a_welch503 WORKOUT JOURNAL - Page 136

tim_mcf · 17-Jul-06, 03:34 PM

Yummy!

Thank God for people like you, Andy, who are willing to put themselves on the line to help others. Hang in there and feel better soon.

**gymgirl** · 18-Jul-06, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tim_mcf

Thank God for people like you, Andy, who are willing to put themselves on the line to help others. Hang in there and feel better soon.

can i get an AMEN to that! you are amazing, and i hope you feel better soon. rest up.

**maverick** · 18-Jul-06, 09:47 AM

I think your body probably equalled out those calories just trying to regulate your body temperature. We need to get welch some sort of superhero avatar i think.

**Firehawk** · 18-Jul-06, 09:59 AM

I think you need to start eating whatever it takes to increase your weight, and if that involves getting dirty with the diet, then that's what you need to do man. Just keep close eye on it.

**.V.** · 18-Jul-06, 10:24 AM

Keeping it clean - and mostly liquid now - just to get something down. When I don't have to concentrate on breathing so much, I'll work on adding other stuff.

**gymgirl** · 20-Jul-06, 10:28 PM

do you have your dr. appt today/tomorrow? hope all went well, and hope you are feeling better.

**.V.** · 20-Jul-06, 10:41 PM

Appointment tomorrow. I'm feeling pretty good right now. Yesterday was good too. This morning, it was a struggle to breathe.

My friend that is a nurse there told me that most likely I'll be getting horse pee shots for a little while to get my own hormone production back in order. There was a long complicated explanation about how and why it all works and what is causing the deficit. Apparently things aren't nearly as bad as the lab numbers make it sound and can be back on track in a short time. Something about turning the prunes back into plums and all will be normal again. Something about the constant barrage of immunosuppressant drugs I've been given over the last few years and my hormone system has revolted.

Oh well, today - that's the least of my concerns. I just want to get this respiratory infection cleared up so I can get back to training. Sitting in the house is getting really old...although the time spent relaxing out by the pool for fresh air has paid off - I don't look like a cross between casper and steve erkel any more.

yeah, yeah, I know - I'm not supposed to get too much sun or get too hot. Well, if I listened to everything I'm not supposed to do I'd still be 300lbs and probably sitting in a wheelchair by now.

Thanks for asking - things are starting to look up.

21-Jul-06, 12:18 AM

Thanks for the status report. I was thinking about you and how you were doing as you were sort of quiet on the forum today.

It's all a little hiccup over a long, healthy and fit life.

**.V.** · 21-Jul-06, 05:14 PM

Well the appointment today was good and bad.

I've apparently had pneumonia but now it's just bronchitis. I'm feeling much better from the antibiotics. Probably was just bronchitis before the time spent in the water the last time I worked.

Lab results - not good. Have to get my final blood draw done monday. They seem to indicate that I've became a woman. I guess I've joined the "estrogen crowd". At least I'm a lesbian and still like girls. That would suck if I had changed into a straight woman.

Naah, not really. But according to the doc my problems lately are most likely from a pituitary dysfunction. Possibly related to the CNS causing problems with the pituitary gland. Either way it boils down to a combination of symptoms of hypothyroidism with hyperthyroidism (the thyroid can't cause both - just the pituitary), along with what she's calling primary hypogonadism. Improper hormone function coming from pituitary signals being sent out incorrectly. Worse than secondary hypogonadism, needs more aggressive treatment - the same treatment, just more of it.

Apparently some of the newer thyroid compounds will likely be taken temporarily-not forever like cytomel or synthroid would, test will be taken for life (wife said I should start today). She told me I can't do my usual thing of stopping meds because i'm tired of taking them or I'll just go back like I was.

This may all be in error - final lab work is to verify that there was no lab error...it may all just be in my head. Well, if it's pituitary it's all in my head anyway.

She said I can start working out again tuesday. I don't know if I can stand that much more time off - I may sneak a light leg night in tonight...or maybe not. Either way, now that we have a name for the beast we can treat it, get me normal and let me start making some physical progress...or at least not die.

CF-OC_gal · 21-Jul-06, 10:26 PM

Geez Andy, your life is full! I simply don't know how you do it.

I hope things get back to normal for you soon. Don't go depressing your immune system any just to follow a routine. You are allowed to rest and recover!

**.V.** · 21-Jul-06, 10:36 PM

Naah the immune system is suppressed intentionally for MS treatment. That's what decadron and solu-medrol are wonderful for. Sometimes though (once or twice a year usually), it can bite one in the butt. I'd rather get sick occasionally than live with the pain of copaxone or feeling like I've got the flu every week from avonex. The big rotting sores from betaserone are out of the question.

Now that the beast has a name, I can tackle it and kill it just like I'm doing with the CNS problem. I should have known the problem was coming from my swiss cheese brain.

