[Wannabehealthy]

Trish, if you have a small paper bag you can put your avocado in it to help it ripen.. I dont know if there are other ways to do it. I hate to say it but I think 10 will ripen at the same time.

I dont know if the night sweating I had those 2 times had anything to do with my condition. Maybe. I haven't had it since.

I was hungry for a salad so I made one for lunch. DH requested meatloaf so that's in the oven. I dont know how its going to taste because I made it without salt. He salts all his food at the table so he might not notice it.

We went to Walmart because we needed bottled water. I bought 2 packages of pork chops. They were $5 and each package will be good for 2 meals for us so I will repackage and freeze them. $2.50 per meal for the meat entree. I also got a small pork roast and a beef roast. I found a new slow cooker recipe for beef roast that I want to try. I have to start cooking at home more.

Tomorrow I'm seeing my PCP and will ask what he knows about the reduced fluid. I don't go to the kidney doctor until next week. I can't understand a word he says but DH will try to interpret for me. I don't mean to sound racist but I don't like having non English speaking doctors. I hate when I have to keep asking them to repeat themselves, and how can I do what they say if I don't know what they say?

5:25 pm.
My blood work results just showed up on the internet and it looks to me like the results are back to normal. I will print out a copy to give to my PCP tomorrow and I think he will agree that my kidneys are ok. I will follow up with the kidney doctor for this visit but will not make any further appointments.

[pattygirl63]

Carol Sue I am so glad your blood work shows things are back to normal for you. That is wonderful.

I think I figured out what is causing the neuropathy symptoms in my hands and feet or at least one of them. Diet drinks. I drank a zero sugar A & W root beer and my symptoms got worse especially in my hands. The cold drinks were recommended in my things to do while going through chemotherapy. So who would have thought it would do this. I have a lot of those cold drinks. I guess I could donate them some where.

I went back and read my instructions of what I was to do when I came home from the hospital. I am supposed to be on the American Heart Diet. It says calorie and fluid restrictions are N/A and no mention of sodium at all. It does recommend 5 servings of fruit and veggies and 6 servings of grains each day and I'm to eat at least 2 servings of fish a week. Interesting isn't it. I still like the DASH diet with more of a low carb touch to it.

[Wannabehealthy]

I slept good again with 1 wake up for the bathroom. Vitals are still good. Blood sugar is coming along but not there yet. I don't remember it ever taking this long to come back down but I think they gave me more meds before this catheterization. I will just wait it out. With the results of this blood work I believe my PCP will let me start my Metformin again and that should help.

Trish, its possible and maybe even probable that your fluid retention is not related to sodium but to the cancer treatment. Maybe you should not restrict sodium. Our bodies need it.

Just remember, some fruit /vegetable servings are only 1/4 cup, so if you have 1 cup you are eating 4 servings. I think either the Heart Association Diet or the Dash Diet are healthy no matter which you choose. I object to them giving out a hand-out recommending a certain diet to every patient. Although they may all be cancer patients or heart patients, we are all different with different individual needs. The only thing I'm pretty sure of is most cancer loves sugar. I think sugar is bad for everyone. Having said that, i'm not going to stop baking sweets because my family loves them. Its up to them to control their own intake.

​​​ I compared some of the previous blood work results with those from the hospital and my sodium levels are at the lower end of normal. So its not high or near high. Therefore I feel justified adding small amounts of salt back in like the few grains I'm using on my eggs.

Last night I was reading about salt. It said all salt contains sodium. Some salts also contain other things, like minerals. But if you are put on a sodium restricted diet there is not one that's better than the other.

Trish, I would not get rid of the sugar free drinks yet. Wait to see if the neuraupathy improves without it, then try it again. If it comes back then get rid of them. But you might be able to have them occasionally once you get back to your old self. I still buy Diet Coke but I rarely drink it, and when I do I can't finish it. I buy the mini cans of sugar free ginger ale and drink it occasionally and they gave it to me in the hospital. I'm mostly drinking just water now and I put my bottles in the freezer for an hour or two. They get icy and I like it ice cold. Some people say not to drink dark sodas like Coke or Root Beer but clear ones like Ginger Ale are ok.

[pattygirl63]

Carol Sue Your blood work shows you are getting better. I'm glad you were able to sleep. I had to get up twice during the night but no night sweats. It is good you are getting stronger so that when you have your procedure done you will come through it even stronger and feel like you a new person.

