Monday, December 20, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
DASHing Toward Better Health
Is your waist line growing? Are your north forty assests heading south for the winter? Are the greys growing in faster than you can pluck the suckers out? Well then, you've come to the right place 'cause misery loves company and I'm the living definition of the mid-life blahs at this moment. My weight is at its highest ever, sleep apnea has robbed me of a year's worth of "with-it-"ness, and my blood pressure is having an all out celebration on the roller coaster of life. Add fibromyalgia, anxiety, IBS, and your garden variety of allergies to the list and it's easy to see that life isn't...um...easy.
What to do, what to do, what to do.
1. Sleep study - Please never let it be said that I believe I'm more knowledgeable than doctors, however, since I've already had two sleep studies done and they both showed mild apnea, I think I could be considered a resident expert on this subject. My husband certainly can attest to the fact that the apnea has taken over, as it's become his favorite nocturnal past time to listen for me to start breathing again. So how long has it taken to get a diagnosis this time? 12 months. And that's not to say that I've actually been in to get the CPAP machine yet...they just had the courtesy to call (after 2.5 months) to say that I "most certainly do" qualify to get one. Mr. Doug is going to call any day, I'm sure, to schedule the necessary appointment for me to actually discuss the results of the 3rd sleep study and pick up the machine. He'll call anyday, I'm sure...I think.
2. Blood pressure - 140/90 is considered the beginning of "high" blood pressure. Let's see...mine was 153 over 117 yesterday morning, and that's on blood pressure meds. Sooooo...the holter monitor was worn on Monday and the DASH diet is beginning this weekend.
3. Diet - DASH -Dietary Approach to Stopping Hypertension - fresh fruits and veggies, low fat meats and dairy, whole grains. Sound familiar? Maybe because it's not a "weight loss" diet and I'll be counting servings of food groups rather than calories, I'll be able to stick to this one. Who doesn't like apples, oranges, and bananas?
4. Exercise - Hmmm...let's see. My resting heartrate is staying in the 90 - 110 range. Maybe that's why I feel so fatigued, can't catch my breath, and feel like I'm having a heart attack when I try to go out for a brisk walk. Exercise is easier said than done. Maybe I've finally turned into my mother afterall - she never broke an exercise induced sweat a day of her life!
5. Meditation/Yoga - Oh yeah...those take training, time, and money which simply add to stress in my life. I don't think so. Besides, I've tried meditaton and it puts me to sleep. Hey! Maybe I don't need that CPAP aferall. I can just meditate myself into peaceful slumber. Wish I'd thought of that sooner! I could have saved a few thousand dollars for the doctors to tell me what I already know - I have sleep apnea and I "most certainly do" qualify for a CPAP breathing machine. Sigh.
What to do, what to do, what to do.
1. Sleep study - Please never let it be said that I believe I'm more knowledgeable than doctors, however, since I've already had two sleep studies done and they both showed mild apnea, I think I could be considered a resident expert on this subject. My husband certainly can attest to the fact that the apnea has taken over, as it's become his favorite nocturnal past time to listen for me to start breathing again. So how long has it taken to get a diagnosis this time? 12 months. And that's not to say that I've actually been in to get the CPAP machine yet...they just had the courtesy to call (after 2.5 months) to say that I "most certainly do" qualify to get one. Mr. Doug is going to call any day, I'm sure, to schedule the necessary appointment for me to actually discuss the results of the 3rd sleep study and pick up the machine. He'll call anyday, I'm sure...I think.
2. Blood pressure - 140/90 is considered the beginning of "high" blood pressure. Let's see...mine was 153 over 117 yesterday morning, and that's on blood pressure meds. Sooooo...the holter monitor was worn on Monday and the DASH diet is beginning this weekend.
3. Diet - DASH -Dietary Approach to Stopping Hypertension - fresh fruits and veggies, low fat meats and dairy, whole grains. Sound familiar? Maybe because it's not a "weight loss" diet and I'll be counting servings of food groups rather than calories, I'll be able to stick to this one. Who doesn't like apples, oranges, and bananas?
4. Exercise - Hmmm...let's see. My resting heartrate is staying in the 90 - 110 range. Maybe that's why I feel so fatigued, can't catch my breath, and feel like I'm having a heart attack when I try to go out for a brisk walk. Exercise is easier said than done. Maybe I've finally turned into my mother afterall - she never broke an exercise induced sweat a day of her life!
5. Meditation/Yoga - Oh yeah...those take training, time, and money which simply add to stress in my life. I don't think so. Besides, I've tried meditaton and it puts me to sleep. Hey! Maybe I don't need that CPAP aferall. I can just meditate myself into peaceful slumber. Wish I'd thought of that sooner! I could have saved a few thousand dollars for the doctors to tell me what I already know - I have sleep apnea and I "most certainly do" qualify for a CPAP breathing machine. Sigh.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Just For Me
So this blog is really just for me to chronicle my journey into this next stage of life...empty nester or LIFE AFTER CHILDREN! We've been living a convoluted life since we ran away from home two years ago but I think I'm beginning to come to shed the guilt and come to grips with my new reality. I'm pretty sure I really like where I'm heading now. But before I get to where I'm going, I've got to go back to where I've been. So here it is in a semi-organized list:
1. Born and raised in Florida. Lived there 46 years, the last 10 a mere block from my inlaws and less than a mile from my parents.
2. Married to my high school sweetheart - celebrated our 25th last year.
3. 3 kids - 20, 18, and 16 at the time we flew the coop.
4. Teacher for 24 years - 3rd, 4th, 5th, and one ill-fated year in 6th.
5. Author of 1 "sweet" romance published 7 years ago - my mid-life crisis.
6. A miriad of medical issues ranging from fibromyalgia to...well, too much to go into but nothing to really complain about.
1. Born and raised in Florida. Lived there 46 years, the last 10 a mere block from my inlaws and less than a mile from my parents.
2. Married to my high school sweetheart - celebrated our 25th last year.
3. 3 kids - 20, 18, and 16 at the time we flew the coop.
4. Teacher for 24 years - 3rd, 4th, 5th, and one ill-fated year in 6th.
5. Author of 1 "sweet" romance published 7 years ago - my mid-life crisis.
6. A miriad of medical issues ranging from fibromyalgia to...well, too much to go into but nothing to really complain about.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
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