Thrive Without Janelle: The Accountability Group

[Yeah No]

26 minutes ago, lookeyloo said:

I hate to sound so bossy, but, you are part of my community!  Maybe someone could call you every day and if you don't answer come check. This is a free service https://www.snugsafe.com/#:~:text=Snug is a free and,in with you every day.

Wow, that's an awesome app!  I wish I knew about that when my father was alive, although he used to send me an email every morning entitled "Morning Report".  If I didn't get the email I would call his cell phone or he would call me to explain why.  If he didn't answer I had contacts in his building that could look in on him.  Once every fallback method failed and my husband and I made an emergency trip down to NYC to look in on him.  It was a holiday weekend and no one was around, not even the superintendent of his building.  He sent me an email but somehow it never got to me and he left his phone in the other room for hours with the volume too low for him to hear it....The perfect storm!  When he saw us he acted surprised but when we told him all we went through to reach him without success, he got the picture.  After that he kept his phone next to him at all times.  

When he started to get very sick with Covid in late March of 2020, and we didn't know it, he didn't answer his phone one day or send me an email.  He was fine just the day before, in fact he said he was doing great!  His good friend called me right away as she had tried to reach him a few times on the phone without success - I was actually just about to call her.  I decided to call his visiting nurse service, who called the paramedics, who took him to the hospital.  He had one of those severe cases of Covid that came on suddenly.  It was what they later called the "hyper-immune response" that did him in in the end.  At that point none of the doctors at Columbia Presbyterian knew what was happening and were in a state of crisis.  I couldn't even talk to him on the phone.  They had gotten him conscious for a while on oxygen but they weren't set up to allow loved ones to talk to the patients yet.  At the time 700 people a DAY were dying in NYC of Covid.  I had to beg them to find someone to put a phone to his ear so I could tell him we loved him.  I heard him gasping like he was trying to talk.  That was the last contact I ever had with my Dad.

[Gramto6]

@lookeyloo Thanks for the link, I will look into it.  ((hug))

Edited July 23, 2023 by Gramto6

[MaddyMaeboxerbabe]

My 83 year old mom and I check in by text every morning around 7am.   I had a stroke and live alone but doing well but she worries about me!  We live 1000 miles apart.   I have my grands 4 days a week so not all alone.  My ex MIL is 86 and starting to fail. She is across the country from any family and has no Internet.   I am on the list at the  apt complex to get a call if something happens to her. I try calling once a week.  It does take a community!

[StatisticalOutlier]

On 7/15/2023 at 11:40 PM, Yeah No said:

I've been to two gynecologist specialists that tell me that I'm not a candidate for fibroid removal.  If I wanted to get rid of the fibroids I'd have to get a hysterectomy.

Only if you want them to rid you of the fibroids.  It's not the only option.  Or, rather, it's the only option they can do. 

Quote

The second link talks about UAE (Uterine Artery Embolization), which is something I might consider but so far both gyns. I saw weren't fans of it and told me it might not work. 

Fuckers. 

Quote

Of course even UAE isn't without its potential risks.  I just can't seem to find the right doctor that can really help me with this. 

Interventional radiologists are the doctors who perform UFEs. 

I had a UFE 20 years ago, when it was a new procedure for fibroids (it had been used for years for hemorrhaging).  My uterus was the size of a 20-week pregnancy.  (It was generally called UAE back then, but UFE has become more prevalent.)

I was in the hospital overnight, although I think they might not do that any more.  I spent the next few days at home in bed, taking huge (prescribed) doses of over-the-counter ibuprofen for inflammation.  The fibroids died, and stayed dead.

Back then it was really really hard to find a gynecologist who was okay with UFE.  There was a Yahoo group that was THE go-to place for information about UFE, and people would give names of cooperative gynecologists, like the fucking underground railroad or something, and reports of which insurance companies didn't refuse to cover it because it was "experimental."  It was absolutely ridiculous, and in the intervening years I've heard of more and more gynecologists who view UFE as an option, and some who actually embrace it, but apparently some of them persist in bad-mouthing the procedure they can't do.

I could almost kind of maybe possibly try to understand it 20 years ago, but god knows how many people have had it since then.  It is a safe, minimally invasive, generally effective procedure, period.  And the fact that it's not brought up as a possible alternative to myomectomy and hysterectomy every single time fibroids are an issue is a crime against women--by gynecologists, no less.  Fuck them. 

