goal 6 achieved!

Today it snowed all day. Walking in the snow was wonderful. You can tell it's January. The Liberty Tax Lady Liberty mascots were out. There were two. One saw me snap the pixfrom across the five points. "Hey, xxxx, she's taking ur picture!" I am very happy that I don't need to do that to make a living.

Have you gotten your W2s yet? I think it's a little early to be doing taxes.

Yesterday I took two small walks. I barely reached 7K steps. But I did get 25 floors.

Today I did walk. In the snow. Ultimately I went to Ahart's and CVS. I mostly stayed off the hills because of the snow, so I only reached 17 floors.

Doing well with goal 6. Made a doctors appointment. He will yell at me because of my weight.  I did not expect to get an appointment Friday. I wanted the other female doctor. She's booked till mid-March. The guy I got is old. May have to work my way thru the practice to find one I like.

Also bought healthcare. I am now officially poor. I apparently make 3K too much to get any assistance.  My policy is $400/month, with a $4K deductible and $60 doctor co-pays. Pretty much I'm going to be paying twice what I paid before. Unless something horrible happens, I will never make the deductible. And now I won't qualify for the cash price. I'm screwed. However, it will make goal 2 easier to follow. At least the spend less part. Will need to see where I can cut more corners.

Goal 3 is a lot harder. Especially for a "people pleaser" and "enabler". (I learned these terms in Al Anon meetings when my sister was in rehab.) This morning someone called hysterical and hyper-ventilating. The car was repo'd. I caved. However, now that $400/month is a reality, I have no more money to cave with. Maybe it will be easier.

costochondritis and walking.

http://kcra-kw.com/en/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Costochondritis.gif

Monday I went to work. walked a bit at lunchtime. It was a beautiful day.

Came home and started feeling odd. Indigestion maybe? But I ate dinner and turned on the computer and went to class. By 10PM I felt like there was a man standing on my breast bone. And he wasn't invited. I shut off the computer and moved to the couch to watch The Blacklist.   Laying down was worse. Was I having a heart attack? I didn't know. Took my blood pressure. Perfect. Decided it was indigestion and found some generic pepcid that expired in 2012. I took it and went to bed.  By that time my whole left side hurt and my breast felt like bricks.

Tuesday I woke up. I was happy. I woke up. Not a heart attack but it was still there. I couldn't sneeze. Coughing was traumatic. As long as I didn't make any sudden moves I could function. We needed chicken to add to our leftover "rice surprise" (damn it was good) so I took the scenic route to Aharts. Walking up to Sioux street I was both fine and miserable. Walking up Fiot and 8th was even worse. I kept taking my pulse. Perfect. It felt like cracked ribs. The pain is sudden and sharp. The "little man" was really being a PIA and I lost all sense of concentration.

Driving to work I missed the school zone sign flashing. It was 4:00! I got a ticket. $169!!!

Since I was miserable, I decided to listen to the voice in my head and go to the doc in the box. Maybe it's Pneumonia. Maybe a heart attack. The horror visions were dancing in my head. And I have a half marathon Sunday. I decided to go after work. The stress of not knowing was killing me. I could hear Bonnie yelling, "stop being so cheap and go to the doctor". So I did. It's Costochondritis. A virus in the chest wall near the breast bone. There isn't a blasted thing you can do for it but take Aleve. 3 OTC=1 Rx. (I wasn't taking any pain meds because I didn't want to mask the symptoms.) The doc-in-the-box was $148. This is why I don't go to the doctor. It's just a money vacuum. On the up side my heart and lungs are healthy.


Did I mention there's a half-marathon on Sunday? One that I haven't really trained for? Not a good time to get sick. Have another one tomorrow.


Wednesday I walked at work a bit. But the Aleve was making me sick. Thursday I did very little. I drove Lydia to Lehighton and that took my walking time. My online class and my on ground class take up the day. Plus cooking dinner mid-afternoon.


Today I drove Miss Lydia to her home visits. Last week I went walking with Betsy. this week she wasn't available so I walked myself in a whole new neighborhood. The easiest way to explain it is the backside of the muni golf course. I'm guessing 50-60 'burbs. Lots of splits, ranches and amazing mid century architecture. When I was a kid I thought it was hideous. Now I think it's beautiful. I was about three blocks away when Lydia buzzed that she was done.

 Hand-painted, with a great view of the golf course.

 In front of an amazing mid-century house.

Multi-color ghosts.


My breathing was not normal during the walk. But I still have two days till the half. I cannot breath deep so pushing it might not be possible. But I breathed thru my nose the whole time. I rarely do that when walking. I'm an open mouth person.

I did promise my sister that I would not be a hero. I would get my ample butt in the sweep car  if I had to. I think if I pick a steady pace I should be okay. I will take two Aleve before I go. Don't want to lose my breakfast on the trail. Who am I kidding? Breakfast will be after the race. No personal records will be broken. I will use the full four and a half full hours if needed and the route is flat as a pancake.


Tomorrow we are walking on the D&L in the area of the marathon. The more familiar you are with a course, the better it is. Then after walking we'll go pick up our race gear. Michelle, the walking coach, is hosting a pre-race dinner on Saturday night.


If with my weak walking totals this month, I am still past 1000 miles for this Tail on the Trail Challenge. That is about six times around. The challenge ends Sunday.

an expensive day

Last night I did a last chance workout on the hills of Fountain Hill to burn off some weight. I walked up Bishopthorpe, Findlay, Benner, Bergen and Fredrick. The shocking part was that each hill registered the same on the Fitbit 8 or 9. Those hills are not created equal! Especially Frederick which registered 8. All in all I got 56
for the whole day. My goal is 25.

In anticipation of the weigh in, I weighed myself at home this morning: 224. Yikes! I broke the rule about not going back to another set of 10 after I was out. Not good.

At the weigh in I was 222. AND I gained inches. Except in my waist.

I broke my sunglasses when I fell at the recycle center. All the kings horses and all the kings men could not put those glasses back together again. And it was time to make an appointment. Today was the day. Bonnie joined me. Apparently I have had the same basic style of frame since the bronze age. It was time for a change. (What I really want is to be rich so I could have several pairs!)

