2019: We Are Making a Difference!
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Helene, you might have better luck convincing your new doctor that a higher BP reading is due to white coat syndrome if you keep a log of your readings for a month or so before your appointment. I did that a few years ago and my doctor agreed to take me off BP medication as a result. I’m back on it now, but was off for several years before it began creeping up again.
Jean, I’m sorry for the mention of a forbidden treat. I like carrot cake, but it was never a favorite of mine. I’ve been debating whether to include coconut — some recipes do, others don’t. What’s your vote? I know many people have very strong feelings about coconut.0 -
Helene--It sounds as if you lucked out with the doctor they assigned being one that you would have picked. The hospital is definitely something to consider..
Pam--I don't know that I've ever had carrot cake with coconut, but I do like coconut.
Jenny called me again. I told them that althought it might be a good program that $600 a month was too much for me.0 -
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I didn't know some carrot cake had coconut in it. I've certainly never tasted it. I like some carrot cake. The ones that are dense and crumbly. As opposed to the ones that are fluffy. I can see the two in my head but not describe very well.
I haven't seen my primary care doctor in years and years. She's not worth much IMHO and the wait for her for an appointment is hours and hours. She's never ever not hours and hours behind schedule. I see the nurse practitioner - to write scrip for lab tests, mammogram, etc. - and if I have any physical issues I find the best specialist in Baltimore and we have tons.
The hospital thing is a real issue. I've worked out a decent working relationship with this cardiologist. My only concern is that she's a Hopkins doctor. That's a good thing generally but I know if DH had to take me downtown instead of to the hospital out here in the burbs he wouldn't be a happy camper. My oncologist gave me the name of a good cardiologist out here but I'm loathe to break up with my current cardiologist now that we've got a somewhat hard won working relationship. Plus I looked up the cardiac outcomes online of both hospitals and to no one's great surprise Hopkins wins.
The side of my head that had the shingles is still sore. I feel it when I brush my hair or rub my head. The spots have faded but a few of them are still sore. At the cat show this weekend one volunteer who was seeing me for the first time but who knew I'd had shingles said she couldn't see anything until she came up close.
I can't find anything online about how long to wait to get Shingrix after you have shingles. My calendar is relatively empty in July so maybe I'll wait until then.
Going to the doctor appointment with a series of normal blood pressure readings is a great idea. If I'd done that I'd have known much sooner than I did that white coat hypertension was a thing of my past and that I really had an issue. I guess I was pretty forceful in fending off everyone's concerns for a very long time.
Jean - great job on the exercise! As I start to feel better here I need to get back into it. I've been doing great on the food but not the treadmill. This has taken a lot out of me, I have to admit.
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Pam, that’s a great idea to keep a log of BP readings for a while. DH has a BP machine so I could o many people get side effects easily do that. I really don’t want to go on medication for something I don’t have. So many people get side effects from BP meds.
Mil made the best carrot cakes. She would grind here own carrots and she put walnuts in it. She made her’s in a loaf pan and the recipe made 2 loaves. She’d make a delicious cream cheese frosting for it. She never used coconut in her cakes but I’vehad some that do and they were good. I’ve had some that use pineapple. That make the cake more moist and crumbly. It was okay but I guess I like the dense version (MIL) better. Coconut or not, I know Pam’s cake will be delicious.
Jean, I like the meme about change. Food for shortages thought.
Maryanne, have you found Shingrex available yet? I stopped looking because of the shortage. Maybe I should start checking locally.0 -
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I think I will use a recipe that includes pineapple, walnuts, and a little bit of coconut. I plan to use a cream cheese frosting and decorate with chopped walnuts and some “carrots” made from colored chocolate candy coating. I’ll try to remember to take a picture and show you how they look when I’m done. I’ve made the decorations already and they turned out very cute, in my totally unbiased opinion, lol!
