Hurray for friends
Today a friend invited me to run an errand with her, and we had lunch after. T was so very good to hang out and laugh.
PT notes
The othopedist gave me some muscle relaxers and it has helped a LOT. I'm almost normal until I get tired, which happens quickly. I'm pasting some notes here for my records.
5/6 … 2.5 hours more (5 am) it’s hurting again. It started in my knee but then when I lay back down I couldn’t get positioned for my hip and then it was my thigh. Right now I’m on the couch with an ice pack along the bend. My knee aches still but no help for it. I took some Tylenol. A throbbing ache, level 3
5:30 feeling better.
5/7 I’m getting worse. Judson had to help me to bed. My hip kept collapsing. Hurts to put weight on it. It was fine earlier. I was feeling strong at noon PT. I was limping when we were done but not badly. Pain gradually increased but I did most of my exercises anyway. Real trouble with single leg stance.
Judson brought out a walking stick to help me. It’s made of crape myrtle.
5/8 morning. Still hard to walk.
5/8 night. Improved! I can walk short distances without a staff.
2am. Just now walked downstairs and did fine. Had to take steps one at a time going back up.
5/9 6:30am. Can’t walk and my quad hurts. Took Tylenol and wrapped my thigh. Sat in the recliner and dozed. The recliner seems to help.
11am. Still can’t walk but thigh pain is much reduced.
Yn waeth
Mae hi’n waeth heddiw. It’s worse today. I can’t walk.
I was strong at the PT appointment at noon, gradually degraded until Judson had to help me walk to the bedroom
briefly better last night but hard to sleep Then this morning I’m using a walking stick to get around Best hope: I fall asleep and the rest helps me walk again
Hard to describe today’s pain
Hour by hour it changes. I went ahead and did most of my PT at once, my logic being I could recover at once. It seems to have worked. Just a bit of knee ache and quad ache. I just took some more Tylenol.
Huh. I just realized I didn’t have a nap today.
Trying to avoid pain is tiring
5/3 pain was okay, level 2
Worse after doing exercises, mostly quad
Much worse 5/4, gasps. Usually when the hip changes angle. Eventually I figured out to try ice and that helped some. I didn’t do exercises bc I hurt. Quad pain too such that I wrapped it and ordered a compression bandage. Weather was stormy and cool.
About an hour ago I told J that I had no pain. Hip and quad had calmed down. About 20 min later my quad starts tingling, now bugging me to move it but I don’t want to move too much for fear of enraging my hip
5/5 bad in the morning, level 3, but rest plus ice plus Tylenol gave me almost zero pain until the evening, when I tried my exercises. It’s level 2-3 with sharp spikes. I’m afraid if the spikes so sometimes I’m afraid to move for the pain. This is most troublesome on the toilet. I’m stretched out in bed now, hoping the ache will stop or I’ll fall asleep despite it.
update: 2 hours later and I’m remarkably well! Very little pain.
(no subject)
ME (petting Lucy at the dresser): <Gasp!>
JUDSON: Are you okay? What happened?
ME: I just stood on my leg wrong. It's fine.
JUDSON: There shouldn't be a way you can stand that makes you do that.
It's been 10 days since the shot. Dr. Google says most people have releif in 5 days, but sometimes it takes a few weeks, especially if the pain is chronic. Saturday I felt much better in my hip, no pain at all! Today I'm at the "motherfucker" level. I judge pain by the swear word it causes me to say, and I think of "motherfucker" as about a 7. "Damn" is about a 2, and "fuck" a 5. I'm not sure what word fits a 10--the expression that comes to mind is "I will kill you."
JUDSON: Are you okay? What happened?
ME: I just stood on my leg wrong. It's fine.
JUDSON: There shouldn't be a way you can stand that makes you do that.
It's been 10 days since the shot. Dr. Google says most people have releif in 5 days, but sometimes it takes a few weeks, especially if the pain is chronic. Saturday I felt much better in my hip, no pain at all! Today I'm at the "motherfucker" level. I judge pain by the swear word it causes me to say, and I think of "motherfucker" as about a 7. "Damn" is about a 2, and "fuck" a 5. I'm not sure what word fits a 10--the expression that comes to mind is "I will kill you."
Hip trouble
Following up on my iliopsoas post, I went to an orthopedist last Monday. It turns out I have osteo arthritis 🥺 i’m quite young for that. I also have a hip impingement, and that has made the osteoarthritis more likely, plus genetics and weight.
they put me on meloxicam and glucosamine. They seem to help, though I often also need some Tylenol. I’m scheduled for a Cortizone shot, which I’m not completely sure I need, but the physical therapist told me that it’s partly diagnostic. How I respond to the shot will give important information to the orthopedist.
they put me on meloxicam and glucosamine. They seem to help, though I often also need some Tylenol. I’m scheduled for a Cortizone shot, which I’m not completely sure I need, but the physical therapist told me that it’s partly diagnostic. How I respond to the shot will give important information to the orthopedist.