I got a tip on an interventional radiologist 100 miles away, and went to see him.  I met him at the hospital--he didn't even have an office.  He required me to have a doctor on board in case aftercare became necessary.  One gynecologist said I should have a hysterectomy and refused to discuss UFE at all.  Another bad-mouthed the procedure to the nth degree and said if I went ahead and had it, he would refuse to see me as a patient ever again.  I gave up and went it alone.

(Meanwhile, a woman I know who had a myomectomy by the doctor who fired me had to have a repeat myomectomy a few years later.)

UFE was the best decision I ever made.  It killed the fibroids and all my bulk symptoms disappeared and my pants all fit again.  I was 45 and didn't want kids, so the scare stories about UFE destroying fertility didn't affect me (and have turned out not to be particularly true).  Then there were the scare stories that UFE would throw me into menopause; ha ha ha on that--I was 60 years old when one year had elapsed since my last period.  And the scare stories that it didn't work on big fibroids--not true. 

All that said, I thought fibroids tend to shrink when you hit menopause (waiting it out until menopause is one way to deal with them).  My IR made me get an MRI in addition to the ultrasound I'd already gotten--maybe that could be your first step, to verify the current size of the fibroids.  (Although in the waning days of the Yahoo Group, a long-time member said she was having to get a second UFE many years after her first one, because fibroids grew back after menopause--it was a rare case but it can happen.)

I'm really not familiar with the landscape these days (because, see, I had my fibroids permanently cured 20 years ago by UFE against gynecologists' advice).  But in just poking around the internet, I found a bunch of websites by IRs who do UFE, so it shouldn't be hard to get a lead on one.  Get the info from the horse's mouth.

 

[Yeah No]

1 hour ago, StatisticalOutlier said:

Only if you want them to rid you of the fibroids.  It's not the only option.  Or, rather, it's the only option they can do. 

Fuckers. 

Interventional radiologists are the doctors who perform UFEs. 

I had a UFE 20 years ago, when it was a new procedure for fibroids (it had been used for years for hemorrhaging).  My uterus was the size of a 20-week pregnancy.  (It was generally called UAE back then, but UFE has become more prevalent.)

I was in the hospital overnight, although I think they might not do that any more.  I spent the next few days at home in bed, taking huge (prescribed) doses of over-the-counter ibuprofen for inflammation.  The fibroids died, and stayed dead.

Back then it was really really hard to find a gynecologist who was okay with UFE.  There was a Yahoo group that was THE go-to place for information about UFE, and people would give names of cooperative gynecologists, like the fucking underground railroad or something, and reports of which insurance companies didn't refuse to cover it because it was "experimental."  It was absolutely ridiculous, and in the intervening years I've heard of more and more gynecologists who view UFE as an option, and some who actually embrace it, but apparently some of them persist in bad-mouthing the procedure they can't do.

I could almost kind of maybe possibly try to understand it 20 years ago, but god knows how many people have had it since then.  It is a safe, minimally invasive, generally effective procedure, period.  And the fact that it's not brought up as a possible alternative to myomectomy and hysterectomy every single time fibroids are an issue is a crime against women--by gynecologists, no less.  Fuck them. 

I got a tip on an interventional radiologist 100 miles away, and went to see him.  I met him at the hospital--he didn't even have an office.  He required me to have a doctor on board in case aftercare became necessary.  One gynecologist said I should have a hysterectomy and refused to discuss UFE at all.  Another bad-mouthed the procedure to the nth degree and said if I went ahead and had it, he would refuse to see me as a patient ever again.  I gave up and went it alone.

(Meanwhile, a woman I know who had a myomectomy by the doctor who fired me had to have a repeat myomectomy a few years later.)

UFE was the best decision I ever made.  It killed the fibroids and all my bulk symptoms disappeared and my pants all fit again.  I was 45 and didn't want kids, so the scare stories about UFE destroying fertility didn't affect me (and have turned out not to be particularly true).  Then there were the scare stories that UFE would throw me into menopause; ha ha ha on that--I was 60 years old when one year had elapsed since my last period.  And the scare stories that it didn't work on big fibroids--not true. 

All that said, I thought fibroids tend to shrink when you hit menopause (waiting it out until menopause is one way to deal with them).  My IR made me get an MRI in addition to the ultrasound I'd already gotten--maybe that could be your first step, to verify the current size of the fibroids.  (Although in the waning days of the Yahoo Group, a long-time member said she was having to get a second UFE many years after her first one, because fibroids grew back after menopause--it was a rare case but it can happen.)

