I could have sworn I posted today but it's not here, is it? LOL

Mary, we used to have a problem that we could not use the microwave when the coffee pot was brewing or the circuit breaker would pop out. DH added another line and that doesn't happen anymore. Also, when I had my old treadmill, if I was walking on it when the air conditioner kicked on the treadmill would shut off. I had to make sure I was holding on or it would throw me. That doesn't happen with the newer treadmill.

I have been having some nasal, sinus issues lately, runny nose, like allergies. I sprayed some Nasacort this morning and I have not had any dizziness since then, so maybe the allergies were causing the dizziness. I feel fine otherwise.

Gayle, I'm sorry to hear your daughter had to put up with her ex-mother-in-law. Is she just doing a favor for her ex-husband, or is she considering a reconciliation. This must confuse the kids. My husband and his first wife divorced. When the kids came to live with him, his daughter was 9. After being here a week he had her to the ER with stomach pains and diarrhea. They do get stressed out when there are things going on that they don't understand and they realize more than we know they do. I hope Maddie is OK.

Maru Don't know what I was talking about with leak. Glad to hear that you are getting a solution to your electrical problem.

When they built houses in the 60's (as ours was) or 70's, they had no idea how many electrical devices we'd be trying to use. Twice we've had electricians come in and add extra lines for computers, TV, etc. When the addition was done for Mom, DH insisted on individual 20 amp breakers for EACH outlet, but the contractor cheated on one or two. Hence, blown fuse when coffee pot and TV were both on. Luckily we simply use a different outlet because we had a lot put in.

Gayle What nerve that woman to disturb you. So sorry. Hope Maddie is OK.

Carol Heart echo? DH just came from cardiologist and his recent heart echo shows such good results he doesn't have to return for 9 months. I hope your heart echo rules out any damage. Scary for you, tho.

Post office messed up our mail by sending out a bad address to utilities. I'm still trying to get that mess straightened out. Just had to order a remote for the Eden Pure Heater we use in TV room, and they had the wrong address to ship to us. Luckily we caught it and corrected the address.

Weight is doing weird things. jumped 4 pounds over night, and is gradually coming back down even tho I changed nothing. Still higher than I was at the end of October. Grrrrr

Had fasting blood test done early this morning and asked if they checked for AC1 that you all talk about. Was surprised to learn that my doctor didn't request it. She said that she would hold it for a while to let my doctor call in that additional test. I went across the hall and left word requesting that be included. I go to him next week and hope that I get answers.

Agree, praying for people of Paris and all over who are threatened, suffering or living in fear.

Sandy, when I was talking about insurance not covering if a dead tree falls and hits your house, you mentioned that you found out that insurance does not cover a slow leak even if it damages the house. That is the leak Mary was asking about, and I'm curious too. Maybe you meant a leaky roof.

I have had a heart murmur since I was a child, from my aortic valve. When I had my heart bypass surgery they were prepared to replace the valve, but when they got in there they saw it was not as bad as they thought. I have had an Echocardiogram every year since then to check it. In the meantime, the Mitra Valve has become stiff and started leaking, too. So there are 2 bad valves that they are watching. Sometimes they have to be replaced and sometimes they can be repaired. I think they will go according to the symptoms I'm having, and also what they see on the echo. Your husband is very lucky that his shows no problems. We all die from something eventually and I'm pretty sure mine will be heart related but I'll keep it ticking as long as I can.

Finally getting here. Yesterday was a tiring day because I didn't get enough sleep the night before even though I took some Tyl PM. I have beeen having back spasms..a little lower than where I used to have them (before PT). They made it difficult to find a comfortable position. It was also partly Halo. I took some extra strength ASA and it helped a lot but by the end of church I was starting to hurt again and dh wanted to go to a Filipino restaurant for lunch. Fortunately I had some Tyl with me, so I was able to enjoy the good food. By the time we left though I was starting to hurt again and so tired so took a long nap when we got home which resulted in another night of tossing and turning even though Halo was pretty good. Had to go out at 4 or 4:30 but came in quickly and went right back to sleep.

