Gator Pam

{{{stationchief}}}

I haven't tried the acv pill. I know posters on FB who say it works for them. But, I'm skeptical if the pills contain organic acv with mother.

Yes, organic apple cider vinegar with mother is necessary!

I learned about apple cider vinegar beverage while I was researching the keto woe. One of the books recommended to me was The Obesity Code by Jason Fung, MD. Dr. Fung talks about vinegar in the book. I believe he also has YouTube videos, although I have not watched them. I read the book via the library, so I no longer have a copy handy to cite page numbers for you. However, a quick search produced this article, which gives a quick summary. Hopefully it is enough to get you started. https://medium.com/@nathancheng/mind-blown-this-secret-will-eliminate-obesity-from-modern-society-ba451eeb7547 I am also a type 2 diabetic, so the effect on insulin resistance is also a benefit for me. There may be other benefits to vinegar which prompted your mother to start taking it. But this is what prompted me. As far as making it "palatable," I don't think that ever happens. My daddy did teach me as a kid to enjoy pickle juice and sauerkraut juice; that may have helped me tolerate the 2 teaspoons of vinegar in the 8 oz. of water I manage. I have heard others do 2 tablespoons in 24 oz. of water once a day. That I could not do. The 2 teaspoons in 8 oz. of water three times a day is much easier for me.

For those following, it may be time for an update. The last surgical drain (from the reconstruction on January 14th) finally came out on Thursday. Initially, there was still fluid when it came out, but after a couple of saturated bandages, a clean bandage was put on Thursday night and it remained clean and dry through last night. I'm told the area of the drain appears to be healing well. I'm still in recovery mode from the upper GI bleed in late January. Other than acidic foods, such as orange juice (which I don't consume due to doing keto) and the apple cider vinegar beverage I do drink to boost my metabolism, I haven't really felt limited on what I can eat. Taking omeprozol twice a day, an hour before I eat, is a PITA, but hopefully that will be rescinded soon. I'm scheduled for a follow up EGD scope later in the month, to verify no new or further bleeding is happening. I'll ask then if I can resume a normal (for me) diet, including the acv beverage. Otherwise, I have been cleared of all limitations, huzzah! I do have what my surgeon is calling "clean up surgery" at the end of April. This will address issues like the excessive back fat left from the bilateral mastectomy, and clean up the abdomin and flank area. It's apparently similar to the "I did it for me" liposuction reconstructive surgery advertised on tv. It will be done on an out patient basis, and is only a couple of hours, rather than a 10 - 12 hour procedure in patient, followed by an ICU stay. I did ask if my bat wings could be addressed, as long as we were doing clean up "sculpting." But unfortunately, that wouldn't be covered under my diagnosis... After that, further healing for two years and then hopefully I can start applying for the decorative tatoos via P.INK! Again, thank you all for your prayers, good thoughts, and support. It has been sincerely appreciated!

Oh my. Such terrible times for everyone.

It's only a 6-quart, but has no basket. There are slots on the side to slide in the racks. It also functions as a dehydrator, and a rotisserie. However, the biggest chicken it can handle on the rotisserie is 4 lbs. I was hoping to replace my Showtime with it, but I tend to like to do 7 lb. birds. Power Air Fryer does have a Power Air Fryer Elite, which I believe comes with both racks and a basket. But that is not what I got.

Is it a single layer machine, Rose? What I like about the air fryer oven is that I can do three racks of food at a time.

I am still loving my 6-quart Power Air Fryer Oven I bought from Kohl's with the $10/$50 Home coupon, 30% off, and $10 Kohl's Cash during the last promotion. With the racks, the 6-quart may be big enough for a family of 5, but the 8-quart would probably be better. For some reason, I can't order this via the Kohl's app, but the 6-quart is available via kohls.com. The 8-quart is not available through them, though. The current offer does not include the $10/$50 Home coupon, but they are offering $15 Kohl's Cash, instead of $10 for each $50 spent. If you can score a 40% off discount on mystery code day, it may be worth your while. I am still concerned about the reviews saying the unit suddenly stops powering on, especially after the 60 day manufacturer's warranty runs out, which is why I bought it via Kohl's, besides the price deals versus the manufacturer website. However, I think I have only seen the 8-quart model available on the manufacturer website, unless amazon also carries it. The manufacturer website does offer a 6-year extended warranty for an additional $40, should you decide to try them for the 8-quart model. I have heard you can also purchase the extended warranty from them, even if you do purchase the unit elsewhere. But, so far, I am loving it. https://m.kohls.com/product/prd-3632737/as-seen-on-tv-power-airfryer-oven.jsp?prdPV=4&userPFM=power%20air%20fryer%20oven&diestoreid=1136&selectShip=true

Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit

Did anyone score a 40% off Mystery code they're not planning on using? I would love the opportunity to use it, if so.

