Tag Archives: varicose veins

Fitness, Triceps

Shots, Shots and More Shots

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Today’s 44 had to be fairly simple so I did triceps dips using 2 chairs.

ready
ready
down
down

And, no other work-out today because I have to take a day or so off thanks to yesterday’s miserable experience!!!

Some of you may remember from way back in April that I had the varicose veins in my legs stripped.  And, you may remember that the recovery was not at all what the DR told me it would be.  It was long and painful!!!

I moaned and complained a lot about my legs – here, here, here, here and here.

Yesterday was, hopefully, the final part of this process to get rid of the varicose veins.  I had a procedure called sclerotherapy done. 

HOLY HELL – this HURT!!!

not even half of the needles used
not even half of the needles used

I’m not sure what exactly was in the needles – saline and something else.  

first injection
first injection

I took one picture and then quit watching – I blocked the view with my Nook!!!  I tried to count the # of injections but lost count after 20 or 25.

I think the ones on my left foot and ankle hurt the most but by that point I was in so much pain that I really couldn’t tell for sure.

I tried to chat with the nurse and DR while they worked but it was hard to talk much with my teeth clenched!!!

you can't see the top ones but this is what my legs look like under the ultra tight wraps!
you can’t see the top ones but this is what my legs look like under the ultra tight wraps!

It has been 6.5 months since I had my initial surgery and I still DO NOT recommend this procedure.  I know that, according to my DR, my results were rare but the fact that I went into this thinking it would be a week long recovery and I have had pain in my legs (especially my left ankle) every day since I had the procedure done makes me wish I had never started this whole process.

Hopefully, this is a short (1-3 days) recovery like the DR said this time!  

still wrapped - should only be for today
still wrapped – should only be for today

I’ve been telling myself that maybe after this step I will finally be happy that I had all of this done – I’m not there yet but maybe in another day!

I try not to live my life with regrets but this whole experience has definitely been a regret!!!

Happy Tuesday!

Kim

Cardio, Core, Fitness

6:00am Show Time for Surgery – Yikes!!

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Today’s 43 was a challenge!!  I did mountain climbers on a stability ball.  The mountain climbers weren’t bad – it was staying balanced on the ball!!

I did them with my hands on the ball.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHrpUELyTZY’]

I counted 10 as 1 rep so to do 43 reps, I did 430!  Just for fun, I did some (430 so that I had a double 43!!) with my elbows on the ball – these were harder for me.  I think because I had to keep my elbows in close to keep them both on the ball – much less stable than the wide hand stance!!

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHZV306bUOU’]

About half-way through my workout I decided I’m not too bright.  I can’t have any water this morning and here I am working up a sweat!  If you look closely in almost all of my pictures you see this

water cup
water cup

I carry this cup everywhere – always full  of ice water.  I usually refill it between 6-9 times every day.  This whole no water thing in the morning is not cool!!!

That is all I did for working out today because I have to be at the hospital by 6:00am – EARLY!!! (and because I can’t have any water!!)

Today I’m having my veins stripped.  Several weeks ago, I talked about my varicose veins and whether or not I should have them treated.  Since then, I’ve had several more appointments including an ultrasound to do more testing on my veins.  The DR said that I have numerous breaks in several veins and a number of valves that aren’t working correctly.  Her recommendation was to do surgery and strip (remove) some and ligation (tie off) on some.

The way I understand things – I will have an incision in my left groin to remove the greater saphenous vein.  On my right leg, the incision will be behind my knee.

The only part of the surgery that bothers me out is being intubated!! Screen shot 2013-04-23 at 6.52.18 PM I realize that I will never even feel it since I will be put to sleep – just the idea of a tube shoved down my throat freaks me out!!!

Oh well – hopefully I will be back to at least light workouts in a few days and then my normal stuff soon.

I do plan to continue my daily 43s – they will just be upper body only for a few days!!

Happy Wednesday – see you when I “wake-up”!!

Kim

Core, Fitness

For Health or Vanity?

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Today’s 43 was for the core but I also felt it in my legs (a lot!).  I did a move that I saw in  Oxygen.

Start in a V-sit with a towel (I used some tubing) held firmly in both hands and legs wide. Keep your upper body still  while bringing your legs in and stacking the right over the left.  Return to the start position then bring legs in with left over right.  I counted 1 rep as a right on top then a left on top (so I moved my legs in and out 86 times to complete the 43).

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEHBJxd0kF0′]

This was HARD!!  I’m happy that I’ve completed this particular 43!

I tried a new DVD today and it was awesome!!  I’ve read lots of great things about Cathe Friedrich lately and I decided to try out some of her workouts.

Today I did Cathe – CrossFire.  The workout was 55 minutes of pretty high intensity.  It was mostly cardio but a lot of the moves are good for toning, too.  I loved the variety of the moves!  I also appreciate that she did the entire workout right along with us and it was obvious that she was working hard, too – made me feel much better!  I did the 9 minute Bonus Core workout after I finished.

Can’t wait to try some more of Cathe’s workouts!!

Varicose veins – I have them and hate the way they make my legs look!

right leg
right leg
left leg
left leg
left ankle
left ankle

I have several of the great big puffy veins plus spider veins everywhere.  About 7 years ago I saw a specialist and she told me about all of the options to have them removed but she said that insurance wouldn’t cover it because it was a cosmetic surgery.  I decided that I could swallow my vanity and just live with them.

Well, yesterday I had another appointment with the same specialist.  She said they have definitely gotten worse and may have started breaking off….Anyway, maybe this time insurance will decide that this is something that needs to be done for health reasons (not just because I don’t like them!!).

Opinions?  Do you have varicose veins?  Do they bug you?  Would you have them removed even if insurance didn’t pay?

Happy Tuesday!  (I’m going to go walk on the treadmill – less about the exercise at this point – I need to watch last night’s episode of The Bachelor and I figure moving is better than sitting!!! Don’t judge – I’m sure some of y’all like mindless reality TV, too!!!)

Kim