Squat Challenge

I learned of a squat challenge on Facebook. You do from 20 to 100 squats a day for one month. I'm on day four. I am looking forward to the rest of the month! I usually only do 45 squats a WEEK. This week I will do a total of 190, Lord willing. The schedule is written for squats without weights but for now I'm doing the squats with weights. Excited!

Dec. 17th: 20 squats	Dec. 27th: 65 squats	Jan 6th: 60 squats
Dec. 18th:  25 squats	Dec. 28th: 70 squats	Jan. 7th: 100 squats
Dec. 19th: 30 squats	Dec. 29th: 75 squats	Jan. 8th: 65 squats
Dec. 20th: 35 squats	Dec. 30th: 80 squats	Jan. 9th 70 squats
Dec. 21st: 40 squats	Dec. 31st: 90 squats	Jan. 10th: 100 squats
Dec. 22nd: 45 squats	Jan. 1st: 95 squats	Jan. 11th: REST
Dec. 23rd: 50 squats	Jan. 2nd: 100 squats	Jan. 12th: 80 squats
Dec. 24th: 55 squats	Jan. 3rd: 100 squats	Jan. 13th: 85 squats
Dec. 25th: 60 squats	Jan. 4th: 50 squats	Jan. 14th: 90 squats
Dec. 26th: REST	Jan. 5th: 55 squats	Jan. 15: 100 squats

Less fatigue?

This week I developed a schedule in which I’m only doing strength training three days a week. For about eight months I've been working on one body part a day, six days a week. That became too taxing with the medication I’m taking. I love my new gym routine. I think I was burned out from doing strength training six days a week.
I started the full dose of a medication for MS about four weeks ago. Sometimes I feel like I’m on chemotherapy. My hair is more thin and I have flu like symptoms and blah blah blah.
I changed the timing of the medication. I’m taking it before bedtime. If I’m at work on an injection day, I take the medication late at about 0300.
Wednesday I had a great day. I kept waiting for the fatigue to come and IT NEVER CAME. I was ecstatic. I had the opportunity to sort some old clothing that has been in my trunk since September! And I was able to drop it off to two friends. I loved the “Ooooohhhh!” squeal I heard from my friend Tina when her son told her I was at the door. I’m surprised she didn't think I was a ghost. I don’t go out usually any more due to fatigue. I was so happy to be out! I also dropped a second set of clothing to my friend Marie. They both live miles apart and miles from me. It was so good to see my sweet friends.
I think Wednesday was awesome because I had DOUBLE the protein I usually eat. I think I've been shortchanging myself. At some point, some months ago, I couldn't finish the eight egg whites I used to eat. I started eating only four egg whites.
So it may be that some of my fatigue has been due to lack of protein in the morning. So yesterday I had a veggie protein shake with hemp, brown rice, green peas, and chia seeds. Then later in the morning after working out I had four egg whites with green peppers, red onions, and fresh ground black pepper. I felt great the entire day. I had no fatigue until 7:30 PM which is a more reasonable hour to have fatigue.
I was not able to repeat that breakfast plan today because when I got home from the gym the kids made gingerbread houses. What a ridiculous lunch of Hershey Kisses, Life Savers, spice drops, and liquid filled gummy drops. I decided to do a modified fast for a few hours. I worked on finishing my gallon of water for the day. Then for dinner I had a double portion of salmon.
Tomorrow I will try that same breakfast I had yesterday and I will have CLEAN food!

Changes

So much has changed. I'm on a full dose of disease modifying medication. It's an injection taken every other day. The needle doesn't hurt but the medication burns! The dose was titrated to full strength over time. I've been on the full dose since this past Monday. It makes me feel very tired. I have been experimenting with the best time to take the medication. I used to take it in the mornings and that was a terrible time to take it. The medication gives you flu like symptoms and so I was feeling so poorly for much of the day. I spoke to Titi, a nurse certified in MS and assigned to me by the manufacturer of the medication. One of the options we discussed was taking the medication at my bedtime if I'm off from work. If I'm at work I take it late, a few  hours before I leave at 0730.

