[Wannabehealthy]

It is a blessing to hear of you getting things so organized.

We went to Rodneys. I wasn't hungry so I got wings and ate 2 and brought the rest home. DH got fish and I ate a piece of fish. Tomorrow step son invited us for Low Country Boil. He makes it with shrimp, sausage, corn and potatoes. I still record my food on MFP but I have no way of knowing if its correct. It is just a record of what I ate. My sodium is usually less than 1000 mg on MFP. Like I said, I don't know if its right. When I get bloodwork done my sodium is at the low end of the good range.

I would also like to get to 150. I don't think I would go lower than that. I don't want a lot of loose skin.

Step son has apple and pear trees. The previous home owner used to let people come and take them so these people still come and ask for them. Step son wants them and shares with us. He put up a "no trespassing" sign but he still sees people on his cameras while they are at work. I think that is very bold.

[pattygirl63]

Carol Sue We had the same problem in SC with people tresspassing on our property because it had been their fishing place when it was just trees before we built our house there. At first I didn't mind, but then our next door neighbor said he wouldn't allow it because if someone got hurt while on our property we could be responsible because we allowed them to fish there. So we decided we had to stop allowing people to fish there. We all put no fishing allowed and no trespassing signs on our property and I would still have to go out and tell people they had to leave. It is like no one respects outher peoples property etc or can't read signs.

I am so wrinkled from the surgery and weight loss I really need to start eating keto when I can have more control of what I eat instead of depending on DH. However, my arms are so scared from the nurse that tried to get blood using the same needle she tried to use in the other arm and couldn't get blood. Then I came home and fell and knocked some of the skin off on that arm and just as it healed I hit it on the wall and knocked the skin off again. It has healed nicely but is scarred. But I still might not go below 150. That is a decision I will have to make when I get there. At this age it may not even matter whether I go lower or not. I think it all depends on how I am feeling if and when I ever get there.

I did finally get all my exercises done for today. I figure I am now doing approximately 45 minutes a day. I am so thankful that God helped me to get 5 days of exercises done so far this week. I will try to exercise again tomorrow and hopefully make it 6 days this week and take Sunday off.

I read online what foods will help me build up my hemoglobin. It needs to be at least a 12 reading but it is at the low end of 9 most of the time which according to oncologist means I am anemic. That is why I am so tired and can fall asleep so easily. If I can build up my hemoglobin I will be able to get some kind of normal life again and improve my health better. I am not worried too much about keeping calories too low because I'm working to build my CBC numbers back into the normal ranges. However I am trying to keep my blood sugar and blood pressure under control in the process.

Hope we both get a good nights sleep tonight. Goodnight.

[Wannabehealthy]

Trish, I think your skin will improve in time and the scars will fade. If I get the least bit of tan on my chest my heart surgery scar can barely be seen. That bothered me so much after surgery because I seem to look thinner when I wear Vee neck tops. At first I was wearing a tank top with them to hide the scar. I have 2 very faint bruises on my arms from the hospital and its been several weeks.

I got up early this morning and made brownies to take. DGS loves them and looks forward to them when I come. They like to have a brownie with a scoop of ice cream for dessert. Then I took a shower and got my clothes ready. I got my hair cut yesterday and I'm happy with the hair cut. We ate breakfast and will leave around 11:am.

I have been exercising sporatically. I'm inspired by you. If you can exercise 45 minutes 4-5 days a week after all you have been through its time for me to get back to my exercise machines. I'm getting stronger doing my seated and bed exercises but I need to get more involved.

I also need to gather up another load of laundry. I might start wearing the same clothes all week so I don't have so much laundry!! I'm gradually accumulating another box to go to Goodwill. I wish my step daughter could use some of these clothes but we dress differently.

[pattygirl63]

Carol Sue I feel like I have to exercise as much as I can if I want to reverse the neuropathy. I also need to switch to the low calorie sweets made with sweeteners. You inspire me the way you make sweets that your DGS lovesDH loves brownies and we like them with pecans in them. I noticed I still have a brownie mix in the pantry that is made with Splenda. I think I'm going to make it up for us to eat off of this week. We are good about eating one slice a day till they're gone. Baby sister makes them from scratch that are low carb friendly and said she was going to make one for us. Enjoy being with your family.

I've done much of my excercises done for today. When I get the recumbent done either before or after dinner, I will have 6 days done. I'm seeing improvements in my movements due to all this exercise if exciting to me and just makes me want to keep going. Next week I will go from the 15 minutes to 20 minutes a day on the recumbent bike. I don't know if I can reverse the neuropathy but I am to do my best to get it better and trust the Lord with the rest.