The exam went well—none of the evil eye diseases are present. Thank goodness. Do not want to do that needle in the eye or drop thing forever like my sister. And my vision really didn't change so I could have saved the $100 on the exam. Oh well. Two new pairs of glasses set me back a little more than a grand. Ouch. Of course we picked the second most expensive frames in the store. I always do.

Afterwards Bonnie and I went to Full Of Crepe for breakfast. Bonnie's was gluten free (vegan also available). They didn't come on a plate. They are street style and come in a paper and cardboard cone that you peel. Yummy but very messy.  Since we were there at 10:30 it wasn't busy. The chef said when the students get back lunch rush starts about 11.

The crepes were huge. It had three different berries, mascarpone cheese and lemon curd.  You can choose sweet or savory and even make your own.

After lunch I walked with Betsy. Since Barb arrives today Bonnie's family stayed home. We did the typical 3 miles in her surburban 'hood.

Then I went to Patient First for BP meds. My doctor is MIA and I have no refills left. When I first started this adventure I went to a Dr. Jones at the doc-in-the-box.  4-5 years later she has landed at Patient First. Their website said she'd be on duty at 3. It's right by Betsy's.

I weighed 224 there. And my BMI is 33. My blood pressure was 126/65. Whooo Hoo. She also gave me the mamogram / dolonoscopy / ect lecture. Patient First is like a little hospital. They do blood, RX, xrays, the whole 9 yards. They are also sick expensive—$148. And that's without my RX. Yowza.  Need to find a regular doctor....again.

Tomorrow is the Moon Walk. Still on the fence about going. I posted the problem on FB. Clearly nobody cares. Only 2 people gave me feedback.

Regardless, Lydia and I will be doing one of the Bethlehem Volkssport walks tomorrow.

the good. the bad. and the roomie.

This has been a week of ups and downs.

The ups. Last night at Zumba one of my classmates asked if I've lost weight. Yes! I said. Also a colleague asked. I was on a high.

Yesterday was chrio day. Jury still out on that one, but I'm paid for a year, so I go. Afterwards was the benefits fair at work. Being part-time I have no benefits, but I go anyway. Free food. And it turns out, chair massages. For the first time in weeks there wasn't a knot at the base of my neck. I think I need to do this more regularly. First I have to see what the affordable care act is going to cost me. Dread that process.

The bad. About two weeks ago I received an email from Michelle. A surprise weigh in for the Sugar Crushers book. Oops. I 've not really followed that diet in weeks. It was a test panel, not a lifestyle. And it's very difficult to follow with the roomie. She won't eat but three things on it.  I lost another five pound and a couple inches. I was okay with that. It probably would have been better had I not toally fallen off the wagon the two weeks around Halloween. On the up side, Michelle gave me shirts to promote her new walking business—mywalkingcoach.com. Lydia is going to have to wait for hers. Something was wrong with the 2xs. She needed to have them re-done.

The horrible. A couple weeks ago I was shopping with Bonnie and bought a size 16 pants. I was delighted. When I started this adventure about 4 years ago I was in a 24 headed quickly to a 26. I felt good. One day I was shopping with my sisters and found this cute black and white knit a-line skirt. I tried it on the other day, and it fit. But it was first thing in the morning, with no control top hosiery.  It didn't look it's best. I showed the roomie. She told me I looked like a "sausage". Thanks. I explained the hosiery. She didn't buy it. I thought about taking it back and it just sat there in the bag.

Yesterday my other sister was over. Apparently she snooped in the bag and said "OMG it's a 16". The roomie told me today she knew the reason my skirt didn't fit. "It was only a 16." "I know". You don't wear a f**ing 16. "Yes, I do. All my new-to-me pants are a 16." "They were cut big" she snarled. "You are at least a 20. You are fatter than me." GULP.

I had already decided to take it back today before work before this conversation. I don't really like stores during the Christmas selling season. Okay, let me rephrase that. I don't like the parking lots and traffic. I was getting dressed and decided to try on the skirt again. This time with the proper items underneath. Damn it looked good. The roomie waddles in. "That skirt is too small." "No it's not. I think it looks good". Dang I wish Bonnie was there to back me up. "You look like a sausage. It needs to be at least one size bigger. Probably two." Then it would be 9 inches too big in the waist and I am not going to a tailor.

I took it back. I looked at nothing on my way in. I've pretty much decided not to buy any new clothes. I don't care how big ... or small ... they are.

After leaving Lane Bryant I pulled in Arbys and got onion rings and a soda. Now where the hell did I put that wagon?

an expensive summer

This summer I've been spending money like I have it. I don't. I'm just really good at saving. (Thanks. mom.) Had I known at the beginning of summer that I would be down three classes in September, I probably wouldn't have done a lot of this. Oh well. If you wait for the perfect time it will never come.

Let's start with house stuff. My house is over 100 years old. Everything always needs to be fixed. But the payoff is great. You get to live in a house that's got history and character. In a real neighborhood, even if it is declining. I'd much rather repair things than live in a McMansion in the 'burbs. Or worse. What my mother called a cracker box. Little boxes all the same.

I made a list of things I wanted to do this summer. Walk every day. Learn how to create e-books. Point the foundation. Install a fence to keep out the neighbors dogs. The list grew and grew.

First, the roof leaked. That needed to be repaired. It was. Not too bad.

Then, after asking lots of people, I found a brick pointer at the Wawa. You can find everything at the Wawa. He checked out on the internet and thru the BBB. Plus they are family owned and operated. And in Fountain Hill. Done.

Next up, the fence. I posted a plea on FB for a local person. One of my students referred me to one. He did a great job on the fence. Ca-ching.

The patio Glenn put in about 20 years ago was rotten. Once the fence went up it look even worse. I had the carpenter give me a price.  It was for a plain old deck and cost less than the fence. The pretty diagonal pattern Glen did would have been too expensive. As would have the Trex. I settled for safe and ordinary. It looks terrific. Ca-ching.

Then of course it's fall, so the school taxes and house insurance are due. Thank goodness I live on the south side. Ca-ching.

And I hired a lawn boy.

