New month! Aug 1st Sunday Journal

[Natasha]

OK folks. Here we have several reasons to restart our engines.

New month, and first day of the month, all on a Sunday.

Good Luck!

 

[seaangel]

I know I have been very lax, so much going on in my personal life. It seems once I get beyond one obstacle two or three more even larger ones get put in front of me.

I need to journal, and I am of sorts but it is not really my weight loss journal. But I have been busy compiling medical journaling for myself and my Dad.

I am not trying to be vague, but there are some things I don't have answers to yet and that makes things more complicated.

Just prior to my dive vacation July, 16th (a week at Fantasy Island in Roatan) I had an appointment with my surgeon for annual follow up on a breast biopsy last summer. My appointment with him was on the 15th, anyway, he asked me if I had ever had my enlarged thyroid worked up. I have but it was 5 years ago and have been following same treatment since, synthroid 0.05mg daily. I was told it was a benign enlargement. Well, he suggested that we work it up again and see what has been going on. I really agree it needs doing, but the real thing is I know it is going to mean surgery sooner or later. I just have not wanted it. Timing would have been great if this other bomb had not dropped.

My Dad showed up for one of his routine stays with us and he announced he had a couhing spell around July 4th and spit up blood. Went to his Doctor, was treated for infection but on his x-ray he had a spot, had a CT done. His Doctor told him it needed to be biopsied, well he high tailed it to my house and wants it done here. Logical since he had prostate cancer about 4 years ago and that was treated here. Now my mother also is in an assisted living home here because she has alzheimers. But, my Dad has a home in Destin, FL. where no other family resides and he has continued to travel over the last 3 years that she has been here. Periodically coming to stay with us to tend to her care and needs.

Meanwhile on July 15th he had an appointment, which was conviently scheduled across the street from mine and I was able to get to his following my appointment. I scheduled all of my testing for return two days after my vacation. My dad got some serious news from the Pulomonologist, his films all are 95% indicative of lung cancer, not in an operable location but for definitive diagnosis he does neet the biopsy. I requested it to be the week after my trip, the doctor agreed. But, my Dad got things all mixed up did not get it scheduled and now it is not to be done until August 12th. We have had a full month of delays, if he needs treatments this is getting kind of critical. Anyway, he is not sure what he will do, wants to have all medical treatment here for sure. But, what about his home in Fl, sell it, keep it?? He doesn't know also what about his living arrangements here, does not want to live in my house. Ok, now what rent something, buy something??? He is making my life crazy.

Now, I have me to think about. I had all my tests and scans. I go back to the surgeon at 2pm today. Lord only knows what he is going to tell me. I am so stressed out right now that my diet and exercise have been put on a milder and less concentrated form. I haven't forgotten or given up, just having to reprioritize things right now. Losing weight and doing a formal plan just doesn't work. I am still trying to get some walking in, and I am trying to not go overboard with food.

I will check in here and let you all know how things are coming along and what plans are for me and Dad. Keep us in your prayers. Thanks for this board as a place I can vent.

 

[Dee]

Cindy...that 2 heavy loads to carry. I certainly understand putting the dieting on the back burner. I keep you and your Dad in my prayers.

We're here for ya!

 

[seaangel]

I thought I would now share my report from my surgeon. He felt he had good news, which on the one hand it is. No surgery for me right now. That does not mean I may not in the future though. What my thyroid tests have shown is even though I have an enlarged thyroid, does not have nodules and is not a true goiter. Now that being said what is causing this, well thyroiditis. This is related to having an autoimmune disorder, seems to be common in the US and it can lead to a goiter or not. He is referring me to an endocrinologist to determine if I could benefit from a medical treatment rather than surgery. This can also cause the thyroid to burn itself out and turn into hyperthyroidism over time. Of course there are no real guarantees on these things. At least it is not a critical or truly urgent problem. So, now I can concentrate on my Dad's situation a bit more. My next appointment is not until mid September.

I do plan to not completely just let myself get all off on dieting and gain weight. I do plan to atleast try to maintain where I am and if I do lose some that would be great. Just not putting all energy into a real day to day planning and program.

I felt so good after my Doctor visit I went and bought enough healthy food and stocked up the house with them.

I am planning to go diving on Labor Day weekend as usual and have a good time regardless of what else is going on.

Thanks Dee and everyone else too!

 

[Natasha]

Cindy:
I've added you to my nightly prayer list. Most people may not know we met in person during WMII and are real friends.
As Dee said, we are here for you.

