How come some days I can, and some days I almost can't?

dlowan wrote:

Why oh why on some days can I herb along effortlessly (like last Thursday) and barely notice anything (until the last hill in the am) and other days feel like I am having to force myself to put one leg in front of the other, and am really tired when I get to work? Some variation I understand, or when I am ill, but this is nuts.

I experienced the same thing back when I was walking, and still now that I'm on the bike. Since the feeling sometimes changes in the middle of a session, I would like to put it down to attitude, but it may just be a bad program. You do need your rest days, as well as enough rest and sleep on a daily basis.

Actually, I thing you should ask ehBeth and Dagmaraka about this. They both helped when I posted a similar question, way back when, and they both got lot'sa smarts.

You might notice I make no comments about crampyness. That's because I'm clueless. I'm quite serious about who to ask, by the way.

ossobuco wrote:

So, for me, understanding that I'm unusual, a syringe full is not a big deal.

My phobia was cemented when I was being poked and prodded by specialists all over the country to try to figure out why I was losing my hearing. I had too many incompetents who did horrible things -- I have very small veins that are hard to get at, and there were things like a novice digging around trying to find the vein. Really painful and just psychically ACK.

I have had blood taken many times since and always get through it OK -- I don't faint or anything -- and am copiously grateful to anyone who does it well. Once I set my mind to it I'm usually fine -- but the setting sometimes takes a while.


(Agreed with JPB's penultimate line in her spacey post.)

dlowan wrote:

Now Little k needs a check up?


You people are hypervigilant!

no, not k.

Ok I have this figured out.

YOU HAVE GRASS TETANY.

The appearance of hyperexcitability is accompanied in milk calves by a reduction in the magnesium and calcium levels of the blood serum.4
This is illustrated by Figure 6, which shows that as the milk calf grows older the magnesium and calcium levels 5 in its blood serum progressively diminish.6 Convulsions ensue when these levels become dangerously low.

Flossy = hyperexitable
Flossy = grazing animal
are you prone to convulsing?

Nod to Jpb.. I've had some fine people try it out on my vein as a first time.

Well, my veins were already wrecked as I needed small aliquots every time I did the old ANAs (anti nuclear antibody... surely by now an old test).

At least for a while I wore long sleeved shirts going through customs...

dadpad wrote:

If you can afford bananas, they pay you too much.

Strike that.

You actully deserve more.

Bananas are 04ch 04ch chea-er here. Gah! I hate this computer!

A friend with terrible leg cramps told me that tonic water was always helpful.

While looking into what Google might say about cramps, I came across a site that had the usual suggestions along with some hilarious wive's tales:

http://www.otan.dni.us/webfarm/emailproject/legcramp.htm

"INGREDIENTS: sewing thread
INSTRUCTIONS: Take regular sewing thread and cut into a length long enough to tie around your ankle, but let it be slightly loose. I'm not sure how it works, but the thread will knot up instead of your muscles.


Ingredients: one bar of soap
Instructions: For leg cramps at night place unrapped bar of dry soap under the covers near you legs and leave it there. Most everyone will think your crazy for trying this, but it works... And if nothing else it smells nice.


nstructions: My grandmother was told by my great-great grandmother to take your shoes, turn them upside down and place them under your bed (generally with the toes facing out) It seems odd but works..."

yep, it's the quinine

Quote:

Quinine is also used to treat nocturnal leg cramps and arthritis and it has also been used (with limited success) to treat people who had been infected by prions. It was once a popular heroin adulterant. wiki on quinine

Deb, this pre-bed stretch might help prevent cramps.

Quote:

How can cramps be prevented?

Drinking plenty of fluids may help to prevent reoccurring cramps, as fluids help muscles contract and relax. Drink 6-8 cups of liquid per day, preferably non-caffeinated drinks.

Daily stretching may help prevent nocturnal leg cramps. Before sleep, stand just short of a metre from a wall with hands on the wall. While bending one knee, lean towards the wall and hold for ten seconds keeping the heels pressed flat to the floor before straightening the knee. Repeat using the other leg. Each leg should be stretched up to ten times for best effect.

For continual, frequent cramps, seek medical advice. A doctor may prescribe a suitable muscle relaxant and can check there are no underlying problems causing the cramps. source

...hoping, all is well!

Right, BP, and "Pain is temporary, quitting is forever.", if you can handle another platitude this early.