Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Still the same

Just a quick note to let you all know I'm alive & doing OK. Dad's still the same--declining very slowly, but still declining.

On the diet front, I started taking Alli to go along with the phentermine (which I had to go to a new doctor in town for because the old place got shut down for some reason--probably because they give out meds WAY too freely. I was never once weighed or had my BP taken after that first visit, which is ridiculous. But I digress). Only been taking it 2 days & only taking 2 pills with lunch. The new doc prescribed Xenical, which is the 120 mg Rx version of Alli. Two Alli are much cheaper than one Xenical. I've not had any problems yet. It has made me rethink my food choice a ton over the past couple of days. I don't eat high fat foods because I'm afraid of what will happen. THAT's why this drug works. Mark said it's the Anabuse for dieters.

On the exercise front, I did 45 minutes on the treadmill yesterday, but that was the first time I'd worked out in almost 2 weeks (I think...kinda lost track. I haven't kept track on my handy dandy Excel sheet for a couple of months). I think our treadmill isn't calibrated correctly. I know I'm walking or running faster than it says I am. I've been doing this for almost 3 years, I think I know what 3.5 MPH feels like. And 3.5 feels like 4.0. 5.0 is a fast jog for me on our treadmill, and that speed is usually a piece of cake. It's not that I'm just out of shape, either. I know how hard my legs work when I'm going certain speeds. Anyway, it's just not right. We are supposed to get a new console because the first one has some issues. I'm going to ask the tech about recalibrating it. Anybody have experience with this on your treadmills? Or am I deluding myself?

Family is good for the most part. Luke gets cuter and funnier every day. Mark is doing well; going to Colorado this weekend to see his brother. Sophie's been dizzy the past few days, off & on. Today she had a massive attack. I had to give her Maxalt, an anti-migraine med, for the first time. It worked. Her dizzy spells are becoming more migraine like. She had a big attack the morning after we had some Dutch ice cream from Target. I didn't realize it had dark chocolate in it--I just thought it was really good! I get migraines for the teeniest bit of dark chocolate, & that same morning I had a horrible migraine. She was so bad she threw up. So, we've at least established she has food triggers. I'm watching to see what else can be setting her off. Unfortunately it's going to be trial & error.

So that's it. Nothing new, it's the status quo. I'm just thankful things are as good as they are right now.

Although if we don't get a break in the weather soon, I think I'm going to pack up the family & escape to Florida. This has been the longest winter ever. But, thanks to calcium & fish oil, no SAD for me this year. Woohoo!

8 comments:

Vickie said...

http://www.webmd.com/migraines-headaches/guide/triggers-specific-foods

http://www.healthcentral.com/migraine/triggers-29502-5.html

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000709.htm

IN ME - it is mostly processed, and that is very handy, because clean food helps my weight, my migraines, my asthma, my dizzies.

I thought that nuts (tree) bothered me for a long time. And it was actually aged cheese - I was eating nuts in salads with parmesan and/or feta. And it was actually the cheese. Dark chocolate will give me one, but if I have one, dark chocolate will take it away.

Jill A said...

Yay!! I'm so happy you came out to play!!! I've missed you! :)

Glad your little family is doing okay. So sad that your dad is still declining, but he is so so lucky to have you guys, I'm sure he knows this.

I'm home today with sick girl. Well, she was sick at 3:00 this morning,but today she seems fine, so I may be wasting a vacation day!

So happy the SAD hasn't gotten a hold of you! Take care chica!

Monica said...

I'd be interested to find out how to calibrate the tm. I bought mine from someone else and I KNOW it's off!! Post about it when you find out and leave me a msg. on my blog. Missed reading your posts!

MCM Mama said...

Hang in there!

LMI said...

Good to see you post! And glad to hear you've been running, too--questions about speed aside.

Helen said...

Hope Sophie feels better...and that you get your treadmill fixed! As to warmer climate -- mmmmm dreaming of St. John (although we'll probably never go back since it took so long to get there!). :-)

prashant said...

Dark chocolate will give me one, but if I have one, dark chocolate will take it away.

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Vickie said...

laura it has been a couple weeks - wondering how things are going with all of you - ?