Today was my weekly cleaning day and I also had committed to babysit this afternoon. I hurried though the cleaning and got it done finally in one day...skipped some things though and did others very quickly. Still it felt good to get over the whole house. We are still trying to decide what to do about the TV...found out it can be repaired ..and got two estimates...one is just to look at it, and won't know how much more but the "look at" price is subtracted from the total fix it price. Vizio recommended another company and they will come to your house and they quoted for a flat rate of $204 which covers everything, labor, parts, shipping of parts etc. Not sure if there is tax on that. Usually we don't like to spend money to repair something if the cost is 1/2 the original price and that is getting close to that I think but this TV was a gift so free to us so far, so I'm thinking that $204 isn't a bad price since we didn't pay anything to begin with. When dh thought about it that way he began to reconsider but I told him if he wants it that badly, go ahead, it doesn't matter to me but just to think what else he might like to do with that money. Whatever he does is fine with me really. And definitely dh will be running the new line as we don't want to damage it again or a new one! Right now we are watching it on AV (instead of HDMI) and just don't have HD but I can hardly tell the difference. :?: He does change things when we watch a movie but doesn't seem to be too big a deal.

He got his oral surgery done this morning and his mouth has been really sore since then. Seems to hurt him more this time than the first time. I wasn't sure how they would close up the previous hole in this gum/bone and they stitched it, and then proceeded to make a new hole behind it. The hydrocodone helped the first time, but not for the full six hours, so I told him to take some Tyl. That helped him a lot, but the next Hydrocodone didn't help much at all and he had to take the Tyl even earlier. We babysat our dd's children but he didn't feel like playing with them at all. He was able to eat some chicken noodle soup (from can) and 1/2 of a small single serving size pumpkin pie. The grandchildren got more used to the dog this time. So glad about that as it meant they didn't shut themselves in my office and I got to enjoy them more. These kids are very easy to care for as they are 6 and 9 and well mannered, they just aren't used to dogs and esp one as large as Halo who jumps on them I have told them when they run, scream and move their hands around, she thinks its a game and wants to play. And of course, when they stopped running from her, Halo went to her bed to take a nap ;) just as I told them. She's not really a kid dog..she just gets excited when they first come in. It was good to see my dd again too and she was wearing one of her LulaRoe dresses, very pretty and slightly flannel feeling..looked like it was very cozy. It was cold and rainy here and she wore it with some low cut boots and a warm jacket and looked very cute as usual. That was the first one I'd seen (except for pictures). She seems to be enjoying her new business venture...and is doing well.

Carol - My older dd (50) had a heart murmur in her younger years but for a long time now she says no one seems to hear it. It has never caused her any trouble...I hope she won't have problems with that valve(s?) as she ages.

Sandy - Yes our house was built in '67. I wish we had more outlets. Your weight jumping up and down like that is likely sodium. I do that sometimes esp after restaurant meals...some times it takes a few day to get rid of it all..and I'm even on two meds that act as diuretics! I think I mentioned that the doctor is now wanting me to take a second pill of the one that caused me to gain ten pounds...it is well known to do that...I have done it the last couple nights because I felt I got too many carbs...sure hope I don't gain ten pounds again!! Perhaps that would finally give me the motivation to do what I need to do to lose weight again though.

Mary, I was a teenager the first time my doctor noticed the murmur and he didn't check to see what it was but just said "That won't be a problem until you get old." Well, now I'm old. LOL When I was in my 40s a doctor did an echo and said it was "Aortic Stenosis." Supposedly it is worse if it is Mitral Valve Prolapse. FF to when I had my heart surgery, and they said if it is bad they will replace the valve, but it wasn't. The replacement valves only last a certain number of years before you need another one, so they prefer to wait as long as possible to replace it so it lasts the rest of your life. My MIL had hers replaced when she was in her 70s. At one point over the years they noticed that the Mitral Valve was also not opening and closing as it should. Even though exercise is supposed to be good for your heart, I still go very easy when I exercise. That's just my choosing, not the doctor's.

