Mom

[Tachi]

Diabetic...on the bloodwork right before my surgery the gluecose was at the upper limit. But my A1C1, which i've read and been told is what doctors use to diagnose diabetes is about in the middle. I think once things settle down for me and the new nutrition kicks in and I can get back to exercising again all those numbers will improve a bit. 

But my stress and anxiety wont go down until the estate is done and i have a new place to stay.

I may be crazy (Iam, but thats beside the point) but the sore in my foot is better. The redness is mostly gone. It was very red in a ring around the initial wound with some faint black around the edge. But the red seems mostly gone and the dark area seems faded. The other side with wat looks like fluid under the skin with red on the edges is the same. I have an appt with a PA, and really dont want to go as theyre not very good. But I also dont want to get sepsis or anything. I consider that my using hydrogen peroxide slowed the healing alot, dumb idea. And perhaps being immobile most of the day etc has decreased my blood flow. Slower healing. Will see what it looks like in the morning. If it looks like its healing I'll cancel my appt and stay home.

I have a big note on my calendar to sell 'as-is'. I cant afford to have that happen to me. My brother still hasnt decided what he wants to keep from the estate. Well, he kinda does but he doesnt want to pay shipping on it. 

Hows the burn? Tell the folks at Church I said you cant do anything til you heal. they should be taking better care of you. Wish we had some rain, nothing for us the next two weeks. But crazy enough we were 83 today and will hit 80 tomorrow. Supposed to be 50s to 70s the next two weeks. i keep hearing we are in a warm winter trend. I wont complain if we are mild all year.

Good thing Kodie is a cold weather pup. I'd hate to think if you had a chihuahua or something. 

I've always heard that cats are like women. You cant understand em or tell em what to do. So I guess men are like dogs. cats definitely stay a bit wild I think. Sounds like they enjoy each other's company. Panther can probably sense how sweet kodie is.

I think as we get farther along in life its easier to tweak small stuff. I know for me my muscles are out of shape and i've lost 25 pounds this past year so less cushion. We just have to be more careful I guess. 

Hoping your hands heal up well. And it doesnt get too cold or snow too much. It would be nice to have a few weeks of peace. Take good care.

 

 

[kayc]

They're predicting snow in a week, hoping nothing.  

Diabetes is insulin resistence, so taking meds for it actually increases insulin resistence, the only way to tackle it is through extremely low carb diet (I'm under 20 carbs/day), and don't believe the products they sell that say 20 carbs but only 1 net carb, they lie alot.  I cook everything from scratch, rare I eat any "products."  

Glucose can be affected by lack of sleep the night before, stress, etc.  Injuries/illness stress your body, which you've had your share of and then some, so I wouldn't be concerned unduly about the glucose reading, A1C is more telling. 5.6 and lower is normal.  Mine was 8.5 when I started this journey with Keto, 5.6 with meds, 5.7 without.  A1C also affected by stress/illness/injury, I've had the throat/tongue thing going on for over two years so that's definitely affected it.  

4 hours ago, Tachi said:

the sore in my foot is better.

Thank you, God!  So relieved!  Feet are so prone to infection, etc.  Keep doing whatever you're doing for it!  My hands are doing better, not well but healing bit by bit, palm is peeling a lot this week, underneath is tender.  Still taking care of them.

4 hours ago, Tachi said:

my using hydrogen peroxide slowed the healing alot

It often damages the skin.  They tout Polysporin and Vaseline nowadays...vaseline for preventative, Polysporin if fighting infection.  I'm amazed no one gave me an antibiotic, which is fine but sometimes wounds call for it!  My doctor's office apparently is last resort with that.  Which is good considering it throws your system out of whack, but hopefully they'd prescribe if necessary.

4 hours ago, Tachi said:

I wont complain if we are mild all year.

Me neither, it's been nine years since we've had a year like that!  Wow, 80s, that's unfathomable to be!  Yesterday 28 when I got up although they predicted 47, ha!  Today predicted 47, got 35.

Dish network came yesterday, ugh...swapped my receiver for a hopper, in and out in 20 min...first they said 8, then 8:45, then 9:30, then 10:30, came at 11:05. Were supposed to show me how it worked, nope!  5 phone calls later, each time holding, dealing with AI, etc.  Nothing makes sense, I liked the old one much better, this is nuts!  Not sure I'll ever figure out how/where to do anything, maybe in time, but right now it's like looking at a foreign language!

Hoping/praying no snow until my hands heal, at least nothing to shovel more than an inch or two.

Hope you have a good day, and take care of yourself!  I have to get groceries and go to the vet (both out of town) back at end of day.

[Tachi]

We are only focused on the liver/gall bladder now. Im tracking my sugar and its hard to stay under. But I will keep adjusting until I do. Read last night that too much sugar can hurt the liver. The Alkaline phosphatase is up from 145 to 190 and the ast and alt (I think) that also denote liver issues went up from mid twenties to 60s. So a marked increase. Doctor went on vacation so no one bothered to call me. She asked if i would come see her and also do an ultrasound. i explained that before we did alot I need to finish the estate. My feeling is very strong is that whatever may be wrong with me I must finish the estate before i were to get real sick or go into the hospital. So if I am going downhill fast i have to start the estate now. I also need to heal and gain strength. Her concern is that we need to see what this is and start working on it while its early. I see the point, she doesnt see mine. 

Anyway, she then said she would refer me to a GI doc and also an ultrasound. So I feel like i've offended her and she has washed her hands of me. But the referrals she sent didnt name a GI doctor so i cant do anything. I left a messge. That I've been told by another doctor is the next steps would be more bloodtests to check liver function and the ultrasound to look for swelling or signs of cancer. Then maybe more blood tests and if they think there could be cancer we do biopsies, which I dont want. Anyway, will take a few weeks i guess and in the meantime i can have all the anxiety i can handle. Tired of stress of health issues. I may be a fool but I still have a really hard time believing those numbers and that my liver/gall bladder have issues.

How are your hands doing? hopefully still healing. I used to get VitE and snip the end of the capsules and put on wounds to heal. I remember when i was a kid i smashed my thumb and the doc soaked it in a clear fluid. Wish i knew what that was, it worked well.

Ive become convinced doctors are more concerned with following a script than helping a patient. That's why I question everything. Doctors cant make you do anything but if you dont do what they ask they can drop you.

Dish knows you're stuck so they dont care. maybe see if the unit has a serial or model number and Google it. Do they have anything on their website. thats the worst service in the world.

How's your weather holding up? We're back to normal. high 50s and 60s and low 40s and 30s, seems way too warm. Do you have snow?

At least my incisions have healed. Going to have a nice little scar on the front. I tried to lift some 8 pound handweights andwas fine but can tell I as weak as ive ever been. Which is why I need to take some time and get stronger.

Does it seem to you that esp big companies dont care about customers anymore? They seem to think we exist for them.