I had to eliminate or switch some of the 24 sites for injection. It hurt so much in my abdomen and the top of my thighs. The medication was going in my muscle and not in the fat.  I am now giving the medication on the side of my thighs rather than the top of my thighs. I have a lot more fat on the side of my thighs. I'm going to try giving an injection on the bottom side of my belly rather than the front. The front I can't tolerate at all!

I visited my primary care doctor yesterday to discuss some peculiar lab results with him. I mentioned my fatigue from my medication. He decided to order a B12 injection for me. I think it helped. I feel better than I have been feeling.

So what's changed? A lot has changed. Some things are good and some not good. I'm very sensitive. I dislike a lot of stimulation and noise. I'm more cranky with my husband.  I am more confident about making decisions that protect my energy level even if that disappoints others. I'm reading more. I'm looking for ways to decrease stress. I am watching my favorite NBA team play from the beginning of the season. Go, Miami Heat!!! I'm watching more movies at the cheaper movie theatre where they show newer movies that haven't made it to DVD  yet. It's as if I'm creating a bucket list and actually working thru that list. I'm having to tweak my gym routine every week based on my symptoms. I'm listening to the easy listening station at home. It's calming.

One thing I dislike a lot is that I think I've only been to church about three times in the past seven weeks. I'm hoping my new medication schedule will allow me to attend church more.

What's great about all of this? I'm a better nurse. I'm more compassionate. I'm doing things I love to do that I never made time to do-going to see movies, reading books, and watching the entire basketball season. I'm still a bump off a log and that is great. I got some new gym pants and one shirt for my birthday! Yay! I love gym clothing. It's so comfortable. A lot of my old gym clothing got too baggy. It's fun to have new clothing.

Life is good and God is good.

I'm learning

I'm learning how to live a new lifestyle. I had a hard time learning to use the cartridge for my injection. Bruce helped me with that. I was so grateful. James didn't want the kids around when the nurse showed me how to give my first injection. But being the forward person that Bruce is he peeped at the nurse while pretending to use the computer. I'm getting better with the injection. I'm always amazed when the needle actually gets into my subcutaneous tissue.  The first injection went terribly and I was covered with sweat from the stress. I ended up having to give the injection manually, old school. The cartridge sounds a little scary and sounds like a gun to me. I'm exaggerating a little but it even scares Bruce.

I've learned that I can't go on errands and go out for hours on days when I'm scheduled to work. I work every other Lord's Day and I'm going to have to stay home on those days. I'm hoping that this relapse will end soon. Perhaps then I can go back to church every Lord's Day rather than every other Lord's Day. It's a bummer to miss church every other Lord's Day. I had a MUCH better night at work this past Sunday when I stayed home from church. The last four hours were hard but less difficult. I didn't have that sense of impending doom that I've had on hard nights when I feel overwhelming and crushing fatigue.

I learned that I need to get more sunlight. So I'm sunbathing which is so unlike me. I've always hated the sun and avoided it like a plague as many black people do. :) I've always been a sun hater. Most people with MS have heat sensitivity and I have had that all my life! I started sunbathing on Monday. I put on a swimsuit and laid out in the sun for 15 minutes. It certainly was hot! I didn't enjoy it. I brought a bottle of frozen water to sip on as it melted. Yesterday I spent 30 minutes in the sun. The front of my swimsuit doesn't expose enough skin; I'm going to shop for something else. Or maybe I will wear one of my exercise sports bras for next time. I'm reading an evidence based book about overcoming multiple sclerosis. The author, George Jelinken recommends three to five sunbathing sessions a week for 15 to 45 minutes. Yesterday's session was more bearable. I guess it's something you have to get used to. This morning, I'm feeling better, more happy. I think I did need the sunlight. I've been depressed and I think it's related to this relapse cause I'm generally a bright and happy person. It could also be the medication. Depression and suicide are side effects that one is warned of on the label. The pharmacy has asked me about that a couple of times too. I'm not in a deep depression and I am not suicidal; I just feel blue.

