Tuesday, January 23, 2018

So sorry your Dad was unable to make his appointments. I'm sure you have told us but I don't recall, what type of cancer does he have?

Stage IV bladder cancer (urothelial carcinoma). It started in his kidney and ureter, so that was removed. It's in his bladder and was in some lymph nodes which the radiation and chemo did a nice job of shrinking. So the visit was to see if it came back in his bladder after his last treatment (they put a solution of tuberculosis in the bladder every week for 6 weeks to try to get the body to fight off the cancer, which it otherwise doesn't recognize as an invader) and if they can see it anywhere else outside the bladder.

At this point it sounds like Bloody Mary's might be just what the doctor would have ordered (if they'd seen him yet). I hope he stays chipper and the trip gets smoother.

Oh, boy! That sure sucks for your dad! Does he take travel insurance? Maybe he can get some of the second trip covered??? I don't know how it works, but that sure is a horrendous trip considering he missed his medical appointments! Ugh....,

You make a fantastic point, Devon! We aren't usually travel insurance buyers (or extended warranty people), figuring the benefits usually don't outweigh the costs. BUT, if ever there were a time to buy travel insurance, it would be when trying to fly to a snow prone airport in January with fixed, non-changeable appointment times! So unfortunately, no travel insurance this round, but I will absolutely suggest it for the upcoming do-over trip.

Poor things, of the 40 hours they were away from home, 20 hours were trapped on a plane either in the air or sitting on the tarmac, 12 in a hotel, 4 in the car driving to and from the airport and 4 waiting in airports... What a mess.

Weight was back down a few tenths today. Oh joy, oh rapture!

I'm supposing that my good long look at some of my behaviors over the past week or so has begun to register on a deeper level. I am aware that part of my behavior is habitual and akin to a drug addict seeking his next fix. I am generally on point nutritionally all morning. My sugar seeking behavior begins after lunch. Depending on mood, use of sugar, and energy level the usage of sugar fluctuates until bedtime.

I had a little chat with myself yesterday night about the necessity of ingesting sugar and what partaking accomplished beyond the moment of initial satisfaction. Other than I adore the immediate sensation of sugar and fat laden confections in my mouth, melting on my tongue and creating smooth sensations as it liquefies as the digestion process begins there is not much else I can offer as a plus. The negatives trump the positive. Negatives include: one small chocolate is never enough, the first bite is an instant trigger over which I have relatively little control, the spike in blood glucose triggers an insulin over reaction which causes physical cravings for more sugar and it goes on and on like that until bedtime. I'm beginning to see similar behaviors with sugar that I saw when I drank alcohol.

I have often wondered if I used alcohol as a substitute for sugar. I did not eat sweets from my mid 20s to late 30s. It wasn't until I decided to no longer drink booze that I started using sugar regularly again. I had quite sweet tooth as a teen, too - 2 bottles of Coke and 2 Mars bars at the barn ever day during the summer was the norm. Hey, back in the day that only cost me a buck a day- Only from my mid 20s to mid 30s when ****tails were all the rage, did I stay away from sweets.

After lunch today there was no sugar ingested. There was no pull for it either, though the thought of getting a mini Reese's cup came to mind, but a little voice of reason declined the temptation. While only a small feat in the minds of some, for someone with food dysfunctions and a history of additive behaviors, this is a win.

Baby steps....

It surely is a win. I wasn't so successful today, the baking (and eating) bug got to me today. Not sure what that was about. Oatmeal cookies will be brought to work tomorrow and the boys will make quick work of the rest I am sure.

Even one day away from the sugar is a win if you look at it as akin to alcohol. One day at a time?

Greetings Tuesday Peeps

No weight since I stayed in the bay area last night after seeing the hand doctor. The trip down really stepped me out (driving anxiety after a traumatic driving experience a few weeks ago.) This doctor straightens out my fingers with a minimally invasive procedure that I have had many times. But my bp was dangerously high and doctor gave me some pills for it but it still would not go down. I told him I was sure it was due to anxiety driving. So he was reluctant to do all we planned so only one finger was fixed. I calmed down after I got to hotel and had a glass of wine.

Noisy hotel and I didn't sleep much. But the drive home was easy and BP on the home cuff was normal. I will follow up with primary care but I think I am fine. So thats the adventure "du jour".

Hey, my DH will not plan any activities either. I have to do it all if we are to do anything. Ann, your cruise sounds wonderful and could be a special experience indeed. Obit writing is difficult. My SIL wrote her own as part of a writing class and it was short and sweet. We published it but also a more complete story of her life. Maybe your DSD could help with the obit for her dad.

Alligators and pythons! Why didn't the pythons fall out of trees? Or maybe they did.

Hey Paula, its not too late to be a hippie especially with those boots you got. My hippie friends are all interesting and accomplished people who still espouse the views of the 60s. love not war, be kind to the planet, wear tie dyed stuff, don't be a pig, be creative, eat veggies, etc. But we all were talking about our cataracts!

Well there is indeed no place like home. Peace and Joy. Diane S