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Runners that need some nutritional accountability

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  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,840 Member
    swenson19d wrote: »
    My favorite game is "Diagnose me" so I love the brainstorming. Thanks @rheddmobile

    My thyroid function is also fine
    Tests: (3) Thyroxine (T4) Free, Direct, S (001974)
    T4,Free(Direct) 1.01 ng/dL 0.82-1.77

    Tests: (4) TSH (004259)
    TSH 3.150 uIU/mL 0.450-4.500

    Tests: (5) Sedimentation Rate-Westergren (005215)
    Sedimentation Rate-Westergren
    4 mm/hr 0-40

    Tests: (6) Magnesium (001537)
    Magnesium 2.1 mg/dL 1.6-2.3

    Yeah my sed rate is usually over 50 when I’m having a flare.
  • swenson19d
    swenson19d Posts: 789 Member
    @quilteryoyo Everyone still hanging in there? your dad hopefully not getting any worse?


    Unofficial grades
    meh. Finished the semester with a 3.86. B in that dang pharm class. I am going to spend the break preparing for pharm II.

    Jerks
    No antidepressant and last night had an episode of them. Perhaps I can have my med back. It takes me twice the time on exams to finish and I have to re-read the questions 3-4 times to put the meaning in the words. I can't seem to focus. Worse of all I have that doom feeling I had the days before Alex died on 6-6-20 on a Saturday. 12-12-20 is a little unnerving to me as it would be 6 months and 6 days after he left. Nothing fearful about 6's, just a pattern. his bday was 5-5-95...born on Friday died on Saturday 6-6 and 6 mo 6 days after feels ominous.

    I am in a crying stint.

    Bob
    Is my new favorite family member.

    Violin and PT today. Then I am going to delve into some studying- probably videos not reading because I cant focus worths rats.

    Food.
    I haven't made those pea/potato curry pastry ideas yet. It is possible, but we'll see. I may go to the cemetery after PT and poison those ants some more. Scale is ugh... Please be PMS weight.

    11 days to PCP. thank goodness. 1to DD's hair re-cut.
  • quilteryoyo
    quilteryoyo Posts: 6,580 Member
    I posted the below update on the running thread. So, if you've already read it, you don't have to read this. LOL Well, you don't have to read it anyway. LOL
    So, yesterday didn't turn out the way I had planned. They rarely do these days. Dad's VA doctor called for a telemed appointment at 1 yesterday afternoon. When we told her about his oxygen going down and how lousy he was feeling, she wanted him to go to the VA ER to be evaluated by a doctor there. She said they would do a chest x-ray to be sure there wasn't any fluid building up in his lungs and maybe give him some different medicines that he didn't get from urgent care. Of course, this did not help dad's attitude, even though I tried to convince him it was just to be evaluated. She didn't think he was in an emergency situation, but wanted to make sure it didn't become one.

    So, I came home, got ready and left about 2 for the hour drive to the VA. They would not let me go in, even though I explained that he is having a really hard time hearing - still don't have his new hearing aids and that he probably wouldn't be able to answer all of their questions accurately. They did take my number and said the doctor would call me. I really hate not being with him at the doctor, because I really don't know how accurate the info is that they get from him.

    So, I complied and drove to the parking lot to wait, and wait, and wait. I hadn't heard anything for 3 hours, so went in to check on his status. The lady said, "Did you call that number?" She was supposed to have given me a number to call for updates, but didn't. So she checked and said he was being discharged, just waiting on some prescriptions. They sent him out to the car about 5 minutes later. The doctor never talked to me, so I had to rely on what dad said. I was NOT happy about that.

    Good news is that there was no fluid in his lungs and the doctor told dad that everything checked out good. They also gave him a steroid shot and sent him home with steroids and some other meds he didn't already have. I think just having the affirmation from the doctor that he was going to be okay helped. He was much better on the way home.

