Quarterly Posts Ending June 30, 2015.
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Good morning, I was finally released from the hospital in Charleston, WV yesterday evening. Its cardiac unit is one of the top 20 in the nation. I can only say that I've never received such great attention, and the food was actually good. I actually think I might have gained weight.
I don't think I will regret the procedure. I knew what I had been told by the EP and also what I had read. They gave me enough twilight anesthesia to limit the pain when the catheter was inserted but lessened afterwards. I was able to watch much of the procedure on the screens. The EP was able to burn or zap 10 misbehaving areas. One he chose not to do as it was very close to a never that helped to control the diaphram.
The worst part was having to lie flat on my back and not move my leg for six hours after the procedure. After that, I was transferred to a private room in the cardiac unit to monitor the effects of a new drug he is choosing to use, which he hopes will control the other types of rhythm problems as this one took care of one problem. If it doesn't, I will likely have to go back and have another ablation done but it will be a longer procedure as it is more challenging to do.
A friend brought me home late last night and then took me to the city early this morning to pick up my beloved cat Midnight. After returing, I picked up my car which was having a body problem repaired where someone "caressed" it and left no note. I'm not supposed to drive for five days after the procedure but this was such a short distance that I drove the car home. I also can't lift more than ten pounds for a week. I have to go back on Wednesday for a check up. Oh, the new meds also cause weight gain.
I do appreciate all the positive vibes. Right now, I'm heading to the bed to rest. I'm very sleepy but that also might be a result of the nasty rain we have had and more to come.
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Wow, that change in pricing is incredible. It sounds a bit bait and switch to me. It wouldn't hurt to have a conversation with the billing department when you pick Popcorn up. They ought to be able to negotiate something between the $180 and $480. How much effort was it to watch over her? was it like intensive care or like being in a regular hospital room where the nurses come in and check vital signs a few times per shift. If it was the latter, $480 sounds excessive.
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Well, when I went to pick her up the bill was $184! Strange! Annoying to have both a charge and a credit (since the credit always takes much longer to process) but overall I guess it came out okay. Just not a warm and fuzzy feeling!
Jean - I'm glad you were discharged and home! Positive vibes continue. Not good news that the new meds cause weight gain. Geesh!!! But your health is pantamount! I'm sure Midnight is thrilled to be home!0 -
Maryanne--That $480 charge was outrageous. I'm glad that the bill was only $184 but there should not have been the necessity of a credit to correct the overcharge. I'm about to accept my current weight as the accepted weight range. The meals at the hospital were delicious and I confess to eating all that was on the tray. They also know portion control as there were some items I could have had another...very tasty!! This is the first time I have ever had hospital food that was good.0
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Jean, I'm so glad you're home and that the procedure went well. Weight gain from meds is a real nuisance, but controlling the underlying health issue is much more important. I think hospitals are really stepping up their game in the food department. When DH was in the hospital with his heart attack, he said the food was good and I had to admit that it looked and smelled good to me, too. And when we visited our new nephew last month in the hospital in Houston, the food she was served also looked great. A lot of hospitals are providing restaurant-style menus and when you are ready to eat, you just call dietary services and order what you want off the menu.
Yesterday was a busy day for me. I had offered to bake cupcakes for a friend for her DH's Father's Day present. He loves coconut while she loathes it, so this is a treat all for him. Unfortunately, he is diabetic, so he has to limit his sweets consumption, so she plans to freeze them and dole them out over several weeks. I also had a request from the place where I recently began volunteering for a birthday cake for a little girl who was turning 8. She was very specific in her request as she wanted a marble cake with pink icing. I was able to bake and decorate the cake and get it to her by the deadline, but it was a bit of a rush. Hopefully, next time they will be able to give me more notice.