Too bad theres no one close to shovel snow for you. opefully it doesnt snow for awhile. I think this week I will throw a jacket on and go rake some leaves. And start working on checking whats inside the house and then cleaning. Need to get a box of things packed and off to my brother. He wont want them because theyre not worth alot of money. he still wants the expensive things but cant figure out how to ship them out there. Theyre heavy and/or big and will cost him an arm and a leg. plus they have no room. He's crazy.

Take good care. hoping you get some warm temps and mild weather.

[kayc]

5 hours ago, Tachi said:

Dish knows you're stuck so they dont care.

I've figured it out, I just do NOT like it!  Their so called "improvements" are NOT!  But it's what I have to work with. 

5 hours ago, Tachi said:

How's your weather holding up? We're back to normal. high 50s and 60s and low 40s and 30s, seems way too warm. Do you have snow?

Supposed to have snow last night on all week, but doesn't look like we'll have much until Thursday.  Lots of winds though!  Got ready for church yesterday, went to walk Kodie and was I surprised!  45 mph winds up here (only 5 mph in Oakridge proper) and the streets as my place were COVERED in limbs, many of them huge!  drug them to the pile and on my way back from walking Kodie as much limbs came down that I'd picked up!  When I got home I realized any one of them could hit my car (or us) and decided to stay home.

5 hours ago, Tachi said:

Does it seem to you that esp big companies dont care about customers anymore?

I hate their AI recordings!  I mean, I HATE them!  It's so hard to get a real person, might take an hour and then they're foreign and you can't understand them, I hate when they speak quiet.  The last thing in the world you want is to hang up and start over!

I am very concerned about your health.  I know you don't want advice, but gosh it seems you'd prioritize your health over the estate...if you have cancer, Keto can heal that but you'd have to start asap to give it a chance.  Iris is doing amazing with hers.  She's been doing barometric pressure with hers as well, just started last week.  It's hard as far away as we live.  I, too, question everything doctors tell us as "answers/solutions" (which are anything but), I look up studies/findings myself.   Keep your carbs down as low as you can get, I struggle and I do under 20/day!  Mine is affected by this throat/tongue condition, over two years now, no answers yet.  Oh Scott, I care about you and don't want you facing any more health issues...you're too young for this!  I feel I've aged this year.  

Equifax had a data breach (I have a paid subscription with them since my identity was stolen 15 years ago, I feel they weren't safe enough with my info), anyway, I filed with them and I finally got my settlement (years in the making), I got a whopping $5.21 check, ha!  Can't even get a burger with that! 

I'm so glad your incisions are healed!  At least that's one off your bucket list!

[Tachi]

Dish knows they have you over a barrel. Companies dont care anymore. We exist to give them money. Glad you figured it out tho. It seems with tech now they try and make it easier but it just messes it up. they have too many features thinking that makes it better. Making it work easily makes it better.

Hope your weather calms down and the snow waits. thats some crazy kind of weather. We were upper 70s today and tomorrow so I got a bit of yardwork done. Going to try and wash off the patio furniture tomorrow.

They outsource customer service alot to India and my electric company...I dont know what theyve done but I just hope i dont have to call them ever again. First rule of CS is the customer has to be able to understand you.

I'm waiting for a re referral to a GI doctor. The pdf they sent didnt have a name. Then i will call my Ins company and make sure the doc and the ultrasound company are covered and some idea how much they will run. The ultrasound place they referred me too has several comments online about shady billing and thats scary. Will see if the doctor sends a new referral tomorrow and if not will leave a message wednesday. 

Thank you for your kind words. On the one hand its weird that something is wrong because I feel fine. But best to catch it now. My concern is a medical system that runs wild and once they pull you in as an elder adult they just keep doing more and more. The way it is now they want to tell you nothing and just do what they want to do while you're in the dark with no say in the matter. They did this to my dad at the hospital they will want me to go in to. I will insist on being in the one where they did my surgery. Good staff there. Hopefully, if it is something it can be treated by meds and not mess me up with those meds. Tbh it scares the hell out of my anxiety. The not knowing, the fear more of what the doctors will do to me. 

No matter what this is I must finish the estate. If i go into a long bout in the hopsital i may not have a home to come back to let alone be able to pay my hospital bills. There is no one else to do it. I'll just have to do the best I can. I dont see it as the doc thinks its urgent or she wouldnt have waited til she got back from vacation to call me. But then i think she's washed her hands of me. I dont know if she or the GI doc is now running my care. Who will tell me what the ultrasound means. Etc. With my prostate I never knew if the MRI showed cancer or if the tissue test from surgery showed cancer, no one talked to me about physical rehab after surgery. My surgeon was a very nice guy but he dropped the ball.

As far as data hacking goes, they always require all the info they can get but tey cant keep it safe. In one IT class we studied about that Target breech. They neglected some very basic priciples of IT security. I worked for Target for many years, havent and wont set foot in one ever.

I took some pics of the estate stuff my brother expressed an interest in. And asked him if he wants it. I may not ever get an answer. he still wants the big stuff but doesnt want to pay for shipping. they dont have room for it anyway. i think if he ever got it he would just sell it and then say he didnt have room. I need to take that very nice ring to Moms old jewellers and see what its worth and if i can sell it. 

Hows the hand doing? hope you're still healing well. One day, eventually, it will warm up and be spring. take good care of yourself.

[kayc]

4 hours ago, Tachi said:

he ultrasound place they referred me too has several comments online about shady billing and thats scary.

Of course those who feel they got stung will be the most vocal while those who've been treated well don't bother.

My brother closed on my sister's house, and does it every look weird empty!  I can't believe the amazing job he did!  He'll cut the checks to the nieces/nephews later this week (9 @ $20,000) and he's only taking $2,500 for all his work and trips to Oakridge!  I'm amazed.  Still needs the lawyer bill, will be about $5-10,000.  He had to come down on the price of the house to $179,000, it has water under the house, there's mold, carpenter ants, the house needs varnished, new flooring and the woodstove needs taken out.  I'm amazed he got that much on that old place.  Redfin showed the SF much higher, the property tax place showed it at 900 SF.  Even with the carport, it's 2 bedroom, no family room, 1 bathroom.  And he said something about well issues, no idea what but it always worked for her, maybe it just needed reset after being dormant so long.

He used an estate place and then junkhaulers.  I'm thinking that's what I need when I move from here, move what I need and leave the rest.  Not an ideal place for a garage sale but if big enough, people will drive out here.

4 hours ago, Tachi said:

No matter what this is I must finish the estate.

I'm just thinking what my friend Iris went through in the last 1 1/2 years with her cancer, and she had someone taking care of her and someone else giving her rides in for chemo.  I have no such person.  Neither do you.  If either of us had cancer it'd take everything in us to fight it.  After chemo she went on Keto and it restored her liver and numbers and they've made no more mention of surgery, the tumor has shrunk considerably and they told her to keep doing what she's doing and they're keeping an eye on it and her numbers, it's been amazing.  She looks and feels great now, chemo had really destroyed her, so glad she's restored.