    This morning, he is doing a lot better, and even admitted it. :lol: So, I think we are going to make it. They were even able to taste their food a little this morning and dad finally ate his breakfast, even though he said it tasted like slop. We are getting him some Boost and Ensure to hopefully get some nutrition in him. He hasn't really eaten anything in 3 days. Mom will at least force herself to eat something, even if it didn't taste like anything. I never lost my sense of taste or smell. Odd how it affects everyone differently.

    I was entertaining myself last night by watching the squirrels running up and down the trees. I was trying to take a nap when I heard one of them yell out a warning. I looked up and the three that were in view had frozen. They didn't move a muscle. In a few minutes I saw a huge hawk fly by and land in a nearby tree where another hawk had been sitting. I'm glad they were warned and survived that encounter.

    al8geljppazc.jpg
    See the three squirrel statues?

    6edbqrnw4lam.jpg
    The hawk is in the tree, directly above the street lamp.

    My weight is down 3 pounds since Saturday. I am trying to eat well, but it just isn't in the cards. I had planned to make spaghetti last night, but since I didn't get home from the VA until almost 7:30, I had a cheese sandwich instead. Maybe today.

    Also wanted to let you know about an issue I had while waiting for dad yesterday. Since I have CoVID too, I was not allowed to go into the VA. I had to pee! I always have to pee. Mom tells people I stop at every tree when we are on a trip. (I do stop at every rest area. LOL) Anyway, what could I do? No bushes are available that are out of sight. I'm supposed to be in quarantine, so really shouldn't go into a restaurant or anything. I hope you don't think badly of me, but I had to go. So, I went to a CVS that was just outside the VA gate. This particular CVS had the area to the bathrooms locked, so a clerk had to open it....I had on my mask and stayed as far away from her as possible. I barely touched the seat with my toush and then wiped everything down I touched with a Clorox wipe I had taken in with me. I used another Clorox wipe to open the door on my way out. I don't think I put anyone in danger. I really felt better about using that one than one at a fast food place because I doubt if very many people go in there. I didn't feel like I had a choice and took all the precautions I could. What would you have done?

    I think I am going to buy me a portable urinal for women to keep with me, just in case. I have had other times when I couldn't find a good place to go before. Seems like a good idea to me.
  • quilteryoyo
    quilteryoyo Posts: 6,580 Member
    @swenson19d Hugs to you. I hate those foreboding feelings. Hang in there.
  • swenson19d
    swenson19d Posts: 789 Member
    @quilteryoyo Glad your dad is feeling better. Whew! It's unhealthy to hold it, so I definitely would have gone! I had a friend (years ago- have none now, actually I was dating her father-inlaw), who arrived at class so early that the building wasn't open and had an uh oh I NEED to go. I lived just 5 minutes from there so it was on her for not coming over. She opted to use a large to-go cup in her car. ???? ! Then just as she is trying to manage the pee-poo cup and a classmate comes up to chat. eww. So, worse decisions could have been made in needing to go! I think you were very responsible in your efforts to minimize spreading it.

    I'm not keen on the squirrels and would have been rooting for the hawk. But glad they have a system and managed to save one another! (for now) LOL!
  • shanaber
    shanaber Posts: 6,423 Member
    @swenson19d - I used to get those foreboding feelings after my dad died. I was sure something was going to happen to my dd or dh and I would have nightmares about it and wake up to needing to check that both were ok. Heaven forbid that dh was up early as I would be sure something was wrong and be in a panic. I have no idea what alleviated it but eventually it stopped happening. I hope yours are better after the 12th! How is your dd coping? Hope she is doing ok!
    A 3.86 is a great GPA for a tough program! Also a B in pharm is nothing to be sad about, it is a really tough class although I do get wanting that A!

    @quilteryoyo - so glad your dad is doing better and they got him on some steroids. I have read that they are one thing that can easily help because it reduces the inflammation.
    I had never heard of a female personal urinal. No idea that it existed. Seems like a good idea especially for now. If you want to drive anywhere here, like to go up the coast (before the current shut down when we could) we didn't want to because most everywhere the bathrooms are closed, even at the rest stops. I alike you, I always need to stop and it doesn't help that I drink so much water and get thirsty if I don't.