I'm still having intermittent trouble with my right index finger. It  becomes painful and difficult to use. Yesterday, my left knee was having some kind of spasm that would make my leg buckle whenever I stood up to walk. Weird.

The lady that takes care of my hair noticed that my scalp  has a bald spot. I see her every six weeks. That spot wasn't there the last time I saw her. I was incredulous and didn't know it was there. My hair has been thinning since I was in my late 20s, mostly due to the fact that I've just always  had thin and fine hair but also related to chemicals that were terrible for my scalp. Now I think it's worse due to my age, family history, stress from my recent diagnoses endometriosis and multiple sclerosis; and probably the medication. I went completely bald on my right temple a few months ago. I'd been using a cream on both temples. The hair is growing back there now. My hair lady suggested that I use the cream all throughout my scalp on the top half of my scalp.

My routines at the gym are going well. I'm back in gym shape but I ought  to do schedule light weightlifting days on the days I'm scheduled to work. I love working out so much sometimes I just forget.

A friend of mine at church, a medical doctor recommended that I increase my Vitamin D intake from 1,000 IU to 5,000 IU, since I'm dark skinned. Vitamin D helps to prevent future relapses. I agree with him, based on medical research I've read.

I visited a nutritionist who owns a vitamin store. He has a radio show as well or used to. He recommended a vitamin for me and asked me to bring my lab work from the hospital to him. I'm waiting for that to come to me in the mail and then I will visit him again. He does free consultations.

Telephone Consultation with Nurse Titi

Today is a good day. My level of fatigue was a five on a scale of one to ten. I slept for only one hour. I got rid of some junk in the loft too.

I went to the gym for one hour and did some new shoulder exercises detailed in  Body Change by Montel Williams and Wini Linguvic. I also did 30 minutes of cardio on the stepper and on the treadmill. It was exciting to do some new exercises. I love doing shoulder exercises. :D
I did three sets of crunches too. Jimmy went with me to the gym at my request. He was my spotter for some lateral shoulder lifts. I am trying to increase my lateral shoulder lifts to 60 pounds and I can't do it alone. He also threw me a medicine ball when I came up from crunch on the reverse incline bench. The funniest part of that was that he almost fell over when I threw him back the ball. It was funny because right now he is long and lanky but one day I know he will have much more strength than I have.

A very nice nurse called me today to teach me about the shots I am starting. Her name is Titi and she is certified in MS.  Nurses are available via telephone 24 hours a day. Titi is going to train me on the administration of the medication. She ordered a training kit for me today.

This is a bullet list of everything I learned during our phone call:

• I should contact the MS Society at 800-344-4867 and the MS Association of America at 800-532-7667 to learn as much as I can about MS. The MS Association of America has some cooling equipment to help me to stay cool when I exercise.
• The medication Betaseron doesn't have to be refrigerated but shouldn't be left in a hot car. It should be placed in carry on luggage. It's okay to place it in the trunk but shouldn't be left there for too many hours.
• I should call Dr. Lufti to ask him if he wants me to take Tylenol or Motrin before my injection. Tylenol or Motrin can minimize or eradicate any flu like symptoms of Betaseron.
• It's best to take the medication at bedtime. On the nights I work I should take the medication the following morning before I go to bed.
• I should continue my same exercise routine and there are people who play sports, run, and continue to travel and work on this medication.
• Once I receive the training kit, I should call Titi to be trained.
• Only 57% of people in studies experienced flu like symptoms. 37 % of people in a placebo group also experienced flu like symptoms. Ha.
• I need to hydrate a lot taking this medication. I'm not sure how I could drink more water than I already do but we will see. ;) I'm already drinking about 72 oz of water a day.

