Need cheerleaders looking for consistency while LIVING with CLL

carlaringuette

I wrote a very long detailed post about our journey since 2019 and it disappeared. Take two:

Father in law got very ill Aug 2019, passed away in Sept. 2019

Hubhy, my college sweetheart and other half of 34 years was diagnosed with CLL. Chronic lymphostatic leukemia Blood cancer the Friday before Thanksgiving 2019 at a biometric screening.

Son married his high school sweetheart January 2020

Feb 2020 my 88 yr old Daddy's house floods and I am his only support

Pandemic hits our area March 2020

Gym closes. no more HIIT, Spin or weights available to get the stress out

Aug 2020 hubby is misserable. We're talking sit in the backyard in his favorite chair and not move because he is in so much pain. Several doctor visits later 4 herniated discs and an extreme frozen shoulder each condition exasperating the other seems to be the culprit.

Then things start to get better. He goes through PT and is back to his energizer bunny self until New Years 2021 when PT runs out.

He's slowly been getting worse.

With no gym and no PT we are miserable couch potatoes in constant pain. We are in our late 50s. Knocking on 60s door.

I am looking for cheerleaders. Encouragers who have been on a similar journey.

Looking to get some consistency back.
It's all good. The good days outweigh the bad and we are on Wait and Watch.
No treatment for now. I have high cholesterol and high bloid sugar. No meds.

Even after 34 years we haven't figured out the food. He needs to gain about 30 or 40 pounds before he has to start treatment and I need to loose 70 pounds. The most I've ever lost was 30 through Weight Watchers. Thankfully Doc says he could have another 30 years and never need treatment. (or it could get aggressive at anytime) He's supposed ti get 3 month bloodwork checks but Covid risk pushed that to 9 months. So far so good.

Did I mention I am a stress eater. I work full time and commute. Since the diagnosis,and even moreso since the pandemic, I am like a Saints linebacker if anyone gets within 20 feet of him let alone 6 feet. Reading this post do you think we've been the teensiest bit stressed? Lol

It realy is all good. He has more good days than bad. Although today is a bad one. Migraine due to weather.
On the good days we do yoga, PT home workout while I do strength training at home. We go for walks at sunset.

Even on the bad days we find something good.

We just haven't mastered consistency and the food.

If you'd like to join my team feel free to add me.

I miss my gym buddies. I need that community to succeed. Just not good at doing it solo.

I have been logging everything that passes my lips for the past two weeks.
That's all I have the focus for at the moment.

Suggestions on how to help him gain and me loose are welcome. He's picky. Ideally he would like one day vegetarian, one day less meat. He loves grilled or baked fish. His favorite is a giant salad (think mashed potato serving dish size) but that is not giving him enough calories.

Anyway, I am rambling. Thanks for listening. Please send a friend request if you feel led to.

MaltedTea

Meal planning sounds like it may be up the right alley for you two.

For example, there used to be a user on here who would snap his "Meatless Monday" pics. Who says there can't be a "Fishy Friday" too? Days can be thematic which may also help reduce stress because there's an established framework for what you're eating that day.

Also, I've had a mobile nurse come to my home for a blood test during the pandemic. He may as well have been in a Hazmat suit. Bonus: It happened to be covered by my insurance but I was prepared to pay out of pocket if it wasn't as the cost was - to me, at least - relatively low.

Perhaps your DH can get back on track with his bloodwork that way?