Hi all, the weight continues to climb. I am eating low cal, but not low carb. So that needs to change. Even doing OMAD I am gaining.
I slept well last night, and walked AND went to the pool today. No I am tired and will rest.
I stopped all the supplements except the fish oil and a multi vitamin. Will see what happens in the next while.

Stay well friends.

Mad I am sorry to hear you are gaining. I have been there and understand how frustrating it can be. You will turn it around and hopefully soon, before too much of a gain.

The casino was ok, not great results. I was reading a book about CHF that was scary. I need to talk to my doctor.

I'm having a cup of sleep tea and going to bed.

Mad I am so sorry your weight is going up, but I'm sure you will get things working for you again. My weight has gotten back abov 160 again but I'm sure it is because I am eating again where I wasn't interested in eating for so long.

Carol Sue I have sleepy time tea, but I forget to drink it.

I was disappointed that it rained all day and we couldn't go to the wedding or the dinner. Today has been a long day.

Good night.

We are up early today. DH has to go get step daughter and drive her to work for 8:00. Then come back home and get me to go to Rehab for 9:45. I didn't take my second one water pull yesterday so weight is up to 170. I feel like I have to take it this morning but I'm not sure how that will work going to rehab. I took it at 6:30 and it takes a while to start working. I could wait to take it afterwards. I will see how today goes.

I am reading these books a guy wrote about his experience with CHF. It was terrible! I hope I never get to that point. I was told to go to the Heart Failure Clinic that is part of my hospital but I've never gone. I'm afraid to go. I don't know what they will do. There are new meds that can be prescribed but I dont want more meds. I already take so many! Some of them have undesirable side effects. I will have to see what the doctor says about it when I go to see him. They seemed to say that my bad valve caused my Heart Failure, and if so, why do I still have it after getting the new valve? Also, I was never TOLD that I have pulmonary hypertension but its all over my portal. When did that start? The symptoms of that are similar. I'm not sure what the treatment is for that. All this makes me feel so helpless and confused about my future. I thought the valve was going to improve my future and give me more years to live with better quality of life. Getting old is not for sissies.


________________________

Cardiac rehab was ok. When I got there they told me to walk down and back the hall twice to warm up. I'm wobbly when I don't have DHs arm or a shopping cart. I went down and back but when I turned to go back down I felt dizzy so I called for the therapist and he had me sit down. Checked BP and BG both were fine. I only did 3 things for 8 minutes each then I was finished. More Monday. There was a guy and another woman in my class. I feel unsteady there. DH is not allowed to stay like he did the last time. I felt better after open heart surgery than I do now. I'm not ready to exercise at home.

Well evidently I came here to post and fell asleep. DH has gone to the store and should return soon.

Carol Sue I wouldn't like having to exercise in a new place without DH at least until I got used to it any way. I'm better at doing a lot of things without him, but I don't like going to new places alone. I have a CT Scan in a few weeks and I always ask them to let him come in to help me lie down on the bed which is way too narrow. Once I'm settled they have him leave the room. I should be able to do it this time but the fact that it is so narrow is what scares me. Sometimes here at home I think I could walk around using the cane but I am not comfortable or confident enough yet to try it. I do try going short distances without anything but I know that I can grab on to something if I need to so I won't fall. I heard someone say growing old isn't for whimps and I agree.

Not much happening here. Weight up today to 163.8 so I have got to get on a diet plan. I haven't been doing as well as I was. They wanted me to eat and now I'm either eating to much or eating the wrong thing. FBG was 116 and while the doc thinks it is good, I don't because I had it lower until all this happened.

Too many things are different now that I'm on these meds and treatment.

Have a good day.

Today I was telling DH that I did much better at cardiac rehab after my open heart surgery than now but I was 62 then, 15 years ago. I think the CHF and pulmonary hypertension are the cause of my issues now. They both have similar symptoms. This is why I need to talk to the doctor. I need him to know I'm having these symptoms and explain it to me. Am I going to have them the rest of my life? I didn't have this before my procedure. There are meds for these but then they have a different set of side effects. And they cost a lot. So far all my meds are generic and I pay no copay for them. These are new drugs that have no generic. I just hope I am able to walk without dizziness soon. DH told me to walk on my treadmill on the in- between days but he would have to come downstairs with me. I don't want him to find me on the floor. The doctor told me to just walk in the house. At the casino, DH walked me from the parking garage to the entrance but then I walked back to the food court alone with no problem. Later I went out to the gambling floor alone to find DH. No problem. I would love to take my walker but he doesn't want me to. He said if I get used to it I will always need it. If I need it, I need it! I wonder if the lighting at rehab is affecting me? The lights were bright. The lights at the casino are lower.

