Lilly Diabetes

April 20, 2013 By Leave a Comment

lilyDiabetes runs rampant in my family, Type 1 and 2.  Both sides of my parents and on Taj’s side as well.  there is no escaping it, there is only learning how to prevent, control and live with it.

Announced earlier this month on the Disney Interactive Blog, Disney Interactive and Lilly Diabetes launched a new online destination dedicated to families affected by type 1 diabetes on Disney’s family lifestyle site, Spoonful.com at http://spoonful.com/type1. Leveraging Lilly’s expert knowledge about diabetes and Disney Interactive’s trusted portfolio of parenting tools and community, the site serves as a unique and powerful resource for parents and caregivers raising children with type 1 diabetes.

 

Through a mix of articles, videos and advice, site contributors (which include dietitians, psychologists, nurses and everyday families) cover a variety of topics all designed to help families manage type 1 diabetes in everyday situations, such as:

  • Routines for families that manage type 1 diabetes while still letting kids be kids
  • Important info on how to pack for vacations, sleepovers and other outings
  • Talking tips about type 1 diabetes to share with friends, teachers and coaches

 



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Who the Hell Puts Sunscreen on Their Son’s Penis?!

July 1, 2012 By 5 Comments
Sunscreen

Sunscreen (Photo credit: Hacklock)

A colleague of mine received a press release (pitch) this past week making her aware of the dangers of sunscreen.  Dangers of sunscreen are nothing new, people have been bitching about the chemicals of sunscreen for years and in their second breath they bitch about the effects of the sun.

But this one?  This one takes the cake!

These chemicals are also known as “gender-bending” chemicals.  The chemicals act like the female hormone estrogen and can be associated with serious medical problems like smaller penises in boys, loss of libido or breast development in men, early puberty in girls and uterine fibroid tumors.

Are you kidding me?

Uterine tumors?  Breast devlopment?Where was sunscreen when I was in middle school and a charter member of the itty-bitty-titty-committee?  Hell where is it now, I think I am going to run out and buy a couple of cases and rub them all over my chest!

Seriously people, calm the hell down.  EVERYTHING has something bad in it, otherwise it wouldn’t work!

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Well Adjusted

July 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Nothing in my life has ever been well adjusted, not physically, not mentally, and not financially.  But last week I was offered the chance to receive a free consultation with Advanced Bodywork and Massage.  I can tell you I came out of there feeling a good 3 inches taller.  But I am getting ahead of myself.

It is no secret to you that I have chronic pain.  My knees and hips and various other parts of my body.  Some are diagnosed by doctors other parts diagnosed by Dr. Me.

I have Rheumatoid Arthritis in my right knee which is the central pain point on my body, with Osteo in my left.  These have been diagnosed by my dr before I lost my insurance almost 4 years ago.  Because of that pain, I tend to favor my knee and have caused my hips to become disjointed and painful.  I also have what I believe to be rheumatoid arthritis in my right hand (it was alluded to by the doctor 4 years ago that it was developing).  That only hurts when I try to grip anything, which then whatever I am gripping falls immediately to the ground.

I was excited to receive the chance to work with Paula McGinness, I checked out her website ahead of time and prepared myself to be pain free by the end of the day.  HA!  In all actuality I was in more pain a few hours after I left her, but it was a different pain, a sore workout kind of pain.  A pain that you knew good things were going to come out of.

She started by taking some pictures and videos of me, my posture, how I walked.  I was looking for Mr and Ms J to tell me I was going to be on AMTN.

During the massage part, she moved and rotated and flexed every single part of my body.  My limbs went places they have never gone before, but hope to go again.  She found painful spots I didn’t realize I had and spots that usually hurt no longer bothered me. (who knew your butt muscles were so dang tender YEOWCH!)

I was given some homework assignments, some I have done, some I haven’t.  She advised me to walk straighter, with my feet hip width apart instead of so close together, it has helped with my balance and with my hip pain.  She said to stop crossing stuff, my knees, my ankles.  That is one I have a hard time with.  I have very long legs, and there isn’t always room for them, so crossing them (like in the movie theater) is the only way to make room.

I am going back to see her next week, and hopefully she will see some of the improvements that I feel and it won’t all just be in my head.

