Finally Spring. Monday was a really beautiful day. Plus a special day. 26 yrs ago my daughter was born. My favorite, of course she is my only, but she's still my favorite. This weekend was a nice weekend, although a little on the cool side.
We went riding a week ago Sunday, (M & I) and put in about 19 miles. I did really well, kicked butt. M was worried about whether I would make it for the bike ride we have scheduled for this coming weekend (the 16th), but she had a lot more trouble than I did. I had been riding inside, with my bike up on a indoor stand, I like riding my own bike much better than riding on our excercise bike, I don't find it comfortable. I admit though that I am bad about procrastinating riding indoors. Call me lazy. that's really most of it. I like riding outside, that's different.
For my daughters b'day we helped her get a new bike. A nice one. She's been working really hard at losing some weight and getting in shape. She has started doing irish folk dancing - which is pretty cool, and a real workout, plus watching what she eats, and has lost around 25 lbs. Good for her! We spent Saturday picking up the bike, and went for a short ride, then on Sunday we met the kids (her and her boyfriend) and went for a ride near their house. We did 20 miles on one of the rail trails. Great ride, but a little chilly. After the ride we took them out for their birthdays (J's is 4/11, his is the 13th). I think we all had fun.
I'm riding pretty well, even with my knees. My knees are bad. But I can ride better than I walk. My main problem is stopping - have to make sure my knee won't give out, that's how I broke my ankle last year. Hills are a problem. Or difficult climbing. I have to remember to shift down, and even if I do in time, if it is a tough hill, I might not make it. I have to judge it right so if I'm not going to make it I can stop and get off and walk it. If I push too far, I take the chance of not making it and not being able to stop, and get off without crashing and burning. How hard can stopping be?
The rest of the week (until today) was rainy, damp, cold and miserable. Or may that was just me that was miserable. My arthritis flares up in the cold damp. My MS feet flare up in cold damp. Maybe you know what I mean? My feet are cold, fuzzy, and it feels like I"m walking on a balled up sock under the ball of my foot. It isn't they are numb. I have sensation in my feet. They just are fuzzy/tingly, whatever. When they are bad, then you can test easily for the babinski sign. My big toe will fly up. When it is warmer, then my reflexes calm down at least some. I know it is the heat that effects most MS people. But it is the cold that effects me. Heat can actuallly help me sometimes. Like soaking in the hot tub. I'm glad too. As much money and effort we put in to installing it, and creating our little getaway with the two decks and fences behind the house. I read something on Lisa's (brass and ivory) blog regarding Uhthoff's Phenomenom, and its opposite - Inverse Uhthoff's syndrome. I think that is me. I didn't really find any other text or information on it, but here is the link to Lisa's blog - http://www.brassandivory.org/2011/04/heat-sensitivity-and-uhthoffs.html
Today, however is a beautiful spring day. Went outside at lunchtime without a jacket - short sleeves. Think the temps were mid 60's. Sun shining. I hope it will be as nice tomorrow & Saturday for our bike ride.
Showing posts with label exercise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label exercise. Show all posts
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Cat fun
I posted some video of the cats (well Sonny) playing with the red light. Ruby has no interest what-so-ever and doesn't get what the fuss is about. The other two, seem to enjoy playing. Sonny especially. We got the laser light in hopes that we could help Ziggy become more active. He is getting older, he will be 10 this year. And he is overweight. The vet had said not to worry too much about his weight as long as he seemed active, happy, etc. However I know that with cats, as with people, carrying too much weight is not a good thing. And we have noticed that he is starting to have trouble jumping on the bed. So, in order to help him, we have put the cats on a diet. We were using self-feeders, which is very convenient - for us, and for "piggy" to eat as much as he wanted. Ziggy is the one that has a problem with over-eating. Ruby is if anything underweight. Sonny is very close to ideal weight for his size. He also likes to eat a lot, so he could end up with a problem if he doesn't get enough exercise.
So how do you put 3 cats on a diet? Well, I researched on the internet (google is my friend), and decided we would get food that is for overweight adult cats, and mix in with their regular food. It isn't good to suddenly switch foods without allowing a period for their systems to get used to it. We moved the food upstairs to the kitchen where the water bowl is. Instead of leaving the self feeders out all day, we are now monitoring how much they are eating. And we are limitting the treats.
Exercise is also important. So I bought several toys to try to see if I could get them motivated to play and run around. The laser light is a big hit! Both Ziggy and Sonny will run around and chase it - especially if the room is dark so the light shows up that much more. The light is motorized so you can turn it on and set it down and it will flash the light around the room, but they seem to like it more if we move the light. It becomes more interactive that way. Sonny really loves it. M thinks that maybe he is still young enough to need something like this to help him come out of his shell. Plus there are times that we hear him going around the house crying looking for someone to play with him. Ziggy plays with him, but then gets tired out before Sonny does. So I think the light is helping Sonny as much as Ziggy, even though the original intent was to get it for Ziggy. Ziggy will run around like crazy chasing the light for a few min, then we can tell he gets worn out and flops down, and then just watches. M says it is age and the extra weight. Ok, so I can relate.
Ziggy is my buddy. If playing games with him and putting him on a diet will extend his life and make it more enjoyable then it is more than worth it.