I'm really not familiar with the landscape these days (because, see, I had my fibroids permanently cured 20 years ago by UFE against gynecologists' advice).  But in just poking around the internet, I found a bunch of websites by IRs who do UFE, so it shouldn't be hard to get a lead on one.  Get the info from the horse's mouth.

 

Thanks for all that.  I hear you about the attitude of doctors that if it's not THEIR pet specialty they badmouth it.  I've been well aware of that in my own experience.  The problem in my case is that the fibroids have not shrunk in the decade or so since menopause, in fact that big one may have actually grown, although I've been told that the records of how big it was years ago are not available anymore so I can't substantiate that.

Also, the doctor I went to a couple of months ago told me that UAE works in pre-menopausal women, not post-menopausal.  But then I read online on a few specialist's sites who regularly perform the procedure that even post-menopausal women have success with it, maybe just a lower percentage.  So I don't know what to believe at this point.  

She also told me that hysterectomy would prevent any chance of uterine cancer and if I had the ovaries removed too, ovarian cancer.  My mom had ovarian cysts and had to have them removed when she was around my age.  But she never had fibroids and I don't think they did a hysterectomy at that time.

It was actually a post you made on the subject months ago that got me to make that appointment in the first place.  This doctor was actually the daughter of the man I went to over a decade ago and when I asked her if there was a way to access my records from back then she told me "no".  Her father retired last year and she said that was too long ago.  I had high hopes for her, but forget it.  She didn't even seem interested in recommending a hysterectomy much less recommend UAE.

I did have an MRI and a CAT scan done a few months ago for an unrelated issue and that's how I know that medium/large fibroid is 11 cm.  And I had this doctor look at those results too, so she knew what was going on in there.

I have looked online to find a specialist that does UAE for fibroids in my area with no success so far.  I see lots of them in other states, but I'm not going to travel that far and there has to be someone closer to home.  I just haven't found them yet.

BTW I am deathly allergic to ibuprofen (and aspirin) so forget that.  At this point I am so sensitive to medications I hesitate to do anything unless it's a life or death situation, which is one reason I'm in this boat right now.  I can't even take most other painkillers or penicillin or any derivatives without severe nausea and vomiting!

Anyway, thanks again for your advice and encouragement!

[StatisticalOutlier]

12 hours ago, Yeah No said:

It was actually a post you made on the subject months ago that got me to make that appointment in the first place. 

Thanks for confirming that.  I knew I'd posted about UFE before, but searched and all I could find was one in a Real Housewives discussion that wasn't the one I remembered, so as with all things internet I assumed it was me losing my mind.  But in the middle of the night last night, I remembered that a general health thread got completely disappeared a few months ago, and I was thinking that's where it was.  And now I'm sure.

12 hours ago, Yeah No said:

She also told me that hysterectomy would prevent any chance of uterine cancer and if I had the ovaries removed too, ovarian cancer. 

Grrrrr. 

13 hours ago, Yeah No said:

I have looked online to find a specialist that does UAE for fibroids in my area with no success so far.  I see lots of them in other states, but I'm not going to travel that far and there has to be someone closer to home.  I just haven't found them yet.

I think you're in Connecticut.  I just did a quick search and found several places in Connecticut that do UFE.  These are just search results and I haven't investigated them at all.  But they exist. 

https://health.uconn.edu/radiology/our-services/interventional-radiology/

https://www.waterburyhospital.org/newsroom/press-releases-2023/chest-pain-center-accreditation2/ir-services/?q=Health+Resources

https://www.azuravascularcare.com/center/connecticut-access-carect-image-guided-surgery/

https://www.ynhh.org/services/heart-and-vascular/interventional-radiology

https://www.stamfordhealth.org/care-treatment/radiology/interventional-radiology/

 

[Gramto6]

7,466 steps yesterday. This is where I feel the most comfortable at this point. The heat is kind of wearing me down but at least it hasn't been as hot as the forecasts!

I swear I posted this earlier after @Yeah No's last post Not the first time a post has either disappeared or didn't post... maybe i didn't hit "Submit"?

[Gramto6]

7,760 steps yesterday. Aside from being uncomfortable from the heat, around this number of steps doesn't seem to cause any new aches or pains.

