BREAST CANCER DOCTOR APPOINTMENT

Today I went to see my breast cancer doc. I don't have breast cancer but I have breast cancer in my family. So I have to be checked constantly.  For some reason I fell off the docs radar.  Suddenly last week I realized I had not been for a mammogram or MRI for at least a year.  Today I went to see what was going on.  With the new ACA healthcare, the appointment was only a co-pay and I don't need any approval for a mammogram.

I walked away with an appointment for a mammogram tomorrow morning.  Then I will be having a MRI once it gets approved by The-Insurance-Company-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.   This will get me back in track.

When I had my breast cancer scare a few years ago my friend bought me a tiara. I wear it everytime I go for a breast test.  It keeps me safe. The Power of the Tiara.

My dinner was very filling tonight. Delicious!

Tofu with tomato sauce, salad, sautéed spinach, roll, and grapes.

I rode the stationary bike for 10 miles on level 3 in one hour.

Until tomorrow...

IT IS WHAT IT IS

Last week I went to see my RA doc and she sent me to get a blood test. The test ran a bunch of different tests: CBC, B12, thyroid, blood glucose, etc.  Friday the doc called to give me the results. The first thing she told me was that my blood glucose level was quite high.  Normal is between 70-99.  I had a 103.  Between 100-124 is pre-diabeties.  Over 125 is diabeties.

In order to officially come to a diagnosis of pre-diabeties, there would be more testing involved.   The doc told me although she is concerned, my levels have never been this high before, in fact my levels are usually around 80.  My doc told me that she would retest me in September and in the meanwhile I should exercise, lose weight and change my eating habits.

That was all I needed to hear. I spent the weekend  researching meal plans for vegans with pre-diabeties.  No problem.  Food-check.

Exercise-I have been riding the stationary bike 10 miles 3-4 times per week. I will step that up.  Exercise-check.

Lose weight. It is Wednesday and I have already lost almost 2 pounds. Losing weight-check.

I got this!

Here is a photo of my dinner.

There is a whole method to eating vegan with diabeties. "They" say it is the best way to bring down  blood glucose levels.  The method is all about exchanges: starch, fruit, milk, vegetable, protein, and fat. Each meal has a certain amount of calories and grams of carbohydrates.  I will eat 60 grams for both breakfast and dinner and 45 grams for lunch. Each of the three snacks have 15-30 grams. To get ready for this new method of eating, I had to make a large trip to the supermarket.  So far the food has been good. Tonight I had one grilled portobello mushroom, 1/2 sweet potato (although I used a yam) that I grilled,  1/2 cup wilted chard, 5 chunks of pineapple in juice (not syrup), 1/2 cup of tofu, and I threw in a few baby tomatoes from a neighbors garden.  Tonight I get 5 Nilla wafers and 1/4 cup grapes for a snack.  For lunch I had a wrap with lettuce, radishes, cabbage, Musturd, and fake chicken. Musturd is a free condiment.  Yippee!

I know this will be a shock for some of you as it was for me. But I am fine. I have figured it out and if it doesn't straighten itself out, well, that is the way it is. As they say, it is what it is.

I rode the stationary bike for 10 miles today on level 3 for 1 hour.

Until tomorrow...

FOOT IMPROVING

I have been going to physical therapy and that is going well. She tortures me for 45 minutes but it feels better afterward.  I saw the doc and she gave me a two thumbs up on my progress. I have the option of going to see a pain doctor if I want.

I have been riding the stationary bike about three times a week and walking about two times a week.

I have graduated from two crutches to one crutch to a cane. Sometimes I don't use the cane. I mostly use it to keep folks away from my foot on mass transit of on long walks.

Overall it is improving. The progress is slow. That is the foot update.

Rode the stationary bike for 10 miles in one hour on level 3.

Until tomorrow...

DOGS ON HIGH ALERT

All I wanted to do tonight was watch some TV.  Not too much to ask, right? The dogs were not cooperating.  At about 9:00 pm I let Lucky out back. She went on a tear. I guess something had been fishing or swimming in the pond. I saw in the wet marks on the edge of the pond. Lucky heard whatever it was run away. It went crashing through the ivy nod bushes with little Lucky in hot pursuit.  I gave her a minute to chase it away and then I tried to get that unruly dog to come inside.  That was futile.  The best I could do was make sure the big dog Happi didn't get outside too. I have a hard time wrangling two of them.  I put my shoes on and grab a flashlight.  After Lucky I go. I chase her to the left, she runs to the right. I go to the right, she darts to the left. She is small, fast and  cunning. But I have treats. After a few minutes I finally catch her with a treat. I hustle her inside and grab both dogs.

Time to leash them and take them out front.  This means a more involved situation. When we had our construction project, Happi was trained to walk out front and pee in the street at night. She knew there was no walk at late at night.  Now both dogs only have to go out front at night on special occasions.  They are really good about it.

I will probably never know what critter was in the backyard. I just hope it moves along.

Until tomorrow...

