Nov 25: general update

Hello, all. Happy post-Thanksgiving. Show of hands--how many are reading this with the top button on your pants open because of your still-full stomach?! Statistics show that most Americans gain 7-8 pounds over the holiday season, so break out those elastic waist-bands. And you thought people dressed up as Santa to be festive!

Thanksgiving was quiet. Mom and I went to a restaurant about 15 minutes away from Heritage Towers (in Doylestown, Bucks County). It was very tasty and quite reasonably priced. To answer Katie's question: I avoided the whole stuffing issue (which I love) by ordering beef which had fried onions, bacon and peppers on top with a side of mashed potatoes and no croutons on the ceasar salad, ice cream for dessert. I felt very noble. I've been doing the gluten-free for two weeks now. Another week, and then I'll eat wheat and see what happens. Maybe the congestion got better because we had several days of frost? Stay tuned....

Friday morning I got up nice and early, hit the road at 8:30 am to head up to Ossining, NY to see my cousins John, Martha, Lyle and Emma. (Those will be familiar names to regular readers, especially from the comments areas. Martha came up to Boston for the thoracic surgery so my Mom had someone with her for the first few days.) John & I are cousins who have gotten much closer as adults than we were as children. For several years I went up the day after Thanksgiving (Mom used to live an hour from them when she was still in NY) and we went to the Bronx Zoo. They decorate for the holdiay with animal figures all lit up and lots of other lights and decorations. (The kids and I love penguins.) But the last time I was there was 2002, because in 2003 on my way up I got hit by a pick-up truck which hydroplaned during a rain storm causing over $10,000 damage to the car and giving me a concussion. And the first surgery was Oct 2004, and then.... So it was a really big deal for me to make it up there this year; one of those milestones I've been shooting for. Lyle went out of his way this summer to tell me how much he missed Zoo day and my other visits, which really meant a lot to me (and of course caused tears on my part!). And since he's 15 now there is probably a limited window of time that hanging out with his family will be acceptable. Saturday we returned to the Bronx for his last cross-country race, which was great to be able to see. I came home today--Sunday--tired, but happy to have had a great time with all of them.

So, I have to get ready for another week of work and etc. It's amazing how many errands and things one person has to get done. And the service light on the car started flashing.... And two of the cats need routine shots, but I don't have a vet in P'ville yet.... But Bill, my contractor, came over while I was gone and fixed the opening in the porch eaves. So Sammy Squirrel, who has made nightly visits to happily scamper inside the metal enclosure, is going to have to find somewhere else to play his noisey hockey games.

Thanks for checking in, Laurie

Nov 18: Just stuff

Hello, loyal readers! Finally decided to write this a couple hours before going to bed for a change. It helps that neither of my Sunday night programs are on.

To answer Katie's question: my steady days are Mon, Weds and Thurs. If someone takes off, however, may have to change around for a week or two. It works well, because the nurse that I trained before leaving still wanted some time, so she does Tues and Danny Scott, who is faculty at PCOM works on Fridays. So, if I can't do more hours than I am doing we are still covered. Tuesdays I recover from Mondays, and then I'm pretty tapped out on Friday.

I wish that my energy level was increasing, but it really doesn't seem to be getting any better. I get home between 5:30-6:00, change, put food down for the yowling cats, then I'm on the couch until 7-7:30. Eat then, back to couch. Usually be 9:00 I'm a little perkier and try to do things before I start getting ready for bed, which frequently leads to not getting to bed on time, which should be 10:30 but is more frequently after 11:00 because I get involved with something and don't realize what time it is.

Just for something new, I've decided to try gluton-free eating. I don't have celiac, and my tests all came back negative. But there are people who are sensitive and have vague symptoms such as fatigue, asthma and allergy problems, etc. I've done it for a full week now and have noticed a dramatic reduction in my head and nose congestion. I knew it would work because it's time consuming, expensive and a real pain to do. A deadly trifecta (?sp) bad things! Did have some lower abdominal unhappiness after a few days, may have been the stuff really starting to flush out. For those of you who don't know what "gluten-free" includes it is all wheat products. It's amazing how many things have wheat in them, or the gluten which is used to thicken things. One of the theories that makes sense to me is that since it's being used in so many things that we are starting to develop sensitivities because of constant exposure. Pasta, cereal, cakes, cookies and bread are obvious, but also some flavored teas, soy sauce and even some yogurts.

I'm now walking for about 40 mins, doing 1 2/5ths of a mile, shooting for doing 45 mins and 2 miles. Pretty consistently three times a week. Get very tired so I'm waiting to pursue the swimming thing until my stamina improves more. The one thing that I haven't been able to do is lose weight, despite really trying. Dr. Cohn wants me down 25-30 pounds from what I'm at now. That may not be realistic, because that would be 10-20 pounds less than I was in high school (many, many years ago!). But less weight for my small valve opening to support should give me more energy. So, despite it being the holidays, I'm continuing to really try.

Just this week passed the four month mark since the surgery which is probably why I'm still dragging. It's just frustrating.

Happy Turkey Day to all, Laurie

Nov 11: Quick one

To those of you who are still checking this regularly--I apologize! I always mean to get in here and type something long and pithy, musings while driving, etc. But then I get home and I'm tired and there's loads of stuff to do and it's always going to get done tomorrow and....

Again, way too late. Started doing other stuff and lost track of time, so have to get up at 6:00 am so I can shower and wash my hair. This is problematic for a couple of reasons: I hate early and that tires me out first thing.

Working three days a week, still exhausted. Pain still better, but remains about 50% of the time. Honestly, I really don't see an improvement in energy from the posting two weeks ago. But this week is only the four month anniversary. And that's two heart operations and a thoracotomy in less than one year, so I'm trying not to get worried.

Will write more soon--promise!! Laurie