A new low

I went yesterday afternoon and had a kid (lol, the older I get the younger dr.s tend to look) give me an "event monitor".  He went through how it works, how to record a specific event, how to put the patches on and where to put them and when to bring it back for new batteries. 

After he was done I asked if I got anything in writing?  No, he says.  I just laughed and said O.K. then.  I think he thought I was joking.  Little does he know that I picked up about every 3rd word.  I don't know what it is with me and instructions or basically anything that I need to remember.  I simply can't anymore.  It's like that part of my brain has gotten re-wired maybe by medicine?  Maybe because of Oxygen?  Maybe just because almost everything is overwhelming to me these days?  Who knows, but honestly I couldn't tell you anything other than... I know where to put the patches each day after my shower, only because I put them next to a mole or marking.  Only 2 patches, and they need to make a diagonal line over my heart.  So one is just below my collar-bone on the right, and one is about elbow height on my left side.

Tomorrow I will call and ask them what day I am to bring it back in and have the batteries changed.  I will have it for a month.

Last night I woke up twice and the leads wear off.  I must have been caught in the cording while I slept.  I do that sometimes with my oxygen cannula... I will wake up tangled in it like a cobweb.  Tonight I will tuck all the wires under my sports bra.  Nothin gets out of there... these things are so tight.

I actually am glad to have it.  I am hoping these 4:00 a.m. things can get caught on a recording so I can finally know what is happening to me.  I can go with the diagnoses of Chostrocondritis.  It just seems crazy that a cartilage issue can feel as painful as this.  Like I said I have a really high tolerance for pain.  I have had failed back surgeries and have gone without pain meds because of the long term damage and druggy feeling I had.  So, now and for the last 5 years I have learned to deal with the pain.  Some days I do better than other days.  And, some days I will call my doctor and ask for a few pills if I am having problems with interrupted sleep.  Lack of sleep (at least for me) makes everything more dramatic, makes every throb of muscle spasm worse.  If I am rested I can deal with pain and everything much easier.
So, for this to be muscular is crazy to me.  Something that actually wakes me up out of sleep?  I have slept through several good sized earth quakes.. not much wakes me up.  I slept next to a snorer for 29 years. 

I mentioned to Bill a few months ago that I wanted to repaint the kitchen.  He painted it a few years ago (2 I think) grey and black.  He even did a back-splash around the stove out of black diamond plate for truck beds.  It looked nice.  Just didn't really fit in with the rest of the house. 

So.. He bought paint a week ago.  Yesterday he started painting.  Today I helped and we finished.  Actually I did about an hours worth of painting and then just offered assistance when I could.  Poor guy did the whole thing.  White with red doors and drawer fronts, with gray brick and touches of black with throw rugs and spice racks and counter tops.  It looks really nice.  Tomorrow is the paint scraping day... off the windows, off the counter tops, touch up paint and cleaning... then putting everything back together. 

It was a bad time for me to be counted on.  Physically I couldn't do it. 
I mentioned several times having a bowel problem.  I know the cause is all of my medications... but it got TERRIBLE yesterday.  I have been taking 2 laxatives a day all week.  Yesterday I went to the bathroom (had B-M's) 5 times.  Painful... cramping and solid.  Today, still painful, cramping and my stomach is as hard as a rock.  I have made a note to call my primary care doctor tomorrow and ask for advice. 

I went to Britt's today and while I am away from home I use a portable O2 canister in my purse.  Usually I am at a store with a shopping cart, or walking with my purse on my arm.  When I visit people... it's setting out of the way.  Well, today I went to Britt's to clean for her.  She is a single mom, going to nursing school, doing 18 credits this term (outrageous).  So, I want to help her.  I didn't even do much, she is such a clean person... her house is never "dirty".  But, she has along with that 5 year old little girl... 2 cats and a dog.  The cats love to shred their carpet cat house, or strings, so I vacuumed, did some dishes and dusted her living room for her.  That way she could just come home and not worry about her house.  Layla was fed and busy playing, so she could just concentrate on her homework. 

I didn't feel well.  My belly/bowel problem and just a bad breathing day.  I have been more short of breath in the last 2 days than ever before.  I don't like thinking about this becoming my new reality.  It just can't be this bad yet.  I have too far to go before I can get any relief. 

I haven't exercised for days... I haven't exactly been watching my intake of food, but haven't went overboard.  I need to start eating my veggies more.  I know that will help ease my bowel issue.  I quit taking the pain meds, even at night because I felt dopey and I know they were part of the culprits that made my stomach so painful and hard. 

I try to find a positive every day.  Health wise the last week I haven't found anything good.  I have a painted kitchen, and a family I wouldn't trade for anything.  There it is.  :)

Last night I took my medicine and went to bed.  I fell asleep pretty fast.  A little before 4:00 a.m. I again awoke with TERRIBLE gripping pain in my chest, pain shooting down my arm, and the worse pressure headache ever!  I staggered out of bed and into the bathroom to get my pain meds... then into the kitchen for a bottle of water.  Then to just make it back to bed ... Bill must have heard me because he met me in the kitchen and helped me back to bed.  I could not lay down, neither could I set upright ... I was left kind of rolling around holding firmly to my chest and moaning and crying like a baby.  I remembered the instructions they gave me when the sent me home from the E.R. told me that heat may help, so I had Bill get the heating pad for me.  I didn't roll it or fold it like I should have ... I crammed it up inside of my sports bra.  After about 20 minutes either the meds or the heating pad took the edge off the pain and I could lay down and go back to sleep. 

I remember Bill telling me to relax and breath.  He said I looked like I was having an anxiety attack.  I told him not being able to breath tends to do that to me!!  I tell you, whatever these things are it is like someone has my heart in their hand and starts to squeeze and wrench it. 

I remember asking Bill..... What is it with chest pain and 4:00 in the morning?  Why doesn't this happen at midnight, or 2:00 in the afternoon?  It must be once I am the most relaxed or something?  I dunno...

I think I mentioned that my doctor was trying to get me into see a Cardiologist?  Well, they called me this morning and I have an appointment for tomorrow @ 1:30.  They are going to hook me up to an "event monitor".  It is like a 24 hour 7 day EKG monitor.  This way they can watch what my heart is doing. 

Not that I am wishing another one of those 4:00 a.m. things on myself... but at least it would show what my heart is doing during this most painful event.  They want to try and figure out why my pulse is so rapid.  My doctor told me it cannot continue like this or my heart will begin to wear out. 

