It has been 21 years since I had a spinal tap. At the time, I went along with whatever the doctor suggested because we were not able to figure out what I had definitively. If I knew then what I know now I would have chosen NOT to participate. I am not saying this is the choice for everyone, but again, if I knew then what I know now there wouldn't have been any place for it because it turned out negative. The test was extremely painful because during the actual needle being inserted and pulled out a bit to relocate it struck a nerve and caused major pain. I am not upset with the doctor because I know that accidents happen. I was laying on my stomach and was looking at a screen that showed the doctor where the needle was inside my body and could see it actually happen. For months up to a year after this procedure I would experience lower back pain daily exactly where the procedure was done. When the weather would change it would be even worse. Even still to this day when the weather changes it still acts up. Over the years it seems to have lessened some but today, wow, it hurts almost as bad as the day it occurred. I woke up and when I started walking I almost hit the floor. The weather outside is very cloudy so the house inside was fairly dark. I was trying to figure out why my back hurt so badly then it struck me where the pain was coming from and the fact the house was dark the weather must be changing, so it made sense. Even though my back is really hurting I am very thankful and prayerful that the weather will stay changed and the skies will open up and God will let the rain pour down Lots of it! I can take medicine and use ice and heat to ease the pain but I can't make it rain. Should it rain, which we have a great possibility, will make it all worth while. I do not like being in pain but it does help remind me of what I need to do to be as healthy as I can be, but more than anything to be grateful for everything no matter how it comes.
Having a spinal tap should be based solely on the individual. Do your research! You need to do what is right for you and your family. My test did not come back showing that I had MS at that time. I believe that the many tests that I took early on were all negative because I was in the early stages and it isn't always detected. I have no doubt that if I were to do the usual tests of spinal tap and MRI's that they would show it and all its glory. But for me, I choose to not continue to have MRI's yearly or how ever often b/c I would change nothing in the way that I treat my MS currently. For me, all it would do is make me stress even more from knowing I have more lesions or what not. Again, this is my decision that I have made with the help of my family. What I am doing is working for me. Everyone is different and everyone needs to make decision for themselves on tests to do or medicines to take, etc. I try to keep an open mind and pray I will continue to. I hope to be able to support others in their decisions and hope you will share what you are doing on here as well. Things that work for you and things that haven't worked. We all learn from trial and error and if we can share our experiences with each other then we are better off I believe.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Living Life
I have been very busy over the past few months living life and living it to the fullest. I have been more conscientious of what I am eating and how much I am exercising. I have taken it extremely slow and been very cautious not to over do things this time which has always ended me back in a heap of unhealthiness and unhappiness. The unhappiness is due to the situation that I get myself back into by over doing it. That is why I took things extremely slow this time and it paid off in big ways.
My blogs at the end of January were about the juicing that we, as a family, decided to do in order to "cleanse" our bodies. The juicing did amazing things for me personally. It definitely got me on the right track that I had been hoping to be on, health wise. At the end of February, I joined Weight Watchers b/c I had a little success on this through their online program for a very short time about a year ago. This time I signed up and went to meetings. I know that for me personally, it helps to keep me accountable. I was doing it for myself this time. I felt in the past, I was continually letting everyone else down too when I failed...which I would ultimately do. This time my approach was different. I told both my husband and daughter how much I truly weighed. This was a huge step for me b/c I was so embarrassed and ashamed of myself. Little did I know that by doing this what a blessing it would be for me. It took away the pressure I had been putting on myself. My family was encouraging and non judgmental. I know they always had been but the added burden of shame kept me from seeing this. I lived one day at a time. I would tell myself that if I faltered, there would always be a fresh new start the next day. By telling myself this, it again took the pressure of failing off of me which in turn caused me to not faltered. I did enjoy eating and would indulge at times. If I wanted to eat something, I would. I would usually just take a bite and I was good.
I have lost about 35 pounds to date. I almost weekly attend a spinning class on Monday's only. One 45 minute class a week is more than enough for ME. I handle that class WAY better than I thought that I would and really enjoy it. I am not always doing what the instructor is doing, but that is ok with not only me but the instructor. I made sure I talked with her about my health and asked if she had a problem with me keeping a slower pace. So, I make my own pace. Stand when I can and for how long I can. I don't feel guilty when I have to sit or slow down. I listen to my body and act accordingly. If nothing else, I at least stay on the bike and spin slowly for the entire 45 minutes. I position myself under one of the many ceiling fans and have one huge wall fan blowing directly on me from the time I start the class til the time I leave AND make sure to drink water as I am riding. This has assured me of being able to stay the course. I did push too hard this past week and got too hot. It was a great reminder to me to keep MY pace. It wiped me out for the remainder of the day which really bothered me. I don't like that feeling and I don't want to put myself in that position. In addition to spinning class I will choose to walk to my husbands office then drive when I can. We live where we work, on a 13 acre area. Our house is not too far from the office but a good enough distance to get some extra exercise in. I go the gym that is on our campus as well, with my daughter, and help her by throwing volleyballs for her to hit.
I have so much more energy and feel so much better about myself. My health is improving daily for the most part. Yes, I do still have some days I don't feel great and just try to rest accordingly when I can, or as soon as I can. I still go to the pro-adjuster chiropractor at least once a month, unless I have a need to go more frequently. I am really feeling so much better b/c of what I am doing for myself. Some times we just have to be a little selfish. Just enough to not put yourself last always. My husband has always told me that if I don't take care of myself than I can't be good for anyone, including myself. It is easy to get lost in the day to day living that we neglect our health. When we do that, it is only a matter of time when we will be hit and we never know how hard that may be.
