Yippee!

Dec 16, 2008

Other then the fact that I don't keep this up as much as I could, it has been a great couple of months since I last wrote!

The infection in my incision from hernia repair/tt cleared up and other then a small spot that still oozes a tad it is closed!  I still have a lot of swelling above where the belly button would be if I had one, but I hope it will eventually go away.

And here is the best news and an awesome Christmas present. With my 2ndry insurance being what it is, I have straight Medicare.  They do NOT pre-approve anything!  You have to have the procedure done and then keep fingers crossed.  With my TT the surgeon's were optimistically cautious on whether they would pair for the whole thing.  Well in my snail mail yesterday I received my Medicare summary and they paid!!!!  That means that my BCN will pick up the remainder and I may have a few office call co-pays to pick up! 

Now for those who are curious, Dr Algahnan in Flint, Mich would have only charged me $3000 for the tummy tuck since it was being done in conjunction with the hernia repair.  But that is $3000 I can now put to wards my arms and breast lift!  I want to wait about 18 months before I have them done though.  I have had 3 major surgeries in 18 months and would like a break

I had a few weeks here recently where I was fighting head hunger!  I haven't really experienced much of it since surgery, just a little now and then.  But this was major 24/7.   I think I am past it now (I hope) it will be there on and off forever, I am sure but boy this was rough.  When I stop and think about it, I have a feeling it must be stress related.  I was still recovering from surgery, it was near the anniversary of my Dad's death and shortly before the anniversary of my Mom's death.  My baby sister who I almost raised, is having marital problems.  The jerk she is married too has a girlfriend he met online.  He wants her to accept it and keep things as they were.  She is not that stupid, but it is not easy for her.  She was a stay at home mom and now needs to find work to support her and her 4 boys.  He says he will help but he is part of the Chrysler UAW and who knows how long he will have a job.

Then my oldest daughter who has been happily married for 18 yrs let me know her hubby walked out!   Shock city!  He was great with her and the kids.  Sure they had their ups and downs, who doesn't but no one expected this!  Yup there is a woman involved.  She is just a "friend" but he has already introduced her to their son!   Again this is a situation where he was the main bread winner and she worked for the extras.  Again he says he will help with money, but for either sis or daug, how long are the jerks' g/f going to put up with the majority of the money going to someone else? 

We are not in a position to be of much help to either of them financially.  With both of us retired and our 401K"s took a major hit, we are concerned about our own finances, especially since we are retired UAW and may take another hit!    No we don't make what folks think we do!  We had to plan and save responsibly to get to where we are now.  It is NOT company money that gets us these things, it was ours!

Anyway, this is probably a large part of the hunger, STRESSED is dessert spelled back wards!

Another thing that I have discovered that brings on the urge to eat mindlessly is boredom and nothing to do!  We recently went on vacation for 3.5 weeks.  We  spent a week in Branson Mo, 1 week in Nashville Tn, 1 week in Villa Rica Ga, and then a couple of days in the Smokies.

Now Branson and Nashville were no problem at all!  We were busy it seemed like 24/7.  I didn't always eat "Right" but I didn't eat totally wrong.  Georgia though.  Gasp!  It was supposed to be a quiet week, restful and not doing much.  We did check out the Atlanta Aquarium and Coca Cola but other then that it was just lounge around.  I had taken books with me, my DH laptop and thought I would work on some graphics while there.   Guess what?  The graphics wouldn't open on his lt and I didn't have the stuff with me to repair the program!   I also didn't have Internet access.  The place we were staying didn't have it!  Gasp!  Nothing to do but read and watch TV!  Food demons attacked!  They lost but it was a battle!

I am proud to say that I didn't gain anything on this vacation!  I didn't lose anything either but that is OK as long as I didn't gain!  Now to keep it up during the holidays.

It is a bit harder then I could imagine, since I don't "dump" on anything but the riches of the rich.  But the fact that I follow the protocol helps a lot!  Protein first, then veggies.  Measure (I eyeball a lot) and don't drink with your meal.  Do not snack except at the appropriate times and then make sure you keep the volume the right size.

Now on to the other great Yippee!   I walked and walked and walked on vacation!  I actually out walked my DH in Nashville!  We started at AM and went until PM!  Granted it wasn't continuous walking.  We started at the Grand Old Opry Convention Center where they have acres and acres of shops and Christmas displays.  We browsed the shops and displays, got lost  a couple of times and kept on going!  We did NOT stop for a rest here or a meal  even though DH was hinting!

Then we went over to the ICE show.  How the Grinch Stole Christmas.  WOW is all I can say!  It is awesome!  It is all done in ice sculptures and they keep it at 9 degrees!  At the end of the Grinch, they have the nativity scene carved in ice.  It was one of the best things I have ever seen!

After that we walked over to the Grand Old Opry house and checked around there.  We couldn't go in because the Rockettes were playing and we didn't want to see them.  We have seen them before and were trying for new things.

Then we went to the Mega Mall they have there.  Humongous for a mall!  Here we stopped to eat at the Aquarium restaurant.   DH did need to eat by then (he is diabetic)  I of course had leftovers, a lot of them.  What I ordered came with something that didn't agree with me so I picked at the stuff that I could have and DH had supper out of my take home box

Now I checked out more stores then I have in a long time!  Since I now wear a size 10 pant and large top (batwings take a lot of room!)  DH kept saying, are you sure you don't want to rest?  Nope not me.  You go sit down while I explore

What a great feeling that was!  Of course he still walks "faster" then I do but he has legs for a 6 ft man and I am 5'2"  so I need to take 3 steps for his 1 !  But for endurance, I had him beat hands down! 

What I can do now is compared to before is just amazing!  I am so happy with my health and physical ability!  I just can't believe it!  I am afraid I will wake up and find I have been dreaming.  I can start exercising now!  And even though I have never been much of an exerciser, I am almost looking forward to it!

So even though the last 19 months have been rough, I am still so very glad I had my RNY.

0 Comments