I'm Back

Sorry, I never said I was leaving. Actually, I've kind of been wallowing in self-pity lately, and have been neglecting a lot of things I normally enjoy doing. This blog being one of them.

A while ago I mentioned that I was on bed rest with mysterious rib pain during my pregnancy. The pain came back a few months ago, and I have been taking test after test and seeing numerous doctors to try and figure out what is causing the pain. I've had an x-ray, blood test, and MRI done recently, as well as an abdominal ultrasound during my pregnancy. I also did physical therapy and a cervical epidural to try and help the pain. All tests found nothing, and all attempts at pain management haven't worked.

I will receive one more abdominal ultrasound (could be referred pain) to see what's going on, and then I will visit a pain management specialist. And I have decided that if nothing comes from those, I will give up on my search for the source of the pain and just find ways to treat it- be it meds, chiropractor...whatever helps. Every phone call I receive that tells me that nothing was found is frustrating. I'm just sick of doctors (especially since most could care less about helping me), tests, co-pays, and most of all the chronic pain.

And of course this ties in to my weight loss progress! I have been really having to force myself to get on those exercise machines. I think it's the combination of fatigue (less sun maybe?), the cooler weather, and just overall stress over this ordeal. And if I wait until too late in the morning to exercise, I'm in too much pain and can't. Sometimes if I skip a workout I'll take a walk with baby (my weekly workout will tie into this).

You may wonder how I carry a baby around when in pain? Well, often I don't. Luckily, I can get around having to carry him too much. He is often happy playing on the floor, so I sometimes take that opportunity to lay down next to him and rest. Also, he is little for his age (less than 25th percentile), so that is actually a blessing for me. If I had a 20+ pound non-walker I would be in trouble. If I hold him for a feeding, I sit him on my lap and lean back so I don't have to strain my shoulder.

But it's not the lifting of any weight that causes my pain or makes it any worse, actually. It's just the act of sitting or standing (mostly standing) for too long. I absolutely must lay down periodically throughout the day or I reach my limit and can't walk. It's very strange. If anyone has any ideas as to what it going on, please throw them my way. I have done tons of reading and can't find much.

Anyway, I'm back now and that's what matters. And now I will ask: Has anyone else experienced something like this? You have a health problem, or any problem, and you just lose motivation for a while? I'm sure all of us have. I'm trying to hang in there- for my family and myself. What does not kill us makes us stronger, right?