Saturday Night Shoot Under the Lights

Lizzie and I recently competed for the first time together at a night shoot, what fun!  The music was pumping, the football lights were on, and the dogs and BBQ were grilling!  It is interesting shooting at night outdoors because when the dew point hits, scopes fog which means you can't see the target.  :-0 

My goal for this tourney was to hit at least 750 out of a possible 900 points.  My score was 811 - Wooo Hooo!  My distances were 40m, 50m, and 60m.  I calculated that I walked the equivalent of a 90m football field 33 times (retrieving my arrows).  That a lot of walking!  Lizzie and I brought home the gold in each of our divisions.

I have to say, the shadow on my tooth is driving me crazy.  :)
 

Our last outdoor tourney of the season is the end of September, Georgia Outdoor State Tourney.  My distances will be 30m, 50m, 60m, and 70m.  In order for me to hit 70m, I needed to increase my draw weight again.  I bumped up the weight from 33# to 34.5# and have to say I'm shooting strong at the heavier weight.  It may not sound like much of an increase, but because I'm shooting with compromised back muscle strength, it's a huge deal to me.  I've been weight training hard the past several weeks and my first day shooting at 34.5#, I was able to shoot 84 arrows.  The last time I bumped my draw weight from 31# to 34.75#, I could barely shoot 15 arrows.

My strength coach provided me with some simple tweaks and additions to my training routine which I firmly believe are the key to me being able to comfortably shoot at the heavier weight.

Training hard and shooting straight for the big tourney!

MRI Results

I finally have the results from the x3 MRIs, but am still waiting for Dr. Riew's feedback.

Here are some of the items that caught my eye that I need clarification on:

1.  Paraspinal muscle atrophy in lumbar.

2.  Levels L2-L5 with fluid signal within the laminectomy bed... lumbar spine with fluid collection.

3.  Spondylolisthesis at C3-C4.

4.  C5-C6 mild left neuroforaminal stenosis.

Looking forward to hearing from Dr. Riew soon.

Shedding Some Light

I am still waiting for the x3 MRI results and the leg EMG results. EMG doc confirmed no nerves are being pinched in my lumbar. This means I still don't know what the source is of my numb feet. Today I met with a foot doc who said my foot muscle is extremely tight and he is treating me as if I have plantar fasciitis over the next several weeks. He explained that if the symptoms do not improve (horrible pain in heel, feels like I'm walking on shards of glass), then the issue is an autoimmune disease. He confirmed that the numbness is a result of a global rheumatological issue that has yet to be pinpointed. Today's doc is the third doc that said I have some sort of autoimmune disease.

Not knowing the specific issue is frustrating as I am several months into my journey of trying to solve the puzzle. I'm very thankful to know certain things have been ruled out and that the scope is narrowing on the cause. Next steps are meet with Emory Rheumatology Clinic who know how to identify autoimmune diseases that frequently are not detected by blood tests.

Until next time!

Time To Kick It Up A Notch

With the slew of doctor's visits over the past few months, I started to fall into a rut and the thought, "When these issues are resolved, I'll feel better and move forward with certain goals," ran through my mind.  That's not a healthy mindset because let's face it, life happens and there will never be a perfect time.  So, no more pity party!

Coach Jim recently had me increase the draw weight on my bow to 35# so that I'll be able to hit 70m which is the farthest distance in some of the tourneys.  Boy o boy, pulling 35# ain't no joke!  I was averaging 90 arrows on shooting days at 31# and now I've been slowly working my way up from 30 arrows, 42, and most recently 55 arrows.  It was just 8 months ago I started archery with a 15# bow.

Yesterday, Lizzie and I spent the day at the range sighting in our bows for the various tourney distances.  It was a beautiful day topped with a young deer (a bit older than a fawn) running in front of us as we walked toward a target to get our arrows.

Over the past month, the three of us (Jeremy, Lizzie and I) have been eating really clean: lean meats, fresh fruits/veggies, dairy and gluten free, with a sweet treat every now and then.  We all feel great and I'm happy to say that the spinach and bananas are now getting eaten before they rot.  Can't tell you how much $ we've wasted in the past with not eating fresh food fast enough.

