Feeling Better and Worse

Chinese medicine is doing something.  Along with the acupuncture and cupping and heat treatment, the addition of liquid iron to my diet to help my anemia, I'm feeling like a human being.  Really, almost normal.  (well, normal for me!)  I don't have the dizzy spells I was having which leads me to believe it was more an iron deficiency issue than a POTS issue (hopefully!).  I've had 3 treatments.  I go for my 4th on Monday, then I have a couple of weeks off as there were no openings.  I'm pleasantly surprise, and a little relieved.  Feeling better was the whole goal here.  One step at a time.

In addition to the liquid iron supplement I am also taking barley greens once a day.  I have to mix it with V8 juice, just can swallow that "green" flavour on its own.  So, that is some much-needed protein my body was lacking.

I'm eating.  And I'm hungry!  And food is staying with me so I'm actually benefitting from the nutrients for a change.  I know, I know, it's only been 4 weeks, but I'm noticing the slight differences.  

Yesterday I went for an infrared sauna.  Very different from a traditional Finnish sauna that I'm used to.  It heats you, not the air, so you can breath and it is more comfortable.  It also doesn't just make you sweat but improves your immune system, cardiovascular system, detoxifies, improves the appearance of burns and scars... and the list goes on.  It is good for conditions like arthritis, bronchitis and much more.  I was roasted in about 25 minutes at 70C / 158F, but it doesn't feel that hot.  I know I can't handle a traditional sauna much over 50C / 120F.  

At physio we have started strength training.  Very very gradually.  I'm talking bicep curls with stretch banding - 3 sets of up to 10 reps.  Right now I manage 3 sets but at most 7 reps.  But it is a start.  And my shoulder blades are taped in place to 1 - minimize pain and 2 - reduce pressure on the brachial nerve bundle.  I'm happy with my progress so far, it's only been 2 weeks.

And on the puppy front... Macy's litter was born March 4th and China's litter on March 10th.  Hubby and I are sooooooooooooooo excited.   Sometime in May we will have our own sweet baby girl Weimaraner.  We've seen tons of pictures and chatted online with the breeder.  We send emails back and forth and she answers our questions as soon as she is free.  Poor breeder, she had the flu when the first puppies were born, moved (including her horse and all the dogs!), and was just settling in when the second litter arrived.  I don't think she's had much sleep!!  We are very happy with her knowledge and how quickly she gets back to us.  We can't wait until May!!

And on the worse front... I was supposed to go see my great-aunt this morning.  She was admitted to our hospital from her home 3 hours west of here.  But I'm running a low fever and feel blah so I don't want to pass on anything to her.  Probably a bit of a bug.  Ugh.  I hate feeling like this.  I'm hungry, but my tummy has been rumbly and I don't want to put anything in it except maybe some ginger...  I hope this passes soon.

Oh, and also on the better front - I have had headaches that go away within a few minutes, without taking anything for them.  Not sure why, but I'M LOVING IT!!  Headache "free" for a couple weeks now! (BIG SMILEY GRIN!!!!)

Ten on Tuesday

1.  Appointment with my GP today to get the results of the EMG nerve study.  No significant findings.  No permanent nerve damage.  No carpal tunnel syndrome.  My radial nerve demonstrates some issues but as they are improving gradually there is hope the feeling in my thumb and two fingers will come back.  No answers.  So where do I go from here?  My GP has no idea... neither do I.

2.  The fishies are living and loving their new home!  I moved them over on Thursday and Friday last week.  I added two live plants on the weekend.  In a couple more weeks I will add some more fish.  I decided to wait a little longer than 2 weeks of cycling because I'd like to get some angelfish.  Reason one, the store I buy from is currently out of stock (a good sign - I'll get "fresh" fish!).  Reason two, angels are sensitive to water changes so I'm just being extra cautious.

