34 posts tagged “health”

One year ago today I took my last bite of a hamburger.

One year later I can say with conviction, I am a vegetarian.

Seafood was really the only thing I craved. Once my doctor encouraged me to eat fish for my heart, I jumped right in. Maybe a half-dozen times. But I just couldn't get past the this is an animal thought. It just felt wrong in my mouth. I'll have to discuss with my doctor other ways to get good oils for my heart.

I'm just as surprised as anyone that a year later I am still meatless. I was totally a "Real girls eat meat" kind of girl. Fajitas? Beef. Salad? Steak on top. Pizza? Pepperoni. I was definitely a carnivore.

It's been easier than I expected. I thought there would be many temptations. Many cravings to overcome. But that hasn't been the case. Occasionally I might smell something cooking and think that it smelled good, but there's never been a moment when I thought, maybe just a taste.

Now, if only I were a vegetarian who ate more veggies. ;-)

I have an irregular heartbeat. I am having "PVCs" which are premature ventricular contractions. I am having enough to require medication, but not enough to be considered serious-serious.

I was actually having a pretty bad episode when she called. I was laying on the floor when I heard my phone ringing. Quinky-dink.

I have to give up caffeine. We know I am excited about that. Not. And chocolate. And all sorts of things. Get more exercise. Lose weight. You know, the usual "life style" changes stuff.

She made me laugh when she said, "I see an increase in women getting this as they become peri-menopausal." I told her, "Shut up! That's not even funny." Good thing she likes me! ;-)

I know lots of people live with an irregular heartbeat (some don't even know it), and with time I will learn to live with it too!

To report out on today. My doctor was not in.

I also had my pre-op for my toe surgery scheduled for Friday. Yeah, that's been canceled. Sure, I'm disappointed. I waited so long in the first place, and now this. Ah, well, probably best since Friday is the 13th. ;-)

And not the kind I have when I see a cute guy.

My heart has been beating a little funny for a few days now.

It bugged me enough that I went to see my doctor. Mainly I wanted to know if they could feel what I feel. They could. I really don't want to be a hypochondriac, you know?

My EKG was normal, as is my blood pressure.

Tomorrow I am having an echocardiogram and am getting a Holter to wear 24 hours. I'm not in pain, but I do have some of the other odd symptoms.

My doctor thinks it is stress. I hope so, but I'll feel pretty stupid if it is. I just want to be one of those people who can get through things without falling apart.

I went with mom to the doctor today about some severe shortness of breath she's had for several days now. It is not congestive heart failure. One of her best friends died of congestive heart failure several years ago, so I know that was top of mind for her. Her heart rate and lungs are good, so they are treating it like they would bronchitis.

Yesterday I faxed the doctor about mom's driving comment. She was very nonchalant in following through with my concerns and verifying for me that she is ok to drive. She did several tests on her to determine her strength there and gave me a great sense of relief.

The doctor looked me in the eye as she left and nodded. I mouthed "thank you."

I've mentioned here before how much I love my doctor, right?

I've been on the Pill since I was 24. My prescription got lost in the mail two weeks ago, which was the week I last had my period. This means I have not taken a Pill for three weeks. I have been on the Pill 18 years. Things are starting to get ugly.

I am so bloated. And my uterus is starting to get confused. And pissed off. I'm getting signals that I am about to have the period from hell. Oh, yay.

The doctor keeps faxing. BCBS keeps telling me they haven't received it yet. I think I will be at maximum PMS tomorrow and might have to share my opinion about the situation. Loudly. In carefully chosen words.

I did really well at the beginning of the year, not having sugar and eating pretty well. Then I gave myself a reprieve after my doctor appointment (I was down 10 lbs from last year and my cholesterol had dropped 30 points). Um, yeah. That was in February. Oops.

I've thought about doing a Master Cleanse in the past and chickened out.

Well, I just took the first plunge and started the Whole Body Cleanse. My mom saw it a couple weeks ago on a local "Living" type show and told me about it. Apparently the host had tried the product and had rave reviews. Mom was also impressed by the doctor who recommended it.

I checked it out at Whole Foods but decided to wait since I had that mini-vacay to Orlando coming up. Now I feel pretty motivated to get back on track (and clean my colon out).

Tonight I decided there is no time like the present. I just took:

• Whole Body Cleanse Laxative Formula -- three tablets
• Fiber Fusion Drink Mix -- one packet with 8 oz. water
• Super Milk Thistle -- one tablet

The drink mix was like drinking a thinner version of Metamucil.

The instructions included a list of foods to eat/not eat. I also found Juliette's 7-Day Detox Plan and it offers a more specific list of foods. It is what I will use to select meals from in the coming two weeks.

I will post my experience with this process in the coming days, so stay posted!

So one of my best friends had a colonoscopy today. They found a tumor. They did a biopsy and she gets the results on Friday.

My mom just called a few minutes ago to ask me for "a favor."

She wanted to know if she picked me up if I would go into the store and buy her some Aleve.

You know what that means, don't you? She is in too much pain to walk from her handicapped parking space to the very first aisle in our store, check-out and walk back.

That's bad. Very, very bad. But I pretend that of course I can. I could even use some Aleve myself. As in, no big deal.

But it is.

She has a doctor appointment on Friday and I told her yesterday that I am going with her. There was a little back-and-forth on it before she gave in (she worried about me taking the time from work).

I've gone with her before (we have the same doctor). I go to listen. To them both. And to speak if necessary. This year it will be necessary.

Today I received three different mailers from three different hospitals. They must know I'm getting my cholesterol checked soon.