VSG Maintenance Group

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Liz WantsHealthForAll
on 8/22/24 4:33 am - Cape Cod, MA
VSG on 03/28/16
Topic: RE: Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Yay for a manageable last year!

Liz 5'3" HW: 219 SW: 185 GW: 125 LW: 113 Desired maintenance range: 120-125 CW: 119ish

DiamondD
on 8/21/24 10:49 pm
VSG on 06/13/12
Topic: RE: Wednesday, August 21, 2024

So sorry your DH is so ill. Glad to hear your DD is there to help. How overwhelming.

Thank you for taking the time to explain your health insurance/Medicare decisions. I'm learning a lot.

ThinLizzy
on 8/21/24 10:01 pm
Topic: RE: Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Just quickly catching up...my DH is in the hospital with a raging fever (104 deg) of unknown origin--though they are thinking either pneumonia, probably viral, or possibly meningitis. He is very ill and out of it...happened very quickly. On Monday, we went to Costco together and to a physical he had with his pcp. He had a mild cold, def not covid or RSV. By the next day, he was showing odd symptoms...long story but they were worried that he might have had a stroke, but then this infection took hold. Because he has advanced Parkinson's, it masks certain things, makes others seem worse, etc. So right now, they are trying to deal with the infection and then will give him an MRI to see if he's had a stroke, but it's not easy to do as he has a Deep Brain Stimulation implant, which means MRIs have to be done VERY VERY carefully. I personally think he did not have a stroke and that his symptoms were Parkinson's exacerbated by this other infection but time will tell. In any case, he is not out of the woods yet and will have a long road ahead of him, so please hold a good thought.

I was reading all the comments about Medicare/Medicare Advantage and will throw in my two cents...my DH has a 100% service connected disability rating from the VA (he was a Vietnam draftee and was exposed to Agent Orange so his PD is presumed to have been caused by that). Because of that, ALL of his health care/drugs/dental/eyes is covered fully by the VA. Nonetheless, because I was worried about being limited to only going to the VA and because we can afford it, we also have him covered by a classic Medicare program (not Medicare Advantage) that pays for anything not covered by Medicare including deductibles, so no out of pocket. I am SO GLAD we chose to do this. Our VA near here does not have a hospital, so he can choose the hospital and the VA will pay...or they split it with Medicare...I don't know or care, but we get NO bill for anything. However, we do have choices. If he has to go to Skilled Nursing after this for a while, we can pick where he wants to go and Medicare/Part C coverage will pay if we choose someplace not contracted by the VA. I like having the freedom to choose his doctors from any practice (he's been seen and had his surgeries at Stanford and UCSF), particularly since he needs specialized care. The plan goes up some every year, started at about $200 and is now about $300 (he is 76)...but for us, it's money well spent.

That's all for now. My DD (who lives in SF) is here with me, thank God, and we're getting through this...but we're exhausted...

Lizanne

Paula1965
on 8/21/24 3:40 pm
VSG on 04/01/15
Topic: RE: Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Great news about an easier last year! That's how it should be! ?



5' 4" tall, HW: 242, SW:215.4 Weight Loss - pre-op: - 26.6, M1: -15.4, M2: -16, M3: -11.4, M4: -11.2, M5: -12.2, M6: -7.4, M7: -7.8, M8: -2.0 Goal of 130 lbs. reached at 8 months, 2 days post-op!












DiamondD
on 8/21/24 3:29 pm
VSG on 06/13/12
Topic: RE: Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Sounds like you've laid out a good strategy for scheduling your procedure. Always so many parts to any endeavor that involves traveling and pet care.

diane S.
on 8/21/24 3:16 pm
Topic: RE: Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Greetings all

It's another sunny warm day here. I went to the bank and then to the studio. Made some new items and got the rest ready for firing. Also got my house cleaned and called the surgeon and made an appointment for my hand procedure and a hotel reservation. Our cleaner is also our house/dog sitter and she will be traveling in September so I wanted to make sure she was good with the appointment. Plus it's a non busy gallery time in mid October. Bad side is it's 2 weeks before Halloween and we will have party but I always get deli food. DH will be busy LOL.

Hmm DD, nurses in your classroom! Good on you for letting them get on with it. Glad there is nice new carpet and such and that your year is shaping up well.

Liz some people are just messy. Count me as one. My desk here has all kinds of papers. Most need to be trashed. Maybe later. Enjoy Pink.