So how do you put 3 cats on a diet? Well, I researched on the internet (google is my friend), and decided we would get food that is for overweight adult cats, and mix in with their regular food. It isn't good to suddenly switch foods without allowing a period for their systems to get used to it. We moved the food upstairs to the kitchen where the water bowl is. Instead of leaving the self feeders out all day, we are now monitoring how much they are eating. And we are limitting the treats.
Exercise is also important. So I bought several toys to try to see if I could get them motivated to play and run around. The laser light is a big hit! Both Ziggy and Sonny will run around and chase it - especially if the room is dark so the light shows up that much more. The light is motorized so you can turn it on and set it down and it will flash the light around the room, but they seem to like it more if we move the light. It becomes more interactive that way. Sonny really loves it. M thinks that maybe he is still young enough to need something like this to help him come out of his shell. Plus there are times that we hear him going around the house crying looking for someone to play with him. Ziggy plays with him, but then gets tired out before Sonny does. So I think the light is helping Sonny as much as Ziggy, even though the original intent was to get it for Ziggy. Ziggy will run around like crazy chasing the light for a few min, then we can tell he gets worn out and flops down, and then just watches. M says it is age and the extra weight. Ok, so I can relate.
Ziggy is my buddy. If playing games with him and putting him on a diet will extend his life and make it more enjoyable then it is more than worth it.
Saturday, September 18, 2010
stuff
Been a while since I posted. Life has been busy. Which is a good thing. Spent Labor day weekend camping with M up at the PA Grand Canyon for a 4 day weekend. Got to site see. I'm not sure what I expected. But it isn't like the Grand Canyon, but it is a huge gorge. Lots more forest and trees. We biked along the rail trail - which parallels the river at the bottom of the gorge. At most it is a 2% grade. The temps were cold. In the 50's and dropped into the 40's at night. That's cold when you are staying in a tent. But we did ok. We have a huge tent - 10'x20' with room to stand in it. divides into two rooms. Basically we have more room that many of the RV's that were staying beside us. The following weekend we took another long 4 day weekend camping trip down to the shore. Went down in Delaware and stayed at Cape Henlopen which is outside of Lewes. Again we stayed in the huge tent. Temps were great - in the 60's - 70's. We biked everywhere from camp. Some great trails, and unlike roads here at home, they have lots of bike lanes, and are familiar with the idea of sharing the road. Here in PA where we live, even on the "bike routes" there is rarely a bike lane, and motorists are rude. Most roads also don't have sidewalks either so if you walk or ride you trust traffic to pay attention. The weekend before Labor Day we also had a nice weekend, at home, just the two of us. W had gone off to visit one of his women friends - he's quite the casanova.
Which is great. He's a sweet guy, in good shape for 70, and loves life. Who says life has to end when you get to be a senior citizen. Apparently that includes an active sex life. I don't want details, but I'm happy to know he is able to have fun. Long as no one gets hurt - what's the harm? One problem he has is trying to juggle mutliple women at the same time. He is back here now, and has one of his ex's visiting from Co. But I think he really likes this one that he just got back from visiting. So guess at some point he will have to decide if he is going to settle down. M claims that now that we have her dad living with us, I should now understand her better, her sister just says I must be a saint to deal with living with both M & W, LOL.
Right now, I have a slight delima and am having to research a product that W's new g/f is swearing is the cure for everything. W has bought into the speil, which my gut is saying do you hear "snake oil?" or pyramid scheme? Come on, drink the koolaid and you too can believe. Apparently there is a whole line of products. Including some sort of stuff W put on his face which cleared up his rosacea while he was in SC. The juice drink is supposed to give you all sorts of energy, help people with MS, help people with joint problems, all sorts of things. According to the testimonials W had heard a tape on, all sorts of people gave up all their med's and were able to just drink the juice and were able to walk again, and have energy they never had before, and suddenly live fuller lives. I was always raised to be a skeptic - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is, and there is no free lunch, etc.
M however promised W that we would hear and investigate this stuff with an open mind. Ok, so anything is possible, and there could be something to at least some of this stuff. So now I'm researching some sort of juice stuff called xango, and mangosteen. For something that is supposed to be the biggest thing since sliced bread, I've not heard of it before.
Which is great. He's a sweet guy, in good shape for 70, and loves life. Who says life has to end when you get to be a senior citizen. Apparently that includes an active sex life. I don't want details, but I'm happy to know he is able to have fun. Long as no one gets hurt - what's the harm? One problem he has is trying to juggle mutliple women at the same time. He is back here now, and has one of his ex's visiting from Co. But I think he really likes this one that he just got back from visiting. So guess at some point he will have to decide if he is going to settle down. M claims that now that we have her dad living with us, I should now understand her better, her sister just says I must be a saint to deal with living with both M & W, LOL.
Right now, I have a slight delima and am having to research a product that W's new g/f is swearing is the cure for everything. W has bought into the speil, which my gut is saying do you hear "snake oil?" or pyramid scheme? Come on, drink the koolaid and you too can believe. Apparently there is a whole line of products. Including some sort of stuff W put on his face which cleared up his rosacea while he was in SC. The juice drink is supposed to give you all sorts of energy, help people with MS, help people with joint problems, all sorts of things. According to the testimonials W had heard a tape on, all sorts of people gave up all their med's and were able to just drink the juice and were able to walk again, and have energy they never had before, and suddenly live fuller lives. I was always raised to be a skeptic - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is, and there is no free lunch, etc.