    Like @swenson19d - my first thought was I would be rooting for the hawks! The squirrels here are so destructive and manage to ruin all my fruit, even the citrus!

  • quilteryoyo
    quilteryoyo Posts: 6,580 Member
    I get your dislike for the squirrel population ladies. I wasn't in the mood to see death and mayhem in front of my eyes though.
  • Avidkeo
    Avidkeo Posts: 3,213 Member
    Hey guys. @quilteryoyo yay for your dad. Glad there's some good news. The bathroom thing is frustrating but you took all appropriate precautions. Biggest hugs. And squirrels... We don't have them here. We have possums instead, and they are a pest here. I'd be happy the hawks taking them away, though I definitely agree about not wanting to witness it!

    I had another bad food day yesterday, scale didn't move much fortunately, and it fueled my run this morning really well lol. So despite being tired, I had a great 5k. Im getting I to the groove again today. Fortunately I'm not on evenings anymore, I start at 10am, go till 630, so I'll actually get to see my kids!

    I'm going to finish Christmas shopping tomorrow, I just need a bottle of something for a secret santa type gift and I'm all done. We haven't wrapped anything yet, so that may be the focus in the evenings for the next couple of nights. The kids finish school next week for their summer holidays so there will be a lot of fun around here!
  • quilteryoyo
    quilteryoyo Posts: 6,580 Member
    @Avidkeo Sometimes bad food days are the best for fueling. It must be hard to be on a shift where you don't get to see your girls every day.
  • swenson19d
    swenson19d Posts: 789 Member
    I am in the market for a kneeling chair. I think DH might have been spying on my violin lesson and heard me comment that I sit folded up in my chair and it limits my bow stroke/speed. It is a sturdy old wooden chair I got ages ago, it's probably 90+ years old, it went to some Ivy league school back in the day. Anyway, Dh hinted about me replacing it. nah, I like it. He pressed. Nah, I like it. He pressed. Well, I suppose we can look at a kneeling chair, I loved those when I was a teen and the only place I've ever sat that didn't hurt. IDK if he'll get the one I want or not. Does anyone have any recommendations?

    PT was fine.
    My mid and lower spine were all twisted, again. Not surprised with the amount of pain I had been in. I hinted about not putting much into the neuro visit and wasn't excited about it. She was sure to say I should go. I am trying to dismiss and rationalize everything. No jerks today, but the stretches I do at PT cause my legs to want to jump and I was just swinging my legs and thwacking my knees to make them jump, LOL! She laughed at me. I think I must be broken though, she did ask me every if I was fine after every little thing while standing, because we had to do an improvement assessment. Back is 10% better in mobility. yay! I guess she didn't want me dorking-out on her. IDK what to call it, it's freezing spasticity. I am hopeful with the neuro, but trying to anticipate zero answers.

    Food
    I made a veggie soup. The butter chicken is marinating for tomorrow.
  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,840 Member
    @quilteryoyo Bad old hawk! I have a big female red tail who sits on top of my birdfeeder sometimes. You can imagine I don’t get nearly as many birdies visiting when she’s there! So happy your dad is doing better. Still praying for y’all.

    So my goal was to be back down to 150 by Christmas, and I’ve been hovering right around 150.8. Yesterday I get up and weigh, and it’s 148.0. Yay, whoosh! But no... I step back on a little later and it’s 155 something. Then 139. It’s just my scale needing new batteries. Oh well!

    My new obsession is Dave’s seedy bread with thin slices of Bosc pear, havarti cheese, and walnuts, toasted. So good.
  • quilteryoyo
    quilteryoyo Posts: 6,580 Member
    edited December 2020
    @swenson19d I had to look up kneeling chair. They aren't too, too expensive. If that helps you feel better, get one. Glad your back is a little better. I hope the neruo has some answers for you.

    @rheddmobile I imagine you have very few visitors to the feeder if the hawk is there. You are so close to 150. You've got this. I hate it when the batteries on the scale get low and give you false readings. I'm always leering about a big drop.

