bbgonnabe’s BodyBlog

I’ve been getting comments lately on how big I look even though the shoulder problem keeps me from working my upper body well.  Since I was forced to switch to the Life Fitness Pec Flye Machine, my pecs have really been growing!  I’m getting this crazy vascularity in my arms too.  No idea why that’s happening.  People are commenting on that as well.  My quads have grown a lot too and I’ve maxed out on the leg press machine.  My weight has gone up a couple of pounds but I’ve lost some size on my belly and a lot of chest fat (damn meds!).  The pounds are showing elsewhere as muscle!
I’ve postponed the shoulder surgery for a couple of months.  My best friend is having a medical crisis and will be having major surgery in a couple of weeks.  He has no family so I’m going to be helping him out during his recovery.

Repeat shoulder surgery (SLAP tear repair) rescheduled for 11/9/09. Been regular in the gym for awhile. Doing what I can for upper body.  Shoulder finally prevented me from even doing cable press for pecs.  Switched to pec flye machine and had almost no pain.  Actually making significant gains in pecs for first time since the injury in ‘06!  Hard to face losing all this to atrpohy during post-op recovery of 3 months but gotta keep focused that it will be worth it.

My repeat SLAP repair of my left shoulder is scheduled for 10/26.  It will be followed by six weeks in a sling then six weeks of physical therapy.  Then I will be starting lifting from the beginning again.

I had to return to urgent care today (primary doc couldn’t get me in  until 3/12). Doc confirmed the bronchitis has worsened. He gave me a breathing treatment and  a machine to use at home every four hours. In addition to the medication  for the nebulizer machine, he prescribed a steroid inhaler. I’ll be on  both those for at LEAST six weeks. My bronchial tubes are both  constricted and inflammed. He estimated my airflow at 50% or less. The  worst part has been fatigue. He said that is due to my body working  harder to get oxygen. I can try exercising again in a week. I can walk  on the treadmill prior to that as long as it doesn’t affect my  breathing. Lots of rest and fluids.  The good news is that the new meds are not supposed to interact with the meds for my chronic condition or make the condition worse.

Well, I’ve been sick off and on for a month, mostly on.  Now I have bronchitis.  I haven’t felt this fatigued in years.  Inhaler plus azithromycin for now.  I’ve never had bronchitis.  For now the fatigue is the worst part.  Onset was five days.  The whole month’s workouts have been screwed up.

1)  The MRI and physical exam revealed that my shoulder did not heal properly from the SLAP repair.  That’s the cause of my pain.  I am restricted to light weights on some exercises while some others cannot be performed at all.  I have elected not to have a second surgery at this time for financial reasons and because of the muscle atrophy, rehab time and loss of strength in other exercises.
2)  I saw one of my specialists for the chronic illness I have.  I found out that I cannot change to the weight-neutral medication that I wanted which would help me lose weight.  It would reduce the blood levels of one of my other meds by 50%.  I have to stick with the medication that causes up to a 15% decrease in metabolism and may reduce growth hormone production.

After months of waiting, I finally had the second MRI on my shoulder.  I expect the ortho will have results for me in about ten days.

Since the surgery in ‘07 and second shoulder problem, I had dropped down to three full-body workouts per week.  I’m feeling motivated again and want to do more work per bodypart so I’ve started two-day splits 2-3 times per week.  The full-body workouts were getting too boring and too long, such that I was majorly procrastinating about going to the gym.  I’ve been encouraged by the strength gains I’ve gotten on the chest cable press (substitute for bench pressing which my shoulder injury no longer permits me to do).  I have also been able to add the Cybex incline press to the mix.  I’m still not doing well on regaining bicep strength.  My weights are pitiful!
My shoulder arthogram and MRI were delayed and will take place in January (Lord willing).  I don’t consider a second surgery as an option at this point or in the foreseeable future for financial reasons.  I mainly want to confirm what the ortho says is wrong with the AC joint

Thank you to the guys that have encouraged me over the past year.

The good news is that I discovered a couple of weeks ago that I can do cable cross-overs!
Here’s the bad news:  A week ago I had made back up to dumbell benches of 40lb ea for 10-12 reps x 4 sets.  That is, until Friday.  Then all hell broke loose.  Once again, excruciating pain hit and my arm became weak so I dropped to 35lb and did as many reps as I could until the pain hit again.  Something is different though as I still have shoulder pain today.  Previously the pain only lasted for a few seconds or minutes.  Money is tight but I’ve decided to take the orthopaedic up on the second MRI.  Hopefully that will confirm his diagnosis that it’s my AC joint.  Working through the pain until the acromion dissolves at the joint just doesn’t seem to be working.  On the other hand, putting out another $1,500 for surgery and physical therapy would kill the money I have set aside for medical, dental, clothing and car repairs and also force me to dip into long term savings.  (I recently had a slew of car repairs and dental work).  Oh well, better to know something and then decide how to proceed.  I must act quickly as I may change insurance for 2009.

I’ve decided to quit being lazy so I began working legs again.  It’s painful for me to do legs.  The lactic acid builds up very quickly in my quads and hams vs. other muscle groups.  At least I’m blaming the pain/discomfort on lactic acid.

Oh more bad news.  My chronic medical problems have flared up causing fatigue and organic-based depression.  That has really screwed with my motivation to go to the gym.  Sometimes I can push through and other times the part that does the pushing just isn’t online.  This comes and goes though so I just need to do the best I can until things until things turn around again as they always do.

Well, shortly after my last post, I had to drop the dumbell bench to 30lb dumbells.  As of today, I had to lower it again. 

I did 1×15@30lb(each arm) with just a little discomfort.  On the second set, I had to stop at 10 reps because I was hit with unbearable stabbing pain in the left shoulder.  I resumed with 20lb and made it to 17 reps when it happened again.  I had residual pain for about 10 minutes following.  (The goal was 3×15@30lb(ea arm).)

I am not going to be able to work through the pain and force the bone to dissolve per my orhto’s suggestion.  The intense pain just becomes unbearable and prevents progression.

I had placed a call in to the ortho earlier in the day to have either the second MRI or an office visit in preparation for the second MRI.
I have not received my Zyflamend order but I don’t think it will help.  The problem seems mechanical and not inflammatory in nature.

I need to get my rear in gear and focus on legs and arms as LongnHard suggested (?).  I got tired of doing legs and just went for cardio.  Also, I could be working my back more.