how about drinking?
Comments
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Minus, the weather has been ok here, in the 50’s and sunny this week. The storm that hit Houston blew through here with rain, lightning and a brief dusting of snow. The beach bar is great, I keep it between 68-72 degrees. Haven’t been drinking much but I’m out there daily listening to a book on audible and working on a jigsaw puzzle.
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Good morning ladies- I hope everyone has been able to get through the week as best as you can with medical care, recovery, ongoing weather issues, work and all the other things that go with life. After a nice five days of rain off and on coming from the west, we have sunshine today and it should be up to the mid 50s by this afternoon. I am planning to meet a friend for a walk midafternoon at a local park and for a catch up on our lives since we saw each other late last summer. The rain has been really needed here in the high desert (brought snow to the mountains too) and hear another wave of storms will be coming in as Feb starts. And wow, Feb already next week, January went fast!
Got a nice surprise at work this week. We are getting a raise and a bonus too! Whoo hoo. We usually get a raise every summer after the end of the fiscal year, but last summer was the first we didn't since I started there three plus years ago. Anyways, some things changed and they announced it this week and it's effective immediately. We are also getting a bonus too. I am going to be putting some of this towards more retirement contributions, saving some other parts and bought myself something I saw on sale I really wanted this week for a little gift to myself.
Hope everyone has a good weekend and sending much love to all!
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jazzygirl, congrats on the raise AND the bonus! Enjoy the sunshine today.
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The sun has popped out here today, too. A welcome sight after three days of rain.
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NM, how exciting for your cruise. AND you will be retired too!
Karen, your body has a lot to heal, you are getting there! Just keep doing what you are doing, especially the rest when you feel it is needed. You want to be feeling good when you head out to see DD1 and her family.
BabyGirl, I need my house to be 75 or higher. I'm always SO cold. Thanks to being anemic and so thin.
Jazzy, congrats on the raise and bonus on top of it! What was the gift you bought yourself?
The urology office DID call me, and were even kind about it, BIG surprise there. They are going to rebill it, so I just wait now. Back to the valley tomorrow, I don't have to be there at any specific time, as I have nothing going on. 7:45 am appt Tues. morning with urologist, or Dr. Dickhead, as I call him, to have the stent removed from my R kidney, chemo after that, and then to the transfusion center for them to draw blood to get me a match for my transfusion on Wednesday at 8am, then home. I've scheduled for a moving company to come out, they will be here March 8,9 or 10. I will fly out to MI. to be there when they get there. I hope I can get everything done! My friend would help me, but I think I would spend more time trying to tell her what to do, and not really getting ahead if I just do it myself.
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goldie, I'm so glad you got some help from the urology office. I hope that's one less thing weighing on you right now.
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There's a kind of irony in calling a urologist "Dr. Dickhead". 😆
Sorry you've got a less than pleasant care provider.
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Gorgeous weather in Denver today. Blue skies, sunny and 60F. Couple nice walks. Definitely at a slower pace, but I'm not complaining. The weather is supposed to be nice through Thursday, then I think winter will be back.
Still tired. Took a nap this afternoon - also had a massive headache. Also dozed off a couple other times today. I am listening to my body, but it is slower than I anticipated, but this is what my DH thought. Anxious for post op appointment on Tuesday morning - to get the bandage off and the ends of the stitches cut off. It just annoys me knowing its there. I'm so glad that I have 3 more weeks off work. At least when I go back, hopefully I'll be back to near full speed. Pathology came back normal - I wasn't really worried as it is generally not cancerous.
Lori - good luck Monday and Tuesday. Glad the urologist office called you and is resubmitting the claim.
I looked online at my claims for surgery. Hospital bill is closed to 130K and my share is zero. Anesthesiologist bill is also zero! I think it was 3K. No claim yet for surgeon. I haven't seen EOB for hospital so not sure if I will have lab bills or what else. Keeping my fingers crossed.