I swear... I feel like a 49 year old trapped inside a 75 year old woman's body.  And, that's not to knock any 75 year olds... they are probably in better shape than I am. 

So, I am exhausted again tonight.  I will go take my meds and go to bed.  I'll make sure to post once I am home from the cardiologists and let you know what's going on. 

I am a little apprehensive about going to sleep tonight.  LoL  How sad is it that now I am afraid to go to sleep.  Good Lord!! 

Coming off of steroids and onto pain meds

I hear things like... You can expect more of these types of occurrences over the next years.  ???  I don't want to "expect" that!  I am a good patient.  Most the time I listen to my doctors and follow their instructions very closely.  Yes, sometimes I get too anxious and begin things too soon... it has been my experience that when I do things too soon I pay a price for it.  As time goes on, I will learn that with each lung infection, cold, flu, virus... it will take longer and longer to recover from.  I will remember that with time. 

I was told when I left the hospital to get a hold of my doctor the following day and schedule a follow up.  I was seen yesterday afternoon. 
My doctor is wonderful and always so thorough with me.  We went over all the events that ended up with me sitting in a hospital bed in the E.R. all day.  She looks what medication they gave me and the result. 

She pushed on 2 places on my chest... one spot just above the collar bone and the other right between my breasts where my breast bone connects to my ribs.  The first one I said ouch... the second poke brought me out of my chair.  She said this cements the diagnoses from the E.R. doctor. 
She said it was most likely brought on my my lung issues, or I have Fibromyalga and many times that can bring on the same symptoms. 

She said I would need a pain killer and I chose percoset over hydrocodone.  For some reason hydrocodone wires me, like I have drank a lot of coffee or something.  It takes the pain away but sleeping would be out of the questions. 

She also told me she is still concerned with my Tachycardia.  That having my pulse hover around 100 is not good and if not treated to slow it down could cause many other issues.  So, she is trying a new heart medicine and still trying to get a referral to a cardiologist.

By the time I picked up the medicine and got home I was worn out and ready for bed.

I  took the meds like I was supposed to and slept like a baby.  Yesterday I got up and took my meds and drank a couple cups of coffee.  Britt was coming over to help me with my computer and IPOD, by the time Britt got here I was laying down... dizzy, sweaty and feeling like I was going to throw up.  I sat there visiting with her a little... then got up and went and threw up.  For about 4 hours I felt sweaty, clammy, dizzy disoriented... the pain meds are WAY too strong. 

So... Tomorrow I will call and talk to my doctor or most likely, leave her a message asking for specific help. 

I still am not exercising.  However, Bill got me a new IPOD nano for Christmas and I just finally got it all loaded yesterday.  So, now I have all my work out music and no working out to be done.

I am trying to do my best on my diet.... but know that I have gained.  Monday I am starting again.  Getting back on track with the food portions and snacking.  I will have no cardio, so burning extra calories is out of the question.  I'll have to figure a way to stick strictly to a caloric plan everyday until I can start to exercise again.

Chocolate Chip and Bacon Cookies

‎1/2 cup butter, softened (you could also replace some butter with an equal amount of bacon grease)



1/2 cup brown sugar


1/2 cup white sugar


1 egg


1 teaspoon vanilla extract


...1 1/8 cup all purpose flour


1/2 teaspoon baking soda


1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup dark chocolate chunks or chips


5 strips bacon, cooked and crumbled


Cream together the butter and sugar. Mix in the egg and vanilla. In a small bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet. Stir in the chocolate and bacon. Scoop dough onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for about 10 minutes.
 
This recipe came from a Friend of mine  Bette Rutland.  I haven't made them yet... not exactly diet food... but O M G!!!  Two of my favorite things in the world.  I have to make them just once... just to say I did and to confirm that this very well could be the perfect food!  LOL

Costochondritis (The best information I could find)

Costochondritis (kos-toe-KHON-dri-tis) is an inflammation of the cartilage that connects a rib to the breastbone (sternum). It causes sharp pain in the costosternal joint — where your ribs and breastbone are joined by rubbery cartilage. Pain caused by costochondritis may mimic that of a heart attack or other heart conditions.



Your doctor might refer to costochondritis by other names, including chest wall pain, costosternal syndrome and costosternal chondrodynia. When the pain of costochondritis is accompanied by swelling, it's referred to as Tietze syndrome.


Most cases of costochondritis have no apparent cause. In these cases, treatment focuses on easing your pain while you wait for costochondritis to improve on its own.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
Symptoms



By Mayo Clinic staff


Bones and joints associated with costochondritis


Costochondritis is the most common cause of chest pain originating in the chest wall.


Symptoms include:
■Pain and tenderness in the locations where your ribs attach to your breastbone (costosternal joints)


■Often sharp pain, though also dull and gnawing pain


■Location often on left side of breastbone, but possible on either side of chest


Other costochondritis symptoms may include:
■Pain when taking deep breaths


■Pain when coughing


■Difficulty breathing


When to see a doctor


Make an appointment to see your doctor if self-care measures aren't helping your pain or if your pain is worsening.




Costochondritis pain is often mistaken for heart attack pain. The pain of a heart attack is often more widespread, while costochondritis pain is focused on a small area. Heart attack pain usually feels as if it's coming from under your breastbone, while costochondritis pain seems to come from the breastbone itself. Heart attack pain may worsen with physical activity or stress, while the pain of costochondritis remains constant.






Don't waste time, though, trying to distinguish between the two if you're experiencing unexplained and persistent chest pain. Chest pain is an emergency — seek medical attention right away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Costochondritis is a condition that causes chest pain due to inflammation of the cartilage and bones in the chest wall. Also called Tietze's Syndrome, costochondritis occurs when there is inflammation at the junction of the rib bone and breastbone (sternum). At this junction, there is cartilage joining these bones. This cartilage can become irritated and inflamed. Depending on the extent of the inflammation, costochondritis can be quite painful.



What causes costochondritis?


It is often difficult to indentify a single cause of costochondritis. This condition is thought to be bost commonly due to repetitive microtrauma, or overuse. This means that activities are causing repeated damage to the cartilage of the chest wall leading to inflammation. The most frequently affected age group is young adults between 20 and 40 years old. Costochondritis can also been found as an overuse injury in athletes, in particular this condition has been identified in competitive rowers.


