Back in the saddle

So I have fallen off the proverbial horse these past couple of months.  I've gained 2 pounds back, which puts me at a total 28 pound loss for the year.  Don't get me wrong, I am EXTREMELY happy with that weight loss, but at the rate I'm going it won't stay off for long.  I'm actually surprised that I haven't gained back more because I've been eating pretty much whatever I want (thankfully what I want still consists of strawberries, raspberries, spinach salads, sugar snap peas, milk, oatmeal and flax seed).  However, I also want Oreos, pumpkin bread, pasta, and ice cream sandwiches, especially now that I've found out that food isn't my main migraine trigger.  Those foods in excess combined with little exercise would be the 2 lb. weight gain culprits.  Since my 10K over a month ago I have exercised a total of 4 times.  IT IS TIME.  So this morning I got up early, went to the gym and swam laps for a half hour.  Whew.  I am beat and have SO much respect for swimmers.  I really miss running too.  I miss being sweaty from a good workout.  However, I've only had 4 migraines this month.  I'm really thinking my migraines are sometimes triggered from heart rate elevation.  Three of the migraines were this week...boo!  I woke up all three times with serious jaw pain and sore neck and shoulder muscles.  They were so tight that they were twitching...no fun.  So I went to my TMJD doctor and he treated me.  Thank goodness.  The nurses there lifted up my hair and said, "Whoa, the back of your neck is so swollen!" That was before I even had a chance to tell them how much pain I was in.  Now I am supposed to take Ibuprofen every 6 hours for 3-4 days to reduce the swelling.  "Have you been under a lot of stress, Laura?",  they ask.  They know me so well there.  Apparently, stress creates tense muscles as well as teeth grinding and ultimately, migraines.  Fun stuff.  So I need to work on more exercise, better food choices, and less stress.  I think that is America in a nutshell.  At least I'm not alone.  Seriously though, it's so important to be proactive about my health.  Exercise produces endorphins which help with energy and stress levels.  Also, food plays a HUGE role in whole body wellness.  If you eat crap, you will most likely feel like crap, and feeling like crap is stressful.  So if I eat well and exercise frequently maybe, just maybe my stress level will decrease and so will my migraines.  Worth a shot.  I just need to get in the right frame of mind.  Let's do this!

No Run October

As you are well aware, these migraines of mine are sticking around.  I track them and can't make sense of them most of the time.  I've had one so far for the month of October and I am VERY happy about that.  Interestingly enough I haven't been running in the month of October.  Correlation?  Possibly, but hopefully not.  Afterall, I have been getting migraines for 15 years and have only been running for 6 months.  However, I have implemented hormone therapy as well as TMJD therapy in the meantime, which are both supposed to aid in migraine prevention.  I have found that I get a migraine about 50% of the time after I run.  It's quite possible that there is no correlation between running and migraines because I had been running 3-4 times a week and getting an average of 2 migraines a week.  I may have had those migraines anyway regardless of whether or not I was running.  The migraines and running may have nothing to do with one another, but I can't know for sure unless I stop running for a period of time to see if the migraines still come regardless of my activity. 

Now, this doesn't just apply to running.  I used to think I got migraines after I went to Jazzercise and when I did other  high intensity activities such as Zumba.  So really, "No Run October" should be more aptly named "Low-Intensity October".  A doctor once hypothesized that my migraines could be caused by a sudden rise in blood pressure triggered by high intensity exercise.  So this month I am going to do low-intensity exercise like Aqua Zumba, slow and steady lap swims, flat course bike riding, walking, and yoga to see if my activity level makes a difference. 

I kind of feel like a scientist with all of my experimentation with my migraines, except I feel like I am just grasping at straws in the dark.  One day I will figure out these migraines.  I am determined that with prayer, common sense, consistancy, and persistance, I will figure out my triggers and be able to better manage my migraines. 

To Run or Not to Run?

This week has been lacking in the exercise department.  Tom has been going to the gym almost daily to swim and has done an amazing job of keeping up with a healthy diet.  In the past 6 weeks he has lost 12 pounds.  Woot woot!!!  I'm so proud of his hard work.  Every time I compliment him on it he shrugs it off and says he still has a long way to go.  I think he is proud of himself though.  He should be. 