Paula hope the dress trip is good. Agreed, you should just go along with whatever. Be supportive of whatever the bride seems to be thinking. Who knew that an entourage is needed for dress shopping?! I had my one best friend and she tried on some because they did not have them in my fat size. Mostly we laughed at ugly dresses whi*****luded the few that were in my size. One had huge cabbage roses made of fabric on the shoulders and I looked like I had 3 heads. But I was a 43 year old bride.

Hamburgers tonight from 95% lean beef. Plus an ear of corn that we will split. No butter.

Speaking of butter I now have two over the counter things to take for cholesterol. Red yeast rice capsules and another one called CholestOff. Some kind of plant sterol. It says 3 capsules twice a day with meals and they are huge! Doctor said I could drink these if I needed too. I wonder how they would taste over the rocks with scotch. As doctor said, plenty of attitude.

Diane S


      
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DiamondD
on 8/21/24 2:48 pm
VSG on 06/13/12
Topic: RE: Wednesday, August 21, 2024

I s!so cooked last night! White chicken chili, with a good amount of chicken. A tasty way to get some protein yesterday, and today.

Yesterday when we arrived at the school I discovered that there was a community vaccination clinic going on in my classroom! The nurses apologized to me, but I told them, with all sincerity that providing vaccinations was way more important than me unpacking some boxes. On the way out of the building, I saw one of my favorite students, and it was a great reminder of what I love about the job when he came over to give me a hug and tell me he made the soccer team.

So the box unpacking happened today. The new carpet and paint looks wonderful, and all the purging I did last spring makes it much easier to organize.

One crazy glitch, I am supposed to have a 2nd hour class, but there was no roster in the electronic platform that houses things like this, including students' schedules. I emailed my supervisor and he said yep, it wasn't there. DH said I shouldn't have said anything, and just sat quietly in my room during 2nd hour. So it looks like some schedules are going to have to be changed for some students to get assigned my class. The class rosters for the classes I do have are much more manageable than last year. Continued reasons to be optimistic for a better last year.

DiamondD
on 8/21/24 2:28 pm
VSG on 06/13/12
Topic: RE: Wednesday, August 21, 2024

You will be wonderful support for your DSD. Funny, it never occurred to me to invite my future MIL dress shopping. I got along with her just fine, but back in the day we didn't bring these big entourages. In fact, the 3 times I was a bridesmaid, it was only us bridesmaids and the bride. Looming back, why weren't the Moms there? My Mom did do that for me, we shopped together with one of my bridesmaids. Once I had picked a dress, she did ask them to bring in a few in the next price category, just to make sure a more expensive dress wouldn't be even more perfect. Nope, I really loved the dress I had picked. It's a nice memory, of a nice day.

Liz WantsHealthForAll
on 8/21/24 10:38 am - Cape Cod, MA
VSG on 03/28/16
Topic: RE: Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Those stinking plateaus! You know your body is just holding on but will eventually let go.

I bet it will be like my DD's dress trip - the right dress will show up and everyone will love it!

Liz 5'3" HW: 219 SW: 185 GW: 125 LW: 113 Desired maintenance range: 120-125 CW: 119ish

Paula1965
on 8/21/24 10:09 am
VSG on 04/01/15
Topic: RE: Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Same stinkin' weight! Not sure why it isn't budging! Oh well, I'll just keep the course!

Worked the garden for 2 hours this morning, will have couple's Bible study tonight and woman's Bible study tomorrow morning.

Need to start packing for the ND trip too. Don't need much as I get there late morning on Friday and leave early afternoon on Sunday. Wedding dress shopping should be fun! I won't voice any negative opinions I might have, but hopefully there won't be any anyway. DSD said her therapist told her she should invite her future MIL to join but she doesn't want to because future MIL is opinionated. We will see if she gets invited or not.

Cooler weather persists. It was only 49 when I got up and the high today is in the low 70's. This weekend it will jump back up into the high 80s. That's WI for you!

Liz, have fun at the Pink concert. I love her energy and that she doesn't take crap and looks out for the underdog!



5' 4" tall, HW: 242, SW:215.4 Weight Loss - pre-op: - 26.6, M1: -15.4, M2: -16, M3: -11.4, M4: -11.2, M5: -12.2, M6: -7.4, M7: -7.8, M8: -2.0 Goal of 130 lbs. reached at 8 months, 2 days post-op!












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