Costochondritis can also be found after a traumatic injury. For example, a car accident where the driver's chest strikes the steering wheel can cause costochondritis by injuring the ribs and cartilage on the front of the chest. Viral infections, usually upper respiratory infections, have also been identified as a cause of costochondritis.


What are the symptoms of costochondritis?


Most patients with costochondritis experience pain over the front of the upper chest (the area of the sternum). Because of serious conditions, most importantly conditions related to heart problems, costochondritis should only be diagnosed after excluding other more serious problems.


Costochondritis pain is usually worsened by activity or exercise. Often the pain is worsened when taking a deep breath. This stretches the inflamed cartilage and can cause significant pain. Touching the area involved by costochondritis can be extremely painful for the patient.


Because of the many nerves that branch away from the chest, pain may be experienced in the shoulder or arms as well. When called Tietze's Syndrome, the pain from costochondritis is accompanied by redness and or swelling in the areas most tender.

If it weren't for bad luck... you know the rest

I went to weigh in on Tuesday, I was a little discouraged because I gained .8 pounds but ready to take control and get back to it.  I had that lung infection/fluid.. or whatever they called it that visit .. and was trying to regain strength from being sick and on steroids which make sleep impossible. 
Tuesday evening I got my trampoline out and jumped for maybe 5 minutes.  I could tell that the lung infection took a lot out of me and it would take some time to build back up again. 
Tuesday night/Wednesday morning I woke up around 3:00ish with terrible pain in my chest.  Like someone had a hold of my heart and was just SQUEEZING.  I tried to go back to sleep, I adjusted my position and finally around 5:00 I just gave up and came out and got in the recliner.  I was not wanting to wake up Bill so I waited for him to get up. 
He got in the shower and I called my doctor.  She wasn't in so I asked what time the walk in clinic opened.  !0:00  So, at 10:00 I called Britt and told her that I was just going to get checked, not to worry... go about her business and I'd check in with her, or she could call her dad.  We went to the walk in clinic and of course they took me right back to a room.  The nurses assistant took blood pressure and pulse and oxygen levels.  Then the door opens and Britt comes in.  She decided to just stop in. 
Soon the doctor came in and asked a few questions then told me she was calling for an ambulance and they would be here shortly.  In the meantime in rolls a portable EKG machine.  About the time they get me hooked up the paramedics come in and one starts an I.V. the other one begins to ask Britt which belongings are mine and if she can tell him what I was experiencing.  Britt was overwhelmed!  LoL  It all happened very quickly.  I wasn't in the doctors office 20 minutes before I was being wheeled out on a gurney and into the ambulance. 

To make a really long story short.... 3 aspirin's, 3 nitro tablets under my tongue, a nitro patch, several blood tests, a contrast CT scan, ultra sounds of my legs to make sure no blood clots were present, and a blown out vein in my arm... I was told this was not a cardiac event ... or he is 95% sure it wasn't. 

He thinks I have what is called Costochondritis.  I will post information on it. 

I am through with my trampoline for a while, I am through heavy lifting for a while.  I am discouraged.  I was on the upside of weight gain prior to this.  Zero pounds lost one week, and .8 pounds gained the last week... So, I needed a boost to get back losing weight.  I know I have no control over these things... BUT CRAP!

This diagnoses does not tell me why I still have a rapid heart beat.  I can tell you... The symptoms for this mimic almost EXACTLY a heart attack.  The pain is just as bad, with pain running down one arm and the whole bit.  I am relieved it was not my heart. 

I am very impressed with the nursing staff (minus a few blown veins) and the doctor and the care I received.  They were very thorough and kept Bill and Brittney informed throughout every thing. 

So... today I am asking Britt to bring over her stationary bike for me.  It will be my exercise of choice now that I cannot bounce or lift anything.  Did I tell you I am to wear a very tight fitting sports bra 24 hours a day.  LoL  It's fine, it just makes me look like I have a uni-breast instead of 2 separate things!  But I am packed in tightly and I guess that's the point.
Now, to post the information on my newest adventure.

Weigh In

The bodybugg plan I am using offers planned meals.  I am making up my own menu's because cooking for more than just myself it is impossible to follow another plan.
They do have these menu's that I look at each day just to give me ideas.



This is my measurement chart to date.  Or, at least since I began using this system.  I had been going along and losing here and there, and staying the same or watching fraction of inches float from place to place.  Britt (who takes my measurement's) and I were really surprised today by the increase in my chest and rib cage.  That had never happened before.  I am going to be watching these #'s.  I have a feeling it could be my chest expanding... I certainly hope not.

So, my weigh in... Today I gained .8 pounds.  Let's keep track of this... last week I remained the same, this week I gained .8 pounds.  Not the best 2 weeks for me. 

I got back on the trampoline yesterday and did 5 minutes just to test myself.  I found it very hard.  Today I am trying to do small amounts here and there, and I am still finding it difficult.  My chest hurts, I have pain in my lungs and my heart area.  My pulse is always high, so that tells me nothing.  I am a little concerned.  Enough to take things very slowly and if it doesn't get better over the next couple days, I will be calling my doctor for advice. 

I am still on the prednisone.  I just did my final 2 today... so 2 more days with one pill then I'll be off of them.  Hallelujah!! 

I sent in my registration today for a 5k run/walk next month.  I figured Bill would be there with me and maybe I can talk Britt into going too.

I'll let you know the closer it comes how I am feeling.  If you noticed I posted a few things on oxygen deprivation and how it effects your body and other organs.  I was told this will be my biggest problem because of the severity of my emphysema and my age. 

Some days I can get away with not feeling like I have lung disease.  This last week I am feeling all of it.



Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exercises

Lack of oxygen in body tissues creates a defect of red blood cells that further exacerbates the condition by constricting blood vessels in the lung

A persistent scarcity of oxygen in body tissues - a widespread problem in patients with heart or lung disease - can create a defect of red blood cells that further exacerbates the condition by constricting blood vessels in the lung, Howard Hughes Medical Institute researchers at Duke University Medical Center have found.


What's more, the team demonstrated through studies in people and animals that inhalation of a 'souped up' form of nitric oxide, which targets red blood cells, reverses the blood abnormality to restore normal lung pressure.


The team's findings appear in the online Early Edition of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (October 3-7, 2005). The work was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the National Science Foundation. Stamler is a paid consultant for Nitrox LLC, a biotechnology company developing NO-based drugs for disorders of the heart, lung and blood.


