Just Let her be Well!
Isis has now been officially sick since Thursday evening. Thursday night was the last night she has slept that she didn't wake up atleast twice. Mommy is exhausted, Daddy is exhausted. Jon stayed home with her on Friday & I stayed home with her yesterday.
She actually seemed to be better yesterday, she slept well for her nap, was chipper, ate well & was fever free. Albeit, she was slobbery. She did sleep better last night then any other night. She went down at 8, was up at 11 & then back down until 5am. Jon got up with her at 5am for good.
She was looking pretty ill again this morning though. I was so disapointed to see that. Miriam is with her today, because she was so happy yesterday I figured it was safe to have her come back. I have to wonder if her yucky-ness it caused by her being up at 5am & by the time I left at 7:30-ish she was ready for her nap already (she's normally up at 7am & back down for a nap by 10am).
Miriam put her down for a nap & if she's not better/more awake when she gets her up, then I'm going to go home again. I'm likely going to make her an appointment as well, if she doesn't seem to be better. Everytime I do that, she seems much better by the time we can get her to the doctor (of course, isn't that always the way).
I feel like someone has been sick constantly since Christmas. Jon & I had a stomach thing right after Christmas & then Isis had a chest cold. It was mid January before we were all well again. Now in Mid-Feburary we have all been sick again!
Its such an emotional drain when things are like this. I can't really explain why, but I get so depressed from dealing with Jon being sick & Isis being sick. I think mostly because I'm a worry wart (to the upteenth degree) & I spend my time worrying that I'm not doing something right for them or they are going to end up too sick.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Nerve Conduction Test & Needle Study
Back Story: Around the first of the year I started with weakness in my right hand. It was a feeling like when you gripped something hard for a long time or when you used it a lot & it was very tired. It was also accompanied by a twitch/muscle spasm in my thumb & fore finger.
I went to see my Endo on January 29th & she suggested that I go to see an Orthopedic doctor that could look at the nerves in my hand/elbow. They called me & scheduled a Nerve conduction test for yesterday.
So off I went to have the test, after doing some research & being pretty nervous about it. I'll give you a step by step account of how everything went.
1. I was told to strip from the waist up & put on a stylish hospital gown.
2. I was given a very, very warm hot pack & I was told to put my hands on it to warm them.
3. The doctor came in & he had me grip his hands, push back on him etc so he could get an idea of what my right hand was doing, vs what my left was doing.
4. I Laid down on the hospital bed & had these sticky little probes connected to me. They are like the little metal disks they put on for an EKG. I had them all over my hand & fingers on the right side.
5. They hooked up leads to the little metal disks, they were black, red & green. I kind of felt like a car when you are jumping it :)
6. They took this thing that looked like a taser (no kidding), put ultrasound jelly on it & set it in several places on my arm & shocked me with electricity. The strength of the electricity ranged anywhere from what it feels like to be zapped after you have scuffed around the carpet, to what it feels like to touch an electric fence (they had a dial & they turned up the voltage when need be).
Honestly, this didn't really hurt so much as feel very strange. I did start to feel some pain when he would have to zap me several times in a row in a certain spot.
7. After the Nerve conduction test was done (about 20 minutes or so) they did what's called a needle study. They pulled out this very long thin needle that was connected to a lead wire as well. Apparently, they were looking for the natural electric current the body gives off.
8. They stuck the needle into the muscle of my arm/hand in about 7 or 8 different places & moved it around.
9. While the needle was positioned in my muscle the doctor would have me flex the muscle to listen to changes in the sounds coming from the machine he was working on.
All in all, this part was not cool. I honestly, was going to tell him to stop & turns out he was on the last one anyway. I was starting to get woozey from all the needle sticking.
Apparently, the nerve conduction test came back within normal range. He said the needle study didn't come back "Stone Cold normal" but it wasn't definitive enough to diagnose a problem either. He feels that either I have very mild carpel tunnel AND ulnar Nueropathy or I'm going to have it at some point anyway.
He sent me to be fitted for a wrist brace & also wants me to buy an elbow pad from a sports store. Both will be worn only at night to keep my wrist/elbow in a relaxed position.
He did take some x-rays of my neck/jaw as well & I haven't heard anything back about those so I'm not sure if that means they are normal or what.
I go back in a month to see if everything he gave me for ideas has improved my situation. If not then we'll need do an MRI on my elbow to get a more definitve answer.
Back Story: Around the first of the year I started with weakness in my right hand. It was a feeling like when you gripped something hard for a long time or when you used it a lot & it was very tired. It was also accompanied by a twitch/muscle spasm in my thumb & fore finger.
