Well, confirmation today that I have a torn medial meniscus. Scheduled surgery for 12/17 because we have already hit our OOP limit on the insurance, but am now thinking that maybe I should wait til after the holidays, since I will probably hit OOP next year, too, even though it’s increasing. Chemo copay is also tripling. I am up 15 from my holding point (20 above lowest point) and am frustrated that I keep stuffing my face with food. Nothing crazy, but that extra 200 calories a day is doing a number on me.
Elliptical, rower and airdyne are all bugging my knee. I did rake and blow leaves today.
If the pain in my knee is sufficient for surgery, my shoulder is coming up next. *&^%$!!!
“Israeli researchers, writing in the journal Cell this week, have found that different people’s bodies respond to eating the same meal very differently — which means that a diet that may work wonders for your best friend may not have the same impact on you.”
Sorry, CD. That’s not easy. I hope the recovery isn’t too tough. Is there anything you can do that doesn’t bother it (or your shoulder) exercise-wise? Elliptical?
My goodness, CD - what is the recovery from that like? I hope everything goes smoothly.
Got out for 8 miles this morning - tired after mat class yesterday and just not sleeping well. Hilly route - really struggled on those blasted hills. I think it was less than 30 degrees, slight wind but sunny. Glad it’s over.
Keep us updated CD - when is anytime really good for surgery, right?!
Yeah for 8 miles Sabaray!
BB, sounds like you are someplace FUN!
Yesterday was H and I’s 34th anniversary. We didn’t really do anything to celebrate but I stopped at the primo bakery in the neighborhood yesterday to pick up a treat - that treat ended up being donuts (what a surprise!!!) So, this morning I am enjoying 1/3 of 3 different donuts - would probably be annoying to others to find the donuts all chopped up but I CANNOT enjoy the taste of just one!!!
No exercise planned for today besides working on starting the reno of one of our bedrooms and pup walks. We had some big fat snowflakes this morning which has happily stopped. But I may need to make a trip to visit my mom 45 minutes away in Michigan and apparently there is a little accumulation there. SOOOO not ready for this!
Every time I find a PCP I like, they quit and open up a concierge practice. I don’t have to visit my docs very often (a good thing), so these types of set ups don’t make sense financially for me at this time.
It’s very windy and cold today (okay, balmy 50 degrees for all you northerners). Biking with 35 mile winds doesn’t translate to enjoyable for me and my heavy bike, so I guess it’s stationary bike + college football for me.
Seems to confirm what most of us already knew, right?
My amazing PCP retired last year, and so did the fantastic ortho who saved my knee and encouraged me to continue running. The new generation my clinic hired to replace the retirees is not that great. Some behave like robots - if something deviates from the book, they have no idea how to approach it.
CD, that is a big bummer. Mr. B had the torn meniscus repair surgery a few years ago. He can hike and walk just fine, but running is still a problem, so he bikes and enjoys it. The procedure was quick, and laparoscopic surgery left almost no traces when the incisions healed. Fingers crossed for you.
We were in Vegas last night en route home. Holy Marbury, I have never seen so many badly dressed people drinking beer out of large Bud Lite cans - on sidewalks. So much for glammed up Strip! Jeans and ripped tees. The crowd inside the hotels and restaurants was not much better. If MOfWC wears her running outfit to her Vegas-themed party, she will be overdressed.
CD, sorry to hear about the torn medial meniscus. I went through the same thing. Fortunately, with the arthroscopic surgery that is available, the discomfort and recovery from the procedure should not be too disruptive or uncomfortable and hopefully you’ll be back up and around quickly.
When I had the lateral meniscus done eight years ago, it took about eight weeks to feel pretty good. Can’t even see the scars. They said they’ll start PT the Monday after the procedure. Am now thinking about postponing until after the new year – I have to go to GA in late December and spending that much time in a car immediately post-op is probably not such a great idea. DH has a meeting at noon on the day my surgery is scheduled, so I’d have to find someone else to take me home afterwards, too. Besides the usual pre-op, I will probably have to see the cardiologist to get her blessing and go over anticoagulant adjustments. I hate Lovenox shots!
The doc says I am nowhere near needing a knee replacement, which is good, because I will never have one.
My shoulder is worse than my knee, but I am desperate to keep moving, so I’m dealing with the knee first.