The potentially fatal lung condition, pulmonary hypertension, is characterized by high blood pressure in the lungs. The disorder is a common complication of chronic diseases such as emphysema, arthritis, sickle cell disease and heart failure. However, pulmonary hypertension can also arise in otherwise healthy people for unknown reasons. Symptoms include shortness of breath under minimal exertion, fatigue, chest pain, dizzy spells and fainting.


"Many people suffer pulmonary hypertension as a complicating factor of other chronic disease," said study senior author Jonathan Stamler, M.D. "In such cases, the lung condition is often predictive of poorer outcomes. For others, pulmonary hypertension is the primary disease."


"We have now established a molecular defect of the red blood cells as an important contributing cause of hypertension in the lung," added Timothy McMahon, lead author of the study. Physicians had previously considered an abnormality within the lung itself as the primary source of the condition, he explained. Physicians had not considered red blood cells as a cause of lung disease.


"We have found that when red blood cells are exposed to abnormally low oxygen for long periods, they become depleted of an essential substance that they normally release to relax blood vessels in the lung," McMahon continued. "But not only do blood cells, which of course perfuse the lung, cause lung problems, we've also found that inhalation of a new drug designed to correct the blood defect can reverse this condition."


Stamler's group reported in 1996 that hemoglobin in red blood cells acts as a finely tuned biosensor, adjusting blood flow to provide exactly the optimum amount of oxygen to tissues and organs. The blood cell adjusts blood flow by changing shape and releasing a nitric oxide-like molecule called s-nitrosothiol (SNO), which the cell carries through the bloodstream along with oxygen.


When oxygen levels are high, hemoglobin scavenges excess oxygen and NO, constricting blood vessels and reducing blood flow. When oxygen levels drop, the NO is released to relax blood vessels and improve blood flow. The Duke team now finds that with prolonged oxygen shortage, or hypoxia, blood cells become depleted of SNOs, therefore losing their ability to relax blood vessels.


More recent evidence from the Duke group has indicated that other types of SNOs might offer new therapeutic approaches to diseases of the heart, lung and blood. For example, the researchers found that SNOs played a critical role in septic shock, a common cause of death in intensive care units. They later showed that the compounds are lacking in the blood of patients with sickle cell disease and also play a part in preventing asthma. The latest findings extend the role of SNOs in red blood cells to include pulmonary hypertension.


A new chemical therapy, which replenished SNO levels in the blood of patients, restored the red blood cells' ability to dilate vessels, lowered pressures, and improved the transfer of oxygen to tissues. Similarly, in the lab, exposure of red blood cells to sustained hypoxia led to a deficiency of the SNO vessel relaxant, according to the researchers. The SNO-deficient blood cells failed to relax blood vessels of the lungs in laboratory studies and constricted pulmonary blood vessels in pigs, they reported. Restoration of SNO levels in the animals likewise lowered pressures in the lungs.


The researchers demonstrated that under conditions of prolonged oxygen deficiency, which is very common in sick patients, red cells become deficient for SNO, thereby losing their capacity to relax blood vessels and boost blood flow, Stamler said. Pressure came down in the lungs of animals given red blood cells replete in SNOs, whereas transfusion of red blood cells deficient in SNO raised pressures, the team reported.


To examine the relevance of the findings to human disease, the researchers compared the level of SNO in the blood of patients with pulmonary hypertension to that of healthy people. Normal individuals had five times more SNO in their blood than did those with elevated lung pressure. In fact, those with the lung condition almost completely lacked hemoglobin with bound SNO, a finding consistent with the effects of hypoxia observed in the lab, Stamler said. That SNO-deficiency led to impaired blood vessel dilation by the red cells, they showed.


The researchers reasoned that if deficiency of SNO in red blood cells causes the lung condition, then restoring SNO levels should reverse the disease. Ten patients treated with an inhaled SNO-generating gas exhibited an increase in SNO in the bloodstream, found the researchers. After therapy, patients' red blood cells again relaxed blood vessels in a manner comparable to that of normal red cells. In addition, the pressures came down in the lungs of the patients.


"We have followed this process all the way from characterizing the molecular defect of red blood cells through the translation of this basic scientific finding into a promising new therapy," Stamler said. A larger clinical trial effort now underway will further examine the therapy's potential to relieve pulmonary hypertension, he said.


Collaborators on the study include Timothy McMahon, Gregory Ahearn, Martin Moya, Andrew Gow, Yuh-Chin Huang, Raphael Nudelman, Yun Yan, Abigail Krichman, Thomas Bashore, Robert Califf, Claude Piantadosi and Victor Tapson, all of Duke. Benjamin Luchsinger and David Singel of Montana State University also contributed to the research.






http://medschool.duke.edu/

How the Lack of Oxygen can Destroy Your Health and Cause Heart Disease, Cancer, and all Diseases

By Keith Nemec, M.D.

Excerpt taken from the book Total Health = Wholeness: A Body, Mind and Spirit Manual by Dr. Keith and Laurie Nemec. For more information go to Total Health Institute http://www.totalhealthinstitute.com.What are the two most important nutrients you can put in your body?


The answer is oxygen and water. You can live 2 minutes without air, 5-6 days without water and 30 days without food. The oxygen we breath combines with the food we eat to form energy. This energy is called adenosine triphosphate, or ATP.

Oxygen is the most essential nutrient to enter the body and when it is in low supply your internal system starts to become anaerobic which means low oxygen environment. Why is this a problem? Because most pathogens like many bacteria, viruses and cancer cells thrive in anaerobic conditions.


Nobel prize winner, Dr. Otto Warburg demonstrated that the key ingredient for the formation of cancer is a decrease of oxygen on the cellular level. It is also important to know that when the sugar content goes up in the body, the oxygen content goes down. They are inversely proportionally.


What kind of symptoms and problems develop with low oxygen content in the body? Dr. Sheldon Hendler, author of The Oxygen Breakthrough, says that “ATP is the basic currency of life. Without it, we are literally dead. Imbalance or interruption in the production and flow of this substance results in fatigue, disease and disorder, including immune imbalance, cancer, heart disease and all of the degenerative processes we associate with aging.”


How do we become oxygen deficient?
1) poor quality air
2) poor quality food
3) poor breathing technique


1) The air we breath has become so polluted and toxic from the chemicals in the environment that the oxygen content has become lower. This is caused by exhaust, emissions and smoke along with all the other 70,000 toxic chemicals that have been released into the environment.