I don't think my primary would ever tell me to eat less salt because my lab work always shows I don't eat enough. I still use MFP to help me watch how much sodium I eat and I always think I eat too much but I guess I don't. The other thing I like about MFP is that it helps me watch portions. WW taught me portion control and I hope to use MFP to do that now.

We are having that lasagna today. DH gives me too much food, but I will try to keep things in check today since I have chemo tomorrow and he wants to get takeout on the way home which will be either McDs or fried chicken. I'm tired of all takeout except pizza so doesn't matter to me. I'm ready to start eating healthier for me.

I think some of the fluid/weight is coming off because I decided to try sitting on my walker and I fit it with room to spare. The last time I tried sitting on it I had to squeeze into it because my hips were too wide. I think that was just before or right after surgery. I keep forgetting to check my FBG and I need to find my BP cup. It is a new one and I don't remember what it looks like.

I got to go track my food on MFP and hope I do good with my eating today.

Have a nice day everybody.

[pattygirl63]

Duplicate

[Wannabehealthy]

Trish, anytime you want to delete a post you can hit Edit and back it all out then just type Duplicate. I was going to delete it the right way but I couldn't find my password and didn't feel like looking for it.

My doctor appointment was short. He was in a hurry. They asked me to bring the release papers from the hospital then he never even looked at it. I took a list of all my blood pressure since I got home. He glanced at it and said that looks good. He put me back on Metformin and that was it!

There's a woman on the Low Carb forum who said when she was pregnant with her first son her doctor told her to cut back on salt. They got used to eating without salt and never went back again. Now her sodium is low and her doctor told her to add some salt. I dont think your fluid retention is due to salt or sodium.

[pattygirl63]

Carol Sue Thank you. I will try to remember that if I ever have a duplicate again. Sorry your doc was in a hurry. I hope you got what you needed from the appointment. Going back on metphormin should help get your bs lower.

I'm going to wear a wig tomorrow but will use their wheelchair because it is easier for DH plus it makes it easier if I have to go to the restroom while having infusion. I get in the wheelchair and put the iv pole between my legs while DH pushes me to the restroom. That way they don't have to stop the infusion which is good since they take so long. I thought I had my steroids for tonight but I don't so I can't take them. I will have to call in the morning to see what they do since I can't take them tonight.

[Wannabehealthy]

Trish, what I really need is for a medical professional to take the time to sit down with me and address my concerns about this upcoming procedure. Someone who is knowledgeable and can answer my questions in a way I can understand. I am a basket case. I am trying very hard to put it in God's hands.

DH is no comfort. He wants nothing to do with doctors. His attitude is live your life til you die. He thinks the casino is the answer to everything.

My blood sugar does go down to the 90s but in an hour or two it spikes back up to 200+ and stays there no matter if I eat or not. My PCP brushed it off. I know I am only back on Metformin one day but I want results. Worrying and stressing about it won't help and might make it worse. I can't seem to let it go.

I pray that your appointment goes well today. I hope not taking your steroids is not a problem. There are so many things we have to contend with. I don't know how this all changed. Life used to be so carefree and happy.

I have started taking potato starch again. It says it increases insulin sensitivity. It says to work up to 2-3 tbs twice a day. I started with 1 tsp twice a day yesterday and it had an effect on my bowels already. I hope it helps my blood sugar.

[pattygirl63]

Carol Sue I can understand how you feel about the procedure. That is how I felt when I woke up with tube down my throat and no real satisfactory explanation of what was going on. It is like my primary told me... he said sometimes those in the medical field forget that we the patients don't live in their world of medicine.
Are you saying your DH wants to go to the casino today?

Didn't get chemo today. I saw my team nurse today instead of my oncologist. She is the one who had a hysterectomy since we met her. We saw her just before her surgery and we were blessed as God answered out prayers when we learned she does not have cancer. She hugged DH and me because she hadn't seen us since her surgery. She still has some numbness in her thighs so I'm not sure how long she has been back at work. Any way I got a lot of info from her.

I don't not having the steroids was a problem, but it turned out good that I didn't have them to take. What knocked me out of treatment today was low white blood cells and platalets. So we postponed it until next Friday. She said since I had only one of the chemo meds last time the doctor had increased the amount of it. She thought that was probably the reason they were low. One of them I think the platalets had never be low so that is what made her think he needs to bring that one back down to my normal dosage next week.
I got the prescription refilled for the steroids so I will have them to take next week. All my other blood work was fine.

