Deserved Indulgence

Jolly Green Giant sitting on my chest.

Fri, 28 May 2010 15:48:17 -0400

Today was the first day of our CSA pick ups. We are old hands at it by now, but I still find myself a little overwhelmed by the first deluge of veggies.

I must clean out the freezer. See what I’ve got left over from last year so I can use it up. Perhaps organize it a little better.

This weekend I plan to make quiches for freezing and prep a big salad. I also want to sew some projects, but am still having to be mindful of my energy. I’ve got big plans for this weekend -actually through Wednesday. I’d better drink a V8 and pace myself.

Working out with POTs

Wed, 26 May 2010 10:22:16 -0400

So in this round of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia syndrome I had read quite a bit about exercise used in treatments. Exercise intolerance is a big symptom for me during a flare up, and is generally one of the first signs that things are going awry. Up until this year, I didn’t really have a clue what to do with that information but this year has been different!

I had been working with a personal trainer for about a year before I was diagnosed, but I wasn’t seeing the results in stamina or strength that I had in previous “good” years. I would come home after a workout and sleep for three hours and was pretty wiped the next day.

Here’s what has been working for me.

I switched from the elliptical and running to a recumbent bike. Heart rate spikes and blood pressure bottoms out when you stand? Exercise sitting down then. Yeah, it seems like a no-brainer now, but it didn’t occur to me before.

Exercise at night. You fall asleep after working out for at least 3 hours and are really tired the rest of the day? Exercise right before you would normally go to sleep for over 3 hours. Yeah, another no-brainer. Did I mention that one of the symptoms of POTs is “brain fog”? No blood pressure = no blood in brain = Allie is dumb sometimes.

I let my heart lead the way. Cheesy - yes - but instead of focusing on faster times, levels or distance I now focus on my heart rate which I try to keep around a paltry 60% of max.

I didn’t jump into anything. I started out at 60% of my max heart rate for 30 mins at a time and for that first week or so it was a challenge keeping my heart rate within range. It would jump around all over the place. I just pedaled slowly and kept an eye on the numbers and adjusted as I went.

Exercising nearly every day. I shoot for 6 out of 7 days a week. I really notice when I miss a day. If I do miss 2 days in a row, my heart rate is jumping all over the place again, and I have to back off a bit.

I increased the length of time until I got to where I could bike for an hour without any issues. I kept things at that level for a couple of weeks.

Last night I bumped up the intensity again. I did a bit over 12 miles in the hour. I’m a little groggy this morning, but not so horribly that it is an issue. We’ll see how it goes the rest of today and tonight.

Because I was already working out, there wasn’t any risk in backing down the intensity of my workouts. If you have POTs and are thinking about adding in exercise, talk to your doctor(s) first. I also take the requisite hand full of pills everyday, along with an embarrassing amount of salt and the required 4 billion glasses of water a day. I wear compression stockings when I’m going to be up a lot (thigh high, toeless, 30-40s FTW!).

So as you can tell, I’m fighting hard for the comeback. I think it is working. I know that my house is approaching clean under my own power for the first time in a long time, and several of those little projects are getting done. I feel almost human again. Now that we know what causes this, I am hopeful that life will not be quite the roller coaster it has been.

I’m the girl ...

Thu, 20 May 2010 14:34:46 -0400

I’m the girl who:

-cries during the Biggest Loser, school plays, and the last high school football game of the season. Anytime someone finishes something they’ve worked hard for, I’ve got tears in my eyes, sympathy for their struggle and pride for people I don’t know accomplishing things they wanted.

-listens to the same song over and over again all day because it fits her mood (sorry neighbors).

-dances around from room to room while doing housework, despite her house being half glass.

-actually does feel better when she wears a little lipstick (gah, that was hard to admit, Aunt Louella.)

-gets a little emotionally overwhelmed when they play the National Anthem at ball games.

-denies herself the very things she knows will make her feel better.
-is trying to get better about that sort of thing.

-sets her clock 10 mins fast.

-likes to have a stack of books next to her.

-will forever be trying to figure out who exactly she is, because there’s always another layer.

(to be continued, I’m sure)

To there and back again.

Wed, 3 Mar 2010 18:56:49 -0500

Posting for me has been light across social media as of late.
There are happy reasons, and not as happy reasons.

I was diagnosed with POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome) a few months ago. I’ve actually had it since I was 15. It comes and goes. This isn’t a great time for me, but I’ve head worse and I know it will pass. I know have the added bonus of knowing what is going on and having medication and lifestyle changes that help. My feelings about this are complicated to say the least.
So - that’s the “not as happy”.

On to the happy reasons...
Bermuda! In the middle of February! I left directly after one of those blizzards - I’ve lost count of them at this point - and joined Kalamity and Cordelia in NYC. We took the short flight to warmer temperatures and teal waters. It was fabulous and I plan on going back soon.

Between the Dr. visits, out of town visitors (a serious string that went from before Thanksgiving to midway through January), all the freaking snow, and traveling (not just mine), I’ve been exhausted.

Good news is that I am having more good days than bad overall. I’m starting to get excited about upcoming projects.

Twitter killed my blog

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 15:30:02 -0500

Even though a lot has happened, very little of it has been my story to tell.
There was a trip home,
Some extended family craziness (the standard kind).
A string of house guests.
I wrote a novel in November. (NaNoWriMo)
Health issues (my own and those of family).
and some much needed connections with old friends.

Somewhere in there the Holidays happened, and my Christmas tree is still up.
I’ve got big plans for the next few months.
We will see where they go.