Its been a while since I updated. Apparently I changed my computers 'firewall' settings and could not log into my account. Since I have no idea what firewall settings are, nor do I care...it made it difficult to make any updates.
First things first, my ankle. Its been nearly 7 months since surgery and it feels perfect, amazing, and virtually pain free. There are a few activities that cause it grief, but those are very few and generally not a part of my everyday life. For example, while trying to play a game of frisbee a few weeks ago my ankle struggled while running over uneven ground to catch the frisbee. The good news is, I did catch the frisbee...and thats significant for anyone who knows my extreme lack of coordination.
Yet, ironically...my coordination and balance are much improved these days. Sounds impossible, but it is very true. After years of clutziness, fatigue, dizziness, stomach pain, digestive issues, numbness is my hands and feet, and tingling in my face I finally found a reason for all these issues. After a few doctors told me these things were in my head, I just assumed that it was normal to feel that way and went about my life. I probably would have kept going on with my life this way if it had not been for the digestive issues getting markedly worse. My blood test for Celiac Disease was overwhelmingly positive. I declined the intestinal biopsy because I did not see the need to sedate myself yet again, pay thousands of dollars, and have the result tell me to stop eating gluten. I was willing to stop eating gluten without the biopsy. Besides, the blood test is 95% accurate in diagnosing Celiac Disease.
For the past year before learning about the Celiac Disease I felt like I was losing my mind. Of course this is something that everyone likes to joke about from time to time. (saying something like "oh I must be losing my mind...") But for well over a year, I truely and literally felt like I was on the verge of going absoltely nuts and completely losing my mind. I could not focus on anything, I made no sense half the time, and I was so completely fatigued that all I wanted to do was sleep. (Working out became my obession because it gave me a little bit of energy to help me get through the day.)
So what is Celiac Disease? CD is an autoimmune disorder that causes a person's intestines to attack the villi whenever they eat gluten. (wheat, barley, rye, spelt, tricale) Eventually the villi get so damaged that the person's body cannot absorb nutrients. (Ah, vindication! I was accused thousands of times last year of being anorexic...which I WAS NOT!!!!!) The cure for CD is to not eat gluten. Once a person with CD stops consuming gluten the villi are able to heal and the body can thus absorb nutrients again. (and I have gained 5 pounds in the past two months...I look healthy again!)
A gluten free diet seems easy enough. For the most part it is. The challenge is that gluten is in 95% of the food out there. Wheat products are also used in a lot of things labeled as "natural flavors" but the manufacturers are not required to list wheat as an ingredient. Then there is the issue of cross contamination which can occur virtually anywhere. So, eating gluten free has its challenges. I have found that I have to cook all my meals and that everything I eat needs to be 100% natural. (Which is not necessarily a bad thing) All the trouble is well worth it.
I do not feel like I am about to lose my mind anymore. I am not painfully tired from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to bed. I can concentrate, hold intelligent conversations with people, and my digestive issues have all but disappeared. In many ways, going gluten free is the best thing that ever happened to me. The improvements are vast. For years I would always pile my dishes up in the sink and they would sit there for WEEKS until I had to wash them. Now, I wash all my dishes right away. My laundry used to get piled up in my bathtub and bathroom sink and then make its way down to the washing machine. Many times I never bothered to fold it and put it away, I would just grab it out of the dryer as I needed it. That does not happen anymore. All my laundry is washed, dried, folded, and put away promptly. My house is clean. The list goes on and on. I finally have the energy to do these things. MY GARAGE IS EVEN CLEAN!!! Anyone who really knows me knows that this is amazing. The list of positives goes on and on. Now unfortunately, going gluten free did not solve all my problems...that would be wishful thinking.
