Wednesday, January 23, 2013

I Moved My Blog

Moving My Blog




Hello lovely blog readers.  I moved my blog to hippyangie.wordpress.com so go see my new posts there.  The reason I moved my blog is because I signed in to blogger one day and all my photos were gone.  I did not know this before, but all of the photos I uploaded to my blog were actually uploaded to Picasaweb.    Picasaweb seemed to have deleted all my photos.  I am going to try and upload the photos again, but I may not be able to fix all the photos.  The bad things about my photos not showing up means that it will be harder for other hippies to find my blog since my photos will no longer show up in the search.  I love it when other hippies find my blog!

I have heard a lot of good things about Wordpress, and it is a very powerful tool to use so I will try it out.    So here is to a new year and a new blog!

Thursday, January 3, 2013

One Year Post-Op Visit

One Year Since My Surgery

So back in November I went for my one year post-op visit with my surgeon.  Since I am still in pain at one year post-op it is time to take some action.

The first thing my surgeon suggestion was a viscous injection.  It is a serious of injections that should lubricate my joint and make it feel better.  He also suggested that we could add cortisone to the injection and try that, but I think I will stay far, far away from cortisone injections for now on.  I had one in my hand and one in my hip before.

I need to see if my insurance will cover the injections before I make an appointment to do the injections.  Otherwise injections cost about $800 each time I get one and I need between 3 and 6.

Next I will get another MRI to see what is going on in my hip.  My MRI won't look normal but maybe my surgeon will be able to see something.  Also I will get a 3D CT scan to see the shape of my pelvis and see if I need a pelvis surgery.  A pelvis surgery would be an open surgery so hopefully that is not the case.

If my hip is still hurting after the injections and after I get the scans I need then I may proceed with another scope surgery.  This surgery can clean up any labral tears that may still be in there and graft some more cartilage into my hip joint.


Overall my hip still hurts quite badly, but I am doing better than I was just 5 months ago.  I am more mobile and can do more walking and standing on my own without crutches than I could just 5 months ago.  I have been taking it easy over the holidays and I have not had a major flare in about 3 weeks.  Last night was really, really cold and I took Penny to the dog park and my hip was achy last night and today, but not an excruciating flare up that I sometimes get.

Monday, November 26, 2012

Crest 3D White Professional Effects Whitestrips

Crest 3D Whitestrips

I received my Crest 3D Whitestrips in the mail over a month ago!  I signed up to review products on influenster http://www.influenster.com/

I have used Crest 3D Whitestrips in the past and I have always gotten great results.  Since my teeth are already pretty white I don't use them everyday.  I only use the strips a couple times a week after I eat.  If I use them more than that my teeth would blind people.

Another trick I learned is to cut the strips in half and whiten my teeth further back in my mouth.   My front teeth are always much more white and I have a big smile so you can still see my not so white teeth farther back.


Overall I love Crest 3D Whitestrips.  I've used them in the past and will use them again.  Since I don't use them every day one box lasts me a long time. Get yours  Crest 3D White Website

Happy Whitening! 
If You're Not Whitening, You're Yellowing.

*I received this product complimentary through influenster but the opinions in this blog post are my own.

Monday, October 22, 2012

I Want a Hip Replacement

I Want a Hip Replacement

It is almost a year post-op from my second hip surgery.  November 30th will be my one year anniversary and is also the day that I see my surgeon.  My hip is still hurting so bad.  I HATE it.  I just want a hip replacement.  I have really been considering a replacement but have not met with any serious doctors about it.  Just one doctor who said it is not an option at my age.



I see my surgeon in just over a month.  I am guessing that he will recommend some sort of injection.  I am NOT doing another cortisone injection.  But, if it is a rooster comb or some sort of cartilage injection, I will probably do the injection.   Then I am guessing my surgeon will recommend another hip surgery to see if there is a soft tissue impingement and correct it.  I will try this surgery, then I will start thinking about a hip replacement.  I am tired of being is so much pain all the time.

I am in so much pain I can barely think and I am taking my pain killers more often.  It really sucks how limited I am.  I feel I am missing out on so many fun things and I am going to miss out on more fun things in the future.  


Wednesday, September 19, 2012

My Crutches are Back in Business

Crutches Again

On this day I accidentally coordinated my Hello Kitty Tee with my Hello Kitty bag and my Hello Kitty Crutch Pouch.  Hahah I looked like a dork.

For a little while I was pretty much crutch free unless I was going to the mall.  Now, with my increase in pain, my crutches are back in business.  I took off the puppy dogs again because I get too much attention while on crutches already.  People always ask me what happen and I get tired of repeating myself.

I also got some forearm crutches that I took to Vegas with me and I have a scooter on the way.

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Invisible Disability Awareness Week and a Little about Me.