Personally, things are also getting expensive. The biggest item is the chiropractor. At the 4th of July walk, I made contact with a chiropractor. The initial exam was a $20 donation to the Easton Y.  I went a couple times, he took x-rays and lets just say they weren't pretty. But then I am a Carl girl. Bottom line. I signed up. I've been going about 6 weeks. Do I feel any different? I don't think so. It's a pain in the butt to go, but I signed a year contract, so I'm forced to follow thru. Hopefully the next set of x-rays will be better. Then it will be worth it. Maybe. I don't want the spine issues of Elin. A year of chiro is just over $3K. Or $49 a visit. That's why I took the plan. Ca-ching!

Now I need to go look for Obama-Care before the end of the year. Swell.

I'm sure I forgot something.

What does all this have to do with walking? Little. It's my blog and I get easily distracted. And sometimes I just need to vent. However, since I need to tighten my belt, the first thing to go is 5Ks. All those entry fees add up.

the week so far

Monday kicked off with a walk with Bonnie. Since the heat wave broke, we did about 3.5 miles around her neighborhood. Lots of hills to burn and extra calorie or two. When we got back to her place she made smoothies for breakfast—sweeten coconut milk, strawberries, bananas, protein power and something else. They were thick like milkshakes and delicious. Alas, I can't have another until September. Today I started the diet for Preventions sugar cravings diet test panel.I also bought dumbbells for the program.

Tuesday, was doctor day. It was totally uneventful. She didn't complain about my weight, blood pressure, numbers, nothing. It was oddly refreshing. My weight was 228.5. Last Wednesday it was 225.5. Three pounds in one week? I doubt it.

Lydia came after work for supper, then we walked Big A. After giving him to Pat, we hopped in her car and went to Emmaus. We did her Passport To Fitness rubbings at South Mountain Park and the Wildlands Conservancy. The path on South Mountain was about 1.5 miles round trip. I'm thinking the Flood Plain Trail at the Wildlands was just over a mile. Half mile with the dog. We probably got in 3 miles. We probably would have walked longer at the Wildlands, but it was getting dark.

I decided to try the exercises for the program at 10 pm at night. Not a wise idea.  I woke up Wednesday with aching shoulders, neck and knee. My knee still hurts, but it is better.

Wednesday, my colleague and I walked downtown for lunch. It's restaurant week. My last supper, so to speak before this wacky diet. I had a 1/2 fried artichoke sandwich and a salad. Have you ever had fried artichokes? OMG. Good thing I had to walk back up that hill.

After dinner I headed down to ArtsQuest for the Musikfest 30th Anniversary volunteer photo. There are 24 original volunteers left. They gave us the blue shirts there for the photo. Then we had to give them back. They forgot to embroider 30th anniversary on them. Oops. Sitting on the right is Mary Pongraz. She was my teacher at Broughal back in the 60s. I was the only one there that called her Miss Pongraz. Mary just doesn't sound right.

 

I remember when this skirt had one tshirt on it. What is amazing is thirty years later it still fits. As a graphic designer I see the evolution of the logo.

I left The Steel and headed over to the D&L for the Wednesday Walking Workshop. 

Over the weekend they were trimming the trees on the canal path. To me, it looked like a tornado blew thru and destroyed everything. Glad to see the PPL tree trimmers prune just as badly in the forest. One of the workers was killed when he cut the line and they closed the path for a couple days. My hope is that is why nothing is cleaned up. The canal is dammed with fallen branches. I could have cried. There is no shade on the path, but the power lines are free. I don't like the trade off.

We walked from The Wooden Match to the Minsi Trail Bridge and back. When we got to the Minsi we climbed the stairs and came back down. On the way back, we used resistant bands. I was drenched by the time I got back.

Michele, the walking coach, is the workout coach  for the Sugar Cravings Program. After the workout, she went over the exercises with me, and showed me adaptions. Hope I remember them all. Maybe I'll try them tonight. Should have had someone videotape it.

The rain is back, so I'll be doing a Leslie walk tonight.

Tomorrow Bonnie, Pat from the Liberty Bell Wanderers, and I are going to test the new South Bethlehem 10k walk. It will be my first official trail design. If it goes well, and the board approves, paperwork will be submitted to have it sanctioned by the AVA.

Remember the weights from above? Wednesday 225.5, Tuesday 228.5, tonight 224.5. WTF?

Oh, if that isn't enough, sometimes this week I earned my 1000 mile badge on FitBit! 

this week

I thought this week was pretty non-eventful until I saw this truck today. (More on that later.) But then I started to type.

Monday Bonnie and I walked in her neighborhood. I'm not sure how far. About three miles I guess. We wove in an out until we reached the Daisy Hill store, then came back Emmaus Avenue a bit before returning into the residential neighborhood. It was still hot, but the heat wave broke.

Tuesday was a work day. But Lydia came over after work for supper, and we walked thru the Lehigh campus and did a little grocery shopping. It was fairly cool that day, but a downpour blew thru and the humidity returned. It was hot walking. Lydia went thru one of the fountain sculptures to cool off.

Wednesday, another work day. Didn't walk much and went to what might be my final Zumba class, at least for a while. I get more exercise at the walking clinics. If it rains or snows I'll go to Zumba.


Thursday I was in Emmaus at 7 am, for the "Starve Off Sugar" test panel for Prevention magazine. What have I gotten myself into? It said there would be a diet. Duh. No Hershey bars But what I didn't expect was a list of recipes and eat this only. Yikes! They don't have to live with Pat. Though some looks yummy.

I guess I was expecting a diet plan that said "NO x-y-z". And then "eat more x-y-z". Eat so many calories of which x% has to be protein/fat/ect. I never dreamed that there would be pre-determined meals. (Kind of reminds me of a healthier version of Jenny Craig. By that, I mean all the decisions are already made.  When you stop doing it, you go back to eating the way you were. [And no, I never did any kind of program like that.] )

This very much reminds me of the Paleo diet. (No, I haven't done that either. But everyone around me is on some sort of weird diet.)  Lots of eggs. The farm will get sick of seeing me. Lots of meat—mostly fish and poultry. I think I'll hate all by the end. Meal planning will be essential to making this work. Steak is one of the meals, but I can't cook steak. So that's off the plan.

Then there is also a poop-load of exercise with weights, and yoga. Plus training for a half-marathon. Eating the four days I'm away will be a challenge. Eating during Musikfest will be more of a challenge.

On the up side all my blood work was normal.