But for the first time since I can remember, I finally feel positive about the future. I do not feel sick anymore and that makes a huge difference in my outlook. So yes, going gluten free might have been the best thing that ever happened to me.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Things that start with the letter 'S'
Its been a while since I last updated. Life is very busy these days and free time to update my blog is hard to find! :) All is well these days. Here is a rundown:
Snowboarding: I love it and it turns out that I am awesome at it. Who would have guessed that! My plans had been to go a few more times before the end of the winter but school, work, and life have made it difficult. Snowboarding is definately on the agenda for next winter.
School: When I was a college junior my only worries were going to class and doing my homework. I thought that my life was the craziest life there could possibly be. Turns out, I was horribly wrong. Working full time and going to school nearly full time is a much bigger challenge then I ever imagined it could be. But, I am learning a lot about myself as this semester progresses. This experience is making me better at time management and giving me a new appreciation for so many things I previously took for granted....like sleep for example.
Hmmm, both of those headings start with 'S'...lets see if I can make the rest of them start with 'S'...
Shoes: Life is wonderful. All my right shoes were located in a timely fashion. I've even been able to wear all my heels again.
Surgery: This one is easy...there will be no more of it! My ankle is healing well and is now 5 months Post-Op. I am running 3-4 days a week and back to full strength training at the gym. My ankle gets a little cranky if I run too much or too often, but otherwise things are going well. My calf is back to normal size.
So, there you have it!
Snowboarding: I love it and it turns out that I am awesome at it. Who would have guessed that! My plans had been to go a few more times before the end of the winter but school, work, and life have made it difficult. Snowboarding is definately on the agenda for next winter.
School: When I was a college junior my only worries were going to class and doing my homework. I thought that my life was the craziest life there could possibly be. Turns out, I was horribly wrong. Working full time and going to school nearly full time is a much bigger challenge then I ever imagined it could be. But, I am learning a lot about myself as this semester progresses. This experience is making me better at time management and giving me a new appreciation for so many things I previously took for granted....like sleep for example.
Hmmm, both of those headings start with 'S'...lets see if I can make the rest of them start with 'S'...
Shoes: Life is wonderful. All my right shoes were located in a timely fashion. I've even been able to wear all my heels again.
Surgery: This one is easy...there will be no more of it! My ankle is healing well and is now 5 months Post-Op. I am running 3-4 days a week and back to full strength training at the gym. My ankle gets a little cranky if I run too much or too often, but otherwise things are going well. My calf is back to normal size.
So, there you have it!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
snowboarding?
Its nearly midnight and all of the homework that is due tomorrow is done. At this point, being one day ahead on homework is reason for celebration. Going to bed right now would be the logical thing, but logic and me have never existed in the same sentence, so why start now?
Here is the exciting four month update on my ankle:
Pain: This is easy, there is NONE. A little bit of tighteness and stiffness in the morning, but once the ankle gets moving it feels fine. This is normal for peroneal tendon surgeries. Otherwise, there is no pain.
Strength: My right calf is only slightly smaller than the left after two months of working it to the max at the gym. Functionally, I can do every activity the same on the right as I can on the left. The only exception is balance. My balance on my right leg is still slightly lagging. This really only effects me when I have an urge in the middle of the day to get out of my desk at work and do the tree pose.
Restrictions: THERE ARE NONE!!!! My ankle as of today has been cut loose from all restrictions. All activities at this point are considered fair game. First up...snowboarding! :)
Overall: My ankle has made a full recovery. It still needs a little bit of time to regain that last little bit of strength, but its well on the way. I have been running one mile every night at the gym for the past week. My surgeon did make me promise him that I would wear a lace-up brace when doing "lighter activities" such as running, biking, pilates, ect... For heavier activities such as tennis, basketball, and dancing I need to wearing an aircast stirrup. If that was the deal that needed to be made in order to allow me to have a little fun...I will gladly agree.
Now, it is off to bed.
Here is the exciting four month update on my ankle:
Pain: This is easy, there is NONE. A little bit of tighteness and stiffness in the morning, but once the ankle gets moving it feels fine. This is normal for peroneal tendon surgeries. Otherwise, there is no pain.