It's Invisible Disability Awareness Week
From September 8th to the 14th

30 Things About My Invisible Illness You May Not Know

1. The illness I live with is: I live with a femoral acetabular impingement, basically a painful hip condition.  I also have arthritis in my other joints which gives me widespread pain and it is difficult to walk.  My doctors suspect an autoimmune disease causing my widespread pain, however, I have not had all the tests done to diagnose this.
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year:  2009, so pretty recently, I had my first hip surgery that same year.
3. But I had symptoms since: My hip pain began when I was 13 years old do to an injury from running cross country.  The injury is called slipped capital epiphysis.  The head of my femur slipped away from the neck of my femur.  My back pain began even before this, at about the age of 11 years old.
4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: not being able to do things and go places I want to. I need to just take it easy sometimes and rest my body.
5. Most people assume: that I have a temporary disability.  A lot of people will ask me what happened to my foot.  Even, some family members tell me I will get better.  Well, I certainly hope so, but things just keep getting worse.
6. The hardest part about mornings are: first it is waking up to pain.  The first thing I think about in the morning is my achy joints.  Then it is the dread of taking that first step out of bed to go to the bathroom.
7. My favorite medical TV show is: House.  So sad when it was cancelled.
8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: My iPad.  When I have days I have to lay in bed for hours, my iPad keeps me company.
9. The hardest part about nights are: Getting ready for bed.  Standing the two minutes to brush my teeth is difficult and painful and I am usually exhausted from the day. 
10. Each day I take anti-imflammatories and a tylenol PM to sleep.
11. Regarding alternative treatments I:  think some of them do work and it is worth a try if you want to try it.
12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: Invisible.  I already live with it and have adjusted to it.
13. Regarding working and career: It definitely takes its toll on the body.  I wish my body would cooperate with me so I could work 40 hour weeks and be on my feet once in awhile and not need to spend my whole weekend recovering from the work week.  I think being a mother would be even more difficult though.  Another life depends on you and you don't get weekends off.
14. People would be surprised to know:  I get really embarrassed sometimes about my disability.  When someone only sees me without my crutches, then sees me in a wheelchair I feel embarrassed and like I need to explain myself.  I can see the look of confusion on their face.
15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: Not being able to do things I want.  I miss working out, doing martial arts and going for walks.  I wish I could just leave my house without calling ahead of time to make sure there is seating, no lines to wait in, and wondering what walking aid I should bring.
16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: Accept it!  I have just recently come to accept that I probably won't get better.  Even if I do find a treatment that works I wont be 100%.  I kept all my boxing gear because I thought I might be able to use it again.  All my gear is going out with the next donation box because I have finally come to accept that I wont be using it again.
17. The commercials about my illness: There are none, it is too rare, but there are arthritis commercials.  Mostly old people in the commercials. 
18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: Dancing, running, boxing, working out, going for walks, sightseeing, and carrying my own luggage through the airport.
19. It was really hard to have to give up: Martial arts.
20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is:Swimming, I just recently took lessons, and shooting and editing videos.  I use to do it for work and I know do it for the animal shelter.
21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: Go on a shopping spree and walk, walk, walk through all the stores, maybe go to Disney Land, or Las Vegas, or Greece, or Rome.......
22. My illness has taught me: That I have an awesome family.  My family is very understanding of my condition.  I hear a lot of people complain about their family putting them down or not understanding.  My family totally understands and is supportive.  They still want to hang out with me too even though I can only sit most of the time.  I feel really lucky to have my family;  they are a little cooky, but they are really nice people and really non-judgmental.
23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is:  Well, one guy told me it could be worse, I could need to have a surgery.   I wanted to punch him and tell him I already had two surgeries.
24. But I love it when people: offer to help, just opening my door can make things a lot easier.
25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is:  I don't really have one.  I guess I should get one.
26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: Find the best doctors you can.  Your doctor can make all the difference.
27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: that strangers are really nosy about my medical history.  I don't walk up to strangers and ask them about their medical history. 
28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was:when my best friend pushed me in a wheelchair when we went to the zoo. 
29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: I wish more people would understand that even though you look normal on the outside, you don't know what is going on in the inside.
30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: like you have a lot of extra time on your hands, or you really care about me, or you have an invisible illness too.

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

My Summer Makeup Routine

 Makeup for Summer

I wanted to share with you all my easy summer makeup routine.  Summer makeup should feel light and fresh.  This is my almost everyday makeup.

1) First I put on Jergens fake face tan. 
2) Then, if my skin is feeling dry I put on some real moisturizer with SPF.  If my skin is feeling fine I skip this step.

3) Next is an important step.  I slap on my St.  Tropez sunless tanner.
It comes out as a foam and this is what it looks like.
And when I rub it on my face it reminds me of chocolate.
4) Now I need to curl my eyelashes.
5) The last step is to apply mascara.  This is my go to summer mascara because it makes my lashes long, skinny and natural looking.  I apply it to my bottom lashes first, then my top.
And here is the finished makeup look.

And here is me with the same makeup on a different day messing around with our home decor.
Well, I wish summer never had to end, but my easy summer makeup routine doesn't have to end.  I can wear this natural look all year.