Posts: 573
7/11/09 7:55 P

Oh boy, Cathy. It's a good thing you didn't drive to Long Island with your hubby. Hope you're feeling better tonight. Sometimes those migraines hang on for a while.

I don't think I posted this, but last week, my noon sensei, who is more open about testing, basically said, in an email, that if the dojo hasn't tested in June, then there won't be testing until the fall. He would know, since he would have been asked to sit on the testing board comprised of black belts and black belt senseis. So, I did go to practice Thursday night, after taking Saturday and Tuesday off. It was pretty rough, and the aftermath was worse, even after a bath and with heavy-duty pain meds in me. I gain about 5-6 pounds the day after every practice, only to lose it over the next few days. It's from the inflammation. I'm used to gaining a pound or two afterward, and recovering quickly (within a day or two, more or less, barring any injuries), but this is way out of line, and the effects are lasting longer. I didn't practice today, and will go to my final practice before Labour Day next Tuesday. I just can't keep up vigorous exercise like martial arts in a hot dojo in the extremely hot, humid weather. The lupus doesn't like it. I feel good, in one way, knowing that I don't have to soldier on, gutting things out, and perhaps backsliding to bedridden again, but I feel gypped, in a way, since we were all primed in our minds for testing, and were practicing that way (focused), not to mention the fact that the last testing was on June 20, 2008 ... over a year until the next testing date.

Anyway, I hope to get more rest and then tackle those things that have been languishing on the backburner, due to the focus on testing. I've got a few weeks before DH is on vacation (he's supposed to take the month of August off, although he's considering starting one month into August, but returning to work after the first week of September).

I'd like to thoroughly clean the house and get my paperwork in order. There is just so much that gets left by the wayside sometimes. It seems just getting a meal on the table and dealing with the kids and other household-type issues takes up a good deal of my "energy time", as opposed to those times when there isn't a chance I could get something done because of the way I'm feeling.

DH wants to do the brickwork in the front of the house (exterior landscaping -- front walk, garden edging, etc) as our summer vacation project. I'm somewhat leery, since I've done it before, so he's expecting me to take the lead. I did it before alright, but I consulted someone in the business, and it was 24 or so years ago. It's also backbreaking work, so I wish we could hire someone to do it, but we can't afford it, or DH doesn't want to budget for that. We'll also be taking a road trip to the Gaspesie in Quebec, lasting for about 8 nights. DH has planned most of the itinerary so that we don't have long driving stretches followed by no down time. In other words, he's planned for a slower pace. I just hope it'll be slow enough for me. I suppose it's got to be better than last year's New England trip where I was on crutches and had to stay in the motel room the whole time we were in Bar Harbor, with DH bringing food to the room.

DH is in Hamilton visiting with his DD and, hopefully, his DS (DS is being difficult at the moment). DH left early this morning and will be home late Sunday night.

I had visions of doing massive cleaning and lots of filing and such, but none of that ended up happening today. I had a leisurely day, and still feel tired.

I did get up to go to DD's place to find out what I'm supposed to do with her 4 cats (one is being cared for while its owners try to sell their home), 1 chinchilla and two fish. Her dog will be staying at our place for those 7-8 days, but I'll be dropping by her place daily to look after the other animals. I managed to get a couple of errands done too, and then talked to a friend from my lupus support group.

Feeling fuzzy-headed tonight, so hope to get to sleep early and sleep in (not likely, but one can always hope).

Have a great weekend all. To those of you who are having a tough time, hang in there. We'll be here when you're ready to post again.

Rick, hope you're healing well. I'm concerned about you.



Edited by: TIGER1957 at: 7/11/2009 (20:12)

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7/10/09 9:56 P

Geez what a week it's been!
My chiropractor visit was good and I felt better afterwards but he advised me not to go on our trip to Long Island because of the long car drive. Don went himself and left this morning. I'm staying home to rest and it's a good thing too because I woke with a migraine this morning and threw up from the pain! Don was ready to come back home but I was starting to feel better.
I was finally able to open the blinds and let the sun in by early afternoon and didn't eat till 2pm.

I took a nice hot soaking bath tonight, it sure felt good!
Hope you all have a great weekend!
Cathy

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7/9/09 1:14 P

Cathy, sorry to hear your back has locked up. Sure hope the chiropractor's visit helps, since all of the home treatments you tried didn't work. I've been using a machine called "Back2Life", bought from an infomercial, but I was desperate, and IT WORKS. I am using it regularly and it really helps improve my back pain. It doesn't make it go away completely, when the pain is really bad, but it certainly enables me to move more with less pain. I've had it about 3 weeks now, and am glad I made the investment.