I got to work late and didn't get a walk in. I barely crossed 5000 steps on my pedometer.

Today, Bonnie, Betsy and I were out at 8 am walking. The weather has cooled off dramatically. It's lovely. Hopefully it holds for the weekend. We have a 10 mile and 6 mile walk planned. We walked thru her development, which, at 8 am is a lot shadier than at 1 pm. Bonnie's watch said four miles.

On the way home we stopped at Wegman's for some gluten free groceries. When we got back to the car I saw the truck. This is an official City of Allentown vehicle with municipal plates. It's covered with veggies and the back says "Fruits and veggies on the move". They must be doing rolling nutrition workshops. Check out the speakers in the cab.

Oh, I decided to go to the chiropractor regularly. Right now when I come home I feel like I went a couple rounds with Ali. Apparently that takes about a month to go away. Not sure if I will feel any different in a year. But if my leg stops hurting, it will be a good thing. I guess. Now it's just finding time to go.

Tuesday is the dreaded trip to the doctor. If she gives me the "you need to lose weight" lecture. I'm walking out.

this week so far

Not much has happened walking wise. And a lot has happened otherwise. Since this is a walking blog, we'll start with walking.

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday I walked little. It's still too humid to go very far at lunch time. Showering is not an option.

Today I walked the typical three miles with Besty in her neighborhood.

Thursday I walked a little with Sharon and my sister-in-law Dawn. She met us after the Musikfest meeting and we walked to a pub for dinner. Next Wednesday they'll be taking the 30th anniversary volunteer picture at SteelStacks at 6. So I guess I'll go to Michelle's walking clinic instead of Zumba.  Since Zumba starts at 6.

I went to Zumba this Wednesday. I was a lost as ever. And am still considering not going back. I feel like I'm wasting my time. Can't decide. Mostly because it was fun to walk home with the neighbor from the 500 block.

Tomorrow is the off road challenge. I'm as ready as I'll ever be. I'm looking forward to it, as well as dreading it.

Now the otherwise.

I went for my followup appointment at the chiropractor. He had to take more xrays. I guess I moved on the old ones. So I really didn't find out totally what was happening . It was confirmed that I am a Carl girl. I have deterioration in my disks in my lower back. Shocking, huh? I think he was surprised I didn't react. I told him that my family has a lot of replacement parts. What surprised me, and then again it didn't, is that I have a mild case of scolosis, curvature of the spine.  Oh well. The bridge to fix that problem burned down a half century ago. It is what it is. I was only there about 20 minutes w/x-rays. Is that typical? He only adjusted me for about 5 minutes. It didn't hurt then, but now my back feels like I had a workout and it isn't happy. At this point, I'm not thinking this is a good fit for me. But I'll give it a little time. We'll see.

Finally, Michelle the walking coach, had posted on her webpage and her FB page that she was looking for a test panel for an article she was writing for Prevention. I told Lydia, and I thought I told Bonnie. The article is for the "Beat Your Sugar Cravings" feature. Sugar is an issue for me. Well food is an issue, I'm an addict, but sugar is a real problem. I applied. Today I got picked. It's only a month. Should be over by the time school starts. It will be happening during the Erie trip and Musikfest. No funnel cake and beer for me this year! And I get to keep a food journal again. Actually I eat much better if I write it down.

Well that's it. See ya after the race tomorrow.

not an ordinary monday

But it began ordinary.

Bonnie came down at 6:30 am to walk. We headed up the hill to Moravia street, and out to Hertzog. It was really shady and in the mid 70s, but you could cut the air with a knife because it's so humid. On Moravia we stopped and picked some wineberries for breakfast. Before the birds get them.

As we headed down Hertzog, Bonnie asks "Can we go to the Wawa?" "For a bathroom?" I replied. I then had to break it to her that the Fountain Hill Wawa has no bathrooms. And Bottom Dollar didn't open till 8.

We continued down the hill and back Sioux. My house was two miles on the dot. While we took a break I poured us some nice cold tap water. Yum.

We left my place and headed out Itaska, down Fiot, up Fiot, and out Seneca. At Seneca and Seminol we saw a man and his dog. I complimented the man on how well behaved the dog was. I referred to the dog as a he. When the man spoke, I'm thinking wait, I know that man and his dog. And the dogs a she. Her name is Vivian. He's married to the colleague I car pool with. She's gotten so big since I last saw her. And I think her coloring has changed.

When we reached Delaware, we came back Delaware, down Bishopthorpe and home. Total 3.55 miles.

The out of the ordinary part.

Frequently at 5ks they have massage tables or chiropractors at the events. They are doing mini workout. Generally they are sponsors. I always take advantage of the free stuff. Thursday at the Firecracker 4 miler they always have Dr. Schulze from AccuCare Chiropractic there. That's who Bonnie goes to.

If you are a consistent reader, you read about the actual race on Independence Day. What I didn't mention what happened after the race. We finished the race, and the sweat was pouring off us. Bonnie headed to the bathroom, I headed to the chiropractor area. We always do this before the race. But since we were late, we didn't. I filled out the form and went to the massage area first. Then it was my turn with Dr. Schulze. He sees me and says "Hi. Is this the year are you going to come in?" I said "maybe".  He has worked on me, what, four times now? I sit down and he feels my neck and says tells me my neck is really tight. Well, sure, I had just finished walking. (I never realized how tight my neck gets until yesterday walking the eight miles. By mile six or so, my shoulders and neck were so tight. I tried stretching and it was fruitless. I digress.) He did little but try and loosen my neck.

Now I've been thinking about massage and a chiropractor for a long time. When I walk long distances the muscle from my butt to my thigh always hurts. And it's way cheaper than an orthopedist. With one exception, I've had very positive results from both at races, especially at the Avon.

The bottom line is I don't like change. The status quo is perfect for me. Even if it's broke, I'll fix myself--half assed. I don't like doctors and have no health insurance. (Gotta solve that problem by January!). I talk myself out of things even if they are ultimately good. For example,  I really don't like getting naked in front of strangers so I balk at massage. But I'm doing it after the half marathon. Maybe after that I'll get a stone one, the only one that really intrigues me.

I grew up hearing chiropractors being referred to as quack-a-practors. So I'm a lot squeamish and chicken too. It's my neck and spine. If 1/1,000,000 people have a horrible result, that person, in my mind, will be me.