It's 30 outside, never got above 36 yesterday but it was 30 when we walked late morning.  You have very mild weather, are you in TX?

Do you have a GP doing the referrals?  I'm surprised the specialist didn't get back to you on results but usually they send them to the GP who should contact you about them.  Someone definitely dropped the ball!  I'd be calling them and finding out info!

Sometimes in early stages someone can feel fine...and I know with Colon cancer (like Kirstie Alley had) you don't feel anything until it's way too late (Stage 4).  I knew someone that died of it at 38, when he found out he lived two more weeks.  But that's not to say that's what is happening with you, just saying in some situations we don't feel what is going on inside of us.  I sincerely hope and pray the best for you!  

Bought a GTF coffee filter basket from a seller on eBay, he shipped it to me a month ago, it was oval instead of round, I got my coffeemaker's # off the bottom of it.  I shipped iit back and ordered again, telling him only send if ROUND, not oval!  Well he sent me the same one!  So I sent it back again and this time ordered from the coffeemaker AND another seller on eBay when they didn't charge my M/C so after holding an hour for Cuisinart I thought they didn't send it (they'd said it was discontinued on line).  Now I'm getting both (and charged twice) but that's okay as long as it's the correct one!  The other seller on eBay is charging twice as much, again, okay if it's the right one and that seller actually responded to me and even sent a picture of the box it comes in.  
Now first seller says he did not sign for the 2nd return as the post office says and wants ME to file a claim!  With the postal carrier?  Not sure how or why this is my problem.  I told him to take it up with HIS post office for they say otherwise.  They should be able to see who signed for it.  It was $7.09, he wants all this trouble for that amount?  Sure it's okay as long as it's on MY end!  I'm not wasting $ on gas to drive 20 miles to the post office and back!  He has never once apologized or answered any of MY messages!

 

 

 

[Tachi]

Some of the comments were weird, about the place suggesting they pay a cash price instead of insurance. And then getting billed for more. I wonder if my Ins company can tell me how much they will cover and what a reasonable charge is.

Talked to a lady at my docs office and asked bout the referral. The doc sets up a blank one and th company has a referral servicethat picks one. She suggested I call and ask for one near me, which I did. The lady at the referral office set one up 5 minutes away. Later I called them and the ultrasound place and neither knew what i was talking about. One said call back in a couple days and the other asked me to email the referral to their referral email. Then i get an email from my doctor letting me know who the GI doctor was, which i knew. They scare me because theyre a joke. I think I have a good doc and I like her but I dont feel like i'm in good hands and I trust none of them. People at that office have lied to me before and they have misdiagnosed dad once or twice. So if no one calls me Ill call both places friday. I dont mean to sound odd but I dont think all this will end well. 

Sounds like your brother is a good man. And he did a great job with things. I admit i dont understand what houses are worth but have heard prices are crazy and houses in demand in certain places. Guess it just depends on the demand.

Whoever does this estate sale will need to understand that whatever doesnt sell stays here, no freebies. They already make out like bandits. I dont trust em with that half off on the last day. People could just wait and they can wait to see whats cheap and buy it all up. 

Tbh this scares the hell outa me. Things keep going through my head and theyre all bad. 

Yep am in Texas, over dallas and Ft Worth way. We get 70s again tomorrow and then winter shows up. But no rain. They talk about february being a rough month but I'm hoping it stays warm.

I kinda have the feeling the cause of my numbers wont be easily found. So they'll try everything in the book and will finally get it right, after theyve put me through the ringer. 

One thing I wonder. I had an ultrasound and MRI dne on my prostate, I wonder if that would show other organs and they should have a look?

Oh my, the coffee basket is a mess. Companies just have no clue anymore. What ever happened to customer service and making the customer happy. I dont think there's a company i trust anymore.

Im sending my bro two boxes of sentimental stuff and a nice thick family history. I'm paying the postage because I want him to have them and he does send 100 bucks each month that i sepnd on food. He will probably expect me to pay postage on anything he wants but he is sadly mistaken. 

Oh well. I hope the rest of the week goes well for you folks. take good care, scratch kodie behind the ear for me and toss panther some cat toys. 

 

[kayc]

4 hours ago, Tachi said:

have heard prices are crazy and houses in demand

When she died it would have gone for $400,000, but the prices dropped right afterward and we weren't ready, had to wait for the executor position's assignment, and legal things take their course, then we had the fires/smoke and couldn't do anything with the air quality at that time, then finally things began to happen, but oh gosh it was a lot!  For instance she had a freezer they had bungee-corded shut and it was full of food for years and full of ice build-up, he got rid of it!  No easy task!  I've no idea how but he did it.  Back patio/yard full of heavy junk yet everything Bert collected was something old/antique worth something, yet also not taken care of, left out in the weather to rust.  I'm sure every person that came to the estate sale felt they got a treasure.  Peggy had a trunk of exquisite Christmas ornaments, she hadn't opened it in years, her treasures.  Mostly they had stuff no one wants like china you can't microwave.  A waterbed.  Taking one down is no easy task!

Don't go for the ultrasound on anyplace you don't trust.  Go with your gut instinct or ask around, seriously.  We have an Oakridge Chat on Facebook for our town (private group) where we ask such questions and townspeople answer, I trust them to share their heartfelt experiences.  They also let us know who to go to for plumbing, handyman, etc.  It really helps.  You have medicare so they should have a set amount they pay and what you have to pay, the company will have to write off the rest.  You can call your health ins. and ask them ahead of time what your copay is.  I would not go for their cash offer, hell, that could wind you in big trouble!  They offer that because they don't have to write off what ins. says, nope, no trust those people!

Was supposed to get coffee basket yesterday but Eugene didn't send it in time for the mailman to get it, so hopefully today, kind of nervous...I've been waiting for so long!  Twice burned already...

That is nice of you to mail stuff to your brother. 

 

[Tachi]

Houses are crazy responsibility. If I were staying I would be one emergency away from bankruptcy. I wish I'd been smart and finished the estate. Now I'll have to either do it along with healthcare etc or postpone health stuff once we figure out whats wrong.

Your brother is such a good man. Thats alot of work for so little compensation. But I understand where he's coming from. I wont get a penny from all the work I've put in the past 5 years and dont want it, just my fair share. I sent my bro pics of the items he had an interest in and have yet to hear from him. When I'm ready he wont be and will want me to wait and thats not going to happen.

Sounds like she did have some treasures. I hope someone can use and enjoy them. It can be very sad here, too many memories. But thats the price we pay for love.