 

[scuba-punk]

{{{{Healthy thoughts}}}} for ya' Cindy. Glad to see that you stocked the house with good food. That makes it easier. Keep taking care of yourself.

-Frank

 

[seaangel]

Ok, things are going pretty smooth today. I have to look at this one day at a time.

Eating has not been an issue today. I have actually, done really well.

Breakfast: cereal, a new brand from Post that is low Carb high protein and it was pretty good. Reminded me a little of gram cracker flavor, but not as sweet.

Lunch: I took a sandwich to work, sliced roast on reduced cal. whole grain bread, a small salad with lite vinagrette and a cup of sugar free jello. Diet Sprite.

Snack: a Kudo bar

I have also drank one large WW cup of water today.

I think I am working my way back to somewhat a more normalcy for me.

My mindset is much better, and I have made some positive decisions on handling things. Hopefully, this will help me through this. I realize that I have to keep on living and I have reasons to take care of me.

Next step, getting back to some exercise, I like to walk so if it were not so blamed hot right now I would do that. Gonna think on how to handle this. I might just go to the Y and swim. I know I like that, I am a true water baby.

Thanks, Natasha. You are right most of the board don't know we have met. I wish we could have another trip to get together on. That was fun.

Frank, thanks too. You are very encouraging and gave me pause to think about taking care of me.
Here is to another day and looking forward to many more.

 

[scuba-punk]

Cindy, I'm glad to see that things are going positively for you. I also post on another board (for newbie triathletes that got started in it to lose weight) and it's really amazing how much good is does to be part of a supportive community. To me, the thing that's really cool about these message boards is that we are what we type (well, most of us non-trolling types anyway). So much of who we are to other people has to do with our outsides and so much of who we are to ourselves (and who we really are) is in our heads. The trick is to not let the outside negatively impact the inside. Soon enough, the positive vision of ourselves that's inside will make it's way out. Even if, like Dee reminded us, it's just one pound, or one thought, or one bit of effort at a time.

Me, I'm just having a grand ole time beating the heck out of myself training for this 'race.' I've realised this week that the victory isn't necessarily going to be crossing that finish line in another 6 weeks (yikes!), but it's been in pushing myself to eat well, and get the exercise that I so desperately need. For that I feel good. Plus, I've gotten my brother to start biking with me and I've gotten another one of my dive buddies to start swimming with me. Good grief, I've become one of those cheery people I used to make fun of.

By the way Natasha, mark me down for my first crash on my new road bike... My wife's only words were "You didn't b!t@h up your bike did you?" No, and I'm fine too - thanks for asking. Well, I did bugger up the handlebar grip tape. The saddest thing is that it was in the parking lot, with a lot of people watching Landed on my left side, still clipped in to the pedals too

Big weigh-in for me tomorrow. Time to see if I've finally worked off that weekend of feasting with my in-laws 2 weeks ago...

-Frank

 

[seaangel]

Frank, ooch! Even if you are ok, it still had to hurt (being that you were in a public area). I did a triatholon once... about 20 years ago, anyhow it was done through my work and we were allowed to enter teams like a relay. I did the bike part of our team. It was alot of training just for my part. Our team ended up middle of the results. But, I truly felt like a winner just to make it across my finish line so the runner could go. What fun that was and we did make it fun.

My biggest thing now is that I am going to participate in the "Walk to cure diabetes" in September. So, I have a goal to get out and walk to become prepared for that. I did go last night at 8:30pm and walk for 30 minutes. It was not bad or difficult, but whew it was still kind of warm outside. I think it was still 94 if I heard the weather man right.

I also took the stairs at work today and parked a bit farther out in the parking lot so I had to walk in and out a few more steps today.

As I have been told it takes just one bite at a time to eat an elephant. But, I am going to be biting and chewing for awhile to keep this elephant from getting bigger.

 

[west_mesa]

seaangel way to go with walking a few extra steps and taking the stair instead of the elevator. If you get a pedometer you can keep track of how much you walk, at our work they gave them out and started the 10,000 steps aday program (5 miles) people are now walking during their lunch time in groups. My desk is about 1/3 mile from where I do my actual work so over the course of the night I'm averaging 13,000 -15,000 steps. Some of the engineers I work with are losing weight this way with out doing much else. I'm biking, running & swimming about 5 times aweek for 2 to 3 hrs, but I started out in Jan just doing the walking and lost about 25lbs with only stopped drinking sodas and eating a nightly chocolate bar. I've since reached my goal weight and have maintained for the last 4 weeks, of course with all the exercise my calorie intake has increased but it isn't junk food any more.