Anyway, my weight has been pretty steady for the past couple of months.  The Marathon Weight Loss Challenge is now over and I lost 5 pounds over the course of the challenge.  It is about 21 pounds short of a marathon, but at least I didn't gain so I am very happy with the loss.  So that puts me at a total weight loss of 31 pounds in 2012  :)  During the challenge, I tracked my food and exercise on www.loseit.com every day for 6 weeks straight.  Then when school started I just stopped.  I had no energy to even begin to sit down and record every bite I put into my mouth let alone the energy to exercise.  Now don't get me wrong...I have been swimming, riding my bike, taking a class and running here and there, but nothing close to what I was doing over the summer.  I ran my 10K last Saturday and tried to run again on Monday.  It was a chore to run for even 10 minutes so I decided my body wasn't fully recovered from the 6.2 miles.  I haven't exercised since and I feel groggy and icky because of it.  I know that if I just go do it I will feel so much better, but I honestly don't feel like it.  Tom just left for the gym and I have a bit of a stomach ache so I opted out.  Normally, that wouldn't have stopped me, but lately it has.  I suppose everyone goes through ups and downs.  Thankfully, my weight has stayed the same since school started despite my lack of exercise and tracking.  It's probably because teaching is much like herding cats.  You are constantly on the go, standing, kneeling, bending down, sitting on the floor to running from the classroom to the copier to the mailroom to the laminator, to the gym to the cafeteria and back so I've probably made up for the lack of "proper exercise" just by doing my job.  Also, I pre-assemble my lunch each night and I don't go out to lunch so I have to eat the healthy things I have packed for myself or starve.  I would never choose to not eat so it works out well :) 

As for my migraines, they are still hanging around.  It's been exactly one month since I started wearing my TMJD appliance.  I've had 7 migraines, which is better than the 8-12 I have been getting.  I shouldn't be disappointed, but, honestly I am.  This was supposed to work.  I was convinced that this was the key.  My frustration level grows with every migraine that develops.  For once I am thankful not be pregnant because I don't know what I would do if I had to fight these migraines without medication.  I still have hope though.  My treatments just started and if they are already taking away a couple of migraines, then why wouldn't it be better next month?  I am holding onto that hope and have faith that God has a plan for these migraines.  I don't know what it is yet, but I can trust that He is in control.  I've found that I am living in fear of my migraines and I should not fear them or let them run my life.  A scripture verse that spoke to me this morning is "For God gave us not a spirit of fear, but of power and love and self-control. - 2 Timothy 1:7.  How cool is that?  Yeah.  God is a pretty awesome gift giver. 

So back to the title of this post...running sometimes triggers a migraine for me and sometimes it doesn't.  It's the same with any high intensity exercise, even the elliptical or yoga.  Sane people would just say, "Well duh, then don't run or do intense exercise!"  I get that.  I really do.  However, running is fuel for my soul.  It's my time to be out in nature and spending time with God in his creation.  More intense exercise is great for me too.  It makes me sweat and feel productive.  Sane people would reply, "Okay great, then just walk or ride your bike." Yes, those activities allow for time with God out in nature and are productive, but there's just something about moving my body that feeds my soul and makes me feel so free, yet so connected with Him.  I don't understand it.  But it stinks not being able to run or do fun classes without worrying that I will get a migraine.  Right now I think I'll go to the grocery store, roll down the windows, feel the fall air on my face, talk to God (and more importantly, listen to what He has to say) and maybe, just maybe I will get the energy to do something active on this amazingly beautiful day He has given to us. 

Living the dream with TMJD

It's been 10 days since I first started wearing my TMJD appliance.  For those of you who are curious about what this thing looks like, I took a picture.  Sorry if it grosses you out.  I get grossed out really easily and it didn't bother me too much so you will probably be fine. 

I turned it upside down to take the picture so you could see the metal parts and how it fits over my bottom teeth kind of like a retainer.  I have to wear it 24/7 except when I eat or drink anything besides water. 

Top 5 reasons my TMJD appliance is not my friend:

1. It makes me have a serious lysp (sufferin' succotash Sylvester!)

2. It takes up so much room in my mouth that my tongue has no where to go so it is harder to breathe when exercising.

3. It makes my breath smell wicked bad even with multiple scrubbings every day.

4. It cost $3,800. 

5. After it does "it's thing" I will have to either a. get braces again or b. get crowns on my molars. (more $$)

On a positive note, I sleep like a baby with it in.  (Or maybe that's just because I am dog tired from herding 2nd graders all day).  I did have a nightmare about trying to eat chips and not being able to crunch down on them to eat them so I just had to swallow them whole.  I woke up chomping on the thing. 

Seriously though.  I understand that I am incredibly blessed.  We have the financial means to pay for it (it does put a damper on paying off the car loan, but we can do it).  It might take my migraines away (I would wear this thing all day every day for the rest of my life if it actually did that).  So I am going to choose to be thankful and try really hard not to be a wimp about this.
**By the way, I have had 2 migraines since starting to wear the appliance.

Other random updates...

I have reintroduced sugar into my diet, sparingly over the past month.  I had 8 peanut butter m&ms earlier this week and a fudge bar yesterday.  It was great.  My weight is being maintained and I am still tracking on www.loseit.com.  I need to measure myself again because I've been lax about that lately.  I weigh in again on Monday so I'll let you know how it goes.

I will be auctioning off another painting next weekend so keep an eye out for that.  Bidding will begin on Friday and end on Sunday night as it did last time.  The last painting went for $20 and the proceeds went towards The American Cancer Society.  Super cool.

