Pool time

I went to the pool again yesterday. I am trying to make up for the last four weeks of not going, and then the few weeks I probably won't want to go after surgery. I am going to go again tonight. Thankfully my hips have been feeling pretty good with it. The right was acting up a bit when I was doing the sideways walking towards the end of my workout, but other than that (touch wood) it all seems good.

My right hand is not happy though, even with sleeping with the splint, but granted, it's only been a couple of days since I started that again.

Weekend and 38 wk post-op update

I suppose it would help if I remembered to take those bloody Mobic pills! Last night I was lying in bed, wondering why my hips hurt so much. Yes I over did it this weekend, but they were really achy. Then I realised I hadn't taken a pill all weekend, possibly even including Friday. Oops. What's that saying, G-d helps those that help themselves? I have been pretty good except for the last few days, and yes I just took one now after my brecky.

My lovely wound had been behaving for a couple of days and then yesterday I woke up and it was bleeding a lot. I won't gross you out, but it was a gross day dealing with it. Even so I took my lazy bum to the pool. I figured I would do a test run to see if I would be able to do this after surgery, since the doctor said it should be okay. It felt great to exercise and be back in the pool - it's been 4 weeks and I definitely need to keep up my muscles in my legs. I don't want any backsliding with my hip "progress". I did a little over half an hour, then got kicked out because there was some kiddie party.

My right hand/wrist has been a wreck lately, but did sleep with the splint last night so hopefully it will make some sort of difference for the better. I really can't possibly think about hand surgery right now with everything else going on! 11 days till surgery. Ugh.

if it's not one thing...

well, it's actually many. I've changed the quote.

Saturday I was feeling okay, weather was a bit hit or miss, and I took it easy. I had decided I would go to the pool on Sunday as it seems slightly less insane than on Saturdays. I also had plans to go out with some friends to Uncle Nicks - a must - for the flaming cheese! It was great! We ordered a bunch of starters and some wine and watched lots of flaming cheese! After we went next door to a bar that makes pretty damn strong drinks. This is a dangerous thing, but a fun one too! I'll just leave it at that. It was a great distraction from my pain though, as I barely knew what was bothering me! Gotta love that!

Sunday I went to the pool and had a good workout, pushed it a bit. After some lunch I went to sit in Central Park for a while, it was so beautiful out. My favourite weather, not too hot, not too cool - just right! I was feeling pretty good but still took the bus from my flat to the park, but I did end up walking home. I've been a bit sore since (yes even remembering to take my Mobic) so think I might have overdone it a bit. But still, I feel like I have to make some progress and not just do the same things all the time.

Monday was a pretty good day, weather lovely and I was even able to stand for a bit when I met my friend Stan out for drinks. I was still v. happy when the girl next to me finally left so I could nick her bar stool. :-) Yesterday did the pool again and hips were definitely not happy after, so I made sure to ice them both when I got home. I have to say that my back is still tight and my neck feels like there's a pinched nerve in there. I am thinking it's related to the arm exercises I've been doing in the pool. Tomorrow at my massage/chiro I will ask him to address that area.

Don't even get me started on my hand/wrist. It was hurting so much last night I put a lido patch on under my splint. Thankfully that worked so I didn't have the pain all night, but now it's back to hurting, plus I'm having shooting pains up and down the arm. Such fun. Have I mentioned how much I DO NOT want to have another hand surgery?

Anyway, for the most part, I've been good. I've slept well the last two nights (with assistance) but who cares, it feels great to sleep through the night! And I am off on holiday in two weeks so all is good!

Working it

I went to the pool yesterday and had it all to myself! So nice. I did a longer than normal workout, which I think is easier because this pool is heated to a nice temperature. Warm water is definitely better for my body with all of it's "issues". I also incorporated some arm exercises as well, and I am sure feeling that today - especially my under arms and shoulder area. I will try to keep it up though as I definitely need to start working them as well. I've added more reps to my leg lifts and a little bit longer to each of the walking directions. I haven't done the leg press or the bike again this week, bad me! I will try next week, things were a bit hectic again.

I did ice my hips when I got home last night, but that didn't seem to matter to the left. It was okay initially but later on started to hurt a lot again. Just when you are thinking it's better because you're not compensating as much with it - bam! Oh well. What can you do? I will have to just be careful but keep up the exercise with it as well, as I have been doing.

Hand/wrist also has not been happy the last few days. I'm dreading the surgery so will pretend it is fine for now.