Neither medical place had gotten the referrals so i called. The GI doc called back yesterday all set. No word from the ultrasound place. I had to email a copy to their HQ. I dont trust anyone in the medical field. What I dont want is for the GI doctor to want to do things just because they havent been done. He should only do what is pertinent to the alkaine phosphatase numbers. I'll talk to my Ins company and try and find out what they should be charging me. Cant get in to the GI doc til Feb6, so chances ae tis will be a long ordeal. I will start in on the estate stuff next week. I will ride this out until they tell me whats wrong or timegets shrt and then they have to wait. I wont let myself go broke and lose the house. Thats all I have in this world. Too bad I cant sell the house furnished.

Did they send the right coffee basket? Been crossing my fingers.

Hows the hand? 

Looked at the flower beds and what a mess. I need to go rip out the old dead plants and weed it but not happening yet. Thinking of setting in some morning glory seeds and lots of pumpkins. Their flowers are gorgeous.

I cant believe we are so far into January already. Our weather is mild and very nice. But you can bet next month it will get bad. 

The entire time I had the catheter and had the stitches I avoided showers. they seemed dangerous and difficult. But finally overcame that mental block and took a normal shower. It felt good. 

I will say thank you for caring. All through this it has been very difficult for me. Not knowing whats going on and being by myself. You and my best friend 6 hours away are the only people to ask how I was holding up and expressing concern for me mentally as well as physically. None of my health providers cared or recognized how difficult this has been. I guess this is what its come to. An assembly line. When i told my doctor I needed to finish dad's estate she didnt respect me at all. She doesnt care that if I dont finish it by years end I will either go broke paying for the house or lose it. Not to mention the moral responsibility involved. Way I see it even if it harms my health I will finish this estate. 

Maybe one day all tese battles will be over and I can have some peace for a change. Doubt it though.

Rereading what you wrote about that house. Too bad we didnt get to take advantage of our houses. Times have been crazy. Somehow I dont see values going back up again.

Do you ever tell Kodie a bedtime story? I bet you could tell him any story and he'd give you his full attention. Have you ever tried singing to them? Or playing music? I've always wondered if animals have a preference in music.

Take good care of yourself and the kids there. Hoping you have some mild weather and some peace and quiet.

 

[kayc]

9 hours ago, Tachi said:

Did they send the right coffee basket?

Yes and no...not as round as mine but it'll work, it fits, just a tiny gap between it and the basket (this is the gold toned filter), it'll work!  Both came on the same day, now I hope my coffeepot doesn't quit on me, ha!

9 hours ago, Tachi said:

Sounds like she did have some treasures.

I didn't have room for any but I took home her greatest treasure...her pictures of her dog Polly.  I think she would have appreciated the sentiment of my taking care of them rather than seeing them discarded so someone can have the frames.  I wasn't aware of when they had the estate sale so couldn't go to it, but that's okay, nothing I needed anyway, I doubt my brother was there either.  I'm glad I gave a neighbor what he wanted...unfortunately his house burned down shortly afterwards.   But at least there was the gesture.  And I tried hard to get the other neighbor to take what he wanted but I'm afraid he waited on Mick and didn't get it.   He was the one that installed her ramp...they took it down, I'm sure it went with the estate sale...no idea how they got the cement up.  I would have thought they'd have left it.  The whole thing seems so sad to me, the place empty.  I still have a key, I may give it to the new owners when they move in.  No idea the code to the box (opening the house), the paramedics had it, otherwise it went went her.

9 hours ago, Tachi said:

Hows the hand? 

Better a wee bit every day, thanks for asking!  Burning (nerves) on one part, the other scarred and tender but for the most part, healed.  I'm back to cooking again, do I love it!

9 hours ago, Tachi said:

But finally overcame that mental block and took a normal shower. It felt good. 

I am so glad!  I'm a shower person myself.  I used to take baths before kids.  Now I just think why would I want to lay in a tub with filthy?  The idea doesn't sound good to me.  One can sponge but it never feels cleansing like a shower..

9 hours ago, Tachi said:

When i told my doctor I needed to finish dad's estate she didnt respect me at all.

I am sorry.  I haven't found health care providers (doctors) that care or show respect.  My last one did, I miss him, too bad he moved.  I wish I could have gotten a message/card to him how much I appreciated him over the year I had him, the best active listener I ever had in a doctor.  And he never poo-pooed my Keto.  He showed respect.  You keep taking care of you and the place, don't worry unduly about doctors.  Although I do worry about you putting your health on hold because I've seen how urgent it can become, but then we don't even know for certain what you're dealing with yet.

9 hours ago, Tachi said:

he'd give you his full attention.

No but I do praise him and he eats it up.  He lives to please me, and believe me, he does!  I love that little boy so much!  Him and Panther have developed quite a relationship.  Panther tolerates me because I feed him but he LOVES Kodie!  Not sure what I'll do in the summer except I need to teach him to come to the front where Kodie will be by the fence waiting for him.  I won't be able to open the patio door because of bees/heat.

It was 20 yesterday but no wind.  So I wore my coat/hood/gloves/boots for our walk.  The wind is way worse.  Snowed yesterday will tomorrow.  But so far it's been mild, praying we have a mild winter, I need the break!  Esp. after the last two years.

Take care of yourself!  What's the next step for your health?

I made a chocolate chip skillet cookie, oh my was it good (still have some) I cut it 8 ways.  Will last a week.
Keto Chocolate Chip Cookie Skillet

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cups almond flour
• 3/4 cups shredded coconut or more almond flour
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup butter softened (or coconut oil)
• 2/3 cup Swerve Brown
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 ounces sugar-free chocolate chips

Instructions

1.   Preheat the oven to 325F and lightly grease a 10-inch oven-proof .

2.   In a medium bowl, whisk together the almond flour, coconut, baking soda and salt.

3.   In a large bowl, beat the butter until creamy. Beat in the sweetener until well combined.

4.   Beat in the egg and vanilla extract. Beat in the almond flour mixture until well combined, then stir in the chocolate chips.

5.   Spread the dough in the prepared skillet and bake 20 to 25 minutes, until light golden brown. The cookie will be very soft and puffed when removed from oven (it won't seem cooked through).

6.   Let cool at least 15 minutes before serving. When warm, it will not come out in proper pieces so you will need scoop it out to serve onto plates. It will continue to firm up as it cools so if you want to serve it in pieces, let it cool completely before cutting. I recommend it warm for extra gooey-ness!

10 servings, 2.9 net carbs each

https://alldayidreamaboutfood.com/wprm_print/28598

My pan is 9” not 10” so I baked it 25 min, let it sit an hour before cutting into 8 slices, 3.625 net carbs. Good!

 

[Tachi]

Thx for the recipe, will get the ingerdients next time am at the store. 