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Karen, Wally, I read in a few medical-article-aggregator newsletter listservs that there's a phenomenon called "immunosenescence:" literally, "immune system getting old." As we age, our immune systems get weaker, and repeated assaults on them can accelerate that. It's not necessarily the cancers themselves, but some of the adjuvant treatments can have immunosuppressive effects; and each bout of COVID or a major infection like flu can successively chip away at our antibodies (and ability to make or respond to them). That's why people >60 are at greater risk for serious disease from respiratory infections and need to be at the head of the line for treatments & immunizations. (That's why I'm banging my head against the wall over pharmacies' and clinics' refusal to give me a second dose of the latest COVID shot). Part of immunosenesce can be "hypogammaglobulinemia," or not enough immune cells produced by our bone marrow. It often goes hand in hand with MGUS (which can be a precursor), but which is the cause vs effect is not fully understood.
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Miriandra, good one!
Lori, with blood clots in your leg(s) it is imperative on long flights that you be able to keep your feet elevated as much as possible. You can't do that in coach, and not even periodically walking around is not enough. There's a difference between YOLO for enjoyment or thrills and YOLO to actually be kind to yourself. Flying first-class in your situation is the latter, and if you can afford the upgrade, the price difference should not be a motivation.
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Sandy - thanks for the explanation. That makes sense. As goodness knows, I've had enough assaults on my body. My MGUS progressed to MM. both my DH and I really believe that the chemo last spring did a number on me.
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Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy Monday Monkey Day! Waking up to another dusting of snow, and some schools opening later. Nothing much here where I am, can barely see where it's snowed at all here at my place. There was an email on the work site this morning, this week I'm to shift over my remaining patients to their new Case Managers, when that's done I'll be "helping out" until the 19th, covering for nurses who are off or overloaded. So I'll get sent all over the place for the last couple of weeks. Seeing that email gave me some really mixed feelings. 3 weeks from today is my last day. It's getting very real!
Karen--glad to hear you are finally beginning to feel decent again! Recovering from surgery and anesthesia is harder and harder as one ages. I'm really looking forward to the cruise. Warm weather, change of scenery, nothing to worry about for a week. I need the break!
Illi--I bet you are really enjoying the beach bar!
Jazzy--sunny and mid-fifties sounds like heaven right now! January has moved by fast, hasn't it? Hooray for the raise and bonus!
Good Morning, Sunshine and Carole!
Goldie--Cruising for the first time in "retired" status will be a new experience, one I am looking forward to! Glad to hear the urology office is rebilling. Sounds like Tuesday will be a busy day. I'll be interested to hear how the moving company thing works, I suspect I will be going that route when I move. And I'm thinking it will be easier for moving Mom when that time comes.
Miriandra--LOL!
Karen--walking is walking, speed doesn't matter! Glad to hear the path report was clean.
Chi--good info, thanks.
Ingredients
- 3 oz. Malibu rum
- 1.5 oz. peach schnapps
- 1/3 c. orange juice
- 1/3 c. pineapple juice
- Splash of grenadine
Instructions
- Fill a glass with ice. Pour the Malibu rum and peach schnapps over the ice, followed by the orange juice and pineapple. Gently stir. Drizzle in the grenadine and let it sink to the bottom. Do not stir. Optional: Garnish with an orange slice, pineapple, and cherry.
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Karen, sounds like you are on the upswing of things and glad you are listening to your body!
Sandy, I'll give it some more thought to fly first class. I can afford it. I'm just sort of a miser, and I shouldn't be! I sit in my car driving for 4 hours, flight is shorter than that. Must be due to the decompression and such on the plane.
NM, why are you having mixed feelings about retirement? Remember, you can always get a part time job once you get moved. And you can use the first part of it on focusing on your move. And when if you are interested, I'll give you the name of the company I am using. They are out of FL. The gal that I have been talking to has been super kind. Rates go up once spring gets here. Costing me a little over $4000 for mine. If you need things packed, they will do that too. They bring mattress covers, something for the tv's, blankets etc. There is a 3 day window for me, as to when they will pick up, and since they have to take across the country, it will be up to 3 weeks for delivery. I can pay for expedited and waiting for them to get back to me on that.
