Thursday, August 18, 2022

A couple thoughts and a couple legs, on an early Thursday morning

Here I am, Thursday morning.  It’s 7:22am and I’m sitting on my ‘stretching blanket’ in front of my sofa, looking if there’s anything good to watch on Hulu after I finish this blog and before I make some breakfast.

I’m already on my second cup of coffee, I’ve been up for 90 minutes or so. The last couple weeks I’ve been going to bed early and getting up around 5:30am. 

Is that a sign of aging, I wonder?  Going to bed earlier?  I was pooped last night by 9:30, in bed asleep at 10pm. 

The reason you’re looking at my legs here is because this time tomorrow, I’ll be on a bus headed downtown so someone else can look at them too.

I have an appointment tomorrow morning at Mercy Hospital with my Egyptian PCP Dr. Nefrititi, to do a 6-8 month re-evaluation of my heart & hypertension drugs.  (I take two doses of Carvedilol during the day to regulate my heartbeat, Amlodipine in the PM for blood pressure.)

The last time I saw my doctor in December, I was dealing with some pretty severe fluid retention.  My legs and feet were swollen so bad they ‘wept’ at night, it was difficult to get around sometimes too.  I wondered if the amlodipine was worsening things and asked to be switched to another drug, but she said my BP numbers were in stroke territory, and felt this med was best for the time being.

Still, they took a LOT of pictures of my legs from every angle with an iphone to add to my patient record.

She told me to commit to a daily exercise regimen, and in 6 months we’d re-evaluate the meds.  Since then, my legs have shrunk considerably and I’ve lost 25 pounds.  I use a treadmill 5 times a week, Sunday nights and Monday thru Thursday afternoons.  I set the incline to 2 and the speed to 2.3, a pretty brisk pace. 

I do 4 laps (with a 2 minute breather between laps) which takes around 30 minutes.

Here’s some proof of my daily regimen, the fitness Center’s sign-in sheet for May

Anyway, I’d like to lose another 30-35 lbs (and plan to), I just want to continue doing it without fad dieting.  As for tomorrow, I’m hoping she takes a look at my lower BP numbers and skinny legs, and reduces these meds.

To be honest, the past several days haven’t been great.  Last week, Pennie (my state’s health insurance marketplace) notified me my account was flagged and I could lose my insurance in 15 days due to income discrepancies.  Saturday morning my laptop went black (my charger died).  On Sunday I was peeing blood (sorry), and on Monday morning I walked into my bathroom and the floor was flooded!  They wound up taking out my toilet and asked if I had some place I could stay for a day or two—nope!

Since then, things have turned around.  I spoke to my urologist (who allayed my fears about the blood in my urine), got things with Pennie resolved and a new toilet installed yesterday.  And then last night, a FedEx person buzzed me downstairs; he had the replacement charger & battery for my 5 day dead laptop. 

I was more than ready to crank out a nice long boring blog post!  Nerd smile

Now I can go back to worrying about finding a new chair… hopefully an update on that soon.

On an unrelated note, can I share some heartache here?  This past Sunday morning, I was watching a tribute video to Olivia Newton-John on Youtube.   

After the video I was reading the comments, and one person wrote “And RIP Judith Durham”.  What? 

I did a quick google search and sure enough, Judith Durham died at age 79 on August 5.  I am heartbroken.  Two of my favorite female voices of the 1960s were Lulu’s “To Sir With Love” and Judith Durham (and the Seekers) “Georgy Girl”.  

Olivia deserves all the fanfare, but how is it I’m just now learning about Judith?  (And for the record, unlike many singers, Judith never lost her voice as she got older.  She sounded as youthful at 75 as she did at 25.) 

I thought I’d end this post with one of my favorite Seekers videos.  The title couldn’t be more fitting.  RIP Judith, you will be loved and missed. 

FOLLOW-UP TO MY 6 MONTH EVALUATION WITH THE DOCTOR

Fri, Aug.19 - I met with Dr. Nefrititi this morning at 8:30, both she and her nursing staff couldn’t have been nicer or more encouraging.  Dr.Nef gave me a new goal to lose 15 lbs before my next visit in 3 months, but “no more than a pound a week”.  Um, the math doesn’t work out there! 

Anyway, she told me to accept the fact I would most likely be on these meds for the rest of my life.  By re-evaluation and possibly dropping them, she only meant if the current drugs weren’t working as intended. 