I have an appt with the GI doctor Feb6. Havent heard from the ultrasound people to see if theyve gotten the referral yet so will call them tomorrow. We should have done a blood test or two to see if its liver ir gall bladder or something else. The newer blood test results point to liver. And my PCP mentioned it then suggested i see the GI doc, wich is why I think she's mad at me. We could have already done the liver function blood test. Anyway. Supposedly the ultrasound will give first indication of cancer or if the liver is inflamed or swollen. If anything shows up supposedly we would have the liver function test also...and have an MRI or CT scan and get better look. If the GI doc thinks something is there then I guess we do a biopsy and test for cancer. Theyre going slow for wanting me to do what they wish. At this rate it will take months just to find out. I'm thinking I'll at least get the house and yard ready and have the estate sale. They can do their medical stuff around that. 

You have to have your coffee. I'm having instant done weak. It hasnt upset my system yet so far so good. 

My brother doesnt understand it but I wont take much away from here when I go. So I understand. Their old bigscreen TV is about it. I just dont care to lug a bunch of furniture around, dont need the prints and although Mom had some really nice glassware and collectibles I dont know what I'd do with it. There was a certain artistry in older things that I love. But I just dont know what I'd do with it. 

It is very strange to see the house so different than my memories show me. I think I will like it better after the estate sale. 

We have gotten colder although not as cold as you. Twenties is more than cold enough. We are supposed to rain all day tomorrow and 40s or 50s, snow possible just north of us. I'm staying in and working on the houe and studying. 

It's funny. I dont have that huge prostate anymore so I considered getting a 6-pack of ale. But then I consider I probably have Liver issues. And whatever was making me sick a year ago may still be there. I still want a doc to tell me why coffee and ale were messing up my prostate or bladder or whatever. 

Good you can cook. At least you wont starve. I guess Panther could have hunted something up  Probably take some time to come all the way back. maybe a warm epsom salt soak for that hand would help. 

We used to have a good doctor when we moved here, Doctor Golden. A good doctor and a good man. he would sit down and ask how life was going and listen. When I started my divorce he did that and it made a difference. he cared about us. 

I've read that liver cancer is hard to beat. Bone cacer much better to beat. Could be fatty liver disease or a alcohol related liver disease. I wouldnt think Id ever drank enough to get cirhosis (sp?) but who knows. Some come on suddenly and in 4-6 months you're gone. Some you have no indication until it's too late. So I understand and share your concern. If it turns out I have something bad then I'll have the house deed redone to a Ladybird Deed so my brother gets the house should I pass. What I'm tring to do is understand that at the moment I'm doing all I can do and worrying wont change it. I am aware of what may come but trying not to think the worst. I will do what I can but will finish the estate no matter what comes.

Your weather would make me hibernate lol. I was born in Chicago and have always loved the cold. But these days i want to be wrapped in blankets lol. I even found Dad's old electric blanket to start off sleeping with. I run it for an hour so its nice and warm. 

Just a thought, my pcp is so concened, commented on my diet yet never offered direction on it. This is why I dont want to be in the system and never want to be in the hospital again. 

Oh, had a family of Robins at the birdbath today. I went and put the seed out for them but they never came back. Guess I scared em.

Think I'll make some warm tea. take good care of yourself nand stay warm.

[kayc]

I took care of my MIL for three years when she was bedridden with cancer...she'd beat breast cancer (double mastectomy) for 5 years, then got liver cancer but it was the bone cancer that got her, spread and after one chemo she said no more.  They sent her home from the hospital thinking she'd live maybe two weeks, she lived three years!  She literally willed herself to live (grandkids incentive).  She was my BFF and I didn't know how I'd go on without her.  That was when my kids were babies.

I guess one never knows...on the other hand, Iris had it in her breast and lymph glands (under arm) and is doing better every day doing Keto, it's shrunk considerably, they tell her to keep doing what she's doing, it restored her liver to full function after nearly destroying it with chemo.

8 hours ago, Tachi said:

my pcp is so concened, commented on my diet yet never offered direction on it.

Honestly I don't think most doctors know much about how diet affects our bodies, that's why I listen to Dr Jason Fung, Dr Eric Berg, Dr David Diamond, Dr Paul Mason, Dr Ken Berry, so many others online!  I've gotten so much information from them!  The Diabetes group has been a great place to share info as it's international so not limited to the US, we have a moderator from France, they're way ahead of us medically imo. It's great to see how different cultures handle things.  We had one from Africa, I still keep up with him.

Today is a take care of Jazzy day, don't like her in her kennel all day so will probably take Kodie down for two play dates so she can eat/drink/pee/stretch her legs!  Lately she's been doing Husky talk for me, I love it!  She only does it to those she's close to.

Kodie and Panther have developed their relationship, Panther clearly prefers Kodie to me, ha!

Aww, I'm sorry the Robins left, maybe they'll be back.

It is weird now that Peggy's house sold, empty, barren, it's incongruent with my mind's eye, like you're talking about with yours.  So hard to think we won't see them again this side of heaven...

 

[Tachi]

I told my doctor I need to get my strength back before moving on and was ignored. This whole prostate deal took me down a couple notches.Besides everything else I sat in bed four months. If one keeps going through medical fights one after another they wear down. I know this is hard for people to understand. But the only good years I may have left will be as long as the money from selling the house lasts. I wont get hired in a meaningful way that i can support myself. No matter what my brother thinks. So after that house money runs out I will be in a difficult spot. I'll just have to take whatever job I can get and hope they dont cut SS. So I figure the next 5 years is about it anyway. I dont care to have a pile of medical debt, plus there's no one to take care of me and I sure cant afford livein help.

Had to reschedule the ultrasound to next week because they hadnt run the Ins yet or the Ins hadnt come back yet. 

I dont trust doctors anymore. For many reasons. I just dont want to be in the system and always thinking/wondering about the next step. For something so important it sure is slow.

We got cold, we didnt get squat for rain, we seldom do. I think I need a playdate, so I can eat/drink/pee/stretch my legs. I drew up a simple exercise plan and now I need to start doing it...slowly and carefully. But I can tell the loss of muscle and tone from this prostate deal. 

I'm considering how to get rid/sell some of the estate things before the sale. There are companies that buy cassettes and dvd movies. And a place that buys old collectibles if they like them. I need to send them some pictures. Mom had so many collectibles and alot of nice things. Some of what they had are as old as me if not older. My great aunt and uncle gave them some things. My main problem is not knowing how much anything is worth. I've tried Googling but that hasnt worked very well. What I would love is for someone to come in and buy all the books and cassettes etc, and someone get all the collectibles. 

And my brother STILL hasnt replied to the pics of the items he is inerested in. he's going to be mad when they get sold and he never replied. I also need to talke that expensive ring down to Mom's old jeweller and see if they can tell me the worth at sale and how to sell it. 

Its funny how I will be doing fine and then suddenly have a memory of my folks or of my life...as clear as day...and then I get lost for awhile. 

I'm going to write down the doctors and have a look when I can. Considering what docs have been saying about nutrition the past 50 years, how wrong theyve been, and how they allow the food companies to do awful things...the establishment has no credibility with me. Same with my doctors. I will have to understand and decide.

Panther likes Kodie because he has a tail like he does maybe. Or they speak a similar language. 