M however promised W that we would hear and investigate this stuff with an open mind. Ok, so anything is possible, and there could be something to at least some of this stuff. So now I'm researching some sort of juice stuff called xango, and mangosteen. For something that is supposed to be the biggest thing since sliced bread, I've not heard of it before.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Rest & Relaxation
This weekend was a great weekend. Not that anything truly remarkable happened, but maybe because it was just an ordinary weekend. W has been off playing casanova the past couple weeks so M and I have the house to ourselves. We both took off Friday, but not to go anywhere or do anything. Not that we did absolutely nothing, but sometimes M feels the need to have an agenda, somewhere to go, things to do, I sometimes like to just relax and have no plans. So this weekend we had no real plans. Friday we got errands ran, and just took care of things that needed to be done during the week but we never seem to have time for while working.
Saturday we took the bikes down to the Heritage trail and rode 14+ miles, then went to a friend's pool party that afternoon. The weather cooperated, wasn't unbearably hot. The trail is shady so that helps! Sun was out and pretty warm at the pool party but then that just made it feel good to jump in the water. Got to swim a few laps and tease a couple of the dogs that wanted to follow along the side of the pool back and forth... I always loved swiming. I miss having a pool or a gym membership with a pool. I did forget though to watch my knee while trying to swim laps. I have a tendancy to hurt my left knee while kicking unless I either wrap it first or pay close attention and dont kick hard and just use my arms to pull myself along. Well, I forgot. But nothing serious. We had fun.
Sunday we loaded the bikes up again, and went back down to the trail and this time did 18 miles. It was a little warmer on Sunday, but there was a nice breeze and of course the shade on the trail. This was first weekend in over 3 weeks that I was able to get out on one of the trails and ride. I'd been on-call the previous 3 weekends.
Riding helps my knees, but then they are stiff afterward. They were stiff when I woke up Sunday morning, and stiff when I started out riding Sunday, and stiff this morning as I went into work. By now they have loosened back up. Relaxing in the Hot tub also helps my arthritis a lot. I am sooo glad that my MS didn't take that away and I can still enjoy soaking my aching bones in the hot water. There have been some times, usually in the midst of a flare that I can't tolerate the heat but normally it still feels good.
So here's to rest and relaxation. And to a great weekend.
Saturday we took the bikes down to the Heritage trail and rode 14+ miles, then went to a friend's pool party that afternoon. The weather cooperated, wasn't unbearably hot. The trail is shady so that helps! Sun was out and pretty warm at the pool party but then that just made it feel good to jump in the water. Got to swim a few laps and tease a couple of the dogs that wanted to follow along the side of the pool back and forth... I always loved swiming. I miss having a pool or a gym membership with a pool. I did forget though to watch my knee while trying to swim laps. I have a tendancy to hurt my left knee while kicking unless I either wrap it first or pay close attention and dont kick hard and just use my arms to pull myself along. Well, I forgot. But nothing serious. We had fun.
Sunday we loaded the bikes up again, and went back down to the trail and this time did 18 miles. It was a little warmer on Sunday, but there was a nice breeze and of course the shade on the trail. This was first weekend in over 3 weeks that I was able to get out on one of the trails and ride. I'd been on-call the previous 3 weekends.
Riding helps my knees, but then they are stiff afterward. They were stiff when I woke up Sunday morning, and stiff when I started out riding Sunday, and stiff this morning as I went into work. By now they have loosened back up. Relaxing in the Hot tub also helps my arthritis a lot. I am sooo glad that my MS didn't take that away and I can still enjoy soaking my aching bones in the hot water. There have been some times, usually in the midst of a flare that I can't tolerate the heat but normally it still feels good.
So here's to rest and relaxation. And to a great weekend.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
The ride and recovery, and knees and things
So we survived the MS Bike Ride. M did the whole 25 miles - she claims she actually did more like 27 miles due to getting lost with another MS Biker that had trouble following the course. I only made it less than 3 miles. I did at least 2.5, but less than 3. So I guess that makes me a 10%-er. Kind of fitting in a way. I am a leftie - like supposedly 10 % of the population. I am gay - another supposed 10% of the population. Who knows there is probably lots of other things I am that matches only about 10% of the population.
Saturday was extremely hot - it was almost 90 at 6:30 when we arrived to register. Plus the heat index. The route was all rolling hills, and not gentle ones. I don't do well with hills. Especially steep ones. My knees can't handle it. So after pedaling what I could and walking the bike up the worst of two really big hills, I was on the side of the road catching my breath. Wondering the wisdom of even being out here in the heat, when a SAG vehicle came by to ask if I was ok. I took him up on his offer of a ride back to the start/finish. He said no shame in calling it quits. Which I didn't feel any shame. I got out and I struggled and I did what I could handle. If I had kept going, I could have gotten myself in a serious mess. M asked me if I was sure I didn't want to keep going, and I said no. I did the right thing for me. I did what I set out to accomplish. I raised over 1175, and I went out and tried. Next year, we are opting for a "flatter" event. Flat and gentle hills I can handle.