I finally got the name of the IV medication I am on once every 21 days. It is Zirabev (Bevacizumab-bvzr IV). I read the info on it but thank God I have never had any issues with it and pray I still won't. I've taken it before with the chemo cocktail combo I had. I got the results of my CA 125 and it confirms what the CT scan showed as it is finally under 300 at 292. If you remember last time it had increased by 24 pts but surgeon had told me not to worry because it fluctuates sometimes. I said CA 125 confirms CT scan but from what they told me I should say that the opposite is true because the reason I get a CT scan every 3 months is to see if the treatment is still working because it could show up any problems before the CA 125 does. Another good thing I noticed this morning was that I don't think it is going to be long until I can get in and out of bed. I am still sleeping good without a sleeping pill and getting up only once to go potty. When DH helped me get back in bed, I could put my left leg in on my own. He just had to help me get the right leg on the bed. When I got up at 8 am, I was able to raise up and get my legs off the bed by myself. So it is going to happen. Hopefully by time I go to renew my DL my legs will be strong enough that I will not have any problems with any tests they may want me to take for my age,

I started cooking my breakfast this morning and following a fairly low carb woe as I am eating foods that will build up my hemoglobin. I got busy talking to DD and ate later than I planned. I talk to her on Saturday mornings and I talk to my son on Sundays. Anyway no problem as I don't go to bed until 1 or 2 am and I will have shorter IF eating window. I had 2 eggs, 1 sl bacon 1 sl toast. The bread is bread DH got a few months ago and it is Oroweat bread. A lot more carbs and sodium than I wanted. I think I will switch to Nature's Own 40 calorie bread. I compared the 3 whole wheat breads and Nature's Own has less sodium than the other 2 so that would be much better for me to eat since I'm cutting back on sodium intake and one of the side effects of this infusion meal is high blood pressure I think it would be better for me. We will have boneless pork chops. He took it out of the freezer and he doesn't keep up with how long he had it out of the freezer. You have to be so careful with pork so I told him we need to eat it today. I also want to get in the kitchen today and make a salmon salad that I can eat. I plan to start eating low carb the way Baby Sister does. We like the same things. She eat low sodium, lowfat and low carb combo woe. She weighs around 100 lbs. She doesn't count calories or carbs. She keeps a salad made with either chicken, tuna or salmon on hand all the time. Like me she loves sandwiches. We get that from our Daddy. She keeps the thin cut honey ham on hand has a sandwich once a day for lunch. She likes to bake so she makes keto/low carb friendly sweets. She eats only when she is hungry and eats enough to satisfy her hunger. She allows herself one day when she can eat whatever she wants. When we go out to eat in a couple of weeks she and I will probably eat a Country fried steack with healthy veggies.

Have a nice, safe Labor Day weekend eveyone.

[Wannabehealthy]

We had a nice visit with family and a good meal. DGS is such a good kid. I found out he is taking a date to the Homecoming Dance so I guess he has a girlfriend. Growing up too fast! They had good food and I ate too much, and some things I should not have eaten. I'm tired and will probably go to bed very early.

[pattygirl63]

Carol Sue I'm glad y'all enjoyed the family gathering. Our children and grandchildren grow up way to fast. I'm glad DGS is such a good kid.

DN read the CT scan and answered some questions for me that I didn't understand. One statement I didn't understand was that it said my uterus is atrophied. My niece said looks like only half of it was removed so I will email my team nurse to ask her about it. I thought I had a complete hysterectomy.

If you research long enough you can find what you need online. I finally found an Edema Diet telling what to eat and a Diet to increase hemoglobin levels as well as what to eat for improving neuropathy. Thankfully a lot of foods are in both diets so I will be able to combine my favorite foods out of the 3 to help with improving my health.

Nice quite day. Hope everyone is having a pleasant day.

[Wannabehealthy]

We went to the casino this afternoon instead of this evening. There is road construction and its very hard to drive home in the dark until they paint the lines on the new pavement. We were not any luckier than we are in the evening. It seems,very strange to be home and the sun is still shining.

I'm glad you are finding help online with your diet. I think you can find anything you want online. I hope it helps you.

I don't think we have any plans for tomorrow. We usually just eat hot dogs on the holidays like this. I can make some potato salad for DH. He has to have his potatoes. I'll eat anything.

[Wannabehealthy]

We went out the door early this morning so no scale for the second day. We went to Bob Evans for breakfast. Good thing we went early because right after we were seated people started pouring in and there was a waiting line. I had eggs and bacon. First time I've had bacon for a few months. I have to be in the mood for it. Then we went to Walmart, Goodwill, and the local grocery. They are usually very expensive but they had a few things on sale that I wanted.

Trish,I too am curious why your scan said your uterus is atrophied. My scan said that 2 arteries are seriously calcified so I will ask the doctor about that. Why replace the valve if the arteries are blocked? It also said I have a large hernia. Now I know why my belly is so big.

I cooked hard cooked eggs and I'm cooking potatoes for potato salad. I bought a different type of baked beans to try. We will not grill outside because its 90 and out deck is not covered.

Hope everyone has a great day!

