Cardio

OK, so today's Dr. visit was for the "heart Dr".

What a crotchety old coot!

NO bedside manner....even snarled a few times. NOT the man I knew 15 years ago...Hey, we all get old!

Sending me for a Stress thallium.. GREAT. Wanted a regular treadmill test but he says my insurance won't cover it.

I don't like nuclear medicine. I was sickened by the tech99 they gave me for the Sestamibi.
Not supposed to get you sick..but I was.

Feeling weird all day. Having an odd pain in my neck.

Did notice something though.....although the Dr.'s office(which was HUGE and beautiful) was on the grounds of the hospital there was NO PARKING in the lot outside of the building. I parked where I usually do near my building. I had to walk maybe 1/4 mile...maybe a bit more. I took it at a nice quick pace. It didn't bother me a bit!

Nice to see the change!

Pissing me off that weight is not moving.

I was exercising intermittently before Nike+. It has made me so accountable. It is a good thing except for the fact that the scale is NOT moving....and nope, haven't changed a thing food-wise.

I think I am an anomaly. Unless the weight will shift unexpectedly one day.

I'll be watching this closely.

Next week is the EGD. I am off to SC the following week so nothing is scheduled mid June. I wanted this whole mess to be over with by June. Doesn't look like it is in the stars.

I even started doubting my decision again. If the weight started moving I may decide not to. Since it is not moving one bit.....I'll stay on course.

Boohoo...revised

Ok, LOOK over there >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I did a mighty fine walk today!
But no one will know about it....booohooo.

Ok, it showed up finally....Don't 'cha love computers and computer software?!

Hopefully tonights run will appear.

Hey! Where's my walk?

Grrrr.....mu walk for today did not show up on Christines challenge!

Common theme, a decade

I'll often write, ponder, wonder aloud...."where did I go"?
It's quite a question huh?
I've been stalled for...let me see, a DECADE!
A decade, a DECADE....hmmm.....what the fuck happened a DECADE ago!?
Life went to SHIT ten years ago.....I know what happened...only a few others do.....
Thought I was stronger then to allow myself a tumble downhill.

Sometimes I look at the sky with a tear in my eye.........
She would have been beautiful, smart, funny and athletic.
The Maybabies are all growing up.
I wonder sometimes where we would all be now.
Would Mike and I have made it?
I don't see myself in Florida. It's bad enough visiting. I don't like Florida at all.
I don't think I would have ever started in the OR. I know I wouldn't have been on the TP team. The travel isn't for moms of small kids.
I never would have met Marty which would probably have been a good thing.

Good news though....I'm coming back....I can see me..really....I'm right there.......

Polaricious..and hating Blogerrrr

Ok, IN LOVE with the Polar F11 HRM.

Has a bit of a learning curve.....uhm, no longer reading me as an "elite" athlete....hahaha...

It TALKS aka old fashioned modem sounds to polarfitnesstrainer.com and uploads your HR, cal, time information to their website where it is charted. KEWL BEANS!



I don't like this blogger thingamajingie. I was able to uplink from the Nikeplus site last weeek but cannot now...boohooo.....



I'm really proud of my work and progress damnnit and would like to record it.

I have a few, yes FEW spreadsheets brewing......actuals....goals...etc. Type A ;)



Here is is:

Ok, traffic is one thing...and yesterday

My normally hour long commute took nearly THREE hours today.
There is no way around it.
Everyone and I mean everyone was on the road with me.
They are all headed south.....I hated every minute of it.
After the wonderful journey home I had to go grocery shopping. We have very little in the house.
I am full on appointments and it falls on me to do the shopping.
Small crisis intervention today for a friend in Florida.
The Polar came in today and I am still fiddling with it.
Resting HR is 78. Is that good?
When I took the test (on the watch) it read me as elite. ELITE HA!
So all intentions of walking today have gone to shit.
Tomorrow AM will be here soon enough.

Cheaper alternative when using the Ipod Nike+ sensor

You do NOT have to buy the (generally) EXPENSIVE Nike+ sneakers to utilize the Ipod/Nike+ sensor.