Other than trying to ride on a day that was way too hot - temp & humidity, I've been enjoying being back on my bike. I am making an effort to get out and get more exercise and to eat healthier. I know that if I was to lose some weight it would help with my knees. Course that too is a catch 22. If I felt better, I would feel more like exercising, if I lost some weight my knees would feel better, making it easier to exercise to lose the weight to feel better to exercise. Oh well, it is easy to procrastinate, and find excuses. It is time to just get busy and "do" and stop waiting for something to magically happen.
I am trying to decide whether I want to plan to have a knee replacement next year or not. I want to lose some weight and get physically stronger, and get my knee especially physically stronger before doing that. Originally my osteo wanted me to wait until I was 52 at least. Now he seems to think I'm a candidate now, whenever I want to do it he will refer me (he doesn't do that surgery, he does the non-invasive stuff, and surgical alternatives). So seems to me he is saying it's getting time to do it. My concern is that I want it to help give me more of my life back. But what if it doesn't? Not being in pain all the time would be a great thing. If it gave me the ability to exercise and not constantly evaluate things as to whether or not my knee will allow me to do this or that... those would all be pluses. On the other hand, I've also read and heard it isn't for people who are looking for some miraculous cure, or that it won't eliminate all the problems, just will help with the pain, that with a replacement you aren't suppose to run or jump (ok, not that I do either now anyway), but I also can't kneel, crouch, etc. One reason I was always told to wait, and hold off is that the life span on the knees (the plastics) is only 10-15 years, and since you can only replace the knee 2x per knee in a person's lifetime I didn't want to end up not being able to walk at the end of my days. The other thing I keep thinking is that if I keep putting it off and wait for some magic time frame to arrive, what if I wait too long, and MS strikes and I can't walk anyway. So, I've decided I just have to determine if it will help me today. if so, then I should explore doing it. If it won't help me today, then I should wait.
Saturday was extremely hot - it was almost 90 at 6:30 when we arrived to register. Plus the heat index. The route was all rolling hills, and not gentle ones. I don't do well with hills. Especially steep ones. My knees can't handle it. So after pedaling what I could and walking the bike up the worst of two really big hills, I was on the side of the road catching my breath. Wondering the wisdom of even being out here in the heat, when a SAG vehicle came by to ask if I was ok. I took him up on his offer of a ride back to the start/finish. He said no shame in calling it quits. Which I didn't feel any shame. I got out and I struggled and I did what I could handle. If I had kept going, I could have gotten myself in a serious mess. M asked me if I was sure I didn't want to keep going, and I said no. I did the right thing for me. I did what I set out to accomplish. I raised over 1175, and I went out and tried. Next year, we are opting for a "flatter" event. Flat and gentle hills I can handle.
Other than trying to ride on a day that was way too hot - temp & humidity, I've been enjoying being back on my bike. I am making an effort to get out and get more exercise and to eat healthier. I know that if I was to lose some weight it would help with my knees. Course that too is a catch 22. If I felt better, I would feel more like exercising, if I lost some weight my knees would feel better, making it easier to exercise to lose the weight to feel better to exercise. Oh well, it is easy to procrastinate, and find excuses. It is time to just get busy and "do" and stop waiting for something to magically happen.
I am trying to decide whether I want to plan to have a knee replacement next year or not. I want to lose some weight and get physically stronger, and get my knee especially physically stronger before doing that. Originally my osteo wanted me to wait until I was 52 at least. Now he seems to think I'm a candidate now, whenever I want to do it he will refer me (he doesn't do that surgery, he does the non-invasive stuff, and surgical alternatives). So seems to me he is saying it's getting time to do it. My concern is that I want it to help give me more of my life back. But what if it doesn't? Not being in pain all the time would be a great thing. If it gave me the ability to exercise and not constantly evaluate things as to whether or not my knee will allow me to do this or that... those would all be pluses. On the other hand, I've also read and heard it isn't for people who are looking for some miraculous cure, or that it won't eliminate all the problems, just will help with the pain, that with a replacement you aren't suppose to run or jump (ok, not that I do either now anyway), but I also can't kneel, crouch, etc. One reason I was always told to wait, and hold off is that the life span on the knees (the plastics) is only 10-15 years, and since you can only replace the knee 2x per knee in a person's lifetime I didn't want to end up not being able to walk at the end of my days. The other thing I keep thinking is that if I keep putting it off and wait for some magic time frame to arrive, what if I wait too long, and MS strikes and I can't walk anyway. So, I've decided I just have to determine if it will help me today. if so, then I should explore doing it. If it won't help me today, then I should wait.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
whitewater rafting, biking on vacation, and getting ready for the msbike ride
ok... it has been over a month since I posted. Life is flying by. Next week is the MS Bike Ride, we are planning to ride on Saturday. M has said she has decided to stick with me and make sure I finish, that I am ok, and that I have plenty of water/gaterade. She is worried about the heat. It is going to be hot. It has been hot. Why do they plan a MS bike ride for the hottest part of the summer? I suppose most of the participant riders don't actually have MS? who knows.