    I talked to mom this morning. Dad is not doing too good. He has breathing issues anyway, so it is really hard to tell if it is CoVID related or "normal" issues. His oxygen level was low when he first got up, but went back to 90%. He has a consistent low grade fever, even with Tylenol. His throat is sore this morning and he felt a little sick at his stomach about 4 am. He was asleep in the recliner, so haven't talk to him yet. I figure the sleep is good for him right now. I was so hoping the worst was behind us. Mom said she isn't feeling as well this morning either, but is okay. I am still good. Have a little bit of a cough, but nothing like I've had in the past. I have a telemed appointment with my doctor at 10:30 this morning. I'll keep you updated.
  • swenson19d
    swenson19d Posts: 789 Member
    @quilteryoyo I hope your dad's condition is normal progression of the virus. Continued prayers for him.

  • RunsOnEspresso
    RunsOnEspresso Posts: 3,218 Member
    @quilteryoyo I could be wrong but I think the symptoms fluctuation is normal.

    Pretty sure I've seen people say they felt great at first (hence asymptomatic spread being an issue) then after like a week they'd get symptoms, feel better, and then get it worse before getting better.
  • RunsOnEspresso
    RunsOnEspresso Posts: 3,218 Member
    Weight was the same today as last week so at least no gain. I did go over cals like every day but I'm so hungry!

    I also realized I forgot to weigh in until after I had already had some coffee 🤣 Not a lot so probably didn't affect weigh in
  • Avidkeo
    Avidkeo Posts: 3,213 Member
    @quilteryoyo big hugs. I hope he continues to improve.
  • Avidkeo
    Avidkeo Posts: 3,213 Member
    Did well with calories yesterday, weights still up a little but not worried, trend is going down, slowly. Ran 6.5k which was great. Rest day today
  • quilteryoyo
    quilteryoyo Posts: 6,580 Member
    Sorry about no updates during the day yesterday. It was a stressful day with lots of phone calls and texts. I'm glad dad is so well loved, but it can be exhausting keeping everyone up to date. They did have to put him on a Bi Pap machine last night to keep his sats up, but that seems to be working well for now. I just talked to his nurse and respiratory therapist. They said he is very concerned about me and mom - that we are sick, which we are doing good. She said he made the therapist cry twice last night asking about us. It really doesn't help that he can NOT hear on the phone.

    He just called and sounded pretty good, but he is really depressed. They can't give him anything because they don't want to depress his breathing. He can't hear me enough for me to reassure him that we're ok and that he needs to concentrate on getting well. Instead, when we started to hang up, he said, "If I don't talk to you again, I love you." The therapist was in the background telling him that he would talk to me again. This is really hard you all.

    I am a stress eater, except when I'm really, really stressed. Then, I can't eat. I'm trying really hard, but I'm not being very successful. I am currently at 131.2 pounds. I was 136.4 last Saturday. I know that isn't good. I have spaghetti sauce cooked, but the doctor had called me yesterday and wasn't very positive about dad's prognosis, so I couldn't eat it. I finally wound up eating some cheese and crackers about 7 last night.

  • rheddmobile
    rheddmobile Posts: 6,840 Member
    edited December 2020
    quilteryoyo wrote: »
    Sorry about no updates during the day yesterday. It was a stressful day with lots of phone calls and texts. I'm glad dad is so well loved, but it can be exhausting keeping everyone up to date. They did have to put him on a Bi Pap machine last night to keep his sats up, but that seems to be working well for now. I just talked to his nurse and respiratory therapist. They said he is very concerned about me and mom - that we are sick, which we are doing good. She said he made the therapist cry twice last night asking about us. It really doesn't help that he can NOT hear on the phone.

    He just called and sounded pretty good, but he is really depressed. They can't give him anything because they don't want to depress his breathing. He can't hear me enough for me to reassure him that we're ok and that he needs to concentrate on getting well. Instead, when we started to hang up, he said, "If I don't talk to you again, I love you." The therapist was in the background telling him that he would talk to me again. This is really hard you all.