There is a company called MARWARE which makes a small pouch in which you secure your Ipod Sensor and then attach to your sneakers...ANY sneakers.

I'll try it this weekend to see if it keeps the same readings.

Here's the link:http://www.marware.com/PRODUCTS/Products-for-Gen-2-iPod-nano/Sportsuit-Sensor-for-Gen-2-iPod-nano

** I have also seen people fold the sensor in a small plastic baggie, lay it lengthwise over the tongue of your sneaks, under the laces.
The marware pouch is so inexpensive but hey, everyone has a ziploc bag!

Oh, test results and Polar

Sestamibi came back negative.
Repeat PTH came back uber normal...we both think that the first bloodtest was screwed up.
Repeating the TSH as I pointed out to her that it was also "off"....uhm, who is the Dr.?

Ordered a Polar HRM to use in conjunction with the Ipod Nike+ sensor.
The HRM on the tread isn't accurate.

http://www.polarusa.com/service_repair/viewtutorial.asp?ID=f11&seg=con

Very cool features. I LOVE NEW TOYS!

Thursday

Off today, had Dr.s appointments.
Lost 5 of the 8 pounds I gained last month(and had lost the month before that). She asked and I told her "nope, nothing different, same low cal low fat diet plus all the walking"...last month when I told her the same thing (to answer WHY I gained 8 pounds......) she gaffed and actually said "I don't want to argue with you..."
I HATE WHEN people doubt "chubby" people when they've gained and attribute it to gorging food or sitting on their asses......really pisses me off.
Also told her about the Ipod/Nike sensor and asked if she wanted proof of me walking....she shook her head.
Anyhoo, the foot is aching a bit but I am staying on course.
I posted a few challenges when I signed up on the Ipod/Nike site and there are people actually walking with me....how nice is that?! One of the challenges is up there in the corner.

ok, I'm an idiot!

This is the second or third day I have tried to calibrate the Ipod NikePlus sensor!
I have redone the calibration each time because it kept reading, "calibrated miles...blah blah blah not equaling the distance chosen...." or something to that effect.
Had I known that I could have just started logging, I would have started days ago!
Ok, on a whim I just started walking around. Lance Armstrong all of a sudden tells me "congrats, you've run your furthest distance so far"......WTF!
LOL, Ok, so it might be off a .001 -.004 of a mile but it is calibrated......CRAP!
Call my friends and they all laugh at me..I want my miles back!! I want credit!!
LOL

Ok, so I uplink the info and although the Ipod in my hand reads .51 miles, the uplink only shows 0.31. I know I stopped moments after it reached 0.25 on calibration so it cannot be off .20 miles. It may not seem a lot to a real walker/runner but I am trying to do this the right way.
We'll see what tomorrow brings.

CALIBRATION HELLLLLLLL

Four failed attempts at calibrating the Ipod NikePlus sensor!

New Sneaks and NikePlus sensor

Woohoo, another tool I can take advantage of.
Treadmill, new sneaks, Ipod sensor.....
No excuses!?
We'll see.

GI DOC

Going to my first visit at the GI doc tomorrow.
He'll then schedule an EGD to test for H Pylori.
Cardiology called today and I have to reschedule my cardio appointment.
Grrr..will this EVER happen?

"Sleep Study, Parathyroid, Sestamibi" oh my

I could have sworn I posted since MARCH!! -- I DID post something about this on the site--
I will tidy up a bit sometime over the next week.
Had the sleep study (grr I even had pictures, I'll find them). [crappy quality....cellphone cam]
I was told upon intake that given my insurance I was to have what is called a "split" night sleep study. I would be monitored and if I showed signs of apnea, they would wake me and fit the mask and send me back to lala land.
the rooms were SMALL but very well appointed. Large beautiful furniture which was too large for the room. There was literally only enough room to turn around.
I had to be moved out of my first room because there was a bug on the mattress. Nope, not for me I insisted.
The next room was slightly larger.
The electrodes are annoying. the sensor which goes into your nose is the most annoying.
I slept ok. I hardly moved and she made a comment about that.
I woke up, WITHOUT a mask so I thought to myself, "self, I guess no apnea".
As a professional courtesy I asked to see the data. Assured the tech that I KNEW she couldn't make a diagnosis, I just wanted to see the information.
Apparently I do snore! HA(still don't think so...lol).
She showed me periods of awakenings...leg movements etc. Very interesting.
I get a call a weeek later that I do indeed have Apnea and I have to repeat the study.
"WHAT"!? I thought my insurance did not cover a second night.
I am convinced at the time that the Drs are in kahoots(sp) and this is all a sham.
I will call the Pulm Dr and see what's up.
I was headed for SC for a week....had better things to do.
I called and yes, the Dr. wants me to have a second night.
I have not scheduled yet as i cannot get a straight answer from my insurance co.
I cannot proceed without the Pulm's say so.....