2) Most of the food eaten today is cooked and devoid of life giving enzymes, bioelectricity and oxygen. The highest content oxygen foods are living green plants like wheatgrass, sunflower sprouts and buckwheat sprouts, next come raw green vegetables like leafy greens; kale, collards, dandelions, spinach and broccoli, the all raw vegetables, then raw fruits. Cooked animal products have the lowest oxygen of any food source.


3) Most people only use 15% of their lung capacity throughout the majority of their life. This leads to poorly oxygenated blood. When we chest breath we use only a small portion of our lung capacity. Stress induces us to automatically chest breathe and this causes lower oxygen levels in the blood which cause stress to the body which promotes further chest breathing — a vicious cycle. Deep breathing, or diaphragm breathing fully expands and contracts the lungs causing a huge increase in the amount of oxygen absorbed into the blood. We were born to diaphragm breathe as you can see every time you see a baby breathe their abdomen move up and down. The best breathing technique inhales maximally through the nose until the lungs are fully expanded then slowly exhales until the lungs are maximally contracted. Usually this is a slow count of ten in, a momentary pause, and then slow count of ten out.


There are three ways that vital nutrients and biochemicals enter our body: through water, air and food. We have already discussed possible problems with the food we eat, but what about water and air?


Every single cell in your body must receive oxygen and nutrients in which it metabolizes to maintain life. The waste products from this metabolism must be flushed from the cells. Only water can do this. If we do not keep up with our 1 quart of water per 50 pounds of body weight per day requirement then the cells start to die in their own waste products. The less water you consume the more toxic you become and the greater the chance of disease onset.

First day back to my trampoline

I woke up this morning determined to get on my trampoline for 5 minute intervals, and try and build back up to my 2 hours.  I realized that I would have to build back up again.

We needed some groceries so I sent Bill to the grocery store this morning.  I forgot that if I needed something right away I had to make that very clear.  Sending him out to the store is like CANDY to him.  He knows all the department heads at each grocery store in town and takes FOREVER to shop.  It's more like he shops in between visiting with everybody in the store. 

So, while he was gone I started roasting red peppers for a sauce to use later this week.  I know I am missing something about roasting peppers.  I cut them, clean them, dry them off, lay them on a baking sheet lined with nonstick foil, then broil them until the skins are black.  It's getting the skin off that takes me forever.  I think I remember somewhere that you use a  rubber glove to rub it off?  I dunno... I didn't have a rubber glove, so I stood at the sink and picked and scraped until I got all the skin off. 

Then I make a Pea, Bacon and shredded cheddar salad.  Only, I couldn't finish it because I was waiting for the bacon to get back from the store with Bill. 

So, I started on Chicken Salad.  I seasoned and baked 2 chicken breasts.  While they cooked I diced ... onion, carrots, celery and a little parsley.  Once the chicken cooled I cut it in half to make 4 thin breasts, then diced it into small cubes.  Then I made a mayonnaise dressing and put it in the Frig for tomorrow's dinner.

I baked 2 more Chicken breasts to have with our pea salad.  Then once I got the bacon done, I could pop the breasts back in the broiler to finish cooking them and dinner was done.

So... after Bill got home and I made the bacon and added it to the salad.  I was too tired to jump on my trampoline. 

We had dinner and I sat at the computer for way too long, then got on the trampoline for 6 minutes.  That's all I could do.  It's going to take some time for me to get back where I was.  I hope I remember patience and not rush myself. 

Tomorrow is Weight Watchers.  I was not going to go because I am pretty sure I gained weight, and it's so disturbing to gain.  Being on steroids I am really not sure how much they play in weight gain.  I can tell you I didn't eat as healthy as I normally do this week.  I just was so worn out and got so out of breath doing the smallest of things, that to snack I would just grab whatever was there already prepared.  Like hand fulls of saltine crackers... not so good for my no sodium diet!  I'll see how I do.  All I can do is start again.  Today I got back on my bodybugg, first time since last Friday... and I tracked all my food intake and tried to come as close to goals as I could do without a work out.

Tomorrow will tell.  See ya then.

A series of Prednisone

Thursday afternoon I wasn't feeling very good.  The typical pain in my upper back and shoulder felt different and my chest was tight and hard to take in air. 
I didn't want to wait until 6:00p.m. then end up in the emergency room, so I went to the walk in clinic at my doctors office.  She is off Thursdays. 

It is almost ridiculous that a person whom the desk girls have seen on a fairly regular basis hands me a form to fill out and asks me "why are you here"?  When I say I am having breathing issues, they ask me to fill out this form, don't forget to sign it and take a seat, we'll call you when the doctor's ready.  Now, I understand I have no appointment and the walk in clinic is first come first serve... but you would think that a woman on oxygen who is complaining of breathing issues and is sitting in the waiting room sweating... would maybe take precedence over someone with a runny nose.

Can you tell I hate clinics?  Lol  Anyway... knowing that I am seeing a doctor who is not familiar with my background I figure I will have some explaining to do, or he can make use of the computerized system there and look over my charts and recent tests.  I get called back after a half hour, get put into a room ... have the assistant take my temperature and blood pressure and then leave me alone to wait another 20 minutes. 

The doctor comes in and asks me my issue.  Breathing problems and a sharp pain in my upper back and shoulder.  He asks briefly my background.  Severe Emphysema and Copd.  He looks through the computer and says.. " Wow, your doctors are serious about this" I say why?  He comments on the transplant documentation and the LVRS notes.  He then puts me up on the table and listens to my lungs and heart.  He says he is concerned with my rapid pulse.  I tell him at 98 it's actually lower than it usually is. 

He orders blood work and X-Rays.  I get taken down to another waiting room and wait 45 minutes for the Xray tech to get back from somewhere.  In the meantime I am seen by a lab person to draw my blood.  This bruise in 4 days old and still is black and purple.  That was from her digging in my arm trying to find a vein. 

I get the X-Ray and get taken back to the doctors office, and back into the first exam room I was in.  Wait now another 20 minutes.  He comes in and tells me I have what looks like fluid in my left lower lung.  He asks me if this is something I have had before?  Yes, what was the treatment?  Antibiotics and Steroids.  What pharmacy do you use?  Thanks for coming, if you don't feel better after the 8 days series of prednisone, call you doctor.

