Tag Archives: health

Things To Consider

Posted by Jo on January 17, 2012 None comments

Of all the things I have ever had to consider, I think whether or not to take hormones after my hysterectomy was one of the scariest.  I really had to think long and hard about whether I wanted to take the risk or not.  I have heard all the horror stories and I just wasn’t sure I wanted to put myself at that kind of risk.

The Dr. said I would be fine.  He said it was perfectly safe for me to take hormones for the next forty years.  Really? Forty years, Doc? Are you sure?!?! That’s what he told me.  At the dose he had me on I was safe to take it til I was 70.  MMhhhmmm, no thanks.  I took it for about a month and then stopped.

He had me on synthetic hormones.  Something taken from the urine of mares or somesuchnonsense.  Where the H-E-double hockey sticks do they come up with this stuff? I mean, really? Why do I wanna put that crap on my body?

Now I MIGHT consider Bioidentical Hormone Replacement or something like that.  Something natural.  Something that comes from humans at least. You know, the same species as me forgoodnesssake.  But I don’t know, it’s  all very technological and scientific, ya know?!?! Scary stuff!

What do you think about hormone replacement? Would you do it? Why or Why not? Please share…

Update

Posted by Jo on January 14, 2012 1 comments

The good news is that for now my heart is healthy.  I do have a heart murmur.  It is caused from my aortic valve not functioning properly.  It is supposed to have a tricuspid valve and it has a bicuspid  valve. Two of the ‘flaps’ are fused together.  The Dr. said I was probably born that way.  Since my heart has to work a little harder to pump the blood through it has caused a little hardening of the valve (called stenosis).  So he says I have MILD Aortic Valve Stenosis.  But he seems to think that if I keep my cholesterol and blood pressure at healthy levels and stay healthy otherwise it shouldn’t give me any problems.  They will want to monitor my blood pressure (It was high when I was in the office) and cholesterol periodically and do and echo ever few years just to make sure it isn’t getting worse.

He said he doesn’t think the condition is advanced enough to be causing the chest pain I have been having so he suggested it might be a pinched nerve in my spine.  He said that the ribs being out of alignment can cause the kind of pain I have been having and he wants me to see my chiropractor weekly for a month or so and see if I have any improvement.  I went for my first appointment the following day and my chiropractor said I was way out of alignment and my adjustment was quite painful.  So, I’m thinking maybe we are  on the right track? I guess time will tell…

My lungs were healthy, too.  And my heart monitor readings were normal as well.  So if the adjustments don’t take care of the problem, which I think they will, then I think we will have to assume that we are looking at something stress related.

That wouldn’t surprise me at all. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve had problems of that nature.  My dad and sister are both being treated for anxiety disorders and I have been in the past, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility that I am dealing with something like that.

Anyway, just wanted to catch everyone up on what’s going on with me.  Still trying to figure out what I’m doing, will keep you posted as I figure things out…

Dr. Visit Today…

Posted by Jo on December 14, 2011 2 comments

Saw my Dr. today and while I didn’t get any answers today, I did get closer to some.  He is ordering some tests.

An echo-cardiogram, a pulmonary output test and a 24 heart monitor are all being ordered and then he prescribed an inhaler for when the tightness in my chest gets really bad and the coughing spasms start.

So, we should be getting some answers soon.  He said if these all come back negative, then we will look at anxiety/stress related illnesses, as these run in my family.  We want to rule out any physical ailments first.

Your prayers would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks so much.

Ice Cream

Posted by Jo on December 3, 2011 None comments

I tried to make home made ice cream today.  Ice cream I can eat without having to worry about my cholesterol going sky high and without gaining the 41 lb.’s I’ve managed to lose back!

I wasn’t impressed.  I mean, it wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t wonderful, either!  It was my own fault,  I didn’t follow directions.  I’m good at that.  Not following directions. Yeah, just ask anyone who knows me.  :)   It’s a problem, I’m working on it…

Aaanywho…My bananas weren’t ripe enough, so they weren’t sweet enough.  *insert sad face here*

So, when you make yours, make sure you have very ripe bananas!!  :)

Home Made Ice Cream

Find this:

  • 4 very ripe bananas, sliced and frozen at least one hour
  • 2 T. creamy peanut butter
  • 2 t. cocoa powder

Do this:

  1. slice your bananas
  2. freeze your sliced bananas for at least one hour
  3. process your frozen bananas in a food processor until they are smooth like whipped topping (this will take some time, they may become course like gravel before they become smooth)
  4. once your bananas are smooth add your peanut butter and cocoa and mix until blended well
  5. serve once blended to enjoy like soft serve or refreeze to enjoy like hand dipped ice cream

Since my bananas were quite green I added some splenda to my ice cream to sweeten it up.  My ice cream also turned out quite dark in color because I used dark cocoa powder.  Next time  I will use regular cocoa powder and ripe bananas and I won’t have to use splenda and it won’t be so dark!  :)

I didn’t think to take the picture til I had my ice cream half eaten! Hahaha…

Frustrated

Posted by Jo on November 22, 2011 None comments

I passed out again this afternoon.  It is amazing to me that you can do things like this for no apparent reason.  Dr.’s can run tests.  take pictures of your brain.  Draw Blood. They can find cysts on your brain that are doing nothing.  they can tell you everything is normal.  And yet, you are still passing out…

How can that be?  Something must be causing this.