3.  I can't take it anymore and I booked a haircut for tomorrow.  Growing my hair back out is driving me CRAZY!  It's all shaggy, and really, in the morning I look like Shaggy from Scooby-Doo.  So then it's wet, moussed, blow-dried, styled, sprayed... like 20 to 25 minutes of my life spent on my hair - ARGHHHHHH!!!!!  I'm a low maintenance girl.  This is ridiculous.  So I'm hoping my stylist can give me a style out of this mess and not take too much of the length off.  If not I may resort to wearing babushkas.

4.  I'm happy to have the help at work as I'm feeling absolutely overwhelmed and almost lost it today. 

5.  Hubby and I are watching a Bones marathon.  He bought me season 1 and 2 on DVD for Christmas.  We're into season 2 now.  Soooo in love with David Boreanez.  Always have been... since he played Angel at least.  I wouldn't kick him out for eating cookies in bed.   

6.  My occipital bone is aching tonight... I do some yoga and stretches every night to help the neck, shoulder, arm and my back.  Guess I'll find the Tylonel before bed... Don't need a headache tomorrow.

7.  More news from the GP today.  He says he has no idea what POTS is.  Yet he mentioned it to me at my last visit.  So in order to find out why I'm having the dizzy spells and grey outs, he is going to speak to one of the cardiologists and ask how we should proceed.  So more waiting for more tests...  

8.  Mum and Papa are making stollen (German Christmas bread) tomorrow.  Due to limited space in all of our freezers over Christmas, we didn't get to make the second batch - a batch makes 13 or 14 loaves.  Wish I could be there to help, however I work all morning and by the time I would be free, they'll already be baking.  So not a lot of help to give by that point.  But I get to reap the rewards of contributing the candied peel and raisins :)

9.  I really need to get motivated and get back into doing some type of structured activity.  Whether I go to the pool for aquabics or try to go back to yoga, I've gotta get off my butt.  I haven't even been walking much.  Just 2 nights a week with hubby.  I'm in a rut.  And I might need some help (or possibly motivation with a stick of dynamite) getting out of it.

10.  Have you seen Despicable Me?  If you haven't you should!! The minions are adorable!  Hubby and I have watched it a couple of times now.  It's a cute story.  Wonder where I can get me a minion...   Go, check out the trailer here.  

Oh for the LOVE of Shoes!

Yesterday was my EMG appointment at Toronto Western Hospital.  Hubby and I flew down in the morning, walked up to the hospital and I met with Dr. A.  The assessment and tests didn't red flag anything for Dr. A, but he will analyze the data and send a report to my GP and Dr. Gentili.  He told me a couple of interesting things.

1.  Nerves regenerate at a millimetre per day on average.  NOT a millimetre per year as I was told by someone else.  Phew!  So this could get better soon!

2.  The radial nerve is the most easily injured in the arm because it runs at the outside of the wrist, near the thumb.  It is a very common injury.  Okay - makes sense.

3.  If my GP suspects I have POTS, I have to see a specialist at Toronto General as soon as I can make arrangements.

He tested my muscle conductivity, listened to 3 muscles in my shoulder, arm and hand (using a 4cm needle injected at each point... OUCH - especially the one in my hand!!) He tested my hot / cold sense, and then the tech came and did the actual conductivity test.  Nothing like being electrocuted to start off your day!

I think the appointment went very well and my GP will receive the results in about a week.

Hubby and I left the hospital around noon and started walking towards Bloor St.  He had a store in mind to check out.  We walked through the Toronto fashion district.  Bloor St. is lined with designers stores like Hermes, Dacosta, Gucci, Chanel, Prada... you get the picture.  All the places you and I with modest incomes, mortgages and bills to pay can only dream about shopping.  Designers you see on Paris runways, and are not sold at your local Sears store.  We walked into the "mall" (they aren't really malls in this area, more like huge office complexes with shops on the main floor and offices above).  The store we were looking for appears to have closed... hmpf! A long walk for not!  But anyways... the whole reason for this post... 

