I have Lynch Syndrome -- and celiac disease. But other than the things that would kill me (lol), I think moderation in everything except simple sugars is good. Those I avoid.

I hope you feel better! Food is indeed medicine!

Prayers for a complete resolution of all you health issues, and a healthy and memorable new year. You've been through quite enough!

I'm sorry to hear you are struggling...
But you are one tough cookie!
You can and you will get through this, but for the moment, it's no fun.
I'll keep my fingers crossed and I sure hope your medication can be altered.
But for now you need it.
I won't say your health is more important than your weight right now, because you know that.
Darn... I said it...
But knowing that does not make it any easier...

So, here's a project for 2019: first get your health back.
Then go for it and hit that goal weight.
You know you can do that.

I'l send good vibes your way for your hospital stay.
And I wish you a very good and healthy 2019!

Thanks for your message dear Christie!! I wish you also the best for 2019!!

For sure the weight gain is stressful, but facing the truth was urgent, especially during this time of the year, with so many parties and good food around. It does keep me grounded, even if knowing is painful, it's almost a one year set back...I don't think twice before saying "no thank you" to any treats...indeed I'm stressed on so many levels it's not helping to add the extra weight on the list since I didn't even reach my goal yet...anyway...I hope the docs will help in January!

I can tell you the diary would be the hardest part for me as well. I have milk every day and cheese almost every day. But my day starts with a big cappuccino. I could do the rest but milk and cheese....gah. Too hard. BUT...when it is something that can help your health it would be worth the sacrifice. Good luck.

Hang in there Sandra. Just try to relax as I am sure the added stress of everything is not helping at all. I know it sucks to gain but unfortunately some medications do that to us. We want you to get healthy so that you can get back on track. Big hugs. Wishing you a Happy New Year and will keep you in my thoughts and prayers for healthy healing.

Editing here : I was reading one paper published by the author, and to my horror, I was reading he actually advise to eat raw MEAT!!! argh!!! not for me!!! will drive around that point...

So far I decreased a lot dairy and gluten and one of my joint is less painful...but may be it's just a coincidence and the others things I'm' doing...who knows...

Originally Posted by Ann2

Merry Christmas, Sandra. You're all set!

Ann

Merry Christmas Ann!!

yes, the kids are home, chocolate too!!all set!!

Originally Posted by DutchSleeve

You still have a couple of days before Christmas...
I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!
I hope you feel well enough to celebrate these days with your family.

Not much Christmas celebrations in here in Morocco.
I do have a small Xmas decoration in our RV, so still a little Christmas-ish.
Happy Holidays to you!

Thank you Simonne!

In need of good waves here since one box was stuck for days, was finally supposed to get home yesterday, and got stuck again. So now it's Monday or it will be delivered too late "after Christmas"
I didn't get many presents this year, so half is in there...

My breezing is getting better for sure, seems the pneumologist gave me the right medications. And my sharp pain (hernia area) is also decreasing since I'm coughing less than last week.

But I can see I'm getting bigger by the minute with all that cortisone in pills and spray, and Friday night woke up during the(short) night with sharp pain in my left foot (big toe area), it's not going away and hurt a lot when I stand, seems it's arthritis (or too much pressure from weight gain?). Really swollen and painful and I didn't even hurt myself so...Again a new thing! Argh!!!

Of course I couldn't see a doctor on Saturday, all clinics are closed. They will reopen on the 26...no point in going to the ER during that time of the year it's full with "all the crazies" those poor doctors have already a full plate.

So my helpers (kids and hubby) will be my sous-chef in the kitchen, we should be able to have a low key dinner without too much standing.

For 15 years we used to travel during that time of the year, I would rather be on a sunny beach...who knows...may be next year!
Our last Xmas overseas was in Osaka (2016), I did bring little presents and a mini tree (like 5 inches) in my tiny suitcase, Xmas was nowhere in the streets....

But today at home there's a few lights in the entrance (one of the kid got it), but not even a tree or stockings in the living room, I'm too tired to take care of those. I told the kids they could go get the boxes in the suitcase closet (third floor, no way I can do it) but so far no one seem to care!

Enjoy your Moroccan Xmas celebration!! XX

Merry Christmas, Sandra. You're all set!

Ann

You still have a couple of days before Christmas...
I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!
I hope you feel well enough to celebrate these days with your family.

Not much Christmas celebrations in here in Morocco.
I do have a small Xmas decoration in our RV, so still a little Christmas-ish.
Happy Holidays to you!

Originally Posted by KiwiGal

Thank goodness you finally have a medical team on your side who can help and support you.
Please don't worry about what number is on the scale - in fact don't even get on the scale!
The most important thing is to concentrate on getting well and feeling better. I'm sure everything else will fall back into place one that happens.
I wish you all the best x

Thank you for your message!!
I'm so glad I found a team!!

But I was reading an article about anemia in a medical journal this week end, what happened since August could have been prevented if I had better doctors. I just got all the complications they described...

