Wicked Witch of the East is Dead!!!!!!

In a way I still feel like I am in the tornado on the way to Oz, but I also feel like the house has landed and squished the Wicked Witch of the West.  I am still battling this flare (which by the way the rheumy thinks I also have fibromyalgia, but I will get to that later) which is why I feel like I am still in the tornado.  As far as the house landing, I got up this morning before ALL my running around and made it to the gym. I braved the scale and I was 3.1 pounds under my freak out weight.  I am currently the highest I have EVER been in my life (to include pregnancies) but that is ok, because that weight is the wicked witch! It has been squished and it will never be seen again!

I made it for a short pool time this morning.  I was already hurting so I didn’t want to push to hard.  I had no interest in hanging out with the pink haired ladies (no, they don’t actually have pink hair and no it is not nice to call them that…) in the water aerobics class. I wanted to swim.  My upper body is a smidge cranky so I figured I would do what I could! I got in and swam 500 meters freestyle.  I did have to stop just about every lap to adjust my goggles or my headphones.  Left shoulder was a little sore, but did not hurt.  The next 500 meters I figured I would try to get in some kicking and I was happy when my lower body did not disown me.  I had to alternate front and back to keep my back from going nuts, but I got it done.  I noticed the time and realized I didn’t have much time left so I walked the last 500 meters. I think I will keep my water walking distance down for the time being, it was not pleasant!  I mean it did feel good to be back in there doing something again, but I think my body like the swimming the best!

After a quick shower and change I was off to the rheumy.  During the initial check in I refused to get on the scale, but later the doc required me to get on anyway.  He came to the conclusion that my back and hips are not lupus related, they are RA related and he believes I have fibromyalgia (well, duh!!!!).  I am coming off the prednisone (YAY!!!!!) and going on something else.  He is also testing me to see if I can go on another lupus drug, can’t remember the name of it at this time, but I am at the point of just make this pain go away!!! OH!!! And the rheumy asked how my appetite has been I told him straight out I have been eating like a pig (which is why he made me get on the scale) he looked at me and said
“you know you aren’t supposed to, right?” It took EVERYTHING I had not to look at him and say ‘no shit Sherlock!!!!!’ but I didn’t say it!

I stopped and picked up lunch (running around day, planned on stopping and picking up lunch today). I had this Santa Fe salad thing and some shrimp! Yum!

Anyway, it is time to continue with my running in circles!

Follow the Yellow Brick Road!

Oh boy, the last two weeks have been amazing and relaxing, on the same token I am sure I put on about at least ten pounds (and enjoyed every bite of it) but the details of that will come later!

I almost feel like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. My goal is to get to the Emerald City, but it is a very long journey to get there.  Right now I have to rely on a wheelchair to get around (ok, any distance more than about 20 meters) which makes hitting the gym a little more interesting that I would like! I think my yellow brick road goes straight up the side of an insane mountain!

Tomorrow I get to go see my rheumy, he is planning on putting me on a new medicine, maybe that means I get to come off of one or two (hey, a girl can wish, can’t she!).  Then I have mommy duties rest of the day.  I am really not looking forward to Tuesday, the VA has figured now would be a good time to send me to pain and torture (aka physical therapy).  I am really hoping I can move after that appointment, worst case scenario I will call my mom and ask her to come pick me up.  Luckily Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are normal days.  I am hoping to visit the gym every day this week.  I am shooting for either pool time (swimming laps, not walking them) or floor Pilates. Either way it will be interesting because I will be trying to get in a GOOD workout without pissing off my lower body! Oh! And tomorrow is weigh in day! Not looking forward to seeing the number, but I am pretty sure I am prepared for what I will see!   

Noodle Time

I have wanted to attend a water aerobics class since I finally started going back to the gym. Well, today I made it.  It was a very educational experience for me.  I am sure not all water aerobics classes are the same, so I can only judge the one class I attend.  I started off on the wrong foot, I got to the pool a little early so I could get some walking in.  About a half hour before the class started these two women got into the lane I was swimming/kicking in and started walking at turtle pace side by side.  They didn’t even bother to ask if I minded sharing let alone have the courtesy to actually share MY lane.  I got to the point that I was going to move lanes and they finally decide to move. 

Once it got closer to class time more old women came in.  Another woman got into my lane but kept up against the wall, not to get in my way.   After another lap or two it was time for class and the one of the two annoying women attempted to be nice and friendly with me, yea, not happening.  I mean I wasn’t rude/mean, but I am not really a social person when I am trying to get my workout on! Class started and the instructor did the normal – “anyone new to water aerobics?”  I raised my hand.  She told everyone we would do a warm-up, then about 20 minutes of cardio and finish off with some toning and stretching.  I knew I wasn’t really in for a GOOD workout, but I was looking for a workout.  I can say that the toning section of the class was one I enjoyed.  I would be shocked if my heart rate even left level 2. 

When all was said and done, my lower body really didn’t like the class – the jumping around in the water was not a wise move.  My core and upper body enjoyed the toning, happily I am going to be sore tomorrow. My heart really hated it, I kept looking over at the lap pool and up at the windows to the second floor wishing I was there and not in the class. 

I would have to say that one thing that would be nice to attend is a water class for injured athletes.  I am not cut out for the pink haired water aerobics class.  I think I will go back to my pool time and try to get back to where I need to be. 

It sucks!

Sorry, but this is a MAJOR vent!!!!

Back in August I found myself in a MAJOR flare up, I have been in a flare up before, but nothing like this.  I was stuck in bed for about a month.  I have been able to get out of bed since the beginning of September, but I am still battling this damn flare up.  My pain level is hanging out above a 5 (and that is a good day), I am exhausted after doing a small amount of laundry.  I get the picture, I am in a flare up, but that really doesn’t help me.  I go shopping at Wal-Mart I have to rely on a stupid wheel chair just so I can be semi functional the next day. 

 If the pain weren’t enough the reminder of the upcoming iron distance triathlon is killing me. Instead of the race we are going on an amazing vacation, but I get an email from the race and it reminds me that I am broken. I know I will be up and running again soon, but that doesn’t help me right now. I SHOULD be ready to toe the line at my first iron distance; I would have reached my goal of getting my first iron distance done by this upcoming birthday, but NOOOOOOO! I had to extend that date by five years, I will get my iron distance done. Until then I have to enjoy life as a non-racer. I am working on getting time in the pool and working on walking and swimming. I can’t even consider hitting the treadmill or the elliptical machine right now. When I am finally ready to start on the long slow road to running a marathon, let along an iron man, it will take a lot of time and patients to get back to where I want. All advice will be greatly appreciated, not to mention the support not to push myself to hard!