Tuesday 31 July 2012

Deep Vein Thrombosis Doppler Scan

It's been 8 weeks since my last Doppler Scan and I'm furious with my hematologist! I'm supposed to see him every 6 weeks and I haven't seen him since April 2012. I went back to my GP and she hasn't been able to get hold of him either. I can't fault my GP on anything though, she has been brilliant in organizing my scan, blood tests, and making sure that I'm OK general.

I went to the hospital on Monday to have my Doppler scan and it was really painful the way they did it this time. The technician had to squeeze the veins down to test the blood flow which was fine on my right leg but horrible on the left. I don't think she realized that the left leg femoral vein is completely blocked, either way she had to do her job and test the veins. 

From what I could see on the screen the vein looked the same, there were no new blockages but there also wasn't any new blood flow either which is frustrating. My GP is calling tomorrow with some more details once they've had a chance to look at it.

If you're new to this blog then I'll give some related links so that you can catch up with what's going on:

Saturday 14 July 2012

Insanity: 60 Day Total Body Fitness

Insanity is a great program to step up to if you are already fairly fit. All you will need is a bit of floor space, your sneakers and your body weight and you're good to go.

Before I got poorly I made some great strength gains and weight lose too with Shaun T (the instructor) and it had to be the best workout program that I have done in such a long time.

Insanity works on an interval method, but not the regular intervals that you'll be used to. Instead of quick bursts of activity followed by rest Shaun flips that upside down so that you're doing long intervals where you're pushing to your max followed by quick rests. This is a great way to drop fat quickly and also see some impressive strength gains too.

Check out my full review for Shaun T's Insanity. Or, you can go straight to purchasing if you are INSANE.

UK

U.S.A 


Saturday 7 July 2012

The Paleo Diet Recipe Book

What is Paleo

Also known as the caveman diet, the paleo diet is an incredibly healthy way to eat as it focuses on foods that you can only get from their natural source, no processed or man-made food at all. The theory behind this way of eating is that are ancestors were hunters and only ate what they found in the wild. This included meats, fruits and vegetables but as animals weren't domesticated there was no milk, butter or cheese available, only foods in their raw state.

The paleo diet focuses on the following:

  • Fruits
  • Vegetables
  • Lean meats
  • Seafood
  • Nuts and seeds
  • Healthy fats
and avoids:
  • Dairy
  • Grains
  • Processed food and sugars
  • Legumes
  • Starches
  • Alcohol
There are many variations in the Paleo Diet depending on what your needs and preferences are. Some schools of thought allow small amounts of dairy, others allow legumes, and some will allow small amount of grains. It all depends on what you are comfortable eating and what your dietary requirements are.

What Are the Health Benefits of the Paleo Diet

As with all healthy eating "diets" there are certainly going to be a lot of health benefits. For one, if you are reducing your processed foods and sugars then you will inevitably stabilize your blood sugar levels leaving to improved mood and a cleared mind. As you may have realized by eating clean food you'll be increasing your intake of vitamins and minerals which is also going to have a positive impact on your health. Other health benefits include:
  • Burn off stored fat
  • More efficient workouts
  • Balanced energy throughout the day
  • Reduced allergies
  • Better sleep
  • Clearer skin
  • Improve anti-inflammatory response - this is great for people who suffer from inflammatory conditions such as arthritis.
There are many scientists and health professionals who are studying the effects of the paleo diet as it has only been popularized since 2005 even though athletes have been using this method of eating since the 1970s. A leading figure in the paleo field is Robb Wolf and you can Click Here! to find out more about his work, including the Paleo Budget Shopping Guide and his 30 Day Transformation.

The Best Recipe Book for the Paleo Diet

Paleo Recipe Book - Click here to get your copy

For me this recipe book is the best as it has many great features that I enjoy and the content is brilliant! This e-book has over 370 recipes which are divided into 18 food categories, it also has reference guides and charts as well so that you can track your food. 

If you are new to the paleo diet then this Paleo Recipe Book also has an 8 week meal plan to help you ease into the eating plan. The recipes in the meal plan can all be found in the main recipe book and they are so easy to make and completely delicious that you will love this way of eating.

As well as being new to the paleo diet you might also be new to healthy cooking too. Not to worry as this recipe book will also teach you how to properly prepare food before cooking it in the paleo manner. You'll be eating steak, yummy salads and even gorgeous desserts if you have a sweet tooth to contend with.

If you want a copy of the e-book you can Click Here where it will take you to the recipe book site and you can pay via PayPal or through any major debit or credit card with the verified by visa secure service. There is also a 60 day money back guarantee just in case the paleo diet isn't right for you.

Other Recipes and Cook Books

Sunday 1 July 2012

Treating Post-Thrombotic Syndrome

Nearly 50% of patients who go through a deep vein thrombosis will suffer with post-thrombotic syndrome. Post-thrombotic syndrome causes pain, swelling, skin changes and ulcers if not treated and it can eventually become quite nasty if left untreated. 

Invasive PTS Treatment

At the moment there is no surgical treatment available in the United Kingdom for patients with post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS). However, treatments are available in the United States of America; surgeons go in, strip the vein and repair the damaged valves and early reports have suggested that approximately 95% of patients who have this treatment are relieved of their symptoms. 

You can find out more information in the article What is Post-Thrombotic Syndrome where I talk about the surgical options.

Non-Invasive Treatment for PTS

As there are no surgical options available to me in the UK my doctor and I are looking at non-invasive treatments to try and relieve some of my symptoms. At the moment I am wearing compression stockings to help return the blood to my heart and avoid swelling in my lower limbs. We have also just started using Arnica Montana cream as a new treatment: research has shown us that the anti-inflammatory qualities help to reduce swelling and pain in PTS patients. I have only been using this treatment for a few days but I will provide an update to let you know if the treatment is working.

You can find some more information in the article Treating Post-Thrombotic Syndrome.


This is the cream that I am using at the moment. It has a nice smell to it and is non-greasy so it absorbs very easily into the skin. Because I have such a large clot I'm finding that I have to use quite a large amount (about a 50p size) to get good coverage of the area but since it is non-greasy and smells nice I don't really mind.