Still sleeping a lot, but feeling more rested, finally. Will give the dojo a try tonight. It should be a good day for a practice run, since it's pretty hot out today. If my body starts to go south rapidly, I may just have to opt out of belt testing this year (and no, I still don't have a date), but it's just a little too soon to make that decision. I guess I'll find out whether or not that new bronchodilator the gp prescribed for me works.

Hope all who are going through a rough time manage to find some positives in their day.

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7/9/09 8:15 A

Good morning!
Yesterday was a hard day for me as I woke with back pain. My back was locked up and the usual pain meds, stretching and moist heat did not work. So I was not a happy camper yesterday. I could only sit/stand/lie down for very short periods at a time.
I do have a chiropractor appoinment this morning, thank goodness. It's still very stiff and I walk crooked but I've been keeping up with pain meds and stretching.
Time for me to get up and stretch again.
Sorry I can't stay longer
Hope you are all having a better week! Thanks Tiger for the anniversay wish and glad you are feeling better.

Cathy

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7/9/09 12:05 A

Somehow I missed this thread, this week.

Happy belated anniversary, Cathy. Sure, why not get your DH to cook one or two nights a week. Mine takes over the weekends, and I love it.

Melissa, have a great camping trip. Don't wear yourself out.

Diane, I'm glad that you're able to do some things these days. Baby steps, girl.

Feeling somewhat stronger, but feel like Sleeping Beauty, falling asleep at the drop of a hat.

Tomorrow, I have to accompany (and drive) DD to a fertility specialist appointment, since she has been consulting a surgeon (on Monday) re her options for the ulcerative colitis. She has exhausted all of the drug treatments and is allergic to the only one that semi-works, but it's becoming less effective. She has to have a Remicade infusion every 2 months, but it takes all day, rather than half a day, since they have to pump her full of benadryl to control the hives. Anyway, the surgery carries a 5-10% risk of infertility, so, since she's only 22 (23 in September), we figured it couldn't hurt to consult with the fertility specialist, as per the surgeon's suggestion.

After that, I have to race home to be here between 12 and 5 pm to have my washing machine repaired and my dryer looked at (it's taking awfully long to dry clothes).

If I have anything left in me, I'm going back to Aikido Thursday night. If I can't practice, I'm going to watch, since I likely missed a testing announcement when I was taking the night off practice, Tuesday night. The rest has done me some good. I just hope it was a long enough break. At least, the pain has improved. Had physio for 2 hours today too.

Will try to check in more regularly.

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7/7/09 8:53 P

Hello all
Sorry I haven't posted. Me and DH were gone all day meeting up with another Spark friend. We were checking out parks for a Spark get together. We got caught in a bad thunder storm and had to wait it out before heading home and got back late. We had to cancel dinner plans with my son and family. We're both exhausted.
Yesterday, my neighbor and hubby were installing new antivirus/spyware on our computers so I was only able to get online for a few minutes.

DH and I had a nice anniversary! He did great making dinner. Going to have to get him to cook more often!

Diana, hope you and DH feel well to get all your activities done this week. Good luck at the docs! Hope you both are healing and getting stronger everyday!
Melissa, have a wonderful time on vacation!

Wishing all friends here good health and hope to see you posting soon!
Cathy

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7/5/09 1:02 P

Cathy, happy anniversary! I cannot believe it has been a year already! Wow.
I do hope this week will be a good week for me, and for my husband, I have many doctors appointments, and a meeting to chair at church on wed. also a horse show and 4-h kids to get there projects in geer. To much to think about. Take care all, Blessings, Diana

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7/5/09 10:34 A

It's a new week and hopefully it will be a less painful one!
We had a great fourth and I did really well on calories and got to enjoy a scoop of ben & jerry's new chocolate macadamia nut ice cream!
going camping this week with my in-laws so we have a long drive ahead tomorrow, then hopefully we can relax and enjoy our time together. hoping to do a lot of walking this week as well. if i can get wireless service where we are i'll still be checking in each day. if not...everyone have a safe and wonderful week!
Melissa

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7/5/09 6:31 A

Good morning all
Oh, it's so nice to see the sun the last 2 days although we did have some downpours yesterday just as we got to the neighbors for a cookout but it didn't last long.
I tried to post yesterday morning, got to do the huddle and then my computer froze. Hope you all had an enjoyable 4th! We had fun with family and friends, good food and a glass of wine!

Today is my 1st anniversary. DH is making dinner tonight! We got the candles, some champagne....

Gotta get ready for church, then going to my sisters concert.

Enjoy your Sunday!
Cathy

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