@michaelnkat do you eat a banana on the days you are doing a lot of exercise? Up thread when someone suggested getting the potassium from the banana, it reminded me of my H’s young boss who thought he was having a heart attack on the drive home from work - it turns out they suspect he was low on potassium. He was a fit kind of guy, but maybe work stress and poor diet played a part. Don’t know if the cumulative work outs, other stress, in combination with aggressive particular work out just put those muscles into some kind of chemical imbalance.
To add from way up thread about rough foot care, I was looking at the tube of stuff that I had called petroleum in a squeeze (3 oz) tube - well looking at the label, it “Compares to Aquaphor healing ointment” - mine is DG (for Dollar General) Baby Healing Ointment for Babies, and it is 41% petroleum as active ingredient - but it has other things which make it better than petroleum alone. Since I have used the callus hand held device, maybe a little pumice stone, and then this ointment, my feet have been amazing.
I am still waiting on hearing about the job, but interesting and hopeful sign was that I was at a social function related to the new job on Friday, and was near my potential new boss, and she said hello and gave me a side hug greeting.
Living in the South, we have pork butt BBQ fundraisers - and since DDs are coming home and can take some back with them, I bought a whole smoked BBQ Pork Butt. This is the first time from this particular vendor, and it is the best I have ever had! When H is back from his run and ready for lunch, I will see if he agrees!
@CountingDown --knee surgery is tough, I’m sorry to hear that. May I suggest that you use the upcoming surgery as incentive to push hard on losing some weight? It will make recovery much easier. My inclination would NOT be to delay–I’d want to start my recovery as soon as possible.
I feel very fortunate with my medical practice. I go to a teaching practice where young residents are supervised by long-term doctors. I am currently seeing a first-year resident (my last doctor graduated), which means our visits are long conversations because she is expected to take a thorough history and present it. When I went for my age-60 checkup (the “yearly checkup” I have done every 5 years, because evidence shows it really isn’t necessary to go every year), she was very supportive of my athletic endeavors and noted that I was in far better health than when I first started going to the clinic.
H, two DDs, and I are with a fabulous FP who is part of a group of four docs. I got in with him in the early 1990’s (his practice was closed to new patients even then, but my admin ass’t was a patient of his and he accepted me, H and then the DDs when they outgrew pediatrician). Docs in our area tend to work until it truly is beyond them physically, because they like the income and have the stress level controlled, seem to get enough vacation time, and probably fear being bored in retirement. Some of these retired docs still come to CMEs (continuing medical education), maybe in part to still be knowledgeable about advances in medicine and answer questions about medical concerns in their own families.
When H and I retire, we will continue to live part of the year here - in part because of the great continuity of medical care, and in part with our network of friends and church family.
Yoga x3, power class and trainer workout this week. Will be doing a 2 mile walk later today–H and I are going to see NotreDame play BC and we’re parking in the boonies.
Good luck with your knee surgery, CD. MOWC–same good wishes for success with cataract surgery. My Dad had it done years ago; he put it off forever and once he did it, his comments was–“why didn’t I do this sooner.”
SOS, yes, I eat a banana daily and also take a potassium supplement. Started taking the supplement late spring when I was having earlier bouts of cramping from bike rides I was doing. Thought I had it beaten. I think it could be a hydration issue. I’ll find out when I do a similar workout on Tuesday.
8.1 miles this morning. Wish I had run with sabaray! It was pretty and sunny and 50 degrees. There was some wind, and I overdressed. I also started too fast and was not feeling great by the last couple of miles. Got it done, though.
I am busy with Flying Monkey Marathon stuff all weekend. Blessedly, I’m NOT running the thing. I am working an aid station and it is going to be in the 20s. I’m dreading it, but not as much as H who is biking with the lead female runner. I assured him that there would be good weather this year if he agreed to bike for the race. Wrong. This is a small, sort of cult-ish race, so we get an interesting assortment of top ultra runners, 50 state-ers and fast runners looking for a challenge. I was at packet pickup today to help and it’s fun talking to everyone. I’ve done 3 Monkeys and have a tattoo to commemorate the race (which is another thing many of the finishers have done…).
I’ll bet that’s a fun race to watch at the start and at the finish line! Best of luck to your H biking.
Just came in from walking the dog. 1/2 inch of snow out there. (Enough to make me want to throw up!) However just read that parts of Chicago got a foot. To avoid a panic attack, I just checked the extended forecast - whew, some high fifty’s in the forecast this coming week - I’ll take it!!!
The new generation my clinic hired to replace the retirees is not that great. Some behave like robots - if something deviates from the book, they have no idea how to approach it.