Had a nice workout!

CC and I did a nice Combat Hapkido workout of trapping drills and wristgrabs -- but mostly drilling to work on coordination. It's been really good and we have a good time getting the flexibility in there too. Really wonderful stuff ... it makes me feel really good after I am done.

I'm working through little aches and pains which I think are part of the plan .... CC has got like a million bruises. But we are surviving and having a blast.

Right now, a little down time rest time.

10:30 p.m - A good amount of left side rib pain that I think is most likely MS-related in origin. I'll need to talk to the neurologist.

Sleeping a little better

I have been sleeping a little better without waking up at 0300. Good stuff. CC and I went out and about this morning and I wore my MBT shoes with some relief to my hamstrings, feet and knees (hamstrings = "hips"). I almost wanted to jog around I felt so good. I got home, took them off and within 5 minutes was sore and stiff and not liking it AT ALL. So I put on my MBT sandals to wear around the house and they helped quite a bit. The sandals are lower than the sneakers ... but they work on the same concept. For me, it is unbelievable and gives me much more endurance when I am on my feet.

I worked a little bit on my flexibility -- but I am still pretty tight. It's nice to have my class to look forward to next Wednesday night.

I am watching "John Q" (with Denzel Washington who is terrific). It really brings up a case - and I hope it is extreme - regarding health insurance and a hospital's refusal to treat a young kid with a heart condition. The hospital wanted to send him home to die and it centered on the fact that the hospital thought he was too much of a liability and risk.

MS is an expensive disease -- from the medications to the treatment and potential rehabilitation. Goodness knows I have had my share of surgeries and health issues - MS included - and feel blessed that I have the VA, Tricare and Medicare if needed. I have found much of my treatment at the VA to be quite adequate. It's only an occasional asthma medication that I use my Tricare pharmacy for. Anyway, just rambling and thinking about insurance and hoping you, the reader, are taken care of.

If you are a Veteran with MS and reading this and you don't have service-connection - write me, I may be able to help. My case took about 3 years to work through -- but in the end it was worth it.

9:20 p.m - It's been a good day and I have managed to keep the pain down and feel good. I am determined to begin my exercise regimen and get out and walk more, and work on loosening up and getting my life back in gear. I am convinced that this will help my mood swings too -- which have been extremely intense lately. Good thing is, I have not had a night sweat in a few nights and I have been able to sleep longer. That is a very good thing.

MS is such a funny disease. One thing I know, is that I am so heat sensitive that this really drives the way I feel in a big way.

STAY COOL
that is my mantra.

Soaked from Night Sweats - Awoken Early

Wow, I had major night sweats that left me soaked to the bone. How am I supposed to sleep through that? I had a pretty decent night's sleep up to that point.

I'm getting ready for a new Lupron shot on Thursday.

8:00 a.m: I am sipping on a second cup of coffee and watching the rain falling outside my window. It looks like an April day versus an early February Winter day. I would much rather watch snow falling. All the snow we had accumulated is washing away. The local ski resorts must be livid!

One of my goals today is to do some laundry (with CC's help) and try to work on some flexibility. I have a great martial arts flexibility DVD that has a number of routines on it. Once I cool down our downstairs pub area, I will attempt to do some stretching and working out. Also, to vote in the Primary. Obama appears to be getting my vote but I have been a Hillary fan for a long time -- I've been going back and forth. The thing is, can Obama really institute change? I hope so.

Right now it's hard to think about because I cannot stop the yawning. I may need a little more sleep ... perhaps.

Next Tuesday, CC and I want to begin Combative Hapkido locally. I am going to get in touch with the instructor and ensure this timing is good.

6: 40 p.m: Another one of those days where I had plans for much and accomplished very little. I did get out to vote and packaged up some Coca Tea to ship out (as well as some extra for new orders). I'm kind of watching the pulse of Super Tuesday to see what is going to happen -- looks like a dead heat on the Democratic side (and I am a die hard liberal). I did do some stuff around the house too but found myself really hot. Right now, I have an ice pack against my neck and am just trying to stay cool. I am so heat sensitive it is ridiculous! My hips and legs tightened up like two taught rubber bands after doing some minor chores that required being bent a bit or crouched. Flexibility is huge for me -- but I need to stay cool while I venture to get flexible otherwise I will be in a bind.

MS is "sleeping"

I think that I can honestly say that I have MS back at bay for the moment. This is the best.

Today, little by little, I will continue my workout to gain strength and flexibility to start my martial arts class. Cecilia and I are targeting the week of February 6th for the time we start classes. This coincides with what the doctor said for me regarding being able to begin Combative Hapkido training.

My cats woke me up at 6:30 a.m (one of them always does) and I got to watch the sunrise again. I'm just getting ready to start a second cup of coffee.

Today I may post a VLOG YouTube video update. It has been a long time and I finally have my talking voice back instead of sounding like a 3-pack-a-day smoker.

Life is good!

P.S - I was just looking at the Nintendo DS system and the game "Brain Age" that has been recommended by a Sister Blogger. She recommended two games that help with MS. I personally own the PSP system but could probably foot the bill knowing that the games are good "for the brain". I am in the researching stage :)

8:50 p.m: My parents and sister came by today and I've not quite gotten around to doing a Vlog today (let alone getting out of my Life is Good lounge pants). It's been a restful day.