Titi was kind and patient and helped allay my concerns.

I was told that I could receive an emergency 30 day kit to start the medication sooner. I declined that as I don't see this as an emergency. I think I should save that privilege for an emergency.

Beta Plus, the company that provides Betaseron is awaiting approval from my insurance company to start the medication. The approval should take a couple more day, they tell me.

Tuesday Ten

My friend Kilby used to post ten things she was grateful for every Tuesday. I've received so many blessings over the summer I'd like to start making a list as I did years ago.

I've listed eleven things today, unable to stop the praises at ten.

1. I found out I have multiple sclerosis and I'm thankful to know. Perhaps it won't get worse and I can maintain my mobility, Lord willing.
2. James is between projects and he can help me with the homeschooling. 
3. The manufacturer of a medicine I am going to start soon called me to assist with the hefty  hefty co-pay.
4. Two important apps on my  phone: My shopping list app and my Reminders app. I have to use them daily as my memory is very poor and foggy right now.
5. My supportive co-workers.
6. The ladies who brought me meals.
7. My fabulous food with family and a bestie at Sweet Tomatoes this afternoon. 
8. The photos Kilby posted of her cute Hilary with one l in her name. :)
9. The chronic pelvic pain I had all summer ceased on 8/21/12. 
10. Recently becoming content with extra virgin olive oil, coarse ground pepper, and balsamic vinegar for a salad dressing rather than the expensive sugary dressing I was using. It was a lite dressing and low in fat but had too much sugar and TOO much sodium. I'm always looking for ways to shy away from my love affair with sugar.
11. I'm glad I made a switch to organic lettuce. It's so delicious and it stays fresh so much longer. Thankfully, it's on sale at Publix right now. I used to shy away from organic foods but once you learn you have an autoimmune disease you try to make some changes. Being a person who is ridden with various allergies I suspect that autoimmune disease are a result of either a virus or allergy of some kind. I read recently that many people with MS and lupus have a history of allergies. Interesting.

A Bad Day & A Better Day

This past Sunday was an absolutely terrible day. I got dressed for church and went downstairs to eat breakfast. All of a sudden I was overcome with crushing fatigue. I went back upstairs and got into bed fully dressed even down to my huge big hooped earrings. I thought I would skip Sunday school and aim to go to the Sunday service instead. But 15 minutes later a pretty little girl peered at me over my bed with a sad face. I found out she was disappointed that she would miss her Sunday school class. "I like the games and the candy," she explained. I felt sorry for her and we left for Sunday school. The fatigue never passed and it was a terrible day. I had to work that night too and it persisted throughout the night. Daily, I experience that fatigue anywhere from two to five hours but usually it starts in the afternoon, not in the morning. I wondered if there was something the Devil didn't want me to hear at church that morning. Thankfully, it was a slow night. I left early at 6 AM. I got some sleep and felt better on awakening.

After some food and drink I went to the gym and did some chest exercises and ab crunches. A friend at the gym suggested that I try some liquid multivitamins. I thought that was an excellent idea. I have some high quality vitamins that I used to use only one week a month before that special time of the month but they weren't touching my exhaustion. I took the liquid multivitamins last night and this morning. I do feel better today. I was able to reorganize my laundry closet and a kitchen closet. GASP. I haven't been able to organize anything for months.

The medication I'm supposed to start for multiple sclerosis is very $$$$. From what I've learned on the Internet, the average wholesale cost is $1,400.  My insurance requires that I pay 30%. The manufacturer called me today and stated that my doctor referred me to them for co-pay assistance. I was very grateful. I've been exhaling all day.

My symptoms lately are fatigue from two to five hours per day, requiring a nap or rest; lightheadedness at times; poor memory; and some weakness in my right arm every now and then. I also have difficulty digesting large pieces of information.

All said, God is good and He is continuing to bless me.