I saw a physical therapist today. Her name is Jen, and she’s my age. She’s very intelligent. her diagnosis is that the arthritis is minor and I’m just inflamed. hence, Cortizone. The way my fever sets in my hip socket means that I have a little rotation in One Direction, and this can cause some knee pain as well as hip inflammation. We are going to be working on increasing my range of motion and on strengthening. Today’s focus was on bones, and on Monday she will look at my muscles.
i’m using speech to text to write this entry, and it’s funny where it chooses to capitalize.I find it a lot harder to compose this way. When I’m typing, it gives me more time to think out my thoughts. But I’m currently using my iPad, which is hard to type on.
Fundamentalism
Let's follow the 2nd Amendment and preserve open access to arms, like the Founding Fathers wanted. But if we're going to stick to the letter of the law, it has to be limited to the "arms" they had available at the time. Here, have a musket.
Who is that person?
My post from this past March: I've been doing so much training! Sometimes, the body just needs a rest. My "rest" meant I just walked a mile and did some stretches.
Who the hell is that person??
Who the hell is that person??
Entry tags:
Exercise
Exercises to do at home for my feet issues:
- 4 stretches: quad stretch & 3 different calf stretches
- 4 strengthening: leg lifts and clam shells using theraband for resistance; fire hydrants with resistance (I stopped these when my back started hurting); heel raises
- WITYs on an exercise ball
- waist-height rows using theraband
- chest-height rows using theraband
- chin tucks
- half locust
- drawing the arrow
- opening the book
- fainting lady stretch
- box lunges
- kneeling angel wings
- minor bird-dogs (also recommended by previous PT)
- baby Gregor Samsas (also recommended by previous PT)
Christmas season
I'm at Starbucks grading, and the Christmas set-up is occurring. Other people roll their eyes at how early Christmas starts, but I embrace it.
Christmas to me means the end of the semester, the end of work, and time to catch my breath. It also means sweet treats, but less of those than in the past!
Christmas to me means the end of the semester, the end of work, and time to catch my breath. It also means sweet treats, but less of those than in the past!
gratitude
There's a lot to worry about with our national transition of power, but for today I am focusing on gratitude. I am grateful to the Obamas for eight years of public service. I know it can't have been easy, having your whole family in the spotlight all the time, and being blamed for everything. There are things he could've done better, principles I wish he had followed, but on the whole I honestly believe Obama did the best job possible. What's more, I believe he's a truly honorable man and a wonderful human being.
So I just want to say thanks. #thanksobama
So I just want to say thanks. #thanksobama
more later
It's the start of the semester, and things are busy. This weekend I'll be writing an article and working on my evaluation portfolio. Maybe I'll post an update after that.
Entry tags:
Rough plan for week
Check this out--no frozen entrees. Weird, huh.
Cereal breakfast every day, 9 sp (smart points).
Lunches
Monday: Starbucks yogurt, maybe pb crackers, fruit
Tuesday: English muffin "pizza" and salad
Wednesday: department party
Thursday: out of town
Friday: soup and grilled cheese
Saturday: soup and grilled cheese or Zoe's.
Dinners
Monday: boca burger and french fries
Tuesday: soup and grilled cheese sandwich
Wednesday: soup and grilled cheese sandwich
Thursday: out of town?
Friday: omelet with feta and peppers
Saturday: tofu stir fry
Snacks
Roasted vegetables
seed crackers with peanut butter
popcorn
tortilla chips and hummus
cashews
green beans
Coming up in next 2 weeks: artichoke strata; Santa Fe stew with solid bread;
Cereal breakfast every day, 9 sp (smart points).
Lunches
Monday: Starbucks yogurt, maybe pb crackers, fruit
Tuesday: English muffin "pizza" and salad
Wednesday: department party
Thursday: out of town
Friday: soup and grilled cheese
Saturday: soup and grilled cheese or Zoe's.
Dinners
Monday: boca burger and french fries
Tuesday: soup and grilled cheese sandwich
Wednesday: soup and grilled cheese sandwich
Thursday: out of town?
Friday: omelet with feta and peppers
Saturday: tofu stir fry
Snacks
Roasted vegetables
seed crackers with peanut butter
popcorn
tortilla chips and hummus
cashews
green beans
Coming up in next 2 weeks: artichoke strata; Santa Fe stew with solid bread;
Entry tags:
5 pounds down!
Today is Day 6 of WW but since it's my chosen weigh-in day, my week has restarted. I ended Day 5 right in zone for the week, and my weight today was down 5 pounds from starting! So awesome. I love the first-week bump. The very first time I started WW, I lost 9 pounds the first week. The other times I restarted I also had good losses but I think this is the biggest since I first did it.
I was very, very cranky yesterday. Some of it was a lack of alone-time and travel stress. A lot of it was worry about how much fucking work I have to do before Monday. But a fair bit, I'm sure, was the diet. Not that I've been that hungry since the first couple of days. But I haven't been getting my nice sugar-highs either, and no indulgences.
