Welcome Fall

Hard to believe that today's the first day of fall.  Cold nights and warm days would be perfect year round weather.  I'm not ready for chilly or cold all day with us not having much of a summer this year.  I'm always cold so I sit at work with a sweater on year round.

Monday's consultation felt a little awkward.  We didn't see the surgeon until about an hour after my appointment time.  I don't even recall shaking his hand.  He showed us my gallstones on the CT scan so now I can identify where the heck it is.

3 Views of My Kidney Stone

3 Layers of My Gallstones - 3rd shows the partially calcified one

Benny is still trying to fight me having the surgery.  Yes, the kidney stone and gallbladder can be removed at the same surgery.  We don't know the true cost of yesterday's hysteroscopy with polypectomy so we have no idea how much a second surgery will be with insurance.  He wants me to order more Gallbladder Complete and take that at the next attack.

Speaking of yesterday's surgery, it seemed a little chaotic once we went back to pre-op.  I was thinking that they'd freeze or just snip them off.  Instead they told us they use a rotating blade to slice through it all and chop it up.  Samples go to the lab to verify they're benign.  They'd trim the vaginal wall in a similar manner if they deemed it necessary (curettage).  The doctor did say that they don't want me to get pregnant because it could cause complications with a thinner uterine wall.  You should've seen the grumpy face look Benny gave when she said that we'd have to use condoms for a while!

My long nails made it difficult for them to attach the pulse oximeter and get a good reading (they use a disposable one - what a waste!).  My thumb nail had split some time ago so it's shorter.  They had to open a new one and attach it to my thumb.  So many people were coming in and out of the room I don't even remember who anyone was!  Being on TOM I had to wear these weird looking (think big gauze) disposable underpants and attach a pad to them.

When I headed into the OR they had to hunt for a step stool so that I could climb up onto the table.  I think only one or two people in the room were tall enough that they wouldn't have needed one LOL.  Not sure why they gave me oxygen through a mask before starting; I'm used to that nose tubed thing.  They put these things on my legs like giant blood pressure cuffs I assume to prevent clots in the legs but they seem to have kept my legs warm too.  I was out pretty quickly.

The doctor forgot to indicate the size of the polyp so I have no clue how big it was or even where it was exactly.  Benny looked at the pictures and said it's just huge LOL


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THURSDAY I wrapped up Episode 2 with Adventure 4.

SATURDAY was supposed to be the Arsenal 5K, rain or shine.  It was raining and thundering but they cancelled it for alleged lightening.  Don't know where they were seeing it; neither Austin nor I saw anything.  They let us take a lap around the track but nothing was recorded.  Austin ran the track with his tumbler of tea in one hand and the umbrella in the other hand.  I couldn't believe he was so fast! LOL

I don't think I'll be doing much more than walking this week.  The post-op instructions say to not lift more than 15 lbs until cleared by the doctor.  Yeah, I haven't needed any of the prescriptions they gave me so I think I'll be OK to start Episode 3 next week, although I have NO clue how I'm doing some of the exercises.

Today I walked to the farmer's market but didn't see anything I wanted to buy.  I then headed to the YMCA and signed up.  Benny won't be happy about the expense but I can see if this will work for me.

Linking up with

Super Heroine Fitness Week 1

CDI (the testing facility) finally released the report and images from the CT scan back on the 13th.  I'm still confused with some notes so I've asked my PCP to take a look and put the report in lay terms.

Key notes I can understand:

• The stone in my right kidney is 2 cm long and is the only renal one.
• Both kidneys, the ureters, and bladder all appear normal.
• Lungs, heart, liver, spleen, pancreas, adrenals, gastroesophageal junction, stomach, bowels, and uterus are all normal.
• There are multiple gallstones, mostly noncalcified.  There is one that is partially calcified measuring 4 mm.
• The volume of stones has distended my gallbladder.
• The walls of my gallbladder have started thickening.

Key notes I don't understand:

• Assessment is limited due to a lack of intra-abdominal and intrapelvic adipose tissue.
• Small bilateral ovarian follicles are seen.

