I'm baaaaaack!!
Hello neighbors! It's your long-lost-friend MusicChick2! I'm sorry that I haven't posted in so long. I WAS moblogging my posts, but months ago I tried to update my moblogging address & somehow screwed it up. 8-/ (My PC is very temperamental, so I use my "smartphone" 9O% of the time.
ANYWAY, several of you have P.M.'ed me, asking how I'm doing. I must tell you how much that's touched me, that you've thought about me. Thank you!
One of the main reasons I haven't posted is because nobody enjoys reading about someone's ills & infirmities. How depressing!! If you feel that way, thank you for reading this far, & I'll post something more cheerful next time. Something cute about my kitties & their silly antics. 8-D Now skip down to the puppies & rainbows.
For the rest of you I'll try, as BRIEFLY as I can, update you on what's been going on. The beginning is grim, but it gets better at the end. :-)
You may remember that I was
scheduled for knee replacement surgery in July.
Prior to surgery every patient must go through some routine blood tests,
x-rays, etc. My blood tests came back
with an anomaly which was tentatively diagnosed as thrombocytosis. This means I have elevated platelets, low
white count, low iron & anemia
. This condition can cause hemorrhaging
or blood clots which could cause a stroke.
So until this situation is resolved, surgery is too risky. :- /
The next step is a CT ("CAT") scan in an effort to determine WHY my blood is doing this. The hope is that any unknown condition would be revealed through the CT scan. And IF after exhaustive tests are run nothing is found, they can give me a medication which will bring my blood chemistry back to normal. Of course if some baddy disease is discovered, then they'll treat me for THAT.
So why is it March &
this is still "in limbo"?
Because it's difficult to get an appointment with the Hematologist /
Oncologist. And because I've been
stubborn & foolish & lazy. If
I'm in too much pain or just not feeling well I'll cancel & reschedule appointments. Repeatedly.
I know. It's REALLY dumb &
self-defeating. I think I'm just terrified to find out that I have cancer or something! So I keep putting it off.
I think when last we
"spoke" I was still getting around with my (rolling) walker. Since the holidays I've "graduated"
to a wheelchair which I gratefully received at no charge through a local
disability ministry.
My legs are now bent at
approximately 9O degrees, basically a sitting position. My feet & hands are gradually becoming
more & more disfigured. It's easier now for me to compose a post or "tect / type" via my phone. As you can see in the photo below, my fingers are curling in & I am unable to straighten them. So typing on the regular keyboard is limited to my index fingers. And my feet are getting so weird that I can't get a normal shoe on. So I've ordered ballerina type slippers so I have something to wear to doctor's appointments, etc. This
arthritis can be a tricky disease, achy & bothersome for some, crippling for
others.
My most recent acquisition is a "transfer chair" so that I can get in & out of the tub & take a proper shower. I never really appreciated the joy & relief of a simple shower until I couldn't stand in one anymore. Doing the "sponge bath" thing & washing my hair in the sink was a p.i.t.a. (p.ain i.n t.he a.ss). So I am happy to have this new contraption, yet sad that I need it. Ya' know?
Otherwise, life has been pretty uneventful. I am trying to switch to an anti-inflammatory diet, eliminating foods that cause inflammation in the body. Mostly ANYTHING with flour or sugar, & all animal products (milk, cheese, eggs, meats) are inflammatory. Plus, because of the arthritis, I should also avoid "nightshade" vegetables: potatoes, peppers, eggplant, & tomatoes. I've only been eating this way for a week, but I'm cautiously optimistic. But with all these restrictions it's difficult! I've been reading "Super Foods", as well as other info online (from reliable sources like the Mayo Clinic, etc.) So far I haven't eliminated dairy, but as I use up what I have I'll try to replace it with soy products.
I'm pretty much nomming off and on all day. Things like yogurt (regular & frozen), nuts, fresh fruits & vegetables. & whole grains (like oatmeal in the morning, or brown rice) I add in poultry or fish for real meals. But I still haven't gained any weight. I've been hovering at 11O lbs. for about a year. 8-/ (And 3 ½ years ago I weighed 215!!!) If any of you out there are Nutritionists, I definitely welcome advice & guidance!