Must discover non-food indulgences.
I was very, very cranky yesterday. Some of it was a lack of alone-time and travel stress. A lot of it was worry about how much fucking work I have to do before Monday. But a fair bit, I'm sure, was the diet. Not that I've been that hungry since the first couple of days. But I haven't been getting my nice sugar-highs either, and no indulgences.
Must discover non-food indulgences.
Entry tags:
WW food ideas
Things from the website:
Tofu & Veggie stir fry with brown rice
Baked pears
Mashed avocado and tomato with salt on toasted English muffin
apples
Italian faux-sausage on bun
Quesadilla with roasted veg
omelet for dinner. with feta, veg. grape toma.
English muffins with tomatoes (canned with herbs) and mozzarella ("pizza")
If I can get maybe 3 different weeks of menus, I can probably be set. A lot of the time I eat the same things, and then a cooked thing gets put in once in a while. This week my combination cooking/frozen meal was pasta alfredo (Lean Cuisine) with bell peppers (uncooked). It was easy and different. I just now roasted some bell peppers with onions, and those will keep a few days. I'm remembering that the key to this is lots of vegetables. And now fruit is free! As long as it isn't dry (see earlier comments about grapes vs raisins).
Tofu & Veggie stir fry with brown rice
Baked pears
Mashed avocado and tomato with salt on toasted English muffin
apples
Italian faux-sausage on bun
Quesadilla with roasted veg
omelet for dinner. with feta, veg. grape toma.
English muffins with tomatoes (canned with herbs) and mozzarella ("pizza")
If I can get maybe 3 different weeks of menus, I can probably be set. A lot of the time I eat the same things, and then a cooked thing gets put in once in a while. This week my combination cooking/frozen meal was pasta alfredo (Lean Cuisine) with bell peppers (uncooked). It was easy and different. I just now roasted some bell peppers with onions, and those will keep a few days. I'm remembering that the key to this is lots of vegetables. And now fruit is free! As long as it isn't dry (see earlier comments about grapes vs raisins).
protesting
I haven't attended many protests or rallies. I've done a few union events. This fall I went to a protest against the university's non-support of university, and tonight I attended a protest called "Love Trumps Hate." It was an odd gathering because we weren't really sure what our purpose was. Is it anti-Trump? Is it healing?
Before we marched, some speakers said the purpose was to build bridges, so don't engage with anyone yelling at you. But then why did the front marchers chant, "No KKK, no fascist state, no Trump"? I thought that was a pretty bad idea. The back marchers were chanting "Love not hate," which is much better. I was in the middle, where it was pretty quiet. I always seem to end up in the middle. I wanted to be singing songs. We need song-writers for the liberal agenda. Like "This Land Is Your Land." But then I worry about the Native American perspective on that one.
I'm middle-class, native, white, cis, straight, yet as I was parking and walking from my car, I noticed I felt scared. How much more scared must anyone without my privilege feel? More afraid of confrontation though than violence, though that's a possibility lately at these events. Someone was punched at the UT protest Thursday.
I have to keep trying. I was so very mad all day Wednesday and just felt like I needed to do something. So I'm trying to do more.
Before we marched, some speakers said the purpose was to build bridges, so don't engage with anyone yelling at you. But then why did the front marchers chant, "No KKK, no fascist state, no Trump"? I thought that was a pretty bad idea. The back marchers were chanting "Love not hate," which is much better. I was in the middle, where it was pretty quiet. I always seem to end up in the middle. I wanted to be singing songs. We need song-writers for the liberal agenda. Like "This Land Is Your Land." But then I worry about the Native American perspective on that one.
I'm middle-class, native, white, cis, straight, yet as I was parking and walking from my car, I noticed I felt scared. How much more scared must anyone without my privilege feel? More afraid of confrontation though than violence, though that's a possibility lately at these events. Someone was punched at the UT protest Thursday.
I have to keep trying. I was so very mad all day Wednesday and just felt like I needed to do something. So I'm trying to do more.
Lunch in the office
I'm so relieved to not be sick anymore that it's as if I have a font of energy (I'm pretty sure that isn't real). My head is working a lot faster, which I notice because everyone else has slowed down and I'm like, come on. Also I'm bouncing a little bit at my desk as if I'm listening to music but there's none on and not even a tune in my head. But maybe that's happiness over lunch, which is my homemade artichoke strata.
I have some worries about my fiction class today and having enough to talk about. And some worries about me being patient during Tech Writing while they practice things. Otherwise today is awesome. Everything is awesooooome, everything is cool when you're part of a team...
I would find me annoying right now if I weren't actually me.
I have some worries about my fiction class today and having enough to talk about. And some worries about me being patient during Tech Writing while they practice things. Otherwise today is awesome. Everything is awesooooome, everything is cool when you're part of a team...
I would find me annoying right now if I weren't actually me.