I take that same med that caused you to gain 10 lbs. I think that's what makes it so difficult for me to lose weight. I take 1 mg twice a day which isn't very much, but if my BS is high I take 2 and if it's low I take 1/2. I took 1/2 that one day and my BS went down to 44, so I am not comfortable just taking it as prescribed instead of checking BS before I take it. The doctor wanted to increase it to 2 mg twice a day, but I said I would rather try to get the BS down on my own. I haven't gone for an A1c so I don't know how well I did.

Mary, when I was taking Hydrocodone they told me not to take anything containing Tylenol while I was taking it because it contains Tylenol and that would be an overdose of Tylenol. They said if I have to take something to take IBprofen. I don't know if that's the same case with Joe's Hydrocodone.

Good afternoon GG's,

Another overcast day here today. Looking like it wants to rain. It is so dark outside it looks like evening instead of middle of the day.

Got some puttery stuff to do today. Fighting the urge to munch.

I had a nice weekend. Sara came over for a little visit. Later in the day, we went to visit Jason. Got to talk to mom on the phone ~ Saturday, she sounded real tired, but sounded more perky on Sunday. Got to talk to my sister on the phone and instant message with an internet friend.

For years, Mom and I talked every day (by phone) and sometimes several times a day, before the dementia caught up with her. (I called her my therapist ~ LOL. She was wonderful at listening and helped me survive the teenage years with my kids.) Now that that has changed, I feel so lonesome sometimes, so these opportunities to spend time with/visit with others means a lot to me.

DH finished his hours of research and got us signed up for health insurance for next year. The plan we had was discontinued, so we had to find another one. We lost some of our doctors because of it and have to find new ones. I hate that ~ like the ones we had ~ they know us and all our things. I hate having to start all over again. For some of the doctors, there is still a chance that they will get on board and accept the new insurance. DH keeps telling me ~ it is what it is, and it doesn't do any good to get all upset about it. Everything happens for a reason I guess. I am so thankful DH takes care of this ~ I wouldn't even know where to begin.

Has anyone heard anything from Karrine? She hasn't posted in a while ~ hope she is ok.

Carol ~ hope the nasal/sinus issues and dizziness are improving. I don't know exactly how to describe what is going on with my daughter and her ex. He was being his usual self, and smooth talked her ~ probably threw a little guilt in there too and didn't ask really, just assumed and moved right back in with her when the lease of his appartment ran out. The money he pays for rent helps her financially. Sometimes, they get along and she doesn't mind him being there, sometimes it is the same old, same old (stuff that made her want to not be with him anymore) and she is sorry she didn't put her foot down and tell him no. We wish she hadn't done that, but what can we do ~ she is a grown up. I just keep praying that God will take care of her and the kids.

Mary ~ sorry you had a rugged night the other night. Hope you can get rested up. Hope Joe's mouth gets to feeling better soon. Good thing Joe knows how to run those extra electrical lines ~ that is a big help and probably helps save some money.

Sandy ~ I can sympathize with the weight thing. My weight is kind of going up and down the same couple pounds, but it is my own fault. I have been kind of struggling with this diet we're on and eating things sometimes that I shouldn't. I am sticking to it better than I have with other attempts to lose in the past ~ because DH is doing it too. That is a help ~ without him doing it, I probably would have thrown in the towel long ago. Hope you get the mail/address mess straightened out. The ex-mother-in-law didn't come to my house ~ she came to my daughter's house and disturbed her and her house hold.

Karrine ~ where are you ~ miss you ~ hope all is well with you ~ let us know.

Guess I'd better quit playing around here and get something done.

Hope you all are having a good day.

Dh is hurting less today but has to go in to be checked to be sure everything is ok. I'm glad the dentist is careful. Dh is worn out. One of our toilets was leaking and he checked it and that little bit of effort wore him out. BTW, Carol, he is on Oxycodone, not hydrocodone, my mistake. I knew it but typed it wrong. I got a good night's sleep last night finally. Our son is home now so we are not on Halo duty which helps.

Glynne - You were blessed to have a close relationship with your mom like that even into adulthood. I can understand though that now you would really miss her and dementia is such a difficult thing to watch in a loved one too. How old is your mom?

