Medical update...

Since I last posted my health has greatly improved. I went into the doctor to get a recheck on my iron level. I told the doctor about a pain in my hip and from there found out I had a uterine fibroid tumor that was causing excessive bleeding which in turn was causing my iron level to drop dramatically. I had to have emergency surgery to remove the tumor and stop the bleeding. Things went very well with the surgery and I have recovered nicely.

I was put on bed rest for another two weeks but, did not keep to it. We had previous vacation plans to go to Disneyland for our 25th anniversary. I got the release from the doctor to go after one week. (I really stayed in bed for that week and rested up to heal.) Two days after the release I was on a plane to California with strict instructions to be in a wheel chair at all times and not to ride and big rides. The first day at Disneyland there were so many people I could not comprehend how we could get a wheel chair from one place to another so, I said I would just walk. Big, big, big mistake!!!! By the early afternoon I was in so much pain I was crying. I waited too long to eat and too long to take my pain meds. I had to sit for awhile and regroup. After that day we went in shifts and came back to the room to rest in-between. I felt better as each day went by.

After returning home and getting some much needed rest I was faced with the slow process of healing completely so I could return to karate. I could not stand the wait so I went anyway. I still could not do the physical part of all the moves. OH, and the thought of being punched in the stomach! ouch!! so, I sat on couch in the lobby and read my book going over every move in my head. My ever-so-patient partner sat with me at every class for four more weeks and as time went on we eventually were doing all the moves with just our upper body and arms while sitting on the couch. I'm sure it looked like pretty lame karate but, I was there and practicing. Over time I started going into class for short periods of time, then sitting on the floor for the rest of class teaching those that were up on the floor.

I am back up to speed in karate and going to test for my black belt certification in a few weeks. I have had my black belt for one year now and can now be an official certified first degree black belt.

Through all my surgery and resting I gained about 10 pounds but, it soon came right off as I got better. I am now back to where I was pre-surgery and have been sitting here for quite a while. I eat fairly healthy most of the time but, I don't "work" on losing weight much anymore.....I need new inspiration to continue losing weight. I have maintained a 70-75 pound loss for a year now and would like to move on to lose about 25-40 more.