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Newbie

July 2, 2011 By 6 Comments

I had my first official visit to the gym this week and it didn’t go so well. I rode the recumbent bike for about a mile and a half, but wasn’t comfortable in the seat. Then moved to the elliptical which I was told would be good for my bad knee. YEOUWCH! Not so much, I left in tears.

I have a meeting with a trainer on Wednesday, kind of an orientation, and I probably should have waited until then to try and exercise.  I am hoping he can give me some advice on which machines/exercises will do well for my knee.

I asked some of my internet friends, who have been encouraging me even tho they might not have known it for advice for newbies like me.

Deb advises:

  • 1. Persevere. The pain and frustration makes it easy to want to quit.
  • 2. Stretch, warm up well, and cool down well. It will help with the pain. If you can, have a trainer teach you foam rolling and stretching techniques.
  • 3. Remember every person in the gym had a first time there.

I will definitely take her up on the stretching advice, I have never stretched anything in my life, but as with anything else, I am always willing to learn.

Yvonne says:

Don’t be afraid to ask questions if you’re unsure of how to use a machine or if you have questions about proper technique. You can ask someone on the staff at the gym, or even another member.

Don’t be intimidated- most people are happy to help if they have knowledge of equipment. The last thing you want is to injure yourself by not using a machine properly (I know this from experience.)

Take advantage of group classes. They are a great way to have a fun workout and learn some new exercises you can use at home.

I am always afraid to speak to other people, when it comes to showing a weaker side of myself.  I can strike up a meaningless conversation with any schmuck anywhere, but when it comes time for something meaningful, I fall into a flop sweat.

Some practical advice from me:

  • Bring a towel (this is a requirement at most gyms but no one informed me of that when I signed up), you are going to want to wipe down what ever machine you work on before and after using it.
  • Bring a bottle of water or other electrolyte replacement.  If you are doing it right you are going to sweat and you will dehydrate yourself quickly.
  • Keep change in your car for parking.  My gym has a metered lot right behind it or a free (90 minutes) parking garage 2 blocks away.

Let’s hope the trainer visit goes well and I don’t get completely discouraged.

What advice would you offer a gym newbie?

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Lupus

May 10, 2011 By 1 Comment

Today is Lupus Awareness Day.

I have told you before about my friend Erin who is dealing with Lupus.

Today I want you to be aware that this is not ok.

  • Lupus is an autoimmune disease.
  • Lupus can damage any organ in the body.
  • Lupus can cause life-threatening consequences.
  • Ninety percent of the people who develop lupus are females.

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Happy Mother’s Day

May 8, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Mom and Aunt Monica

It is no secret how much I miss my mom.

But as much as I miss her I am thankful for what she has given me.

It is because of her that I have the relationship with my sisters that I do.  Because of the relationship she had with hers.  She and they set the example for us.

Recently one of my mom’s sisters passed away, I know that together they are catching up and rekindling their relationship.

To my sisters I would like to say thank you for always being there for me, for making me laugh, making me cry and making me be a better person than I thought I could be.

 

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Short Shorts

March 9, 2011 By 3 Comments

Thank you to P&G’s Have You Tried This Yet? program and Kroger for sponsoring my writing about trying new things and breaking out of my everyday routine. Click here to find great savings on high-performing P&G products at a Kroger store near you. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

When I was little, whether it was to save money or just because, my mom used to cut my hair.  I do not have easy hair to cut.  I have VERY curly, very unruly, very odd hair.  Needless to say it can be a bit difficult to cut this head of hair into something that looks decent.  Most times I ended up looking like this.  No, that is not a boy, that is me in Kindergarten.

Throughout my childhood, my hair has always been a contention.  From twirling it into knots and having it break and be uneven, to being a lice magnet whenever someone in the neighborhood got it, so did I.  I didn’t even have to go in their house, it just came and found me.

I was never a girly girl, so I never learned how to blow dry or style my hair and even now at 43 I still don’t know how.  I eventually let it grow out so that it became so thick and heavy that you couldn’t see any of the curls but the frizz was beyond the beyond.

In 2008, a friend of a friend offered to cut my hair.  I became intrigued and terrified at the same time.  She wanted free reign, she wanted to make it short.  I remembered short hair, I remembered the “pixie” cut from my mom.