When I was still in my first few months of WW. I would check my weight frequently in anticipation of weigh in day. I would check in my little book that had my weekly weight written in it. On the top of the page that I would constantly refer to, was a note from my daughter that read, "Good job, mom, keep it up you're doing great! : ) <3 Lex" I cannot tell you enough just how special that note was to me and still is. I did cry upon reading it b/c this was not typical of her to leave me notes. She probably has no clue how much her words helped to keep me on track. In the beginning, I was doing it for myself, but it was now showing how much it meant to my family that I was doing it & being successful, b/c I was a much happier person. It showed outwardly and they too got the benefits of the happier, healthier me which caused her to want to encourage me with her kind & loving words. As Gabby Douglas, the USA Olympiad, said so eloquently recently, "I give all the glory to God. It's kind of a win-win situation. The glory goes up to Him, and all the blessings fall down on me." God truly blessed me with a loving husband and daughter.
My blogs at the end of January were about the juicing that we, as a family, decided to do in order to "cleanse" our bodies. The juicing did amazing things for me personally. It definitely got me on the right track that I had been hoping to be on, health wise. At the end of February, I joined Weight Watchers b/c I had a little success on this through their online program for a very short time about a year ago. This time I signed up and went to meetings. I know that for me personally, it helps to keep me accountable. I was doing it for myself this time. I felt in the past, I was continually letting everyone else down too when I failed...which I would ultimately do. This time my approach was different. I told both my husband and daughter how much I truly weighed. This was a huge step for me b/c I was so embarrassed and ashamed of myself. Little did I know that by doing this what a blessing it would be for me. It took away the pressure I had been putting on myself. My family was encouraging and non judgmental. I know they always had been but the added burden of shame kept me from seeing this. I lived one day at a time. I would tell myself that if I faltered, there would always be a fresh new start the next day. By telling myself this, it again took the pressure of failing off of me which in turn caused me to not faltered. I did enjoy eating and would indulge at times. If I wanted to eat something, I would. I would usually just take a bite and I was good.
I have lost about 35 pounds to date. I almost weekly attend a spinning class on Monday's only. One 45 minute class a week is more than enough for ME. I handle that class WAY better than I thought that I would and really enjoy it. I am not always doing what the instructor is doing, but that is ok with not only me but the instructor. I made sure I talked with her about my health and asked if she had a problem with me keeping a slower pace. So, I make my own pace. Stand when I can and for how long I can. I don't feel guilty when I have to sit or slow down. I listen to my body and act accordingly. If nothing else, I at least stay on the bike and spin slowly for the entire 45 minutes. I position myself under one of the many ceiling fans and have one huge wall fan blowing directly on me from the time I start the class til the time I leave AND make sure to drink water as I am riding. This has assured me of being able to stay the course. I did push too hard this past week and got too hot. It was a great reminder to me to keep MY pace. It wiped me out for the remainder of the day which really bothered me. I don't like that feeling and I don't want to put myself in that position. In addition to spinning class I will choose to walk to my husbands office then drive when I can. We live where we work, on a 13 acre area. Our house is not too far from the office but a good enough distance to get some extra exercise in. I go the gym that is on our campus as well, with my daughter, and help her by throwing volleyballs for her to hit.
I have so much more energy and feel so much better about myself. My health is improving daily for the most part. Yes, I do still have some days I don't feel great and just try to rest accordingly when I can, or as soon as I can. I still go to the pro-adjuster chiropractor at least once a month, unless I have a need to go more frequently. I am really feeling so much better b/c of what I am doing for myself. Some times we just have to be a little selfish. Just enough to not put yourself last always. My husband has always told me that if I don't take care of myself than I can't be good for anyone, including myself. It is easy to get lost in the day to day living that we neglect our health. When we do that, it is only a matter of time when we will be hit and we never know how hard that may be.
When I was still in my first few months of WW. I would check my weight frequently in anticipation of weigh in day. I would check in my little book that had my weekly weight written in it. On the top of the page that I would constantly refer to, was a note from my daughter that read, "Good job, mom, keep it up you're doing great! : ) <3 Lex" I cannot tell you enough just how special that note was to me and still is. I did cry upon reading it b/c this was not typical of her to leave me notes. She probably has no clue how much her words helped to keep me on track. In the beginning, I was doing it for myself, but it was now showing how much it meant to my family that I was doing it & being successful, b/c I was a much happier person. It showed outwardly and they too got the benefits of the happier, healthier me which caused her to want to encourage me with her kind & loving words. As Gabby Douglas, the USA Olympiad, said so eloquently recently, "I give all the glory to God. It's kind of a win-win situation. The glory goes up to Him, and all the blessings fall down on me." God truly blessed me with a loving husband and daughter.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Technologically Challenged
I wanted to apologize that I have not blogged in a while. My settings have not been correct and have not received any notices for messages of folks commenting. I deeply apologize and hope to have this remedied quickly. I have not fallen off the face of the earth... yet, I have just not been able to spend the time needed to try to figure out my "issues" on here or to even realize all of my "issues" until now. I have spent all morning making sure to write back to everyone who has written me but I do not see them on the blog. I am unsure as to where they have been sent at this time. I believe that I just answered them in email form and not as a comment back on the blog. : / My husband is the blog king and I have not wanted to bother him as of yet but he can know that as of now, I will be hitting him up soon. : ) I do plan to update my blog in the next day or two. God bless!
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