July 17, 2012

The weather is really heating up again. Today it should be about 100 degrees! This past weekend I plotted a new route in town 4.2 miles. It is a great route with steep hills, grades, and curves. Plus it is 100% in town so if I have any difficulties there is always someone to go to. That is important especially with this extreme heat that we have been having. I really don't think it is safe to go way out into the country without water. My 12 mile route in this heat is just not safe. Plus, it is getting that time of year for the fairgrounds to get busier so running through there is not working out as well. I did not run on Monday morning or this morning. Yesterday, I had to go to my semi-annual visit with my neurologist at University of Wisconsin in Madison WI. My appointment was for 8a so I had to leave early in the morning. So I did go to the gym last night and did a mile on the treadmill. I only did this because it was close to 100 degrees and not safe to run outside. This morning I really, really wanted to run but my body did not want to. (I really hate that!!!) My body was very spastic (that means that my legs feel like they are being squeezed by some invisable elastic and my feet felt like I had tight shoes on (I was bare foot in bed). When I get that way, everything tends to constrict. So I end up in a ball, it is really hard for me to straighten out and when I do it just down right hurts. So obviously, it was not the morning to go run. So I slept in till about 6a. Even now, at 9a, I still feel very stiff in my legs, arms, and hands. It may be due to the extreme heat that is playing on my body. Even though, I stay in the air conditioning or water when it is hot - the heat still plays on my body. Hopefully, tonight I have 2 exercise classes maybe I will snap out of this constrictive feeling. Sometimes, the muscles constrict so severely that it cause GREAT PAIN - I mean you are crying because it hurts SO SO MUCH!!!! Othertimes, it just feels like you have really tight spandex on your feet, legs, arms, and hands.... It hurts but you are not crying in the corner.... So there is a difference in intensity. To verbalize the neuropathy pain is VERY difficult. You cannot see this pain. You may be able to a spasm when everything because very tight and stiff. Then it like all the joints and muscles have just frozen in place. They do not move... You can see the muscles and veins actually become noticable through your skin. That is not fun. So anyway, I think due to the extreme heat my legs are more spastic and constricted. As I was first mentioning, before I digressed, I had my semi-annual check with my neurologist at University of Wisconsin in Madison. This is one of the closest places to me that has a MS Clinic. The neurologists in the Rockford/Freeport area are all general neurologist. It is like having your family doctor doing open heart surgery on you. Not that your family doc does know his stuff - it is just not his speciality. So I STRONGLY RECOMMEND anyone with MS go and seek a MS specialist at a MS Clinic. Even if you have to travel - you probably only have to see them once or twice a year. Anyway, my visit was very good. He continues to be amazed at my progression. I told him about my running and up to 12 miles and did a 10 mile race. He was really taken back. He and the med student asked me about issues with my running and I told them. This includes the heat issues and having ice the moment I cross the finish line, having to re-learn how to run and read my body cues, and sometimes just getting mad at my MS and telling it in very colorful language where to go as I run.... They thought that last part was pretty funny. It really is... I think if people heard my voicing my opinions at my MS when I am really frustrated at it... they would lock me in some padded cell. But I vent these emotions out at the MS... not at a person... BIG DIFFERENCE! By venting out my emotions and frustrations I am able to conquer and regain my perspective and NOT LET THE MS WIN!!!!! That is the main thing... I hear some many people with MS saying, I can't do this or that... My response is, why? Who said that you cannot do this or that? And even if someone said this or that, who is to say they are right? I look at things this way.... Unless there is someone glowing, walking on water, and feeding the multitudes with a loaf of bread and a fish -- I don't 100% buy into it... I have to find out for ME!!!!! Yes, I research things... I look at the science of nutrition and exercise. My biggest question when I start things; is this going to kill me? Exercise and running is not going to kill me. Yes, maybe when the truck runs me over but then I won't worry about to much of anything... My nutrition of eating whole foods, non-processed, fresh and raw, non-red meat, low fat, low sugar type foods... is that going to kill me? NO - that is just eating a healthy balanced diet... That has actually helped me with keeping my blood pressure in-line and my overall health that is in very good shape. It does take a bit of work to do a nutrition change about from the extremely unhealthy American diet. Yes, I make my own bread that is primarily rough cut wheat or rye. I make a dessert that we have through the week. The dessert is primarily sugar-free and low fat. (Everyone needs some sweets.) This week for our dessert I made a black forest mousse with a chocolate crust... Does that sound good??? It is!!! I made the chocolate crust in a 9x9 pan... Then layered sugar free cherry jello mixed with tofu for first layer and sugar-free chocolate pudding mixed with tofu for the topping... That simple... Not only do you have a WONDERFUL dessert. But it is very healthy!!! The protein content is high so this is great for someone who does not eat meat very often. So I get my protein and satisfy my sweet tooth at the same time... Not a bad... So there are many alternatives to the old nutrition that we all grew up on... It is SO unhealthy. I know that nutrition has really helped me SO VERY MUCH with my MS and also with my health overall. Yes, I continue my battle with weight. Since I was dx in 2006, I have lost 110 pounds. NOT KIDDING!!!!! I still would like to go down about 20 lbs more... Weight is something, I will always have to work on. I really think some people are genetically more deposed to having weight issues. So those people (like me) have to work harder at losing and keeping weight off. Plus, as many MS folks know we take many drugs to help with spastisity and tremors. These drugs are all "downers" or slow down your metabolism. Then you add to the mix being post-metapausal, you really have a recipe of SLOW METABOLISM. So it takes MORE dilegence to lose weight and keep it off. But it can be down... Right now, I am just persitant with my nutrition and exercise. That is all anyone can do... Just try to keep moving forward -- always forward!!!!!!