• 1 Day of PT~I did a new circuit that had me rotating through light treadmill work, light elliptical work, Body Gym squats, and toe raises…I also did arm and back strengthening, balance exercises and my PELVIC CLOCKS!
• 1 Day of home Rehab.
• I had prolo round 4 on Monday on my neck, upper back, mid back, and ribs.  I go back May 31st for round 5.
• On Wednesday I went to Toledo to see Dr. Grubb’s NP, Beverly, for POTS.  I am still working on this (long) blog post, but I will say that my appointment did not disappoint.  I left with a much better understanding of why my body is doing what it is doing, and hopefully ways to help better manage my POTS. 
• I filled a prescription for Midodrine for POTS.  I don’t start it for 2 more weeks though.
• My open toe compression stockings just came in the mail!  As soon as I try them on, I will grace you all with a picture. I better make sure my toes are pretty first!

After a big week last week of Bob Seger and Philly, I knew I had to lay pretty low this week…Sunday and Monday I was a mess, but by Tuesday I was feeling a lot more human.  Hopefully these five won’t bore you to tears…Especially since I have only a couple of pictures.  Everything on my computer was wiped out yesterday.  I still don’t know why.  Sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…

1.  Medical Stuff: 

• 2 days of PT.  Circuit work and elliptical work.  I tried to do the recumbent bike yesterday but I was “taching” too much (heart rate too high) so I had to stop.  At least I got in a good amount of strengthening before the POTS attack hit.
• 2 days of home rehab.
• I had my monthly appointment with Larry.  I turned in my Apollo 13 assignment, we talked about where I am at with my goals/progress, what to discuss with Dr. Cantieri on Monday and Dr. Grubb’s NP on Wednesday, and we figured out a plan for my continuing physical therapy.
• After going over my sources of pain, we realized that EDS is affecting my jaw.  It keeps popping and subluxing, giving me some of my neck and jaw pain.  I am to wear my mouth guard more, and watch it.  If it gets too bad, I can be referred to a doctor who only works on TMJ problems.  I have also heard you can have prolotherapy on your jaw.  Hmmm… 
• Larry wrote me a prescription for a new pain med cream I had to have made at the compound pharmacy to help with spasms; especially in my neck (since I HATE taking muscle relaxers).  He also wrote me a prescription for open toe compression stockings!
• The good news about open toe stockings?  They are open toe.  The bad news about open toe stockings?  They only come in opaque, not sheer like my other ones.  I guess beggars can’t be choosers, right?  I am still waiting for them to come in the mail.

1.  Medical Stuff:

• 3 days of PT
• Great session with Dr. Rosen
• Got measured for new compression stockings (Juzo, not Jobst this time). 
• The high risk pregnancy doc’s office called.  I have an appointment January 27th. (For the record, in case you have not read previous posts, I am NOT pregnant).
• Got my testosterone levels back to take to the prolotherapy doc on Tuesday.  My levels were super low.  Hmmm, wonder what that could mean.
• Tried two new tape jobs for neck/rib/shoulder stabilization.

Exhibit A:

Most of my week was medical stuff, so this one could be a tad bit boring…

1.  Medical Stuff: 

Physical therapy Tuesday and Thursday-Recumbent bike; arms only, unweighting arm work, back stabilization on half foam roller, whole body gym for legs with pelvic stabilization ball…We are trying to do the exercises in an interval fashion…2 mins of exercises, 1 min of laying down rest, 2 mins of exercises, 1 min of laying down rest….We are also trying to do exercises with high reps, and very low weight to “create energy in the tissues…”

Saw the pulmonologist for my annual asthma appointment.  Breathing looked good.  My doctor looked up EDS and did not feel it should have any effect on my breathing.  That’s a positive!

Mailed my records and my summary to Dr. Lavallee. 

Had blood work for my upcoming appointment about prolotherapy to check my free testosterone and total testosterone. 

Saw Larry and he did some cranial work. 

Went to the gynecologist to talk about birth control and family planning options. 

I weighed in at 120 pounds at the gyno and the asthma doctor; which is a much healthier weight for me than the 112 pounds I weighed in at this summer.  This is a picture from the summer when I weighed 112.  I think I look pretty gross. 

Funny how you try and lose weight all your life and then one day you find yourself trying to gain weight.  Life is crazy.