Thrive Without Janelle: The Accountability Group

[xwordfanatik]

Now that's a home remedy I've never heard of!  😊  Let us know if it works!

[Absolom]

Might as well go proper old lady and put brandy in the tea.  Just don't go walking afterward.

[Gramto6]

3,360 steps yesterday.

Yesterday I took the full dose of the drunken raisins (9 raisins) and my knee actually does feel better today. I spaced them out 3 in the morning, 3 afternoon and 3 evening. Will see how it goes over time.

[Roslyn]

20 minutes ago, Gramto6 said:

3,360 steps yesterday.

Yesterday I took the full dose of the drunken raisins (9 raisins) and my knee actually does feel better today. I spaced them out 3 in the morning, 3 afternoon and 3 evening. Will see how it goes over time.

I know two people with arthritis that swear that tonic water helps them. One of those people is my husband and he drinks gin and tonics because he loves them and he says he has better mobility the next day. My other friend can drink straight tonic water and skips the alcohol.

Maybe a drunken raisin (gin) and tonic 😉

[Gramto6]

I do also enjoy the occasional gin & tonic too. :)

[xwordfanatik]

I'm pretty much a wine drinker, but Mr. X enjoys Southern Comfort now and then.

I did my 2.5 mile walk today, and since it's unseasonably warm here (mid to high 70's all week) I got to enjoy neighbors' Halloween decorations.  Some of them go all out.  We did some of that when our daughter was young.  I'm liking the warmer weather.  Sometimes, I wish we could afford to be snowbirds, and have two homes, mostly when the weather is freezing or below for the daily high temp.  

[ginger90]

10 minutes ago, xwordfanatik said:

I'm pretty much a wine drinker, but Mr. X enjoys Southern Comfort now and then.

I did my 2.5 mile walk today, and since it's unseasonably warm here (mid to high 70's all week) I got to enjoy neighbors' Halloween decorations.  Some of them go all out.  We did some of that when our daughter was young.  I'm liking the warmer weather.  Sometimes, I wish we could afford to be snowbirds, and have two homes, mostly when the weather is freezing or below for the daily high temp.  

My ex husband and his current wife moved from Pennsylvania to Arizona, and they are now in Utah. I find it hysterical because of this show. 😁 

[Gramto6]

3,777 steps yesterday. The drunken raisins seem to be helping the pain.  I guess you can't totally discount the old wives healing methods. 

[Absolom]

They aren't healing though.  The alcohol is temporary pain relief.

[crazycatlady58]

37 minutes ago, Absolom said:

They aren't healing though.  The alcohol is temporary pain relief.

You can not heal arthritis. Temporary pain relief if better than no pain relief. 

[Absolom]

Some arthritis can actually be healed, but not osteoarthritis.  I personally have second and third thoughts on the downside of using alcohol for pain relief for a chronic condition.  I'm not telling anyone else what to do or not to do, but I won't resort to that method except on rare occasions.  

[Gramto6]

The raisins, about a cup of them steeped in a cheese covered jar with about 3/4 c of gin for 2 weeks. Most of the gin has evaporated away or been absorbed. I don't feel 9 raisins a day as excessive use of alcohol. This has worked the best of all the creams, patches, cortisone shots to relieve my pain. Sorry if it offends you, but pain relief is my objective.

[lookeyloo]

36 minutes ago, Gramto6 said:

The raisins, about a cup of them steeped in a cheese covered jar with about 3/4 c of gin for 2 weeks. Most of the gin has evaporated away or been absorbed. I don't feel 9 raisins a day as excessive use of alcohol. This has worked the best of all the creams, patches, cortisone shots to relieve my pain. Sorry if it offends you, but pain relief is my objective.

Gramto6 - I can't remember but I think you said you had no alternatives to fixing the problem?  And temporary pain relief is your only option?  I had a bad hip that I was reluctant to address and when I finally did it was life changing.  I was sad I waited so long because my life improved dramatically. I wish you could have the same.