I also learned that the oncologist had planned to put me on the pill, but the oncology surgeon wants me to go on maintenance first which means an infusion once a month (every 21 days like chemo is done). However this is a milder form of medicine that targets where the cancer was, but it doesn't have the side effects that the chemo has had. It should not interfere with my recovery plan because the immune system doesn't bomb out like it did with the chemo. After 3 or 4 of those which only takes 30 minutes of IV, I will move to the pill. How many of those I will have to take depends on test results. DH is very happy with this plan. Since I will be able to see my family during maintenance, I will be happy with it to afterall I'm working towards cancer free. I also learned that the neurotherapy and swelling is from chemo and she said the nueropathy usually takes 6 months to a year to go away.

I asked the nurse who did my vitals to weigh me and my weight was 174. I am so happy with that. I've been wearing size 2X pants I got from DS. Next Friday I plan to where my own 1X pants. I wore my blonde wig and she said she didn't recognize me when she came to get me from the waiting room because I always wear those dark turbans. LOL I even wore makeup too. Made me feel human again.

We got home too early for takeout so I ate an apple with peanut butter. DH is going to cook each of us a steak wrapped with bacon he gets from our local store. I never eat the bacon that is on it because it is never crispy. We will have a salad and some kind of veggie.

Have a nice day everybody.

[Wannabehealthy]

Trish, things worked out for you in the long run that you didn't have the steroids to take. I believe that things will go well as they have planned for you. I'll bet you looked very nice with your wig and makeup. It does makes you feel good when you look nice. I remember a woman at work came back after chemo and her wig looked exactly like her own hair color and style. We didn't know it was a wig.

I did not sleep very long. It seems that night time is when I do my worrying. It does no good to worry. It doesn't change things.

We went to Texas Roadhouse. I had the shrimp appetizer and broccoli again. Its a nice small meal for me. Just enough. DH didn't finish his salmon so got a bite of that, too. We had a nice time. I am trying to keep my mind off the situation. I know that many people have it worse than I. I do know that I have to worry about my toes and eyes with my blood sugar spiking but it is out of my control. I have searched and searched the internet and I'm doing all I can, eating small meals and limiting carbs. I found a couple discussions where others have it similar.

Good for you on the 174 and the smaller pants. Its funny how our weight is so close but sizes are so different. I'm wearing size medium or size 12 pants, but I still have primarily upper body fat and need a 1X or 2X top.

I cancelled the appointment for the kidney doctor on Monday. No problem. I have to double check my paperwork because I go for another heart test soon. I think my TAVR will be in September.

[pattygirl63]

Carol Sue I started taking a sleeping pill during all this because I couldn't sleep because I was worrying too much about everything. They don't work as good as they did in the beginning, but I plan to eventually stop taking them. Even taking them I have times like last night when I woke up I lay there upset with myself for not ordering the steroids. I think our biggest problem is the fear of the unknown. I try to pray about it and just trust the Lord to take care of whatever the situation is, but I am sorry to admit that there have been times as I have walked through this journey that I haven't really known how to pray. That is when I've been thankful for other people praying for me. I'm good at praying for others so when I can't go back to sleep I pray for you and your up coming procedure and others that I am praying for who are either going through chemo or recovering after chemo.

If I can trust MFP, I've had less than 1300 calories but went over my carbs by 19 g. I haven't had near enough sodium because it shows I had less than 1000. I don't want to do that too often.

[Wannabehealthy]

Trish, I don't like to take sleeping pills. The reason yours doesn't work as well is because your body is getting used to them. For them to work you will have to take more and more and might have a very difficult time stopping them. If I take them and have to get up in the middle of the night I feel very groggy like I'm drugged. I have a hard enough time walking around sober. Occasionally if I can't fall back to sleep I take 1 Tylenol or 1/2 a Benedryl. But not daily. When I go to bed I fall asleep instantly and sleep a couple hours. But then when I wake up at 2 am I often have trouble falling back to sleep. Some times if I clear my mind and do deep slow breathing I can fall back to sleep but if I'm worried about something I can't. So I try to resolve things before I go to bed.