Looking good!

While I am going gingerly and slowly, I have "sprung a leak" under my left breast. This has happened sporadically throughout my healing, and the surgeon's office has told me not to be concerned, as long as it's not a lot, nor an opening in the incision area is apparent. This time the blood flowed much more heavily, but only lasted a brief time. My partner put a guaze dressing on it, and we are keeping an eye on it to see if it gets saturated quickly as I use my arms more and more. I truly hope I don't need to cut back, but will watch and see.

*doing the happy dance* Just got myself out of bed on my own for the first time in a month. Freedom!

Not late, freesia. Isn't Lunar New Year a two week celebration?

Had a follow up to my hospital stay for the upper GI bleeding with my primary care provider. He combined the visit with my 6 month diabetes check up, so he ran another A1C. It came back at 4.2, so he is lowering my metformin from 1000 mg twice a day to 850 mg twice a day. woo-hoo! He wasn't comfortable with lowering me to 500 mg twice a day in one go, but he'll check me again in 6 months. Keto on!

Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit

I'm getting to go home today! I need to make all sorts of calls to schedule follow ups tomorrow, and I have additional medications to work in to my daily regimen. Plus, I'll probably still have some discomfort as my stomach and upper GI system heals. But, I get to be in my own bed tonight, woo-hoo! Thank you all for your support, spiritually and emotionally. It is massively appreciated!

Back and alert from the EGD scope. They did find a slightly bleeding ulcer in the duodenal loop below the stomach, as well as nonbleeding gastric ulcers in the stomach. It is believed the bleeding ulcer is healing on its own, with the stoppage of the naproxen yesterday. I am going to have more blood draws overnight, and see if my blood counts stabilize. Another blood tranfusion may be needed today, but it is hoped after that I will stabilize and be able to go home tomorrow afternoon.

My phone battery is dying, but I'll post a quick update. Yesterday I had my 10 day follow up with the reconstructive surgeon. Things had not been going too well at home, i.e., nauseau, weakness, lack of appetite, etc. By the time I finished showering before my visit, I was wiped out. We drove in for my 1:40 appointment, and I managed to walk from car to patient room, but the medical assistant was worried about how pale I was, and my first blood pressure, taken with an oversize cuff, which is what I always use, was 87/58. My surgeon was happy with my healing from surgery, but sent for a wheelchair to take me to emergency. I could barely sit in it; I just wanted to lie down. Long story short, they think I have an upper GI ulcer from one of the medications they prescribed. I was given a blood tranfusion, and brought up to the leukemia ward from emergency at 2:00 am. I'll have an upper GI scope at noon, and hopefully the bleed will be found. Another blood tranfusion is expected, based on current blood draws. Prayers and good thoughts appreciated.

Thank you all!

Looks like a quiet day of further recuperation for my birthday. Hopefully I'll be up to celebrating joyously next year for my 60th. But, 59 will go down as a quiet day. George and I had picked out a keto red velvet cake recipe to try for my birthday cake tonight. I had hoped to be up to at least supervising the making of it, but I'm going to trust he'll come to me with any questions instead. I haven't been really eating since I've been home; my tummy has been continuously gassy, and I had a bout of vomiting last night. But I woke up feeling much better this morning, so here's hoping I'll be able to appreciate George's efforts tonight.

Discharge orders have been received! I'll be highly dependent on my caregivers for the next four weeks, at least, unless I do some rapid healing. But, I get to have uninterrupted sleep in my own bed. Reconstructive surgeon stopped by. Follow up surgery to repair issues not addressed this time will most likely be three months out. But, she says that's same day procedure and not nearly as an intense recuperation.

Dreams, even drug induced ones, can come true, nu?

Am being moved out of ICU. Hopefully, I'll be able to get a full night's sleep without being woken every hour.