[Gramto6]

11 minutes ago, lookeyloo said:

Gramto6 - I can't remember but I think you said you had no alternatives to fixing the problem?  And temporary pain relief is your only option?  I had a bad hip that I was reluctant to address and when I finally did it was life changing.  I was sad I waited so long because my life improved dramatically. I wish you could have the same.

Thanks, that is basically what the ortho said at the Bone and Joint Clinic. He figured the shot would make it better and it did for about a week.  Then back in extreme pain.

I read a lot about the drunken raisins and there seems to be some sort of chemical reaction between the extra large golden raisin (sulphur content) and the evaporated gin. So far they are the best pain reliever.

I have tried Arnica, Aspercreme w/Lidocaine, Badger Sore Joint Rub, Salonpas patches Pain removing variety, Solanpas patches with Lidocaine, Tiger Balm, Max Relief Arnica cream with Eucalyptus and Emu oil, Chinese White Flower Oil, Advil, Aleve and nothing has worked as well for as long as the raisins have. And they don't make me feel the least bit drunk... 

I live alone, widowed since 1997, I have no one to take me to dr appointments much less a surgery and care after. Knee replacement was never mentioned by the dr so no idea if it is even an option.

For now as long as the raisins are working, that is what I will use.

[Absolom]

1 hour ago, Gramto6 said:

Sorry if it offends you, but pain relief is my objective.

I'm not offended at all.  Far from it.  Like I said it isn't for me, but that's just me and I'm not trying to tell other people how to treat themselves.  I may offer a suggestion now and again, but absolutely everyone is free to let them go by.  

[ginger90]

@Gramto6 perhaps your primary doctor can refer you to a rheumatologist.

[deirdra]

On 10/15/2022 at 12:44 PM, Gramto6 said:

Yesterday I took the full dose of the drunken raisins (9 raisins) and my knee actually does feel better today. I spaced them out 3 in the morning, 3 afternoon and 3 evening. 

Do you just soak the raisins in enough gin to plump them up?  Before the liquor stores were privatized in Alberta in the 1990s, the government liquor stores & Alberta Health Services worked together allowing seniors one bottle of free booze per month "for medicinal purposes". Brandy for tea or gin for raisins or whatever little nip gave them a good night's sleep and lessened their aches and pains. The first morning of the month the liquor stores were full of senior ladies in their hats, coats, purses with health care cards at the ready looking like some sort of Monty Python sketch racing to the checkout. It probably did work to keep many out of the doctor's offices.

Edited October 16, 2022 by deirdra

[lookeyloo]

32 minutes ago, Gramto6 said:

Thanks, that is basically what the ortho said at the Bone and Joint Clinic. He figured the shot would make it better and it did for about a week.  Then back in extreme pain.

I read a lot about the drunken raisins and there seems to be some sort of chemical reaction between the extra large golden raisin (sulphur content) and the evaporated gin. So far they are the best pain reliever.

I have tried Arnica, Aspercreme w/Lidocaine, Badger Sore Joint Rub, Salonpas patches Pain removing variety, Solanpas patches with Lidocaine, Tiger Balm, Max Relief Arnica cream with Eucalyptus and Emu oil, Chinese White Flower Oil, Advil, Aleve and nothing has worked as well for as long as the raisins have. And they don't make me feel the least bit drunk... 

I live alone, widowed since 1997, I have no one to take me to dr appointments much less a surgery and care after. Knee replacement was never mentioned by the dr so no idea if it is even an option.

For now as long as the raisins are working, that is what I will use.

Hoping the raisins continue. Just wondering if replacement is an option can the clinic help with assistance. My bestie had knees replaced and husband was useless because he fainted at all that so the hospital connected her with sitters and then physical therapy was at her house. I went every day to be encouraging because husband asked me since we all knew this wasn't his thing.  Also if you are on Medicare or a variation there might be covered transportation to appointments. Wishing you a good solution you can manage. 