Anyway, he said, I can't really fix this here. I need a lot more information. You really should come in. I'm thinking, no I don't have a $150 dollars to see you. The he adds, "if you book an appointment today, the initial visit is $20. Check get's made out to the YMCA." I had no more excuses. (Other than terror.) I made the appointment. It's at 10:30.

I guess I better get ready!

------------

update

This I know for sure: I've been compensating a lot for my spinal deficiencies. I apparently have a high tolerance for pain. The doctor kept asking, are you sure that doesn't hurt? It should. Only once in the hour and a half I was there did I say ouch.

He explained things very carefully and completely. I however don't remember any of it. I have a science filter in my brain. It goes in one ear and out the other. Maybe I should take Bonnie with me.

I do, however, understand pictures. And when the thermal scan came up on the computer I knew that Pinocchio's nose on my lower was not a good thing. When he switched it to picture view, it got worse. I have two cold spots. See, I told you I was good at compensating.

My left leg, the one I have the pain in, is really weak. Odd, I think since I do so much walking. Only once while he was twisting and turning did I say ouch. He said "it's about time." We were almost done.

He asked me about injuries and I told him I fall a lot. I should have said my middle name is "splat'. I totally forgot about my back injury two or three years ago. That came up in a conversation late in the exam. I think I gave him the missing piece.

The $20 donation covered the comprehensive exam and the thermo scan. Not x-rays. He asked what insurance I had, and I said "none". He did them free. Really. I was shocked too.

I have to go back two more times, and for a workshop. We'll see after that. We didn't talk money or how many times a week, but once school starts again, it will be tough to do.

looks like i am my mother's daughter

Mom had high blood pressure early. Maybe late 20s, early 30s. In turn, all the girls have high blood pressure. I haven't asked the boys. She ultimately had a stroke in her 80s.

Looks like I'm on the same path and it sucks.

Today was the day I dread every six months. It was doctor day. Foolishly, I made the appointment at lunch time. It was 11:30. I left Easton at 11:15 and arrived back at 1:15. Yeah it was that kind of appointment.

When I was at Bonnie's Sunday I weighed myself. I was 225. Last time I was at the doctors I was 219. I was upset. I had gained 3 pounds since I had weighed myself for Prevention.

Today I was 228.5. Shit! That just shy of 10 pounds more than the last time. They must have gotten a new scale. Bonnie's scale and their scale used to be about a pound different. Thank goodness I skipped breakfast or I would have been another pound heavier.

So they took me in right away, did the vitals (BP Good 130/82) and then left me sit 1/2 hour. Then the resident came in, examined me, and then finally the doctor.

Because of the weight gain (why are my clothes too big if I'm gaining weight?) I got the full diet and weight loss lecture.

(At the rate I'm going I'm going have to move to a plant based diet. I can see the blog now. "Forced to be a vegan".  Life without cheese and sugar? That would be unbearable.)

Then she examined me. When she got to my neck she made a funny face. She turned to the junior doctor and asked if he hearded anything strange. He said no. She checked everything again, and another funny face. Then they checked together.

Because of my high blood pressure and my mother's stroke, she wants me to have a test on my right carotid artery. He typed up the Rx, and asked her if she wanted the 3 or the 4. She choose 3 because I have no insurance. Less test = less $.

So I think this test is called a doppler. Though I could swear that's what they use on the tv weather. Muhlenberg will call to set up an appointment. I'll ask them then what the cash price is. She thinks it's cheaper than the echo cardiogram. That was 5K.

At this rate, the kitchen will never get remodeled. Hope the holes in the floor don't open up.

(No I can't get a loan. The other owner of the house doesn't believe in loans and won't sign.)

training for the stairclimb

My friend Baron posted this pix on her facebook page yesterday. I have no idea where she got it from, but I think it's funny.

Not doing as many steps as I should. I need to kick it into high gear. The stair climb is in 23 days. I also have a doctors appointment about then.  I'd like her to be happy when I get on the scale. And like the air-head I am, I made a tax appointment for the same day as the stair climb. Must change that today!

Kathy is close to "nome" and will be joining me at the finish line soon. Lydia and David both have about 200 miles to go. Dave was at 815 yesterday, which according to the checkpoints puts him past Koyuk. Maybe they will meet each other and finish together?

No walking for me on today or Saturday. Today I'll be climbing stairs for an hour or so. Saturday I have an all-day Girl Scout Event. I'll be itching to go out Sunday!

I also need to get back on the stick about eating. Now that there isn't a weigh-in hanging over my head I'm slipping back into my old habits. Snacking at night, soda, candy. Birch beer and salty pretzels at Bingo. It. Must. Stop. Now.

Considering Weight Watchers again. The whole accountability thing.

a long and winding story about my dumb back

But first some joyous news. My sister is out of ICU and on the mend! She's been in ICU for more than 3 weeks. Get better now Barb!

This back injury is, well, a pain in the ass. There is no other way to describe it. I only feel good when moving.

I'm beginning to feel like mama and Sharon and that I don't like. I hold on to furniture, I don't put things on the floor unnecessarily, I don't bend unless I have to.

If you are a new reader, I hurt my back 10, 11 days ago getting out of the car. I went to the doctor the next day and the meds seemed to be working. Each day the pain was less. I could get out of bed easier, and off of chairs.

But as soon as it gets better I swear I re-injure it. Monday I tried picking up a heavy box. Not a good idea. Then late Tuesday I got out of the car, and walked around the back. The car pulled away and I headed towards home. I stepped in some leaves that happened to be in a pot hole. Did that whole loose your balance and stay upright dance, and continued on my way. By that night I was in serious pain again.

Wednesday I felt better. I could get out of bed in about 5 minutes. I went for my walk, did my stretches and even got down on the floor. I headed to class. I stopped at Panera for food. While I was waiting, I sneezed. I sneezed with a force unknown to man. I crumbled under my ample weight, and since then I'm in so much pain. Couldn't sleep.

The back injury seems minor now. My hole butt hurts from my tailbone, down thru my upper legs and the hip socket. The hip sockets are the worse. The meds I took this morning seen to be doing nothing.