Carol - I am now taking two 2 mg tabs of Amaryl. Not happy about that at all, but it's my eating that makes it necessary and I am STILL high in the morning. The doctor had hoped it would bring it down...one day it was lower than usual but then the next day it was higher than ever. Today it was back to where it usually is. I did eat terrible yesterday. Usually it's not really junky food but I just overeat but last night I went to the store for soft food for dh and while there picked up some snacks that normally I don't buy. I keep saying I will stop my bad eating but then evening comes and I do it again. . I don't think I would need all this medicine if I just ate better. My weight is at the highest it has been in several years and not budging..usually if it goes high, it comes back down in a few days but not since I increased the Amaryl. That's what bothers me, knowing it's my own fault and I don't need to so this to myself. I know I have the power within me to stop...I've even done it in the past but always before I had in my mind that dieting was just temporary..which is why I always gained it back. Now I know it has to be a permanent life change and I guess I am still resistant to that.

Easier day today...my only plans (besides daily stuff) are to clean out the medicine cabinets and clean the laundry area. The laundry area is in the garage and it gets very dirty. I'm also considering going to the dentist with dh just to make sure he's ok. He hasn't needed to take any Oxy this morning though.

Hope you are all having a good week.

Gayle, no dizziness for the past few days. My new blood pressure monitor came today and my blood pressure IS too high. So I will be taking it up to the doctor's and see what he says. I just don't want him to give me brand medications as I have a high copay for brand. I just got my Metformin filled and the copay was $0. That made me happy.

I would hate to have to find a new doctor. Really hate it. I have gone to this PCP for about 25 or 30 years and I'm confortable with him. The cardiologist I have gone to for 7 years and I'm comfortable with him, too. I have no idea how to find another doctor. I originally chose this doctor because I was still working and he had evening hours. That way I didn't have to take off work every time I had an appointment.

Our insurance is staying the same for next year. I check every year to see if there's anything better for us. My husband doesn't know anything about it.

I feel bad for your daughter. She probably still has feeling for her ex, and probably thinks her kids should have their dad around. I hope it works out for her.

Mary, maybe you gained weight from the Amaryl because you are on a higher dose. I ate more carbs that I should have today so I will need more. It's very hard to resist the carbs. DH buys a lot of snack food and I'm pretty good at staying away from them, but I eat too much food period. I like bread and pasta and they are trouble for a diabetic. I do not eat candy, chips, cookies etc. DH bought doughnuts today too. They are jelly donuts that I like, but I'm pretending they aren't there. I can't start on them.

Just had to brag (?) on my dh...he just amazes me so much! Here he was hurting from the dental work he had yesterday, hurt less this morning, but very tired, went to the dentist who told him his denture is rubbing against where they worked so to leave it out when at home, went to get a haircut, came home and immediately went down the hill to clear the street drain which no one else ever clears! Dh says it's up to those who live here to do it. Besides us there are five houses in our cul-de-sac and one across from the drain besides all the other houses extending out from there, but it takes one 80 year old man to keep that drain clear! :dizzy: Recently he hasn't felt up to it but the puddle has gotten bigger and bigger and it bugs him and he says it doesn't take long.:)

Finally got to the gym! Did 30 min cardio and used a couple weight machines doing 20 reps (each side). Was about to start another but dh was tired and I Didn't want to push him too much. The street drain is plugged again already and he will probably go down again later to take care of it. We've gotten a lot of rain and some wind although not as bad as some areas. I did get outside yesterday and cut back three flowers and one shrub...and my legs are sore today from it. Showed how weak I've gotten too as my legs shook all the time I was doing it!

Finding a new doctor is not fun..we like the one we have now, but I'm not sure if he is the one for a long time..he hasn't done that much yet...will have to see. He is very good at listening, but sometimes I feel he isn't very decisive. I guess it's impossible to get everything you want in one person but overtime he may turn out to be everything we need in a doctor. Dh really likes him too.

I need to get a manicure and haircut today but not sure I'll get to both, depends on how I feel after the manicure. I like to keep my nails short and very smooth and no matter how much I file, I can't get them to feel or look like the nail tech does. My head is very itchy again and that is usually relieved somewhat by a haircut.

