Hi ladies-- thanks for all the encouragement in the MRI thread. It was a weird experience but it was OK, and it really helped hearing all of your experiences. I had a marathon of tests and Dr. visits today, and while things are still somewhat unclear waiting on blood work, it seems that I probably do not have RA (yippee!) but I seem to have some kind of congenital joint malformation (boo!).
Dr. thinks it can be managed with PT so I learn how to protect my joints (yay!) but it will take a lot of work, and at least for the next few weeks I cannot work out at all (boo!). I asked him if I can even do yoga or Pilates and he said nothing at all. Like, not even a long walk. I'm basically supposed to be as sedentary as possible.
Already I am jumping out of my skin. I went to the doctor in the first place because it was hurting to run and I couldn't stand being unable to get outside and cover some miles. It's just how I relieve stress. Not always a run, but barre classes, Pilates, Bob Harper DVDs, whatever... if I don't work out a few times a week, I just get extremely stressed. Fi already made a joke about how he's gonna go stay with his parents for a few weeks, because I become a huge bitch when I don't get my workout in!
So-- what healthy ways of relieving stress would you all try when you can't exercise? Obviously eating and shopping make me feel temporarily better, but neither of those is a good solution.
ETA:
@Rebl90 made me think of this-- maybe I should also be asking, do you have any good clean eating tips, especially for snacks? I can see myself just packing on the pounds if I'm going to be couch-bound for the next few weeks.
"I'm not a rude bitch. I'm ten rude bitches in a large coat."