I also wanted to share the pictures but haven't figured out how to download them let alone identify the stones in the images.


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WEDNESDAY I had picked up some slimmer squash to spiralize.

THURSDAY I did Episode 1 Adventure 2.  That one really wore me out!  My form was failing so I opted not to complete the last set.

FRIDAY I did some Yoga with Adriene.

Not much was ready for picking when I got home.



SATURDAY I did Episode 1 Adventure 3.  It seemed too easy so I'll definitely need to up the weight to 15 lbs for this next time.

Spiralized the farmer's market squash for my dinner while Benny and Austin ate noodles.



Sunday I was shocked at how many cucumbers were ready.  How is your garden going?



MONDAY I did an abs and obliques workout from FitnessBlender.com.

TUESDAY I wrapped up the first week of Super Heroine Fitness with Episode 1 Adventure 4.  Definitely easier than 2.  I'll need to up the weight on this workout too.

Today there's a chance of storms so it's 50/50 whether I'll be able to take my walk today.  I brought my walking clothes just in case.

Linking up with

Super Heroine Training Begins

I picked up my rings from Lewis Jewelers before Weight Watchers last night.  I didn't expect them to be so shiny!  Pictures don't do them justice.

I'm definitely stronger from ChaLEAN Extreme.  I was play fighting with Benny and surprised him with my strength.  He'll probably deny it though LOL


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THURSDAY I did Kelly Coffey-Meyer's Muscle Definition Back & Chest premix.

FRIDAY I did a yoga session geared towards the gallbladder.

SATURDAY I did Kelly Coffey-Meyer's Muscle Definition Shoulders, Biceps, & Triceps premix.

On the way to the library I told Austin about the workout program.  He seriously thought I was saying Heroin the drug not Heroine!  Kids can be so silly sometimes.

SUNDAY was an active rest day, watching and learning some of the moves for Super Heroine Fitness Episode 1.  You can see here what it's going to look like as well as my schedule.  I picked the Dubstep Strength Training station on Pandora for my playlist.

MONDAY I did a cardio & Pilates workout from FitnessBlender.com.

TUESDAY I began Super Heroine Fitness Episode 1 Adventure 1. OMG did my left glute give me fits with the Bulgarian split squat!  I used the 10 lb dumbbells throughout but feel I could've gone with the 15 lbs.  I really need heavier weight plates though.  I didn't enjoy the warm-up video that Neghar recommended so I'll have to find another one to do.  What do you do for your warm-up when weightlifting?  I'm definitely happy with my music selection; Austin thought it was weird until I showed how the beat fits with lifting.

 

Today I'll be walking to the farmer's market and hope to find some small zucchini or squash to try out the veggie spiralizer for a review.  What veggies do you like to spiralize?

Linking up with

I'm a Super Heroine!

I've purchased and downloaded Super Heroine Fitness and am working out a schedule (as well as some alternate exercises) for me.  I think I'll stick with a Tues-Thurs-Sat schedule for this program.

THURSDAY I did Lean Circuit 3.

FRIDAY at the urologist's all that he talked about was surgery requiring a hospital stay....

• Option 1 - going through my side and cutting the kidney to remove the stone.
• Option 2 - going up via the tubes and removing the stone and any others along the way, leaving a stint in there in case it's needed later.

This is my first known stone and I haven't had any attacks since the 4th...are you serious? And to have it in 2-4 weeks? WTF?!  We did agree to have a CT scan to see if it's moved or if there are any other stones floating around; I'm waiting for the doctor to see the results.  Nevertheless I wasn't all here the rest of the day on Friday and was off all weekend.  I think Austin must have sensed it because he sort of stuck by me most of the weekend instead of hiding in his room watching videos or playing games on his phone.

SATURDAY I did Burn Intervals & Extreme Abs.  Attempted to paint outside but I just wasn't inspired to do anything.

 

SUNDAY I did Burn It Off & Recharge.

 

MONDAY I woke up to find another tomato gone.  I don't know which critter is stealing all the ripe ones!