Will be going to the pool this weekend, working on my website and tonight taking it easy as I have a date :-) Enjoy your weekend! I'm hoping the weather people have got the forecast all wrong!

Also, forgot to add, that my wrist/hand is almost back to where it was before the injection. Soooo looking forward to another hand surgery. NOT!!!
Argh! I'm sure it doesn't help that I've been working on my website like mad either. Too much computer = unhappy hand.



But just to share something much better - here is a v. recent snap of my adorable little nephew with a friend (he's in the front) :-)

Ice is Nice

Last night I slept like a baby! It was so nice. I guess that I was really exhausted from lack of sleep plus I got some things off my mind which I'm sure helped. I actually woke up in the same position as the one I fell asleep in, a rare thing indeed.

Unfortunately I must report that my hand, even with wearing the splint every night, seems to not be doing too hot. Today it's hurting a lot by the injection site and I don't think the injection is actually working anymore. However, I'm not quite ready to call in the the surgeon yet. We will see. Also my hips are a bit wonky today. At present I am icing my right hip, and will do my left as well.

So happy I have my chiro tomorrow. I really missed it last week when he was away. Those therapeutic massages really make the world of difference to my body. Thankfully the new ortho part of my insurance company covered some visits, so I am praying they keep that up because I really don't know what I would do without them.

Progressing with my website, slowly but a little bit at a time and eventually it will get done - I hope at least! :-)

Post PT

I felt pretty good after PT last night, with the exception of my knee acting up a bit, but thankfully that didn't last too long. Today I have been good - no limping or gimping - which lead me to believe my conclusion about no balance board is correct. Doing the leg press yesterday was great though. I used to do it at the gym all the time, so it felt like a major improvement to me. Granted the weights were light, but you've got to start somewhere, and I did 3 sets of 10!

My hand/wrist has been bothering me today. We didn't really cover the idea of carpal tunnel at my last visit, so I'm hoping it's all just related to the inflammation where he injected me. And that it all goes away for good! I asked my PT people if they could get me some of the silly puddy stuff to use as Dr. Melone wants me to strengthen with it. Hopefully I will have it next week.

Also copied all of my lab tests, MRI results, surgery write-ups, etc today for the rheumatologist on Thursday. She's not going to know what hit her when I walk in!

Off to the pool again! :-)

And yes, I've remembered to take my anti-inflammatory drugs this week!

weekend update

I've been busy playing with a new toy.  How I love new toys.  This one is a biggie though.  Just getting it out of the box almost destroyed me.  I can't believe how heavy they make these Macs! Anyway, with some difficulty I did get it out of the box and set up.  I've even sussed out how to transfer items from my PC using that as a server.  I amaze myself sometimes as I'm not too tech savvy.  So I've been spending much time trying to learn the Mac way - and I have to admit there are certain things that drive me a bit wonky.  A lot of programs don't work with it.  Ah well, it's purpose is for my photography so that is what I will use it primarily for anyway.  Still, takes some getting used to.  I've been trying to not spend to much time at one time on it as I don't want my hand to start up.  It's been pretty good since the injection on Wednesday and I don't want to irritate it.  

Yesterday I took a break in the afternoon for some wine and cheese at Uva.  I love that place.  It's so reasonable and you can sit for hours just talking and hanging out and they're cool about it.  It was a self-imposed, pre-planned break from the computer.  I didn't want to lock myself up for the whole weekend just playing with it.

I decided to start spring cleaning today.  I thought I had been feeling well but after I got started my hips decided they didn't like the plan.  I do still want to go to the pool but need to get motivated now that I'm in pain.  Still, I must go and strengthen.  I'll ice twice as much after!  Besides if I don't leave for a break I'll keep at the cleaning and really destroy me for the rest of the weekend.  I still have to do laundry as well, but the more I think about it, the more I think that will be tomorrows chore.  Moderation is key to my life - that's what the keep telling me anyway.  And I have to remember to get all those test results for the rheumy appointment this week.  And tomorrow night going to see a singer in the village which will be a nice treat.  Don't nearly get down there enough!

Ok, must give myself a swift kick in the arse and get going!  It's hard to leave though as my brother told me about this cool website, pandora.com. You put in your favourite band and they come up with a stream of songs.  It's pretty amazing that 95% of the songs they are playing I like, then again not too surprising as it's all 80's and I'm so trapped in that time period.  Still, lots of stuff I haven't heard in a while like OMD, TFF, Psychedelic Furs, etc.  V. v. cool!