Originally Posted by olgappetra

Sorry, I accidentally deleted the original message when I was posting a reply to tony mcclellan thanking him for the welcome after I asked for one.

(sorry this is long)

I was in my best health & weight when I stepped on a screw carelessly left sticking out a door frame installed 1/2 hr earlier in a place next to a pool & hot tub at the gym I was weight training in. No biggie, right? I asked for a bandage & suggested they fix it before someone else got a scratch on their foot like mine.

Two days later I became extremely ill w/ cellulitis, an infection that gets inside the cells, often from open sores in pools, etc. I figured I'd regain my health once I got out of the hospital a week later & continue working out & swimming like I had been doing but I was wrong. The swelling on the affected leg never seemed to go away & the pain actually got worse after the cellulites was gone. It was determined to be what was referred to then as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) which is now called something else, a regional pain syndrome or something I truly believed I would overcome the challenges it caused. I had overcome incredible odds once before & miraculously dealt w/serious injuries involving a coma, many broken bones & huge lacerations, partial paralysis & brain damage from a car wreck 20 yrs earlier. I even worked professionally 10 years after graduating & doing graduate work at a university.

I was wrong about recovering from RSD right away too. I have progressively gotten more ill in the last 10 yrs. About 2 years ago had a *routine & simple* ERCP (scope down to my ducts, stomach, pancreas) that “caused only 1 in a million people to get pancreatitis from it”, quoted from a nurse when I signed the consent papers beforehand, but it caused me to get extremely jaundiced & also get pancreatitis the following day. I don’t drink & have not had any since college, so even though pancreatitis can be related to drinking, it didn’t cause mine. I have to take enzymes every time I put any morsel of food in my mouth for a snack or meal, but it is not being managed. I have ongoing nausea, extreme heartburn the GI Dr. said was not really heartburn but my pancreas, diarrhea & vomiting whether I eat or not, & it does not matter when or how much I eat or don’t eat. I still feel like crap about 95% of the time. He said it might be the best it ever gets & I would have to learn to live w/ it.

I have tried over & over to follow different healthier eating plans to feel better but end up giving up after a month or two & not feeling better any time while trying. I also keep starting stretching, simple exercises, etc. but give up each time when I end up bedridden from doing anything. My primary physician confirmed that my high triglycerides might be contributing to the pancreatitis, & that reducing them would probably contribute to me feeling better, including trying to lose the 60 lbs. I have gained since stepping on that tiny screw. He has always supported more holistic health practices using what works, not necessarily only what the AMA says to do, which I appreciate immensely. He turned me onto sites that have diets & suggestions for lowering triglycerides so I have been looking at them & realize I can eat or drink nothing except filtered water & eat dark green leafy vegetables if I follow the diets. That means very few vegetables, no fruit hardly or any fruit juice of any kind, no carbohydrates, no sugars or sugar substitute of any kind, no grains of any kind, no processed food of any kind, etc. etc. I KNOW that I cannot live like that for the rest of my life, but am willing to try it for a while if it makes me feel better.

I really want to get back to the health I had before all this happened, I am SICK OF BEING SICK!!! I am only 51 yrs of age, but feel like I’m 151. I also know eating healthy 90% of the time, (I used to allow myself very short periods of eating things in moderation as *treats* for following the healthier lifestyle the rest of the time ), taking supplements, consistently doing aerobic exercise & weight training on a careful schedule is what worked for me in the past. I also know I don’t have the ability, energy or means to do most of that now.

Please, anyone, do you have suggestions for the best way to ease into a healthier way of living? My physician says “Just do it.” How original. Ideas, anyone?

edited part
PLEASE DO NOT IGNORE ME OR MY POST BECAUSE I HAVE HEALTH CHALLENGES!!! I notice others have at least been greeted when they post as a newbie, but no one has said nada to me. I hope that I am at least welcome here!

I was participating in the Second Muscle Media Body Transformation & was a little less than 5 weeks into it when I stepped on that dang screw. I had already lost inches, built muscle, lost weight & FELT WONDERFUL. This was while I was dealing w/ post-traumatic fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue & migraines, among other things. They ALL went into remisson during this time. I kept meticulous records & had amazing results! Although I no longer have access to a gym or weight machines, I KNOW I can do it again, I have proved doctors wrong before when I overcame so-called *permanent* conditions & will do it again. I'm just asking for any suggestions & support.

Hey man, welcome on board. Don't stress about the lack of response the first time you posted, it's just a really slow time of day on this forum and posting in general is slow

Sorry to hear about your health problems, your physician is probably right about 'just do it'. It might be simple but often if you start thinking about the obstacles in front of you it makes them harder to get over

Good luck with your quest for fitness

Welcome to the forum. Goodluck with your goals.

Thanks, all 3 of you. Sorry for yelling. (oops)
olga p

Welcome!

I am not a health expert or a trainer so I cannot give you any advice based on all of your issues going on. I know that I could give you other healthy foods to eat, but it may upset your stomach. I think that you need to only get advice from a physician at this point because most of us here are probably not physicians and with all of the complications and symptoms you have, it is much more safe to consult with a physician that knows your complete medical history to the "T".

However, there are some great knowledgable people on this forum that can answer basic questions. I wish you good luck with everything, I couldnt imagine being in such great pain for a great amount of time.

