Tag Archives: hip raise

Prescription Compression Stockings are AWFUL!!!

I wanted to do a completely different 43 than the one I actually did – mostly because I want to be able to truly workout again – but today isn’t the day!!

For my 43 I combined a little ab work with some chest work – I did a hip lift with a press.  Start by lying on your back with your legs straight up at 90 degrees, elbows bent at 90 holding dumbbells (10 pounds for me).  Press your arms up while lifting your hips straight up, return to start and repeat.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rl2_i4zRL-M’]

I really thought that I would be able to at least do the dreaded  elliptical for a little bit today but there is no way that is happening!

Yesterday I put on my lovely prescription compression stockings for the first time.Compression Stockings

The ones I have are from Medi.  Compression Stockings

See that stocking?  It is supposed to go all the way to the top of your thigh!!  Yesterday it took me 15 minutes of sheer pain and torture to get both of the lovely gems on.Kim - compression stockings

Don’t you love my fashion statement?  Stockings, Nike running shorts and Brooks running shoes – the best part is that you could sort-of see the top part of the stockings – CLASSY!!!

I followed the orders and wore these all day and night (except for a brief period when I had to take the right one off for an ultrasound to check for a blood clot in my calf).

Notice that I didn’t say I slept in them!!  I wore them all night but there was ZERO sleep involved!!!  These things hurt every part of my leg (including my now bruised toes!!).  I already have a great deal of bruising and swelling from the surgery but now I have new bruises from the stockings!!!  I didn’t unwrap to show it but my entire ankle bone is awful!!BruiseThese stockings are 30-40 mmHg of pressure.  To put that into perspective, most compression socks (or sleeves) that so many of y’all run in or wear after long runs are 20-25 mmHG at the ankle and about 18 mmHg on the calf.

Basically, wearing these was the equivalent of stuffing my size 6-8 body into a size 0!!  MISERABLE!!!  PAINFUL!!  Not sure I can bring myself to put them on again (and I’m supposed to wear them all the time for the next 2-4 weeks!!).

In addition to the awful, pain-inducing stockings – my right calf is very swollen and I can hardly put any weight on it. I called the DR yesterday and she wanted me to go to the hospital for an ultrasound.   The ultrasound tech was super nice and said it was fine – I hope so since she spent the entire time telling me all about her divorce, her kids, her boyfriend and his ex and their kids.

On the plus side – I met a super nice prisoner and his guard while I was hanging out at the hospital.  Sad that he was all cuffed up since he seemed so nice!

Enough of my whining!!!  Here’s a cute picture of Hunter!!  HunterThe 6th grade orchestra has a field trip today to play at a retirement home here in town (and then lunch at the mall!) so he is all dressed up!!!  Isn’t he handsome?!

Happy Wednesday  – I’m supposed to sub a couple of hours of PE this afternoon (even though I can barely hobble around!!)  – Good Times!!

Kim

PS – Have you ever had to wear the prescription compression hose or stockings?  

Perspective & Gratitude

Today’s 43 was a great combo move!  I did a bench press with my hips raised.  (22.5 pound dumbbells using my Select Tech weights)

Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells
Bowflex SelectTech 552 Dumbbells

I wanted a weight that would challenge me to complete all 43 and this weight did the trick!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQHMwn_cn-Y’]

For the rest of my workout I ran (first time in a couple of weeks because of a sore hamstring).  It was a great time for me to really think about some things and gain some much needed perspective!!!

8 miles @1.5% incline – 54:24 + 2.5 miles at a slower pace with higher incline for a total of 95 minutes.

Yesterday was one of those days!!!  I had a long list of things to do and everyone of them took longer and was more difficult than it should have been.  After dropping Hunter at school, I had 45 minutes before my dentist appointment so I went by the medical supply store to pick up some of these lovely  support hoseScreen shot 2013-04-18 at 7.52.13 AM

However, the store didn’t open till 9:00.  No big deal – headed to the bank to make a deposit.  Went around to the drive-thru area and thought they were all closed.  Fine – back to the medical supply place to wait.

When I went in the medical store, the guy was super nice and said they were cash-and-carry (no insurance) and recommended another supply store (because I guess these support hose are pricey!).  OK.  Back to the bank – only to realize that I’m an idiot!!!

What I thought were closed drive-thru lines (which I thought was weird since it was way past 7 or even 8:00am) were open.  The problem – they all said open in RED!!!  Red means STOP – everyone knows that!!!Screen shot 2013-04-18 at 7.56.59 AM

See – why I thought they were closed?!  Oh well – marked it off the list.  Next stop was the post office and thankfully that went smoothly!!  By this time, it was almost 9:30 so I spent an hour at the dentist – he thinks I might need a root canal but wants to wait until my next visit to decide (6 months) – Joy!!

After the dentist I headed to the other medical supply place (across town) – found it, along with a sign on the door saying they have moved!!  Awesome!!  Another drive across town, a phone call (couldn’t find the place) and I finally made it.  A super sweet lady helped me, measured my legs and said they might be able to get them here by next week (supposed to have them before Wednesday) and my insurance might cover them.  (She called later in the afternoon to say they would be in and insurance would cover 80%!!)

I called Chris on my way to the grocery store to vent – he answered and immediately asked if he could call me back.  Of course – par for the day (not his fault, he was in a meeting – just seemed to fit in with everything else).  While grocery shopping, I got a text letting me know that my PE sub job was cancelled (track meet cancelled due to rain & storms) – not gonna lie – I was elated!!!

Oh – it was rainy and cold all day yesterday, too (and again today) – sort-of wish I was still enjoying the 90 degree weather that Texas had when I was down.

However I know that the events of my day yesterday are so trivial and insignificant when I look at the tragedy in Boston on Monday and the awful explosion in West, Texas last night.  My family is all  together and healthy and I  really don’t have a single thing worth complaining about!!!

In fact, I have much to be thankful for!!!

I wanted to end with something that made me super happy yesterday – I received my newest shirt from the super talented Cait.

I'm out to chick you
I’m out to chick you
isn't it great?!
isn’t it great?!

Check out Cait’s online store to see her other T-shirts as well as art work.  She rocks!!!

Happy Thursday – I’m going to spend my day being grateful for all of the wonderful things in my life and not complaining about the things that don’t even really matter!!

Kim