Thanks for all of your awesome & encouraging comments, everyone.  Nerd smile

45 comments:

  1. Thanks for the trip down memory lane with the Seekers; but you seem too young to remember them!
    Also, congrats on the weight loss! You are so smart to avoid fad diets. They never work long term. So much more effective to modify your eating habits to something sustainable over the long haul.
    Good luck with your medical appointment. It's always something, right? My mother used to say "patch, patch, patch to keep this old body going".
    The amlodipine can definitely cause lower extremity swelling. It can also cause fatigue. But your docs will give you the best advice on optimizing your meds.
    Carole

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Carole! You're right about me being young, but I was around for the 60s and still love much of the great music then. Anything after 1977..phooey! Thank you for the wishes about tomorrow, I'm trying to hold off those patches as long as I can. 🙂

      Delete
  2. I think it's great that you've lost weight and that your legs look so good. And glad they replaced that toilet. Things are looking up, it seems! :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you DJan! As a matter of fact, I told my buildings maintenance men about the weight loss after they showed me the hairline crack in the toilets porcelain base...they just gave me a look. 🙄

      Delete
  3. I had not heard the seekers in so long. It was such pleasant music. Thanks for the time travel. Glad your week improved. Sherry

    ReplyDelete
  4. You're doing a great job of taking care of yourself, Doug! Way to go! Your progress is incredible. I hope the doc gives you the kudos you deserve. I am fearful of floods since I've had a few and know how destructive they are. But with one bathroom, I would be panicked! It sounds like things are looking up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks very much Margaret! And I know you've had more than your share of flooding in the home so you can definitely relate. Fortunately there was a vacant apartment down the hall that I made good use of for 2 days... So it was like having a second bathroom. 😉

      Delete
  5. Morning Doug, I was saddened to hear of Olivia Newton John’s death too and I didn’t realize Judith Durham had passed away. Not a great time in the music world.
    Your legs look SO much better Doug! Congratulations on your weight loss. I have been following along on your weight loss chart. Twenty five pounds is quite a bit.
    Congrats on your exercise regimen too, you have really stuck to it. It does become a habit after awhile. I have been walking every day since 1993.
    Glad your toilet issue has been fixed. Not fun to slosh into water first thing in the morning.
    You are keeping our hours now!😆 We are up at 5:00 so at 9:30 lights are out. I have always been a morning person and Chuck was a night owl. No more, you can’t do a physical job at 62 years of age on six hours of sleep!
    I hope everything goes well with your doctors appointment tomorrow. I will be thinking about you.
    Take care Doug.❤️
    Robin

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Robin, thanks so much--the day you stop commenting is the day I stop blogging. I'm in a little shock, I didn't expect anyone to remember I was keeping a weekly chart online. You just motivated me a bit more! Well, I know how Chuck feels, I used to consider myself a night owl too. I just wonder if he'll go back to his old ways after he retires. 😉 Thanks again for the kind words my dear friend and I hope you have a good weekend. ♥️🙂

      Delete
    2. Morning Doug, I asked Chuck if he would revert to being a night owl after he retires. He said he didn’t think so, he has become accustomed to going to bed earlier.
      Hope everything goes well at your appointment.❤️
      Robin

      Delete
    3. Robin, you always leave me smiling--do I have to be a Canadian to join Chuck n' Robin's Peachy Pals Club?

      Delete
    4. Anyone can be a member!❤️

      Delete
  6. Don't know how I missed the Seekers but enjoyed the song. What a clean cut looking group.
    Legs are looking much better. Congrats on the weight loss Doug. I'm a firm believer in that if you move you lose. Keep up the good work. Know the feeling when your drugs to fix one problem creat another. Hope this Dr. visit goes well. So glad your problems have been basically solved. Ahhh.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Patti--you didn't know the Seekers? Isn't that strange when we learn something new, regardless of our age? I think I'm going to start making note of these occurrences for a future blog, happens to me at least once a week! Anyway my dear friend, thank you for the congrats it is much appreciated. I'll just be relieved and happy when the weekend gets here. And looking forward to commenting on your next blog with my laptop instead of my phone! 😄♥️

      Delete
  7. Good for you getting your weight down, Doug! I admire your determination to do your exercises. I'm so bad about it.