And now I am having this mysterious chest pain and shortness of breath that makes me cough.  The Dr. thought it was pleurisy, so he put me on meds for inflammation of the lining of the lungs.  I took it, but he said it could be weeks before I see an improvement (which I have not seen yet), so I don;t want to call him yet and tell him I am not feeling any better yet, because it might be too early for me to be feeling any better…

So, I am felling very frustrated.  I am sick and tired of feeling sick and tired!   It’s been since March that I have been dealing with this passing out issue and it’s been a month or more that my chest has been bothering me.  It feels like someone is sitting on my chest  about 90% of the time and I can’t take a full breath about 50% of the time.  And I have this ache in my chest and shoulders.  And sometimes I get sharp pains, but not very often.  I cough quite a bit and especially when I think about it or talk about it (I have issues about being able to breathe).

Being sick all the time wears on you.  I am grumpy all the time and my husband is getting sick of me being short tempered, but sometimes I just can’t help it.  I’m tired and don’t feel good ALL.THE.TIME.  Something has got to change! I have to have some answers and soon! I am going insane!!

I hope everyone else is having a better fall than I am, Happy Thanksgiving to you all!!

I’ll be seeing you,

 

 

 

Homemade Chewy Granola Bars

Posted by Jo on October 27, 2011 None comments

My husband is arguably the most spoiled loved man I know.  I love to make him happy by baking or making things for him.  I especially love when I can make things that not only he likes, but that are good for him. Of course, I love it when I can enjoy the things I make, too… :)

That is why I love this recipe.

I did tweak the original recipe to make it my own, cause that’s how I roll.  :)

Homemade Chewy Granola Bars

What you’ll need:

  • 1/2 cup natural (no sugar added) peanut butter (you can totes use regular peanut butter if you wish!!)
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 1/3 cup coconut oil (or another oil of your choice, i had to use canola, cause that’s what i had)
  • 2 T. butter
  • 1/2 c. splenda (go ahead and use sugar if you must)
  • 3-4 T. cocoa
  • 1 cup quick oats
  • 1 cup TOTAL of any combination of: sesame seeds, coconut flakes, sunflower seeds, dried fruit, mini chocolate chips (gasp)

What to do:

  1. In a medium sized saucepan, melt together peanut butter, honey, butter, splenda, cocoa and oil.
  2. Remove from heat and add one cup of oats. Choose your favorite combination of coconut flakes, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, dried fruit and mini chocolate chips, to equal a total of ONE CUP. (mine just  dried cranberries, yummy) Pour in and stir well.
  3. Spread mixture into a 8×8 or 9×9 inch pan.
  4. Chill for 2 hours, then cut into bars. (you could probably just drop by tablespoon full on wax paper and let set up like when making no-bake cookies)
  5. Wrap in plastic wrap for a quick grab and go snack!

Hope you try this recipe cause they are really good!! :)

Going to link up with Alli tomorrow for Sweet Tooth Friday!! Cause it’s really fun!! Go see what other treats she has come up with!!

Til we meet again,

Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired

Posted by Jo on October 27, 2011 None comments

So, I finally went to the Dr. yesterday.  It’s been weeks since I felt like myself.  My chest has been feeling very heavy and recently I have had some burning and coughing.  Day before yesterday I finally made an appointment to see my doctor.

They said to come in yesterday and if it got worse overnight to go into the ER.  So that’s what we did, we went into the office yesterday.  Doc says I have Pleurisy.  Which is basically just inflammation of the protective lining around the lungs.  This is odd to me because normally an infection or some sort of trauma occurs to cause such a thing to happen.  None of which has happened to me recently.

Disease can also be a factor, so now I am left to wonder if I have something else going on with my body.  Rheumatoid Arthritis and Lupus were the two that stuck out in my mind, but I’m sure there are others.  I have been having problems with a lot of joint pain an weakness lately, but I don’t want to be one of “those” kind of people, you know the ones who think every ache and pain means they are dying of some mysterious illness….

Anyway, there it is.  I finally went to the Dr. and there was something wrong and we are hopefully fixing it.

See you around, til then,

Blind In One Eye and Can’t See Out Of The Other

Posted by Jo on October 19, 2011 None comments

I cannot believe I am sounding more and more like an old person every day, I swear! Not only sounding like one, but looking like one, too.  And acting  and feeling like one.

I find myself having aches and pains that I didn’t have before.  Saying things I didn’t say before.  Did you read the title of this post, for the love of Pete? Or that last sentence?!?

What is this world coming to? The other day I was reading the ingredients on the back of a can and I had to hold it like 2 feet away from my face to read it, like a little old lady.  Next thing you know I’ll be buying a pair of those hideous reading glasses off the end cap at the local drug store.  You know the tortoise shell ones, or the bright multi-colored ones, made to look like stained glass.