    I am a stress eater, except when I'm really, really stressed. Then, I can't eat. I'm trying really hard, but I'm not being very successful. I am currently at 131.2 pounds. I was 136.4 last Saturday. I know that isn't good. I have spaghetti sauce cooked, but the doctor had called me yesterday and wasn't very positive about dad's prognosis, so I couldn't eat it. I finally wound up eating some cheese and crackers about 7 last night.
    Still praying for you! I know how it is with the deafness and the phone, my mom is deaf and trying to stay in touch with her drives me crazy. I can only imagine what it must be like for you with him in the hospital. It’s good that you know he is surrounded by people who are taking good care of him.

    I agree with @bearly63 about drinking ensure or something for a while. Just slug it down like medicine, which it is, because your body needs it! Totally apart from the stress, reduced appetite is one of the symptoms of Covid.

    Could you maybe use CaringBridge to take the pressure off to update everybody? I know you set it up initially for you and your surgery, but it seems like it would be easier to make one post in one place and let all your people know to look there than to act as a central communication for everybody.
  • swenson19d
    swenson19d Posts: 789 Member
    @bearly63 Hope the follow-up scans are just CYA routine. At least they are before the end of the year and will go in this year's insurance.
    I had the exact concern over the roomba as we have cats who barf and one will get drippy butt when he is constipated or wormy or sick. Dh has been pressing this issue for a year now so I just gave up and said fine, but you are cleaning the Picasso and replacing rugs. It never runs when I haven't inspected the house so I am hoping to minimize germs painted about. It is insane to sit and notice the bottom of your socks are not fur laden!
    I think a hip doc will be beneficial. I love mine of course. Hopefully, they can help get you to healing and progressing.
  • shanaber
    shanaber Posts: 6,423 Member
    Oh @quilteryoyo, sending you huge {{hugs}}! I hope the treatments are helping! It is so hard now when people in the hospital have to separated from loved ones and especially with your dad not being able to hear. Is Remdesivir something he could have? I have no idea the availability but it seems to be one of the best treatments.
    I agree with everyone that a premade shake or something similar would be a good way to get in some protein and calories even when you aren't hungry. Also Caringbridge seems a great way to inform everyone about how your dad is doing without having to send individual messages or calls.

    @bearly63 - I hope all goes well with your followup mammo and ultrasound, hang in there. I worry every time I have one until I get the results back. Years ago I had that call back to come in asap to have a suspicious lump checked. They thought it was a cyst but wanted to make sure. I was terrified as I had lost my aunt to bc just a few years earlier and she was diagnosed at about the same age I was. It wasn't a cyst but I was lucky, it was cancer but fully encapsulated with no spread. This last time they had me go for a 3-d mammo, same squish machine just better technology. While I was there they sent me over immediately for genetic testing since I met all the requirements. My mammo came back normal again but I am still waiting for the genetic test results.
    I forget - didn't you see an orthopedic for your stress fracture? Is this issue different from that? I can't imagine that a cortisone shot would be a help if the problem is still from the stress fracture. If there is a hip specialist available I would definitely try that.

    Speaking of hips... well, sort of. My hamstring and glute are really bothering me again. They ache at night and it makes it hard to sleep (welcome to your world @swenson19d!). I should have gotten up last night for some Aleve but convinced myself it wasn't that bad. Had to take one though pretty much as soon as I got up. I will be calling my PCP next week to see about a referral to I guess an ortho doc or maybe for PT? I figure I won't be able to get in though until January or February.
    No run planned but I may try to get in some strength training in and there is definitely a nap on my schedule for this afternoon. Oh and we are taking Hilde out for a walk in the neighborhood to see the Christmas lights tonight. I have roped in DH to go with us to push the wheelchair.
  • Avidkeo
    Avidkeo Posts: 3,213 Member
    Hugs @quilteryoyo I wouldn't worry too much about the weight atm. It's a temporary reaction to high stress. Allow yourself one less thing to stress about. Not that it helps, I know. Glad your dad is doing OK.