 

TUESDAY I wrapped up Chalean Extreme with Lean Circuit 1.  On the way to Weight Watchers I finally dropped off my rings to be resized at Lewis Jewelers (recommended by several at the meeting).  The one Benny brought from Germany was about a 7.75 and the band we bought was a 7.5.  I thought at least one of them was a 14K gold band but they both tested 10K.

 Be sure to check out yesterday's post on the #VSL3KnowTheDifference campaign!

 

This morning I was going to do yoga but wasn't in the mood for it.  I'm heading out for my walk now.

How was your week?

 

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Back in Range

I weighed in last night down 2.2 lbs so I'm FINALLY back in the goal window!  My Weight Watchers monthly pass expires on the 17th so I picked up my code for the free e-tools subscription from hitting Lifetime.  I just hope this sticks and it's not only from all the BMs and vomiting I've been doing because of my abdominal issues.

I started taking the Gallbladder Complete Thursday afternoon.  The instructions say you're supposed to take 1 oz 3 times a day for the first three days.  Since I wouldn't receive another bottle in time I took 1 oz twice a day.  Fingers crossed that this has worked as I haven't had an "attack" (for lack of a better term) since Saturday night.


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FRIDAY I did Lean Circuit 3 since I was awakened by an "attack" Thursday morning.

SATURDAY I did Burn Intervals & Extreme Abs.  We went to our neighbor's house for a cookout in the evening.  I'd attempted to make zucchini chips but that was a fail so I brought veggie kebabs.

SUNDAY I worked in the garden.  I hope the flooding rain we had yesterday (Benny said the garden looked like a rice paddy) and continued rain today doesn't kill off everything.  Rabbits or the groundhog ate the ripe tomatoes.

MONDAY I did Burn It Off but not Recharge because of the time.

TUESDAY I wrapped up the 3rd week with Lean Circuit 1.

This morning I began the final week of ChaLEAN Extreme with Lean Circuit 2.

My next program will be Neghar Foononi's Super Heroine Fitness.  They're having some technical issues so I haven't received it yet but am exited to try out this program.  Would anyone be interested in doing this with me?

Linking up with

Weigh in Wednesday 7.1.15

I weighed in last night down .4 lbs.

Monday the kidney stone was on the move.  I woke up sometime after 4A with back pain and stiffness (felt like it was around my spine) so I was thinking that I needed to find a new yoga stretch to take care of it LOL.  The pressure steadily increased and I couldn't get comfortable.  The 2 BM, heating pad, and hot tea didn't help any.  I think the heating pad actually made the feeling worse.  There were also two rounds of vomiting in the mix.  I took some Tylenol but had to do it twice since the first round was short before the first puke so I didn't know if anything went down.  It took about 4 hours before I could get comfortable enough to sleep again.

Friday the referral coordinator called while I was at work and then she called again while I slept Monday.  It was for the Urologist so that was perfect timing....except the Doctor she put me with didn't have an opening until the end of July!  His assistant checked with the rest of the team and found one with an opening on the 10th so I took it.

I haven't heard anything about the gallbladder surgery consultation.  Benny has been scouring the internet for alternatives and found this all natural and organic Gallbladder Complete for me to try. I ordered it Monday and it should arrive today.

Wednesday I applied for a part time Wellness Coach position at the YMCA (I'd work some evenings).  This would start me on the transition from this job that I hate to my dream career!  Wish me luck, pray for me...whatever your belief system may be...that I get this job.


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THURSDAY I did Lean Circuit 3.

SATURDAY was Burn Intervals & Extreme Abs.

SUNDAY was Burn It Off & Recharge.  I brought in my first harvest from the garden - the basil.  While I was working I had a squirrel arguing with me for being there.  I chittered right back at it and inched closer but it finally ran off.

TUESDAY wrapped up the second week of the lean phase with Lean Circuit 1. I still felt a little weaker than normal during the workout but pushed through.

This morning my triceps were again sore from yesterday's workout but I pushed through Lean Circuit 2.  No rain in the forecast today so I'll be able to get in my walk this afternoon.

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