____________________________________



http://www.parathyroid.com/index.htm
Last week Bloodwork came back and my PTH was off the charts. My calcium is fine. I am now paranoid that I have to have parathyroid surgery done.
Sure, what else!?
My PMD saw the bloods and wrote a script for me to have a sestamibi scan. I asked "err, shouldn't we repeat the bloodwork"? DOH
Ok, so I repeated the bloodwork and called for the results which were normal. Yes, now either test can be off and the scan was tomorrow(last week).
I went to the scan, got technitium shot into my veins, got a preliminary scan,watched tv in a small smelly room for two hours then got the second scan.
Again, the tech can't tell e anything I KNOW THAT!! There was no uptake that I could see.
We'll see about this one.
I also had a DEXA scan (bone density).
Want to laugh? The same bloodwork showed my TSH was .28!! UHM! No one asked me about that!
I need a new Dr. when this 6 month bullshit is all over.
I loved my old Dr. who was also my Endocrinologist. He stopped seeing ault patients and effectively fired all of his patients.....or, LET GO of them.
I went to my mothers Dr. who she loved....I don't think she is proactive enough.....and now she is anti band.
I was to address this at the website but there was some dude who had a bad experience stirring up trouble and I did not want to appear anti band....or be told "I told you so".

upon leaving my Dr.s office she turned and told me "You can die....." and something about being able to do it myself. She has patients who have lost 200 on their own.
I was FLOORED!
Why do this shit to me now. She told me initially she didn't want me doing it. I told her then I had made up my mind.
I said something like "Doc, I work in the OR, I am fully aware and accept the risks of anesthesia"!
"Pluswhich, I had four procedures from 06-07 where I COULD HAVE DIED"!
"I don't want to argue with you" was the last thing she said.

Annoys the shit out of me.

In the next few days I have either the GI or Cardio appointment. I may have the treadmill test right off the bat but I know I will not have the EGD until after my first visit.
I have everything all neatly organized in a folder at work.
I was ill Friday and have nothing with me at home. I am convinced I got sick from the shit they injected me with. Been dizzy and nauseated since Thursday afternoon.
I also killed my back laying on the freaking scan tables. Even with a bolster, my back is killing me.

Abdominal Sono.

Today's visit was to the Diagnostic Center for an abdominal sonography to rule out gallstones(yes you can still get them if the gallbladder is gone), and fatty liver.
The room was so small, dimly lit and WARM. I usually am always too warm but it was OK.
The sono tech was very nice. I've had others who were so rude you'd like to smack them one.
I got the usual, "I can't explain them to you"....when I asked about the location of the liver. I just like to have them point out the anatomy. Although I am a surgical tech, most sonos and MRI's look like fuzz to me.
Well, the only thing I could tell is I have two kidneys, a fine looking liver and a pancreas in there somewhere.
The diagnostic place is in the same building as my Dr. I had an appointment with her also, the monthly weigh in(third so far).
Same exam room, same scale, reads I have lost 8 pounds.
Woohoo!
Have to make appointments for Cardio and GI.
The sleep study is next Wednesday night.

Pulmo

Ok.
Had the pulmonologist visit today.
I had hoped that I could get a quick eval and a clearance.
Lungs clear, CHECK.
No snoring, CHECK.
Then Dr. said, for anyone considering Bariatric surgery he REQUIRES a sleep study.
Something else I have to do now!
Grrr.

