I am really happy with my new Garmin Forerunner 235. It has all kinds of cool metrics besides distance/pace/heartrate, which is what I wanted it for. The GPS seems to be a bit more accurate (it no longer has me tracking through people’s backyards–well, not as much as it did–I think it just samples more often). Today when I finished my run, it told me I had a new (higher) value for VO2 max, which surprised and delighted me (I looked it up–it’s an algorithm based on heart rate and speed). I also like looking at the race predictor and the recovery time estimation.
A bit of praise for Garmin’s customer service: I sent them an email to say I’d fallen and broken the bezel on my FR 225 and how much would it be to repair it–and got back a reply saying that it wasn’t covered under warranty but they would replace it for free!
-The good: today I cleaned out our hot tub! That is huge for me because it required working a bunch of muscles that I haven’t used in a long time.
-My weight has officially leveled off. I have been between 250 and 255 lb for well over a week (I was gaining about 8 lb a week while on the prednisone). Unfortunately, my weight is between 250 and 255 lb lol. I’ll take the leveling off but I’m really hoping it’ll start going down. My appetite is back to normal but my activity level is still low. But getting better!
-I just had to fight off a nasty upper respiratory infection but I did it without much problem (and a broad, strong antibiotic).
-Almost all of the joint pain is gone most days. My knees act up a little bit every once in a while but nothing debilitating. However, the pain in my lower back is still intense and when it hits, I have to sit down. And that can be in the middle of a store (as happened over the weekend). Because of this, I am getting a cheap-ish, transportable wheelchair that we can keep in my car and use as needed… I was hoping it wouldn’t come to this but I hate being so limited.
-They have to keep upping my beta blocker because my pulse is still really high. I’m finally getting a resting heart rate around 90 which was the goal. (It was around 150-160 bpm as a resting rate.) The good news is that everything looked fine from the hotler monitor except for the very high heart rate. The bad thing with this is my blood pressure is already on the low side and I’ve felt like I was going to pass out more than once… but lucky so far so good!
My amazing, wonderful advisor went to bat for me and secured funding so that I don’t have to teach at all next year. She is worried about me relapsing and wants to make my life as easy as possible. Plus, I am doing only 2 courses (normally we take 3) and the third is going to be an independent study with her so I can get started on my prelim readings (which will end up being approximately 300-400 monographs).
Thanks
Yes, I’m glad that it feels like things are falling into place more or less. I have a follow-up with the Rheum a week from today so we’ll see how I’m doing then.
Mr R’s brother is getting married next weekend and I’m not looking forward to it. I look huge because all of my weight went to my stomach and face (to the point where I don’t even look like “me” anymore) so the pictures are going to suck. I can’t drink because of the meds and I can’t dance or mingle because walking hurts. Oh well
Cheers for the younger generation including MoWC’s D, sabaray’s daughter, and MNK’s daughter!
romani, you are sounding stronger. So glad you’re feeling a little better.
I called REI. Their anniversary sale starts tomorrow and I may very possibly be ordering the Garmin watch. You don’t need to be a member to get the fantastic sale price. Yay! Thanks again for all of your input. I also found out that REI is opening a store in our area next year. Right now they have only one store in Florida–it’s way too far away to shop. The customer service rep I spoke with on the phone was really good.
My son and I went to the gym yesterday and today. I’m finally getting some light weight exercises back into the routine. The rainy season seems to have started a few days earlier than it normally would. It feels like summer with heat (90’s), humidity, and a ton of rain with thunder storms in the afternoon. I still managed to get in a 5K run outside yesterday morning along with the evening walks.
Romani- glad to hear some positive news. I know it is still frustrating and you are not yourself, but you sound a whole lot better.
PlantMom- I think you would be really happy with the 235.
Bone density report is sort of a mixed bag. Definitely some improvement after the 18 months of daily Forteo injections. but still in osteoporosis range so I have to move on to Prolia, which is a twice a year injection. I’m willing to do it- assuming Vanderbilt can get me some grants, freebies like they did with the Forteo. It’s another killer expensive drug.
MOfWC, I think it is encouraging that there is some improvement. It is too bad that you cannot stay on this drug longer due to potential bad side effects, but I’m sure you are happy to be done with daily needles. Twice a year injection is a piece of cake after the daily ones. Hope the grants come through.
MOWC, have you tried Reclast? Over the years, my wife has tried a number of Osteo drugs and got the best results with that. Once a year 15 minute infusion. Was fully covered under insurance.
Thanks. The side effects of Prolia are a lot less than Reclast, so I’m going with that. She thinks it’s better in my case. We shall see! I think my bones are a lot better than the Adela shows, and so does the doc.
Thank you all again for the kind words. Yes, even though I’m not looking like myself quite yet, I am certainly feeling much more like myself.
I was introduced to spoon theory by a professor who also has Lupus (not my advisor, but one that came out of the woodwork when word got around about me). It’s a way of explaining how people with limited energy (for whatever reason- the original author did have Lupus but it’s applicable to many different situations) have to think about distributing their energy. I highly recommend this short essay because I think it’s really powerful: http://www.butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/
Anyway, once I started thinking about my day in that way- as one where I accept that I do have limited energy and can’t do what I used to- everything got so much easier. I went from being someone who could work full time, go to school full time, and still keep up with everything else to someone who could only read for a half hour before I had to take a nap. That was a harder transition than anything else.
But last week, I was able to go to 4 out of 5 days of an intensive course that my professor led. (After the 3rd day I knew I wouldn’t have the energy for day 4 so I let myself rest.) That was huge A few months ago, I would’ve pushed through the 5 days and probably would’ve been miserable for the next several days.
I did order the wheelchair today. A foldable one that I can travel with. I am sick of being homebound because I’m so afraid of being rendered immobile. It was hard to admit that I needed it, but I admitted it and ordered it.
Romani, I like how you are adjusting. You do sound better and I hope things continue to improve. The wheelchair is simply a tool you need right now. It will help you to be able to get out more instead of homebound and unhappy.
We have a soggy forecast for the weekend and I am having weekend guests as well, so I’ll be doing a long run this afternoon. That will be my fifth day of running in a row - I know I should try and run tomorrow, but the weather is looking so miserable in the morning and I really just want to enjoy some time with my family without fitting in a run. If it were closer to a race I’d do the run as scheduled but I just need a little more flexibility in the schedule right now.
I had a Pilates workout this morning - one of my hips and hamstrings is really tight so I’ve really been working on opening that hip up a bit more. Today’s super challenging exercise was Prone II on the Cadillac - involves a lot of back extension and upper body strength. It feels good when you’re done, but ow when you’re doing it!
I never understand when you guys say things like “my hips and hamstrings are really tight” - either I am NOT in tune with my body or I don’t have “tight” stuff!!!
A few months ago, I would’ve pushed through the 5 days and probably would’ve been miserable for the next several days.