Frustratedearthmother's Journaling Journey

[frustratedearthmother]

@baymule - Good here - except for the mud, lol. Thanks for asking.

It has definitely moved east of us. I was worried about my brother last night with the tornadoes in their area. One of them that touched down was less than 5 miles from his house. Geeze! Made bad memories from Harvey surface, but they're ok.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

This crazy witch Imelda has backed up and hit us again. It’s a big ol’ total mess all over. College sent us home at 12:30 today. Can’t complain about that.

 

[baymule]

My sister is in Conroe and is happy with the rain they got. Her 3 acre yard is too big to water, it was crunchy and brown. She got 5”. The yard is watered, it all soaked in. The swimming pool is full and their pond is almost full.

We have had a very fine mist. The dust is settled and that’s about it. But it has cooled off tremendously and I’m happy about that! Canning offal today for the dogs, tomorrow we’ll go work outside!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I'm shocked that she didn't get more than that. And glad for her sake - isn't she the one who got hit so hard in Harvey?

We had 10 inches already from Tuesday afternoon until Wed morning. We got 5 inches in 5 hours this afternoon. I'm over it....

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Took a comp day today. Need to use up some of that time I've accrued. Yay! But, it's a terrible day to be outside. So, I'm not. I did the obligatory feed/hay toss this morning and came back inside to do some of that dreaded housework...argh. Laundry isn't too bad for an inside chore - doesn't take too much hands-on. At least not until it comes outta the dryer and needs to be folded. Some of that is done - but I'm not putting it away. DH can do that - his clothes. Got a new set of sheets the other day so they got their pre-use wash and will be put on the bed the next time I go upstairs. Floors needed a good sweeping - that's done. Dishwasher unloaded. Need to start thinking about dinner. Might need to go see what's in the freezer - or wait to see what DH brings home. We weren't buying groceries for the month of September - and we've pretty well stuck to it - until today. We're going to DS's for 'game day' Sunday and I need to bring some goodies. Of course, we have no 'goodie' ingredients - hence the grocery shopping trip. I'm sure he'll accidentally pick up things that aren't on the list....he just can't help himself.

He saw his cardiologist this morning and, again, the doc suggested that DH have a gastric sleeve procedure. He's suggested it before but DH has never wanted it. Besides - he's doesn't really meet the criteria. He's not heavy enough. But, his doc seems to think he would qualify with all his co-morbidities. I think it might be time to seriously consider it. Another surgery? Why am I not surprised?

No rain so far today - yay! But, the humidity is absolutely oppressive...

 

[baymule]

Yeah, my sister got 7’ of water in her house from hurricane Harvey. They were rescued from their second story in the middle of the night.

You got 10” I barely got a quarter inch of rain. Not fair—to either one of us!

My husband buys junk st the store too. My grocery bill would be smaller if he didn’t go with me. A gastric sleeve? Hasn’t your poor husband had enough? I hope he is enjoying retirement, he has certainly earned it.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

You got 10” I barely got a quarter inch of rain. Not fair—to either one of us!

Before it was all over we got 15 inches.... it backed up and hit us again.

All the research on gastric sleeve indicates that it can actually cure diabetes for a large percentage of folks. You go in diabetic and come out - not diabetic. DH is over 6 ft...around 6'2" and weighs around 260. He's so broad shouldered that even at that weight he doesn't scream obese. Doc said he could expect to be significantly below 200 lbs within a year of surgery. Plus it would help all his other issues...sleep apnea, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol - along with helping with other skeletal and muscular issues. Carrying all that extra weight isn't easy on an old body. This surgery - more than any others - would be something that totally changes our lives. We love food! Who doesn't? It's an emotional tug of war for him. Food is comfort. Food is love. But, in reality - it should be nothing more than fuel. I told him that if/when he does it that I will try to mirror what he eats so he won't feel so left out. I would love to lose at least 30 lbs.
The biggest concern will be if insurance will cover it. He's not heavy enough to meet the BMI recommended by most to qualify for the surgery. His cardiologist says that he thinks with all his other issues that insurance would cover it. If not - for about 10K you can self pay. Might consider that if it would truly "fix" the majority of his issues.

DH wants to travel. I've told him that I won't go out of the country with him in his current health. He can't walk 1/4 mile without being winded. Most of that is because he would prefer to sit on his butt and Twitter, lol. He had planned to start walking on the treadmill every day when he retired...but hasn't happened yet. My criteria for leaving the country with him would be that he be able to walk several miles without a struggle. With this surgery that would likely happen and as of now - seems to be his motivation.

 

[Mini Horses]

WOW -- cure his diabetes??!!

 

[baymule]

That almost sounds like a miracle cure!

 

[frustratedearthmother]

It absolutely IS a miracle for those that respond positively to that surgery. A high percentage of diabetics do go into remission after surgery. But, there is not a 100% guarantee. DH has been diabetic for over 20 years and his pancreas doesn't make insulin anymore. That's a bigger challenge to overcome. But we have been told, and have read the studies, that with a major weight loss and fat reduction that the pancreas can start working again in a high majority of folks.

Sleeve Gastrectomy
Sleeve Gastrectomy (Vertical gastrectomy) is an operation that removes a large portion of the stomach and, in doing so, causes weight-loss. The remaining stomach is narrow and provides a much smaller reservoir for food.

Sleeve gastrectomy also appears to have some weight-loss independent effects on glucose metabolism and also causes some changes in gut hormones that favor improvement in diabetes. Diabetes remission rates after sleeve gastrectomy are also very high (more than 60%) and, in some studies, similar to results seen after gastric bypass.

DH's cardiologist is really pushing for him to have this surgery. Even if he doesn't get a 'cure' his diabetes will improve simply from the weight loss and the reduction of food intake. Not to mention all the other improvements.