(I had a puppy that looked just like this when I was a kid. After a year my Mom took her to the pound while I was at school because "she shed too much")
The weather here in Seattle is still pretty rainy & drizzly but Spring is determined to pop out all over. The barren bushes outside my window are now bursting (literally!) with new leaves. And the ball fields in the park behind my apartment are teeming with kids in sparkling new baseball uniforms, team parents hauling the huge barrels of drinks and snacks. Brightly colored flags are hung around the perimeter of the fields & shouts of "Play Ball!" & "Hey-batter-batter-batter" can be heard almost every afternoon, especially Saturdays! I have a ringside seat to all the games!
Need to get some binoculars though. I'm sure some of those Dads out there are single & cute! ;-) Hey, a girl can dream, can't she?
I miss "talking"
with all of you & I promise to try to catch up on what's been happening on
YOUR blogs. And my "babies",
Pooh & Tipper, miss posing for pics to share with all of you. More kitty pictures, comin' right up!
Thanks for being out there,
neighbors! Sometimes I just need to talk
to someone!! And a special thanks to
those of you who have kept in touch via email. Especially my dear Carlisa, who
has been doggedly determined to get me to talk & not just hibernate, &
help me figure out the mazes of Medicare & Medicaid. *mwah*
I'm hoping this hasn't been too tedious or
boring for the rest of you!
I love you guys, I really do. I hope you're all well & happy. And to our neighbor Judi (YGRS), you are in my prayers daily. I pray that your heart is beginning to heal, and that you know without a doubt that you are very loved. By all of us. *gentle hugs*
Comments
So happy to hear from you!
I've often thought of you----unfortunately I wasn't near the computer when you crossed my mind. That would be why you haven't gotten a PM from me.
I'm so sad to hear that your health is not good. I'm so glad you have the kittehs to keep you company.
And no it is not a problem for you to post the hard times too.
Sure, I love treading about the kittehs best, but if you can't come here and blow off steam, or just tell us life is being all meh, then what's the point?
The health stuff is just awful.
I hope the diet changes help.. my own theory is to hit things with everything you can find
(I'm having blood pressure and cholesterol problems myself so there have been major diet changes around here too. And a lot of improvement)
Hmmm
Gaining weight... can you add some dark chocolate?
nuts and nut butters should be good.
I really like almond butter a lot, in place of peanut butter all the time.
Avocados, add chunks to salad or mash up and use as spread...
You're right; it's hard to think of healthy stuff to eat to gain weight...
Oh, you can make oatmeal with milk instead of water.. it comes out a little creamier, and adds calcium, A and D.
Since you are cutting down on dairy, you could try it with soymilk... or try rice milk or almond milk, which might taste better, since sometimes cooking with soy just ends up a little different somehow.
Anyway... don't go hiding away again, 'kay?
Take care of yourself as much as you can, and glad you have the kittehs for company. Keep us posted!
((((HUGS))))
(((((((HUGS)))))))
SO nice to hear from you! And please don't hesitate to talk about the not so pleasant things, too.
I mean, what the heck are we here for if not to help one another out???
I hope the diet helps with the inflammation.
Beeeg hugs, mc2!!!!!
I was just wondering how you were doing. I missed you - didn't think to PM you, but that's me being stupid.... I was thinking about how you were the first person to ever talk to me here on vox, and it made me feel so welcome and at home. We had some quite interesting discussions back then, didn't we? We're all friends here, we take the sour with the sweet so don't hold any of it back. We'll listen to both bad and good - as much as your fingers will type for you.
- and don't avoid your Dr's appointments!! It's always worse when you don't know what is wrong. Both because your mind makes it into something it isn't and because you don't get it treated.
The diet sounds difficult, but I'm glad it makes you feel good.
- and thanks for the cute pictures of puppy and kittehs!! :-)
Big hugs!!
((((Denise))))
Hi Denise!...I'm glad you posted. We're like family here. I DO hope you carry thru with the doctor. You have lots of us who love you. Like Lauo said, we're here for each other during the hard times, too. ♥
How'd you make the heart?
P.S. I owe u an email! Sooon! Stupid cell phone is acting up now! ARGH!