[Brennan068]

So,

I've been getting to the gym 3-4 times per week for the past 2 months now, everything is going well there. I get in various cardio and weight training to build stamina and muscle tone. I have also been easing into the swimming again although I sink instead of float now (I used to have enough fat to float ). The gym work is really helping me; I was able to mow my lawn for the first time in almost two years yesterday. I had been paying the kid next door but while he liked getting paid he didn't like doing the work. It was nice to be able to do it for myself.

I've been to work on a graduated return - a month of 4 hour days; I'm in week two of that now. I'll be following that up with a month of 6 hour days and then 8's. I'm really liking the 4 hour days though... everybody should be able to work 4 hour days; wonder if I can get my doctor to sign off that I need to be on them permanent?

Still on 90mg x 3/day Mestinon, but it is only really needed for my swallowing now. My tongue still goes a little loopy and gives me the marble mouth, but only when I'm utterly exhausted and at the tail end of my last dose of Mestinon for the day. If neither is the case, I'm good.

Hope everyone else is doing well and improving

[Pat 110]

Originally Posted by Pat 110

Hey Pippi,

I sure understand what you mean about the weight gain & muscle tone. Do you think you could try something like yoga for beginners? I've been thinking about trying that myself. I've heard there are really good instructional DVD's so you can do it at home. I've been walking, but that might be too much for you. Hope this has helped.

Take care,
Pat

Pippi, I forgot to add although I'm sure you would have...to check with your doctor on the idea first! Pat

[Pat 110]

Originally Posted by Brennan068

So,

I've been getting to the gym 3-4 times per week for the past 2 months now, everything is going well there. I get in various cardio and weight training to build stamina and muscle tone. I have also been easing into the swimming again although I sink instead of float now (I used to have enough fat to float ). The gym work is really helping me; I was able to mow my lawn for the first time in almost two years yesterday. I had been paying the kid next door but while he liked getting paid he didn't like doing the work. It was nice to be able to do it for myself.

I've been to work on a graduated return - a month of 4 hour days; I'm in week two of that now. I'll be following that up with a month of 6 hour days and then 8's. I'm really liking the 4 hour days though... everybody should be able to work 4 hour days; wonder if I can get my doctor to sign off that I need to be on them permanent?

Still on 90mg x 3/day Mestinon, but it is only really needed for my swallowing now. My tongue still goes a little loopy and gives me the marble mouth, but only when I'm utterly exhausted and at the tail end of my last dose of Mestinon for the day. If neither is the case, I'm good.

Hope everyone else is doing well and improving

Good to hear Brian! Like I said before, you'll be eating that Tia food before too long!

Take care,
Pat

[whirlwind123]

Update:

Well had the swimming pool installed by a professional(so I thought) who does work as a sub contrator for the place I bought the pool. Well pool was up and running when he back filled pea stone against it in some spots 2 feet high...that is a no , no per pool warranty, instead of putting in a small retaining wall this is what he did., so that has to be removed., well Sunday I finally got in the pool, and the whole bottom ( it is an above ground pool) has large ruts, and creases so bad It is difficult to vacuum., also some areas where you can feel some thing very hard and somewhat sharp., so he has to take down the pool and re install it., obviously, there is a problem with this installer., as usual he said this is the first pool I have ever had problems like this........Well unfortunately before I knew this was going to happen I had contracted him to put on a deck by the pool and new porch roof., took a home equity loan for all of this, well lets say the roof was a Gable roof and there are issues there along with other issues., so he was very agreeable this morning when I showed him everything and admitted it was bad workmanship and felt his men had hurried . Well so now my yard a complete mess from the excavation and who knows now how long before it can be fixed it will have to wait till the pool is redone., what a mess the dog goes out and is covered in mud., my poor little sadie ( Golden retreiver) she is so out of sorts as her routine is ruined. Needless to say I am dragging., very tired and it was hot and humid all this past week so that didn't help and needless to say me being so upset., over all of this....but I am trying to rest when possible, but I certainly found out one thing I can not take the heat. I just certainly hope he reinstalls this pool accurately..... But thats the news for me right now., hopefully soon I can sit on my deck ( if it don't cave in lol) with a roof over me ( that doesn't leak lol) and go in a pool where my foot don't get stuck in a rut., or have the wall cave in and me float down the corn field (lol), I think that would be a #1 Aflac commercial....lol....Well how is everyone else doing? Take care....all of you, Nancy

[xmas 25]

the things we go through sorry it's turned out to be such an ordeal. luckily my hubby can do anything and i mean anything!!! we've put above ground pool up twice. it got bigg leak after 12yrs so we had no choice.once he and a pal had turn put in a water shut off in his house. the old one was stuck-they chopped off the valve,had lots of large barrels around -had a plan and all supplies right there for any complication. that was the bravest[or dumbest] thing they've done. but it worked it was brand new!oh what men can get intoi was laughing today-my mom keeps complaining about a small leak under her car,husband finally saw it said it was antifreeze and she went to dealer,who said no leak[she has him check before she goes to repair so she sounds intelligent when she gets there.she believes hubby so she'll go where we go for anything he can't fix. hope you're feeling better!!