But I walked across campus anyway, and the more I walked the better I felt. I was nearly back to the office and saw a nickel on the ground. I carefully bent over to pick it up and all hell broke loose. Pain seared thru my upper tush and down my legs. At the same time it course up my body from my hip sockets. I literally held on to a car for more than a minute before I could walk back to the office. The three flights of stairs nearly killed me. I went up them like a baby, stopping every three or four steps.

I was nearly in tears when I called for an doctors appointment. (9:45 am tomorrow)

We had a staff meeting at 11:45. I brought my food with me to nuke when it was over. Then I just had to go down one more flight. Needless to say she saw me struggling and offered me Motrin. I probably should not have taken it with what the doctor gave me, but I took that at 6:15 am. I didn't care at that point.

Everything seems to have calmed down 1000%. My upper thighs still feel like I've done 2000 leg lifts, but the rest of my body is behaving.

Maybe I should call the doctor back? No. I won't do that.

I have a walking coaching session tomorrow that I don't want to miss. I am going to try my best to hide any pain I'm in. I don't want to drop being a walking program tester. Walking feels good. If I lose some of this weight, maybe it will help heal me. This bloody injury has motivated me to lose weight. Something I thought I'd never say.

Maybe I need a chiropractor?

2 5Ks, a back injury, a snowstorm and a blackout

Who says this fat girl has no fun? Two 5Ks, a back injury, a snowstorm and an ongoing blackout all in one weekend.

All last week they were talking about a snow storm—in October. I didn't take them seriously. I didn't scramble to get the porch furniture away, or cover the ancient A/C. Nothing. I figured the Poconos might get some, but we'd get rain. How many times is the weather people correct?

Saturday was the Lasko 5K in Easton. When we left the house it was drizzling. Kathy didn't come because it was snowing in Mauch Chunk. We we are prepared for rain. While we were waiting for the race to start it deluged. The rivers were running fast and the rain was coming down heavier.

The Free bridge was slippery, then we headed up the Main Street hill to the triangle, turned around and returned. Bonnie and I chose the sidewalk coming back. Then we headed up to Centre Square, thru some alleys, out Spring Garden, and eventually came down the hill by McDonalds and back to Scott Park.

There was tons of hills. Sharon didn't last long. She went back.

Bonnie came in first at 51:10, I think. I came in at 53:28, and Lydia 58:55. She finished the race with her new friend Karen. Karen Lasko. The widow/mother of the walk title.

We didn't stay for snack and chat. Sharon hopped in Lyds car and they went to the 248 Diner to get us seats. We went to target to buy dry clothes. We ate, ran to Wegmans and got home to huge trees down on Itaska street. I didn't take a pix. I should have. These photos were taken on Saturday around 2.

When we came in the house Pat said the power was out. I had turned on the heat, but it's an energy saver model that it ignites electronically instead burning constant. Of course, it hasn't come back one. They say the blackout will last till Thursday! Or longer.

Sunday the storm was over. Bonnie called said she wasn't going to Fitzy's 5K. It's one we both enjoyed last year. Sharon and I decided to try. Step one. Get some breakfast. Nothing was open. Every light in the south side wasn't functioning. We stopped back at the house to tell Pat, no food, and were off. Susquehanna Street was an obstacle course of fallen trees. Near Bonnie's there was a crashed snow plow. A tree fell on it.

As we headed down 222 the snow became less and less. By the time we reached Reading there was only two or three inches. We stopped for a quick bite at McD's and I felt fine. We were about 10 minutes away, and then had a lot of trouble finding the park, and arrived with about 2 minutes to spare. I drop Sharon off to sign me in and went to look for parking. I missed the costume contest.

I parked, went to get out of the car. And suddenly my back hurt. The part where it connect to your tush. I did the 5K, it was a street course and they cleared it fairly well. Time: 51 minutes. It was hilly, but more rolling hills.  My back hurt no more, no less. We stopped at the VF outlets, and came home. I took at bath, my back felt better and we decided to go for supper at 4 so we could be back by dark.

At home, I laid on the couch in the dark. Couldn't read or knit by candlelight. Laptop was dead. Phone dead. Nothing to do, I dozed. Later I tried to get up. I could barely move. I did get up, got moving and went to bed. At 4 am, it was even worse. At 7 when I got up. I was in so much pain when Bonnie called. I called the doctor. Yes, mark this day on your calendar.

She thinks it's a disk. She gave me a relaxer, and a RX strength of Aleve. She told me the relaxer would make me loopy. I can take up to three. One seem to do the trick. Tonight to sleep I'm opting for loopy.

I did forget to send my Bethlehem to Bethlehem numbers in  for the "virtual" walk to Bethlehem, Israel.

I was able today to access my program forms so I sent those in. With the weather, I really didn't follow the program over the weekend. There are still trees in the street. The one on Itaska is still there! I'll try walking tomorrow at lunch time. And then Wednesday. But no speed walks. Not yet.

yep, it was expensive.

As the picture clearly shows, this echo- cardiagram the doctor ordered was expensive—$3037.43 American.

I called and told them I had no insurance and was paying cash. They reduced it 66%. That's probably what the insurance companies pay. Still a lot, but more doable. There goes the kitchen floor money, again.

Then I went to leave for school and the car is dead. I used it earlier and it was fine. When AAA came they jumped it and I took it to the garage. Fords apparently have expensive batteries. Can't use cheap ones. So with an oil change it's about $212. Eek.

And finally, my suspicions about mice in my house were confirmed. They must have got stuck and I could hear this eerie scratching coming from the either the drop ceiling or way upper cupboards are both. I've been in denial. The mouse turds have been showing up in the kitchen. One day there was some shredded paper towel—another bad sign—I learned that in girl scout camp. The rose colored glasses are off. Anybody know a mouse-buster? I could really use a hero. Or a husband. Or a handy-man. I don't do well with rodents. Or dead animals. Freaked-out doesn't nearly begin to describe me. I bought some of those traps that the mouse is hidden. They were expensive. I bet they don't work. I also bought a big pack of the old fashion snap-the-neck- (and your fingers) off types. The mouse-buster or someone else will need to hide those out of my view and come empty them daily. I'll feed him.

Is it April yet?

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Update 4/2

Today I got another bill from the Cardiologist group that read the test. Another $400. I'm hoping they reduce it also when I call Monday.