4 days later.  My chest is still very tight, breathing is fine as long as I don't put for ANY effort, then I am panting.  I haven't had a nights sleep since Thursday night.  The steroids make me irritable and I can't seem to sleep or relax my body.  There has to be something better. 

I haven't worked out... Of course, all week.  So, this weeks weigh in won't happen.  I am going to try and get back on the trampoline for 5 minute intervals tomorrow.  I feel like I have to.  I will back off if I begin to feel bad, but sitting here gaining what I have lost just isn't alright with me.

I can feel the depression sneaking back up again.  It is the result of not feeling good.  Not being able to stand and do dishes without getting dizzy.  Not sleeping.  I am not bouncing right back from things like I used to.  I can tell with each "event" it's taking me longer and longer to get over.  I am hoping for a little better days this week so I can do something.  Anything... using my trampoline, painting my kitchen, going to the park and feeding our geese.  I just need to feel better.

So... With that... I am off to take more meds I hate and see if I can get some sleep tonight.

Weigh in Day



Look closely, I think this will be the last time you see this from me. This is my one hour straight without a rest of cardio.   




Look at that.  Pretty isn't it?  I was consistent in calories burned. 





I made the steps goal.  Yeah for me.



As much as I don't want to share this.... this is what late night eating will do. Over 700 calories eaten from 7p.m. to 10p.m. That's ridiculous!  And, all that progress I made above, each night was ruined by late night snacks. 

 

As you can see from above ..... I did not lose or gain  last week.  I remained the same.  I worked so hard to reach the calories burned goal, and I was very close.  Even after my fiasco of my hour of cardio at one time (more on that later).  I took that and over ate my caloric intake by about 1200.  You can see I really had to work on the over eating because I made my step goal, and I was 20 or 30 from my calories burned.  LATE NIGHT EATING!!!  Ughh
Now to that "hour of cardio" I was talking about.......
I thought I was really showing myself how undamaged my body was and how much I had improved it by exercising.  I thought I would make a bold statement by doing an hour of cardio at one time!  Well, you can see what happened after that day by looking at the charts...... the next day was not quite to goal and the next 2 forget it! 

I thought that I would recover quickly.  As it turns out I just got back from the doctor.  I went because my glands felt swollen and I am paranoid about infections these days.  Well, after blood work and X-Rays there was something in my lower left lobe of my lung.  So... I am back on anti-biotics and steroids.  :(  I probably knew something was going on.  I have been tired, I have said I had pain in my back.  I was out of breath but blamed the rainy weather for it. 

I am back to taking a week off working out.  I will watch my intake, but with the steroids it almost always is a gain on the scales.  I am just so disappointed.  Disappointed because I think I was the cause.  I CANNOT do things people with normal lungs can do.  I cannot push myself physically like that.  All I accomplished was a set back.  A set back health wise, and diet wise, and it didn't do much to uplift my mood. 

I still swear by my mini trampoline.  I will get back on it, in small doses ... but first I am going to allow my body to rest and my lungs to heal.
So... it's off the computer and on my way to bed. 



Another doctor

I thought I would catch you up on the doctors appointment I had. 

I went in with a list.  Cysts... sorry even though one or two are in a location that irritates them (under bra strap, and on my hip right next to the muscle) my insurance company will most likely look at them as a cosmetic procedure.  She sent a request any way and will let me know.

Heart issue.  She is concerned and sent a referral to a Cardiologist.  She also along with the request sent an order for a "event monitor".  Unlike an EKG which is done in her office, or the holter monitor which I wore for 24 hours.... This would be hooked up to me and worn for a week or so, and if I felt anything out of the ordinary then I would activate a recording device on the monitor.  That way they can see what my heart is doing. 
I told Bill knowing my luck I will wear the thing and everything will be perfectly normal until I take it off and go without one.

For months now 8 or more my pulse has been 100+ at rest, and can go up with exercise to 180+ .  She said this is not acceptable.  Hoping the cardiologist can come up with something.  She said probably a new heart medication or another increase in the one I am already taking.

As for my weight, she was very happy and encouraged me to keep it up.  Five pounds I had lost since my last visit the beginning of February. 

Yesterday I had a first.... I actually did an HOUR of cardio without stopping.  The hard part was last night getting back on there to get my 2 hours in.  Today we went to Britt's house first thing this morning.  Then Layla and I went to Walmart for an hour or more, so by the time I got home it was 3:30.  I ate dinner, got Layla dinner and did dishes and by the time I got on the trampoline it was already 5:00.  There just is no way I can get my 2 hours in tonight.  I'll work on it tomorrow and see if I can't make up some time. 

I have been diligent this week about eating and exercising and staying within my goals.  Today is an off day.  I didn't exercise like I should have and I didn't follow any good eating habits.  I think this week my late night eating is even under control.  I'll have to go back and look to make sure. 

Isn't it wonderful ... This is one of the side effects of being on O2 and having to watch your oxygen saturation... I forget the smallest of things.  It's frustrating and at times embarrassing.  When I am writing this blog sometimes I will be writing away and suddenly I can't think of the word I want to use.  I have to sit here and concentrate until it comes to me.  Some times I never do think of it and just use a different word.  When I am talking to someone I just blank out and forget what I was talking about... or what I was going to say.  I have talked to other people with Copd and they experience the same thing.

I went shopping yesterday with Bill for stuff for dinner.  I was going to make a recipe that I got off the Paula Deen show.  Crab Casserole.  It sounded dreamy!!  So, while I was standing at the seafood counter at the market, the man (in his 60's I would guess maybe older even) asked me what I wanted as he looked down, I said .. a couple pounds of crab meat please.  As he looked up... the look on his face was shock, then he did the head tilt thing, and then he spoke those words... "Awe you poor thing... so young to be on oxygen!".  I just smiled, took my meat and walked away. 

It's moments like that , that make me wanna stay inside my house.  I do not want pity.  If I wanted to be looked at like that I would let my hair go gray, quit wearing any make up, quit worrying about my hair and if my clothes look alright...and just live out my miserable days at home.
I don't want that though.  I still believe that I can be vital.  Well, some days more than others, but geeze......... I hate that.  I take criticism better than I do pity.
Pity makes me feel used up or damaged. 

