lillybelle52's Journal

Back from vacation

Dec 06 2008 09:37

Back from my two week vacation in Illinois with my ex-inlaws..., have stayed very close with them since the 20 year divorce.., have known them for 38 years, so had a fantastic time. My sons gave me the trip for my Christmas, and I had such a great time they are sending me out for three weeks next year. The only drawback..., my kitty missed me so much..., I have been wearing her since I've come home..., she won't leave me alone.., she thinks I'm leaving again. Poor baby!

Had my severe water retention issue while on my holiday.., saw my doc the day I came home and he put me on the Zaroxolyn, the super-dooper diuretic (the one that zapped so much fluid and potassium out of me the last time I took it, I ended up in the hospital for three days). I lost 9 pounds in 2.5 days and was back at the doc's, losing fluid and potassium too fast again, so he gave me a liter of IV fluids and a bolus of potassium. I've lost 10.2 pounds of fluid so far..., in just 3.5 days. I'm feeling pretty weak and dizzy..., so doc told me to "lay low" for the weekend and not to take any more of the diuretic, but continue to take my 100 mg of Lasix. He said my veins are weakened from my heart attack 4 years ago, and occasionally I will have this problem and I will just have to deal with it...., and yes, I will probably have to take the Zaroxolyn again..., it's the only drug to treat severe fluid retention...., save for slapping me in the hospital and treating me there and they just don't do that anymore unless I'm really, really severe. Anyway, I have ankles and feet back again..., what a wonderful feeling. My calves and my knees are even less swollen, I have half way normal legs again. Praise the Lord.

Hope everyone else has been healthy and happy!!!! And, had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Bummer, water retaining back!

Nov 06 2008 06:03

Now I'm starting to get the diabetic meal planning and walking exercise plan in motion, and thrown into the mix I'm retaining water big time! I don't know what the deal is. My feet are puffed up like balloons. I'm so depressed I just want to cry. I've gained 4 pounds in one day. Piffel!!!!!! Or, actually I could say alot worse!! But, not on public air waves (hee, hee)!

I'm up to walking 20 minutes twice a day, which is pretty good. There for a few days my blood sugar was way up after meals. The nurse told me to get it down to go for a walk, and I'll be darned the lady was pretty smart, it worked. I had lost two pounds and now with this stupid water issue I really don't know where I stand. I will just tough it out again and go with the flow. If I get upset about it, it just ruins everything and then I may chance messing up my meal plans, which would be a huge "no-no"!

My sleeping has been going alot better, Yipee!!!! I have actually had nights where I have slept 4 hours straight in one shot, gotten up, and went back to sleep and slept another 3 hours. Now, that is a miracle!!!!! I am so happy, I'm doing my little "Snoopy Dance"!!!! Can you see my puffy little feet dancing all over the floor? (hee, hee)

Trick or treat, smell my feet!

Nov 01 2008 08:54

That used to always crack me up....., now, last night my grandkids were saying it, "smell my feet, give me something good to eat..., and then there was even a new verse about smelly underwear..., I didn't catch that part, they were always laughing so hard when they said it, I couldn't understand what they were saying. Little funny pants!! Went trick or treating with my 6 and 8 year olds, and boy did I get my exercise last night, but it was so much fun, it was a blast!! They got tons of candy. And, trick or treating in a small town, we don't have to worry about the candy, we know everybody who we go to, it's people I've known my entire life. And, then they shut all the businesses down and the kids can trick or treat them. That part was really fun. My daughter-in-law and I even got some apple cider and a hot dog. Great night!!

Made it through my first three days on my diabetic lifestyle. I can do this thing!! I haven't lost any weight yet. I'm planning on increasing my walking alot next week, and I'm hoping that will make a difference. I'm just learning as I go. But, I stayed under on my 12 carb units all three days, so I know that I can handle that. Now, I just have to get used to get the right amount of protein and fiber and fat and I should have this under control.

New diabetic lifestyle, I can do this!

