380th Friday Blog Roundup
For all of my worrying about my blood work at the general practitioner, it turned out to be fine. I’m not diabetic, my cholesterol is nice and low, and she didn’t even lecture me much about my weight/lack of exercise because by the time I saw her, I was eating better and exercising. I’m doing yoga 3 – 4 times per week and running 1 or 2 times per week (depending on whether I go to yoga). I’m eating well. I’ve lost 7 pounds in the last three weeks.
Which is why the diagnosis of my mushy bones came out of left field.
Just for shits and giggles, my general practitioner looked at my vitamin D levels and found that they were drastically low. As in, there is a cut-off that is labeled “severe” and I am still 15 notches down from that. For some reason, I both find this hysterically funny and in laughing about it, feel suddenly weak, as if my bones can’t hold up the weight of my body once I introduce laughter.
I mean, I literally can’t stop laughing about it.
In writing this, I’ve had to pause several times to catch my breath. Even though there is nothing funny about a vitamin deficiency.
*******
I know that House is now going off the air, but Josh and I just started watching the first season on DVD. We are late bloomers with television shows; so late that the show is usually not producing any more episodes apparently by the time we get to it. I love this show mostly because Dr. House is such a dick while still being likeable. That’s a hard line to walk.
I’m not even sure why I am telling you this except that my mushy bones just reminded me of our new nightly ritual of House episodes. We plan on going through all the seasons. If you tell me your favourite episode, I can bother Josh by starting those episodes with “So-and-so from Blog X says that this is the beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeest episode.” Beyond that, since we have the semi-completed television series unfolding before us, which was the best season?
*******
And now the blogs…
But first, second helpings of the posts that appeared in the open comment thread last week as well as the week before. In order to read the description before clicking over, please return to the open thread:
- “Insulate, Ignore, Protect, and Proceed: How I’ve Gotten Through IVF With My Sanity (Mostly) Intact” (Grit and Patience)
- “Time Warp Tuesday: What I Craved” (Write Mind Open Heart)
- “February” (Getting There)
- “Sperm and the Art of Personhood” (Hannah Wept, Sarah Laughed)
- “Coming Apart at the Seams” (Scrambled Eggs)
- “Smoke and Mirrors” (Searching for Our Silver Lining)
- “I’m Not a Survivor Yet” (Nuts in May)
Okay, now my choices this week.
Write Mind Open Heart (beyond opening up the Limerick Chick Contest! Will this be my year?) has a post about how she turned a frustration with another person into a learning experience. She writes: “Even though this woman was on the periphery of my life, I was giving the conflict with her way more prominence than it merited.” I do this so often and the post resonated with me, as well as her advice never to lower your own personal standards. Great life lesson.
Justkeeptrying1 has a post about life’s punches to the stomach. She writes, “The hard times to deal with are when the grief – because I guess that’s what it is- sneaks up on you unexpectedly. I have been reduced to tears in a greeting card shop of all places. Why? Because I suddenly noticed that the cards are set out in the order you’re expected to need them.” But it’s the final image in the post that is the punch in the stomach for the reader. Gorgeous writing.
Writing for Life has a heartbreaking post this week about her son’s diagnosis and the subsequent decision that needed to be made. She writes, “All of a sudden I heard a soft whisper from deep inside that said ‘you need to let him go’. I was shocked, in the middle of a deep emotional crisis. I didn’t listen, I didn’t want to hear because I wasn’t ready.” A warning, you will cry reading this post about a mother’s love.
Lastly, It Is What It Is (or Is It?) has a post on that moment when you suspect the cycle didn’t work. We all know our bodies so well that we can feel every change, no matter how small. And yet, just as often, we read posts where the person is certain that it did or didn’t work, and the opposite turns out to be true. And yet sometimes, somehow we know. Is it the heart’s way of protecting us? And how do we know when what we feel in our bones is true? And when it is just smoke and mirrors?