    @bearly63 hugs on the mammo. Its pretty common to need an US after a mam. They are usually just being cautious. I hope that's the case for you.

    I ate too much yesterday. Sigh. But no real change to the scales. I'm hoping to basically just maintain till after Christmas now.
  • quilteryoyo
    quilteryoyo Posts: 6,580 Member
    @bearly63 I hope your follow-up shows nothing to worry about. I'm glad you insisted on the quicker turn around. Waiting is the worst. I hope you can find someone to help with your hip.

    @rheddmobile I would love to use Caring Bridge for updates. Unfortunately, a lot of the people who need to be kept up to date haven't signed up for it and some of the older people don't do computer stuff. It's hard, but I have at least figured out how to copy and forward updates, so it doesn't take a ton of time. I wish everyone would sign up. I probably should get some Boost/Ensure. We got some for mom and dad. I don't think she is drinking them either. May have to change that tomorrow.

    Thanks ladies. Mom and I were able to facetime with dad for about 10 minutes today. He started coughing when trying to talk, so we got off. We're hoping seeing us helped. (I don't have and iphone so I had to borrow one from my brother and then call the nurse, who used their ipad to take to dad's room.) I thought he looked good, considering. Hard part of the day was, after talking to the doctor for about 30 minutes, we decided, if it comes down to it, we are not going to put him on a ventilator. At that point we would just go for comfort care. After that, they were able to lower the oxygen from 100% to 85% on the bipap and his oxygen sats stayed up, so I am hopeful that he is going to make it and get to come home.
    Thanks for being here for me!
  • quilteryoyo
    quilteryoyo Posts: 6,580 Member
    @shanaber They have dad on Dexamethasone, Remdesivir, and convalescent plasma.
  • bearly63
    bearly63 Posts: 734 Member
    Thanks all....trying to think positively. @quilteryoyo sounds like he's getting all the good stuff so it just needs to do its job! Wonder if one of the relatives could take over the reporting job....you email them and they get the word out.

    @shanaber.....thanks for the info....so glad yours was ok! I was going to a Sports med guy for the hip....physical doctor....not orthopedic. Wanted someone who would keep me moving....which he did. I'll figure it out at some point....could just be overuse or just aging....it happens.... ;)
  • ddmom0811
    ddmom0811 Posts: 1,881 Member
    OMG - I missed so much! I've had a very rough time at work the past two weeks-- too boring to go into but just hanging in there. Food has been pretty good and doing the run streak. I am quite sore in the mornings (ankles mostly) because I haven't been running much since Pellie moved in.

    @quilteryoyo - I can't believe all that has happened to you the past couple weeks. I am so sorry about you all getting Covid. What were they thinking going to work with they can't taste/smell, and being a super spreader. I wonder how many others got it. I pray your dad is going to be able to come home soon! I have to pee every time I pass a bathroom it seems. I agree on drinking Ensure or something like that. Get some protein in somehow.

    @bearly63 - I have dense small ones too. I've been called back for shadows/spots, and it always turns out okay. So hopefully that's the case for you. Good for you pushing the appt sooner. who wants to wait another week!

    Wow, still can't believe all I missed.
  • bearly63
    bearly63 Posts: 734 Member
    @ddmom0811 thanks for info....they really emphasized the weight loss and I friend who is married to the doc agreed that you get more dense with weight loss....naturally I lose it in my already smallish chest instead of my shapely rear end or muffing top lol!!!
  • quilteryoyo
    quilteryoyo Posts: 6,580 Member
    Called the nurse this morning. Dad is physically about the same, but he told the nurse this morning that he is ready to quit, die, and go to heaven. He doesn't do well with being alone and tends to be depressed anyway. It would do him so much good if we could go see him, but that isn't allowed! We are going to try to help by taking him a digital frame with lots of pictures of the great-grandkids, his cell phone, which he may be able to hear better with...don't know, and try to video chat with him again this afternoon. I know he's tired and it's hard, but I am NOT ready for him to just give up and die.

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