Oct 29 2008 17:28

Today was the first day of the rest of my life! I've heard that said so many times before, but this is the first time that it really made any sense for me! I think I did pretty good, I stayed right at the 12 carb units for the day, although I ate some pretty strange, unplanned things, thanks to Mom, the eternal sweet tooth Queen. Between my mom and my sister for eating sweets I don't know who is the bigger culprit. I myself could do without sweets. I had oatmeat for breakfast, 2 units; Mom and I went to wellness and exercised and then went to McDonalds for coffee, but since it was close to dinner Mom wanted to eat so we had the new Southern Chicken sandwich, I blew 3 units there, and Mom wanted a sundae. I knew I had enough units for a desert, so I got one too. I don't know why I did, I'm not really an ice cream fan, but I had a carmel ice cream sundae, it was pretty good, that shot 4 units. So, I'm already up to 9 units. Then, for supper I had a baked potato which took care of another 2 units, putting me at 11 and a half cut of acorn squash, plus 1, so that is 12. My protein for the day I had a cubed steak for supper and one for a snack, just because I did not have very much protein today. So, I kept to the 12 units of carbs today. Now, I just have to figure out my meal plans with my carbs and proteins and fibers to make a balance meal plan. This is going to take some home work. But, atleast I don't have to buy any special food.

I go to another teaching class on Nov 11 and the nurses are supposed to be calling me for a teaching class with them. I imagine they will call me tomorrow. I just have to get my walking regimen in place and I think I can do this OK. I there are tons of other people that live like this and survive, so I know that I can too.

I just have to pump up my confidence and go at this like it is a new project! I always like starting new projects. I consider them a challenge, so right now, this is my challenge.

Diabetic training today

Oct 28 2008 22:01

Well, my lab tests were blood sugar: 149; A1C: 6.0; Cholesterol: 201. My chol. has come down 14 points, and I am a mild diabetic. I went for my education class today with the dietician. It was extremely helpful. I don't feel so totally lost as far as meal planning and all this business of how many carbs to eat during the day. She cleared that all up for me. Now, the game plan is to follow the 12 unit of carbs per day and get my weight down as fast as I possibly can. My weight is going to make the biggest difference on being alble to keep my blood sugar stable. And, as far as the proteins and fibers, those I can watch myself during the day, so I can still try to get around 40 gr. of proteins and 25 gr of fiber. That I can handle. I think I can do this diebetic meal plan program, well, I have to follow it, this is my lifestyle now.

Yea, I lost weight!

Oct 24 2008 19:47

I was dubious to hop on the old scale this morning..., but I was surprised.., I lost 2.8 pounds, putting me 3 pounds under my start weight. So, I think the water weight is finally starting to let up. My feet are still a little puffy, but not as bad. Maybe I'm on the end of this battle. Praise the Lord, for helping me through this long battle.

I talked to the nurse at my doc's office, she gave me the reports on my labs, but I don't have the official report from my doc. The blood tests look like I am diabetic. A1C was 6.5 and Blood sugar was 149, she didn't tell me my cholesterol, I'll get that from my doc. She said the doc would call this pm to let me know what he wants me to do as far as setting up appointment with dietician, diet, exercise.....all that is in my future...., and then he didn't call me. I should've called the office, but the time got away from me. I will call him on Monday afternoon if I do not hear from him.

I sure feel alot better knowing what's going on for sure with the diabetic deal. Now, I know what to plan for. I just have to wait for the doc to call so I can set up the training/teaching class with the dietician and get this show on the road.

Water Weight Puddle Muddle!

Oct 21 2008 16:25

I'm still muddling with my water weight! I'm up one pound from two days ago. I wasn't going to weigh until Friday. But, my ankles are so overly puffy I thought I'd better. Yes, it is a bit frustrating. The water pills just aren't kicking in as fast as they usually do.

My blocked salivary duct is clearing up. The swollen gland is just now starting to go down and the pain is improving. I'm glad for that . It was kind of scary, it came on all of a sudden. I'm glad it didn't happen over the weekend. I have three more days of antibiotics to take. So, it should be all cleared up by then.

Had great news yesterday. Went to court to finalize my divorce. After being separated for 10 years, I'm now officially divorced. I'm thankful it's over with. I'm taking my previous name back so my name is the same as my kids and my grandkids, I'm also very happy about that. Yesterday was a very, very good day! All things come to an end one way or another.

I'm looking forward to getting this water weight and maybe some weight off by Friday, I'm being very positive about this, with watching what I'm eating and with my exercising. I'm not going to weigh again until Friday, so I'll just have to wait and see. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Darned Water Weight!!!!

Oct 19 2008 18:44

I did my Friday weigh in and again to my dismay my water weight is coming back on. My weight is up .8 pound. My feet are still very swollen, I was just hoping my weight hadn't gone up. Phoooooooey!!!!!!!!! I've belonged for a whole month and I've lost 1.2 pounds. Atleast, I haven't gained that weight. I guess I can look at it from that perspective. OK, quit grumbling!!

