njakamarilyn's Journal

I just want to cry and hide

Nov 10 2009 11:03

After this morning's weigh-in of being up to 485.0 I just wanted to crawl into bed and pull the covers over my head. I am so tired. I am not getting anywhere and my feet are real swollen again. I am so ashamed - on a roller coaster ride or merry-go-round and I can't stop.

Andy came in just about a half hour ago and said "very carefully" (of course my emotions are running very high!) do you want to walk? DO I WANT TO WALK???? NO!!!! ... but I put on my walking clothes and tennis shoes. We only did 10 houses today ... the weather was lovely but since I have not had any movement since last Wednesday with walking I did not want to push it with PT coming tomorrow. What I want to do is run ... leap ... dance ... but my body is just not allowing me to do so. I also stood at the sink and did the breakfast dishes. Any movement is better than none! Trying to drink a lot of water today as well

Where Do I Begin

Nov 09 2009 18:52

PT on Friday was so-so. I wwas able to get through my in house exercises but I became light headed and only made it to the end of the carport.

I have been in bed most of the weekend just not feeling tops! I promised to walk on Monday and here it is the day has ended and did not even do inside exercises. I feel real cold and aches all over.

My doctor will be here on Wednesday for my monthly blood work and PT will be here also.

My feet are back to being really swollen again - feeling frustrated but I can't let this get me down!

A quiet Day

Nov 05 2009 15:31

One day on - one day off with exercise ... looking forward to tomorrow. It is suppose to drizzle but I hope not ... I will not be able to do my street walking.

Hump Day

Nov 04 2009 12:13

Weighed in at 471.2. On 10/28 I weighed my highest ever - 483.6.

I was hoping yesterday I would be up to taking a short walk but my back was "tired" and I do no want to push it at this stage of the game.

I did my inside exercises. Laying down I did 4 different kinds of exercises (only 10x), sitting I did 4 leg exercises and 7 arm exercises (10x), standing with the walker I did 4 exercises (10x), partial squats at the sink (10x).

Today, with PT, I walked around the block! It is equivalent to 22 homes. It was a little easier and I did not rest as much. I think part of it the weather was much cooler.

We set some goals of me being able to walk 4 houses without the aid of the walker and getting into the vehicle. Hopefully in two weeks I will be attempting these next two things.

My pulse went up to 126 and my oxygen was 96%. After 2 minutes my pulse had come down to 103 with oxygen at 97%.

My energy level was pretty good this morning.

Keep on moving ~ no matter how small it is!

Tuesday Greetings

Nov 03 2009 08:19

Oops - I did it again ... forgot to journal.

Yesterday ... Monday ... Made a promise to PT if she did not meet with me today - Andy would walk with me. (He gets so overwhelmed sometimes with appointments in the morning. It was his weekend off plus our 23rd anniversary - so I wanted to give him a break)

Well gang, at 9:15 am I was putting on my shoes and we took off! We actually walked around the block! It is equivalent to 22 homes. Have to admit couldn't wait to get home but I did it!

We gave me a shower and as I was drying off - who popped in but PT - she forgot to take me off the schedule. I teased her and said I know wshe was only checking up on me!

I cannot tell you how good I feel! I think even the swelling of my feet are finally starting going down since July!

~ Keep on moving!

Hospitalized

Oct 30 2009 11:22

A year ago today I was hospitalized with a pulmonary embolism (blood clot in my lung). I may not have progressed very far with my weight - I weighed 477 and today I weighed 472 but my movement has been unbelievable. I have come a long way from just laying in bed unable to move and in so much pain just two years ago.

I started my morning by getting up and walking down to the end of the carport to get the newspaper before Andy came home from work.

Today, with PT I did my inside exercises. Laying down I did 4 different kinds of exercises (only 10x), sitting I did 4 leg exercises and 7 arm exercises (10x), standing with the walker I did 4 exercises (10x), partial squats at the sink (10x).

I went back down the stairs and headed for my "street walking". Monday I went 8 houses, Wednesday 9 houses and today 11! Of course if you realize I turn around and do the same amount of houses! What progress. My pulse went up to 146 and my oxygen was 96%. After 2 minutes my pulse had come down to 118 with oxygen at 97%.

I had so much energy, even my pace was faster today and it felt so great!

Keeping on moving! ~ Norma Jean

Feeling Much Better

Oct 21 2009 11:14

Was so anxious to see PT today. Even though I did not feel well and sleeping a lot from Saturday through Tuesday ... I couldn't wait for my 10 am appointment.

We started with my stretches and my inside exercises. I did build up a sweat again - laying down I did 4 different kinds of exercises (only 10x), sitting I did 3 leg exercises and 7 arm exercises (10x), standing with the walker I did 4 exercises (10x), oops we forgot the partial squats at the sink. I will do those next time i walk in the bathroom.

I went back down the stairs and headed for my "street walking". We not only walked the 4 houses down but I added 3 more and turned around. My endurance, even after no exercise since Friday, was surprisingly good. I only rested two houses down from my home on the way back. I got my heart rate up to 136 and my pulse after 5 minutes was 77. An improvement from I got my heart rate up to 130 my pulse at rest was 82.

Keeping on moving! ~NJ

Good-morning - Day Five

Oct 16 2009 06:56

Good-morning! So far I have walked outside and picked up the newspapers at the end of the carport and did a few dishes at the sink all before 6:30 am. It is going to be in the 90's today - already put the a/c on - such weird weather - the other day I was freezing and it was pouring rain!

The entrance to our mobile home park - I guess you would consider that the "street corner". We are 7 mobile homes from there and to the stop sign beyond our home is 4 houses and then there is a curve. I wonder what direction we will take when Andy gets home from work this morning? Will keep you updated!

Day Four

Oct 15 2009 19:00

OK. Today, I was so sore from yesterdays workout with PT. So, I decided I would NOT cancel today's appointment. In the past I would but I said NO! The weather was so perfect - a little on the warm side. I said I would only do the steps and to the end of the carport without the walker. As I started, I decided NO, I can and will do this. I made a right, dodged all the trash cans lined in the street for trash pick-up but walked the street! I rested several times going towards the stop sign 4 houses down from my home. I kept telling Chris I was going to turn around. I got to the stop sign and I said NO! One more house. I made it past the next house and did a u-turn and headed back towards home. I rested in the shade a couple of times but I DID IT! I got my heart rate up to 130 my pulse at rest was 82.

I did build up a sweat again - laying down I did 4 different kinds of exercises (only 5x), sitting I did 2 leg exercises and 7 arm exercises (10x), standing with the walker I did 4 exercises (10x), I did 5 partial squats at the sink.

Still getting to the kitchen sink and cleaning it at least twice a day. Keeping moving! ~NJ

Day Three

Oct 14 2009 11:06

Oops I did it again. I need to get back in the habit of writing at least one thing in my journal - I missed yesterday.

Physical Therapist, Chris, just left and I get to see her again tomorrow. It is pouring rain so I did not get to "street walk" and I am bummed. Only was able to walk around the inside lap, go out to the front lanai and out the backdoor and do the steps once. Andy felt it was too dangerous with the rain and wet carport. I did build up a sweat - laying down I did 4 different kinds of exercises, sitting I did 2 leg exercises and 7 arm exercises, standing with the walker I did 4 exercises, I attempted 5 partial squats at the sink. Most of the exercises I did 10 except two where it was 5 or 7. Not bad - eh? The rain is suppose to subside tonight so I hope I will be able to walk! Still winded but my recovery was a little faster than the other day. Still getting to the kitchen sink and cleaning it at least twice a day. Keeping moving! ~NJ