What's on your Wednesday Menu?

I seldom post here, but here it is.

I know the really inexpensive eggs are doubled in price, but some are still the same or close to the same prices specially in my area. Keith and I got picky with eggs a long time ago, and the organic eggs at Costco got up from $7 per 24 to $8.40 now. I stop baking as much, and at most we eat 12 eggs per week. I lately started eating more because I really want to lose some regain. 20 lbs would be nice. I honestly wouldn't mind the weight if not for my joints. They hate the extra I'm carrying.
Plus, when I follow relatively clean keto-paleo diet (with some hard aged cheese i am able to tolerate), the inflammation in my body diminishes and I feel much better. Plus I'm really not very hungry, so not only I don't eat often, but when I eat- I eat much less. Last night we were in Costco and I picked up the cooked shrimps to have for dinner. For me and the cats. But at the end, the 2 cats ate more of the shrimps than I did. They LOVE shrimps. Sometimes I forget how much.

My small cat, female, Emma, is 15years old, with hyperthyroid - very picky what she would eat. She is so small, under 7 lbs. ugh (she should be 7.5-8). Last night she ate a full bowl of cut-up shrimps, probably 5-6, then 2-3 more. I didn't think she could eat that much. wow.

Dewey, our 22 lbs cat (the most cuddly creature you could ask for) ate 7. Then 2 more... after resting for a while. I was able to eat 6-7, so less than Emma. I was tired.

I got some lab work and on top of my adrenal insufficiency, now my thyroid stop working well. So now besides cortisone, I'm on Synthroid (plus other hormones due to pituitary dysfunction). No wonder I was so tired lately. Not only my cortisone bottomed out, but now my thyroid is consistently low (last 1.5 years). we saw some signs of partial recovery of pituitary and adrenals, but it was short lived. So I'm back on almost full dose of cortisone and now Synthroid. Being tired, and not losing almost any weight even though my diet was rather good during last 4 weeks was a clear indication that things are not improving. O well. At least I know how to manage my adrenal insufficiencies. I know my symptoms of when I don't take enough of the hydrocortisone - that happens ... too often. When I take more than my body needs - i get more *****y, stressed and get hungry.

One OK symptom of low cortisone and low thyroid is ability to sleep. As long as I can fall asleep, I can sleep. Its not a restful sleep. But when I sleep, I'm not in pain, and anyone with chronic pain knows how much blessing that is.

QOTD: not really. But I considered an open book exams to be .. like cheating. Really. I open book exams only when I studied in university in Canada, and that was a new concept for me. Not all classes but enough to made me wonder how much some of the people really understand the subject and how much the test show how fast and well they can summarize and copy things. I used to have a friend that we studied together in high school and sometimes our teacher wondered if we cheated from each other. But we almost always sat far away from each other so that made is close to impossible.
I have to admit that I made some money by taking an exam for someone ese, as someone else (huge classes in university). Pretty good money to get someone to pass the class. And not getting too good marks... B or B- was the goal. Too good - they could have been accused of cheating. I probably did that 2-3 times (at different than my university). I.e. they studied psychology but had a mandatory physics and math. Math - I can understand why they may need that, but physics?

Anyway...

Life is interesting. My work is interesting. Most of the time. I found good people working for me so its easier that way.

The business is growing. And I wish I could take 2 weeks off now. But I need to wait until June.

I need to get my bone density tested. It's about time to verify I'm still doing OK. I still have SIBO, Candida, and IBS-C, so making food choices can be interesting. Add arthritis, plus sensitivities to whey proteins (and any foods that have why - like yogurt, cottage cheese, cream, etc.). I've been working on my gut, working to heal my leaky gut syndrome. Slowly getting better, and now I can tolerate some foods than 6 years ago not only I was allergic to , but in some instances - had severe allergies to it (i.e. soy proteins - I needed epi pen, just in case I get exposed to it).

Food allergies and sensitives due to leaky gut syndrome can be reversed, either totally or partially. Please remember that. It takes work sometimes a lot of work, but its possible to change the sensitivities.

Post op WLS we, at least some of us can be prone to develop SIBO and Candida in small intestines. Also - as we can older, the age increase changes of that.

As for arthritis - it is what it is. I was told there is a genetic factor. But the process can be slowed with proper diet, gentle exercise, and supplements.

I know that when I eat poorly (poorly for me) my joints hurt much more. My knees burn, my hands ache and get swollen, my feet hurt. Alcohol really helps with the pain on the day I'm drinking it. The following day though is like my body reserved the pain, multiply it, then add to my regular daily pain. Not fun. But would that stop me from drinking? you would think so... UGH.

Plan for today:

food -

B: fasting - IF; and I'm almost never hungry in the morning. And even when I feel a little hunger, unless its over 6 hrs since I'm up, and I drank at least 32 -40oz of liquids, if i eat anything without meeting those 2 conditions, I get cramps, and nausea. I'm never sure what is worse.

L: chopped corned beef, sautéed then mixed with eggs to make an omelet. Topped with little of cheese.
S: an apple

D: not sure yet, but most likely Cesar salad with grilled chicken. Maybe. If I'm hungry enough. If not, some grilled chicken, avocado pickles...