Stuffed!

No, not my belly, my head.
Had been sick two weeks ago and then again last week. I had to postpone the Pulmonologist due to it. The cold has settled in my head now. I am totally stuffed and can hardly hear.
Woke up with a productive cough and crap all over my cracked lips. What a sight!
I never have sinus troubles but the pressure today is a PITA.

I was supposed to let my friend know if I was going to come over. I am a bad friend!
She has twin boys, toddlers, and they were sick. I don't want to:
a) get them any sicker or
b) have them get ME any sicker!

I should still call.

Had my bkfst shake (water Unjury and frozen strawberries), a hot pocket, two choc fudge pops and have the poopaloopas all day.

Took my Anti D "vitamin" aka Immodium and hope it kicks in.

My house is a mess.

There's shopping to do but SOMEONE won't go. He had me make a list and all then tells me he doesn't feel well. GRR!

Paid bills online and will only be making it by the skin of my teeth, AGAIN.

It is so freakin' hard to hold a mortage and a full rent (equal in $$). When am I going to be able to live there permanently!?

It's been 11 months since my surgery(the last one)/hysterectomy and it is a relief. The pain and bleeding I went through for so long is finally over.

No weight movement this last week. I'm not caring when I feel so shitty.

I wish my nose would stop running. The nose stuffed with bits of toilet tissue is such a glam look!

Rescheduled Pulmonologist

Oooo, there's a storm coming.
I don't like to drive in the ice anyway.
Have to reschedule.

It kicked my ASS!

Holy Shit. I just got my ass kicked by a flippin' computer chip!
The ifit chip that came with the treadmill is a killer.
I have to look online to see if there is a beginner one.
This is supposed to be an 8 week weightloss course.
Holy Shit.
Now, aside from being overweight I can exercise, and I thought rather well.
HA!
I hopped on and took it easy(Man I need Jillian here!) for about five minutes then upped the incline a smidge. I was going at around 3.0. I said "What the hay, let me throw in the chip". No problem....I THINK it started at the low/mid 2's for a MINUTE then....vrooom...slowly speeds up, GREAT! no problem. this is speedy but manageable. The incline soon shoots up....ok, again, no real problem. I am going at a 3.5 and up to a 3.5 incline. Nononooo...I can't Jillian, HELP ME!
I had to cut it. I was walkling and was almost bent over just barely touching the handrails.
Good thing there's a safety clip.
I got 14 minutes of the ifit workout and about ten minutes of my own poopy workout.
Tomorrow AFTER the Pulmonologist I will try again.
Wish me luck.

The ProForm Treadmill

LOVE IT!

The long and winding road

Ok, it just got deleted...I LOVE technology!
Start again:

It's going to be a long long long time until I arrive in Lapland.
Someday I hope to read these silly entries and laugh at how impatient I was.
I will have been banded for days, weeks, months....

I went to another (?) meeting/class. This took nearly three hours. The NP discussed all three surgery options and the pros and cons of each. It seems she, and the practice really disuades people from getting the DS.

I have my list of required testing. I then went to my PCP who "told me so" about the process not being quick. I was also chastised about gaining 3 pounds since the last visit. I had a full belly of food plus didn't take my shoes off. I used to always take my shoes off but didn't that day nor will I ever for now on. I am not so silly as to think that my shoes will make or break my successes or failures. So there!
Well, woohoo, officially my SECOND medically supervised weigh in....so HA! Four more months to go.

Nutritionist (affiliated with the surgeon)
Psych eval (affiliated with the surgeon)
Pulmonary eval
Cardiac eval
GI eval AND EGD (FUCK!)
Venous duplex (after ins. approval)

Me thinks there is something rotten in the state of Denmark......where the fuxk did that saying come from?
Anyhoo, one of the Psychs listed on their referral list will see patients at the surgeons office for an $80 fee. There is another listed that if you see her privately she will charge $400?? says the office staff. While I can understand some sort of a charge for an evaluation she is listed under my insurance providers. She SHOULD then, take what the ins company would pay, no?
I think I will forego the hassle and just pay the $80 and see her in the office. I smell a side deal don't you?

