working out

Really happy to have finally made it into the zone where pushing myself when i'm working out does not mean a setback in my health.

That's a really tough balance when you are struggling with autoimmune diseases- figuring out how hard to push yourself when you're exercising. You want to make progress with your fitness, but if you push too hard, you'll end up flat on your back not only *not* exercising, but not doing much of anything.

Been there, done that, and thanks to 6 months in physical therapy rehabbing my weakened shoulders and back (due to tendinitis and the poor posture I was holding in defense against the pain) and my weak back/ legs (due to inactivity, which was due to the chronic pain from the tendinitis).... well, those 6 months of work have paid off and I am able to push myself and do challenging workouts, just like all those other "earth people" out there who have never had to deal with the challenges of chronic pain and an easily perturbed immune system.

I can't give *all* the credit to PT; I also have changed my diet a lot (gluten free, no artificial sweeteners or MSG, and in general eating a lot more fruits and veggies, no meat and very little dairy). And I take some herbs that were recommended to me by the health counselor at the wellness boutique. They help my energy and my sleep.

I also started drinking nopalea, something I saw on a tv commercial (!) that is supposed ot reduce imflammation. I'll post about that later this week.

Meantime I'm enjoying having muscles that are sore from a good workout. I can enjoy that sort of pain :)
3 cheers for PT!

If you're thinking of getting some PT (and I highly recommend it, especially if you've been injured or laid up for a while), and you're willing to do the exercises at home on the days you don't have appointments... definitely ask around to your neighbors, support group, facebook friends, family, for a recommendation for a great PT facility near you. I went to one that is a sport medicine facility, and it's really inspiring to be surrounded by athletes getting back on their feet.

graduated from PT to... PT?

Today, after almost 6 months of regular visits 2-3 times a week, every week, I graduated from PT! PT being physical therapy. It's one of the few things my health insurance pays for that actual seems to make me healthier. Usually things that help me long term, I have to pay for out of pocket. Drugs that eat your bones and cause fatal brain infections? sure, we'll pay for that. Radioactive dye injected into your veins? Let me get my wallet. Suck the marrow out of your bones? Who do a make out the check to? Massage, acupuncture, vitamins, herbs- are you kidding? You're on your own.

PT somehow made its way into the hearts of the "unsurance" companies, and for that I am grateful. I had tendinitis in my right arm that would flare up and cause other muscles to compensate, creating a chain reaction of misuse of posture, muscles, etc. I just chalked the whole thing up to fibromyalgia or lupus. But when it was just one shoulder over and over I started to think something weird was up, so I got an Xray, then an MRI, adn they found- wait a tumor?! So I was getting that tumor dealt with and the doctor off-handedly mentioned the tendinitis in my arm and I said HOLD THE PHONE! Now I know why my arm and shoulder hurt all the time.

Funny how when something like a tumor or kidney failure are in the picture, stuff like tendinitis gets pushed aside when it otherwise would have been treated immediately.

I actually asked my rheumatologist for a prescription for PT after talking to a neighbor who is a physical therapist. She recommended a really high caliber facility that also is only 10 minutes away by car.

so, here I am today, having "graduated," being completely out of pain and fully functional, no longer need to crawl up the stairs due to weak legs, no longer taking all kinds of pain pills and anti-inflammatories, no longer too uncomfortable to sleep. After cleaning up my diet, getting off all but one drug (the BP med, which has now been cut in half) and getting some regular acupuncture for a while, becoming pain-free was the last piece of the puzzle in getting back to feeling good.

I'm so inspired that I'm going to go back once a month- for personal training! to get in shape! Yes, I'm going from PT to... PT.

I even got a couple parting gifts from the facility. Though I'm tempted to say, "I did 6 months of PT, paid $1000 out of pocket, and all I got was this lousy tote bag and a t-shirt," well frankly being pain-free is such a huge gift I just can't make such a joke. And anyway, I like the tote bag.

My book is featured in the NJ star ledger today

Hope you don't mind if I brag a bit. I've been working on this book for the last 2 years, a collection of humorous essays about dealing with chronic illness and coming out on top. It comes out Feb. 1, 2011, but is available for pre-order now on amazon.com.

http://www.nj.com/entertainment/arts/index.ssf/2011/01/five_books_to_make_you_laugh.html

eating out gluten free

I used to believe that if i just didn't eat wheat, I was gluten free. Then I found out i needed to avoid oats, barley and rye. Anyhow a lot of breads that say "rye" are wheat plus rye. Then I started finding out how many places wheat and gluten are hidden- soy sauce, shampoo (!), envelope glue, sauces, whipped cream, oy! Here I was having given up so many foods I love (pizza, pasta, cake, sandwiches) and I was still eating gluten and not even knowing it. That made me really mad! Then, of course I adjusted.

Eating out has been challenging, but I have found a few places near me that have great salad bars (stick to oil and vinegar dressing to be sure you're not getting hidden gluten), no croutons, no crackers. One chain I have found that is extremely gluten-free friendly is Uno's. They have a gluten-free menu that includes, among other things, PIZZA! It still has cheese, and people, we shouldn't be eating tons of cheese, but as an occasional treat, once every couple months, it keeps me from falling off the wagon after watching everyone around me eat whatever they please all day long.

I think if you join their page on facebook you can get some coupons, sometimes really good ones like buy one get one free entree.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/UnoChicagoGrill

Gluten free book

Recently got a copy of G-free Diet by Elizabeth Hasselbeck. I'm not a big fan of her in particular, but it's a great book, really explaining what gluten is, the difference between celiac disease and gluten intolerance, and all the places it hides (including the glue on envelopes! Maybe that's what poisoned George Castanza's fiancee on that episode of Seinfeld...).

If you've got an autoimmune disease, it's worth trying a gluten free diet for a few weeks to see if your symptoms subside. I've been gluten free for over 2 years and I'm doing well. I'm not on any immune suppressants, my kidneys are back to normal, no pleurisy (water on lungs), no joint pain or fevers. Gluten free is only one of the things i'm doing, but it is the one that takes the most vigilance.

This is a great book, easy to read and thorough.