My sodium on MFP is always low but it doesn't include the salt I put on or in my food and I don't eat much processed food. When I get bloodwork done my sodium is always on the low end of normal. When DH sits down to eat he picks up the salt shaker and shakes it over everything before he even tastes it. That's very bad. Part of it is because he knows I don't salt heavily when I cook. But he does it in restaurants, too, but I have broken him of that habit mostly. You should never have to salt restaurant food.

Today I am baking brownies to take for my grandsons birthday. I was reprimanded for not bringing them on Easter! I usually make a dish of something to take but I'm not up to it this time. My DIL is a great entertainer and always serves a delicious lunch.

My weight has been 169 for 2 days. The fluid weight came off quickly but now I will have to work at it again. I think once you get the fluid off you will have a very nice surprise on the scale. Yesterday I fit into a size 10 jeans. Size 10!! I forget the brand they were but they run big. Others I wear a size 12 or medium.

Thank you for the prayers. I've been praying for you through this, too.

______________________________

The size 10 pants are Alfred Dunner. They are geared toward older women and run big. If you buy them you can go down 1 size.

[pattygirl63]

Carol Sue Congratulations for 169 and the size 10 pants. You are doing very well.
I don't like taking the sleeping pill and was told women can't take a larger dose than the one I take. I have one more prescription that I will get next week but I don't plan to get any more as I used it just to get through the rough part of this journey. I can always go back to using Benadryl or Tart Cherry extract. I never used those very much. I figure once I get through this next chemo and go on maintenance that I will be fine.

You have spoiled your family over the years with your cooking. I hope your DGS birthday will be great and he will enjoy the brownies.

I was sick last night. Stomach was upset and I was uncomfortable, nauseous and even back hurt. Finally got some relief from almost diarrhea before I went to bed. Amazing thing is I slept through until 6:30 before I went to potty and went back to bed and slept until 8:15. I haven't slept that good since this all started. I think talking to my team nurse and knowing the plan for the rest of my treatment has given me peace of mind.

Carol Sue A lot of times you can meet with the doctor's nurse and get answers you need. Is there any way you could make an appointment with your cardiologist or his nurse to get the answers that you need? I would check into it and see if you could at least talk to someone on the phone from that office. It would help give you peace of mind. I didn't even know you could do that until my DS did it with her doctor and his nurse. A lot of times the nurse knows as much as the doc. Just a thought.

DH wanted to eat chili today but I told him I couldn't put chili on my stomach so we are having salad and soup as we planned when I went to bed last night. He also suggested hot dogs and saurkraut but that is way too much sodium. I've already got my plan on MFP for today. We will have the hot dogs tomorrow.

Have a good day and fun at DGS party.

[Wannabehealthy]

We had a good time at DGS birthday. It was just us and the other grandparents. Nice lunch. Then I came home and fell asleep in my recliner. I woke up and don't know where DH is. Maybe in the garage putzing around. I will assume that because I don't want to go down the cellar steps to find out.

I think my blood sugar may be back to normal. It was 81 when I got up this morning. It spiked from lunch at the party but I ate half of a large roll because it looked so good and I had a tiny piece of cheesecake. There was a choice of topped with blueberries or topped with chocolate and caramel. DH had the blueberries and I had the caramel and chocolate. The other foods were low carb, half of a beef sausage shrimp and vegetables, zucchini and tomato dish.. I'll see how long it takes blood sugar to go back down. I started taking Metformin again yesterday and apparently I have to go through side effects again til my body gets used to it.

Step daughter did not come to the party. It was family day at her DHs work. She got to go with him to see where he works. This is the first really good job he's ever had so it was important to them. She can see DGS on another day.

After we left DIL and step son were going to cook food the take to a neighbor who's family member has been hospitalized and they have not been having home cooked meals. She is very charitable. Kind and thoughtful. It makes me proud of them, and they are setting a good example for DGS.

[pattygirl63]

Carol Sue So glad y'all enjoyed DGS birthday. I don't think the cheesecake you ate will be a long lasting problem. How nice for your DIL and step son to cook food for their neighbor.

My eating has been okay but too much sodium. I forgot to take my Lasix and it is too late to take it now because I don't want to pee all night. I forgot to put it in my little bowl I keep pills in that I take at dinner time. I'll have to remember to do that tomorrow. I finally found my bp meter so I can check it each day. One of the side effects of my maintenance is raised bp so I want to keep up with it so I can let primary know because he may need to increase my bp dosage.