Strength: My right calf is only slightly smaller than the left after two months of working it to the max at the gym. Functionally, I can do every activity the same on the right as I can on the left. The only exception is balance. My balance on my right leg is still slightly lagging. This really only effects me when I have an urge in the middle of the day to get out of my desk at work and do the tree pose.
Restrictions: THERE ARE NONE!!!! My ankle as of today has been cut loose from all restrictions. All activities at this point are considered fair game. First up...snowboarding! :)
Overall: My ankle has made a full recovery. It still needs a little bit of time to regain that last little bit of strength, but its well on the way. I have been running one mile every night at the gym for the past week. My surgeon did make me promise him that I would wear a lace-up brace when doing "lighter activities" such as running, biking, pilates, ect... For heavier activities such as tennis, basketball, and dancing I need to wearing an aircast stirrup. If that was the deal that needed to be made in order to allow me to have a little fun...I will gladly agree.
Now, it is off to bed.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
frozen shut
There is so much to be excited about right now. Although its 17 degrees out and my car doors were frozen shut this morning, there are far too many good things happening to be worried about those little details. School starts on Monday and my inner geeks cannot wait to get back to taking classes. I am actually looking forward to studying! (Hehe, this makes me a total geek, which I do not deny one bit...)
On January 17th I am going to Chicago to hang out with a very good friend. January 19th is my last post-op appointment about my ankle. I should be free to do whatever I want after that. :) January 29-31 is a snowboarding trip to Devils Head Wisconsin. Then into March is a trip to Texas to visit my cousin. I am also visiting a really good friend that I have not seen in 6 years.
Even though there are still a lot of things happening in my life that I do not like and do not have any control over, I cannot help but feel optimistic and encouraged about the future. There are things that cannot be changed, and they are not worth stressing out about.
So, here's to my last weekend of going to bed until finals week in April.
On January 17th I am going to Chicago to hang out with a very good friend. January 19th is my last post-op appointment about my ankle. I should be free to do whatever I want after that. :) January 29-31 is a snowboarding trip to Devils Head Wisconsin. Then into March is a trip to Texas to visit my cousin. I am also visiting a really good friend that I have not seen in 6 years.
Even though there are still a lot of things happening in my life that I do not like and do not have any control over, I cannot help but feel optimistic and encouraged about the future. There are things that cannot be changed, and they are not worth stressing out about.
So, here's to my last weekend of going to bed until finals week in April.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Biology
Its been a while since my last update. I have been too busy enjoying my new pain free ankle and celebrating my last few weeks of freedom before school starts. After January 11th my life will revolve around work, school, studying, and sleeping. The sleeping part will be a priviledge.
Its incredible, after 11 years of pain in my ankle its pain free for the first time since November 1998! Its hard to believe that I went all that time with an injury that should have been diagnosed and fixed when I was 16 years old. However, its better fixed late rather than never fixed. Two more weeks until my 4 month post-op visit and at that time all restrictions should be lifted...then the real fun begins. :)
In the past month I have spent 10 days on an amazing vacation to the Florida Keys with my dad's family. Although the weather was a little colder than we would have liked to see, it was still a heck of a lot warmer than Michigan. I did a ton of bike riding during the trip, riding 20-30 miles on most days. We did a deep see fishing trip on one of the days and the ankle did not object to keeping me steady on the rocking boat. (I actually caught several fish...and they were tasty) I also played paddle ball on the beach and went snorkeling. Ankle never once objected to any of it.
For the future? I have a snowboarding trip planned to Devil's Head Wisconsin on January 29-31. Should be amazing. My cross country skis are begging to be used. And of course the running part. Its been an agonizingly long 5 months without running. The elliptical is just not the same. I am ready to take a sledgehammer to the elliptical at the gym. My return to running will be hard only because I will want to do too much too soon. I promise to behave myself.