I found a shoe store.  It had a 50% clearance sign, so I said to hubby I'd like to just take a peak at the rack for my size.  I have small feet 35 Euro, size 5 - 5.5 US.  So finding shoes, especially cute shoes, is often difficult.  And I have a new found love of heels.  Now that my feet don't kill me all the time, and my head seems to tolerate a half-day in heels, I'm looking to add to my collection of 2 pair!

So I found the absolutely cutest pair on the rack.  I have absolutely no idea who this "Ron White" is.  I thought the shoes were adorable and I almost asked to try them on.  Until I found the price tag that is.  This is a $589.00 pair of shoes!!! But, they were on sale for the low low price of $299.00!!!  OMG!! I have spent as much at $100 on a pair of Birkenstocks, but not more than that.  $300 for a pair of shoes is quite unreasonable!  But OMG they are so cute.  And apparently very comfortable.  But I didn't try them on.  I put the shoe back on the rack and went to find hubby.  I held up the shoe and he kinda scoffed.  Then I showed him the price.  He laughed out loud and we put the pretty $150 shoe back on it's rack and carried on our merry way.   But oh they are so cute!!

So to compare with the designer shoes, here are my two little beauties.

 

The red pair are sling-backs from Payless.  They cost $49.00  They are great with a black suit and red sweater or with jeans on casual Friday.  I love the flower.  I call them my poppy shoes. 

The brown pair are adorable and surprisingly very comfortable.  They're Le Chateau and I have no idea what they are worth.

Both pairs were gifted to my by a colleague of my mum's.  They were her daughter's shoes.  Her daughter passed away from Cystic Fibrosis this past year.  I'm kinda honoured that her mum thought of me to give the shoes, knowing I too had small feet. 

So I'm on the look-out now for another pair of cute 3" heels.  I'm no Sex in the City girl when it comes to my shoe wardrobe, but I'd like to have a pair or two more in my collection.

Ten on Tuesday

1.  It's Tuesday! Surprise, I remembered to post a Ten on Tuesday.  Seriously folks, this working for a living business is really cutting into my internet, FB, craft and social life!  But honestly, I like being back to work, now 4 hours a day, but I'm freaking exhausted most of the time...

2.  We celebrated my mum's birthday over the weekend - well Saturday evening to be precise.  She was pleasantly surprised at the guest list and very gracious about the whole thing.  It was a small affair with 16 guests and enough food for twice that many. (I went a little overboard... what can I say, I don't wanna run out!)  

3.  Last week I picked up my Christmas crafts from the consignment shop as the season is officially over :( I am happy to report I did well and I will bring more stuff back to them to sell when I have some stuff made up that is not Christmas.

4.  On Sunday I had to work for a couple of hours doing hearing prep with my boss.  Nothing major - photocopying, printing, a bit of little stuff.  I like working when there are no phone calls or anyone else to interrupt you.  You can get SO much more done!  (Can I work like 4am to 8am and never see anyone???  Doubt it....)

5.  After work Sunday hubby and I went to the pet store and ordered my Christmas present. Yes, I know, Christmas was 3 weeks ago, however I didn't plan on getting my gift until after the holidays.  It should arrive this Friday or next Monday...  It is a 180 litre / 39.9  imperial gallon tank with an external canister filter system.  I can't wait to move my handful of tetras to their new home and then start expanding my fishy collection!!  Hubby has promised that I get to have a sink-mount syphon and filler hose too so I can eliminate carrying bucket after bucket across the living room floor.  And I'm going with new substrate (stone) and NO theme.  Plants, rocks, etc.  Nothing like my current tank which is a combination of Greek and Egyptian "artifacts".  Given I've had it for 11 years, time for a change!

6.  I've been doing a bit of research on the possible POTS diagnosis suggested by my GP last week.  And if he's right, it makes a whole lot of sense.  I'm just not ready to face more tests, more doctors and another invisible illness.  But the dizziness, nausea, dry mouth, heart-rate increases on standing, near fainting... they all fit the POTS symptoms.  Now I've got to mention it to the neurologist when I go in 17 days!