We just got back from our vacation at Ohiopyle. great place. known for whitewater rafting and bicycle riding. M & W and I rented a log cabin at a local camp ground. Not exactly camping - but that was ok (great actually) we were there 5 days. The cabin slept like 6 or 8, and had 2 bedrooms, one for me & M, and one for W. Double-beds in each. Also bunk beds but we didn't have anyone else along for this trip. The cabin had AC which was great. We ate all our meals at the cabin. it had a kitchen, plus we brought a grill. We got there on Monday 7/5. Tuesday we went for a bike ride, and mistaking the instructions from the girl from checking in at the campground we turned right on the trail instead of left and travelled about 11miles downhill (2% grade) toward Connesville when we thought we were going uphill toward Confluence. Easy ride, until we turned around. we stopped for lunch figured out what went wrong and started making our way back. That 2% grade was constant, and while it really wasn't enough to notice when we headed downhill, it made a difference going uphill. I was struggling, so I let M & W head on and I was going to take my time and snap some pictures. I was about 4.5 mi away from the car on the way back and had stopped to shoot some photo's of some rafters going down the rapids, when I heard a pfft and hssssssssssssssssssssssssssss, yep, I looked over at my bike, and the back tire was flatter than a pancake. it was now riding on the rim. no way I could ride it that way. I started walking it back, and realized after about 1/2 mi that I was now only travelling about 2 mph. Which meant with 4 mi left it would take me 2 hrs to get back to car. I called M to warn her I was walking. Sweet woman that she is, she pedalled back with a pump to try to pump my tire back up, but we found there was hole in tube and no stem showing. So she walked my bike and let me pedal out on hers. Saying she could walk it out faster than I could limp. Very true.
I'm doing pretty good on the bike now. It feels good to be back to riding. I really need to focus on excersising and getting my strength back. After doing the almost 22 miles last week on the vacation, I feel confident I will make the 25 miles next weekend for the MS Ride, just need to take plenty of water/gaterade. My walking isn't so good. Sometimes better than others. My left leg is definitely weaker than the right. Stairs are a problem. For a change it is now harder going down stairs than climbing up. Think that is the ankle. I'm at the point that I am thinking seriously about planning to have a knee replacement next year. I think it will help with quality of life. Also, I'm thinking I want to have it done now while I can enjoy it, and be active before I might get hit with more mobility issues from the MS and maybe won't be able to do that much anyway.
The vacation was great. On thursday we did a pedal and paddle, we rode bikes 9 miles up river, then rafted the 9 miles back down over some small rapids. it was lots of work but also fun. The water was low this time of year so we struggled a few times getting stuck on some rocks. But we made it. I felt sorry for M, she was stuck with most of the work travelling along with her 70 yr old dad, and gimp of a gf. but we all did our best and we made it.
We had some sadness in the family right before we left for our trip. M's dog was diagnosed with Lympoma a week prior, and we were hoping he would hang in there and make it the 4-8 months the vet predicted. Hunter went downhill fast though. We realized he wouldn't make it til we got back from our vacation. M made the decision to put him down before we left. We will all miss him. The house is much quieter without him. Even the cats all know something isn't right and I think they wonder where the big guy is.
M has been really taking it hard. Hunter was her baby. He was 11 and she raised him from a pup. It is never easy losing someone close to you. Even the animals who become such a part of our lives leave a big hole when they go. I miss him too. I also try to be understanding. Sometimes that is easier said than done. If you take two pre-menapausal (or menapausal - the pre may be debatable), emotional situations, it sometimes isn't pretty. Most of the time I have a lot of patience. Most of the time I can be very understanding. but there are times when you can step on my last nerve and I can't handle any more. Let's just say some days have been rough. M is the type though to sleep and wake up and it is a new day and yesterday is forgotten. I have trouble with that. Because I know a lot of it is because of Hunter I try to let it go. Also because of the various health conditions I have that are all exerbated by stress I try to let it go.
Focus on the good and let the bad slip away.
RIP Hunter Wood 1999-2010 - you will be missed.
We just got back from our vacation at Ohiopyle. great place. known for whitewater rafting and bicycle riding. M & W and I rented a log cabin at a local camp ground. Not exactly camping - but that was ok (great actually) we were there 5 days. The cabin slept like 6 or 8, and had 2 bedrooms, one for me & M, and one for W. Double-beds in each. Also bunk beds but we didn't have anyone else along for this trip. The cabin had AC which was great. We ate all our meals at the cabin. it had a kitchen, plus we brought a grill. We got there on Monday 7/5. Tuesday we went for a bike ride, and mistaking the instructions from the girl from checking in at the campground we turned right on the trail instead of left and travelled about 11miles downhill (2% grade) toward Connesville when we thought we were going uphill toward Confluence. Easy ride, until we turned around. we stopped for lunch figured out what went wrong and started making our way back. That 2% grade was constant, and while it really wasn't enough to notice when we headed downhill, it made a difference going uphill. I was struggling, so I let M & W head on and I was going to take my time and snap some pictures. I was about 4.5 mi away from the car on the way back and had stopped to shoot some photo's of some rafters going down the rapids, when I heard a pfft and hssssssssssssssssssssssssssss, yep, I looked over at my bike, and the back tire was flatter than a pancake. it was now riding on the rim. no way I could ride it that way. I started walking it back, and realized after about 1/2 mi that I was now only travelling about 2 mph. Which meant with 4 mi left it would take me 2 hrs to get back to car. I called M to warn her I was walking. Sweet woman that she is, she pedalled back with a pump to try to pump my tire back up, but we found there was hole in tube and no stem showing. So she walked my bike and let me pedal out on hers. Saying she could walk it out faster than I could limp. Very true.