Off to Phoenix today, can't wait to get there, 80 degrees all 3 days I'm there. Wally, you would love it....NOT! Also hoping to get that boost of energy after the blood transfusion. After the last one, I landed in the hospital just a few days later, so didn't get to enjoy that one.
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Goldie, good luck with the moving.
NM, it's perfectly normal, I think, to have mixed feelings about retiring. The kind of work you've been doing brings so much good to your patients.
The sun is shining here and it's supposed to be a nice day.
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Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy Twofer Tuesday! Waking up to real feel temp of 4 below the donut this ayem. The breeze that came up last evening had a real bite to it, glad it calmed down overnight. The puppers made their ayem trips out very quick today!
Goldie--the mixed feelings are not knowing what I'm going to do with myself once I get moved. I keep reminding myself that there are tons of part time jobs that would give me some structure to my life as well as some extra money for vacations and trips and the like. I've never really gone any length of time without having a job, and haven't figured out exactly how much money I'll have from the retirement accounts. I can live on the Social Security checks, so I shouldn't really be worried, but there it is. Fear of the unknown, I suppose. But more excited to be free from getting up to an alarm 5 days a week and needing to worry about office politics and regulatory insanity. Retirement plus moving makes for a lot of change all at once, and for this gal who never really believed I'd live long enough to retire, even more so! Enjoy the warmth of Phoenix! And the boost from the transfusion.
Carole--A lot of who I am is tied up in what I do, which is common among nurses and adding to the mixed feelings. I read somewhere that someone going into a major life change without some mixed feelings doesn't understand what they are getting into and are less prepared to deal with unexpected effects of the change. I know I'll be ok, I'll just need some time to adjust to doing things differently.
DOTD when every day is a weekend day!
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Quick post op visit with the surgeon. He snipped the ends of the stitches. The incision looks good. He folded over the skin and said it will take a year to smooth out - but at my age with wrinkles, it's not very noticeable. He asked how I was doing and I said good except for being tired. He said being tired was expected for a month - even without surgery and just the anesthesia. I'm so glad that I took all the time off work. He said he doesn't do calcium levels and my levels are probably WNL. He said he leaves that to the endocrinoloigst. I asked how long to continue the calcium (Tums) and he said till I see the endocrinologist at 6 weeks post surgery. Seeing the endocrinologist on the 28th of February. Not worried about labs as I have labs on Tuesday for my hematologist appointment on February 13, then again at the end of the month for Nephrologist. I think March is a no doctor month. Start back up in April!!
Gorgeous weather today. It's currently 52 with high projected to be 60. Supposed to be nice through Thursday. Rain/snow storm predicted for the week-end. Meteorologist aren't sure yet if it will be rain or snow. If it's snow it will be a lot of snow - 6 or more inches. They are saying more idea of snow or rain tomorrow. I'd rather have snow especially since I don't have to drive in it and I can walk in snow easier than rain.
Went for a long walk - and I think I did a little too much - 50 minutes.
Kim - being off these past couple weeks recovering from surgery confirms that I need to be doing something. It's hard for me to imagine not working at all, especially since I've been working for 47 years (not counting high school or babysitting). But I do look forward to cutting back in a couple years.
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Good Morning, Loungettes!
Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy Hump Day! Waking up to temps below the donut again, but no wind, so no wind chill, and going to warm back up to over freezing by afternoon. Pot holes are blooming all over the roads. Got to love this time of year! I set up my work day yesterday to be sure I got done on time because Mom needed a ride to someplace to get the battery replaced in her car fob. Stopped by her place, asked where we were going so I could make sure I knew where we were going, and she had a friend take her earlier in the day! "I was going to call you this evening so you'd know you didn't need to come over." Gotta love the Mamma!