The roundup to the Roundup: I have mushy bones. Which episodes of House should we be looking out for and which was your favourite season of the show? And lots of great posts to read. So what did you find this week? Please use a permalink to the blog post (written between February 10th and February 17th) and not the blog’s main url. Not understanding why I’m asking you what you found this week? Read the original open thread post here.
21 comments
Don’t know if I have a favorite House episode, but I definitely have a favorite scene/clinical case: the woman with the “parasite” in the “Maternity” episode (I think that’s episode 4 in season 1).
I stopped watching House after…well.. it would be a spoiler if I said it. I think it was somewhere around season 3 or 4.
Not that I’m asking what your Vit D number is, but last year I was tested and came in at 4. FOUR. So no, you’re not the only one with mushy bones. I had the prescription vitamin for a few weeks then started taking around 1000 mg a day since it appeared the prescription worked well enough to bring it up. Funny thing is, I have to take it in the morning as my prenatal counteracts the vitamin. Then begs the question as to why after 5 years and zero pregnancies I’m still taking a prenatal. Anyway…
I had no side effects from the defiency nor taking a supplement. I’m white and don’t go out in the sun so although it’s not a surprise, I’m wondering why I wasn’t told to spend at least 10 minutes in the sunshine each day instead of popping a pill.
Season two of house is my favorite, I think. Season 4 is pretty great as well. Finales for both were brilliant. I’m not crazy about the last season so far, but I’m sure they’ll get their butts in gear for the home stretch. Enjoy!
I have vitamin D deficiency too. My level is 9 after a year of taking 4000-6000mg a day. I mentioned it last week at my yearly visit with the ob/gyn and he said “everyone has it because we don’t get enough sun where we are (the greater Baltimore area)” and was not at all worried about it because there’s little to be done about it.
But is that true about prenatal vitamins counteracting vit D supplements? Because I take everything at the same time, with dinner. Maybe I’ll try splitting them up and see if that makes a difference.
It’s recommended here (up north where the sun don’t shine) for everyone to take Vit D supplements during the winter. Especially kids.
Can’t remember which House is my favorite episode/season, but I just how snarky he is. I’m sure if I watched them now, I’d be bawling my eyes out and laughing at the same time.
I love this episode: 412 “Don’t Ever Change. It’s about an Orthodox woman. I don’t know why but I’m always fascinated by Orthodox Jews in the media and how they are portrayed. 🙂
I have low Vitamin D, as well. He said I was a step above Rickets (so that’s good, right?) but since then, I”ve tried walking 15 minutes on my lunch hour and taking my Vitamin D daily. I feel much better now.
oh dear.. Vit D, bones.. mushy!! I hope nothing serious comes of it.
Mushy bones sounds seriously dreadful (says the girl with POF who is all LALALALLA about HRT because well, hormones have given me more side effects than benefits… and no you have me a bit worried about the Vit D dimension that I know nothing about..)
I’m so proud of myself for bookmarking posts for the round up!
http://singleinfertilefemale.blogspot.com/2012/02/truth-about-ivf.html – This might be a hard read if you’re in the IVF trenches. I’m not saying I agree with her opinions, but I applaud her strength in voicing them, unpopular though they might be.
http://adventuresofendointhearctic.blogspot.com/2012/02/do-my-complications-mean-i-had-no.html – A response to the above post. Each one makes good points and really made me think. In the end our IF journeys are uniquely based on our own fears and desires.
Thanks!
Thanks for the nod. I’m still, at 5dp4dt convinced I am not pregnant, but still trying to figure out why I feel that way and why is it important to me that I do.
I was laughing and you laughing at your vitamin deficiency and wondering why you found it so funny? I get how some things just tickle our funny bones. As Phaedra from Real Housewives would say, “Sometimes irony is so ironic.”
I loved this:
http://www.hannahweptsarahlaughed.com/2012/02/lets-talk-about-sex-and-infertility/
It’s funny because my hubby and I were talking the other day, and he said flat-out: Sex kind of sucks now that it’s a win/lose game.
I’ve said it before, but hearing him say it? Made me realize we have GOT to stop thinking about it that way!
