This is it...

Well, tomorrow I leave for Cleveland. Pre-op stuff ... and then I am just going to stay there at a hotel on campus. My mom and my baby girl (actually she is 10) are coming with me.

Funny thing - I was going to go with my sister-in-law on Saturday to get a tattoo of a shamrock on my ankle. Thought it would bring me a little luck (power of 3) and provide a little Irish protection. Then, I started thinking that it might not be a good thing to get punctured with ink and tiny needles over and over again prior to giving blood, and going into surgery. So, I drew it myself! It's a little bigger than I anticipated, but I think it will do the trick. We will have to see if they wipe it all off prior to surgery (I do not know the rules as they apply to Sharpie ink). No biggie if they do, I suppose. I had fun doing it. Maybe I have found my new calling - Tattoo Artist - what do you think! ha ha.

I am hoping my next post will be Wednesday evening. See you then - friendly followers!!!!!

Kristi

Here's Something ....

Don't know if I have mentioned... I was told that I have a brain aneurysm. Had to stop any and all strenuous activity - so I did. I feel like a blob! Probably because in conjunction with me stopping any and all strenuous activity I have found solice in my comfort food! ALL of it! From potatoes and pasta to pie and chocolate! ALL of it! I do feel ashamed and I am now in the process of reeling it all in! I am due to have an endovascular embolization coiling procedure to treat the aneurysm. And, on top of that, I received a call from my Chiari Neurologist and they have informed me that upon my recovery from the "eecp" (as I am now calling it) I have to have the decompression surgery to alleviate the pressure in my brain that they now believe to be the cause of all of my irritating, frustrating and painful symptoms that I have been complaining about for months and months and months! (Sorry by the way :)) So, there you have it.....2 surgeries and HOPEFULLY an end to all of this craziness! I am extremely tense about this, but excited to reach a conclusion!

There's a Twist... A Russian Twist That Is...

I got to Positively Fit this morning - did 20 minutes on the treadmill to warm up - and started my session with Kim. I told her not to hold back. My symptoms will surface no matter what I do, so I have decided to go all out and make the rest of me healthier. I want the damn headaches to mean something....why be in pain if I haven't even broken a sweat? She listened....We worked the entire body - and we ended with the dreaded "Russian Twist". For anyone who knows what this is....it is torture! I told her I didn't mind not being a member of the "Russian Twist Club". She didn't care and happily accepted my dues!!! Anyway - even though I joke...that twist is an exceptional exercise!

It is now 2:30 - (5 hours post work-out) and I am doing alright. I haven't really sat down except to drive, and I am taking my daughter to the park for a bike ride after school. Even if my head starts....I will power through. One good thing - I usually fall right to sleep when my head is pounding.

Wonder what I'm going to do tomorrow?

Kristi

Pain Be Darned!

I am severely frustrated. What started out to be a light-hearted blog journey has turned in to me venting about my medical issues and pain. And, unfortunately, it must continue until I am CURED!!! My issues have yet to be diagnosed, but my neurologist in Cleveland seems to think I am on to something as it relates to a fluid leak (caused by the 6 failed epiderals and one "saddle block" that were administered during the birth of my daughter - TEN YEARS AGO!!!!!!). They have also discovered that I have a 3mm aneurism that has taken up residency in my brain. So, I am slated to have ANOTHER MRI to check for a fluid leak and an MRA to monitor the aneurism on Thursday, the 22nd.


In the meantime, I have decided to continue my training with Kim at Positively Fit and have a session scheduled for tomorrow morning. I am excited to regain the ground that I have lost over the last few weeks. I am determined to become fit and to feel good (both emotionally and physically). I will let you know how tomorrow goes! I know that I am going to have pain - but I am willing to accept that. I am tired of being tired and I am tired of feeling like a crappy piece of doggy doo!

Another Issue?

Results of the MRI on my lower back...

According to my pseudo doc's (PD's) interpretation of my MRI, I have a case of spinal stenosis - (a narrowing of the spinal cord canal). My PD's nurse (or receptionist - more likely), relayed information that I am to undergo therapy and take some pain killers and / or anti-inflammatory medication to control my pain. I asked her if he or she was aware that I have Chiari... When she asked me what Chiari was and then how to spell it...I instructed her to never mind and that I was going to have a neurologist at the Cleveland Clinic analyze my MRI's and offer recommendations.

Who the hell knows!? My appointment in Cleveland is on Tuesday, September 29th. We shall see what they have to say!

Kristi

The Pseudo Doctor

So ... I visited my "PCP" (Primary Care Physician) at the beginning of last week in order to get him to order an MRI on my lower back...I sat in the waiting room for approximately 45 minutes, was herded into the examination room and waited for another 25 minutes...Listened to my VERY LOUD doctor talk to his patients in the 2 rooms adjacent to mine and ask the same questions as if he were reading from a script. And, although the answers being given were different, he did not deviate from this script! When he entered the room I was in, he began with the SAME first question. But really, it was not a question...it was more of a statement with the end syllables raised in order to make it a pseudo question. "Drugs or Alcohol?" I asked him what he had...he wasn't amused - AND - he still did not deviate! So, after I allowed him to robotically move through his list of questions as I responded flatly with one word answers, I dove into my brain issues! I explained my migraines as they related to my back and he offered to prescribe drugs to alleviate my pain. I told him I was not interested in masking my symptoms, that I was more interested in finding the cause and elevating them! Again, he was not amused...He then offered to give me a "nerve conduction" test in order to determine the extent of nerve damage (if any at all). I explained to him that they were in NO way going to electrocute me again and that he should look through my chart because they had already done this barbaric electrical shock treatment to me 3 other times! It was apparent to both of us that I needed to get out of there. My goal for this visit was to get him to order an MRI for my lower back and I succeeded!

Stay tuned!
Kristi

Food Memories

I have been fairly laxxed in my blogging duties. School started and I feel like I am SWAMPED! That happens to be a good thing for me. I no longer find myself mindlessly staring into the pantry or refrigerator. AND, I have lost some more pounds. That put's me below the 160 mark. I am currently 158.6 pounds. Well, at least I was until I went to Kristina's house and ravaged her olive tray! It was all her fault...she had black, green and GIANT blue cheese stuffed greenies. She also had these cheese and herb filled pastries that were irresistible and melted in my mouth. I had 2 of those, but countless olives, 1 Michelob Ultra and 2 NA Beck's. It is possible that I jumped back into the 160's, but we will never know! My elliptical will call on me in the a.m. and all food memories from this evening will be forgotten!