Personal trainer & Gym

So, I joined LA Fitness at the end of October and then started working with a personal trainer, Allison. Allison has been kicking my butt for 3 weeks now. I work out with her 3x a month. Then I work out on my own another 4-5 days a week on my own. I, currently, work out in the pool for most of my cardio. I run in the pool for about 30 minutes. Some days, I will also add another 20 minutes on the recumbent bike. It's about all I can do without my leg cramping so bad it hurts. It's amazing.

My workouts with the trainer have been incredible. We have been working on building muscle especially since my muscles have started to atrophy. Also, we are doing a lot of core exercises. So far, I have noticed that I'm loosing the jello flabbyness of my arms and upper legs.

A new leaf on life

I have decided to try a new road for my life. On Saturday, I joined a gym to continue my pool workouts. With that membership came a complementary session with a personal trainer. Oops. Yesterday, I had that session and now I am signed up for 3 sessions a month for the next year. That's a little tough on the budget especially since my wife just went through so much to get us a little ahead and now we're back. Yikes. But, this is something that I am very excited about. I have been wanting to get in shape forever. We, of course, are working on things that will improve my quality of life and hopefully get me off the pain meds.

Honestly, I got a little scared when my doctor mentioned that the next step would be a surgery where they snipped nerves in my leg. Time to try turning my life around without modern medication. So, here we are working out 6 days a week at the gym and 3x a month with a personal trainer. Gotta admit that the idea of losing 45 pounds and toning my body really make it worth while too. I would really love to look sexy for my wife again.

Then, energy to play with my daughter without hurting during every move - sweet!

Hope to keep everyone updated.

Changes and figuring out the next step

Things have been really difficult for me of late. Over the last few months while working out in the pool, my left ankle has been hurting. Finally a few weeks ago, I finally had to stop going to the pool for my workout. It finally got bad enough that I took time off. Last week, I got back in only to experience a great deal of pain. I have a knot on the side of my ankle and my Achilles has been hurting a lot. I go to  the doctor on Monday to try to get a handle on this. I have to admit, I am really missing my workouts. I was really feeling good about myself.

On another note, I went to Hockey fest '10 last weekend. During the event, I tested the Power Balance which I really was skeptical of. However after feeling the different, I actually purchased one. And I gotta say, it has made a difference for me. It has helped with my balance.

This is the bracelet.

Achillies tendon

Having tremendous pain in my Achilles tendon lately. To make matters worse, it's the worst Dystonic foot. There is no real relief with it. Very frustrating. I think it was caused by the swimming that I have been doing. Never thought that it would do this. But when you have a foot that curls inward and you are trying to run/walk in the pool, it's got to do unnatural pressure on the tendon. So, it looks like I'll  have to change my workout again.

Going to see my sports medicine primary care dr. on the 20th. Hopefully he will have some good suggestions on how to keep working out without injury.

On another note, the botox spreads again. Very little strength again. So frustrated by it.

Too much botox

So the botox is in full effect now. And oh my, I am very, very weak. I can't even make a fist in my right hand because of the weakness. Once again, it got into my thumb on the right. I can never catch a break there. We thought for sure that it wouldn't creep into the thumb again. Guess time to try something else.

Botox

Today, I had my Botox injections in both arms. Feeling good about that.

However, due to a lot of recent stress and being very active, my left ankle has been in so much pain that I asked the doctor today to prescribe something besides the Vicodin to combat the pain. He put me on Tramadol HCL 50mg tablets 2 every 6 hours as needed. On my second dose and it does seem to be helping. YAY!!!

Still trying to get my pool workout in at least 5x a week. Back is feeling pretty good. Have dropped 3.5 lbs but go back in forth. Not a lot, but a lot of muscle mass now. :) Tired of being hungry all the time.

Three month swimming update

So, I just hit my 3 month anniversary if you will of my pool workouts. It's been great. I have felt so much better since I started this. I had hoped that I would loose weight as well, but nope. I have gained a lot of muscle mass though. Back is so much better. :)

The one thing I didn't expect was that my ankles would hurt so much. They are surprisingly sore. I know they are getting a serious workout as well. I will ask the doctor on Thursday if there is anything I can do to help with that.

Overall I feel so much better. And I feel great that I am doing something for my health. :D

Pool

The pool has been truly been a great workout. Overall, I feel so much better.

Only think I really notice is that my ankles hurt a bit and that my foot acts up more. :(

Overall, my health is a lot better.

Crazy weekend

I fully intended on posting more this week for Dystonia Awareness, but once again life steps in. Had an unexpected last couple day. Kinda rough on the Dystonia. However, I did get back in the pool this afternoon :D Helps everything seem better. Back is still a little stiff and left foot is going crazy - turning in today. I took an extra Clonezapm and waiting for it to kick it so I can sleep.

Tomorrow is going to be good and bad. Driving 2 hours to LA tomorrow to meet up with a friend for a BBQ and hanging out at the pool. Then, taking my 3year old to Disneyland for a couple hours after. Will be a blast but never easy on the body.

Well, I should try to sleep again. Eh:(

Dystonia Awareness Week June 6-12

It's Dystonia Awareness Week. We have to share our stories and spread the word. I'm going to try to post something daily this week to inform others as to what this disorder means to my life. Everyday can present it's new challenges. I woke up very stiff this morning making for a slow wake up. I have missed my workout the past 2 days and can tell a difference.

