Quest for a Diagnosis Update: There is freedom in walking

  I haven't been posting very much about my illness,because every day was pretty much the same & to be frank...its not the funnest thing to think about. Sometimes it helps to keep our minds off ourselves. But anywho, some things have happened recently which I would love to share with you guys.
  First off,I have an appointment with a pain specialist December 4th. My primary doctor believes my brain should be examined with an MRI. Looking for lesions? that I don't know, I'm just so happy that someone is looking outside the box. A big reason why I quit my rhumatalogist is because he simply quit trying. All he wanted to do was shove Cymbalta down my throat after I told him that my body was responding negatively to it. I know it helps tons of people,but I was not one of them.
  I'm starting to realize that I may have to deal with this pain for the rest of my life. Please do not take this as I am being a negative Nancy, its just that there are some things we will go thru in life that we may view as negative at the moment, but actually helps us somehow.

Psalm 119:71 GWT
It was good that I had to suffer in order to learn your laws.

John 11:4 GWT
When Jesus heard the message, he said, “His sickness won’t result in death. Instead, this sickness will bring glory to God so that the Son of God will receive glory through it.

Romans 5:3-4 GWT
But that’s not all. We also brag when we are suffering. We know that suffering creates endurance, endurance creates character, and character creates confidence.

  It really does matter how you look at a situation, do you make the best of what you got? Or do you wallow in self pity,wondering why is this happening to you? Whatever I'm going thru has helped me to grow spiritually, deepening my relationship with my Heavenly Father. Its taken the 'busy' out of my life, & is teaching me humility. God has me under His thumb, right where He needs me, in a place to where He can use me. He will not put anymore on you then what you can bear,so for Him to know that I can bear this...we'll there are no words to explain,just know I feel blessed :) He has given me strength among other things to get me thru each day,one being walking.

1 Timothy 4:8 GWT

Training the body helps a little, but godly living helps in every way. Godly living has the promise of life now and in the world to come.

  Yes,the one thing that I dreaded getting back in to for fear of the pain,has been one of the things to actually help me manage it. Now I still have the AM pains,spasms,burning,twitching,etc but I'm able to tolerate it. Funny how that worked out :) I forgot how free I felt when I'm on that treadmill or at the park!!! I'm doing something that in the beginning of this quest,was an extreme difficulty. I own a walker,a cane,cruches even a shower seat. I'm happy to say I haven't had to use any of them in a while :) this is MY version of independance. My workout regimen is as follows;

•walk 45 minutes, 7 days on 1 day off, doing interval training
•rotate my days which I do strength training for various areas on my body
•eating mainly the 'good carbs' (oats,whole grain)
•drinking 16oz water with each meal (5 meals)
•avoiding refined carbs,sugary stuff,excess eating (eating just cause)
•measuring my weight loss in inches instead of relying on the scale all the time. Scales can be really funky acting. For each day I do not use the bathroom,I gain a pound. TMI? Maybe but that's why I can't always trust that thing. :)
•I'm a pescetarian (eating only seafood,but I only do tuna & shrimp lol) I've been this for almost 3 years, & not for weight loss reasons.

  Yea,stuff like that. I'm doing pretty good,its more than just weight loss for me,its a testimony. I've already lost a few inches. In 2010 I was a resounding 253lbs in a size 18/20, right now I'm in my late 180's and the lowest size I can fit comfortably is a size 10. My body fat percentage is pretty good,I tend to store below the belt than in my midsection, & I'm top heavy (pear/hourglass shape) so I'm less likely to develop the diseases most apple shaped people may get. Plus,I LOVE my bootay,hips & thighs. 
  I'm still taking my medication in the morning for the spasms & pain, & I thank God for it, but I can't wait for the day I won't have to pop pills.
We'll I think that's it for now,will try to keep you guys updated more often.

Till next time!!
Nessa*

Its been a tough one...

Today is Sunday...church,one of my favorites! I love worshipping God & fellowshipping with other believers. As we all know,most services start early in the morning & mornings are tough for me but not for the reason you might think. I'm in some serious pain early in the AM,its extremelly tough for me to get moving for anything because my body doesn't want to. Usually if I have an appointment that's in the morning,I set my alarm to wake me up maybe 2-3hrs earlier just to take my pain medication so then I lay in bed untill it kicks in & the pain ceases off a bit.
These last few weeks have been so trying. My meds are only working at 50% or less,I'm grateful for some relief but some of my hobbies,church activities, etc are cancelled and/or put on hold because I'm not functioning all to well...but you know what?? I'm still functioning!!! :-) maybe not how I was 4 years ago,but praise God I can still do some things. Now am I tired? Yes. Do I cry? Uh..yes. but have I given up? NO! And I wont. 

Isaiah 40:29 (GWT translation)
Says;
"He gives strength to those who grow tired and increases the strength of those who are weak."

Listen,we are human so there's going to be a time when we all will get tired,& we may even stumble and fall a few times. But what makes all the difference is when you get back up. We cant wallow in our failures & the things we can't do. How could we then be a blessing & help others when our focus is constantly on ourselves? And this is something I have to tell myself at times because its easy to think of all the things we are not able to do,but I know of somebody who CAN do all things and thru Him all things are possible. It feels good to write these words! You have no idea,it just perks me right up!
Its funny how just writing something positive can have such an impact on your spirit. :-)

Toodles!!!!
Nessa*