[Yeah No]

20 hours ago, StatisticalOutlier said:

Thanks for confirming that.  I knew I'd posted about UFE before, but searched and all I could find was one in a Real Housewives discussion that wasn't the one I remembered, so as with all things internet I assumed it was me losing my mind.  But in the middle of the night last night, I remembered that a general health thread got completely disappeared a few months ago, and I was thinking that's where it was.  And now I'm sure.

Grrrrr. 

I think you're in Connecticut.  I just did a quick search and found several places in Connecticut that do UFE.  These are just search results and I haven't investigated them at all.  But they exist. 

https://health.uconn.edu/radiology/our-services/interventional-radiology/

https://www.waterburyhospital.org/newsroom/press-releases-2023/chest-pain-center-accreditation2/ir-services/?q=Health+Resources

https://www.azuravascularcare.com/center/connecticut-access-carect-image-guided-surgery/

https://www.ynhh.org/services/heart-and-vascular/interventional-radiology

https://www.stamfordhealth.org/care-treatment/radiology/interventional-radiology/

 

Thank you so much!  IIRC, I think that post was in the general medical thread on the board that was created a while back as an offshoot to the general chit chat thread.

One of those links is in the hospital I go to near me (which is the same one that gyn. I went to that discouraged me from this procedure is located) - I am going to look them up and make an appt.  They say that 9 out of 10 women that have the procedure report significant improvement in symptoms or they go away completely.  Let's just hope they don't tell me "I'm not a good candidate".....

Again, than you so much!  You'd think I would have sat down and found this myself, but lately I just don't seem to have enough time for everything on my plate, plus I've been suffering with another cold the past few days.....feeling a little better today.

[Gramto6]

7,572 steps yesterday.

Right knee is a bit on the sore side, had bad enough pain at bedtime last night that I took and Advil. Will see what today brings...

[Gramto6]

8,254 steps on Wednesday. Guess I forgot to post.  That was a surprise! I did go to the clinic for the sample and then the grocery store...guess that is what added up.

6,922 steps yesterday.

Package was delayed yesterday so I didn't get the cane yet. Tracking says it is Out for Delivery today. Sometime the PO is late I guess. I'm glad that it seems UPS won't be going on strike.

[Gramto6]

7,904 steps yesterday.

Just puttering around tidying a bit here and there. Cooler so felt more like doing a bit of late "Spring" cleaning. Still doesn't take too much to tire me out completely.

Cane arrived late afternoon yesterday, it is cool with the LED light and an alarm button, but I don't think I am going to keep the batteries in for those features, maybe in the Winter when it is dark really early. Now for getting used to using it. I really like how it folds up for carrying.

Night before last a mosquito got inside and bit my arm. Haven't been bitten in a long time and boy did I get a bad reaction! My arm swelled up so much I couldn't even wear my fitbit yesterday and it was bright red from elbow to wrist. Today it is still a little swollen and somewhat red. My fitbit still makes an indentation in my wrist. I am a mosquito magnet but they have never been much of a problem here. The only thing that helps is a witch hazel wipe draped over my arm. Maybe the very wet Spring and now the heat and they are hatching all over??? Don't like it!

[Gramto6]

7,874 steps yesterday.

 

[Gramto6]

6,819 steps yesterday.

Felt tired most of day and right knee aching, tried to take it easier. Woke up having a bad dream, kind of makes the day feel off. Feel tired already.

[Gramto6]

7,303 steps yesterday.

I did end up making a grocery run. Right knee really sore yesterday afternoon and evening.  Sore again tis morning, will try to take it easy today. May end up needing to go to the Bone & Joint dr.

[Gramto6]

6,063 steps yesterday.

Right knee was really sore all day, only did what I needed to do but still added up. Knee is a bit better today, will take it really easy again and hope it doesn't get worse again.

Last night's full moon was a huge bright orange ball in the sky. The only thing beautiful from all the fires nearby.

[Gramto6]

7,006 steps yesterday.

Knee was better but still sore. It is better today, will baby it and hope to be pain free by tomorrow... Well, I can hope anyway!

I just realized I have an ace bandage tucked away that I never used. Wrapped my knee and it does help a lot!  Hope it doesn't cause any more problems. 

[Gramto6]

7,400 steps yesterday. An infrequent nice round number.

Wore the ace bandage for about 8 hours during the day and it did help quite a bit. Then I put on an Arnica patch later in the day and today knee actually does feel a lot better. Will wrap it again for a while today. 