My Vitamin D is fine, but my mom and gram both have osteoperosis so I’m a little paranoid about it. I take Calcium w/D every night before bed.
As for posts, the one that haunts me still – in a good way – is Brooke’s post about choosing love. http://bythebrooke.blogspot.com/2012/02/on-choosing-love-again.html She manages to say everything that rumbles around my still-confused and only-six-months-post-loss-of-my-twins brain, things I feel to my core but haven’t been able to put into words. I’ve gone back and reread it three times and talked to my hubby about it, too. Love!
Also, my fellow twin-loss mama Alissa’s post comparing grief to a menstrual cycle…and also scabs. Very spot on. http://missconception-ads.blogspot.com/2012/02/scabbing-over.html
Season 4 is uh-mazing.
I’ve been pretty disappointed this current (and apparently final) season, however.
I don’t really watch House, so I can’t give you a recommendation. Also, apparently everyone is low in vitamin D these days – it’s the popular thing to diagnose, I think. Your bones are probably not mushy yet, but it’s funny for me to picture you flopping and sliding around.
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/new-recommendations-for-calcium-and-vitamin-d-intake/
Thank you for the double inclusion. (And to A for the third!)
I’m taking Vitamin D drops, too, and my ayurvedic doc told me to get more sunlight. So I’ll join you in laughing until we melllllltttt like the Wicked Witch. Mabye that’s what really happened to her — soft bones that couldn’t withstand water.
I liked this one from JJiraffe: http://jjiraffe.wordpress.com/2012/02/15/unrequited-blog-love/
I love House. All of the episodes. There are many better than others, but I’m not sure I have a favorite. Although, the ones with Sela Ward in them I have a soft spot for.
Delurking to tell you my favorite House episode. I’m pretty sure it’s called “Don’t Ever Change” and it inspired me in my religious observance.
I am glad all your other bloodwork is good. I too pictured you flopping around all mushy like with no bones LOL!
My Hubby and I love House. We don’t have a favorite episode, but I am going to warn you about season 2 episode I think 24 called “No Reason”. Just saying make sure your Hubby is prepared for something gross and might scare him. My Hubby’s jaw dropped so low.
Hmmm. It’s winter. I’d be surprised frankly if you didn’t have a Vit D deficiency. I’ve had to take supplements too. I find it harder sometimes to get my daily exposure of sun in the summer, because I’m so paranoid about skin cancer (my father died as a result of it).
I love House. Have fun watching! Someone recently said they’d wished they’d had House as their fertility specialist, because they’re sure he’d have figured it out. But I just imagined in horror all the things he would have said to infertility patients.
I’ve only watched “House” a few times — I enjoyed it, & keep meaning to watch, but dh generally controls the clicker :p & I tend to forget it’s on. I did enjoy the episodes I saw. I had a former manager who mentioned he had friends who thought he was just like House. He took exception to that — but I watched one episode & thought. “yep, that’s him, all right,” lol. ; )
I don’t know if I’m vitamin D deficient, but dh & I have been taking supplements ever since the Canadian Cancer Society said we all should. I also take a calcium pill. I had a baseline bone density scan a few years ago, but I don’t have to go back again until after menopause. My mother has actually shrunk a few inches over the past few years, so bone health is something I’m aware of.
I really liked this post from No Kidding in NZ – maybe because I also think about the randomness in the world:
http://nokiddinginnz.blogspot.com/2012/02/bad-parenting-ii.html
I haven’t watched much House, but my mom loves it so I’ve watched bits and pieces with her… She has a vitamin D deficiency, at one point it was so bad/low that she ended up in the hospital twice with symptoms of a heart attack and stroke. She then lectured me on how it “runs in families” and I need to be supplementing. I haven’t had my levels checked, but I have hypothyroid and read there’s some sort of connection so I take 4,000 – 6,000 IU a day and can really notice a difference in my energy levels!
I can definitely relate to that “mushy” feeling once you realize something is wrong. It’s like watching a scary movie and seeing someone get their arm chopped off and your arm starts to feel weak, a form of sympathy pain maybe?