Are we living our dream?

[flowerbug]

...
So cardiologist told us to diet and exercise....not much I can add to that. Wants us to walk. I don’t mind except when your feet hurt so much it’s hard to think about walking 20 minutes on concrete (which is where DH imagines us to go). I rather go walk in the orchard if I have to walk. Mother Earth gives; concrete doesn’t.

aside from lack of give there are other aspects of walking on uneven surfaces which really help as you get older. if you can manage it, walking on varying surfaces really challenges your brain to work on balance a great deal, but it also helps your feet, legs, etc work harder and to be more flexible and capable.

i learned this when i was practicing Tai Chi regularly and when first was learning we were on a flat floor in a classroom type setting. so it was very uniform and not a challenge. then for a summer and part of a fall the next year we were practicing outdoors at a park and sometimes on a beach and i was also doing some practice in the woods. the next winter when we returned to indoor practicing i was amazed at how much my balance and strength had improved.

 

[tortoise]

I totally understand about what, ideally would be best for me as far as balance and exercise. I am a little worried about fracturing my ankle. But yeah.
So funny we have talked about this...I called my doctor about my bloodwork. Got a return call. Total cholesterol was 239 and sugar was 129. He was going to put me on a med and told me diet and exercise. I said... hold on a minute. This is the first time in my life I have high cholesterol. Let me see what I can do until March. I will call y’all back and go in. Y’all weigh me, check my vitals and send me back for tests again and then we discuss meds. So that’s the plan. So tonight instead of run the dog and drive, we going to the park and walking the dog.
I will try to get on a save my life diet. Waiting for DH to get that little pig out the truck so we can leave. He has been working on a little pen. Cattle panels, T-posts and Hurricane Ida sheet metal. Little guy should be okay. Hurry up DH.

Can you get an LDL particle size analysis done? I had high cholesterol - 229. My old GP was trying to get me to make some major changes. Fortunately I have followed the science on cholesterol. The older research has significant flaws and the conclusions drawn from it have not produced the desired health outcomes. Further, low cholesterol is a significant risk factor for dementia - yikes! I'd take a quick exit from a heart attack over a slow demise from dementia any day.

From what I learned, LDL particle size is much more meaningful than total cholesterol. This is the test I had done. https://testdirectory.questdiagnost...oprotein-fractionation-ion-mobility?cc=MASTER My results were that my particle size is primarily large (healthful) and my high cholesterol does not represent any increased risk of vascular or cardiac disease. It was a relief. It was quite reasonable cost when ordered from Quest. I plan to have it repeated annually.

Understanding cholesterol was really hard for me at first because I don't have a medical background. I found some really good lectures on youtube that helped me understand it.

If you decide to reduce carbohydrate consumption, your cholesterol will increase. This does not represent increased risk, it's just your body mobilizing fat as fuel.

I ended up leaving my GP over the cholesterol issue and found a younger and more up-to-date doctor who was willing to order the particle size analysis.

 

[tortoise]

I said... hold on a minute. This is the first time in my life I have high cholesterol. Let me see what I can do until March. I will call y’all back and go in. Y’all weigh me, check my vitals and send me back for tests again and then we discuss meds. So that’s the plan.

Kudos for lifestyle before meds. I respect that so much. It's not easy but I think it's worth it. You are already strong and active from your lifestyle. I have confidence in your success.

 

[Trying2keepitReal]

You can do this, you have a lot of support right here. Definitely not easy but doable. I haven't cut out the carbs completely and lost 45 lbs in 10 months, every bit counts

 

[Medicine Woman]

My latest creation. I think it will be filling.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

My mantra was "I am not a garbage disposal."

That's awesome!

DH and I were both raised with the "clean your plate there are starving children...." I can't throw food away - but I can sure feed it to a dog, pig, or chicken! We say every day that there's nothing wasted on the farm. It really is one of the things that helps us.

 

[Chic Rustler]

So are any of y’all rabbit experts here and can tell me what is the most likely problem that stops rabbits from reproducing?

most often its wieght gain. if so put em on hay for a week

 

[tortoise]

It is most important that a nurse knows how to properly administer medicine to her patients. It is also very important that she knows how to help her employer pass the state audit when the time comes. For years I did both at the same time but it did damage my feet. I still know how to read orders and properly prepare the medicine but my feet really want to be relaxed while I do it. I remember exactly how my instructors preached against this

Now they say that nurses should not be interrupted when administering medications (to reduce errors) and some facilities use strategies like the nurse prepping medications works solo in a separate room, and then when giving medications might wear a vest or something to alert other staff to not interrupt. So you might find some hard evidence in favor of prepping medications while sitting!

 

[Medicine Woman]

Lunch. One single ribeye with a few cups of green and purple cabbage, mushrooms, celery and a Bell Pepper. Seasoned with little Dale’s, some Creole seasoning and garlic powder.
I am steaming rice for DD15 at her request but I ate my serving just like that. It’s really good 😊.

 

[Medicine Woman]

I have been away for a while. Let me explain. I have a new grandchild who was born a bit early but is doing fine. I had promised to come through for my DIL so I pulled a lot of overtime. I have spread blessings around. Then the pain set in my sciatic nerve and went down to legs and it was really hard to pass meds. But we were able to help DS and DIL between increased pay and home provisions of shrimp and oysters. Soon it looked like the pain was in the left side of my back and went around to the front of my chest, just below my breast. That’s what landed me in the ER to see if I had pleurisy or something. I was diagnosed with pulled muscle and sent home on Toradol. I began doing my medpass using a wheelchair. I figured no one would see me and I would just explain I was trying to heal but good news travel fast or so I understand. I had learned that a resident was afraid that another resident was passing meds. 🤷‍♀️So I had last weekend scheduled off and it had probably been 20 years since my last retreat so I attended but mobility was difficult and the other ladies were making a fuss over me and trying to take care of me. After closing ceremony I went eat and then I told DH before going home let’s make sure I am not having a heart attack so I express all my pain and recent history and get a diagnosis of Stage 4 breast cancer which is now in my spine, ribs and arm. One of my vertebrae is fractured and was in danger of collapsing which could have paralyzed me. I was admitted to the hospital and scheduled for surgery and I am carrying a bunch of internal metal rods and pins. PAIN!!! On the scale of one to 10 my threshold has changed as to what I once thought the higher numbers felt like.
I cried when realization hit me because it wasn’t supposed to happen like this. I take care of others!! I called all my children and told them and a few minutes later DS was standing near me holding my hand and crying too.
So I am home now and I haven’t started my radiation and chemotherapy yet but soon. My daughters have been coming around and cleaning up and it humbled me to need my DD to assist me with a personal need but she told me she was trained by the best 🥰. I literally need to be taken care of. Work is out. I don’t know if I qualify for disability benefits. Maybe I can call someone to help me with that. I hope I can return to work but I have to first beat cancer and secondly heal. So I have less capability to farm but way more time. I don’t know what my future updates will look like. I hope I surprise myself. So this year my orange crop might be harvested by my kids, DH or self serve.