ALMOST FEBRUARY
And I am still wondering about all the same stuff. I am trying to resign myself that I can only take into account what could possibly help me.
I spoke with my insurance broker about getting a plan that may supply more financial help (was hoping to get part B paid for. She said the only time they will do that is with complete Medicaid. To get that I have too much already plus she tells me with all the specialists and what I have been dealing with.my current plan is the best thing for me right now, It is not bad, I just have a few small amts for meds , no copays to mention and no bills for all the tests (at least not yet) I do have a UCard that does supply $50 a month (i am currently up to $98 and she says I can buy healthy food but I am not so familiar with the scanning deal. I know Walmart takes it) When I try to do online, it shows all and I will not know what counts or not. So I am guessing I need to make a trip.
I have been in touch with my account planner and he is helping me get some things straightened out. He is making sure of requirements and admissions before applying for supplemental social security.
I applied online for Liheap and Food Stamps (SNAP?) but have heard nothing yet. I was advised to apply by calling Met-Ed for assistance to apply for help with Electric. (P-CAP)
My ultra sound of my kidneys shwoed no abnormal issues other than my right kidney being a tad smaller than my left. (I assume that may be just like all other thimgs--- one larger foot, hand or breast...)
I have been taking half the Metformin and they told me to stop Advil. I have tried that but a few days had to do 2 . The past week I have been having so much pain in my feet and ankle it has been hard to walk. On the flip side, my pediatrist said I am starting with tendonitis and when he did my nails he gave me shots in both feet which has helped immensely. So that is bearable and I am able to get around better. I have to keep moving and do stretches and pt or everything else will go to shit. (please forgive my mouth but I am so frustrated!)
In a 2 weeks I will be seeing the rhemotologist . He wants me tested for anemia. another week or so I need bloodwork again to see how response has been since the last tests. Again, I am hoping for a better result and praying I don't just keep on like this.
I went to nutritionist and advised her of what was going on. (Endocrinologist knew but she did not. ) She helped me get set up with my G7. I like the fact I can check at any time and the fact it does alert me for any sudden changes or above or below range (which is very wide margin at first. (70- 250) I did also learn that the order in which you consume your food does effect your rise in blood sugar. (Never knew that before)
Don't know if you remember me bitching way beack because I was getting warnings I had been infected on my phone with viruses and all these apps kept popping up ? My nephew warned me that the ads were to get people to go for these clean up apps which were a scam to continue to take $1.99 from your account once they had your account info. THANKFULLY I did not fall for that. I was so frustrated but figured I just had to put up with it. A few mornings ago I woke up and when scanning through my morning messages I noticed one that said they had found an unsafe ad and they have DISABLED it!!! It mentioned the app and asked if I wanted it cancelled or activated. Me being slightly technologically challenged wasn;t sure if they were refering to the app or how they handled it so I just played it safe and left as is. I have had no more issues since. So I am thankful for that.
So the feet and the phone are a good thing.... the rest we'll have to see.
Sis and BIL birthday is on the 10th of February. We are taking food to the Heim for a party for her It is his bday too and I think the kids and I should acknowledge iit for him too. He may have not always been there like he shoulkd have in the past (partly because she drove him away) but since all this he has been there with her putting up with more than anybody should to see she is taken care of. Since she is moved up a floor they are not doing their job. (He has spoken with higher ups and they pretty much say or do nothing) Frank said there are some very nice nurses and aides, but several are just there for the paycheck. He has to remind them to bathe her (! shower a week on Wednesday morning and he comes in days later and still her hair is not wasj=hed so he REMINDS then. Clothes come up missing, but that could be from confusion of her or others on the floor. There is a click of aides that take their breaks together (conveniently around meal times so the are not there to assist residents who need help feeding ... which is alot) Frank stays and helps her change for bed.
He is having prostate surgery on his actual birthday and I am thinking he may be a bit worried ablut that as well. He has been trying to get things in order because he has to be out in March and to the house . I found out Mike has helped him a bit. I still worry for them all and they , myself and all of you here are included in my prayers (for whatever good they will do)
Many hugs,
Kim
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hi well I guess one bigger than the other is better than one smaller than the other,,,,,when comes to boobies...LOL I could not resist....LOL
I tried Dexcom after using Freestyle Libra and Dexcom showed false low readings on me...so I went back to Freestyle and like that....
I use to love oatmeal in the morning sweetened with ground up bananas and strawberries but my doctor told me to stop eating that. She said the oatmeal is all carbohydrates which is changed to sugar by the body and combined with the fresh fruit I would add to it made it a massive bowl of sugar so I quit eating it and my sugar went down.