Edited October 16, 2022 by lookeyloo

[Gramto6]

You can google all sorts of drunken raisin recipes. What is what I have done is take a pint canning jar put about a cup of the extra large golden raisins in it and covered them with just enough gin to cover them. Cover the jar with cheese cloth, let the alcohol evaporate/absorb takes a couple of weeks.

Here in MT we have State Liquor stores, the only place you can buy hard liquor. You can get wine/beer in the grocery but no hard stuff.

[Gramto6]

3,669 steps yesterday. The raisins continue to work the best of anything I have tried.

[Gramto6]

4,127 steps yesterday. Just couldn't get out the door for errands so really have to go out today!

[Gramto6]

3,716 steps yesterday. Sick as a dog yesterday and couldn't go out, will have to see how today plays out to decide if I can get out.

[MaddyMaeboxerbabe]

Hope you feel much better today @Gramto6.  

[Gramto6]

4,667 steps yesterday. Feeling better, hopefully I will be able to go out today.

[Gramto6]

5,114 steps yesterday. Slept really late this morning after an uncomfortable night. Do feel even better today, but not sure if I will be up to going out today. I'd really like to have a totally nose bleed free day before venturing out.

Had a couple nose bleeds yesterday so stayed home. 

Edited October 21, 2022 by Gramto6
typo

[Gramto6]

4,696 steps yesterday. Feeling much better today, no bloody nose at all yesterday.  I must go out today, so the errands will most likely add to today's count.

[Gramto6]

6,648 steps yesterday. Errands really helped the count. So glad I was finally able to get out.  Today may not be as high...

Edited October 23, 2022 by Gramto6

[MaddyMaeboxerbabe]

How are your knees feeling today after the increased steps yesterday?

[Gramto6]

9 minutes ago, MaddyMaeboxerbabe said:

How are your knees feeling today after the increased steps yesterday?

Surprisingly not bad at all. I give credit to the drunken raisins. They are the best thing I have found for the pain which most days is totally nonexistent. When I do have a bit of pain I put on an organic patch and am fine.

[MaddyMaeboxerbabe]

Great news.  Glad you are doing so well!

[Gramto6]

7 minutes ago, MaddyMaeboxerbabe said:

Great news.  Glad you are doing so well!

Thanks! I can't quite believe it myself, but so far the raisins are working way better than anything else I have tried. And I have tried it all!!

[altopower]

56 minutes ago, Gramto6 said:

Thanks! I can't quite believe it myself, but so far the raisins are working way better than anything else I have tried. And I have tried it all!!

I may have to try the drunken raisins myself - I can't take my usual arthritis meds because I'm on Xarelto for a blood clot and those joints HURT. Glad to know the raisins are working for you.

[Gramto6]

27 minutes ago, altopower said:

I may have to try the drunken raisins myself - I can't take my usual arthritis meds because I'm on Xarelto for a blood clot and those joints HURT. Glad to know the raisins are working for you.

They work well for me! You can Google them, but what I do is put about a cup of the giant golden (must be golden) raisins in a pint canning jar, cover with gin (says must have juniper berries, but the juniper is what makes gin gin and not vodka), cover with cheese cloth, screw on the ring from the jar and let sit in cool dark place a couple of weeks or until most of the gin is absorbed/evaporated. Eat 9 a day ( I space out 3 - 3X a day). As weird as it sounds...it works for me!

The arthritis in my knee was  so painful I could hardly stand it and nothing, even cortisone shot helped. Since raisins...basically no pain at all.

Edited October 23, 2022 by Gramto6
added on to post

[Gramto6]

3,840 steps yesterday. Took it a bit easy after errand day.

[Gramto6]

3,576 steps yesterday.

[altopower]

I'm at 4,853 steps which is really funny because I'm in a wheelchair! I do some limited walking and standing, but most of the time I'm rolling my way around. Somehow my Fitbit has figured out a way to count that as steps. Must investigate further.

[Gramto6]

4,463 steps yesterday.