School starts next monday. This week is reserved for dealing with financial aid, buying books, visiting the evil parking nazi's of WMU, and meeting with my advisors. I am officially accepted into the Biomedical Science program as a second bachelors seeker. I have a copy of Nicole's Bachelors Degree in Biology hanging on my wall over my desk. Last night it occured to me that I was seeking a Biomedical Degree and that I am more like my sister than I realized. Nicole would be so proud of her little sister right now.
Its incredible, after 11 years of pain in my ankle its pain free for the first time since November 1998! Its hard to believe that I went all that time with an injury that should have been diagnosed and fixed when I was 16 years old. However, its better fixed late rather than never fixed. Two more weeks until my 4 month post-op visit and at that time all restrictions should be lifted...then the real fun begins. :)
In the past month I have spent 10 days on an amazing vacation to the Florida Keys with my dad's family. Although the weather was a little colder than we would have liked to see, it was still a heck of a lot warmer than Michigan. I did a ton of bike riding during the trip, riding 20-30 miles on most days. We did a deep see fishing trip on one of the days and the ankle did not object to keeping me steady on the rocking boat. (I actually caught several fish...and they were tasty) I also played paddle ball on the beach and went snorkeling. Ankle never once objected to any of it.
For the future? I have a snowboarding trip planned to Devil's Head Wisconsin on January 29-31. Should be amazing. My cross country skis are begging to be used. And of course the running part. Its been an agonizingly long 5 months without running. The elliptical is just not the same. I am ready to take a sledgehammer to the elliptical at the gym. My return to running will be hard only because I will want to do too much too soon. I promise to behave myself.
School starts next monday. This week is reserved for dealing with financial aid, buying books, visiting the evil parking nazi's of WMU, and meeting with my advisors. I am officially accepted into the Biomedical Science program as a second bachelors seeker. I have a copy of Nicole's Bachelors Degree in Biology hanging on my wall over my desk. Last night it occured to me that I was seeking a Biomedical Degree and that I am more like my sister than I realized. Nicole would be so proud of her little sister right now.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Much to say, not a lot of time or desire to type it right about now. So, this is the cliff's note version. The novel version will be later.
The Ankle: My ankle feels like its about 70% of the way back. Thats awesome at this point. I have no pain and the weakness is the only thing holding me back.
My Bucket List: I am going snow boarding January 29-31. So stinking excited. Thats one item to check off my list.
Back to School: Its official. I am back in school and I declared my major as biomedical science. I'll be getting a second bachelors degree. WooHoo. Even more excited about this than I am about the snowboarding trip.
Med School: Its part of the plan and its on my list of things to do. My biomed degree should take 2.5 years. Crazy part is that the planning and preparing to get into med school begins now. Fun stuff.
Tis all for now. My bed awaits me.
The Ankle: My ankle feels like its about 70% of the way back. Thats awesome at this point. I have no pain and the weakness is the only thing holding me back.
My Bucket List: I am going snow boarding January 29-31. So stinking excited. Thats one item to check off my list.
Back to School: Its official. I am back in school and I declared my major as biomedical science. I'll be getting a second bachelors degree. WooHoo. Even more excited about this than I am about the snowboarding trip.
Med School: Its part of the plan and its on my list of things to do. My biomed degree should take 2.5 years. Crazy part is that the planning and preparing to get into med school begins now. Fun stuff.
Tis all for now. My bed awaits me.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
I believe in me
What an amazingly positive week. Every day has felt better and better. The pain in my toes is almost completely gone. Every now and then I get a slight bit of pain when I push off from my toes, but this is nothing compared to what it was even just a week ago. My toes were at risk for being removed a week ago.
All in all the pain is pretty much gone in my ankle. For the first time in 4 months my ankle is pain free and feeling good. There is definately an end in sight for all of this. I am even back to walking faster than everyone. On Wednesday my dad and I went to South Bend to search for new house furniture. My current mission is to start to replace my furniture piece by piece in the style that reflects my personality. We were in Value City Furniture roaming up and down the aisles and my dad kept telling me to slow down. It was nice to be able to walk faster than others once again!