[ras1256]

Hi ya'll (sound like Erin now!),

Pippi - really - don't try ANY exercising if the neuro nixed it for now. Remember, muscles have memory and bounce back quickly when you are able to exercise safely. What I do when it is nixed for me is just isometric - tighten then release the muscles just a couple of times each at different times and rotate - don't go through all the muscles in one sitting, ok? And stretching is just as important, so don't forget to stretch them out also. That'll keep them from turning to total mush without wearing you out.

Pat - Yoga was one suggested for me too, but I didn't get the chance to try it before I got really bad . I had some Pilates tapes that I tried, but they agravated my kneck even when I tried the modifications (I've had 3 neck surgeries, so it's REAL temperamental). Let me know how the Yoga tapes work - I'm good to go and really NEED to get back to something more than walking at this point.

Nancy and Xmas - love the stories! Sorry you're having so much trouble with that pool, Nancy, but your sense of humor about it is delightful! It must feel like the carrot dangled in the face though! What torture to be so close and yet so far.

Xmas, I have one of those hubby's too. My dad and brothers are also like that so l thought it was a gene thing for men until I met a gal whose husband couldn't even help her hang a little cafe curtain rod - he SUPER GLUED it!! What a goof!

Keep up the good humor everyone - laughter is the best medicine!

[ras1256]

OK here's my update - I'm such an airhead sometimes.

I'm back to work - just in time for the Memorial day holiday. I knew I had my consult with the MDA doc on Tuesday the 26th, but in my confusion I thought of Tues as Monday (which of course I had off), so I was preparing for my appointment this morning! Noticed the date and thought -uh oh! I had even set up the back up tape at work with our Monday tape Tuesday, so you can see how messed up my internal calendar was.

I called to explain what happened and discovered I probably didn't want to see THAT particular doctor anyway! I was told that HE wouldn't see me since I missed my appointment so I'd have to be scheduled with someone else. Talk about egotistic!
Thing is, when I asked why they don't do reminder calls, I was told they do, normally, but since my appointment was the day after a holiday they didn't get me called on Friday - so they messed up due to the holiday just like I did - but he won't reschedule me for him????? ARGH! That's exactly the kind of doc I DON'T care to see anyway, and I think I'll tell them that!

Anyway - I'm doing so well I can't even believe it! Friday I spoke to my neuro's assistant about the antiviral success and to see if she thought I could postpone this MDA appointment and if she wanted to see me before hand anyway, as well as to let them know I was done with the Prednisone and when could we schedule my MRI.

She still wants me to see the MDA clinic to reconfirm the MG (again), and will see me after my MRI in 1 month. I'm not sure what the point of the MDA clinic is, really, but if she insists I will do it. I don't think she can argue much with the anti-viral success if I can ever get in to see her and discuss it, but I agree about the MRI - I do want one more done - just for peace of mind if nothing else. This TM should show on MRI too, but she said I don't need to come off the anti-viral before hand, so I don't know how that would show the inflammation if the meds are helping it. I may come off them for a little while before hand anyway, again for peace of mind! Not too long though, I don't like tanking!

We had our b-b-q for my girls going away. Had a total of sixteen people and I had a blast. I was actually able to get up at 5:30, make potatoe salad, clean some, take my shower, blow dry my hair, run around setting everything up, play hostess to everyone, clean up after, and not be completely wiped out! That's after making the 2 hour round trip drive to my mom's Saturday to take my daughters cats down there, and chatting up a storm while there!!

To think that just a couple of weeks ago I couldn't even get up long enough to make my own food! I love these anti virals as much as Erin loves her IVIG! I have worked almost a full 8 hrs both yesterday and today, and came home and worked in my hubby's office for a couple of hours too. I think I may need to back off just a little though, cuz I do feel a little weakness creaping in on me, so I can only get on here about once a week now.

I miss you all and being able to keep up with all the posts and new people! It's amazing how our group continues to grow! Welcome to everyone new. I hope to be able to get a schedule set that allows me a little more free time soon, but for now I need to get myself back to being able to "take care of business" (and earn my keep around here!).

Take care, everyone. I'll be back! No doubt with another LONG post. Thanks for putting up with me on these.

[xmas 25]

how awesome that things are going great! it gives hope to me-i'm in the baby stage of learning mg,limitations,meds etc. i pray for those days of mostly endless energy. i wouldn't even mind just laying down for 1-2 hrs in afternoon. how do you differentiate being out-of-shape,in a lousylazy rut or the medicine side effects or the disease itself?that seems to be my problem. i'm afraid to push it but not sure of what i feel? thanks for showing the light at the end of the long tunnel!!

[Christy]

Becky,
Congratulations, I am delighted for you. I have learned so much from all your posts. You are an inspiration.
Stay well, be happy, God bless .
Christy

[TxSimon]

I just wanted to echo the thanks for all the inspiration I am getting from all the posts. I am new here, but am getting more acquainted as I go. God Bless each of you for your posts, as they help!
Simon