Carol Sue Hopefully the things you are feeling are just part of the recovery process and the dizziness will go away. Are you on any different medications that could temperarily cause these feelings? Which valve did they replace? I'm wondering if you have those problems or if you are just in the process of healing and it just feels like it is CHF or pulmonary hypertension. I'll be glad when you can see the doctor to get the answers you need. We will just be praying for you to start feeling better. However, if you feel you really need the walker, I would insist on using it. It would be better for you to use it than for you to fall as you could get hurt. You could take it with you in the car and use it only as needed. I don't think you would use it more than necessary.

DH told me to tonight that he had thought about suggesting me not using my walker as much as I do but he said he decided not to because he says I have to be comfortable walking without it. I do find myself using it less in some situations especially in the kitchen and bathroom. This makes me feel like there will be a day when I won't need it. I am using my cane some in the living room these days. It's not happening fast enough but I trust the Lord to help me do it in time.

We started cleaning out for company to come for Thanksgiving. We did the kitchen tonight. I need to make a list of the things I want to get done before then. I want things to look more organized and hope I can keep it looking like that when everybody leaves.

Eating was a little better today but still room for improvement. I read it is important to have a nap each day too so I took a nap while DH went to the store. Hope to get at least 7 or 8 hrs sleep at night but with the statin that doesn't always happen.

Good night.

DH gets very upset about people using walkers. He said people lived for years without them so why does everyone use them now? If I fall he will think differently. If you need it Trish,use it. You will gradually walk without it when the time is right.

The CHF and Pulmonary Hypertension are on my portal. They show up when I have an echocardiogram. I think they were the cause of my symptoms more than the valve even though the valve was calcified. It was my aortic valve. I want to just sit and talk to my doctor but I know they limit the time you get with them so I will write up a list of questions and maybe take a copy for him,too. I read a suggestion to list them in order of importance in case time runs out. I might be able to send him the list of questions ahead of time so he is prepared. I will go for an Echo, an EKG and bloodwork before my appointment so that will tell him a lot. I expected to have more energy after this procedure but I really feel worse. I feel like this is the beginning of the end for me. Weight is now up to 171. I'm gaining a pound a day.

I got more sleep last night. We wanted to go to Light Up night at the mall last night but I was so tired. I didn't get much sleep the night before and after rehab I was worn out.

I'm still eating too many carbs. I have to stop that. I feel like a butterball.

Carol Sue I think it is a good idea to write out your questions and even email them through your portal if you can. You may have to pace yourself so you can use the energy you have to do the things you want or need to do. That is what I am learning to do now. I've even learned to push myself to do just a little more, but I don't know if you are at the point where you could do that or not. I remember the friend Daddy used to tell us about who had a heart attack and couldn't walk very far after. He started out walking to the mail box. When he could he would walk a little further and finally got to where he could walk a few miles, It took him a while; it didn't happen over night. You may be expecting too much too soon of yourself. The heart is a muscle and needs to work but I'm sure it is like any other muscle that has to be exercised carefully. Remember it is having to work and heal at the same time so try not to get discouraged but give yourself time to get better. I am praying for you dear friend.

I am switching to healthier eating. I saw a heart healthy breakfast online of a slice of toast and layered 1 sl bacon, 1 scrambled egg and 1/2 avocado sliced and being SLMG bread topped it with another slice and had a sandwich with a cup of decaf coffee for a healthy breakfast. DH is cooking pork chop and will make a salad and I will probably have some brussel sprouts with that. I made an almost WW 0 pts chicken, veggie soup for supper. I hope to make this my woe from now own.

I swept and mopped the kitchen and used the light sweeper to vaccum the hallway and around my chair. Those are things I have not been able to do in a long time. Once a week is about all I can do at this time but it is progress. Slow but it is coming along. Cleaning and cooking is my exercise for today.

Have a nice day everybody. I feel a short nap coming on.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Carol Sue I just looked back to see when you had the procedure done and it hasn't been a month yet. Next Friday will be 1 month since you had it done so I think you are doing pretty good. After all y'all have been very active/busy I think sooner than when they expected plus you've been to the casino what 2X since then? Your body is still healing through all this and probably just letting you know when it needs some rest.

If DH isn't let you use a walker and you feel like you need it that might be stressing you out. I hate to see you fall and get hurt for him to understand why people use it now. Your body is still trying to heal. I've used a walker at least 2 times in my life because of an injured knee but I stopped using it as soon as I could and will do the same this time. I am sure you and I are so much a like you would do the same thing. I know I'm speaking out of turn and this is just my opinion. Prayers continue for you because you need to do what is best for you.