Today I got my hair cut and colored. I was in the mood for a change, so I had almost 10 inches cut off. My hair is now hitting mid-jawline. It's the shortest that it's been in at least 15 years. So far I like it, but we will see how I feel about it the first time I try to style it!0 -
I'm still trying to decide if I'm going to Lancaster PA today for father's day. DH has been fretting so much about the weather this week that he has me anxious.0
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Today is the first day I've felt truly good; sleep helps!!! I awakened at 5am which was too early to get up and went back to bed only to discover daylight again at 9am. I managed to gain a little over 2 pounds while in the hospital. I knew the food was good.
I will take this opportunity to wish all fathers a Happy Father's Day whether still with us or are in Heaven.
Maryanne--We had flash flood warnings for our area but I don't know if the rain actually ended up being as bad as expected for our area as it passed more to the east. Have a safe day! It is hard to decide what to do when the forecasts are so iffy.
Pam--I had a choice from the cardiac menu, but it was still good. For some reason, I had a whopper of an appetite while there. Then I read that one of the side effects of the new drug is that it can increase appetite and weight gain. I think part of it was that the appetite might have been a product of boredom. There is nothing like a hair style change to make you feel like a new person. I am sure that it looks great and you will become adjusted to it.
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Good morning, everyone! I'm playing couch potato right now. Just took my blood pressure and pulse. I go back Wednesday for a check up. I'll drive almost two hours for something that will take no more than a half hour, and then two hours back. I have no need to shop but I might check out the mall. Chances are good, however, that I will come back without doing that. I then go to the "local" city an hour and a half away for the urologist appointment on Thursday to set a date for another cysto date checkup.0
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Jean...It's wonderful news that you're feeling pretty good after your procedure. I wouldn't worry about the 2 pounds. It's probably a side effect and if you can hold it there, it's a good trade off for better health. Maybe after you're fully recovered, you'd be able to resume some of the walking you used to do. That will help keen the weight gain in an acceptable range.0
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After lunch, I went to bed to read with Midnight curled up beside me. I just awakened with Kindle in hand and cat still beside me. I now feel lousy.
Helene--I certainly hope the 2 pounds will disappear. How can anyone gain weight on a cardiac diet in a hospital? Granted, the food was great and I ate everything so that factored into it.0 -
It could also be retaining fluids. It will probably work it's way out in a few days. We leave for NJ for a few days. I may have intermittent Internet access. I hope I can log on MFP. I'd hate to break my streak for soothing like that.0
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I started the day with the Quaker Weight Control oatmeal and coffee. Next task is to get in my water.
Helene--I'm sure there will be a free Wi-Fi spot somewhere on the road. Many Mickey D's have free internet as do others, including hotels and coffee shops.
I am on Day 63 of checking in.0 -
Jean - I'm glad you're doing well post-procedure and I'm sure Midnight is thrilled to have you doing some resting!0
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Maryanne--I would be delighted if Midnight would quit waking me up at night more than the usual one time. I guess he wants to make sure I'm still with him.0
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I'm on day 2 of my "re-commitment". So far so good.
This week is NS. Next week I did a Diet Direct order. After that hopefully I can go back to using what's on my shelves but I need a more dramatic start!
Really hot right now - I'm trying to be a good citizen and keep the electricity use sub par between 1 and 7 today as requested by the power company. Tuffy wants to cuddle - not fun - he's big and warm!
My work is a little slow so I'm gratefully taking time to catch up on CROM stuff. I've been WAY behind.
Spent time today trying to hook up an 11-year old Siamese dropped off at a vet for euthanasia (for no good reason) with a volunteer I know would love to take him. Also brainstorming ideas on how to "market" a cat that just doesn't seem to be clicking with anyone in the vet's adoption cage. Really sweet but not crazy about other cats and on a prescription diet which she really really needs to be on. No major medical issues. It's been so many years since we did anything much beyond those cages that I'm sure what we used to do is obsolete. So I sent out a broadcast idea to the troops to get ideas.
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Maryanne--You are off to a dedicated renewal again. Being a good citizen is difficult when it is so hot but that might be better than having rolling blackouts, etc. Good job on trying to find a home for the Siamese.