I have been crossing off more and more things on my 30 before 30 list!!!  Check out by 30 before 30 tab at the top of the blog.  The most exciting thing is being able to do a Bible Study with college women.  I LOVE college people.  They are way cool.  Our first night was last Tuesday and I get to co-lead it.  We are studying Phillipians, which is awesome. 

That's about it.  It is 6:00pm on Friday night and I am going to sleep.  It has been one doozy of a week and I am spent. 

Normal!

I just got a call that my hormone therapy is working!!!  Praise the Lord!  Both my progesterone and testosterone levels are in normal range.  I am so encouraged!!  I do feel better too...it's still tough trying to get my body awake and up in the mornings, but my energy levels throughout the day are definitely higher.  Yes! 

On another note, I am very much looking forward to next Wednesday, which is when I get my TMD appliance.  (It is much like a retainer, but is fit specifically for my bottom jaw and will apparently keep my muscles in the correct placement.)  If you asked a "normal" person if they were excited to wear a piece of metal/plastic in their mouth all day every day except when they eat and brush their teeth and makes them talk funny, they would say, "NO WAY JOSE!"  But you ask a person who deals with 8-10 migraines a month if they would be willing to wear a piece of metal/plastic in their mouth all day every day except when they eat and brush their teeth that makes them talk funny in an attempt to rid themselves of migraines all together, and they would definitely say, "HECK YES!  GIVE IT TO ME NOW!!"  <---------Well, that's me. I will get it just in time for "Meet the Teacher".  Haha...that's should be interesting learning to talk with it and meeting students and parents for the first time.  I'll let you know how that goes.  ;) ;)  Well, anyway, I am so excited about the possibility of reducing these migraines that I would dye my hair green and stand on my head all day if it would work.  But thankfully, I don't have to do those things.  I can just wear this tiny little thing in my mouth.  Sweet. 

Oh and guess what?  I took advantage of my last Friday before school starts up again and painted :)  You can find my new paintings in a tab at the top of this blog...yep look up...now to the right.  See the tab that says, "My Art"?  Click that and you can see all of my paintings.  I've sold two so far!  Really super excited about that.  One of my "30 before 30" goals is to sell three paintings.  If you have any interest in owning one (or two or three..hehe) please don't hesitate to make an offer.  Prices are negotiable and I really just want people to be able to enjoyment out of having them in their homes.  I will be doing another auction in September, so please vote for one of them to be the next painting to be auctioned off for charity.  Thanks friends!

One last thing...I just want to say how blessed I am by my readers' kind words, encouragement and comments.  Thank you so much for sticking with me and reading my blog.  I hope that my blog continues to help inspire you and bring joy to your life because you bring so much inspiration and joy to mine.  : D

New diagnosis

This week was a flurry of tests, bloodwork, and appointments.  Finally I have a new diagnosis.  It couldn't have come at a better time because August has brought wth it 4 migraines followed by 4 days straight of rebound headaches.  Rebound headaches can happen when I have taken too many of my rescue medication (Imitrex).  Yes I'd say taking four of them within 6 days would cause some issues.  I have never had to take that many in such a short amount of time. Wednesday through today have been miserable days.  I was hesitant to take any more meds because I had no idea what would happen if I did.   Finally today I took a couple of Advil.  It helped and I could at least function.  Praise the Lord! I just took a couple more and I am really hoping I will wake up pain free.  So onto my diagnosis, I went to my general practitioner on Tuesday for bloodwork and everything came back normal except for my liver function.  My liver function was low, probably due to the increased amount of medication I took for my migraines prior to my appointment.  I do have to go back in 4-6 weeks to double check on it though.  So the next day I went to see a new doctor specializing in TMJ, which is now frequently referred to as TMD.  A friend referred me to this doctor because she had been hospitalized for her migraines in the past and she hasn't been back to the hospital since she had been treated for TMD by this doctor.  Wow. So she told me her symptoms and it seems we had a lot in common. My symtoms include: clenching, grinding, sore jaw muscles, ear ringing, popping of the jaw, waking up with migraines, neck pain, shoulder pain, which are all symptoms of TMD.  So it was concluded at my appointment that yes I have TMD and might also be so lucky as to have sleep apnea as well.  The whole process is going to be extremely expensive.  Insurance doesn't cover much of anything and as the poor insurance girl at the office was explaining the cost of everything I started crying...oh how embarrassing! This progesterone therapy has made me so weepy! I couldn't stop thinking about the expense and I got so overwhelmed with the whole process....the sleep study, the xrays, the appliances, the idea of possibly having sleep apnea, plus all of the sudden migraines, trying to get pregnant and not ovulating and I just couldn't keep the tears from flowing.  Ugh. Stress.  I  really need to get a handle on it.  Anyway, after much deliberation this weekend I am going to go  ahead for the treatment because I need it and apparently TMD is to blame for many migraines. So  here we go on a new journey in the never ending quest to beat these stupid migraines. Yesterday I did another hormone saliva test to measure how well my hormone therapy is working.  Prayers and  suggestions are much appreciated!