I'm doing pretty good on the bike now. It feels good to be back to riding. I really need to focus on excersising and getting my strength back. After doing the almost 22 miles last week on the vacation, I feel confident I will make the 25 miles next weekend for the MS Ride, just need to take plenty of water/gaterade. My walking isn't so good. Sometimes better than others. My left leg is definitely weaker than the right. Stairs are a problem. For a change it is now harder going down stairs than climbing up. Think that is the ankle. I'm at the point that I am thinking seriously about planning to have a knee replacement next year. I think it will help with quality of life. Also, I'm thinking I want to have it done now while I can enjoy it, and be active before I might get hit with more mobility issues from the MS and maybe won't be able to do that much anyway.
The vacation was great. On thursday we did a pedal and paddle, we rode bikes 9 miles up river, then rafted the 9 miles back down over some small rapids. it was lots of work but also fun. The water was low this time of year so we struggled a few times getting stuck on some rocks. But we made it. I felt sorry for M, she was stuck with most of the work travelling along with her 70 yr old dad, and gimp of a gf. but we all did our best and we made it.
We had some sadness in the family right before we left for our trip. M's dog was diagnosed with Lympoma a week prior, and we were hoping he would hang in there and make it the 4-8 months the vet predicted. Hunter went downhill fast though. We realized he wouldn't make it til we got back from our vacation. M made the decision to put him down before we left. We will all miss him. The house is much quieter without him. Even the cats all know something isn't right and I think they wonder where the big guy is.
M has been really taking it hard. Hunter was her baby. He was 11 and she raised him from a pup. It is never easy losing someone close to you. Even the animals who become such a part of our lives leave a big hole when they go. I miss him too. I also try to be understanding. Sometimes that is easier said than done. If you take two pre-menapausal (or menapausal - the pre may be debatable), emotional situations, it sometimes isn't pretty. Most of the time I have a lot of patience. Most of the time I can be very understanding. but there are times when you can step on my last nerve and I can't handle any more. Let's just say some days have been rough. M is the type though to sleep and wake up and it is a new day and yesterday is forgotten. I have trouble with that. Because I know a lot of it is because of Hunter I try to let it go. Also because of the various health conditions I have that are all exerbated by stress I try to let it go.
Focus on the good and let the bad slip away.
RIP Hunter Wood 1999-2010 - you will be missed.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Weekend Getaway, bikes, and things
This past weekend M and I went down to the shore. She rode in the annual Ocean to Bay ride, 25 miles. I am really proud of her. Just think last year neither one of us was riding at all. And this past Saturday she rode over 30 miles altogether. I really wish I had been up to riding as well, but I was afraid to try it. The ride looked great though very little grade. Which is really great for me. We have plans to do it again next year. It was really nice chance to get away from it all too. Good to have a break from work. Good to have some time together. The weather was great. Just a great weekend.
Actually I am a afraid to get back on the bike. Afraid of falling again. Afraid I won't be able to catch myself if I tip over. Afraid to get hurt. I hate being afraid. Seems as the years go by, I lose more and more. I thought it was a part of getting older, but now, I guess it is much more.
I am still doing the Physical Therapy. It helps. I can tell I am re-gaining the strength in my left knee and ankle, the range of motion in my ankle is almost back to normal. I still have trouble with stairs. My knee can't quite pull me up going up steps and my ankle hurts on the way down. My therapist told me today that that is also a function of my lack of strength in the thigh muscle which effects my ability to go up and down. The muscle gives way, and so i feel it in my ankle. Makes sense.
I saw my orthopedic dr last Friday. He said I was back too soon to get new xrays of the ankle. But we talked about the ankle and it seems to be doing fine. Then we talked about the knees. Basically it isn't anything we didn't already know. According to him my knees are well into their late 60's. My actual age is 47. People don't seem to think I look it. I tell people I have a 25 yr old daughter and I'm told there is no way. I guess that is lucky. I don't really have wrinkles. Probably partly due to being overweight. I don't have any grey hair. My mom didn't really go grey until she was in her 60's and then it looked like her hair was frosted. My dad was the same way. I do have liver spots on my hands. so my skin looks old. Anyway, I also talked to the dr about scheduling the orthoscopic surgery on my right knee since my kneecap is driving me nuts. It is very hard to sit still for any length of time. So he gave me a cortisone shot in my left knee to see if that would help it. Normally the shots do help it. And we scheduled surgery for next Thursday 4/29. I hope I'll be ready. But the plan is to get it done and move on.
I have no idea if I will be able to get back in shape to do the MS bike ride in July but that is still my goal. M says I will make it.