Trish I would really like to use the walker with the seat and little storage space. I think I could walk more and farther with it and could sit down if I needed to. I do very well in Walmart with a cart. DH often tells me to use the riding cart but I tried that once and ran into a display. I'm ok walking with a cart. I walk well at the casino, too. DH always,says they pump oxygen into the casinos to keep people from getting too tired. LOL Maybe that's true!

I don't need a walker around the house. It is small so there is not too far from one place to the other. I keep working on deep breathing and using my incentive. I don't want them to put me on oxygen.

I made some chicken salad. I was cooking chicken thighs for Rusty and put 2 breast halves in. I simmer it in water. I meant to put some thigh meat in the chicken salad but forgot. Its ok, not great. I put finely chopped celery and onion in it, a dash of salt and pepper. And Hellman's mayo. I saw online that some add parsley and lemon juice. Maybe that would have helped the flavor. Maybe it will taste better tomorrow after it is chilled and the flavors meld. I have a couple chicken breasts left and will have to cook them or freeze them soon.

SO, while I am younger and don't have the issues either of you have (yet), I am a big fan of walkers.
They prevent falls. The little basket can help with carrying things. Using a cane now, it's really a pain when I have stuff to carry. I really can't carry anything with two hands and use the cane. Good thing the brace is helping so much.
With a walker, if you get tired you can sit. I mean the kind with the seat of course.
My Dad didn't want to use one, as he felt he didn't need it. But it helped protect his heart and he soon found he could go farther and faster with it, so he accepted it. I think it gave me a few more years with him.
Yes, you might need to keep using it. But it may keep you more active. And that is only good.
I hope you both are able to stay as active as possible, for as long as possible, with or without a walker.
Blessings and have a good weekend.

Mad Good points about using the walker. Years ago when I hurt my knee the first time, I wouldn't go anywhere because I was young and I was embarrassed to d use it in public. Then DH DS and his DD came to visit us and they had planned for us to go sight seeing and I went with them. It made such a difference to be able to get aroound and when I got tired I could sit on it when we stopped during the museum talks. That changed my whole attitude about using a walker. I don't plan to use it forever but I sure am thankful to have mine. I can use a cane but like you say I can't walk and carry things very easily. I told DH today that I use the walker because I can get around faster with the walker.

I was able to use the walker and sweep and mop my kitchen and I vaccumed the living room and hallway. I couldn't do that without the walker. I can do more house cleaning using the walker that I could never do without the walker. Thanks Mad for sharing about your Daddy. I wish my Dad had been more comfortable using one but he was too scared of falling.

Carol Sue Your chicken salad sounds really good. I was thinking about making tuna salad tomorrow but I think I will make a chicken salad tomorrow instead.

Today was pretty good. Hope it will help me sleep good tonight. Good night.

well, not losing but have been doing true keto. Spilling ketones in urine. My blood sugars were over 6 since I got the new meter, but then 5.9, 5.5 and today 5.1. So at least that part is working. I may be able to fast tomorrow if this keeps going so well.
I am still a bit dizzy in the afternoons, whether fasting or not. So it does not seem to be food related. I have cut back on the supplements, and I think it may have been either the hyaluronic acid or the glucosamine that was affecting me. I have been taking the glucosamine for years without problems. The hyaluronic acid is newer, but I was taking it for about a month without issues. But I changed brands and dosage a couple of weeks ago, and that seems to be when the headaches started.
I am also going to ask it with the doc, as they still come a bit, in spite of stopping the supplements.
How is everyone else's blood sugars? Are you even testing these days?

My blood sugars vary, Mad. I go through periods of very low carb eating such as when my A1c was 5.9. Daily blood sugar readings are very good. Recently I've been indulging more with carbs and blood sugars are running higher, some into the high 200s. I test more than just fasting. I test often to help decide how much gliniperide to take. When blood sugar is running low I take 1/2 to 1 mg. Other times I take my full 2 mg dose. My prescription is 2 mg twice daily. I know that 8 mg is the max daily dose so I sometimes take more if blood sugar is higher. I believe when I can get back to exercising regularly my blood sugar will be better controlled.

I took Hyaluronic Acid for my knee for a while but stopped when I started getting involved with these heart issues. It helped. As far as I know I had no side effects from it. I took glucosamine and condroiten years ago but it didn't help.

I would really like to take my seated walker to the casino. If I insist he will comply. Its a long walk back to the food court. There are a lot of people who use them. I've never tried using a cane.

Trizh, which walker do you use at home? The silver one or the one with the seat?