I WILL NEVER TAKE A TEST AGAIN UNTIL I GET INSURANCE. I know many of you hate the idea of universal health care. AKA Obamacare. But for me, anything has got to be better than this.

a-okay

My panic about the doctors appointment was unjustified. Everything was fine. I past all my tests! Now maybe my headache will go away.

my big, expensive mistake

I am not an optimist. I am a realist. And today is the anniversary of my brothers death from heart disease. What the hell was I thinking going for tests today?

Friday I go to the family doctor. When I was there the last time she wanted a BMP and an electrocardiogram. Or so I thought. I looked online and EKGs ran up to about $200. Doable. The doctor wanted baseline test because of my high blood pressure.

I delay everything as long as possible and today was the big day. I went and got the blood work done this morning. I signed up for their cash payment card. it cost $10 and the test was $20. Without the card it was $55. Pretty much a no-brainer. Now all that was left to do is wait and worry about the results. Did I mention I don't do well on tests?

When I returned home I looked at the slip for the EKG, and called the number. I wanted to schedule an EKG. They told me it was drop in, and where to go at Muhlenberg and where to park.

I left for work an hour early, headed to the hospital, walked up to the second floor. One nice thing about the Lehigh Valley Hospitals is there is art in the hallways. Of course I took took way too much time looking at art. I signed in. They gave me a beeper. The last time I was anywhere like that you had a pick-a-number, like at the deli. There was a lot of people, but they called me quickly. I did the paper work and she sent me and my beeper out to wait again.

Five minutes later the girl that registered me came out and said, this isn't an EKG, it's an ECHOcardogram. An ultrasound. Shit.  I had the choice to stay and take the test in a half hour or schedule an appointment and leave. I decided to stay because there was no way in heck I was ever going back. It would give the doctor one less thing to lecture at me about which is a plus. But as I waited I thought that sounds expensive. I was trying to squash my bolting instinct.

I walked in the room and saw this machine and the dollar signs started dancing in my head. My heart was racing. I was almost crying. I wanted to run out of the room topless. The realization of what was about to happen hit. I bet she took a 100 pictures in 15 minutes. At places I didn't even think were heart related. Maybe I should have paid attention in science class. I was there less than a half hour. I have no idea what was in those pictures but I'm terrified.

Online I've read the test costs anywhere from $250 to almost 5  grand. With my luck it will be the high end, not the low end. I have no idea how I'll pay a large test bill AND fix the hole in the kitchen floor.  Not to mention what happens when they find something.

I'm fat, halfway to 60 and have high blood pressure with a history of bad luck. The fatalist in me knows that they will find something. I have no medical insurance. I can't do disease. Every time my cell phone rings I'm going to panic. I called Bonnie on the way to the car hoping she'd calm me down. Got voice mail. I nearly cried.

Friday terrifies me.

it's a lovely day for a walk

Got out much later than usual because I had a shift shuttling homeless people from a church to downtown. That is a subject for another blog. By the time I got home and ate breakfast it was about 9 before I hit the streets.

Sharon and I did about 2 miles and it was fairly level and I made her go fast....for her. If I can build up her speed on the flats, maybe she'll get better on the hills. We'll see.

I haven't exercised much this week. March 1 is the start of my spring training. I have a 5K on the 19th and a stair climb.  Another 5K April 9, and then the big 5K season starts. I'd also like to do my first 10K Volkksport walk.

Tomorrow is the 53 story/101stair climb in Philly. Bonnie and I are going to do it. My goal last year was 25 flight, and I did them all. This year, the camera will be in my pocket. I want evidence! I will not wear those pink pants. Or if I do, my shirt will be long enough to cover my fat gut. Last year's pix was awful. When I pick up Bonnie I need to weigh myself. I was 230 at her house on Christmas Day. I bet I've gained.  I'll let you know tomorrow. Thinking about buying a scale. Scary.

I have a doctors appointment the March 22 which I just realized is a Tuesday. I'm going to have to change it. I have a class at 1 pm. This is what happens when your schedule is set for 3 months at a time, and you schedule six months ahead of time.

She wants a basic metabolic panel done (BMP). Lab Tests Online defines it as "a frequently ordered panel of tests that gives your doctor important information about the current status of your kidneys, blood sugar, and electrolyte and acid/base balance." Huh?

"The BMP includes: Glucose and Calcium, both increased and decreased levels can be significant. Electrolytes: Sodium, Potassium, CO2 (carbon dioxide, bicarbonate) and Chloride. The concentrations of sodium and potassium are tightly regulated by the body as is the balance between the four molecules. Electrolyte (and acid-base) imbalances can be present with a wide variety of acute and chronic illnesses. Chloride and CO2 tests are rarely ordered by themselves. And Kidney Tests BUN (blood urea nitrogen) and Creatinine. BUN and creatinine are waste products filtered out of the blood by the kidneys. Increased concentrations in the blood may indicate a temporary or chronic decrease in kidney function. When not ordered as part of the BMP, they are still usually ordered together. "

Now, I'm never comfortable with blood work and this all makes me even more uncomfortable. So starting March 1 I have to watch carefully what I eat. Kick those GS cookies to the curb. No sugar, salt, low fat, low carb, low everything. I think that means spinach, bananas, plain baked potatoes and broccoli. Okay, maybe not that strict. I don't want her to yell at me so I need to find a way to trick those numbers!

She has also given me a prescription for an EKG. The thought of it terrifies me. Not to mention it probably costs $500 which terrifies me more. So I looked online and it seems to be about $200. I don't like doctors, I certainly don't like tests, and my heart rate is going to look like one of my doodles. A bunch of colored lines with high skinny peaks.

the new doctor

Yesterday I bit the bullet and went to a real doctor, not the doc-in-a-box. Hopefully this will work out well. We seemed to be on the same page yesterday, but it was an initial visit so things can change.

I've been doing research for awhile on doctors. I didn't want a pill-pusher. The pharmaceutical industry is rich enough without my money, thank you.

I discovered this doctor during a conversation at a bar. Who knew? I did some research on the net and found this on her LV hospital page: "Medicine is not an exact science, I am open to learning from my patients. I want to know everything about my patients, and I let them know where I'm coming from. All of our decisions are a negotiation. I want my patients to feel like they are also in charge." Amen.