Edited August 4, 2023 by Gramto6

[Gramto6]

7,012 steps yesterday.

The ace bandage is helping more than I thought it would. It isn't healing, more relieving, as a bit after I take it off, the pain is back but somewhat lessened.  I think a dr visit is going to be in my future. 😕

[Gramto6]

6,527 steps yesterday.

My knee was really sore but had some things I had to do. Will try to take it easier today. It is still sore today.  Hope I can hold out until Thurs when I see the new pcp. I think I need to see a knee specialist. At Bone & Joint would be my choice as that is where my hand dr is.

I just found out from a person on my diabetes forum that there are steroid shots for the knee that may well help. I'll need an x-ray which hopefully I can get at pcp. I am hoping I can get them as I am not ready to face knee replacement at this point in time.

Edited August 6, 2023 by Gramto6
typo

[Sandy W]

18 minutes ago, Gramto6 said:

6,527 steps yesterday.

My knee was really sore but had some things I had to do. Will try to take it easier today. It is still sore today.  Hope I can hold out until Thurs when I see the new pcp. I think I need to see a knee specialist. At Bone & Joint would be my choice as that is where my hand dr is.

I just found out from a person on my diabetes forum that there are steroid shots for the knee that may well help. I'll need an x-ray which hopefully I can get at pcp. I am hoping I can get them as I am not ready to face knee replacement at this point in time.

Hope the shots work for you if that is the direction Ortho Doctor recommends.

I went straight to knee replacement and have not looked back. 3 or 4 days in hospital and in home Physical Therapy for about 5 sessions. No return of pain and thankfully, only one knee was affected.

The only restriction I have is that it is very painful to kneel on that knee so have devised ways to clean the bathtub with a stiff broom and spray cleaner.

 

[Gramto6]

Thanks for that info @Sandy W! I will discuss this with ortho and see what dr thinks is best. I thought it was going to be a lot more time, and therapy involved. It may be something for me to consider after all.

[Yeah No]

4 hours ago, Gramto6 said:

Thanks for that info @Sandy W! I will discuss this with ortho and see what dr thinks is best. I thought it was going to be a lot more time, and therapy involved. It may be something for me to consider after all.

My father had the steroid shots and never needed the knee replacement.  In my case I would try the least invasive way first and if that doesn't work then consider surgery.  I have painful arthritis at the base of my left thumb where it joins the hand.  The periodic steroid shots help, but not enough, although I am postponing surgery myself just because of the hassle.  I think I'm going to have to have it eventually as it's becoming harder to compensate for the stuff my hand has difficulty doing anymore even with the shots.

[Gramto6]

Thanks @Yeah No! I am leaning towards the shots first and hoping to avoid the surgery.

I have had the shots (I know they are somewhat different) on my hands and they worked really well. I did have carpal tunnel surgery on both hands years ago and my hand dr says sometimes these trigger fingers come after a time after that surgery. He was saying my thumbs were arthritis, but recently thought maybe they too were trigger like my middle fingers.

My first round of shots on my hands lasted 10 years up until my last fall which I guess really aggravated my hands. If shots in my knee work that long, I'm 74, I can wait and see what happens before jumping right to surgery.

[MaddyMaeboxerbabe]

Both my mom and my former MIL went the shot route.   The first shot lasted about 4 mos.  Second 3 mos.  Then my MIL opted for surgery.   My mom tried many different things including PRP and held out for several years before surgery.   Obviously talk to your doctor and see what they advise.   
 

my MIL at now 84 is trying to put off shoulder surgery but she has reached her pain threshold   She lives 1/2 across the county from relatives and is concerned about not having anyone.  

The joys of aging 😱.   

[Gramto6]

6,616 steps yesterday.

Knee still an issue, yesterday I went back to the Aspercreme with Lidocaine applications. Seemed to help some. Just cycling through all the other things I've tried trying to get by until Thursday when I see pcp.

 

Thanks @MaddyMaeboxerbabe! I have reached the limit of the pain I can tolerate w/out shots or "shudder" surgery, that is why I am going to seek out an answer from a dr.  I see my new pcp on Thurs and hope to get a beginning of answers from her. 

I appreciate the input from both of you @Yeah No & @MaddyMaeboxerbabe!

Edited August 7, 2023 by Gramto6

[altopower]

@Gramto6 - you're doing great on your steps!  I've been away from the boards for a while and can really see those numbers rising over the weeks. Good job!