    I was really sad hearing Olivia Newton John had passed away. So young.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Kay! And yes, Olivia's passing reminded me of Princess Diana. Loved the world over. 😔

      Delete
  8. Well done on the significant loss of 25 pounds, Doug! Good for you in sticking with the exercise. Fingers crossed that tomorrow your stats will cause Dr. Nefrititi to lower your meds. You have had a few recent blips that have now resolved. Part of what makes life interesting, I think.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Florence, I always appreciate your feedback. And those crossed fingers tomorrow too. Hope things are well with you. ✌️🙂

      Delete
  9. I have to say too that your legs look so much better... and apparently you are following a good regimen with the treadmill and a 25 lb weight loss is great too!
    Oh, and we've walked into our bathroom floor flooded before too... but it was the cats fault. They liked to play with the faucets and apparently let them run all night. We opened the bathroom door to about 4 inches of water and 2 cats sitting up high looking down at it... like "oops!"

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rian thank you--and for the good chuckle too, I could just picture your cats! Mine was from a hairline crack in the toilets base, yours sounded more fun 😊

      Delete
  10. Good job Mr. Dug! The doc may be reluctant to decrease the meds if they're working ya know. Linda in Kansas

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Linda, I was hoping to hear from you--well, you're the medical professional. I'll let you know! 🙂

      Delete
  11. Naturally, both singers’ deaths were big news here in Oz.

    I remember back in 1962 (my final year of high school) I (and a couple of friends) would go along to a jazz club in a nearby suburb (The Yarra Yarra Jazz Club for those who want nitpicking details) to see the wonderful Judy Jacques perform.
    One day it was announced that she was going elsewhere and would be replaced by another jazz singer. Oh no, was our universal response as she was not only a good singer but she got these teenage boys’ hearts (and other things) a-flutterin’.

    Her replacement was Judy Durham, who was not as good looking as the other Judy, but she was an even better singer. We kept going until she left to form some obscure folkie group.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Peter that was awesome. Given your own music credentials, and being from Judith's timeline and same neck of the woods I knew you'd have something good to share. Thank you. 🙂👍

      Delete
  12. 25 pounds gone is awesome. Well done.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Joanne! It took me 7 months to do it, but your words mean a lot. :^)

      Delete
  13. Good luck with your appointment! I'm sure your doctor will be pleased with your efforts. Twenty five pound loss in six months is a real achievement.
    Yikes, that was certainly a crazy few days. Glad things fell in place.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Maebeme, thanks so much. And yeah it was a crazy few days, I felt like I was being tested! You're very kind, thanks again. :^)

      Delete
  14. Good luck on your appointment. It sounds like you've endured a stretch of crazy days. The good thing about bad days is that eventually they end.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Congratulations on the 25 pounds lost! I hope they are able to reduce your meds, if they can't then ask why and what are the risks if you take less? You have very delicate feet, almost pretty feet. Sorry to hear about your computer and bathroom troubles, but at least they are fixed now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. River, haha--I loved your feet comment! Thank you! I couldn't get the meds reduced, she told me to just accept I'd be taking them the rest of my life. I hate relying on pills, but it's only 3 daily so I won't complain. Thanks again for this awesome comment. :^)

      Delete
  16. Sorry about your rough week. We've all been there. Hope you get a good report today. I've been following your weight loss chart, 25 lbs is great! You actually motivated me and I've lost about 15 but it's a daily battle. Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Well, this just made my day! I didn't know anyone was following that chart, thank you Bobi--and a big congrats on losing your own 15 as it IS a daily battle! Keep going and I hope you have a great weekend too! :^)

      Delete
  17. Oh, I am so sorry about your problems, but am so happy you lost weight through exercise and not fad dieting. Way to go! I am so happy for you. Good luck with the meds.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Gigi--well, still on the meds, no change there. But I'd rather be safe than sorry, I suppose!

      Delete
  18. Glad there's been some resolution of recent challenges you've had. Hope all continues to go well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Joared, you're very kind. Thanks for the comment (and taking the time to read all this).

      Delete
  19. Geez you've been going through some crap recently. Well done for the weight loss that alone is an achievement. I'm glad some things have been sorted and the news was good about your legs. I need to join you in losing more weight too, it seems to be the key to better health as we get older!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Cool Joe, it's always a treat to hear from you! And best of luck with any weight loss on your part, it's hard as hell as you probably know.

      Delete
  20. Congrats on losing that weight. It will surely make your legs feels better, as well as everything else. I am of course familiar with "I'll Never Find Another You" and "GG" but did not know Judith Durham. Thanks for the reflection!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Tom--still have a ways to go on the weight, but every little bit helps. As for Judith Durham, very interesting... you're not the first to say that!

      Delete
  21. I hadn't heard about Judith Durham. Thanks for sharing. Nice song to hear again. ~casey

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Casey, it's nice to see some love for Judith. :)

      Delete

Thanks for stopping by. I'm glad to hear from you and appreciate the time you take to comment.