Alligatorob's Diary

[Cate]

I think it's easier to focus on our limitations, rather than on our achievements. You have come such a long way, Rob. You will heal. You'll get your energy back. We just don't bounce back as quickly as we used to.

 

[Llama]

I questioned him about it, and the diuretics cure nothing but the symptoms, so I am not sure why they make sense.

Water retention can be hard on the system so if you can't fix the cause fighting the symptom is sometimes a sensible thing to do. Depending on where it occurs it can lead to bad wound healing, infections, shortness of breath, and decreased heart function. In the short term it's usually not a problem though.

 

[alligatorob]

Another tired day, but I ate well and logged so all is not lost. Got a call from the Drs office this morning asking me to come in for more blood tests and an EKG... Got em done, should know in a few days what it all means. I know the EKG is because I have been complaining of being tired and a bit light headed, but I really don't think its likely I have any heart issues. I suppose it will be good to be sure though. The EKG technician said he saw nothing to worry about, however my pulse rate was low at 52 and my blood pressure low at 102/60. However I have always had low blood pressure and pulse rates, even when I was overweight... Hope to have all this sorted out soon.

I think it's easier to focus on our limitations, rather than on our achievements.

Thanks Cate, that is very true for me. I forget that despite the way I am feeling now the hernia surgery was successful and my gut feels a whole lot better for it. Now I just need to get past this latest thing.

We just don't bounce back as quickly as we used to.

I hate to admit it, but that is true!

Water retention can be hard on the system so if you can't fix the cause fighting the symptom is sometimes a sensible thing to do. Depending on where it occurs it can lead to bad wound healing, infections, shortness of breath, and decreased heart function. In the short term it's usually not a problem though.

Thanks LaMa, I suppose that is true. I have been doing some research online and gaining or losing 5 lbs of water weight would not be a big deal, but 20 lbs is too much...

 

[Llama]

I feel pretty crappy with half as much water weight so I can kind of commiserate.

 

[alligatorob]

Today was a better day, I felt a bit better and got some yardwork in. Mowed the lawn, planted some veggies in the garden, and set up some structure to hold the plants as they grow in our wind. Mowing is a mixed thing, I have a riding lawnmower, but a lot of places it won't go. So I have to start with the old push mower around the edges, that can be hard work. Then the second half, riding on the mower isn't bad. None of the yardwork was real strenuous or aerobic, but it felt good to just be able to do something. I got tired but rested when I had to and kept going. More yardwork planned tomorrow, hope I feel ok with it.

Had to go back and give more blood today, they screwed it up yesterday and ran the wrong tests... So one more day until I know if I have elephantiasis or something... One problem with the process is that if the tests come back good I am not likely to hear, they only seem to contact when they see a problem. Given that I know I don't feel right that wouldn't be what I'd want this time.

I feel pretty crappy with half as much water weight so I can kind of commiserate.

I like to think the water weight isn't effecting me too much, but it is likely related to the feelings of exhaustion...

 

[Llama]

Glad to hear the mowing went well and wasn't TOO tiring. When my parents designed their current garden my gran was still alive and either walking with a walker or in a wheelchair so all narrow bits were made wide enough to easily navigate on wheels. Definitely makes mowing easier as well!

I hope your blood work will come back clear with only some minor thing they'll call you for and can easily fix.

 

[Err2]

Crossing my fingers for you Rob

 

[Emilyrose]

Rob - just catching up on the latest.

I think you are an absolute star from everything I’ve read from you on this forum. You have had a few operations in a relatively short space of time.

Any story you tell here seems to be a nice one. Do you understand yourself why you internalise any struggles you may encounter? I don’t get a sense from you that there is a struggle, yet my heart sinks when you talk about binging.

I mean this in a nice way. I am supporting you always.

 

[alligatorob]

Glad to hear the mowing went well and wasn't TOO tiring. When my parents designed their current garden my gran was still alive and either walking with a walker or in a wheelchair so all narrow bits were made wide enough to easily navigate on wheels. Definitely makes mowing easier as well!

I hope your blood work will come back clear with only some minor thing they'll call you for and can easily fix.

Hey LaMa, I have long been trying to think of aging and mobility as I do things around the house. The vegetable garden is a good example, I just big pots that result in the bottoms of the plants being about knee height, will let me longer tend to things. I am optimistic about the blood work, but there is something wrong, I just got to figure out what. I do know the hernia surgery has fixed a lot of problems, stomach pains I long attributed to gas or digestion are just gone, or mostly gone. My digestion is not fixed, but mostly so, even after giving up the supplements and some of the more extreme things the dietitian put me on...