That is amazing @altopower!

[Gramto6]

Only 3,051 steps yesterday. 2 nose bleeds kept me sitting quietly with as little movement as possible.

[Gramto6]

4,245 steps yesterday.  No nose bleeds all day, YAY! Hoping for the same today.

[Gramto6]

3,628 steps yesterday. Again took it easy after a nose bleed.  Accidentally put on a patch overnight last night that had camphor in it. Camphor is my enemy!

[Pickleinthemiddle]

On 10/28/2022 at 11:42 AM, Gramto6 said:

4,245 steps yesterday.  No nose bleeds all day, YAY! Hoping for the same today.

Just a question.  Do you take fish oil?  I've read that it can cause nose bleeds if you have to take a higher dose.  Plus in the winter time the dry air seems to bother my nose.  

[Gramto6]

2 minutes ago, Pickleinthemiddle said:

Just a question.  Do you take fish oil?  I've read that it can cause nose bleeds if you have to take a higher dose.  Plus in the winter time the dry air seems to bother my nose.  

No don't take fish oil. I have pots of water sitting on several heater vents to keep the moisture up. I really should probably invest in a humidifier...

[Yeah No]

I just wanted to pop in to say that I've been doing my own "Thrive without Janelle" and without Plex-ass either!  I started a medical weight loss program through my local hospital to lose the 30 lbs. I gained in the first 2 years of the pandemic.  They put me on a low glycemic diet, which actually wasn't that different from what I was already doing, just with fewer starchy carbs and slightly smaller portion sizes.  It's very easy to follow and doesn't involve counting calories or anything too specific or restrictive, at least for me.  They tried putting me on Metformin but I got so sick on half of the lower dose that I didn't want to try another dose (my doctor agreed). I'm generally sensitive to a lot of medications.   I'm not diabetic and my blood sugar is not bad, just hovering on the border between normal and "yellow zone", but they prescribe it to help with weight loss.   I've lost about 6 lbs. since Sept. 12 without it - 9 lbs. since May (which was before I started the diet).  It's been excruciatingly slow in coming off but that's typical for me even with 3-7,000 steps and eating about 12-1,300 calories a day. 

It just happened that at the same time I started this diet my husband found out he's a type 2 diabetic.  He was put on the same diet so it's great that we're both doing this together.  It's not great that he's a diabetic but it finally got him to start eating healthier when I'm not around and his blood sugar has come way down.  He's taking Metformin.  Of course he's lost a ton more weight than I have - which is typical for a man.  It's been good and bad having him do this with me.  Good because we support and help each other and eat the same meals, but frustrating for me because he loses weight so much faster than I do.  At least he doesn't sabotage my diet anymore - before this he used to beg me to order pizza, etc.  Thank goodness I don't have that kind of temptation right now.  I just bought a cauliflower crust frozen pizza - It's gluten/grain free and looks like it will fit into our diet.  We'll see how it is.  I do struggle with hunger sometimes.  I have my built-in "free" snacks but sometimes they don't help blunt the feeling.  

Anyway that's the story!  @Gramto6, I have a humidifier and it's helped a lot in the colder months with a dry nose.  

Edited October 30, 2022 by Yeah No

[Gramto6]

3,511 steps yesterday. One light nose bleed...from nothing I can think of...

I'm definitely going to look at humidifiers on Amazon!

Good for you @Yeah No, glad you are seeing success even if it is at a slower rate than DH.

[Yeah No]

7 hours ago, Gramto6 said:

3,511 steps yesterday. One light nose bleed...from nothing I can think of...

I'm definitely going to look at humidifiers on Amazon!

Good for you @Yeah No, glad you are seeing success even if it is at a slower rate than DH.

Thank you, and guess what?  I woke up this morning and the scale reflected another pound lost so that makes 10 lbs. altogether!  Woo hoo!!