I now have two new medical issues: lipedema and lymphedema. Yayy me. I'm now wearing fancy expensive custom compression garments made in Germany that seem to be doing a good job of squishing my legs and forcing out some extra fluid, so I'm peeing all the time. I'm being fitted this week for sleeves for my lower body and a pump to do steady compression squeezing for an hour a day. That had to wait until the vein doctors approved, since I also have 2 blood clots in the same leg.

Tomorrow I have an appt with a bariatric surgeon about getting a gastric sleeve. I have my list of questions and hope I get them answered and that the process here isn't crazy. Every clinic does this differently, both pre- and post-op. Would appreciate your positive energy on this, my friends.

 

[Gramto6]

Sending you good thoughts @altopower!  Hope things settle down for you soon.

Thanks re the steps! I do what I can on any given day. Some days are much better than others.  I am happy any day I can do anywhere close to my daily goal which is now 7,000 though I don't push to get there.

[Gramto6]

6,078 steps yesterday.

Went grocery shopping yesterday and the sushi guy was making fresh sushi. I just had to have the eel and California roll combo. Besides the shopping, I took it really easy. Knee is a constant pain. Hope I can get OK'd for the shots!! Will be an easy day today.

[TurtlePower]

Have any of you ever been on beta blockers? They put me on them because of my anxiety and tendency to throw irregular rhythms (PVCs, PACs).

This was a bad idea. My heart rate is already low (it rests in the 50s naturally) and yesterday I passed out during a workout because my heart couldn’t keep up with the load. Talk about scary. My resting hr on that medication was in the low 40s.

Needless to say I’m no longer taking that. I’m so scared of medications but also can’t handle my anxiety. 

[Gramto6]

7,743 steps yesterday.

Tried to take it easy, but with the bug spray people coming I had to move all the cat feeding and water dishes out of harm's way. Plus move their boxes that they sleep/play in. Up and down the steps several times and then of course once spray was dry, I had to do all that in reverse. Ended up doing a lot more than I thought and knee didn't like it. Dr on Fri (not Thurs as I thought before) hope I can get shot process started.

The bug tech found a huge yellow jacket/black hornet nest, the size of a volleyball, on the far side of the garage. YIKES! It was empty, they were out doing their bug things. He knocked it down and destroyed it and sprayed the area well. He said they won't rebuild there. The best thing is the spray is not harmful to humans or animals!  I moved kitties food/water any way just 'cause.

@TurtlePower thanks for that question! I take and have taken Atenolol, a beta blocker, for years. After my last bad fall, for some reason, my then pcp doubled my dose with no real explanation. I did a "dr." google search and some of the things I am experiencing like dizziness, wheezing, and light chest pains among other things (stopped reading because I don't want to get worried) may be due to the med.  I haven't had any problems in the past I could notice, but now...I'm adding that to my list for the new pcp. It also mentioned maybe some liver problems and I have enough of those as it is!

I am very sensitive to medications so I think maybe the increased dose is a problem. As with all meds if there is an adverse reaction or just some "weirdness" it is wise to talk to the dr as soon as possible. I'd say passing out is a big reason to get that sorted out fast!

 

Edited August 9, 2023 by Gramto6
typo

[Ms.Lulu]

2 hours ago, TurtlePower said:

Have any of you ever been on beta blockers? They put me on them because of my anxiety and tendency to throw irregular rhythms (PVCs, PACs).

This was a bad idea. My heart rate is already low (it rests in the 50s naturally) and yesterday I passed out during a workout because my heart couldn’t keep up with the load. Talk about scary. My resting hr on that medication was in the low 40s.

Needless to say I’m no longer taking that. I’m so scared of medications but also can’t handle my anxiety. 

Yes, I take a modest dose twice a day for hypertension. My doc prescribed them as I also have anxiety and she said it would help both. 

My resting heart rate dropped to about 50. For the first 2 weeks I was so tired. I use my exercise bike 30 minutes a day and I found I could only go for 15 minutes at a rate that was much slower. My doctor had let me know that exercise would be difficult and I should ease up.

I was ready to go off it but my doc recommended I give it 30 days, and now it is fine. Hypertension and anxiety are both lower.

[Gramto6]

6,248 steps yesterday.

Finally some small success at taking it easier. Knee still so sore, can't wait to get it resolved.