Karen--glad to hear the appointment went well. It's amazing how long anesthesia effects last in the body. At least in retirement we can be in control of our work schedules and how much drama we take on!
DOTD on this cold ayem:
1 cup hot coffee
1 shot of your choice--mine is Kahlua
Repeat until temperature is above zero!
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Good Morning, Loungettes! Happy Thirsty Thursday! Quiet here in the HTL today. Lots going on for folks, so I expect everyone is pretty busy. I started handing off my patients yesterday, handing off more today. It makes me sad to hand them over, but I know they will get good care. The office got moved on Tuesday, I got in for a few minutes yesterday to see the new digs. Much larger office, much more space, a conference room big enough for the whole team to meet, nicely laid out.
Out of Office
INGREDIENTS
- 1 ounce chamomile-infused The Botanist gin (see Editor’s Note)
- 1/4 ounce Italicus bergamot liqueur
- 1/2 ounce dry vermouth
- 1/2 ounce cucumber-lime sherbet (see Editor’s Note)
- tonic water, to top
Garnish: long slice of cucumber, fresh mint
DIRECTIONS
- Fill half of a chilled Collins glass with an ice spear or cubed ice.
- Pour all ingredients except for the tonic water into the glass.
- Top with more ice, and gently stir with a bar spoon to chill.
- Add more ice as needed, then top with tonic water and garnish.
EDITOR'S NOTE
Chamomile-Infused The Botanist Gin
Steep half a handful dried chamomile flowers in 1/2 cup gin for at least 1 hour; after that, infuse to taste by checking every 30 minutes until the infusion reaches desired strength. Strain and bottle.
Cucumber-Lime Sherbet
3 small cucumbers
4 limes
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon citric acid powder (optional)
Yield: ~ 1 cup (8 ounces)
1. Peel cucumbers and limes; discard cucumber peels and set lime peels aside. Slice cucumbers into coins and combine with lime peels in a bag.
2. Pour in sugar and, optionally, acid powder, and let macerate for at least one hour at room temperature, until the liquid is extracted from the cucumbers and lime peels and the sugar is mostly dissolved.
3. Pass the resulting syrup through a fine-mesh strainer into a small bottle.
4. Juice the peeled limes, fine-strain the juice, then combine with the syrup to create sherbet. Keeps, refrigerated, for one to two weeks.
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NM, I think everything will fall into place for you, with the move and looking for something to do with your free time, whether it be a hobby or a part time job...so quit worrying my friend, lol! I need to remind myself of this, but only in regards to moving, as I can't work. Love your mom stories. YES, gotta love momma.
Karen, glad to hear things are going well so far. WOW, a whole month of no doctors, I can only wish. The most I get off is a week, but then add the extra weekend, so 10 days.
Oh goodness it's quiet in the lounge! Got the stent removed from my kidney, had chemo, which we will stay on the same one for now. Lymph nodes in my neck are swollen, and back in Dec. I was told cancer had spread to more of those. MO said it could be that, and it could be glands, just keeping an eye on them for now. Blood transfusion yesterday went fine, 6 hours in a chair, then 4 hours in my car....oh my arse! Happy to have a week off after blood, hoping I can get lots of packing done! Big storms heading through here over the weekend, part of my drive home, across the rim, is expected to get up to 2'. Sure glad I don't have any appts. next week. Already feeling some of the benefits of the transfusion. I'm excited!
Where are all of our Loungettes hiding? The pool, casino, beach....
Recent pics of the babies, Nora and Cayden, or should I say AC, as that is what they are calling the baby.
EDITED TO REMOVE PICTURES
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Lori - Nora is so big. AC is a cutie. The dog looks like a lion the way he is groomed. Glad to hear that you are feeling some benefit from the blood transfusion. 6 hour in the chair then 4 hour drive is a lot of sitting. Sounds like the chemo is working for now.