I went to see my Endo on January 29th & she suggested that I go to see an Orthopedic doctor that could look at the nerves in my hand/elbow. They called me & scheduled a Nerve conduction test for yesterday.
So off I went to have the test, after doing some research & being pretty nervous about it. I'll give you a step by step account of how everything went.
1. I was told to strip from the waist up & put on a stylish hospital gown.
2. I was given a very, very warm hot pack & I was told to put my hands on it to warm them.
3. The doctor came in & he had me grip his hands, push back on him etc so he could get an idea of what my right hand was doing, vs what my left was doing.
4. I Laid down on the hospital bed & had these sticky little probes connected to me. They are like the little metal disks they put on for an EKG. I had them all over my hand & fingers on the right side.
5. They hooked up leads to the little metal disks, they were black, red & green. I kind of felt like a car when you are jumping it :)
6. They took this thing that looked like a taser (no kidding), put ultrasound jelly on it & set it in several places on my arm & shocked me with electricity. The strength of the electricity ranged anywhere from what it feels like to be zapped after you have scuffed around the carpet, to what it feels like to touch an electric fence (they had a dial & they turned up the voltage when need be).
Honestly, this didn't really hurt so much as feel very strange. I did start to feel some pain when he would have to zap me several times in a row in a certain spot.
7. After the Nerve conduction test was done (about 20 minutes or so) they did what's called a needle study. They pulled out this very long thin needle that was connected to a lead wire as well. Apparently, they were looking for the natural electric current the body gives off.
8. They stuck the needle into the muscle of my arm/hand in about 7 or 8 different places & moved it around.
9. While the needle was positioned in my muscle the doctor would have me flex the muscle to listen to changes in the sounds coming from the machine he was working on.
All in all, this part was not cool. I honestly, was going to tell him to stop & turns out he was on the last one anyway. I was starting to get woozey from all the needle sticking.
Apparently, the nerve conduction test came back within normal range. He said the needle study didn't come back "Stone Cold normal" but it wasn't definitive enough to diagnose a problem either. He feels that either I have very mild carpel tunnel AND ulnar Nueropathy or I'm going to have it at some point anyway.
He sent me to be fitted for a wrist brace & also wants me to buy an elbow pad from a sports store. Both will be worn only at night to keep my wrist/elbow in a relaxed position.
He did take some x-rays of my neck/jaw as well & I haven't heard anything back about those so I'm not sure if that means they are normal or what.
I go back in a month to see if everything he gave me for ideas has improved my situation. If not then we'll need do an MRI on my elbow to get a more definitve answer.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Might be Depressed...
I'm concerned that I'm showing signs of depression & I'm not sure what to do about them. I've considered getting myself some counseling but in this area its so hard to find & often times you wait forever for an appointment. There are very few independent therapists you can go & speak to.
I just feel like 90% of the time, I'm just below that happy mark. Like even when something is really good, or really exciting I just can't muster up the emotion to feel excited about it. Its like I want to get excited but I just can't get past bland.
On top of that, I've noticed that I'm staying home a ton more then I used to. At first I contributed it to having our own house. But to be honest we aren't anymore comfy in this house then were in our last rental, maybe even less so cause this one needed some TLC to get to be "homey". But, I 'll find myself hoping that I don't need to go anywhere unless Jon is going to come with me & then often even when I've decided to do something I change my mind later & just don't do it.
I'm wondering if its winter. Because the one thing that does make me feel better is knowing that summer is coming & soon there won't be snow everywhere. Also, the idea of going away with Jon. But I'm even worried I'll get myself all worked up for that & actually get excited & it will be a let down because its the not same as it was last year.
Jon took his Jeep Wrangler off the road & that's what we took last year. You could take the top off & the weather was beautiful, so we took the trip slow & just enjoyed the ride. We smoked, which seems like such a stupid, horrible thing to miss, but it was always 10 minutes of time I could count on seeing Jon & I miss the act smoking more then I crave the cigarrette. Why this bothers me...it just does.
I know, I know...I won't start smoking again.
Jon made a comment about not taking the Jeep may ruin this vacation for him. That really hurt too & made me realize I'm really banking on getting away & having a week for us to connect again without work/Isis/his parents/work/work/work, etc.
Argh, I know what he meant when he said it, its just in my nature to take it personally.
I hope this gets better soon.
I'm concerned that I'm showing signs of depression & I'm not sure what to do about them. I've considered getting myself some counseling but in this area its so hard to find & often times you wait forever for an appointment. There are very few independent therapists you can go & speak to.
I just feel like 90% of the time, I'm just below that happy mark. Like even when something is really good, or really exciting I just can't muster up the emotion to feel excited about it. Its like I want to get excited but I just can't get past bland.