All my life I never understood. I still dont. But I am faced with some realities that had been there all along and I ignored. I can no longer ignore them. I consider that my life has changed and will never be good or fun again. All I can do is to pray for health and getting by. What I had thought the latter years would be is nothing like what they have become. I used to think I understood some things. And because I am a fearful person inside and have no confidence I tell myself I know and understand. I dont know squat and understand less. Life seemed it would go on forever. That nice comfy reality that has now vanished. As if it never was. Everyone goes through it. But no one talks about it. It did rain a little bit. It was comforting yet sad. Because it reminded me of my folks. Dad's den has a skylight and rain makes a pattering sound. dad would always be in his den working on a model plane. I hate how his last few years played out, he didnt deserve that. I wonder many things about that time, but its over. And Mom was always in the kitchen and the rain would make a metallic sound on the vent on the roof and would sound down through the vent. I have always loved the rain and always will. The weird thing for me is thinking I may never regain my health again. And this entire time the clock is ticking on the estate. 

Gee wiz, listen to me going on. 

Take good care of yourself and stay warm. It will come Spring one day.

 

[kayc]

4 hours ago, Tachi said:

Its funny how I will be doing fine and then suddenly have a memory of my folks or of my life...as clear as day...and then I get lost for awhile

Yes, grief strikes when it does, memories, the brain, it pulls us in...it is hard for me with Peggy gone, I will always miss her, just as you do your folks.  My dad has been gone nearly 41 years now, my mom 8 1/2.  My mom's dementia was stage IV when she died so pretty out of it by then, although she always was out of it, long before dementia.  It's my siblings I am close to.

I hope my brother mailed the kids their checks, haven't heard.  He's not big on communication but with all the work he has and family of his own I don't blame him!

What you are talking here about is what I was talking about in loss of spouse (alone thread) when I said I was in survival mode and got attacked for it and the person even went to far as to suggest maybe there should be another category for people like me for aging/injury/illness, wow, really hit me out of the ballpark!  I was so hurt!  So I'm old, hurting, my life is seemingly one struggle after another so I should get kicked out of loss of spouse where I've been 17 1/2 years and booted into another category, like "go sit in a corner with other old folks."  That's how it felt to me.  This person is younger (as I was when I lost my husband) I can only think, "Just wait, it comes before you know it."  Life doesn't turn out like we think, it takes it's own paths, sometimes dark ones, but we do our best and yes, show resilience (that R word some people hate) and doing the best we can.  It may be a struggle but we do our best and keep going with whatever abilities we have left.  You have shown me you possess that.  Willing yourself on, never giving up, giving in.  You will make it even through this, I have no doubt. 

I've talked to some people and they do not feel they'll cut soc. sec., if so there'll be a whole lot of us that qualify for gov't help if there is any, depends on who is in office then.  May have to rent a room from someone but we'll survive, I've no doubt.  You are in my prayers, Scott.  Keep researching, learning about food, I believe that's a key answer to our health, it affects our gut, everything.  1/2 Americans have Diabetes, many not aware of it.  I was looking at the green tags in the store yesterday...all carb items.  All these sales on high carbs.  Healthy foods have skyrocketed and are hard to get.  Like eggs, whipping cream, meat and cheese.  

Took Kodie to vet yesterday, had to wait an hour as their gentle leaders are in a patient room and they had two dogs in there being seen (poor planning), he got fit for one, he does NOT like it one bit and I don't blame him.  Doesn't seem very gentle to me!  I may continue with Halti if it doesn't work, I'd gotten him used to it and he doesn't balk at it like this one.  It mashes his snout together tight!  And doesn't hook to his collar.  So if he doesn't get used to it, we'll go back to the Halti.  We went to his playdate and quickly saw he couldn't play, their huge sliding gate is removed and a trench dug, pouring cement today, the next day after it's dry they can put the gate back, so we'll try for Fri. late afternoon, if not, Saturday.  Poor Kodie and Jazzy. I had him play at the fence with Panther, not much exercise, and he got in trouble for digging so no hot dog when he came in (usually gets 1/4 of one for coming in).  Hard day for him.

4 hours ago, Tachi said:

Dad's den has a skylight and rain makes a pattering sound.

I love that!  I think I had a car once with a skylight (George's) I think it was his Honda accord, loved it.  My mom had one once.  Never had a house with one but I hear the rain on the patio roof, it used to be fiberglass but now is a metal roof on wood, it can make a lot of noise when it's raining hard!  I like to open the patio door and listen to it, it's a huge patio.  Panther's domain.  

You may regain your health (that is the goal) but it won't look like it did when we were younger, that's for sure, but you never know, you may have some good years ahead, one never knows for sure what will come.  Listen to me, today I'm optimistic, ha!  Yet I'm also a realist and see how life has gone these last quite a few years...I try not to think about 10-20 years from now.  I can't afford to hire someone to take care of me either.  I miss being married, we were a good team, and would have seen each other through whatever came...but alas it didn't play out that way that last weekend. 

Keep taking care of yourself and researching, make your voice heard in the medical establishment, esp. on what you decide and what's important. 

 

[Tachi]

   I cannot find words to express my depth and breadth of despair in the medical field. That I seem to keep getting pulled back in terrifies me. I remember dad was in the hospital they would put me in. The nurses left him on a pad and he went to the bathroom and sat in it. I tried everything short of calling the director and the nurses would just bs me. I even brought diapers and they lied saying they would use them. I know i have the right to leave but may not be able to. God help me if i have to go in again. The hospital I was in for my last surgery was same network but different location and I was treated very well.

My eyes have been opened these past few years and I trust none of what has been accepted as true in medicine or nutrition. What we once laughed at as conspiracy theories have been found true. Often the cure is worse than the disease, esp when, like me, you only have yourself to take care of you. 

We're supposed to get cold and rain/ice/snow Tues/Wed. Hopefully I can make it to the Ultrasound ...IF they hear on the insurance.

We all grieve in our own way and time and no one has the right to say a word except to listen and show compassion. I guess some people just need to be right at others' expense. I've tried a few times to tell younger folks that what they talk bad about the elderly is where they'll be eventually. Falls on deaf ears. People always plateau, they think how things are at that moment is how they will always be. We are always changing and always falling apart. After so many years things break down. When I think of how society gets us to eat and drink its a crime. All that sugar if nothing else is criminal. The drug companies make out like a bandit. 

I have a bad habit of anxiety and of curling up in my shell and waiting for the trouble to pass. I need to learn to use that troubled time as well as the good time. To let go the anxiety and do what I can then forget it. 

I dont think we ever 'get over' losing someone who is such a part of us. Maybe we just learn to deal with it and keep going.

Gee wiz, I had sent my brother pics of items he was interested in asking if he wants them and I get no answers. If he's not carefull he will miss out and be mad. If I am very sick then I'll get the estate done as fast as possible so its done and secure. Else Will keep working on it as well as studying.