Kim - it must feel weird to be winding down. It will all come together. The big day is getting closer and closer.
Gorgeous day today in Denver. Currently is 59F, blue sky and the sun is shining. I was actually warm when walking and took my coat off. High will be 60 and its our 5th day at 60. First time I've been warm walking and walked without a coat in a long time. Lately, I always seem to be cold. At night, in the 40s, I'm wearing my heavy, heavy coat and not hot. I ordered a heated vest - the first one I ordered size small and it is too big, so I ordered a different one in XS (my size). My son came for dinner last night and I tried it on for him and said it was too big (especially around the arm holes) and he said it wasn't too big, I was "too skinny". He never comments about my size so I was a little surprised by the comment. Still love the guy to pieces!
Yesterday, DH and I went to see the movie American Fiction. It was good but dragged a little.
I finally got an answer to my question that I sent to my HR person last week. It includes the return to work form that I will get my surgeons office to complete before I go to see my kids. I thought my return date was Tuesday 02/20, but that is my last day off. My return date is Wednesday 02/21 so that is nice as it gives me an extra day to recoup from the trip. Only thing is, my first day back, I have a 7:30am dental cleaning which has been non the calendar for 4 months. Didn't think to change it. Not sure where I'll be when I go back so don't know the start time. It can be as early as 7:00 or 8:00. I don't think staff have any start times later than 8.
I've been peeking at work emails to see what is there, especially from HR, but I'm not opening any up. but yesterday I did - I got the nicest email from a parent. It will definitely go in my portfolio as part of my evaluation. I will write the parent back next week. My away message says I'm not checking emails while on FMLA.
Need to go to Costco as we are almost out of Pellagrino and it is on sale. The only thing is that I can't lift the cases, so DH needs to go with me. I want to get the max 5 cases - but even if I only was getting one, I could not lift it. DH and I don't generally shop together and haven't most of our 46+ year marriage. We decided early on that we would rather spend our time together doing something other than shopping.
Weather is talking about the coming storm. Heavy snow in the high country. The Denver metro area they still aren't sure, but for now still saying rain/snow mix. Starting Friday night. I'd rather have snow than rain as at least we can walk.
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Adorable pictures, Goldie! AC looks like a little Kewpie doll. You've got a lovely family.
I just hit my first anniversary at my current spa. It was just supposed to be a short gig until the NLRB complaint was resolved, but it kept dragging on. We've got a hearing date of 2/13, and it will be so nice to have a decision. True, my old boss might file for an appeal, but getting at least some validation would be nice. Requesting good vibes!
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Good Morning, Loungetes! Happy TGIF day! Handed off a few more of my patients yesterday, handing off a few more today. Will only have 2 left to hand over next week. Feeling kind of sad about this part. Now I think I'm coming down with the cold that's making the rounds, but hoping it's just a physical manifestation of my emotional state. I don’t' really want to be getting sick right now!
Goldie--I keep telling myself everything is working out, and try not to worry about things and focus on one thing at a time. Right now that means getting through next week, my last full week at work. Glad to hear you got the stent out. That was a long time sitting down, glad you are feeling some benefit! Oh my goodness, look at that pic of the family with the miniature lion! Nora and AC are adorable!
Karen--it does feel very odd to be handing off my patients. At the same time I am really looking forward to not having to get up every day and go to work, and to finally have time to really do stuff around the house. It is all coming together. I definitely am looking forward to warmer winters, and you are really lucking out with the almost summertime temps! How nice of the parent to email you like that! I'm with you in the snow over rain department. So much easier to get around in snow than rain this time of year.
Miriadra--praying for a good outcome at the hearing for you. This process really has dragged out, hasn't it?
Sit Down
Ingredients
- Ice Cubes
- ½ Part Calvados
- ½ Part Amaro Ramazzotti
- 1 Part Absolut Lime
- 1 Peel Lime
How to make a Sit Down
Fill a mixing glass with ice cubes. Add all ingredients. Stir and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with lime.