Crossing my fingers for you Rob

Thanks Err, I need all the crossed fingers I can get, LOL!

Hey Emily, always good to see you here.

Any story you tell here seems to be a nice one. Do you understand yourself why you internalise any struggles you may encounter?

Interesting observation, not something I have ever thought much about. I know I do always struggle to see the bright, positive side of things... maybe that is internalizing struggles, I need to think on it. The binges were strange, not good things of course, but not so bad as I had feared they would be when they struck. As Cate said to me at the time done and dusted, I try not to worry about binges past now, just trying to be vigilant about not doing it again. That can be a struggle for me, but no worse than before.

I mean this in a nice way. I am supporting you always.

I know that, and I really do appreciate your support, you have been a good friend here for a long time now.

 

[alligatorob]

I seemed to have missed the first part of my post. Today was not a bad day, I did a bunch more yard work. Planted 12 Oregon Grape Berries and 3 Hollyhocks. And did a bunch of mulching. A few hours of work moving more slowly and with more rests than my usual, but at least I did it. To be honest I am not sure I am getting any stronger, but am learning what I can and can't do. Some activity and exercise is better than none, even if its not real intense. And maybe it will lead to being able to do more, we'll see. I sure do get frustrated not having my usual energy levels, a lot of times my energy feels lower than it was before I lost weight, but I can do a lot more things with the energy I do have!

Plans for more yardwork tomorrow, and then Monday morning I am going to give the gym a try... Can't hurt.

 

[Llama]

I had to look up Oregon grape berries and hollyhock and just learned that the former are edible (the latter is used for stomach tea here). My parents have them in their garden because the bees love them so much so... I need to try some next time I'm home in the right season. I may have tried one or two as a kid since I enjoyed playing with the pretty berries but I can't say I remember the flavor described.

Some activity and exercise is better than none, even if its not real intense.

Absolutely true. I wonder if you really do have less energy than before losing weight or if you just did less in one go. I can remember how much you struggled on your first bike rides. Speaking of which: biking might be a good way to get some movement in right now without straining your bruised abdomen too much.

 

[alligatorob]

Another decent day, forced myself to do some work around the house, some yardwork, wood chopping, a little handyman stuff, but real activity. Tomorrow I will try the gym, see how that goes. Can't hurt to try.

I had to look up Oregon grape berries and hollyhock and just learned that the former are edible (the latter is used for stomach tea here).

Did not know that about the hollyhocks, and yes the Oregon grape berries are kind of edible, but quite sour. I chose both because they are fairly drought resistant and low maintenance. The Oregon grapes attract a lot of bees and other insects, and are native to Utah, good qualities. You are probably right about the exercise, I just need to get started and not worry too much about what I can do. Just do something...

 

[Cate]

Good to see you feeling like having a go, Rob. I am going to go out & have a hit on the golf course on Wednesday. I don't want to wrap myself up in cotton wool. There's a lot of life to be lived yet. How much longer until your van arrives? It's very exciting!

 

[alligatorob]

Just did 2 hours and 10 minutes at the gym, a lot more than I planned but it felt good so I just kept on going.

Not quite at the pre-surgery level, but a lot closer than I thought I'd be!

 

[Llama]

Glad to hear it felt good and I hope it'll still feel good tomorrow morning!

 

[Err2]

Yay Rob!

 

[Cate]

Well done

 

[Emilyrose]

That's great Rob, sounds like your energy levels are returning to normal.

 

[alligatorob]

A pretty good day, the gym felt good and I ate well. Will try the gym again tomorrow.

I got a call from the doctor's office about my blood tests, the message was they looked fine, but he still wants me to come in and talk about it. So I have an appointment Friday. I am still retaining water and feeling tired, but less tired today.

Glad to hear it felt good and I hope it'll still feel good tomorrow morning!

Ha, yes I suspect I will be at least a little sore.

Yay Rob!

Thanks Err, not your level of exercise dedication, but not bad (for one day anyway)!

Well done

Thanks Cate, it does feel well done right now.

That's great Rob, sounds like your energy levels are returning to normal.

Kind of, but I still feel tired. I just pushed through it, and that seemed to work. Will try again tomorrow.

 

[Llama]

I hate to be that person but I'm going to anyway: maybe go for a walk instead of going to the gym two days in a row after having had surgery and not really exercised for weeks?