Basically when anemia is really important, it is especially bad for people who have my kind of medical history (asthma, past pneumonia, allergies etc) it's likely to target the lungs, give infections etc and make worth everything.

I'm just surprised, reading that, to see that my doctors didn't ask me to stay home after my first issue, because keeping on working could only make things worth.
And the hematologist should have requested several iron infusions, just one was not enough.

Anyway, we can't change the past, but for sure I will have my ferritin level tested often from now on..

Thank goodness you finally have a medical team on your side who can help and support you.
Please don't worry about what number is on the scale - in fact don't even get on the scale!
The most important thing is to concentrate on getting well and feeling better. I'm sure everything else will fall back into place one that happens.
I wish you all the best x

Originally Posted by Christie13

Oh Sandra that really sucks. I hope your next doctor is better. Nothing worse than a shitty doctor. I had that issue before with my doctor at the base in Japan. The blood pressure meds she put me on gave me a constant dry cough and weren't even lowering my blood pressure. When I asked for something else she refused and wanted me to take a second type of medication. So I got pissed and stopped taking them. I just didn't go to the doctor anymore. Now my new doctor here is absolutely wonderful. He listens to everything and I am so thankful for him. (Turns out that I was allergic to the first type of medications!!)
Please let us know how it goes with the new doctor. I will be sending out positive thoughts for you. Big hugs Sandra!

Thank you dear Christie!

So far I think my best doctor was the one in Taiwan but this new one seems ok but I will know more during next consult. But the team looks great for sure!

I did notice many times that doctors don't know much about medication or its side effects. That's why I always recheck with my pharmacist, the one in France knows me well and she agreed with me last time that my GP kept on prescribing the wrong medication. She actually switched it and we didn't even tell him. He has no clue..

I'm really glad that you have a great doctor. I don't think I have found the equivalent of my TW doctor so far...miss him a lot...he was so nice...

Oh Sandra that really sucks. I hope your next doctor is better. Nothing worse than a shitty doctor. I had that issue before with my doctor at the base in Japan. The blood pressure meds she put me on gave me a constant dry cough and weren't even lowering my blood pressure. When I asked for something else she refused and wanted me to take a second type of medication. So I got pissed and stopped taking them. I just didn't go to the doctor anymore. Now my new doctor here is absolutely wonderful. He listens to everything and I am so thankful for him. (Turns out that I was allergic to the first type of medications!!)
Please let us know how it goes with the new doctor. I will be sending out positive thoughts for you. Big hugs Sandra!

Originally Posted by DutchSleeve

I'll keep my fingers crossed!
Good luck today!

It actually makes me really mad, that they don't seem to understand that a stomach should NOT be in the chest cavity, I mean, really?
Come on, isn't that basic knowledge?
Like: all organs should be where they belong?
It really p*sses me off, sorry for the rant...

Thank you Simonne for your message!! and your support!!and the rant!! (you read my mind!!)
It's a good version of how I feel after all those issues, week after week....I'm so so mad!! and my husband is so upset too...it's like I'm going to all hospitals in Paris...fishing for the unknown...and coming back home with nothing but pain and disappointment..

At least yesterday was a good day, I think I found my surgeon/team/hospital!!
It's not going to be fast treatment unfortunately but since my lungs need to heal anyway, we are stuck...I will write a new blog this morning with more details.
Big hugs!

I'll keep my fingers crossed!
Good luck today!

It actually makes me really mad, that they don't seem to understand that a stomach should NOT be in the chest cavity, I mean, really?
Come on, isn't that basic knowledge?
Like: all organs should be where they belong?
It really p*sses me off, sorry for the rant...

Originally Posted by DutchSleeve

This really is a neverending story, it seems.
I am so sorry you have to go through all of this medical abuse.
But I know, I had the "pleasure" to visit a doctor in France on one of our trips.
Appointment wise, I am not sure that it is better in the Netherlands, I know it is defenitely beter in my hospital in Spain, but that is a private clinic.
I sure hope things will speed up for you, this is so not good...
Hugs and kisses!

And yes, I also understand the gilets jaune...

Thank you Simonne!!

I had better care in Taiwan, no kidding! it was a public hospital, and to see the knee specialist the waiting was one month, but at least for exams everything was fast,usually the same day and done at the same place (and the staff was always smiling and lovely, even if my Chinese was bad). I actually emailed my surgeon he replied like two hours later with helpful suggestions. And when I had issues, I was always able to see him the same day or the following day...I miss having a good doctor..

I've been in a medical maze since August and it's been really long, I know I'm losing patience, so far my gyn surgeon is the only good doctor I found.. I made an appointment with a psychiatrist specialized in obesity, because I think his team could actually help on the long run, it's the only hospital (semi private) which has a complete team devoted to obesity and apparently it's the best in Paris. So we'll see how it goes tomorrow, but I've got a plan C if it's not right surgeon again...

