New Symptoms?

Despite trying to walk regularly, my efforts have been rather sporadic. It was starting to show promise a few weeks ago, when I managed a 20 mile week...easily!   However, my health has been quite iffy lately. Fact is, I believe I've finally reached the realm of new symptoms.

Years ago, I figured out that caffeine triggered my migraines. Quit drinking caffeinated soda and the headaches went from 4 to 5 times weekly to less than that number in a year. The migraines have been back for about 2 months. But, the dilemma is that I am now waking up with them. So what on earth is triggering them this time?

Last weekend, just moving around became difficult. The best description I can give it is Tin Man syndrome. Remember how, in The Wizard of OZ, the Tin Man would get creaky and have difficult moving his joints? Well that is what it felt like...I needed someone to come along and oil my joints so I could move about easily.

Seriously, I felt less like 41 and more like 101.

This lasted from Sunday to Tuesday. I spent all 3 days sitting on the couch, watching television & entertaining myself with MahJong on-line.

Wednesday, I woke up just fine. Absolutely no sign of the Tin Man joints.

Today, I got out of bed feeling great. Because it was so cold this morning, Tammy and I decided to walk at 11 am. While waiting, I worked around the house. Did some laundry. Washed some dishes. Hauled laundry upstairs and put it away.

At 10:30, my feet started hurting. It hit as if a switch was flipped. The closest description is the burning you get after walking barefoot on sand too much. Despite the pain, I laced up my shoes and went to the track to meet Tammy for our walk.

When I turned the corner at the water plant, the pain hit my hands. It was approximately 11 am.

We walked, 1 hour, 1 minute. (12 laps/3 miles)

Two additional, possible symptoms:

For as long as I can remember, I would occasionally choke on something I was eating, drinking or just saliva in general. It was as if I breathed wrong or the food was too crumby or loose. It was a nuisance. But, it happened infrequently enough that I never bothered about it.

However, about 6 months ago, the choking/strangling became much more frequent and severe.

Previously, I can remember one occasion when the choking scared me. I was quite pregnant with Jared and had more difficulty that usual catching my breath.

Now, it seems that this happens at least once a week. Honestly, I have not kept track. The idea that this could be a symptom only occured to me this morning, after recovering from yet another incident.

I've had 2 memorable instances where I was scared I was not going to recover my breath. But, I've learned that if I don't panic, I have a much better chance of recovering my breath easier.

These episodes are now so severe that they make me vomit.

Also...recently the two little toes on my left foot, plus a small portion of the side of the foot, went numb. I don't know when. I don't know how long. It didn't alarm me at the time. But, now I'm beginning to wonder.

For the time being, my entries may be less about exercise and more about my health and how I'm feeling.