[Absolom]

My to do list today: REST and check the fragile plants.

[MaddyMaeboxerbabe]

@Gramto6 When do you see your doc?  Hope it is soon!

[Gramto6]

1 hour ago, MaddyMaeboxerbabe said:

@Gramto6 When do you see your doc?  Hope it is soon!

Ironically, it was supposed to be tomorrow, but got a call at 9:50AM this morning that pcp had an opening at 10:20AM and asked if I wanted it?  Still in pj's sipping a coffee I jumped up and said YES!! Raced around and got there exactly on time (new pcp is very close)!

This was my yearly Medicare exam, but I brought up the knee and we will have another appointment in a month to address it. They do the shots right there. She lowered my Atenolol back to 50mg so it will also be a check to see how that is working.  So sore knee a bit longer, I'll just deal until then, I know help is coming soon.

There may be an issue with Medicare as this is exactly 365 days from last exam, but they said as long as it is in the same month coverage will be OK. I asked what if not? The bookkeeper said then they would write the bill off as I was doing them a favor by coming in early. Wow! We'll see how that really plays out...

Edited August 10, 2023 by Gramto6

[Gramto6]

5,791 steps yesterday.

Did take it easy, but knee not much better for it.  At least the treatment is within sight...
 

[Gramto6]

7,762 steps yesterday.

Leaking faucet in kitchen that I can't seem to find a plumber to fix resulting in lots of steps moving things around in the kitchen to clear counter. Then checking the faucet frequently to make sure not leaking. Found new plumbing company but they won't come for just the faucet. Grrr! Called my handyman and left message. He only works weekends so has a box for messages. Hope he can help. Not using that faucet once I got the drip to stop meant more steps to go from bathroom to kitchen with water.

Frustrating!

[MaddyMaeboxerbabe]

But how is your knee holding up with all those extra steps?   Hope you are able to take it easy today!

[Gramto6]

5 hours ago, MaddyMaeboxerbabe said:

But how is your knee holding up with all those extra steps?   Hope you are able to take it easy today!

Yesterday not so good. but today I have a rhythm going filling up hugs jugs of water to keep at kitchen sink, or heat in the microwave for hot water. At lot less steps, thank goodness! Taking it as easy as possible today.

No word from handyman, but it is August and he may be on vacation.  I can get by for now or until someone else recommends a plumber that can come and fix the faucet. I think it is just gaskets that may need replacing. Faucet is only 4-5 years old maybe not even that. At least it isn't leaking under the sink, just the faucet.

Thanks for thinking of me @MaddyMaeboxerbabe!

Edited August 13, 2023 by Gramto6

[Gramto6]

5,947 steps yesterday.

Really tried to take it easy, did fairly well. I'm going to try again today to do the same. The more I walk, the more knee aches, the more knee hurts the more I compensate for that and the more my back hurts. 

I'm not going for any specific # today, but because my phone is always in my pocket, I will have a count at the end of the day.

[ginger90]

1 minute ago, Gramto6 said:

5,947 steps yesterday.

Really tried to take it easy, did fairly well. I'm going to try again today to do the same. The more I walk, the more knee aches, the more knee hurts the more I compensate for that and the more my back hurts. 

I'm not going for any specific # today, but because my phone is always in my pocket, I will have a count at the end of the day.

Are you using your cane in the house at all?

[Gramto6]

36 minutes ago, ginger90 said:

Are you using your cane in the house at all?

Yes, I am, not every time I walk around, but I do when my knee is really acting up. It does help so I am glad I got it.

[Yeah No]

I just wanted to report that after all this time I am about 99% positive that my water pill was causing my dizziness and probably was also behind that episode of vertigo I had a few months back.  I have since been able to go back to taking a little less than half the dose with no side effects.  The only problem is that I'm still about 2-3 lbs. over my "low" weight of a few months back.  I'm sure that's water weight gain thanks to the warm weather and cutting back on the water pill.  And this is despite staying on the diet and averaging about 7,000 steps a day at this time of year.  All I can say is "whatever", it's nothing new for me to gain in the Summer for no reason, it just sucks.

I'm still intending to make an appointment with one of those fibroid embolization doctors at my local hospital but I've been having a busy summer so it will have to wait a couple of weeks until I have the time to look into it further.