So, the house project...If I were rich I would just go to the store and buy everything I need. But thats not an option, so its going to have to be piece by piece. My kitchen is pretty much the way I want it. My living room and bedroom are the next up to be redone. My couch is being replaced with two red leather chairs. I am getting ready to paint my walls white and then add geometric shapes for effect. the shapes will be bold colors. The coffee table is being replaced with a black leather ottoman/storage box. As for my bedroom...I hate wood and I hate antique. My new bed is a black platform bed. I need to find a new dresser as the current one is wood and antique. The only problem is that its my sisters old dresser and I cannot fully part with it. So I will put it in my guest bedroom. All of this is still a work in progress, but I am excited about all of it.
The other exciting thing? I am finally back in school!!!!!!!!! It only took nearly two years for me to make up my mind. Actually, its more accurate to say that it only took my entire lifetime for me to be confident enough with myself to actually follow my dreams. When I was in 9th grade our class did a career unit. The culmination of the unit was to write "Career" papers. I wrote mine on being a Doctor. But, I have never really believed that I could actually do something like that. The truth being is that my self-esteem was always very low.
My councelor and I have been working on how I can be more confident in myself as a person. The past few months have been trying, but at the same time I feel like strides have been made in this area. For the first time in my life I really do believe that this is something I can do. Its more than just believing that I am smart enough to go to Medical School, its something so much deeper. Its a feeling of believing that I can be me and that is enough.
So, me is back in school. Me is taking pre-med classes beginning in January. Me was an English major (can you tell based on my 'correct' use of me :)) I am so excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But again, this is more than just believing that I have what it takes to be a Doctor...this is believing in me in every aspect of my life.
Yeah, its cool! :)
All in all the pain is pretty much gone in my ankle. For the first time in 4 months my ankle is pain free and feeling good. There is definately an end in sight for all of this. I am even back to walking faster than everyone. On Wednesday my dad and I went to South Bend to search for new house furniture. My current mission is to start to replace my furniture piece by piece in the style that reflects my personality. We were in Value City Furniture roaming up and down the aisles and my dad kept telling me to slow down. It was nice to be able to walk faster than others once again!
So, the house project...If I were rich I would just go to the store and buy everything I need. But thats not an option, so its going to have to be piece by piece. My kitchen is pretty much the way I want it. My living room and bedroom are the next up to be redone. My couch is being replaced with two red leather chairs. I am getting ready to paint my walls white and then add geometric shapes for effect. the shapes will be bold colors. The coffee table is being replaced with a black leather ottoman/storage box. As for my bedroom...I hate wood and I hate antique. My new bed is a black platform bed. I need to find a new dresser as the current one is wood and antique. The only problem is that its my sisters old dresser and I cannot fully part with it. So I will put it in my guest bedroom. All of this is still a work in progress, but I am excited about all of it.
The other exciting thing? I am finally back in school!!!!!!!!! It only took nearly two years for me to make up my mind. Actually, its more accurate to say that it only took my entire lifetime for me to be confident enough with myself to actually follow my dreams. When I was in 9th grade our class did a career unit. The culmination of the unit was to write "Career" papers. I wrote mine on being a Doctor. But, I have never really believed that I could actually do something like that. The truth being is that my self-esteem was always very low.
My councelor and I have been working on how I can be more confident in myself as a person. The past few months have been trying, but at the same time I feel like strides have been made in this area. For the first time in my life I really do believe that this is something I can do. Its more than just believing that I am smart enough to go to Medical School, its something so much deeper. Its a feeling of believing that I can be me and that is enough.
So, me is back in school. Me is taking pre-med classes beginning in January. Me was an English major (can you tell based on my 'correct' use of me :)) I am so excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But again, this is more than just believing that I have what it takes to be a Doctor...this is believing in me in every aspect of my life.
Yeah, its cool! :)
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