I've just been getting things ready for hitting the road early tomorrow morning to make the two hour drive to the capital city and the follow up checkup.0 -
I got back from my heart ablation checkup in the capital city shortly after noon. I am doing so well right now that they cancelled the August appointment and changed it to December. In the interim, I'll be seeing my regular cardiologist in PKB but also have been told to call or message them if I need to see them before December.
This could be just the bloom on the rose as the problem I had came and went and sometimes would not be caught by an EKG. Time will tell but if this particular heart rhythm has been corrected, I will be most thankful as it was potentially serious. In the meantime, I still have two types that they hope will be controlled by meds.
Needless to say, I am one happy person. I was sad to hear that the person who did my procedure is leaving to a position at Duke in August. He was fabulous and had such a great and warm personality, so unlike many specialists.
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Jean - fantastic news!
Saw the endocrinologist today. She made no comment about my weight. One of my thyroid cysts has grown enough in the last 12 months they want to do another biopsy. She didn't remember my needle phobia so I must have managed to act cool and calm on the outside. LOL! Even if still benign they might eventually need to take it out because as she said "there's only so much room in your throat".
Had to make a quick lunch switch. My plan was to limit myself to the NS food in the one box - along with fresh stuff. The only lunch I ordered for the week was tuna salad. I figured that on a salad with a packet of tuna - easy peasy. Pulled out the bag of salad today and it was mush. Why does that happen sometimes? I can't figure out any warning sign to look for in the store. Always get the same brand and the same variety. Dole Very Veggie. Anyway I pulled a Lean Pocket from the freezer.
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Maryanne--Sorry about the biopsy need but let's hope that all is good.
I love that white cat!0 -
Off to the urologist today to schedule another cysto to see if the bladder cancer has returned. There is no reason to believe it has but this is the norm to check as bladder cancer easily returns.0
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I think that white cat gif is hilarious!
Well, my friend is adopting the 11-year old Siamese. Turns out the woman is moving and decided to take her younger cat but bring in the Siamese to be euthanized. No health issues. Thank goodness the vet decided not to do it; bless his heart. She got her other two late beloved Siamese the same way.
I need to get off to the store today - if I'm going to stick to my plan I need salad!!!
My work has been slow which is very unusual so I've used the opportunity to catch up on some other things as there isn't a single part of my life other than work which isn't WAY behind!
My sister and BIL are moving to Sedona, which makes me sort of sad. Funny coincidence, though, the books I'm listening to in the care are the J A Jance Ali Reynolds books which are set in Sedona. I don't know why anyone would want to move to that drought area. I worry for them!
So far this week except for having to sub lunch yesterday I've stuck to my eating plan. I'm rediscovering why I don't like the NS breakfasts. You're hungry again almost right away.0 -
Jean - best of luck at the urologist!!!0
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Maryanne--I am so happy that the Siamese cat has found a loving home. Good job on sticking to the plan. I also agree with you about the NS breakfasts. I can have a serving of the Quaker Weight Control oatmeal and be satisfied, but have an NS breakfast and I'm hungry regardless of use of add in.0
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I think this "nothing but NS" week won't be repeated. At least not with shelf stable. The breakfasts just aren't there. I still have to try out the frozen I ordered.
People complain about the dinners and lunches but I can fill a week with those meals with no problem. This week for dinner I'm doing: mac n cheese and chili (mixed and split in half), beef stew, chicken pot pie and thick crust pizza.
Grocery store was out of my usual salad mix so I picked up several other varieties to try.0 -
Maryanne--I have no problem with the NS dinners. I could easily just order them as breakfast and lunch is such an easy fix. As a single, I'm not much of a cook lately so the variety of the NS dinner meals really meets my needs. If I want something different, there is always Lean Cuisine to fill in or a Kansas City steak, etc. prepared on the George Foreman. I had the NS Veggie Lasagna tonight; I love it!! I just get the shelf stable food.