Poor kodie, hope he gets used to it. He and panther sound like a pair. You could place a webcam where people can watch them. I almost did that for our birds when we had them. 

I know the cost of chicken sure has gone up, and yes eggs as well. I gave up on beef other than hamburger. 

Before I moved I'd open the doors and windows when it rained. Beautiful weather. I hope my next place has somewhere I can sit and watch it rain. The perfect place I think would be a small renthouse with a porch. 

I fear the worst but hope for the best. Which is probably fatty Liver Disease...which I believe is treated by diet and exercise. Of course worst case is cancer. last thing I want is the hospital again. I would take a shorter life with better quality over longer life with lesser quality any day. Kinda on hold with everything til I find out whats wrong. I best stop that and start getting the house ready. It may take a month or so to see whats wrong.

I was thinking I'd get a bunch of Morning Glory and Pumpkin seeds, clean the flower beds and just throw down a bunch of seed. Maybe by end of summer it would look nice enough to sell.

Sadly Life doesnt go as we planned. We just have to do our best and hope for the best. This may not be any consolation, but you married a very good man and had some good years together. One day you will be together again and for all eternity. 

Take good care of yourself and the animals. Hoping the weather is mild and life is quiet.

 

[kayc]

4 hours ago, Tachi said:

My eyes have been opened these past few years and I trust none of what has been accepted as true in medicine or nutrition. What we once laughed at as conspiracy theories have been found true. Often the cure is worse than the disease, esp when, like me, you only have yourself to take care of you. 

This...my eyes have been opened since being in my Diabetic group.  You'd be appalled.  We have videos from doctors that are true eye-openers, it takes true bravery to take on the AMA, ADA, USDA, etc.  It really does, esp. when the ADA can suspend your license, but these doctors have studies to back them.  It's shocking that what they accept as guidelines have been making us sick and sicker and taking our very lives!  Yes even as my husband's was stolen from him.  How I wish I had this knowledge back then, perhaps he'd still be here.  I can't look back though, only forward as that is all I have the power to change.  I wish my sister would have listened/heeded me, she could be with me still, her dementia reversed, but alas we cannot force anyone...

4 hours ago, Tachi said:

The drug companies make out like a bandit. 

Yes, and your words are so accurate.  I hope and pray you can make it to your ultrasound.  We're to get snow in today.  Winter has begun, I don't care for February but we'll see what happens, it's only my place to survive it.

4 hours ago, Tachi said:

he will miss out and be mad

He can be mad at only himself.  You cannot read minds and this is time he's letting slip away.

4 hours ago, Tachi said:

Which is probably fatty Liver Disease...which I believe is treated by diet and exercise.

I reversed mine through Keto.  After my ultrasound I was diagnosed with "cirrhosis of the liver, alcoholic" I was FURIOUS!  I called that doctor and gave him hell!  Demanded he take "alcoholic" out as I've been a teetotaler all my life!  OMG!  I came out swinging at him!  All he did was draw a black line through it.  He should have redone the report, omitting that word, with computers takes a second!  God only knows if he corrected what he sent to my doctor.  Why would one assume when you can ASK!

You are right about life not going as planned but no use crying over it, only to continue in it the best we can.  I am praying for you and hope with you it is not the C word.  I despise that robber more than anything.  Enjoy the weather while you can!

It is hard for me to believe Panther is as fat as he is and can still run.

[Tachi]

Rain/ice/snow or whatever supposed to start at 1 tomorrow afternoon and go off and on thru Thursday. temps around freezing so no telling what form it takes. I bet yours will be much worse. Stay warm.

Panther is fat because he wants to show you what a good job you do feeding him. Or maybe wild cats just never lose that instinct to eat all they can. Or maybe he swallowed another cat whole.

You're right, there's no going back, there's no starting over or changing anything, there's only acceptance. And coming to peace with Life. My insecurities make me want to control everything in my life. And because I cant i get anxiety and frustration. But, I have to learn to do what  can about what I can affect and let the rest go. That's my lesson.

So, by the ultrasound alond they could tell you had cirrhosis? What did they suggest to treat it? Were you on keto at the time or how soon after did you start keto? I drank heavy in college...liquor mostly. I switched to beer after college and drank a sixpack most days til 2014 when i moved home. Then switched to 2 a day. Not proud of that, it was pretty stupid. I have no way of knowing but maybe thats what i have, or maybe fatty liver. I will be on pins and needles to see the GI guy and hope he doesnt just want to do every test in the book. But look at the ultrasound and tell me what i have. 

When i read fat panther I got on Youtube and looked at videos of fatcats. they can be pretty agile for big furry balls of fun. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/QDqyKj-3b9o here's one lol.

Did you get alot of snow? 

Take good care and stay warm.

 

[kayc]

Diagnosed in 2014, didn't tell me anything, been on Milk Thistle and SAMe started Keto three years ago, blood tests all good, except my platelets are high from the tongue/throat thing, they don't mention it because they don't know what it is.

Can also be caused by parasites or Rxs, statins, of course they didn't take me off of those, I took myself off when she doubled my statin, when I complained (my chol. was barely over the border) she told me I could cut them in half for a year, what?!  With these hands!!!  I think not!  I told them they could skip the whole thing, I'm off it!  Was on statins way too many years, it causes diabetes!  So glad I got off, those idiots made me sicker!  Keto has fixed that too, I'm convinced, on this for life!  My biggest fear is having an accident, landing in the hospital and having them screw up my diet!

It's 11 here right now, it could drop further yet as its only 3 am.

I read online about feral cats in this cold, they said they're pretty resourceful, still I worry, never had an animal outside in this but he could burrow under the house or get up in the attic above the room off the carport, I have a heater in it so the pipes/water tank don't freeze.

They can't tell you what caused the liver disease, just the possibilities and can tell you when it's gone.  

[Tachi]

Was just curious if they did anything past the ultrasound. Hoping and praying it stops there. i dont want any spots on the ultrasound that might indicate cancer and lead to biopsies. What i had read of fatty liver was changing nutrition and exercise...which I'm doing anyway. I read there's no medication for fatty liver anyway so maybe thats best case scenario.

We have a layer of ice on everything, 26 all day. Schools all closed, city offices, the whole deal. North of here it was far worse so we got lucky. Tomorrow supposed to ice or sleet all day into thursday when it gets above freezing. They said tomorrow will be the worst day. I rescheduled my Ultrasound for monday. Will have Ultrasound then GI Doctor in the afternoon late.

I stayed in today and will do so tomorrow. The funny thing is yo folks get much worse. But for us this is a winter storm. Some people, ok probably alot, don't know how to drive on this and should stay home. nope, they're out driving around. I didnt even go to the curb and get my empty trashcan from yesterday. maybe do that tomorrow. 