POND REHAB

Today I spent the afternoon working on the pond. First I cut back the plant life. The plants have been growing like crazy.  Then I cleaned out the pond filter. I took about a pint of goop out of the pond filter. To tell the truth the goop is the best fertilizer ever.  The goop from the bottom of a pond is like gold.  I put it under all my plants. My lemon tree LOVES it.  Then I put my new filters and charcoalilter.  It has been ages since I changed my filter.  The fish will be so happy.  Then a quick check of the pump to make sure that is clear and we are good to fill it up.  The water level was so low due to water restrictions, I haven't filled it up in awhile.   Ten minutes later the pond looks great. I feed the fish and sit down to enjoy my work.  

My neighbor stopped by to tell me how much he is enjoying the cleared out backyard. He is also willing to have a tree guy come and discuss the tree branch that leans over into my yard. I know I can legally cut it down but I wanted to discuss it with him first. Since it is a whole 1/3 of his tree, I wanted him to feel comfortable. We have to live together for a long time. 

Until tomorrow...

ROOMBA SURGERY DELAYED

Today I took Lucky and walked to the post office.  It was a beautiful day.  The bottom piece for Roomba came in the post.  I was excited to get Roomba working again. Enough of this hanging around!

I took off the old piece and put on the new piece. Wait.  It didn't fit.  The screws didn't screw in.  Well, that won't work.  I was horribly disappointed.  I miss Roomba.  Monday I will have to call customer service again.

Until tomorrow...

SO HOT

Today it was hot I was unable to do much. It was the kind of hot it rarely gets in this area.  Everyone was miserable.

Until tomorrow...

WATER ON-DEMAND

Today I had a certified technician come and look at my on-demand water heater. The first thing he said was that my previous contractor did not put a valve for cleaning. He would have to cut pipes and put in new valves. Then he looked around and had a moment of crisis where he thought the whole system had been installed incorrectly.  He talked about return pipes not being installed. Putting in copper pipes. I saw the dollar signs. Then he called his boss and took a photo and emailed it to him. Problem solved. No return pipes needed. Yay!

I was given a tutorial on how to clean the screen. That needs to be done every 6 months. Then I left him to his cutting and cleaning. When he was done, the hot water flowed faster and better. 

This morning I had to do a fast before I gave blood. I woke up SO early.  Then I saw the foot doc. She said I was progressing. I told her my other foot sometimes burned. Turns out there is something called sympathetic RSD.  She wants me to go see a guy who is an osteopath in neurology.  His yelp reviews are not so good.  I will think about it.  I am going to try Tiger Balm first.  More physical therapy...

Until tomorrow...

RA DOCTOR RETIRING

Saw my RA doc today. Once again we discussed her impending retirement. I am fairly stressed out about switching docs. I have been seeing Dr C for about12 years.  It is hard to think of starting over with another doc. We spent most of the time talking about my RSD and my case in general because she had a resident with her.  She was explaining to the resident that my case ends up being complicated not because of the RA but because of the things I get because of the autoimmune diseases. The infections, broken bones, torn ligaments, IBS, etc.  As they say I am a complicated case. 

This us the first time in a long time PT hurt my foot and the pain lasted pretty much all day. Not a searing pain but more of a burning pain that came and went all day long.  With lovely zingers of nerve pain at random times. The Therapist is getting more aggressive so this may happen she said.  Wonderful! Healing!

Until tomorrow...

NICEST CONTRACTOR

I have the nicest contractor.  I found a leak in the sealant around the base of my glass wall of my shower.  It is the one wall that they didn't remove when the did the renovation of the shower.  I am not sure why I didn't have them remove that wall along with the others but no point in going back.  What is done is done.

This weekend I cleaned the shower and when i rinsed the wall I noticed the sealant was leaking.  Dripping right down the wall.  I texted my contractor and asked him if he could come over.  Sure he said!  I did what all folks do at that point, I stuffed a washcloth in the leaking spot and continued on with my day.

My contractor came today and fixed the sealant and told me the sealant only lasts about 3-5 years if you are lucky.  Another bit of good news. 

There needs to be a homeowners book that tells you these things.  A check of list.  A list that says Year 1 these things can wear out and go wrong.  Year 2 these things.  Etc.  That would be really helpful.  You know check your roof after 5 years, it will probably need to be replaced at 7-10 years depending on the weather, type of roof, etc.  With a place to mark down the year you replaced it, checked it, etc.  What year you bought your washer, when you replaced the hoses.  Who can remember these things?  Who knows all these things?  I just found out that I was supposed to have my on-demand water heater cleaned out periodically.  Well, no one told me!  First time homeowners don't know these things.  Especially when they have no family around to help them with this stuff.  I think I just gave away my million dollar idea!

Back to my shower, my wonderful contractor fixed the shower and would not even take payment.  I tried to pay him!  He wanted me to give him a good review.  I wrote him a good review this evening.

Rode the stationary bike for 1 hour and 10 miles.  Level 3.

Until tomorrow...