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Karen, Rex (the dog) is not groomed like that. It's his Halloween costume. The picture was taken when the Detroit Lions were in the playoffs or something for the SuperBowl. And everyone else has their Lions shirts on. Nora will be 3 on Cinco de Mayo. Bonus to have an extra day off work, that you weren't aware of.
Miriandra thank you. Sending those good vibes your way.
NM, I know exactly how you feel about "handing off" your patients. It killed me to leave my kids (students) when I moved to AZ. I even lost lots of vacay and sick time, as I wanted to spend my time with the kids, not paid days off. I think my babies are adorable too, but I might be a little prejudice! Oh, I snagged up 10 plastic Xmas totes at Wal Mart, $5 ea. for moving. You might want to check some of your local stores.
I like being able to walk short distances and not have to sit down and catch my breath. Blood transfusions are amazing! The 6 hours of sitting, not so much!
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Watching the local 4pm news - they still aren't sure about this storm that they have been talking about all week - not sure how much snow we will get - big range - ski areas might get 1 -2 feet of snow. But what they are saying is that it will be a wet mess! So far in Denver, no precipitation. Now they are saying snow, heavy snow by this time tomorrow!! I guess, I'm slow in writing this.
Can't remember if I mentioned that we went to see American Fiction the other day - apologize if I am repeating myself. Good movie.
Today is my SIL's birthday and he is in the hospital. He has ileus - it is a slowing or stoppage of intestional flow (sorry if TMI) - different than a blockage. He things they'll keep him till Sunday or Monday as they want to watch him. I feel so bad. He was in the hospital on her birthday 3 years ago when he was having gall bladder problems while the doctors were debating whether to do surgery - which thankfully they did.
Today is my official anniversary of my BC dx but the 3rd is when I heard the awful news! 18 years. Next month is one year for the MM.
Have a great Friday night and Saturday!
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Hi ladies- quick hello for now as I am running out for some errands shortly. Been some milder weather here in New Mexico this week, but also getting some nice round of moisture off the west coast; rain here in the valley and snow in the mountains. All moisture is good moisture here (except for hail, we don't like that so much).
Had some good doctors apt this week. I am evaluating a new bone health drug with a orthopedic bone health provider I got to see for the first time this week. It is called Evenity, anyone here maybe doing that? I have done Prolia, and then go switched to Reclast which I had a BAD reaction too, so I may go back to Prolia or try the new drug. Some pros and cons to evaluate.
Hope everyone is having a good start to February. Daylight savings in 5 weeks, spring equinox soon to follow!
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Jazzy - According to my endocrinologist Prolia has been approved for 10 years now instead of the original five. I'm sticking with it, but am interested to hear about Evenity for the future.
Teka - I love "phyllis"
Goldie - glad to hear the blood transfusions give you some energy.
NM - focus on "retired"!!! and take some time to get used to doing NOTHING whenever you want. It's not an easy transition but it's important to treat yourself. I did go back to work part time for another 5 years after I retired, but I took two years off in between to acclimatize & do some things I'd always wanted to do.
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Oh and for the drinking comment … I bought two bottle of Mr Stacks schnapps. I quite like the Sour Cherry added to vodka or even bourbon. The Raspberry was way too sweet for my taste.
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Just popping in to complain! My leg was killing me this morning. So much so, I was in tears. My weight, altho too low, was 110 before all this, this morning I weighed 135, that's 25 lbs of water! Tuesday, I was 130. It's a little better tonight, at least I can walk without crying! Wish I could DRINK!
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Oh Goldie, I can’t imagine how uncomfortable that is. I’m so sorry you’re having to deal with so much right now.
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goldie, OMG, the size difference in your legs is astounding. I can't imagine how "tight" and uncomfortable it must feel. I hope you get some relief very soon.
Carol
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