My Journey Towards Better Health

[maggiedemi]

That lady was so little and soft-spoken, I was like a tall giant next to her. She gave me a list of landlords in the surrounding towns and paperwork on how to get housing and food stamps. It is welfare to work though. I have to be ready to go to classes and get a job. I told her I'm not ready yet. She asked me about the charcoal pills and if I was in danger, so somebody did make a complaint. I told her that my mom thought she was helping me. She said she will call me on Oct. 10th to see how my primary care doctor visit goes. She said that she was really worried about me when I asked to drive to her office instead.

 

[maggiedemi]

Oh, and she didn't say a word about the house, so hopefully her and I can just communicate on the phone or at her office. The drive was only 45 minutes, so it wasn't too bad.

Dad and I went to an Italian Restaurant for lunch. We almost left because they only had cheese pizza. But the guy explained that you pick what toppings you want on your slice and he puts it back in the oven. It was really good!

We walked around town after, that felt really good, but it was cold! I wore a short sleeve shirt because I've been sweating the past few days, but it figures today was cold!

We went to Price Chopper and we both went straight to the fresh veggies! He got some bagged Spinach and some Onions. I got fresh Asparagus, frozen collard greens, and Ken's Lite Country French dressing. The Lite version has half the fat, so I'm going to try it. I think it has more sugar though.

I got half a Subway sub for dinner in the fridge, just waiting for dinner time.

 

[Furballsmom]

Wow, good for you!!

 

[Talien]

I think it has more sugar though.

That is almost always the case, when they take fat out they add something else to make up for it, otherwise it tastes gross. Kinda like comparing skim milk to whole milk.

 

[maggiedemi]

That is almost always the case, when they take fat out they add something else to make up for it, otherwise it tastes gross. Kinda like comparing skim milk to whole milk.

So which is healthier, more fat, or more sugar? I guess it's a toss up.

 

[susanm9006]

So which is healthier, more fat, or more sugar? I guess it's a toss up.

My opinion is choose more fat over more sugar. Even if you aren’t diabetic like me, many people eat far more carbs, including sugar than they need.

 

[maggiedemi]

My opinion is choose more fat over more sugar.

The Lite version of the dressing has 1 gram more of sugar and 20mg more of salt. But it only has 6 grams of fat, the regular version has 12 grams.

 

[Talien]

So which is healthier, more fat, or more sugar? I guess it's a toss up.

Unless you are genetically prone to gaining weight a little extra fat is not going to hurt you. Then again, if you're genetically prone to gaining weight the sugar will do that too.

Believe it or not your ancestry plays a part in it. Different parts of the world have different diets, and depending on where your ancestors were from will be an indicator of what you should and should not eat a lot of. It's why all these different diets work for some people and not others.

 

[Willowy]

Generally speaking, you should always have some fat with your veggies. There are some vitamins in them that are fat-soluble. So low-fat might be OK if you like the taste, but don't use non-fat salad dressing, and if you're eating veggies alone (and not part of a larger meal) be sure to saute them in a little oil or make a cream sauce or something.

 

[maggiedemi]

I can't catch a break. My stitches are oozing just below where the ER doc stitched me up Friday night. If he had just gone a little lower, it probably would have held. I have to see my surgeon in a few days to take out the non-dissolvable stitches that the ER doc put in, so maybe he will stitch me up.

I don't think it's an emergency because they left me waiting in the ER for 6 hours Friday night with it oozing. I will just put a bandage on it for now.

 

[Furballsmom]

 

[catsknowme]

It must be very uncomfortable for you as you heal Prayers that your body's natural defenses are able to heal you rapidly Hopefully, Maggie and Demi are providing lots of ultrasonic therapy using purrs & kitty warmth.

 

[maggiedemi]

Stitches are still oozing. This was my worst fear, that the stitches wouldn't hold. But my surgeon just laughed at me. I was right. I wonder if my primary care doctor can do stitches? She can't see me until Oct. 10th though.

Anyway, my surgeon has to see me by Monday to take out the undissolvable stitch the ER doc put in. I wonder what he will say. He already said goodbye forever for the hundredth time. It amazes me that he doesn't care about my healing, he just wants me gone to my primary care doctor. Is this normal?

And if I never talk to my surgeon ever again, how will I know that my insides are healing correctly? Can primary care doctors do X-rays or whatever they are called? I'm just so nervous.

 

[mani]

I've had many operations, M maggiedemi , and the surgeon usually does the op and a follow up and that's it. I really can't speak for the US, but what we call our GP (general practitioner) then takes over, or a specialist, but not the surgeon.. they're really just there to do the procedure.
Why is the surgeon saying 'goodbye forever' when he still has to take the stitches out? Does a nurse do that?

 

[maggiedemi]

Why is the surgeon saying 'goodbye forever' when he still has to take the stitches out? Does a nurse do that?

He says "goodbye forever, you don't have to see me again" after every appointment I have with him. But I have to keep going back to him when things happen because my primary care doctor can't see me until October 10th.

 

[mani]

Well it's probably a good thing, considering how concerned you are about the stitches. Good for him to see, too.

 

[maggiedemi]

Well it's probably a good thing, considering how concerned you are about the stitches. Good for him to see, too.

I hate going back to somebody who doesn't want me there though. It gives me major anxiety.

 

[mani]

Honestly, surgeons aren't renowned for their bedside manner. Sometimes I think that's why they're surgeons.. they much prefer dealing with people when they're unconscious! Try to ignore his attitude and just take advantage of his knowledge.

 

[Talien]

Yeah.....surgeons aren't really supposed to see their patients on a regular basis. Your situation is different and there really isn't another option so he doesn't have much of a choice. To be a family doctor or GP a good bedside manner is a requirement, but to be a surgeon all that's required is to be good at performing surgeries. They can be the biggest ahole in the world and it doesn't really matter because they don't spend a whole lot of time talking to patients, and can just put on a friendly face for the initial consult and whatever questions the patient has.

 

[maggiedemi]

Try to ignore his attitude and just take advantage of his knowledge.

I called his office. I have an appointment for 10:30am tomorrow (Friday). I hope he will bring the sides together and stitch it up with dissolvable stitches. I hope he doesn't just look at it really quick and say it looks fine, then leave me with an open wound. I'm so scared. What if he won't do anything? Can I survive with an open wound until I see my primary care doctor on Oct. 10th? Will it ever stop oozing on it's own?