Had a bizarre thing happen a couple of days ago. I had difficulty swallowing during breakfast and I noticed a swelling in my right jaw area, it was very sore. I went to my doc and I have a blocked salivary duct and an infected salivary gland. He put me on antibiotics, moist warm packs to my jaw area, and I'm to eat sour stuff like dill pickles and suck lemon drops to help overproduce saliva to work saliva duct loose and work the pus out. Crazy thing turned out to be a big "owie". It is really sore. The swollen gland is the size of a golf ball. I hope it clears up fast with the antibiotics. Dumb stuff!!

My sleep is a little bit better. I've been sleeping a couple hours the first time I lay down, then I'm up a bit, and then I have been sleeping around 4 hours and end up getting up around 5, up for a couple hours, and then I can lay down for a couple more. So, there are days I might get 8 hours of sleep, in about 3 different shots. Which might be what will be my sleep patten. I see my doc who prescribes my psych meds on Wed. She has one more pill she might try me taking an hour before I go to bed to kind of quiet me down. I also will have blood drawn that day for cholesterol and A1C and blood sugar to find out for sure if I am diabetic or not.

Otherwise, had a pretty good week at wellness did the entire resistance weight room circuit. It takes a good 30 minutes and then I walk 20 minutes on the treadmill, so right now that is my workout. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I'm trying to go out and use Mom's treadmill, and on the weekends on one day, I will try and use her treadmill.

Begin the turkey run,

Oct 14 2008 17:00

Yesterday, I switched over to eating ground white turkey meat, turkey burgers. It has half the fat and half the calories as the ground beef I was eating. The price is the same. The turkey burgers I ate 5 years ago were horrible, but Honeysuckle white meat is really tasty, I like it. Ate more veggies and rice and celery yesterday also. Trying to get my fat% under 20%. Kind of frustrated about my analysis, it was still at 40% when I ran it last night. I'm hoping today will be better. I ate MORE veggies and MORE rice....., so we'll see how I come out. This is all NEW to me. I'm just going to have to keep trying different things and see what is working.

And, the fact that I have pre-diabetic symptoms from that stupid Seroquel that I was on for over 4 years. The doc is very concerned that I get my weight down. They are weaning my off the Seroquel. I was almost off of it, but when I got sick in August, the antibiotic they had to put me on counteracted with my new bipolar meds, so I had to go back on the toxic Seroquel for a whole month. Now, I am being weaned off of it again. It took two months to wean me off of it last time. I don't think it will take that long this time. I hope not. I hope my blood sugar comes down with me coming off of the Seroquel also. Just another poopy thing to worry about. Nothing drastic. There have been people die from getting diabetes from taking the drug, I'm lucky, very lucky!!

My water weight is doing OK. I've not been putting more water weight on, I'm staying the same weight. The last time I weighed was Monday. Now, I'm not going to weigh again until Friday. I'm trying not to weigh myself only just once a week since my water retention isn't so crazy anymore. Sure cuts down on the daily stress factor of hopping on the scale every day!!

Otherwise feeling pretty good, been a really good last couple of days!!

Water Weight Coming Down

Oct 11 2008 16:40

Yeehaa!!! Another pound of water weight came off. I'm one pound under my start weight. The scale goes back in the bedroom..., and back to weighing only on Fridays. I'm stepping on that stupid scale everyday and getting myself all worked up over one silly pound up and one silly pound down. Those pounds don't really count anyway.

Got to the grocery store and did some revamping in buying. No more eating ground beef 3x a week just because it is a little cheaper and a easier to prepare, and quicker. Got some ground white turkey meat, whole turkey breast to fix in the crock pot, and some turkey sausage to fix some spaghetti. That should give me a little variety. Got some tuna, Healthy Select Campbell's soups, celery, yogurt, just some things I haven't been eating for awhile. Shake things up a bit. I know I can be losing weight faster than what I have been doing!

Had good news from my doc, I'm not low oxygen saturation while I'm sleeping. So, that's another illness I don't have that may be causing my sleep problems. He increased my sleep tab by one half pill. Last night I slept 7 hours straight, yipee!!! I felt so good when I got up this morning. I did a little happy "Snoopy dance", then I laid back down and slept another two hours, so that was nine hours all together. My body will hopefully get back in sleep shape. I hope the next few nights are more of the same. All I can do is pray. He is still stymied as to what is causing my insomnia. I'm going to increase my exercise also and see if that will help also.