BBL

[pattygirl63]

Carol Sue My CT scan showed plaque in a couple of arteries but it didn't seem to be serious. I may ask primary about it when I see him in 2 weeks.

I don't know if we will go out today or not. DH wanted to get something from Harbor Frieght and this is the last day he can get it with a 20% discount. It is close to Walmart and there are a few things I want from Walmart. Now that I am using walker I would like to start useing a regular cart at the store. May try that soon. Will see. I may just send him with a list and let him pickup what I want at Walmart without me. e

I slept good last night. DH said I slelpt in my recliner for 2 hrs before I woke up and went to bed early. So I probably got 8 hrs total although I got up twice to go to potty. I got up after 8:30 and did all my exercises first thing this morning. Swelling has started coming down after only one day on my diet plan.

We are having hot dogs today too. I planned to have saurkraut but might decide to make a potato salad too. It would be less sodium if I made the potato salad instead since franks have so much sodium. I think I just talked myself into it. I will go put eggs in to boil and get the potatos cooking.

Have a great day everyone.

[Wannabehealthy]

I like. hot dogs with sauerkraut but the only time I have them is when I make pork and sauerkraut. I put hot dogs and kielbassi in it along with the pork. I usually buy very large cans of sauerkraut but I might buy some small cans to make with hot dogs. Today I had mine with mustard, onion and relish. My potato salad was ok but I made too much. Maybe step daughter will want it. DH won't eat it leftover.

[Wannabehealthy]

I'm not feeling well today. I'm having a little trouble breathing and weight is up to 174. That is supposed to mean I am retaining fluid again. I'm going to wait and see for now. It might just mean I overate on high sodium food yesterday. If really necessary I will go back to the ER but I have the dentist appointment tomorrow and an appointment with the cardiologist on Thursday so I will try to improve on my own. Just to let you know if I don't post again.

DH is upset that I got a bill from the hospital for $295. That's just the hospital. We didn't hear from the doctors yet. The total bill was $27k. That's the copay. He thinks insurance should cover everything. Some people's do but they pay a lot for the insurance. What is he going to do when I have the procedure? He has lost that much in one day at the casino. He didn't see the bills from when he had his hip replacement and heart surgery!

[pattygirl63]

Carol Sue I am so sorry you are not feeling well today. I don't know what you ate at your step daughter's but you are probably swollen from the hot dogs. I had too much sodium yesterday and I can see it in my legs. I know I overdid it yesterday. I pray our swelling will be down and you will feel better later.

I am so thankful that we got on our insurance last year. I didn't get it for the hospital because I had never been to the hospital and DH hadn't been to the hospital in years. I got it because it covers dental and eye exams etc. God knew that I was going to need this for hospital because I was going to need surgery and help to pay for cancer treatments. I still owe a lot of money but I am thankful the hospitals accepted monthly payments. I feel blessed.

DH wants chipped beef which is high in sodium so I'm not going to eat the bread he eats with it. Pasta has less sodium so I will eat mine with pasta. I had to usee MFP to work my eating today around the chipped sodium so I can keep my daily sodium under 2300 mg. I'm also finding that exercising and moving around is helping bring the swelling down. My compression socks will be here today and I will put them on when I get them. All my exercises are done for today.

I pray you will feel better Carol Sue/

Hope everyone has a good day.

[Wannabehealthy]

I am feeling ok but not great. I only ate 1 hot dog yesterday but I had canned baked beans. And I drank a lot of water. I was reading my posts from July before I went to the hospital and it sounds like I'm having similar symptoms. I had a cup of tea this morning but nothing else to drink except for taking my meds. But I had a pear and a half of a tomato for lunch and that is considered fluid because of the juice. I hope I can turn this around because I don't want to go back to the hospital but I will if I have to.

​​​​​​I think our insurance is good. We have a Medicare HMO that pays more than regular Medicare and it has some dental and vision coverage. But we have deductibles. I don't think they are excessive. I think next year we will be able to get insurance that will cover more vision and dental, I'm not sure.

[Wannabehealthy]

Well,,I came to the hospital at 2am, unable to breathe. They have me on Lasix and oxygen. I can breathe now. I called and cancelled the dentist. I don't know if I will be able to keep my doctor appointment tomorrow. I hope to get my information about how much fluid I'm allowed.

BBL

__________________

The PA from the cardiology office was in and I asked her about the fluid and she said 8-8oz glasses of water or 64 oz total but that includes coffee or tea and things like fruit that has juice or jello/pudding, soup. So I don't think I overdid it. It must have been the sodium.

[pattygirl63]

Carol Sue I am so sorry you had to go to ER. Are you still in the hospital? I'm glad the i nfo you needed and getting oxygen and Lasix. I hope you will feel better soon.

I'm leaving in a few minutes to get blood draw. Then we will go Sam's and local store. DH will want Chinese food today. I will eat that but limit the servings.

Praying everyone has a good day.