7.  In 17 days I'm electing to have needles stuck into my muscles of my right arm and electric current passed through to see how my muscles respond to nerve simulation (or that's what I understand from my reading anyway)... Sounds like I'm not going to have a very fun day... Whadda you think??

8. I miss out on all the good super-yummy, probably no-good for you anyway things in life... Most days it doesn't get me down, but every so often it bothers me.   I cheat a bit, I have like a tablespoon of Cheese Whiz once or twice a week on crackers or toast.  But I miss other things... Cheesecake, coffee (even decaf is off my menu), egg nog at Christmas (mind you, soy "Festive Nog" isn't too bad), ice cream, Italian gelato (I lived in Italy, gelato should be it's own food group!) and all of the gooey, lip smacking dips, spreads and such you find on appetizer tables, buffets and at events like my mum's birthday.  I made an awesome spinach dip, but when the ingredients are cream cheese and sour cream.... too risky for me to indulge more than a taste test to make sure I'm not poisoning anyone.  I can live without the beef or pork or fats... I miss the dairy products the most...  But I digress and take another drink of my herbal tea, sweetened with honey, not sugar.

9.  I need a maid.  Hubby does a good job, don't get me wrong.  I'm just finding I have less and less energy to do things around here.  Like fold the laundry hubby brought upstairs for me on Sunday...

10.  I, I use the word I too much.  It shouldn't be all about me.  But right now I'm struggling with a few more issues than I thought I would have to face at 34.  I try to make it more about other people too... but for just today I'm feeling greedy and in need of some attention.  Could be the headache I've had for a day... could be I'm chilled and sleepy... could just be taking some time for me.

Ten on Tuesday

1.  I'm happy the holidays are over and I can start to return to my semi-normal life... Only semi-normal as I'm still only working 3 hours a day.  Holidays are wonderful, but it's time for me to get back in the ol' routine.

2.  I'm off to Toronto again January 28th for a EMG nerve study. It's a day trip.  Appointment is mid morning which allows us to fly down on the morning flight and home in the evening.  Easier on the pocketbook.

3.  I was at my GP today.  He thinks my dizzy spells might be POTS - Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome.  Just what I need, another diagnosis...  Have to check with the neurologist I'm seeing in TO.

4.  It's finally winter weather here.  -20C / -4F is normal. And fine by me.  The rain and +4C / 37F last week was not welcome.  Neither was the flash-freeze that night.  Or the 1/2 inch of ice on the truck windows... I needed the hair dryer to melt it down.

5.  My hubby bought me the best Boxing Day present - a seat warmer for my truck.  Loving it when it's -20C!

6.  My mum's birthday is this Saturday.  I cannot believe my mummy is going to be ## !!  Ordered a cake today so we can have a little celebration!  

7.  I have no New Year's resolutions.  I've never made them and I'm not starting now.  I make changes in my life and lifestyle all the time.  Why do I need to make that decision just because it's January 1st?  Being healthy and eating right are part of who I am.  I don't smoke, drink, do extra-curricular drugs, etc.  There's nothing to give up except chocolate, and those of you who know me that will NEVER happen.  The 5 boxes of chocolates in the freezer and 4 in the closet are evidence of that!

8.  I'm struggling at work to do a full day's work in 3 hours... I'm hoping I can convince my physiotherapist to increase to 4 hours next week.  With a couple big hearings and deals closing next week I'm ready to pull my hair out.

9.  I hate having short hair.  I know, I'm abnormal.  I miss pulling it back into a pony tail.  I miss being able to throw on a hat and not having to re-style it when I take it off.   This short hair is a nuisance. It's easier to wash, but requires goop and hair spray and styling tools which I'm all thumbs with...  Can't wait until it grows out some more!

10.  I've been trying to save one of my fish for over a week.  He has swim bladder.  I tried the suggestion on the internet - starve him for 3 days, then feed mashed peas for 3 days.  He's been through it all and still swims upside-down and lies on the bottom of the tank.  I think he may meet the porcelain gods soon.