It’s all becoming so clear to me.  I’m.Getting.Old.People. and I do.Not.Like.It.One.Bit. but what can I do, its better than the alternative, I guess.  :)

Carry On…

Skin Care…

Posted by Jo on October 12, 2011 1 comments

What’s the first thing people see when they look at you, usually? Your face, right? Well not always, I guess, but usually it is.

So naturally, you want to take really good care of it, right?  I know I do.  that’s why I take care of my face.  I skimp on a lot of things.  I buy the cheap shampoo.  The cheap body wash.  I even buy cheap deodorant.  But I do not buy cheap facial skin care products.

That is one thing I am willing to spend a little more on.  If you don’t take care of your face when you are younger, you will regret it when you are my age and older.  In fact, I am wishing I had done a little more in my twenties.  I am starting to look more and more my age and I’m not liking it! I used to have people tell me I looked 10 years younger than I was.  Now people guess me closer and closer to my real age!

So all you young ladies out there, take care of your skin!! Use sun protection and MOISTURIZE!! You’re Welcome….

And As Always…

Weightloss Update

Posted by Jo on October 12, 2011 None comments

Thought I would give y’all an update on my weight-loss.  As of this morning, I am down 37 pounds.  I have 36 more pounds to lose to meet my first goal.  After that, Buster and I will decide whether or not I need to have surgery to have skin removed to lose the rest of my weight or whether I will be able to lose the rest on my own through toning trimming down.  I may not be able to lose it on my own.

We won’t know until I lose more weight. Right now I still have too much fat and extra skin that I am still losing and that is still changing.  I have been told by some that my skin might still be young enough and elastic enough to “shrink” back down where it should be, but I’m not sure it is, because it already is sagging quite a bit in areas, but it hasn’t been that long, yet, so I am going to give it some time and see what happens.

But I don’t want to start having problems with infections and things of that nature caused from excess skin and all that.  I don’t really want to go into details because I think it’s gross, and I think you know what I’m talking about anyway, so I will just leave it at that.

So anyway, I am just over halfway to my first goal!! YAY!!

Thanks for all the support and encouragement along the way!!
As always…

Roasted Garlic & Butternut Squash Soup

Posted by Jo on October 3, 2011 None comments

This is  a perfect recipe for this time of year.  Squash is plentiful, the weather is crisp, and who doesn’t love a cup or bowl of warm soup to warm up on a cool fall evening?

Butternut squash has  always been a favorite of mine and I’m always looking for new ways to fix it, this is a new favorite…as always, after you try this, please come back and let me know how you like it!!   :)

Source

Roasted Garlic & Butternut Squash Soup

What you’ll need:

  • 1 small butternut squash (around 2 & 1/2 lbs. in weight when it’s whole)
  • 1 large onion, cut into quarters
  • 6  cloves of garlic, peeled
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • dash of pepper
  • 1/4 tsp. dried rosemary
  • 1 tsp. dried mixed Italian Herbs
  • 2 cups chicken broth

What to do:

  1. Peel and dice the squash into 1″ cubes, discarding the seeds and strings.  Mix the olive oil, salt, pepper and herbs together in a large mixing bowl.  Add the onion, garlic, and squash, and stir until all pieces are well coated.
  2. Pour the contents of the bowl onto a large cookie sheet or baking tray.  Place in a preheated 400°  oven and roast for 40 – 45 minutes, shaking the tray or moving the pieces around with a spatula occasionally to ensure even roasting.  When the squash is sweet and soft, it’s done.
  3. If you have a good blender, just tip the cooked veggies into the blender and add the broth + 2 cups of water.  Blend until totally smooth.  Alternatively, you can put the veggies into a large pot, add the broth and 2 cups of water, and blend until smooth with a hand-held immersion blender.
  4. Enjoy!!

Broccoli Salad

Posted by Jo on September 29, 2011 None comments

Here is a twist on an old favorite of mine, Broccoli Salad.  Every Time I would go to a church function or family get-together,  I would see this salad and ask the person who made it, “Does this have sugar in it?”  And every time, the answer was, “Yes.”  So, I would not eat it, even though it’s a favorite of mine.  Very frustrating, to say the least.  Obviously, I was happy when I came across this recipe that uses Stevia® instead of sugar!! I am assuming you could use Splenda® as well, if you prefer.

Here is the recipe, if you try it please come back and let me know how it turned out and whether or not you liked it!!

Broccoli Salad

What you’ll need:

  • 1/2 cup light mayonnaise (I use the olive oil mayonnaise)
  • 2-4 packets Stevia In The Raw ®  (could use 2-4 teaspoons Splenda®)
  • 2 teaspoons white vinegar
  • 1/3 cup red onion, diced
  • 2 tablespoons real bacon bits
  • 6 cups broccoli florets
  • 1/4 cup walnuts, chopped (optional, I like sunflower seeds in mine!)

What to do:

  1. In a large bowl, combine the mayonnaise, Stevia® and vinegar.
  2. Add onion and bacon and mix together until well incorporated.
  3. Add broccoli florets, mixing well to coat broccoli completely.
  4. If using, sprinkle in walnuts and toss to combine.
  5. Refrigerate at least one hour before serving.

This recipe will serve at least 6 people.  Enjoy!!