I saw the neurologist on Thursday about my EMG and MRI tests and the results look pretty good. In other words, no neurological reason for why I have bad leg and foot cramps. What was interesting was that the test picked up on some marrow issues and that I could have some anemia issues - I'm sure all related to my NHL since it was a blood cancer. The doctor didn't mention it, but I saw it on the report and I'm sure the test was just picking up my previous stuff. I will mention it to NIH and bring the report, just to be sure.
So, I'm back to the drawing board on the cramping issue. The doc did say to do what I've started doing anyway, which is drink more water and electrolytes, eat more bananas, up my magnesium intake, and stretch. My friends have forwarded me articles about how drinking pickle juice shots could help too so I'll be trying that remedy next. I'm not sure what to do next or if I should bother with another doctor (what kind would I see anyway?) I'll just keep on trying different stuff and see if it helps.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
What Golden Girls Means to Me
With the passing of Rue McClanahan, I want to reflect for a moment on all that the Golden Girls means to me. I loved the show when it was on in the 80s - a bunch of sassy, real, older ladies were a great role model for me. Typically, you'd think of your grandma as a pearl-wearing, cake-baking woman in an apron and a housecoat (and really, only one of my grandma's even fits that bill) so this show opened up everyone's eyes that older ladies ROCK. The humor was biting while also emphasizing friendship and family. I loved it.
Back in 2007, during my self-named "Summer of Chemo" I used to watch re-runs of the a lot. It made me laugh when I didn't often feel like laughing. It transported me away from either the lonely couch at home or the hospital bed and took me to a happier place. In fact, one day I was hopped up on a combination of Ativan and some other sedatives the docs had given me so they could install the IJ line without me freaking out, I drifted in and out of a fog and figured out if they remade the Golden Girls into a movie who would play each character. The details are fuzzy, but I think I debated about whether Lindsay Lohan would make a good Blanche (if she would only stop being such a diva). I had the rest of them picked out, but I couldn't figure out who could play Dorothy. Like I said, I was hopped up on meds!
Now only the fantastically-terrific Ms. Betty White remains. She is amazing (I loved her on SNL) and I hope she will be able to continue rocking it for some time to come. Farewell, however, to the other Golden Girls: Rue McLanahan, Bea Arthur, and Estelle Getty. May you all rest and peace and thank you for being a friend.
Back in 2007, during my self-named "Summer of Chemo" I used to watch re-runs of the a lot. It made me laugh when I didn't often feel like laughing. It transported me away from either the lonely couch at home or the hospital bed and took me to a happier place. In fact, one day I was hopped up on a combination of Ativan and some other sedatives the docs had given me so they could install the IJ line without me freaking out, I drifted in and out of a fog and figured out if they remade the Golden Girls into a movie who would play each character. The details are fuzzy, but I think I debated about whether Lindsay Lohan would make a good Blanche (if she would only stop being such a diva). I had the rest of them picked out, but I couldn't figure out who could play Dorothy. Like I said, I was hopped up on meds!
Now only the fantastically-terrific Ms. Betty White remains. She is amazing (I loved her on SNL) and I hope she will be able to continue rocking it for some time to come. Farewell, however, to the other Golden Girls: Rue McLanahan, Bea Arthur, and Estelle Getty. May you all rest and peace and thank you for being a friend.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Saturday Ramblings
The initial results from my EMG look good. Both the "zapper" technician and the "jab me with a needle" technician said everything looked good, but I have a follow-up appointment with the doctor on Thursday. My running coach suggested eating more leafy greens because maybe it's because I'm low on magnesium. I figured what the heck, eating more spinach can't hurt so I made spinach and artichoke heart stuffed calzone for lunch today (which was super delish) and a spinach steak salad with a side of my infamous stir-fry broccoli for dinner. My body is probably saying right now, "Woah! What's up with this healthy stuff?" I found out that my dog likes broccoli too. I gave him a piece that I was chopping and he scarfed it down so I gave him all the broccoli bottoms that I wasn't going to use. He loves carrots, apples, peaches, pears, and now broccoli.