@Gramto6, as you know I'm pretty sensitive to medications too.  Unfortunately the doctors prescribe some kind of average dose that is probably good for a very non-sensitive male "reference guy", but that is often too strong for women.  I just read that more women are sensitive to medications than men.  Just about every older female friend I have considers themselves sensitive to medications while none of the men I know do.  I personally don't think we are, we are just women and the dose that the average man can tolerate is going to be too much for us.  Unfortunately, though, these drugs work best when taken in the higher doses which is yet another way we are put at a disadvantage as women.

[Absolom]

I have one doctor who is very attuned to this.  He uses a combination of height and weight for medication doses.  If I lose 10 pounds or more, he recalculates.  I wonder if it's because he's around 6'5" and needs a higher dose than average.  

[altopower]

Speaking of weight, I've been approved for gastric sleeve surgery after I jump through Medicare's hoops. All insurance companies have them, so I'm not surprised at all. I have to have a psych evaluation, which thankfully I can do via telemed, and an exercise consult. And two visits with their dietician two weeks apart. After all of that is met, I'll have a pre-op consult with the surgeon and then they'll schedule surgery which will probably be in early October. In the meantime, I'm on a restricted pre-op food plan, counting and tracking calories, protein, carbs, fats, and water. I'm slowly cleaning out the kitchen of things I won't be eating or using - and even sold my lovely red KitchenAid mixer. It's serious this time.

[Yeah No]

1 hour ago, altopower said:

Speaking of weight, I've been approved for gastric sleeve surgery after I jump through Medicare's hoops. All insurance companies have them, so I'm not surprised at all. I have to have a psych evaluation, which thankfully I can do via telemed, and an exercise consult. And two visits with their dietician two weeks apart. After all of that is met, I'll have a pre-op consult with the surgeon and then they'll schedule surgery which will probably be in early October. In the meantime, I'm on a restricted pre-op food plan, counting and tracking calories, protein, carbs, fats, and water. I'm slowly cleaning out the kitchen of things I won't be eating or using - and even sold my lovely red KitchenAid mixer. It's serious this time.

How long have you been on the diet?  It's really hard in the beginning but I got used to it.  I was starving all the time for at least a month!  Now when I go to restaurants I think the portions are ginormous and way too big for me.  Just yesterday we ate out at a restaurant and I had a 5 oz. sirloin steak entrée that I used to think was a skimpy portion.  Now I think it's huge!  Of course that was my "meal of the day" yesterday.  It's not easy being on this kind of diet and trying to live a somewhat normal life.  I have all kinds of strategies I use to stay within my calorie restrictions.  It does get easier with time and I don't have to put nearly as much effort into it as I did in the beginning.  I stick to a known repertoire of dishes and portion sizes. 

I am very happy and excited to hear about your surgery.  Keep posting and letting us know how it goes.  (((hugs)))🤗🤗🤗

[altopower]

34 minutes ago, Yeah No said:

How long have you been on the diet?

Thanks for the support, @Yeah No!  I've only been using the one from the Bariatrics office for a week, but started a month ago paring down because I knew this was coming. I'm eating under 1200 calories. The protein is no problem but cutting carbs is brutal. The idea of not eating much fruit is alien to this veteran Weight Watcher. But it makes sense. So far on my own scale I've lost almost 15 lbs which makes me happy. 

You're right that it's easier to do with practice. I'm really trying to listen to my body to see if/when I'm hungry, and to stop eating when I'm not. I know, sounds so obvious, but when I'm bored, I eat. Now I just get another bottle of water. My biggest success has been weaning completely off of coffee, diet soda, and all carbonation. Again, I knew this was coming so I started about 2 months ago.

Edited August 13, 2023 by altopower
Thought of something to add

[ginger90]

7 hours ago, Gramto6 said:

Yes, I am, not every time I walk around, but I do when my knee is really acting up. It does help so I am glad I got it.

Are you using it on the opposite side of the knee that’s giving you trouble? I think I’ve mentioned this before, but many people don’t realize this. 

[Gramto6]

2 hours ago, ginger90 said:

Are you using it on the opposite side of the knee that’s giving you trouble? I think I’ve mentioned this before, but many people don’t realize this. 

Oops! No, I have never used one or been around anyone using one so I didn't know that. Thanks!! I will do it correctly from now on. Odd thing is it just did't quite feel "right" on the same side... You learn something new every day!

@altopower, wishing you good luck with your surgery and success on all the prep required. I am sending good thoughts your way for a good outcome...

Edited August 14, 2023 by Gramto6