It sometimes is hard to pick myself back up again.  Even going to the doctor and hearing I now will add a cardiologist to my team of doctors was hard for me to take.  I want to shout.......... I AM NOT EVEN 50 YEARS OLD YET!  I am not damaged goods!  Sometimes it's easier to believe I am sick.  Some days I just don't want to put on a happy face, or struggle to exercise.  This living takes it out of a person!  LoL  It really is a struggle to walk amongst the masses and feel like I fit in and not stand out. 
It's these days that I am "grumpy" with Bill, and I hope he understands, but I don't think he does.  It's not like this is a secret group with hidden pain that No One will ever understand.  It's just not visible, so I think it's forgotten sometimes by the ones closest to us.  Because I look alright and even with the cannula as a reminder it too becomes invisible if seen day in and day out... so I could be having the hardest time getting air and no one would know it.  Why should they?  It's just that continually having to explain how hard it is... I begin to feel like a whiner or broken record... and even I get tired of myself... so I say I am "O.K.".  How are you you ?  I'm O.K..

In a few months we are having a memorial service where we scattered my moms ashes.  There will be several, many people there who have not seen me on oxygen.  It takes some getting used to.  I remember when both my parents began using it.  Mom just once in a while, and near the end... dad all the time.  I remember it changed how I saw them.  I no longer saw them as my strong parents who could protect me from anything.  I saw them as someone I should take care of, as weaker or frail.  It will be interesting, and all I can hope for is some good breathing weather. 

Weigh in Day

It is that day of the week again.  The Tuesday morning weigh in at Weight Watchers.  This week I lost 1.6 pounds.  I can tell you why I haven't lost my 2.8 pounds that my bodybugg goal is set up for.  It's the late night eating!!

Even though I did not get 2 hours of cardio in everyday last week I did workout as much as my body would let me.  I am having problems with my feet and my left leg (I think behind the knee I have a varicose vein) and also my right hip bothers me because I have a cyst there that sometimes the muscle moving around irritates it.  I have a doctors appointment on Thursday and I called ahead and asked to schedule a little more time so we can go over this list of things I have been putting off because of all the other "organ" issues I have had.  First things first right?!  LoL
I will have a long list for my poor Doctor to deal with. 

Anyway... most days I can adjust my weight on the trampoline and get through my 2 hours... but lately my feet especially are bothering me.  Since I had back surgery I have what I refer to as these "nerve balls" on the bottom of my feet.  More so on the left foot.  It feels like I have an invisible ball there that is painful when I put weight on it.  It feels about the size of a golf ball.  When I stay off my feet it's not there... when I am on my feet a lot it shows up.  That's bad news because I have been trying to be active most of the day and limit my sitting.  Even my addiction to facebook games is done now sporadically. 

First and foremost I will talk to her about this heart problem.  It has happened twice more not as extreme as the big event, but a sudden pain that makes me grip my chest and my breathing is difficult and my blood pressure feels like a roller coaster.  These other two times have just happened while sitting down and last only a couple minutes.  I am just worried that there is a bigger issue that possibly needs addressed. 

I know these pains in my lungs are part of the emphysema and I know there is nothing that can be done until the time I am accepted for lung surgery or transplant.  I know that my eye sight will continue to get worse because of the medicine I take.  It seems I take a pill for this or that, but with each new pill comes a new side effect.  Most of them I don't notice or can live with.  Some are just bothersome ... like dry mouth, constipation, difficulty urinating or having a leakage problem.  I swear... getting old with medical complication is not for wimps!!  I have new respect for my Mom and Dad for both aging gracefully. 

So... my weekly pictures...................



This shows my average caloric intake for the week. 



Weekly calories burned by day and the averages are above.  I averaged burning 2465 calories last week.  My goal was 2500 so that is pretty good.
My caloric intake should be 1200, mine averaged to 1665...not so good.
My average deficit for last week was 800, my goal was 1350.. not so good here either.



This shows by day my cardio work out.  Sporadic isn't it.  I will try and do better. 



This shows daily steps taken.  My goal is 10k per day.  I exceeded that.  Yeah me!! :)



Me about a third of the way through my weight loss.  Let's see what another 25 pounds will do.

 Dinner tonight... Chicken soup and whole wheat rolls.  I will slice the rolls really thinly and brush butter on them then broil. Still get that buttery flavor with hardly any calories.  I spoon 2 tablespoons of butter into a bowl, then melt in the microwave and use only that to butter the bread.  Less calories... good flavor with a little garlic powder.  Yum! :)  The soup has very little chicken and lots of veggies.  With low sodium 99% fat free chicken broth. 
Tonight's dinner even with several slices of bread will be around 400 calories.  That is even 2 bowls of soup and 4 slices of bread. 

As it turned out I slept Wednesday night.  Not entirely all through the night, but from around 11 to 4:30 sleep was easy.  After 4:30 I had to fight for it until I finally gave up at 7:00 and got up.  Last night was a little better.  You know, I used to get up at 6:30 every morning, whether I had anything to do or any where to go.  I enjoyed early mornings.  The house being quiet and I had time to drink coffee and wake up.
Since I have gotten sick I have been used to sleeping at least 10 hours and as long as 12 hours each night.  So... maybe I was just swinging back into a normal rhythm.  I doubt it!  LoL

I think now a good nights sleep happens when I am breathing good and have not had a busy day.  I have found I don't do well with chaos or confusion anymore.  I like things to be planned and calm.  I am not sure why that is?  Maybe my heart rate, or blood pressure.  But, I almost get sick when things get to hectic around me. 

I cleaned house today.  Bill had errands to run and that is my favorite time to clean.  When he is home he is under foot, or I feel guilty about asking him to move while I vacuum or whatever.  Anyway... I really do love cleaning and rearranging things.  I bought 2 new lamp shades yesterday for the lamps in the living room.  The lamps are new .. well, I bought them in December, but I didn't like the barrel shades on them.  The new ones match much better the decor and colors of the house ... Tan and Red.  And, I used one of the barrel shades for my desk lamp. 

I noticed today that I have ALL these wires under my desk from the computer and printer.  Next week Britt has finals then she is off for spring break ... I am waiting patiently so she can come over and give her mama a day and help me.  She is a computer person, I want her to help me tie all the wires together so they aren't such a mess.
Also, I asked her to help me download music and get my IPod set up.  Also, she is going to color my hair.  LoL  She is such a good daughter and is so patient with me.  I have gotten so needy.  It drives me crazy, and she is very good about helping me.