I "ran" this morning. We did a test run of the course for our race on the 19th and I ended up walking most of the last half. The heat and humidity kicked my butt and I also got lost because my group ran ahead (not that I blame them at all) and the rest of the slower runners didn't catch up to me. I finally found a lady running the first part of the loop the other way and she gave me her map so I could find my way to the finish line. I am so frustrated that I couldn't run 3.2 miles since I just did 4 miles a couple of weeks ago. My race is in two weeks. This is not good. I'm getting up early tomorrow morning to run 20 minutes just to get back into gear. I also haven't been able to run regularly between working late hours and volleyball on Thursdays. So, I'm just gonna have to suck it up and get used to the heat/humidity and keep plugging away. I do NOT want to walk on race day. Plus, I'm planning on jumping into the 8k program and I won't be able to do that race if I can't finish a 5k.
I "ran" this morning. We did a test run of the course for our race on the 19th and I ended up walking most of the last half. The heat and humidity kicked my butt and I also got lost because my group ran ahead (not that I blame them at all) and the rest of the slower runners didn't catch up to me. I finally found a lady running the first part of the loop the other way and she gave me her map so I could find my way to the finish line. I am so frustrated that I couldn't run 3.2 miles since I just did 4 miles a couple of weeks ago. My race is in two weeks. This is not good. I'm getting up early tomorrow morning to run 20 minutes just to get back into gear. I also haven't been able to run regularly between working late hours and volleyball on Thursdays. So, I'm just gonna have to suck it up and get used to the heat/humidity and keep plugging away. I do NOT want to walk on race day. Plus, I'm planning on jumping into the 8k program and I won't be able to do that race if I can't finish a 5k.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Bzzzzzzt!
Tomorrow's the 'big' day - my EMG. I kind of forgot all about it and remembered on my way out the door from work that I'll be in late tomorrow. At least my manager remembered! I've been so busy between Memorial day plans and working that I haven't had time to think about it let alone be nervous, which is a good thing. I have bigger things to think about tomorrow, like whether I'll actually get my proposal printed before 11pm. That would be nice.
We had a nice weekend in Ocean City for Memorial Day. We took off Friday (well, except for some pesky work stuff I had to deal with at home before we left) and headed over to Amber's house (Mike's co-worker) in Kent Island for a crab feast and BBQ. She knows how to throw a full-on party and it was a lot of fun, which was exactly what I needed. Mike went out on her husband's boat with a couple of other guys to go pick up a part for the boat and they ran out of gas. They made it back after bumming gas from someone. I think they managed to float over to someone's dock and beg. There aren't too many women who would jump on a boat without first checking to make sure they had gas, but I digress.
The OPA speedboat races were in town, which we didn't know ahead of time, so I got to see my first high-speed boat race. Wish I could say I actually saw it, but since it's out on the water it's hard to see the whole thing. I saw a bunch of cool boats go by really fast followed by a bunch of helicopters filming the whole thing. I would love to be on one of those things just to see how fast they go. That would be amazing.
We heard a great band at Sunset Marina Sunday night. They mostly played "chick" band stuff like Melissa Etheridge, Janis Joplin, Go Go's, Alanis, and more. Really good band right on the water overlooking the marina and all the big expensive yachts.
We had a nice weekend in Ocean City for Memorial Day. We took off Friday (well, except for some pesky work stuff I had to deal with at home before we left) and headed over to Amber's house (Mike's co-worker) in Kent Island for a crab feast and BBQ. She knows how to throw a full-on party and it was a lot of fun, which was exactly what I needed. Mike went out on her husband's boat with a couple of other guys to go pick up a part for the boat and they ran out of gas. They made it back after bumming gas from someone. I think they managed to float over to someone's dock and beg. There aren't too many women who would jump on a boat without first checking to make sure they had gas, but I digress.
The OPA speedboat races were in town, which we didn't know ahead of time, so I got to see my first high-speed boat race. Wish I could say I actually saw it, but since it's out on the water it's hard to see the whole thing. I saw a bunch of cool boats go by really fast followed by a bunch of helicopters filming the whole thing. I would love to be on one of those things just to see how fast they go. That would be amazing.
We heard a great band at Sunset Marina Sunday night. They mostly played "chick" band stuff like Melissa Etheridge, Janis Joplin, Go Go's, Alanis, and more. Really good band right on the water overlooking the marina and all the big expensive yachts.
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