On top of that, I've noticed that I'm staying home a ton more then I used to. At first I contributed it to having our own house. But to be honest we aren't anymore comfy in this house then were in our last rental, maybe even less so cause this one needed some TLC to get to be "homey". But, I 'll find myself hoping that I don't need to go anywhere unless Jon is going to come with me & then often even when I've decided to do something I change my mind later & just don't do it.
I'm wondering if its winter. Because the one thing that does make me feel better is knowing that summer is coming & soon there won't be snow everywhere. Also, the idea of going away with Jon. But I'm even worried I'll get myself all worked up for that & actually get excited & it will be a let down because its the not same as it was last year.
Jon took his Jeep Wrangler off the road & that's what we took last year. You could take the top off & the weather was beautiful, so we took the trip slow & just enjoyed the ride. We smoked, which seems like such a stupid, horrible thing to miss, but it was always 10 minutes of time I could count on seeing Jon & I miss the act smoking more then I crave the cigarrette. Why this bothers me...it just does.
I know, I know...I won't start smoking again.
Jon made a comment about not taking the Jeep may ruin this vacation for him. That really hurt too & made me realize I'm really banking on getting away & having a week for us to connect again without work/Isis/his parents/work/work/work, etc.
Argh, I know what he meant when he said it, its just in my nature to take it personally.
I hope this gets better soon.
Friday, February 08, 2008
Finally starting to see some progress!
I stepped on the scale this morning & I've now lost 5.5lbs since I weighed in last. I do know if that was just the luck of the draw or what since it seemed like all last week no matter how little I ate or how hard I exercised I didn't lose a damn thing.
I hope I can stay motivated with this, I'm such a procrastinator & I have such a hard time working things like exercise into my schedule while I work all day & then go home to take care of Isis all night. Not to mention its winter if I go home, sit down breathe for a second & get back up its already dark. I can't wait for warm weather.
Oh yeah, you're right I'm going to bitch about the heat by then. That's what I do :) There is but a brief period in spring where I'm happy.
I'm bound & determined this is going to be the time it works for me. I'm motivated for this like I was motivated to quit smoking & I'm still being successful at that 18 weeks later! I keep trying to tell myself that there is no way that diet/exercise can be as painful as giving up smoking was, but for some reason it seems harder. I have such bad habits engrained in my brain.
I stepped on the scale this morning & I've now lost 5.5lbs since I weighed in last. I do know if that was just the luck of the draw or what since it seemed like all last week no matter how little I ate or how hard I exercised I didn't lose a damn thing.
I hope I can stay motivated with this, I'm such a procrastinator & I have such a hard time working things like exercise into my schedule while I work all day & then go home to take care of Isis all night. Not to mention its winter if I go home, sit down breathe for a second & get back up its already dark. I can't wait for warm weather.
Oh yeah, you're right I'm going to bitch about the heat by then. That's what I do :) There is but a brief period in spring where I'm happy.
I'm bound & determined this is going to be the time it works for me. I'm motivated for this like I was motivated to quit smoking & I'm still being successful at that 18 weeks later! I keep trying to tell myself that there is no way that diet/exercise can be as painful as giving up smoking was, but for some reason it seems harder. I have such bad habits engrained in my brain.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Getting Healthy
I've decided to make some much needed changes in my life. I went to the doctor recently & she told me that although my control of my Type I diabetes is great, my cholesterol is not. I think hearing that was what I needed to get my ass in gear & start taking part in some good diet & exercise practices.
I joined http://www.sparkpeople.com/ & have been tracking all of my calories, etc. Also, this site gives you some great ideas how strength training exercises which I am doing Monday, Wednesday, Friday & I'm doing Cardio (mostly snow shoeing at this point) Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday.
My first weigh in was a disapointment, as it appears I've gained 1lb instead of losing anything. But this time I'm not giving it all up right away, I've decided to do this for my health instead of soley to look good.
One of my goals that I have set up on spark people is to journal, so hopefully I can stick to this & be brave enough to let some people read it :)
I've decided to make some much needed changes in my life. I went to the doctor recently & she told me that although my control of my Type I diabetes is great, my cholesterol is not. I think hearing that was what I needed to get my ass in gear & start taking part in some good diet & exercise practices.
I joined http://www.sparkpeople.com/ & have been tracking all of my calories, etc. Also, this site gives you some great ideas how strength training exercises which I am doing Monday, Wednesday, Friday & I'm doing Cardio (mostly snow shoeing at this point) Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday.
My first weigh in was a disapointment, as it appears I've gained 1lb instead of losing anything. But this time I'm not giving it all up right away, I've decided to do this for my health instead of soley to look good.
One of my goals that I have set up on spark people is to journal, so hopefully I can stick to this & be brave enough to let some people read it :)
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