Re: Humidifiers - I went down that rabbit hole on Amazon and then ended up getting a relatively cheap Vicks warm mist humidifier at Walmart.  Best decision I ever made.  It's relatively inexpensive, easy to keep clean, doesn't build up bacteria that much and I like the warm mist better than the cool mist because I found the cool mist made my bedroom colder, which in the cold weather is not a good thing.

BTW, Gram, you are an inspiration and believe it or not your daily posts help keep me motivated.

[Gramto6]

Thanks for the link @Yeah No.  And thanks for saying I motivate you. I have gone so far down from where I was a year ago it is depressing to me. I do what I can and if I could do more I would. My thing is nowadays is to just listen to my body and do what I can any given day. It is really hard for me as I have always been very active.

[ginger90]

If I were in need of a humidifier due to bloody nose, I’d go with a cool mist. Also, using distilled or purified water in it is a good idea.

[Yeah No]

4 hours ago, ginger90 said:

If I were in need of a humidifier due to bloody nose, I’d go with a cool mist. Also, using distilled or purified water in it is a good idea.

Oh yeah I use distilled water in mine, available in Walmart because I'm told that the minerals in non-distilled water can gunk up the humidifier.  I haven't had nosebleeds myself but my nose does get very dry in the Winter and my father suffered from them in the Winter every now and then later in his life, like after 80, although he never had them enough to go out and get a humidifier.  If the humidifier doesn't help I'd consult a doctor.  Maybe anyway.

BTW Vicks makes a cool mist model too.

Also using a simple and inexpensive saline mist like Ayr is good for keeping nasal passages moist which can prevent nosebleeds.

Edited October 31, 2022 by Yeah No

[Gramto6]

4,192 steps yesterday. No bloody nose...

I do use Ayr gel for my nose, the pharmacist recommended it when I first started getting the bloody nose problem. Not sure it helps that much though.

[Yeah No]

On 10/30/2022 at 10:29 PM, Gramto6 said:

Thanks for the link @Yeah No.  And thanks for saying I motivate you. I have gone so far down from where I was a year ago it is depressing to me. I do what I can and if I could do more I would. My thing is nowadays is to just listen to my body and do what I can any given day. It is really hard for me as I have always been very active.

I hear you.  I used to be an avid cyclist but haven't been able to keep up with that in the past 8 years or so since my weight gain.  So I switched to walking but in the past year or so I can't seem to manage more than about 7,000 steps a day at my very best.  Today was pretty average at 4,468 steps.  Last year an average day was more like 6,000.  I don't know why either.  Like you I listen to my body and do what I can in any given day.  Right now I am nursing a sore foot.  I think it got sore rubbing against my sneakers.  One side effect of losing weight is that my shoes are a little looser, but that means there's a little more rubbing and I didn't notice any issue until it suddenly got to the "ow" stage.  So it seems like it's always something and I too can't seem to get back to where I used to be.

And then there are days I stay home and do work in the house, so I don't wear my watch.  Even when home I am rarely a couch potato but I do have on and off work to do online with my Ebay selling.  I'm hoping to increase my step count but I figure at 64 I'm not doing so bad.  My doctors all think I'm doing great, even the weight loss doctor.  I also do all the grocery shopping and cooking in the house and that's a lot of exercise too, not to mention sharing in the cleaning with my husband.  But those things eat into my step count too because I can't seem to do both anymore at the same rate as I used to.  If I spend a day at home doing housework I can't seem to get in as many steps.  As my father used to say, "It sucks to get old but it sure beats the alternative!"

11 hours ago, Gramto6 said:

4,192 steps yesterday. No bloody nose...

I do use Ayr gel for my nose, the pharmacist recommended it when I first started getting the bloody nose problem. Not sure it helps that much though.

I never tried the gel.  I use the spray which gets up into the nostrils and keeps them from drying out.  I think the gel is only applied to the outside of the nose unless you use the "gel spray".  I think there are prescription sprays that might be better although I like the Ayr because it's more natural and there are fewer potential side effects.

Edited November 1, 2022 by Yeah No