I ran over to Office Depot and bought a new shiny expanding wallet type organizer for my reports and test results. A new letter sized calendar and of course, new groovy pens!
Although anyone noticing would say I am disorganized I pride myself on being slightly anal about my organization skills.

I don't relish the idea of having an EGD. They claim they need to assure I have no H Pylori. Well, I don't! I have no symptoms mocking ulcer. I am fine.

It has arrived!

So I am not working today. I love my schedule!
I get a cellphone call from a number I do not recognize.
We were told that the tread would come today. Was it them?
Yep! The freight hauler was lost in our development.
It is easy to do. The name of our street is not the same as our address. It's weird.
I talk him through a few directions and he's hesitant to make a turn into the development. Uhm don't they have school for driving the "big rigs"?
BF is outside in the cold waving him down.
I said to slip the guy a $20 to have him help bring it up the stairs.
"I'm not supposed to" the delivery dude said. He changed his mind. I guess we should have offered him more?
There was NOWAY BF would have been able to bring it up by himself.
The box is easily 6 feet tall by 3 feet wide and reads WEIGHS 215 pounds. It is dead weight and watchign them bring it up the stairs was rather amusing.

It's coming!

Treaddy is coming Monday!
I don't know if I will be home.
Sure hope no one takes it from outside the door.
I doubt anyone would haul that thing away.

Can't wait.
Haveto get a piece of remnant carpet down for floor protection.

The nerve of little boys! and Before pics...NOT!

Ok, so 3:30 p.m. comes along and the skaters appear.....Trying to be calm, after all "THEY ARE KIDS"!
Did I imagine it? Nah, couldn't be, could it?
They are in MY DRIVEWAY and my truck is in my driveway.
I open the door and some little punk is standing there. I ask what he was doing. He shrugs and says "nuthin'". Then I said, get off my property please. He steps ontp my lawn and gets on a cellphone.
I go to the end of the driveway and hail the boys(about 10 of them). I say "this is very disrepectful, please stay out of the driveway when there are cars here". "If one of your boards gets away from you there could be damage". They yeah yeah'd me.
I was surprisingly calm, for me. I also did NOT want to be THAT neighbor...and also did not want any reprocussions down the road.
I came into the house steaming. I tried to think about how to appeal to these little shits.
I went out about an hour later and gathered them around again.
I told them that if they got their parents permission I would take some action shots of them skating. They all said OK.
We'll see.
Preteens should be sent to another planet until they learn sense and respect.
Perhaps I should accidently run over one of them.


I have been taking many many self portraits. I have never liked to have my photo taken. It's a shame because the few that have been taken I have liked and there aren't that many.
Thin or fat, I see a camera, I avoid it. It's been very hard to force myself to take photos now.
I want them for the Afters.
I want a record of this journey. I need it.
I don't think I am in a place where I can share them.
I still don't see the me that is in those pictures.
It's a very harsh realization. Essential, but hard.

Freeeezing! and skaters!

Man, it is cold!
I know, I know, it's JANUARY!
I hate the cold. To think I almost moved to Alaska for a job in the early 90's.
I remember them sending a video of life around Denali. In the video they showed school children playing outside and mentioned "the kids don't go outside during recess unless it is over 19 BELOW zero".
Afterall, it's a dry cold!
HA!

Still waiting for the treadmill.
Have walked outside but truthfully it has been to the mailbox and back. Too cold!


Ok, I do NOT want to be "THAT NEIGHBOR" but 3p.m. and I hear roaring, whooting, and rolling outside. The neighborhood kids have apparently set up a skateboarding ramp, in the street, just outside my driveway! Aside from the noise, which I can tolerate, they are falling off the boards and when they come crashing into my truck, or onto my property I will have to shove a skateboard up some tush!
It's not bad enough they are close enough to bother me, they are using my absent neighbors' driveway to get their momentum. Now who is responsible when the little punks get hurt in their driveway?
There is a play area PLUSWHICH the kids have a common area BEHIND their townhomes.
Man, I'm getting grumpy.