awwwwww, Honey, look on the bright side. You've had over a year to develop new habits and strategies. You'll be just fine. You don't need that crutch. Ask yourself, why do you need that crutch?".

I HATED HER AT THAT MOMENT. Crutch!?

If I have changed so much over the past year+, why have I gained 20+ pounds over the past two months!?

I am trying so hard not to worry about the possible outcome, but I am constantly reminded of my potential allergy with every single spine tingling chill that moves over my body every couple of minutes. I am pale, sweaty and feel sick.

I never thought that for a split second I would ever wish I had Lymphoma.

Adult Truths

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.

4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.

5. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

6. Was learning cursive really necessary?

7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on # 5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.

8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.

9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

10. Bad decisions make good stories.

11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection ... again.

13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page technical report that I swear I did not make any changes to.

14. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

15. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

16. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite than Kay.

17. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.

18. I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.

20. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!

21. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.

22. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

23. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, finding their cell phone, and Pinning the Tail on the Donkey - but I'd bet everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time.

24. The first testicular guard, the "Cup," was used in Hockey in 1874 and the first helmet was used in 1974. That means it only took 100 years for men to realize that their brain is also important.