Carol - Sorry to hear about your BP being high. Just remember to ask for the generics. I hope there is nothing going wrong with your heart. On insurance, I didn't bother to check...I can't imagine we could get anything better than what we have right now...no monthly premium, Medicare pays, then our TriCare for Life picks up the rest including co-pays. Only once have we had to pay out of pocket so far and that was after dh had all those surgeries in one year. I think we will have to pay for our refractory exams at the Ophthalmologists though because Medicare doesn't pay for that every year and TriCare only picks up what Medicare pays on. Haven't gotten the bill yet though, but we actually pay very little out of pocket so can't complain.

I eat very little meat (probably should get a little more protein), I eat veggies when I cook the meal, if we just snack or eat out, not so much; but mostly I tend (by natural choice) to eat other carbs. And the higher the bs is the more I hunger for carbs I think. So have to make a drastic choice to eat protein and vegetables and few carbs...not easy for me.:( So far today I've done ok, but I hope I can stick to it later on today. There is no junk food in the house but that is not the whole problem. I can snack on anything.

Hi Gynne, Sandy!

Overnight someone stole a school bus. They crashed the bus into a shopping mall, went into a Vitamin Shoppe, through it, and continued on into the business next to it, which was a Smash Burger. I thought that was funny. When they did the news report this morning at 5 AM they stated that no students were on the bus. It happened at 3 AM. What would students be doing on the bus at 3 AM.

Mary, I like protein. I like eggs and meat, but my tastes have been changing recently. I used to love chicken, especially dark meat, and I used to cook some for myself a couple times a week, just to have in the refrigerator if I wanted it. I rarely eat red meat, but lately, that's all I've been wanting. I've had more steak in the past few months than I had in my whole life. I still eat chicken but not as much as I did, and I'm also tired of pork. I think I'm becoming more insulin resistant as just a slice of bread sends my blood sugar through the roof, even if I eat it with protein, which is supposed to slow the absorption. I know that exercise really helps with BS but I can't get myself to get back to it regularly.

I am going to the cardiologist today and have them check my blood pressure. I will tell them I want generic meds, but they might want me to take a newer drug. My copay for brand name drugs is $112.50 for 90 days and some 4th tier drugs are over $200. Yikes! Our PCP just switched DH's BP meds and it dropped his BP very well. This morning I took one of his to see if it would drop mine, too, and if it does, I will ask for that drug.

When I went to the cardiologist recently, they passed me over to a PA. That made me mad, because I am paying to see a specialist. If I'm not going to see a cardiologist my PCP could handle my issues for a lot less money. All they do is weigh me and check my blood pressure, listen to my heart and lungs. The PCP does the same thing. The only difference is I get to talk to the cardiologist about issues I may be having. That's what I want, not a PA. I told them that and they did have the cardiologist come in to see me for a few minutes, but he said they have a heavy schedule and are doing this so they can see more patients. It's all about $$$. If this continues, I might look for another cardiologist. This office used to be privately owned by 5 or 6 doctors. The hospital took it over and I think they're making changes to increase profits. I think patients welfare should be a priority.

I hardly ever do any work in the yard anymore. I told DH I wanted him to dig out some of the perennials and just have grass that can be cut. The perennials get weeds and it getting too hard for me to bend or stoop to pull the weeds.

Sandy, you are lucky that you are still able to keep up your gardening.

The doctor added generic Norvasc to my medication. I have to call him in 2 weeks with results. I took this before and I had swelling of the feet and ankles which is a side effect, so I guess if that happens again he will have to try something else. I wish this BP would just go down so I didn't need meds.

I got my hair cut this morning..feels better, although the itch is certainly not completely gone. This afternoon we went to the movie, Woodlawn, and enjoyed it. Stopped for take out at the Panda...got three entrees and shared with our son who got home right after us. I made the rice. I didn't eat very much because we shared a personal size pizza at the movie and some candy at the theater about 3 pm.

Joe got our leaky toilet fixed today, so hoping our water bill will go down a little too. It was pretty high last time, but dh doesn't think the leak was enough to have caused it.