I let her do it.  She cut and cut and cut and cut (I had not had it cut in many years before that) and I LOVED IT!  I still had a bit of an issue with the curls, but I could tame them with a simple cute headband.  It was easy to manage, simple brushing, and a breeze to wash.

I have worn it this way ever since.

Recently, there was a bit of a set back.  I was due for a hair cut around the beginning of the year.  I have been sick and didn’t go, and didn’t go and didn’t go.  Now in March I finally went but I went somewhere new.  Dumb ass.  I was feeling good after a doctors appointment, relaxed in the chair, told her I wanted it short, closed my eyes and this is what happened. Sometimes trying something new is good, sometimes, not so much.

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Trifecta

March 1, 2011 By 5 Comments

I have had a relapse, with the Pneumonia spreading to my right lung now (which could actually make it called Double Pneumonia now).  Marisa has been diagnosed with severe allergies, requiring 3 different prescriptions (plus another one for the babies who also have severe allergies).  And Kathy has a cold.  The same damn cold over and over and over again for 8 weeks straight.

All of us living in the same house, all of us coughing as if we hit the bong too hard, all of us with 3 completely different diagnosis. Did you know coughing is like a yawn?  Hearing someone cough can make a tickle appear in your throat seemingly out of nowhere.

I had been feeling better when Monday I started having the same symptoms I did 4 weeks ago when this all began.  Needless to say (but I will) it scared the hell out of me.  I have been down this road once I don’t want to go down it again.  But a trip back to the doctor tells me yes, it is back and spread to my right lung.  This time however, instead of working 10 hours a day I got an immediate dose of antibiotic (4 SHOTS! 1 in each shoulder and thigh, good gah I feel like I went to the gym) and had a breathing treatment at the doctors office.  I was sent home with direct orders to use my inhaler, and take Robutussin DM.  So, that is what I will do.

This time we are going to whip this thing before it whips me.  And before I start another show next week.  Because yeah, I may be sick, but I am not contagious, so I will work if it comes my way.  This clinic may be LOW cost, but it isn’t free.

One day, one night, there will be a quiet house, without a single cough echoing through it.

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Set Back

February 20, 2011 By 6 Comments

I just wrote in the last post about being raised as an Amazon Van Houten Woman.  About being able to be knocked down and getting back up for another round.  ABout being able to handle anything life threw at me.

But I’ll be damned if this sick is not going to be my kryptonite.

Just as I thought I was getting better, I have been knocked to the ground again.

The coughing is more persistant and less productive.  The fever is back, and the tired, OMG the tired.

I know I know, one day I will sleep through the night again.  One day I won’t pee every time I cough.  One day I will be able to walk all the way to the back of the house without stopping to catch my breath.  But I really can’t see that one day coming any day soon.

To demonstrate how sick I am, I have not had a drop of milk in over 2 WEEKS!  We may actually THROW AWAY expired milk in my house!  We have never done that in all my life.  We usually go through a gallon a day at least!  Not to mention, my Girl Scout cookies arrived today and I could care less.

It has been 3 and a half weeks.  In 2 weeks I have another show to work in Anaheim.  I am giving my body 10 more days to feel better, after that……well, I don’t know what, but I better not be sick anymore.

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Pneumonia

February 16, 2011 By 3 Comments
WPA Pneumonia poster

Image via Wikipedia

Yep, that’s what I (un)officially have.

I have a friend and her primary Dr. is a very good friend of her family.  He agreed to see me at no cost after hours yesterday.

According to him, I am on the “last legs” of Pneumonia.  That I probably suffered the worst of it about 10-12 days ago.  that’s right about the time I was driving 2 hours back and forth to Anaheim and working 10 hour shifts.  He didn’t give me a perscription of anything for a couple of reasons.  First there is an epidemic of Pneumonia in LA County right now and the meds are hard to get and secondly, they are EXPENSIVE.  With insurance Taj paid $55 for his a month ago when he had this.  Who knows what it would cost me without insurance (I am not willing to find out).  He gave me some samples that he had on hand and sent me on my way.

So that explains why I would get out of breath going from the bedroom to the kitchen.  That explains why I would hack up gobs of phelgm at a time.  That explains the heaviness I was feeling in my chest thinking I was going to have a heart attack at any moment.

Now I just wait for it to go away.

Perhaps like an unwelcome house guest I can yawn and stretch and pretend it is bed time and it will get the hint.

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