There is not enough shrimps for me and the cats, so I told Keith to give them to the cats. Maybe Emma would eat more food today again. PS: she is on medication, but she has a very low appetite, and gets very picky what and how much would she eat. Lately we discovered Churu and so far she really likes it. She gets 3-5 tubes a day. On top of food she gets.

Chronic pain: for anyone dealing with chronic pain due to DDD, or spine stenosis, sciatica, SI joints, etc - I discovered a lazy person stretching: nerve flossing/gliding and McKenzie exercises. The first one I start doing even before I get out of bed. 5-10 min, together with gentle movements to "wake up my spine". Then do that as I get to bed. Somedays I do them in a middle of the day when my sciatica gets the best of me and I just can't stand it. Or simple- like a yoga pose - legs up the wall, with butt against baseboard, gentle movements, stretching . it makes a huge difference how my sciatica - SI joints work with that. In some instances I was able to align my SI joints (crack them up) when they were off.

Always nice to see you here! You have such a great approach to the world and share so much knowledge.

I'm having a hard time with the eating thing. I'm rebelling a great deal...I think because of the depression i'm dealing with. Just so exhausted all the time.

I have an under active thyroid and take levothyroxine for it. I wi**** helped me sleep a bit. For me I'm just exhausted ALL THE TIME. I need to buckle down and frankly grow up. My fight or flight is stuck on flight. I'm trying small things to change and then gradually add more.

I'm sorry you've got so much going on. Tgose are some lucky kitties! I love shrimp too. Funny enough our cats hate shrimp. It's so odd!

It's interesting how different docs approach hypothyroid. Some give people just enough to bring them to borderline levels (tsh still relatively high, t4 relatively low), while great doctors treat the person, not numberd and give enough thyroid meds to make the person feel good. My doc is like that. I get more than enough hormons and dhe trust me, that I adult enough to take as I need to.

The old normal for thyroid levels has been changed, but most doctors and labs still follow the old numbers. Unfortunately. I.e. old tsh normal was 0.5-5. Revised TSH, when symptoms are present (tired, unable to sleep, hair loss, weight gain or unable to lose when following good diet, etc.) are 0.5- 3.0 and testing T4, T3, plus rT3.

There was a time when my TSH was under 2, but only because my pituitary were not working. But my T4 and T3 were barely normal. But at that time, all my hormones were in the guthers.

I'm not sure what your numbers are, but its possible you have been under-treated for it. Just saying. My friend is hypothyroid and he has-been under treated for years. I think he would benefit from a 25% increase in his meds, but since I'm not a doctor, I just zip it up.

My diet affects how well I can sleep. Plus my bed, my position in bed.

Talking about bed - our is 10 years old, but I need a new one. Ugh. Another 2k+ I really shouldn't be spending. And a new mattress topper. I need a very firm bed for stability, then a good mattress topper to avoid pressure points on my hips.

I also need a better pillow, a different pilow, ugh. Not being well, being in pain is expensive.

As for the diet - I know how difficult is to stick to a very restricted diet. Very very difficult. Add pain, discomfort, not enough sleep, being tired, depressed- and restricted diet gets very very very difficult. Unfortunately I can relate.

Gs and best wishes. I hope the pain pump helps you. One little step.

I have had other doctors remark that I should be taking a higher dose of the levothyroxine. I really need to see an endocrinologist. My PCP is very conservative with treatments.

thanks so much!

Always good to see ya!!

Wow, you're dealing with so many things! It sounds like you have very thorough ways of working through how you're impacted by many of the variables in your life. Here's hoping some of them settle down for you, though!

It's good to see you here. I always appreciate your perspective and feedback, too!

Once I had a college instructor who did not like my paper and she told me to read the paper that was submitted by one of my classmates so I could understand what she was looking for in the assignment. After I started reading that paper, I realized that it was plagiarized and let the instructor know. That was last time I had issues with her not liking my writing. I was always the A+ student and I know people tried to copy off of me, but I did not cheat.

Oh my. That's egg on her face there.

I have taken in person certification exams at Prometrics. You arrive 30 minutes early so they can check that you are not cheating. This is what happens:

The test center administrator will ask you to raise your pant legs above your ankles, empty and turn your pockets completely inside out, and raise shirt sleeves above your wrists prior to every entry into the test room. A test center will also take the following steps of inspecting for security:

• Glasses (full rotation, inner/outer frame)
• Ears (no Bluetooth devices)
• Hats and any hair accessories must be removed (unless worn for religious reasons)
• Remove Jewelry (inspect front/back, remove from testing area) Note: Wedding/engagement bands are allowed upon inspection.
• Hands (front, back, fingernails)
• Sleeves/Wrists (push up/pull down, tattoos)
• Tie (slowly roll upward, looking for bulges)
• Pockets: Pants - Shirt (front/back pockets) Check to see if they have a coin pocket
• Hoodie/Outerwear (check pockets, shake out hood, collar) Note: Must be worn for entire exam, placed on back of chair, or completely removed from area.

As a final step in the process, you will be scanned with a metal detector wand prior to entry into the test room.

All exams are monitored by continuous audio and video recording. If you experience any issues while taking an exam, please raise your hand to inform the test center administrator.

You have to raise your hand if you need a tissue or piece of scrap paper to write on. You are watched if you take a bathroom break. I don't think there is a camera in the bathroom but always wondered.