Thank you, everyone! The reason I am coming here, Cbolding, is because my doctor says, just do what you can", but I felt I needed a little more structure & motivation because of my health issues. He also gave me info on a web site that addresses how your diet can reduce triglycerides:

I have only been able to read a small portion of all the posts yet. I have already found many incredible posts that provide me with exactly what I need: serious info on fitness & a lot of inspirational & motivational posts. I suspect creating a good mindset about exercise is the best way to start, and this is the best site I've found for doing that. Then I need to ease into my own program, developing consistency for following through with it. I will try to come here whenever my mind or body tries to talk me into not following through, it's amazing how good I am at developing rationalizations for not doing something that is good for me.

Thanks everyone in advance for all the posts & information you have posted on this site for others to benefit from.

I think I need to do a little more reading & a little less shouting. <red face> : )
olga p

Welcome. Yes, you are facing and have faced adversary, but you are not the only one who has. I had a 99% clogged right coronary artery in November '06 that necessitated a catheterization, angioplasty, stent and lifetime mediacation requirements and open heart surgery in April '08 in which my ascending aorta and aortic valve were replaced with a homograft from a cadaver. Three months later I did my first sprint triathlon, have done two more since then and am gonna do a 70.3 mile Half Ironman on April 5, 2009, 1 year and 1 day after my open heart surgery.

But I am much younger than you ... I am 49!

Specific diets can be helpful for certain conditions. You may want to consider trying one of those diets your doctor recommended. Try it for awhile just so you can start exercising again, and as the exercise gets easier and easier, ween yourself off the diet until eventually you can workout without the diet again, and go from there.

Basically instead of trying to push for extra distance or speed like you used to, push for doing the routine on less of a diet to control the condition. If/once you can workout without any dieting, push as normal until you start coming closer and closer to where you once were.

Just my opinion, but I'm not a doctor.

Thanks for the inspiration G8R80! LOL Yes, *youngster*, maybe that's the difference.

I do not run & have not run since I was 21 due to the challenges from the wreck I had then, I am just grateful to have been able to learn to walk again. (After doctors told relatives I'd probably be a vegetable for the rest of my life & never walk or talk again) I've also had multiple surgeries, but they were a lot different to recover from than having a brain injury & having to relearn EVERYTHING again (like a baby learns) I also used to dance after the wreck & hope to again.

The RSD & pancreatitis brought out symptoms I had thought went into remission when I was weight training & swimming. Like the fibromyalgia, for one, and a lot of the memory deficits & other balance problems. I want to get back to the incredible health I felt when I was doing all that that right before I stepped on that dang screw at a gym.

I've already been easing into a diet closer to the one my doctor suggested, eventually I might be able to follow it entirely. We'll see. I already feel better from that, I've noticed, and have already lost 10 lbs. in the short time I have been trying to take care of myself. I also went & started doing exercises in the water so I can swim again. It's exhausting but I know it will get better. I know I have hope again! Hope that I will have a real life again some day.

I haven't been posting here & don't plan to much, I am trying to keep my mouth/keys quiet & learn from all of you here instead of spouting off how much I may or may not know. I have been reading a lot, & hope that is also OK. I really value this site, it is inspirational!

Hey Olgappetra,
What an awful story I am so sorry this happened to you. It sounds like you have been pretty run down. Your body need optimum nutrition. Have you ever heard of Vemma? I am new to this forum but when I read your message I had to repsond and try to help you. I would like to send you some information that could be what you are looking for. I know a lady that had epstien barr syndrome that came originally from lyme's disease. This product helped her when nothing else could. Please respond so I can atleast give you some solutions and scientific information.

Thanks and blessings to you you are in my prayers
sassygolfer

Hey everyone,
I am new to the forums. I am pushing 40 and decided not to get justhealthy but really healthy. for the first time I am taking my own health and making it a priority.

I also started taking Vemma and I am in love with what it has done for me and others. I am now proudly Diet Coke Free. Also, I am now working for the company and you can too. If you want to learn more about this please respond and I would love to chat. This is something everyone should at least learn about.

Dear sassygolfer,

Thank you for your kind words. Yes, I have heard of Vemma. I've done a lot of reading about it long before you began so earnestly to try to convince me it might help me. Everything I have read reminds me of another MLM company just like Vemma, Juice Plus. Remember all the hype about that about 15 years ago? Yes, it was great stuff, but not a miracle like some wanted it to be. Please do not be offended, I'm just not interested.

Back then I invested in my own company & then lost a lot of money because I discovered I AM NOT A PERSON WHO DOES WELL W/ that kind of multi-level marketing company. It just isn't for me. Please do not suggest it again, if I ever got interested in it I already know people who have told me about it.

Right now I am more interested in trying to get healthier the *old fashioned way* of intaking less & using more calories. That is why I came to this fitness site. I am very satisfied by what I have been reading & learning, & plan to continue to learn & USE what I'm learning!

Good luck w/ your business. I don't think this site is really the best place for you to be discussing a MLM company however.

olga p

Hi again,
thanks so much for your response. Yes, I do work for Vemma-because I love what it has done for me-I am a testimonial. No-not a miracle cure but a natural way for your body to get the nutrients it needs so that it has a chance to heal itself naturally. Your right about the old fashion way. something we forget about in our fast paced society fast food culture. I wouldn't care if you purchased Vemma from me or not. You pleaded for help because you have "tried everything". Vemma is one place to start. Good luck in your healing. I will keep you in my prayers