Sunday, March 10, 2013
On the sidelines
Weather is pretty good here, windy and should rain later, but temp is nice. Given this a zoo trip was in order. I just can't do all the walking though. The Enbre1 still seems to be helping over all though with my tiredness just obviously not "fixing" it all over night. So I saw a little, but while the fam sees the rest I've taken up a spot in the cafe and made a new friend. Gotta make the best of it, right?
Friday, March 8, 2013
Shot through the heart... no leg, it's not Bon Jovi!
Sing with me.. "Shot through the heart and you're to blame, baby you give love, a bad name!" Yeah, so last week I started my weekly shots to the heart leg for Enbre1 (spelled with a one to hopefully get out of search engines). For those catching up, I have ankylosing spondylitis and was diagnosed in late last year. Major symptoms started in March 2012 and it progressed rapidly until I ended up at UAB with the head of rheumatology... good times!
Anyway, many meds later it was stay on a low dose of prednisone forever or try the Enbre1. The catch with the En. is that it will lower your immune system, and with our germ catcher of a 4 yr old, this didn't seem like a good plan. So, I held off after first talking about it in Dec. About 1.5 months ago the steroid seemed to stop working though and En. seemed the next logical step... so, here I am.
After last week's shot I actually felt a little less ran down. I looked into it and it can work that fast on that particular symptom in some people. As it got closer to Wed's next shot (every Wed!), I started having sharp pains so not sure if it was just normal things or maybe it was just my body saying "uh yeah, we'd like another shot of that something, something." We'll see! Second shot was a few days ago and I can say I haven't had any sharp pains since I woke up Thurs morning.
The shot stings something awful! And, my leg hurts a good while after. Other than these things, not much side effects. A friend has sent some rice packs to heat or cool to try to help with the sting and hurt so I'll be trying those next week.
Anyway, many meds later it was stay on a low dose of prednisone forever or try the Enbre1. The catch with the En. is that it will lower your immune system, and with our germ catcher of a 4 yr old, this didn't seem like a good plan. So, I held off after first talking about it in Dec. About 1.5 months ago the steroid seemed to stop working though and En. seemed the next logical step... so, here I am.
After last week's shot I actually felt a little less ran down. I looked into it and it can work that fast on that particular symptom in some people. As it got closer to Wed's next shot (every Wed!), I started having sharp pains so not sure if it was just normal things or maybe it was just my body saying "uh yeah, we'd like another shot of that something, something." We'll see! Second shot was a few days ago and I can say I haven't had any sharp pains since I woke up Thurs morning.
The shot stings something awful! And, my leg hurts a good while after. Other than these things, not much side effects. A friend has sent some rice packs to heat or cool to try to help with the sting and hurt so I'll be trying those next week.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
It's Started
Well after much "bruhaa" I was finally approved to start the program. None of the doctors of the program said okay so I had to get a written approval from my family dr. I'm also on the "alternative plan" for type 1 diabetics due to the PCOS. I was eating the foods here and there for about two weeks as I went through the approvals and was at a conference. I lost about 4 lbs during that time. I've been on the program officially for two weeks tomorrow.
During the first week I didn't follow it exactly since I was sick some and didn't get to the grocery to buy everything I needed. I didn't gain and I didn't lose... but my pants were fitting a little looser... yay! This week has definitely been better... eating veggies when I should, drinking the amount of water most days. AF did come so that put a kink in things a bit with a craving here or there. I go to my coach tomorrow so we'll see how I've done.
-B
During the first week I didn't follow it exactly since I was sick some and didn't get to the grocery to buy everything I needed. I didn't gain and I didn't lose... but my pants were fitting a little looser... yay! This week has definitely been better... eating veggies when I should, drinking the amount of water most days. AF did come so that put a kink in things a bit with a craving here or there. I go to my coach tomorrow so we'll see how I've done.
-B
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Pudding Breakdown
Yes, I can eat pudding! This morning I ate dark chocolate pudding for breakfast and it was fabulous. Right now I'm eating strawberry and my reaction was "hell no!" I'm going to eat it because I'm hungry but it's like medicine and funky.
I tried the caramel nut bar earlier and it was really good so I honestly can't complain. AND... I haven't had any reactions... at least none to write home about. My stomach may be a tad upset at times, but nothing I can't handle, and that could have been something else, so it remains to be seen.
I've had a cookies and cream bar which was delightful, and a blueberry/pom drink that was nothing special. I really think I'm leaning towards not doing too many of the drinks unless they are ready made.
