Pump It Up

Ah, if only I were "This Year's Model."

But, given that I had my own little rebirth in 2010, I am trying to "Pump it Up" a bit. When I saw Dr. Furst last month he advised me to participate in a formal cardiac rehab program. However, my cardiologist suggested that I just go ahead and exercise at home, which seemed much easier to me.

I started back on my elliptical, and increased my program by one minute per day. Today, I reached my first goal of 20 minutes on the elliptical. Now, I know to most of you this seems fairly pathetic, but I am pretty proud of my progress. I plan to spend at least a month at 20 minutes now, as this is a decent start, and see how my joints and other symptoms take the new program.

I can hardly believe the progress I've made in a year, though! Whoo hoo!

Our team is coming together for the scleroderma walk in July, and now I am a bit more confident that I can be ready. Don't forget to check the site (see the last post) to sign up to walk with us! :)

Kickboxing Rides Again!

"There is no use trying," said Alice; "one can't believe impossible things."
"I dare say you haven't had much practice," said the Queen. "When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast."
- Lewis Carroll

FirstGiving

Kickboxing for Scleroderma began as a team. A team inspired by my recent diagnosis of scleroderma, and committed to finding a cure, we did our first fundraising walk in 2007. This team led to my blog, and my involvement with the Scleroderma Foundation... I know that I have enjoyed tremendous support through this process, and I hope that I have given back even a fraction of that which I have gained. Now that my strength is improved, I am committed to giving back even more.

You are part of this team, and I am so grateful.

My sons, Jake and Luke, has stepped up this year as team leaders.

Luke is our fund raiser, and you must see the adorable (no bias here!) video that he has created for our annual walk. Check the link above. Luke has lofty goals, and plays the task master both on his video and here at home, making sure we properly promote our team: LUKE LAPS! Please visit the page. :)

Jake--home today with me and recovering from a nasty oral surgery--is the head of the "envelope stuffing committee" as he calls it with all of his wonderful humor. He is technically one of 3 people running the annual Linda Lee Wells Memorial Education Day, a completely free event (you are all welcome to come!), run and staffed by an all volunteer group, to provide a top notch educational event.

See the link below, and join us!

Eventbrite

Work in Progress

I had a busy couple of weeks, seeing several doctors and collecting opinions on my progress. And, the general consensus seems to be that I am, in fact, a work in progress.

My new cardiologist, a specialist in heart failure, seems to think that my heart may be recovering. Additional formal testing is scheduled.

My pulmonologist seems very happy with the improvement in my lung CT, and was not horrified by the tiny drop in my pulmonary function testing. She thinks that the slight difference may reflect the difference in machines between Chicago and San Diego, or may reflect my underlying connective tissue tightness. Overall, however, she is happy with my progress.

My rheumatologist is also pleased with my progress. On substantially less medication than I was on pre-transplant, I do have some arthritis pains. My Raynauds symptoms are worse. But, again, overall I feel better, have more energy, and she is satisfied.

Regardless, everyone seems to agree that I have done what I can. The stem cell transplant can take up to 2 years to see full benefit, so now we wait. :)

I am sorry to report that Alexander needs a lay up to recover from a ligament injury, but I plan to find a way to keep riding. Stay tuned!

A Rough Week

Sometimes it seems like life throws you curve balls, and this has been one of those weeks. It started when I foolishly (again) left my purse in my car during Luke's tennis match down at Barnes Tennis Center. I returned to a bashed in car and a stolen purse, along with many of my other personal belongings. It's hard already, but without an income, losing all that stuff was even harder.

Then our beautiful horse Alexander became sore after a too tough dressage training session, I think. Hopefully that's all it is, but the poor guy is just not right. We were planning our first show on him this weekend, but that's been scratched. :( I am disappointed.

But, the light on my horizon was the thought that I might have found a new, young hunter prospect who looked absolutely perfect. Sold today, of course, and I was to see him Monday.

The last straw was my pulmonary function testing. It put me over the edge today. Cranky all day anyway, and then my numbers are down into the 50th percentiles for the first time. Don't understand, can't explain... don't have any answers but I do have another full week of doctor's appointments next week. Wish I could just walk away from it all sometimes.

Not my week.

Follow Your Passion

I had a lovely "coffee" with a friend today, and she got me thinking about how stem cell therapy for autoimmune diseases began. I came home and found this video on YouTube of Dr. Burt, the man who did my stem cell transplant, discussing how he began his work.

Hope you enjoy it. :) There is a part 2 and a part 3, as well, which you can also find on YouTube.