I have been noticing that my right foot is starting to be affected more. I have a couple toes that are starting to tighten. So frustrating to see you body go. Makes me sad at times. But as I have said before, the dystonia has made me who I am. I am so much stronger than I could ever imagine. I have had to learn so much.  Giving up some of the things you love can direct you to new areas.

Workout

Skipped my workout yesterday and woke up with a stiff back. Guess they are really helping. Motivation for keeping it up.

Swimming

Well, it's been awhile since I last posted. Time flies.

On April 26th, I went to see my primary care physician for a follow up visit with my acid reflux. During that visit I talked to him about my lower back pain for which I was taking Vicodin every 4-6 hours for the pain. Grant it my doctor is very sweet, caring and understanding of the Dystonia told me that I need to get in the pool. I laid out excuses about money, the pool not being heated yet, etc. He said firmly, no excuses ... get in the pool and that if all I did was tread water it was better. He also told me I NEED to lose weight - about 25lbs, but at least 10. I was taken back by his tone. It surprised me. So, I thought about it for a few days and decided he was right. That Sunday I started getting in the pool. It was cold, but free. I had started off by watching YouTube videos on how to work out in the pool. So, I started slow - a few laps, then jumping jacks, squats, running, and finishing with couple laps and stretching. Ok, not bad. Next day, I forced myself back in. Water was a tad warmer and felt a little more comfortable. By the 3rd day the temp was up to 85º. Nice. After a week of getting in everyday at 4pm, I started loving it. I have now been in the pool almost daily for 3 1/2 weeks. I truly look forward to the workout. I have expanded my workout to include abs, pull-ups, etc.

As for my back - it is feeling so much better. I am not on the Vicodin daily now. I have eased off of it and only use it occasionally now. I have lost 4lbs, but gaining muscle weight.

As for the Dystonia- while overall I feel better. I think the Dystonia (especially the left foot) has gotten worse. It has been curling tighter lately. Makes it more difficult to sleep and sit still. But knowing that my back is better makes it tolerable.

Update

I think I might finally be stabilized for now. The Acid Reflux is doing better. After a followup visit with the doctor last week, it seems that I might be taking meds for this for the rest of my life as well. I can't help but wander if all this has been brought on by the different medicines I have been trying for the dystonia. It sure seems like that's about when I started  having problems. The Artane was very hard on my system. I have always had an "iron clad" stomach until now. Maybe as time goes by, it will get better.

For now, I am still on the Prilosex 2 tabs in the morning and Zantac in the afternoon. 

Acid Reflux

On top of everything else now I have Acid Reflux. Eh :( Thursday night after dinner, I suddenly felt like I was in a lot of pain and very weak. I almost passed out. Then within a matter of minutes, I started puking my guts out. Then came the diarrhea and cold sweats and later fever and chills. It was insane. I had the pain from it as a 9 out of 10. Julie was ready to rush me to the ER. I felt like crap and didn't even want to move.  Friday came and we went to the doctor. She said it was Acid Reflux, gave me meds and diet restrictions. Doing better. However, last night after eating a banana, I got really really bad heartburn. Even tonight I have a little. I was suppose to be much better by now. Bummer.

Anyway, can we add anything else to the list. Eh :(

Back to the basics

After trying new meds and going to a Movement Specialist, I am back to the basics. My Movement Specialist is out indefinitely, so I spoke with my Neurologist about where to go from here. He has taken me off the Gabapentin as it wasn't doing anything noticeable. So, now I am back to just the basics - Clonzapam, Vicodin, Zoloft, Ibuprofen and the botox injections. I, actually, am starting to feel a little more clear again. I felt like I was in a fog for several months.

So, we are going to keep this course for awhile and re-evaluate at the end of April.

The Feb 1st plan to exercise lasted for about 3 days. :( I was getting severe cramps in my Alkalies' tendon. It was like having a Charlie horse there. So, I quit and haven't gotten back into it. I tried walking around the neighborhood with similar results. As soon as I get rid of this cold, I'm going to try again with lots of stretching first. 

Meds

Trying to decide if I should reduce my meds.  I have been on Zoloft since I found out about the dystonia as well as dealing with depression from not being able to have kids. That's been almost 2 years ago. I'm considering going off. My doctor and I agreed that it was for situational only. Also trying to decide if the Gabapentin is working or not. My Movement Specialist that prescribed it is out on a medical emergency and might not return. I go for my botox this week with my neurologist, so we'll discuss it then.

I'm just tired of being on so much medicine. Meds are not the end all for this. It comes from a stat of mind too. So, I am going to get in shape a little better and try to drop some weight. I think it will help my lower back too. ;)

Gabapentin (Neurontin) Update

So, I have been on the full prescription of Gabapentin (Neurontin) now for a little over a week. So far, can't say I've noticed anything noticeably different. But, the doctor might need to increase the dose even more. However, I am having a hard time getting the doctor's office to call back. Dang! As soon as we get this situated, I'm not sticking with him other than checkups. Glad I didn't switch to him for the Botox. Eh:(
I have decided that I am going to start my workouts again Feb 1st. I need to strengthen my back. The lower back is causing me so many problems.
More later...