I do have a funny to report. Humana called me yesterday while I was gone. I returned the call to them this morning before I left to see the urologist. Basically, it was a patient advocate for Humana calling to see how I was doing after my inpatient stay in the hospital. Then she proceeded to tell me of the benefits available to me free as a result of being in the hospital.
One of them was a free package of ten frozen healthy meals to be shipped to me via UPS. I am not one to pass up free food, so I guess I'll see what healthy items will be sent my way. The other being sent my way is a free exercise kit consisting of a yoga mat, exercise bands, pedometer, and DVD.0 -
I've started adding ground flaxseed to the diet based upon doctor recommendations for more fiber and also omega 3's. The ground flaxseed combines both. I had it added to my Quaker Weight Control oatmeal this morning.
http://www.webmd.com/diet/benefits-of-flaxseed0 -
Wow, Jean, hospitals now have tasty meals and freebies? That's pretty funny!
I've been doing pretty good so far this week and I went to the grocery stores yesterday and got all stocked up so hopefully I'm ready for next week.
Right now the garden is producing TONS of green beans. Unfortunately I think the ones from the grocery store that you steam in the bag are 100 times better but I don't have the heart to tell DH. He's so proud of his bean crop.
Can't wait for the tomatoes to start. Yesterday he brought in one yellow cherry tomato and handed to me with great ceremony - he knows how much I love the yellow and orange tomatoes!
Today I'm having the NS donut and chocolate shake, tuna salad for lunch and pizza for dinner.
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Maryanne--When I heard I would be having this procedure done at this hospital, a teacher who retired and lives about 50 miles away contacted me and said he had the same procedure at the same hospital. In doing so, he said he was treated so good that he hated to leave. He was right! The staff was great as was the attention you got along with the food, etc. I also miss it, believe it or not.
Keep up the great work! I do hope your tomatoes turn out well...as good as the beans.0 -
If I had to go and have my thyroid out, I would hope for as good a hospital experience. Apparently it requires an overnight stay. The fact that the endocrinologist took the time to share that kind of details with me - when she never had before in all these years - made me think she sees it as possible at this point.
I've always told her that her job is to keep me from ending up like my aunt. She had such an enlarged thryoid that it looked like a baseball in her neck (literally) and it eventually became cancerous and killed her. True she was fairly old but she had to have suffered with that huge thing on her neck for so many years.
So while I wouldn't look forward to surgery I have a clear picture in my head of what I would be avoiding.
Today I'm planning eggs and NS bagel for breakfast. I need to have a high protein breakfast because I won't be here at lunch time. I have a hair appointment. I didn't plan for that when I ordered the box for the week (LOL!) so I dug out a NS trail mix bar. So I'm eating "outside the box" but still within NS. For dinner I'm planning the NS fettucini alfredo with a protein serving of pork loin. Meanwhile DH can have pork loin and Stouffer's red box fettucini alfredo.
This coming week I take Jack to the internist on Wednesday so that will be another day I won't be here to eat at least one meal.
I finally broke down and suggested to DH that he might try a different variety of green bean seeds next year. These just aren't good and they don't seem to be stopping any time soon! Since when I'm eating right I count on a large tasty plate of vegetables as the main part of my dinner, these aren't amusing me.
Can't wait for the tomatoes. DH brought two tiny cherry tomatoes in yesterday. While my back was turned Jack tried to turn one of them into a toy. Oh no!! I got it back in time.
My friend isn't getting the 11-year old Siamese after all. She didn't take it right away. The vet tech took it back home and the next day discovered her mother holding it and smiling. First time she'd seen her smile in a year, she said. She called Bonnie and told her she was sorry, but she couldn't give him up. Bonnie said she understood since she would have done anything for her mom - more so even toward the end. I don't know if it's dawned on her yet that if she'd just taken the cat when she met him, this wouldn't have happened.
I have 4 rolls of film ready to pick up at the drugstore. I imagine there will be the final photos of Willie on that roll. Bittersweet certainly. (And yes, I still have a film camera - love it!)
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