So that's the update for now. My dr appt is friday and I really do think she'll be okay with this.
Later - B
I tried the caramel nut bar earlier and it was really good so I honestly can't complain. AND... I haven't had any reactions... at least none to write home about. My stomach may be a tad upset at times, but nothing I can't handle, and that could have been something else, so it remains to be seen.
I've had a cookies and cream bar which was delightful, and a blueberry/pom drink that was nothing special. I really think I'm leaning towards not doing too many of the drinks unless they are ready made.
So that's the update for now. My dr appt is friday and I really do think she'll be okay with this.
Later - B
Saturday, January 19, 2013
One bar down!
Yesterday I tried my first product... The cinnamon bar. No reaction!!
I'm trying the orange drink now... Sort of tang like, with a tiny bit of an odd after taste... But nothing much. Yes. I'm aware it does not look appealing in this photo.. Lol!
- b
I'm trying the orange drink now... Sort of tang like, with a tiny bit of an odd after taste... But nothing much. Yes. I'm aware it does not look appealing in this photo.. Lol!
- b
Friday, January 18, 2013
And so I begin... Again!
Again... I diet.
Again... I hope.
Again... I blog.
Will it work? I pray it will. I have MANY factors against me... more so this time than any other time I've tried to lose weight or "get healthy" in the past. Between my allergies, the arthritis, and the medication that promotes weight GAIN... it will be an uphill battle. BUT... one I am determined to go up and conquer. Oh...there's one extremely large hurdle I must jump through before I can even begin... I need the program's director to say "Yes, you can start."
Yeah, I know right. I have to prove that the majority of the food for the program will be okay for me even through it has "soy isolates" in it and I'm allergic to soy. And, I need my family dr to say "OK" for it even though their drs have looked through my brief medical info and said (and I paraphrase) "uh, let's not and say we did). I've proved my case though (essentially, that I'm bad off and need to lose some weight people!).
So, here we are, Jan 18 and I have a variety of different bars, pudding/shakes, soups, even oatmeal and an omelet mix to try out. If I'm ok allergy-wise and get my dr's approval I can start an alternative plan and hopefully work up to the full one. I see my dr a week from today.
I have the support of SO MANY people. I literally tear up thinking of the wonderful women, my cysters, who I know are supporting me and praying for me as I try this. My husband is also in my corner, as always, when it comes to my health. Dear goodness, if it wasn't for him I have no idea where I'd be at this point with everything.
With all this out there and exposed I guess it's not a secret that this is also the beginning of a journal... of this journey that I pray I'm about to start. Maybe I'm optimistic starting it as I begin to test the food, but I'm thinking good thoughts that this will all go well!
Am I writing this and no one is reading, probably, and that's okay. Or, if you're reading and you're going to follow I'll really try not to skip up on this... but maybe let me know you're reading every so often ;)
Here I go....
- B
Again... I hope.
Again... I blog.
Will it work? I pray it will. I have MANY factors against me... more so this time than any other time I've tried to lose weight or "get healthy" in the past. Between my allergies, the arthritis, and the medication that promotes weight GAIN... it will be an uphill battle. BUT... one I am determined to go up and conquer. Oh...there's one extremely large hurdle I must jump through before I can even begin... I need the program's director to say "Yes, you can start."
Yeah, I know right. I have to prove that the majority of the food for the program will be okay for me even through it has "soy isolates" in it and I'm allergic to soy. And, I need my family dr to say "OK" for it even though their drs have looked through my brief medical info and said (and I paraphrase) "uh, let's not and say we did). I've proved my case though (essentially, that I'm bad off and need to lose some weight people!).
So, here we are, Jan 18 and I have a variety of different bars, pudding/shakes, soups, even oatmeal and an omelet mix to try out. If I'm ok allergy-wise and get my dr's approval I can start an alternative plan and hopefully work up to the full one. I see my dr a week from today.
I have the support of SO MANY people. I literally tear up thinking of the wonderful women, my cysters, who I know are supporting me and praying for me as I try this. My husband is also in my corner, as always, when it comes to my health. Dear goodness, if it wasn't for him I have no idea where I'd be at this point with everything.
With all this out there and exposed I guess it's not a secret that this is also the beginning of a journal... of this journey that I pray I'm about to start. Maybe I'm optimistic starting it as I begin to test the food, but I'm thinking good thoughts that this will all go well!
Am I writing this and no one is reading, probably, and that's okay. Or, if you're reading and you're going to follow I'll really try not to skip up on this... but maybe let me know you're reading every so often ;)
Here I go....
- B
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