I have to tell you my first impression wasn't good. Sunday I got a robot-call to confirm my appointment. Maybe that's how all doctors are now, but it took me by surprise. I arrived 15 minutes early to fill out all the paper work. Fun. I was surprised not only at some of the questions, but by what questions weren't there.

My BP was sky-high when the nurse took it. 156/88. But I was two pounds lighter, after lunch.

The doctor is very nice. She appears to listen. I was probably in there 45 minutes.

One question on the form was a history of mental illness, and I wrote none. One of her questions was about my living arrangements and I told her briefly about Pat. She flipped back over and said "you wrote there was no mental illness." I said I guess I should have wrote, "none diagnosed". She laughed. She said to dump the roomie and get a pet. I told her the roomie was my pet and she came with the house. I'm stuck with her.

Under heart disease I wrote "uncles, brother, father, maternal and paternal grandfathers". I totally forgot about Elin. On the page she was writing on she circled heart disease and put stars on it. Bad tickers are a Hendricks hallmark.

I told her my goal was to be off the BP meds. Like some of my siblings, she told me that might not be possible. Genetics. (See previous paragraph.) She told me about a patient who lost 125 pounds and exercises, and she is still on some because of genetics. It was disheartening.

We talked a lot about food and diet and exercise.  She seemed impressed about the amount of research I've done. My problem is putting it all together that it works. She encouraged me to see the nutritionist. She asked me if I ate "diet" food. I said no. If I can't have the real thing, I don't eat it. I try to eat low on the food chain. She seemed please by that.

She also understands the money thing. She knows and will write for the $4 Rx when possible. She wants me to have a baseline EKG so that she has a reference point when I'm "young" and healthy. That whole "heart disease" thing. She even wrote the Rx. But it isn't mandatory. She kept my prescriptions the same, but switched when I take them. She's going to get my blood work from Health Network, so that doesn't need to be redone. Bonnie, I had lipids done, right? Didn't I ask you what they were?

She is not happy that I haven't had a gyn checkup, pap, or mammagram in at least 10 years. Nor have I had that colon test you're supposed to have at 50.

She encouraged me to take the following supplements to bring down my cholesterol from the high end of normal—fish oil or flax seed, red rice yeast, and 25 mg of fiber. Hmmm. Instead of supporting the pharmaceutical industry I'll be supporting the supplement industry. And that's not controlled by anybody.

All that talk about money brought up the subject of the health care bill. She asked me my feeling about it. I told her I don't know. Everything I've seen is hard to read or slanted to one side or another.  I do know the current system doesn't work.

So that's it. I guess it went well. I didn't go running out screaming. I have another appointment in six months.

will i get sneakers on?

Good thing I can do a 5K....or 60 miles for that matter....in Birks. I'm gonna have to tomorrow. (Yeah!) Don't think my big pink toe ill fit in my sneakers.

For years I've had problems with ingrown toenails. My sister Elin, aka Dr. Siegfried, used to fix them. Then she died in spring. It cost $250 to have it done. Yikes. Having two or three a year it adds up. So the cash price for the surgery (I'm uninsured) was $450. It has a 90% success rate. With my luck I'll fall into that 10%. Because I'm always drawing while there, he drew the happy face on the bandage. I like that it's pink.

He said everything should be back to normal in about 2- weeks and it should not effect my walking at all. Of course it will take months for the nail to grow back up.

Where it lists all the risks on the consent form it said something about not being able to wear regular shoe. Wow that's a side effect I can wrap my head around.

The heat wave is back, so it's going to be a long, hot weekend of walking. I did about 2 miles of hills this morning, including Fredrick Street. Tomorrow is the 5K and t'ai chi. Then Sunday is a potential 8-mile walk. We're starting at 7:30 to try and beat most of the heat. I would have started at 6 but I don't think anyone would have joined me!

the difficult is getting impossible

Walking in south Bethlehem has always been difficult. The sidewalks themselves are often challenging (I should take pixs of the best ones!) and navigating around stuff...car parts, garbage cans, couches, adds a whole level of difficulty.

If that wasn't enough, they "upgraded" the curb cuts, closed the sidewalk on the Minsi Trail Bridge, and are doing road construction everywhere.

Now, they are working on the new access to the Hill to Hill Bridge. (For a history of the bridge go here.) I could swear that this is the ramp they tore down 40 years ago. My sister says my memory is faulty. But I did found this old picture on the web, that seems to hold support my viewpoint.  Look at the ramps on this bridge. Looks nothing like today. (I added the labels.) Tear it down. Then build it back up. (My tax dollars at work.) Anyway, now there PEDESTRIAN DETOURS are everywhere. Traffic is doubled because of detours, and so far none of the detours have walk signals. Soon I'll have to drive to go walking. Fountain Hill is just too small for long walks.

Today I'll be going out with Betsy for 3-miles or so in South Whitehall. We do that nearly every Friday. Tomorrow is the Highmark Walk for a Healthy Community, and Sunday we'll be doing the 2-bridge walk in Easton-P'burg. As an added bonus I'll be doing the Bullman Street stairs. Thanks Angel for letting me know the name. The weather report calls for hazy, hot and humid. Goodie.

Last night during our walk I checked out the Kung Fu place on Broadway, 2 blocks from my house. They offer T'ai Chi. But it's $169 for 6-weeks. They offer classes 3x a week, so that breaks down to about $9.50 a class. If I'd go 2x a week, that would be about $14. A tad expensive. Plus you need to wear a uniform.

Finally, I have a lead on a real family doctor. To this point I've been going to the doc-in-a-box, and calling ahead so maybe I get one I like. There's some I dislike a lot. She was recommended from a friend. I went to her web page on the Lehigh Valley Hospital site, and here's some things I read which makes me think we'll get along.

"Medicine is not an exact science. I am open to learning from my patients. I want to know everything about them, and I let them know where I'm coming from. All of our decisions are a negotiation. I want them to feel like they are in charge."

"I like to work with people who want to take responsibility for their own health and who want a little guidance from someone they can trust."

And she did her undergrad work at one of the "seven sisters" (which horribly are down to five), Mount Holyoke. Having gone to a women's collge that appeals too me.

So I've done the research. I have a referral. Now do I have the courage to make the call? We'll see.