Saturday January 27, 2018

Perhaps I am not destined to snowshoe. 3 of us had just started driving to the pass and suddenly I was mouth watering nauseous. I'm not prone to that at all so I couldn't just bru**** off as something that would quickly pass. DH was sick this last week but his symptoms were different than mine. Last night we were joking that we might pass respective bugs to one another. His main symptom (besides fatigue) was nausea.

This too shall pass! They brought me home so I sit here in my snowshoe attire which is pretty comfy.

Dave, I agree with Paula, you have many lovelies in your life!

Suddenly I want a nap.

Good night :)

Shel

Gad, Shel! Hoping this new crud goes away soon for you.

I am also really, really, really hoping none of those nasty bugs bites me right now. I have enough on my plate and am not sure I could handle that. I'm washing my hands like a surgeon these days.

Oh no! Get better Shel! Wish we had the snow to snow shoe right now, the temps are great (which is probably why we don't have the snow, lol!)

Curses Shel! Having to trade your snow shoes in for gut pain. Hope you feel better soon. DS

Greetings Saturday People

144 today. Yay for small victories. Guess what, being out of peanuts is a big help in not over eating. DH continues to do well on Atkins.

Speaking of fish crackers, DH gained a lot of weight eating Cheddar Bunnies, similar to Goldfish but better. Buyer beware.

Diane O, wishing you the best on the heart valve thing. I have no clue what is involved there. But you are so much more fit and together so that should serve you well with whatever is done. Ditto to Paula on the heart lead.

Dave I sure can relate to the anxiety thing. Wish I had had a pill when I made the harrowing trip to Marin. But no one came at me with a chain saw.

Next week is a biggie here. DH has second eye done, I have to go meet with colonoscopy scheduler, dog needs a shot, chiropractor appointment, gallery duty, payroll for gallery, estate papers to be assembled and on and on. All these events involve driving to the town 20 miles away, sometimes several times in one day. For a person with no job I manage to find a lot to busy me. Seems like it all comes at once.

Ann, I will be thinking of you as you work on the memorial. And I love thinking of you playing piano for your husband. Music is so healing and its such a gift that you can play. Love that you played at a piano bar. Now I imagine all the deer and woodland creatures listening to you.

Shel, that nasty drug I mentioned is Xiaflex, not with a z.

Well time for another cup of caffeinated motivation. Then its on to face the beauty salon and paper schlepping. Diane S

So I read this, then go to webmd to look at something and there is an ad for Xiaflex! I came straight back here to tell you that so I haven't clicked on it yet.

Thanks for the info on Dupuytren's. It comes up, on occasion in my world because people on blood thinners have to hold them for the procedure. Now, after your explanation, I have a lot better idea of what those patients are going thru and why they have to hold. Otherwise, my brain only knew it as a "hand thing."

I have never, ever, run across Xiaflex on a medlist. At least not a medlist where I had to know what everything is.

We are well familiar with Cheddar Bunnies, too. I think DD is embarrassed to share them with friends. They scream "my mom shops at the organic store!"

LOL on the cheddar bunnies. But they are killer good. I so love the idea of junk food from the health food store. Like organic non GMO potato chips. Really?

Yeah the Dupuytren's disease can occur in the feet also (called Lederhose Disease) which I also have but it usually does not get so bad. Men can get it in one other unfortunate place.

Xiaflex costs like $4000 a dose. Its designed to eat the DP tissue but not nerves and other stuff. My doctor says its made from the gangrene germs which is why I think they had a lot of issues getting a place to manufacture it.

I am curious if your patients are having traditional hand surgery or the needle procedure. I always tell people to stay away from the open surgery at all costs since it is a big dumb deal and causes recurrence. IMHO. DS

I am learning so much today. I had an LBL plastics consult with a doc in my hospital. I really liked him personally, but ultimately opted to go outside the system to someone who seemed to have a lot more experience with massive weight loss. When comparing their work, the 2nd doc said "I would have no business doing hand surgery like Dr X does. I don't have the expertise. I think the same is true of Dr. X and LBL." So now I know at least what one of the hand surgeries was Dupuytrens.

Below is an explanation of what is typically offered these days in our hospital per the website. I see now why Xiaflex it isn't on a medlist, typically. And, gangrene!. I really will have to read up on it now. I think there is another therapy delivered with modified TB (as in tuberculosis). And botox isn't exactly innocuous. And poop transplants. What will people think of next?

Now there is a new technique that avoids the risks of surgery and shortens rehabilitation time. A specialized enzyme that will dissolve in one to three days (XIAFLEX) is precisely placed into the hand by a trained specialist during an office visit. During a second visit a few days later, the finger is numbed and straightened. For the majority of patients, this manipulation will result in a near full correction. Specially-trained hand therapists will then fabricate a splint to help keep the fingers straight and the patient will start a self-supervised course of therapeutic exercises.

Weight 165.4

Hi there! I had a bad run in with a veritable barrel of peanut butter filled pretzels. Why did I even buy those let alone eat so many in one sitting?? Today I am doing better choice-wise. But I didn't like seeing that number over 165 today.

Tonight I am going to party at my friend's house. I'll try not to overdo on food. At least I don't drink so I don't have to worry about alcohol calories...

Just a quick check in as I'm practically falling asleep at the keyboard. Met up with older daughter today to bring her passport that finally arrived. We all had a nice visit. I de-cluttered and cleaned an area that has needed it for some time, and felt a real sense of accomplishment. Food was good today. I made baked ziti and salad for dinner, baking half the filling without ziti for my dinner and lunches for work. The casserole with ziti was for DH and DD. Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny and in the 40's. We're planning to take DD and a friend snow tubing. Well, I really need to go to bed, so I'll say good night. Hugs, Mary