Actually I am a afraid to get back on the bike. Afraid of falling again. Afraid I won't be able to catch myself if I tip over. Afraid to get hurt. I hate being afraid. Seems as the years go by, I lose more and more. I thought it was a part of getting older, but now, I guess it is much more.
I am still doing the Physical Therapy. It helps. I can tell I am re-gaining the strength in my left knee and ankle, the range of motion in my ankle is almost back to normal. I still have trouble with stairs. My knee can't quite pull me up going up steps and my ankle hurts on the way down. My therapist told me today that that is also a function of my lack of strength in the thigh muscle which effects my ability to go up and down. The muscle gives way, and so i feel it in my ankle. Makes sense.
I saw my orthopedic dr last Friday. He said I was back too soon to get new xrays of the ankle. But we talked about the ankle and it seems to be doing fine. Then we talked about the knees. Basically it isn't anything we didn't already know. According to him my knees are well into their late 60's. My actual age is 47. People don't seem to think I look it. I tell people I have a 25 yr old daughter and I'm told there is no way. I guess that is lucky. I don't really have wrinkles. Probably partly due to being overweight. I don't have any grey hair. My mom didn't really go grey until she was in her 60's and then it looked like her hair was frosted. My dad was the same way. I do have liver spots on my hands. so my skin looks old. Anyway, I also talked to the dr about scheduling the orthoscopic surgery on my right knee since my kneecap is driving me nuts. It is very hard to sit still for any length of time. So he gave me a cortisone shot in my left knee to see if that would help it. Normally the shots do help it. And we scheduled surgery for next Thursday 4/29. I hope I'll be ready. But the plan is to get it done and move on.
I have no idea if I will be able to get back in shape to do the MS bike ride in July but that is still my goal. M says I will make it.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
MS bike ride, getting involved
One of the incentives of trying to get in better shape, is that M is determined that we participate in the MS Bike Ride this year. She wants us to form a team, the two of us, her dad, her sister and her partner would be members (least at the moment). The ride near us is June 24 & 25 from Paradise and back. For more info see: bike MS: To Paradise and Back 2010. Sounds ambititious. When M first looked at it, she wanted to plan to do 150 miles - 75 each day and go for broke. Considering we just got back on a bike this past summer that seems a little over the top to me.
After checking into it finding out more details, we discovered that in ordre to register you have to pledge to raise at least $150 if you ride 1 day, or $250 if you ride both days. Both days they have 25, 50 and 75 mile loops that you can ride. If you form a team, then each team member still has to meet that minimum individually. I'm not sure we will have a team. But I do want to do the ride. Right now we are talking about just doing 1 day, and we can wait to decide how far. M is now thinking maybe going for 50. I'm thinking I'm shooting for 25 to start with. The money raised goes to local programs and services for the local chapter(s) of the NMSS (National Multiple Sclerosis Society) and to research. I think last year the Paradise ride was co-sponsored by Central PA and the Greater Delaware chapters. I didn't know anything about it last year. But then I didn't really know anything about MS last year.
Once we have registered and I can figure out how to link that to here, I will post where someone can go in and pledge to sponsor me or my team.
Right now I'm working on trying to get in better shape so as to survive 25 miles on a bike at the end of June. I only went a couple times out around locally before winter and we averaged about 10-12 miles so I think 25 is do-able. I'm hoping that if I have the surgery (or for that matter if I don't) on my right knee that it won't effect the plan for us to ride.
After checking into it finding out more details, we discovered that in ordre to register you have to pledge to raise at least $150 if you ride 1 day, or $250 if you ride both days. Both days they have 25, 50 and 75 mile loops that you can ride. If you form a team, then each team member still has to meet that minimum individually. I'm not sure we will have a team. But I do want to do the ride. Right now we are talking about just doing 1 day, and we can wait to decide how far. M is now thinking maybe going for 50. I'm thinking I'm shooting for 25 to start with. The money raised goes to local programs and services for the local chapter(s) of the NMSS (National Multiple Sclerosis Society) and to research. I think last year the Paradise ride was co-sponsored by Central PA and the Greater Delaware chapters. I didn't know anything about it last year. But then I didn't really know anything about MS last year.
Once we have registered and I can figure out how to link that to here, I will post where someone can go in and pledge to sponsor me or my team.
Right now I'm working on trying to get in better shape so as to survive 25 miles on a bike at the end of June. I only went a couple times out around locally before winter and we averaged about 10-12 miles so I think 25 is do-able. I'm hoping that if I have the surgery (or for that matter if I don't) on my right knee that it won't effect the plan for us to ride.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Diet, Bikes and exercise
This summer I was full of good intentions. I joined weight watchers and started counting points with my daughter J (24). She did great, the first week I think she lost 10lb. I say it is easier when you are younger. I started out pretty good, I lost about 5 lb the first week, and gained 1 or 2 back then lost again, and then it seemed like the bottom started dropping out of my world. First I found out that my blood sugar levels are elevated. Need to watch my diet and exercise more. It seems my fasting blood sugar is hovering around 130 which is high. My A1C is 6.0 +/- is not so bad. So basically I need to start watching what I eat. Went to some diabetes education and nutrition classes. Learned a lot so that was good. But it seemed like I kept going to the Dr and hearing things I didn't want to hear - and I rebelled as a result. So I sort of was a weight watcher drop out and went on and ate unhealthy stuff - part of which I suppose was a poor poor pity me approach to all the news I was getting. Strangely enough when I had the blood tests 3 months after eating even worse than I was the 3 months prior (when i was "watching" what I ate), my fasting blood glucose was down a couple points and my A1C dropped about .3 points. During the diabetes classes I had my blood sugar tested (in the afternoon not long after eating a not that healthy lunch and a snack of fruit) and my blood glucose was only 86. Apparently the thought now is that my liver is producing glucose while I sleep and then my body doesn't know what to do with it.