We recently found the old Body of Work video from the late 90's where Jeremy and I got seriously inspired to live healthy.  It was in 1999 that Jeremy shed over 70 pounds of fat and I released 45 pounds too.  Notice I didn't say "lost fat"?  We didn't lose it because we aren't looking for it.  :)

Here are some of Jeremy's before/after pix:

Halfway through 3 month sprint, Sept 1999.  After: Nov 1999.




Before: Aug 1999.  After: July 2000.  12 month sprint.

 

12 month sprint, July 2000.

Before: 1998.

 

Before: late 2000.

Before: late 2000.

Halfway thru 3 month sprint, early 2001.

After: spring 2001.

After: spring 2001.

After: 2003.

After watching the vid, I looked up Lynn Lingenfelter, one of the champions who was a big inspiration to both of us.  I learned that he is suffering from a brain virus since the filming of Body of Work.  Despite Lynn's challenges, his faith is strong in God and he still inspires me.  Through Lynn, I learned about his strength coach, Darin Steen. 

Darin is a natural body builder who has the same philosophy as we do; how to BE healthy from the inside out.  After talking with Jeremy about my desire to incorporate more exercises into my routine and need to build strength for archery, I decided to reach out to Darin.  We had a great chat where he interviewed me and I interviewed him about my goals and physical limitations.  Having a coach to train me safely is #1 priority.  We both agree there is a good connection and I'll start training with Darin soon.

Here is my starting point for 2013 training:

Before: Aug 2013.

Before: Aug 2013.

Before: Aug 2013.

Before: Aug 2013.

The time has come to kick my training and nutrition up a notch and train like an athlete!

Quick Update: Test Results

Recently had an EMG test done on my arms to see if Dr. Riew's prediction of the cause of my numb hands was accurate.  He was spot on as the results show ulnar neuropathy.  The ulnar nerve is being pinched in my elbows.  Thank God the issue isn't in the thoracic; no rib removal required!  :)  The treatment will be PT and splinting of my elbows.  I'm quite happy to know the source of the hand issue; especially that I don't need more surgery!

Some other updates, I tested positive for:
Jaw Jerk - I need to get clarification on this.

Hoffman's Sign - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoffmann%27s_sign

Romberg's Test - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romberg's_test
This means my balance issues now have a name.

I'm still waiting to get an EMG on my legs to see if, once again, Dr. Riew's prediction of the cause of numbness in my feet and right leg are being caused by a pinched nerve in my lumbar.

How strange that my neuro has yet to respond to Dr. Riew's report that shows none of her (neuro's) predictions that all my issues are directly tied to my cervical are accurate.

Looking forward to closing the chapter on all this stuff.

Saddle for Sale

Lizzie is raising funds for her trip as a US Delegate with the People to People program traveling to 7 countries next summer.

Below are pix of her English saddle which is in good condition with just a few scrapes on the back of the cantle. It measures 17" and comes with a fleece pad. Saddle is located near Atlanta. Shipping/insurance within continental US extra.  Email me if you are interested dlikness@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STL Updates

The last batch of tests showed no auto immune diseases and now both rheumatologist and neuro insist all issues stem from cervical condition. Well, that's not the case.

Dr. Riew is one of the best cervical doc's in the country which is why I came to STL to get his expert opinion.  Dr. Riew said that based on the numb areas I am experiencing, the source is either my elbows or a pinched nerve in my thoracic area. He said with a smile that I don't need cervical surgery because there is sufficient space around my spinal cord and the collapsing disc is not at the surgical stage right now. Praise God!  Doc explain that I have two tests to do at home which will determine which area is the source of the numbness. The elbow situation is like carpal tunnel but in the elbows. I need to get a copy of his report because I don't remember the technical terms he used. There is a slight chance I might need elbow surgery or, if the thoracic is the source, might need surgery to remove one rib.

Doc was shocked that the local cervical doc said I needed a four level fusion. It amazes me how one doctor can say something inaccurate and scare the bejezuz outta someone. I felt totally confident in what Dr. Riew told me. As far as the numbness in my leg and foot, I'll have a lumbar MRI to see if something is being pinched.  

I wonder what my neuro and rheumatologist will say when I explain to them their theories of all my issues are coming from my cervical are not valid.  I sense these two doc's were maybe looking for an easy explanation by blaming everything on the cervical. Dr. Riew asked me if my neuro was good. I told him I don't know; she's the only one I've seen. Sounds like I need to seek a new neuro.

In any event, I'm thrilled I don't need surgery and look forward to getting these tests done.