I learned that with the oatmeal as well. I did do some overnight oats with unsweetened almond milk, a smidge of vanilla, cinnamon, a dollup of fat free greek yogurt and some chia seeds. (They were to help decrease A1c) I still had to make small quantity as the oats are carb but i also added just a squirt of honey and fresh blueberries. You can make 4 at a time but I haven't made them in awhile. Now I usually grab a protein bar from Aldis. They have 15 grams of carb, 5 fiber and 10 protein so they usually do pretty well keeping it down.
I did go online last night at about 11:30 pm and checked once more for the U card amts. and discovered i would lose $50 if not used by midnight. I quickly clicked onto healthy food and figured out how to use the damn thing. So I still got that and now is replenished for February. Woo Hoo
I "HAVE TO" eat a bowl of oatmeal every morning to control my bile acid malabsorption issues. That means because they removed my gallbladder, my liver shoots out way way too much bile. And I get diarrhea like symptoms and pain in the right side. Had all kinds of tests. I was on a fancy medication and it raised my triglycerides super high, stroke high. So I just started the oatmeal in August and it has lowered my triglycerides by half.
I eat the healthy diet stuff, always have but I can't eat fat or salad dressing or even lettuce anymore. Causes the diarrhea stuff. I do add in almond butter, about 1 Tablespoon and blueberries or raisins or cranberries (the dried ones add sugar). I use turbinado sugar, about half a teaspoon and I use the old fashioned big flake packages. I can only do so much.
Having my gallbladder quit on me has created a cascade of issues as time has gone by.
VeggieQueen, I also have bad feet, arthritis is my issue and weak ankles and I had a big toe fused and that was the start of walking improperly according to my PT. So I have to wear really good and expensive shoes. I don't know what kind of shoes you wear but it has to be very thick soled, soft, arch support, not the cheap sneakers or flats. I wear Drew brand or Easy Spirit which are cheaper. I am wearing VIonics slippers and the arch support and foot control is the bomb! Best ever and helps my feet. I am doing PT for my ankles which is not fun.
And if you wear your shoes every day, they will start to compress and become painful in about 6 months. Need to be replaced by at least one year. It is terrible.
For the pain, try the Voltaire or generic cream on your feet twice a day. Is in every drugstore. The Walgreens generic had perfume added that gave me a headache. It is an NSAID cream but I am told it is okay to use by my gastroenterologist. I can no longer take ibuprofen like you said Advil.
You might ask for Acetaminophen with Codeine 30 mg, it is very low dose of pain meds. I can take it occasionally as it upsets my stomach. Tylenol or Acetaminophen does very little for me. Oh, you might try a magnesium rub called Theraworxx or a something with arnica. You have to use those sprays and rub into the feet and ankles at least 2x a day. The Penetrex arnica one helps me a lot but you have to use it 4X a day for a week and then cut back.
The pain in my feet caused me to have to stop working in 2018. I can't walk around even with a fairly sedentary job. I have pain walking the grocery store. But the things I mention help me when I keep the program going. The arthritis pain causes poor sleep, too. Oh, depending on your pain location, those small Salonpas patches are good. They do have an Nsaid and Methol but my gastrointestinal doc said these are fine, they don't go through the gut. Ask your doctor about Voltaren cream or the pain patches. I do use lidocaine patches on my hip injuries and they work. But those come in all kinds of quality and the best ones are expensive at $2 a patch. You could cut them in half and put on the top of the foot or around an ankle maybe.
I have arthritis in my feet too and have had toe fusion surgery as well. As long as I wear a shoe or sandal that has good support I do ok but my podiatrist recommend Hoka tennis shoes and recovery sandals, and my feet do well in those. They have different kinds of support depending on your foot structure. They are kind of expensive and not everyone loves them, but you can also find similar tennis shoes by New Balance and Brooks.
I can’t take oral NSAIDS myself due to bleeding risk so stuck with Tylenol too and yeah doesn’t do much. I tend to then use heat/pain patches. Used Voltaren cream as well in the past for tendinitis and it worked well. Just takes a while. I think you can actually get that over the counter now.
I have not had anymore advil since the injections for tendonitis and all has been ok. That's not to say I don't still feel the arthritis or tension when I first wake up until I am moving, but all is ok (and bearable. I do have Voltaren and have used that on occasion. It works pretty well for me.
One thing I probably do wrong is not wearing my shoes at home. I am almost always barefoot or stocking footed. I bought expensive special slip ins and inserts which are quite comfortable. The thing is, because of me not having all the strength and balance (plus weak ankles) I think it's because I feel more comfortable with contact on the floor rather than on the base of the shoe. What if I trip or overtread my ankle?
Maybe work on the strength and balance and the rest will follow? Not sure but I get what you are saying. Falls are more common as we get older so maybe it’s also just trying to be more mindful of of steps, our footing.
Anyway it will eventually come together. Big faith in you!