I had read and head several places about meds. They put out a thick book that lists all conditions and the preferred treatmnt. The pharmacy companies pay big money under the table to get their drugs listed as the preferred treatment. But no one tells you about the side effects. My best friend became diabetic in his late 30s. The doc put him on a med. he researched it and started seeing on the news that people were dieing from that drug. So he called his doc and asked for a different med, doc refused, so he threatened to get a new doc. Then the doc changed his med. He manages it and does fairly well, though he could do better. he breaks down and eats fast food sometimes, feels bad, then cooks and feels better.

I think I just want the docs to leave me alone. I'd rather live normally w/out alot of meds and let my life naturally end. better than having those meds eat up my health and cause my death.

I bet Panther will be fine. He's survived pretty well so far. he has a thick coat of fat it sounds like, as well as fur. I wonder about the birds. The birdbath is frozen over and the seed (even though they dont eat it) is probably frozen. Where do they get water? 

Sometimes i wonder if the doctors really know much. Or do they just read numbers from a blood test and tell you what you have, treat it, and you never know for sure.

Take good care of yourself, you folks stay warm.

 

[kayc]

Yes I would say fatty liver is the best case scenario if you have to have liver disease because you can treat it through change in diet, losing weight.  They didn't prescribe me anything.

It was down to 10 here Monday.  I don't recall it ever being that low in the 46 years I've lived here.  Snow is frozen hard.  18 yesterday morning.  Much better than 10!  Panther used my car to get into the rafters of the carport and get in  the attic above the room where the heater is for the pipes/water tank.  I was so relieved to see he made it through the night and where he came from!

5 hours ago, Tachi said:

Sometimes i wonder if the doctors really know much. Or do they just read numbers from a blood test and tell you what you have, treat it, and you never know for sure.

Yep, pretty much, they can read test results, but I think you already know the answer...so much they do NOT know or tell us!

5 hours ago, Tachi said:

But no one tells you about the side effects.

Like my little sister getting the Shingrix vaccination, her Guillain-Barre relapsed and she's stuck unable to walk, get up, etc.  They never warned her.  You have to love all the Rx ads on tv that speak in a quick low voice ending in "including death."  Yeah.  The part they never mention.

Iris' husband Mike is in the hospital, dying, he could be gone already, I got a text right before bedtime, kind of ended my sleep plans for sure!  I'm shocked, stunned!  Just a week ago he was doing things around the place.  The gate guy never finished the job, gate off track, can't close it or open it either one.  He got the trees down, hauled off.  He did the tech work on Iris' computer.  He's been busy in his shop.  Now he's dying.  His heart was severely damaged from when he had Covid 7 year 4 months ago.  And he has ALL (cancer of the blood), Diabetes, and his Gallbladder needs out.  He'd never make it through the removal.  My heart is broken and I cannot imagine how Iris is feeling, let alone Jazzy...

5 hours ago, Tachi said:

I wonder about the birds.

I wondered the same thing, but they can fly to the creeks and rivers, lakes.  They know where they are.  I haven't seen any birds here the last few days.  

Half of all Americans have fatty liver, most are not aware of it.  It'd have to be pretty bad to show up on the blood tests but it can be reversed.

Will be praying for you my friend, I wonder how long it will take them to give you the results of the ultrasound.  I think the technician told me but wasn't supposed to.  I appreciated it, I hate the wondering.

[Tachi]

I cant believe what's happened to Mike. So shocking. Know that you folks are in my prayers. Crazy he seemed fine and then so much. I guess we never know.

I doubt my ultrasound tech would tell me, my luck never runs that way. No idea who is handling this, my doc or the GI doc. Or do they call me at home. I read that if the liver on the ultrasound is a lighter color its fatty liver. dark spots can be cancer or non-cancerous. There are other imaging tests to do.

Your temps are dangerous, that would panic everyone here. We finally hit 33 today. Will be back in 20s tonight but then warm up. Its raining now but if we make it through the night we're ok. 

Panther's a smart cat. I guess he sensed the heat or maybe he has hid in them before. 

I guess whatever is wrong with me it isnt far along cause i feel fine. Will find out in a couple weeks and hopefully get it fixed. I'm betting my doc will find/want to do more. After this is fixed thats all for now.

We had a swarm of birds today. They were massing in my neighbors yard with a few in my yard. Couldnt tell what kind but they were finding something on the grass. maybe they hadnt been out for a few days.

Well I think we survived. Its stopped raining, will be cold tonight and then warm up through the weekend. Wish I could send some of that your way. take good care and stay warm.

 

[kayc]

He used to go up there when I first got him, it was April then and snowing/cold.  Our temps are in the 30s  2 am today!  First time I've seen that for a while!  They predicted 42, I think it's 32.  Ha!  They haven't been right yet!

The doctor told me you couldn't tell the cause of the cirrhosis, most are fatty but a lot from statins, I knew I'd had parasites years earlier (had to go without food three weeks to starve them out!) so I knew any of the three could be the cause but not from drinking as I hadn't.  It didn't go away until I went on Keto, carbs aren't good for the liver.  I'd tried Mediterranean, vegetarian, they didn't help, the doctor was happy but what good is it if it doesn't help you?

Mike got out of intensive care but is still dying, can't live with 20% heart function.  I got their dishes done, cleaned their kitchen, Kodie and Jazzy played 1 1/2 hours when I rescued her from her kennel, then another hour when I came back.  Left bible study early to get her out again and their driveway was packed with family so I left.  Not sure how long these daily trips will continue but will be there for her as I can.

Take care!

 

[Tachi]

Wish me luck. Ultrasound and GI doc tomorrow, the process begins. I'm wishing its fatty liver, they diagnose it from the ultrasound and maybe another imaging, I change my diet and they leave me alone. But I'm usually not that lucky.

We were in the 60s today. Wish I could send you folks some milder weather. I always find amusement in how much our long range weather forecasts change. Its always changing thanks to storms moving slower and rain seems to go around us.

Praying for Mike and the family and for you too. Seems alot came on him so fast. Really dont know what to say.

Whats odd to me is the liver numbers shot up after surgery. I hadnt had alcohol for probably 8 months. Wasnt eating perfectly but was cleaner than I'd been in a long time. maybe it got a head of steam and isnt slowing down. The docs may stop helping me, oh well.

I need to clean house and go through things. After I see what I have I can plan better the estate sale. 

Hope you get some rest. take good care of yourself, and Panther, and Kodie.

[kayc]

Mike passed Saturday.  It seems this week has been a year.  Jazzy depressed.  I can only imagine how Iris is feeling, they were such a good team...25 years of marriage.
Googling liver spikes after prostrate surgery comes up with a lot of hits...so it must be fairly common for this to happen, the results are too many to name and I wouldn't want to speculate.  You've cut out drinking, are eating healthier, the only other thing I can think to check if no statins is Tylenol or other OTC medications that could do it.  Hoping and praying not something more serious.

 

[MartyT]

Sending healing thoughts and prayers to you, Scott, and hoping for the best. 🧡