Carol Funny about the bus ending up in Smash Burger! :D I like your sense of humor! But I do hope no one was hurt. I hope the medicine decreases your BP and doesn't cause any adverse reactions this time around. Are you taking the same dosage this time? My bs are difficult to understand some times but I think I also am more insulin resistant now too. I hate when they send me to a PA when I'm expecting a doctor...they could at least tell me and give me the option. For me it doesn't cost any differently but in your case I can sure understand your feeling angry.

I recently was sent to a PA when I requested a dermatologist. After the appt was set up I realized he was a PA (found on the clinic website..on the phone they just referred to him by his name, no title). Since it was just about a lesion to be removed and the itchiness I let it go, but he was NOT what I want in a doctor!
I didn't like him (as a doctor) during the visit and liked him even less when he called me twice at home. Normally if I felt the doctor was efficient and helpful with a good bedside manner, I would appreciate the calls, but this guy just gives me the creeps. Thankfully for my "other" itchy problem I was able to get a prescription without exam from my regular doctor and it has taken care of it. The PA kept saying he was sorry they didn't have stirrups in the dermatology clinic and I was thinking, no thank God!! :O It is just my head and ears that remain itchy.

I'm looking forward to the gym tomorrow. I'm hoping to build up my strength again.

Hi Sandy and Glynne, are you coming back to us Lynn and Karrine? Miss you both.

Went to the gym this morning, then to New Seasons and Winco for groceries. At Winco, they don't take credit cards and I forgot my grocery cash was low, dh was with me, and I usually rely on his debit card if I don't have cash, but he had forgotten his wallet! So I'm trying to remember my pin and tried three times, the lady in charge of the self service says they will lock me out if I try again, so had her put my groceries in the cooler while we went to CU for cash and went back to the store again. The CU was closer than coming home. I haven't had that happen for a long time. I wish they would take credit cards as then we'd get cashback on purchases and I believe they are safer as well. It is usually faster getting your "money" back with a credit card if stolen at least. Just called and had my pin reset and this time they allowed me to choose my own numbers, hopefully that will help me remember it. :o Dh is now busy running the electrical line today and we are having our grandson overnight and taking him to his martial arts class tomorrow.

I did a little online shopping for what I think will be Christmas gifts. Hope they look as good as they did online, the cost was certainly right.

Hope you're all busy having a great weekend.

Mary, when I had my bowel surgery, my home nurse said my incision looked infected and sent me back to the surgeon. He had the PA see me instead of seeing me himself. She looked at my incision and said it wasn't infected and sent me home. The home nurse still thought it looked infected so she called the doctor. He told her that the PA should have done a culture instead of just going by sight. I went back and they did a culture and it was an infection, but treatment was delayed because she didn't do the culture, plus we didn't know how long I had that infection. I consider my cardiologist like an old pair of shoes. You can get new shoes and they look pretty, but the old shoes are comfortable and what you prefer. I feel very comfortable talking to him, and couldn't even look at the PA while he was seeing me. My copay for my PCP is $10 and next year it goes to $0. The copay to see a specialist is $40 and a PA is not a specialist IMO. My PCP has a couple NPs working at his office and you can get in sooner to see them for a sore throat or the flu, but for anything else I want a doctor.

I don't remember what dose I was on before. I had swollen ankles before but none so far, but it's only been 2 days. My blood pressure had come down a lot and I'm pleased with the results. Just hope the doctor is too. I am to call with the results in 10 days.

I know some people who use their credit card for everything just so they can get the cash-back bonus. I've considered that. Aldi's does not take credit cards either. DH never wants me to charge food. For some reason, he doesn't think that's right. But when we go to Walmart we always use our credit card and many of the items we buy are food. We usually charge everything except at the grocery store and restaurants. He doesn't like to charge at restaurants, either. He's old fashioned.

His mother felt if you didn't have cash to buy something then you didn't need it. Some people don't understand the benefit of using a credit card.

I thought my BP might have been what keeps waking me up at night but even with it lower I still woke up a couple times. Maybe it's my BS.