**.V.** · 25-Jul-06, 01:29 PM

07-25-2006

Legs/Abs
Squat...............195x4,2
Lunge...............BWx2x10
SLDL................185x2x4
GHR.................BWx2x10 (self assisted)
Calf Raise.........225x2x10
Front Sled Drag.....180x25m
Rear Sled Drag......180x25m
Cable Crunch.......100x2x10

Nutrition
Cal 3600, P-40%, C-40%, F-20%. This is how it will be for a while and I'll keep gradually increasing calories with approximately this ratio until I start getting consistantly stronger without getting too much fatter.

Comments
Once again, I de-acclimated quickly. I expected it though, two months without cardio and a month without weights is not beneficial. Woke up this morning with my right hip sore. Took it easy with the weights. I've been planning to do 4-6 reps, but I think I'll have to lower the weights to what I can handle for sets of 10 for a while until I get used to the movements again.

I can feel where the problem has been and still is. It's right at the point where the SI joint moves when loads are transferred between the upper and lower body. Combine that with a couple weeks of illness and it's a formula for getting hurt. I'm released to workout now - but I'm going to be a bit smarter with it and just do what I can without pushing too far, too fast.

Dragging the sled was a pretty fun - full body kind of workout. Didn't hurt the low back or hip at all, but then it wasn't very heavy either. I'm going to have to get a bigger pallet though. My sled is just a light pallet that I stack plates on, strap them down with rachet type tie downs and use a rope tied to my baton for a handle and pull with that.

The plan:
Day 1 - Legs
Squat, Lunge, SLDL, GHR, Calf Raise, Front Drag, Rear Drag, Cable Crunch or Decline Crunch.

Day 2 - Chest/Shoulders/Triceps
Flat Bench, DB Bench, MP, Shrug, Upright Row, Rear Delt Row, Skull Crushers, Tricpe Pushdowns

Cardio - as tolerated.

Day 3 - Back/Biceps
Deadlift, Bent Over Row, Pullup, BB Curl, DB Curl

Cardio - as tolerated

Day 4 - off

Days 5-7 repeat 1-3

Most exercises will be done with 2-3 sets of 8-10 reps.

Doc said if the follow up blood work agrees with the original, she can make me feel "normal" again in about a month. Apparently the stuff that used to be given for what she suspects is going on that would help immediately is not available any more.

Maxgain · 25-Jul-06, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by a_welch503

Lab results - not good. Have to get my final blood draw done monday. They seem to indicate that I've became a woman. I guess I've joined the "estrogen crowd". At least I'm a lesbian and still like girls. That would suck if I had changed into a straight woman.

Naah, not really. But according to the doc my problems lately are most likely from a pituitary dysfunction. Possibly related to the CNS causing problems with the pituitary gland. Either way it boils down to a combination of symptoms of hypothyroidism with hyperthyroidism (the thyroid can't cause both - just the pituitary), along with what she's calling primary hypogonadism. Improper hormone function coming from pituitary signals being sent out incorrectly. Worse than secondary hypogonadism, needs more aggressive treatment - the same treatment, just more of it.

Apparently some of the newer thyroid compounds will likely be taken temporarily-not forever like cytomel or synthroid would, test will be taken for life (wife said I should start today). She told me I can't do my usual thing of stopping meds because i'm tired of taking them or I'll just go back like I was.

This may all be in error - final lab work is to verify that there was no lab error...it may all just be in my head. Well, if it's pituitary it's all in my head anyway.

Hey Andy sorry about the lab results but be grateful that they have been recognised unike the thousands who will go through their life clueless.
I am a bit confused about your thyroid. How can she diagnose hyper and hypo activity were multiple tests taken which were alternating between hypo and hyper each time?
I presume your doc will prob want to give you a synthetic T3/T4 in order to shut down things from the pituitary end and get steady levels. Why did she say the thyroid hormones would only be temporary?

If it is primary hypogonadism you have it is not the pituitary but the testes that are not functioning properly. Treatment is still pretty standard but instead of relying on hcg -from pregnant womens urine not horses

- which stimulates the testes your basis will be direct testosterone prob start with the gel and a low dose hcg to maintain whatever fuction you have.

Regards
Maxgain

Maxgain · 25-Jul-06, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Firehawk

I think you need to start eating whatever it takes to increase your weight, and if that involves getting dirty with the diet, then that's what you need to do man. Just keep close eye on it.

When you can increase the cals as nec as i always say a few spoons of oil is 500 cals in 30 secs but if you are out burgers etc go for it good luck with recovery

25-Jul-06, 02:09 PM

Andy is back in the saddle. Slow and easy and before you know it will be business as usual.

That means you won't have time for heated debate on the forum as has been your case the last couple of days. Better to put the energy into throwing the iron around. Makes for a better payoff.

Have a great day!