So anyway, fast forward a couple months, now I've been diagnosed with MS. My neurologist tells me I need to watch my diet and need to exercise and be more healthy. My regular Dr tells me I need to watch my diet and exercise to watch that my blood sugar doesn't get out of control. I'm seeing a trend here. Everyone wants me to suddenly become more healthy. Actually so do I. I have pretty bad Osteoarthritis (bone on bone) in both my knees. My orthopedic surgeon says I should lose some weight and it would help my knees. Personally I know that when I am exercising and am at least a few pounds lighter then I feel better. So its time to do something about all this again. So my goal now is to get back to watching what I eat. I like food so eliminating it all is not an option, I need to do something that I can live with long term not a quick fix. So I need to start watching portion sizes - that I believe is the big thing. And go for more of the healthy stuff and limit the not so healthy. It won't be an over night change but I think I am ready to tackle this again. I was doing pretty good before I started finding out about all these other health issues.
The other part of this is exercise. M and I went bike shopping on Saturday. Learned about what kind of bikes would work for what we wanted to do. And unfortunately we could only find one such bike in stock, so she bought a new bike. On Sunday we went with W and took the dog to a local place with bike/walking paths and M and I took turns with the bike, and the dog. We all enjoyed being out and moving around. The weather was great. I ended up doing about 6.5 miles on the bike - not bad for not having been on one for several years. Now I'm all revved up to get my own bike. I ordered it yesterday, they say they will have it by the end of the week for me to use it next weekend. This is going to be a good thing. The biking felt great. My knees were a little stiff yesterday, but actually the exercise is good for the arthritis. The only other thing I noticed was that I need to bring more water - I was very thirsty and finished my bottle and part of W's. I have trouble with hills if they are very steep, still getting the hang of shifting down and I seem to run out of steam. Also seems to relate to the dry mouth feeling and needing more water.
I think the biking thing is going to be a great activity for all of us. W loves it, he's been biking for several years and was very into it in Colorado (they are more geared for biking and have more of the bike paths on the major roads etc) than we are in Pennsylvania. I think he's glad to see us getting into not just so that he has some one to go biking with but also because he thinks we both need to get more active. (we do.)
SO... by the end of the week I should have my own new bike, and I'm pretty excited about that!!!
So anyway, fast forward a couple months, now I've been diagnosed with MS. My neurologist tells me I need to watch my diet and need to exercise and be more healthy. My regular Dr tells me I need to watch my diet and exercise to watch that my blood sugar doesn't get out of control. I'm seeing a trend here. Everyone wants me to suddenly become more healthy. Actually so do I. I have pretty bad Osteoarthritis (bone on bone) in both my knees. My orthopedic surgeon says I should lose some weight and it would help my knees. Personally I know that when I am exercising and am at least a few pounds lighter then I feel better. So its time to do something about all this again. So my goal now is to get back to watching what I eat. I like food so eliminating it all is not an option, I need to do something that I can live with long term not a quick fix. So I need to start watching portion sizes - that I believe is the big thing. And go for more of the healthy stuff and limit the not so healthy. It won't be an over night change but I think I am ready to tackle this again. I was doing pretty good before I started finding out about all these other health issues.
The other part of this is exercise. M and I went bike shopping on Saturday. Learned about what kind of bikes would work for what we wanted to do. And unfortunately we could only find one such bike in stock, so she bought a new bike. On Sunday we went with W and took the dog to a local place with bike/walking paths and M and I took turns with the bike, and the dog. We all enjoyed being out and moving around. The weather was great. I ended up doing about 6.5 miles on the bike - not bad for not having been on one for several years. Now I'm all revved up to get my own bike. I ordered it yesterday, they say they will have it by the end of the week for me to use it next weekend. This is going to be a good thing. The biking felt great. My knees were a little stiff yesterday, but actually the exercise is good for the arthritis. The only other thing I noticed was that I need to bring more water - I was very thirsty and finished my bottle and part of W's. I have trouble with hills if they are very steep, still getting the hang of shifting down and I seem to run out of steam. Also seems to relate to the dry mouth feeling and needing more water.
I think the biking thing is going to be a great activity for all of us. W loves it, he's been biking for several years and was very into it in Colorado (they are more geared for biking and have more of the bike paths on the major roads etc) than we are in Pennsylvania. I think he's glad to see us getting into not just so that he has some one to go biking with but also because he thinks we both need to get more active. (we do.)
SO... by the end of the week I should have my own new bike, and I'm pretty excited about that!!!
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