I got the first Shingrex vaccine last month. I had about given up on ever finding it, but got lucky one day when I stopped by the pharmacy and asked if they had any. They had just gotten some in that day, and I was on their waiting list, so I was able to get it that day. Hopefully, I’ll also be on the list for the second dose in a couple of months.0 -
Our Giant grocery store pharmacist claims they've had it routinely for about 6 months. They also show up on the online "Shingrix availability" site.
https://www.shingrix.com/shingles-vaccine-locator.html
Jean - that's hilarious. I know I can gain/lose quite a bit and still wear the same clothes so not much changes visually.
Pam - maybe your photo(s) will be enough for vicarious enjoyment. (Convincing self here).0 -
Okay, my diet food is organized. It's beautiful if I do say so myself (LOL!). I went through the "use by" date on every single item and pitched quite a bit. Hopefully this will motivate me to stay on track!1
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Packet day is SO filling for SO few calories. I can see why they have bariatric patients on a high protein diet. Maybe they should just send them home with packets.0
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Maryanne--Protein is the key to being full and satisfied as it also keeps the blood sugar level at an even keel. If you haven't tried the Premier Protein drinks, they are very good. 30g of protein in the drink for 160 calories. It also has only 1 g of sugar and is low fat.
Pam--Your carrot cake is beginning to sound very much like that the Outback serves. When I get an urge for carrot cake that is my source. Huge serving.
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Maryanne--Love that cat's reaction!0
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Pam,your cake sounds better and better. Looking forward to the photo. Are you still taking cakes to the shelter?
Jean, where do you get the protein drinks? Do you have a favorite flavor?0 -
Helene, the place where I used to volunteer discontinued that part of their program, so I haven’t been taking baked goods to them for awhile. They occasionally ask for cookies for a graduation or special program and I try to help out when I can, but that is infrequent.
Sadly, I’m afraid I can relate to this photo.
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How true. The extra chin and neck are the body area I dislike the most. That’s too bad they discontinued the cake program. It was such a lovely thing and I’m sure the birthday gal felt special.0
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Helene, they discontinued the volunteer baker program because enough local supermarket bakeries agreed to donate cakes for the women and children in the program, so they still get cakes. I’m sure from the program’s perspective it’s better, since they don’t have to worry about whether they have enough volunteers to cover the needs, and the bakeries are less likely to forget or have circumstances arise that prevent them from fulfilling their commitment, as sometimes happened with volunteers like me.0
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Helene--WalMart carries them and I have seen them at the local drugstore at a much higher price. Amazon also carries them. The chocolate is very good as is the caramel. I haven't tried the vanilla or strawberry.
There is a wide variety of Premier Protein products but I've only had the shakes using as a lunch or a snack. Very filling.
https://www.premierprotein.com/0 -
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I didn't scroll down far enough to see the years. I thought the large butterfly was no. Oh my! When I see women with tattoos, I think what they think is cute in their 20s will look ridiculous on old, wrinkled skin. I guess they never think of that. The same goes for tanning and aging skin.
Thanks for the info on the protein shakes.0 -
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I did this little experiment yesterday. FitBit has a deal where it zaps you if you haven't gotten in 250 steps for the hour. It does this in time for you to get the steps in. Since yesterday was a rainy day, I decided to see what would happen over the 14 hours I had it set to alert me. I managed it every hour so at the end of the 8pm hour, I had 3500 steps from that alone. I don't expect to do that again but will aim for half of them.
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It literally zaps you? Wow!0
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Maryanne--It is a mild zap which is barely felt, sort of a brief tingle. Not all FitBits have this feature when reading up on the benefits of moving each hour.0
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I couldn’t get on MFP all day. Anyone else have that experience? I just logged breakfast,lunch d snack all at once. Glad I was finally able to get on.0
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Not too bad for a 77 year old with a resting heart rate of 56:
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Jean - great step count!!0
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Maryanne--Thanks. Time will tell if it will make a difference.0