I think I have been doing pretty good as far as losing weight this week.  Last night I had one of those OMG late night eating parties.  I exercised enough (in short spurts) yesterday that it didn't kill my progress.  This morning after my second cup of coffee I pulled out the trampoline and did 42 minutes before I stopped.  Not so bad, and that is the perfect way for me to start my day.  It makes me feel like if I don't do anything else... I accomplished something for the day.  I wish every day were like that, but sadly they are getting fewer and fewer these days.

I have watched myself the last couple months move forward in some areas.... Mainly taking charge of losing weight.... and becoming so dependant in other areas. 

I used to be so independent.  I would get in my car and drive myself or Britt and I2 hours to visit my dad, never giving it a second thought.  I would always be going somewhere, or doing something.  Lately, I will take short trips to the store, but I check EVERYTHING.  Do I have enough O2?  Do I have my rescue inhaler (even though it does little to help)?  Do I have my phone and is it charged in case I need to get a hold of Bill or Britt?  Really, it's silly.  I would NEVER think about taking a trip by myself.  I don't trust that I am capable to be out there alone for that long.

Saying goodbye to that part of me is sad.  I need to look at this as just a new chapter with new challenges.  Where I am lacking now, I will find some other area to excel in.  I feel like I skipped middle age.  I went from the youth of my 30's, and into my 40's that included losing both parents, having back surgeries and spine problems, to being diagnosed with this lung disease. 

I think of my Mom and in her 40's she was conquering the Baja, snorkeling and going on all kinds of adventures.  She moved to Mexico and had the time of her life. 

Maybe if there is such a thing as a second time around ... this next time I will make wise choices and live a long and happy life.

Irony

I am sitting at the computer tonight not wanting to go to bed.  The last 4 nights I have slept about 1/3 of the time throughout the night.  The rest of the time I was laying there perfectly awake, but afraid if I just gave in and got out of bed I would be exhausted the next day.  Well, guess what... it's 4 days later and I'm exhausted anyway.

I have taken my medicine about 1/2 hour ago, which normally would make me drowsy by now.  Lately not at all!  I have tried reading before bed instead of watching T.V..  I have tried just going to bed without any distractions.  Nothing is working. 

Today was a busy day.  You know, nothing particular... just seemed like we were going all day.  Taking my spare O2 canisters in and trading them for filled ones, along with some new cannula's.  They will deliver them to me, but we had to be at that end of town anyway. 
Then we went to Walmart, I knew I needed something from there, but could not for the life of me remember what it was.  Bill is getting used to my forgetfulness, so we just wandered around until it came to me.  Walmart is the only place in town that I can buy vacuum bags with extra filtration. 

When we got home this afternoon I tried to do some cardio.  Yesterday I just didn't have it in me.  Today wasn't much better, but with 15 to 20 minute intervals I managed to get in an hour and 45 minutes. 

Tonight my chest hurts.  It hurts on the left side where my heart is, and is worse when I take deep breaths.  My pulse rate is high anywhere from 120-130 just sitting around.  I have drastically reduced my caffeine trying to see if that helps.  I LOVE coffee.  I always have.  The stronger the better, so not drinking it is almost as big as quitting smoking.  I am down to 2 cups maybe 3 in the morning. 

I was thinking today that after 12 years I am losing weight and exercising for the first time in my life.  I am getting my body in better shape than it's been since my 30's, but don't have the breathing capacity to enjoy it.  
So goes life I guess.  And, I realize that losing weight makes breathing easier, it helps not lugging around all that extra weight, it's better on my bones and back.  Yada, Yada, Yada!  LoL  I just see the irony in it.

O.K. ... I think (fingers and toes crossed) I may be able to go in and get to sleep in a semi quick time.  Later.....

Weigh in

Keeping in mind that I didn't go to weigh in last week ... today again was weigh in day.  I lost 2.8 pounds.  I am still trying to make up for the one week that I gained 4 pounds.  I didn't make up all of it, but it's a good start. 


As you can see  ^up there^ I have lost inches.  Well, lost inches and gained some in the process.  Just fat shifting around before it jumps ship I guess.


I did reset my goal date.  I just got too far behind gaining the weight that I did so, I reset my goal date to be July 4th, instead of June 12th.  I still have a goal set to lose 2+ pounds a week, but I am not constantly staring at big red #'s that show me how far behind I am getting. 


When I set my goals and I didn't think all the way through about how much I can exercise consistently, and how if I am on steroids it's more difficult to lose weight.  So... I am giving myself a break. 


I got on my trampoline yesterday with every intention of keeping up with my 2 hours a day... and I couldn't get through 15 minutes.  I mean... I got to 12 minutes and my lungs hurt so bad.  My body just was not going to let me exert myself .. so I just ate less and drank water and went to bed. 


There will be days like that, but I also have good days.  Very good days actually.  Yes, while I exercise I have my oxygen cannula on, and yes I still can't go like anyone else.  But I do have good days where I can get in 2 hours of cardio before bedtime.  I can make sure I get over 10k steps in one day.  Those are good days.  And if I am allowed those good days I will take an occasional days that I can't do much.


There are 3 main things that tell me that I have lost weight and even better inches... and those 3 things are........
-When I go to bed at night if I am laying on my back ... I can intertwine my fingers and rest my hands on my stomach and my elbows rest comfortably on the bed.  It used to be that my elbows couldn't touch the bed.  Now, they not only touch it, but lay on it!  That's progress.
-Another thing is (LoL.. sorry but it's progress) ... when I sit down on the toilet instead of just padding... I can actually feel tail bone to seat.  That hasn't happened in a long time. 
-Also getting out of the shower I can reach all the way around myself to dry off, instead of having to stretch to reach certain areas.


For someone reading this who has never had a weight issue, you probably won't understand how significant these moments are. 


The last 3 nights I have not slept.  I will lay there and doze off then wake up thinking it's time to get up and only a few minutes have passed.  3 nights like that.  I have been tired anyway, this just makes doing anything a chore.  I just feel exhausted.  I have had a few days of strange feelings with my heart rate, feeling shaky and sweating.  It comes out of the blue.  Today I took my pulse thinking that maybe my O2 levels weren't high enough, but they were fine and my blood pressure (can't remember the #'s) was alright.
It is kind of like the coffee jitters only it's not caffeine, and there is sweating involved.  I am going to the Dr. on the 10th ... I am going to bring this up along with that one episode I had in the middle of the night.


I will try and do better about blogging.  I am putting recipes together and will start posting them.