Originally Posted by sraebaer

Sorry you are going through this. We complain in the states, but we do get to see doctors right away for any issues. Hubby had skin cancer on his head, and our friend from Canada said that would have been at least a 2 month wait to see a doctor in his country. Seriously? Someone could die in that time! (Hubby is fine, thank God.)

Good luck working everything out. It is good they want to do testing before operating to be safe!

Thank you! Luck is much needed!

Canada has more waiting time that we do, but what really puzzle me since August is how no specialist can just send me to his colleagues in the same hospital. Before that's how it was done.
Now it's just like each department is separate, nobody working with other specialists from the same hospital! how weird!

So to be able to get somewhere I'm "running"(limping actually) all over Paris and do most of my exams in private, but for safety issue, I need to have surgery in the public hospitals, so at some point I still have to deal with the waiting.

Glass half full : people with no money get treated no matter what, they just wait longer. And when you are underprivileged you can actually get implants "for free" when even with my good premium I would pay probably at least 1000€ for just one tooth...
Anyway...at least today I got some answers, my lungs are damaged but that should be better with treatment, in three months....the surgeons might decide to postpone all surgeries in the mean time...

This really is a neverending story, it seems.
I am so sorry you have to go through all of this medical abuse.
But I know, I had the "pleasure" to visit a doctor in France on one of our trips.
Appointment wise, I am not sure that it is better in the Netherlands, I know it is defenitely beter in my hospital in Spain, but that is a private clinic.
I sure hope things will speed up for you, this is so not good...
Hugs and kisses!

And yes, I also understand the gilets jaune...

Sorry you are going through this. We complain in the states, but we do get to see doctors right away for any issues. Hubby had skin cancer on his head, and our friend from Canada said that would have been at least a 2 month wait to see a doctor in his country. Seriously? Someone could die in that time! (Hubby is fine, thank God.)

Good luck working everything out. It is good they want to do testing before operating to be safe!

Oh Sandra that is so much to go through all at once. Wishing you some much needed relief from all your ailments. Sending you positive vibes and hugs.

Originally Posted by Stacey03

I do hope you get better soon Sandra, what a worrying time, best wishes

Thank you Stacey!! I hope too!! and will do my best to get help on all fronts. I'm glad I went to an other hospital...but I'm so exhausted!! can't wait to get some rest/good news!

Originally Posted by KiwiGal

Goodness what a lot for you to have to contend with. Thankfully there were some snippets of good news in amongst all of that.
What the scales say are the least of your worries at the moment so it's a good decision of yours to stay away from them.
I glad that you have an understanding boss! At least you don't have to worry about work too much!
Please concentrate on getting yourself better.
Sending you lot of good wishes.

Thank you for your wishes my friend!!
Seems it's coming from everywhere, my body is at war.

But yes, I don't have to worry about work. Which is big. They can't fire me and I will get paid for a while, no matter what. I know I'm lucky, I have friends in other countries who can't stop working even when sick, and if/when they do, they are jobless!! the only consequence would be a smaller bonus...don't care.

I'm trying my best to find solutions and answers, I'm lucky that I have been interested in nutrition and natural therapy (naturopathy, homeopathy etc) my entire life since unfortunately, conventional medication did save my life several times, but it almost killed me several times too. I'm even thinking about taking a leave from work to get massages and ayurvedic therapy...we'll see what the cat brings on Tuesday! have a good weekend!

I do hope you get better soon Sandra, what a worrying time, best wishes

Goodness what a lot for you to have to contend with. Thankfully there were some snippets of good news in amongst all of that.
What the scales say are the least of your worries at the moment so it's a good decision of yours to stay away from them.
I glad that you have an understanding boss! At least you don't have to worry about work too much!
Please concentrate on getting yourself better.
Sending you lot of good wishes.

Thank you for your message dear Simonne! and the good vibes!! need those badly lately!!

I did get many sick leaves at work since July but tried to mix it with vacation days, and go at the office as soon as I feel better. But I was exhausted last week and I only went four days, took a day off on Wednesday I was so tired.

We are lucky in France (for now) to be protected and still paid for up to three months of sick leave per year (with medical certificate) and up to three years (for cancers or deadly diseases) but in that case there is a special file to do, go in front of a commission etc. So I haven't reached those 3 months yet, but it's piling up..and with the surgeries, I could reach it fast. After you get only 50% of your salary for one year (actually my private insurance will cover the difference, but not all people have those kind of insurances)...my work also offer a special way, when you get surgeries and complications to apply for "special sick leave" that a commission can give you for 3 or 6 months, even if you don't have cancer but just when you are not able to work for medical reasons. My HR actually told me I could do that and would be approved quickly. Being sick has many consequences, the financial aspect is big...I will probably lose my "bonuses"...oh well...

But I never missed that much work except when I was pregnant and sick more than a decade ago and feel like I'm ghosting my department right now!

My boss is really nice and knows I'm doing my best, especially because with the long commute it could get things worth. I know a few colleagues have been "making faces"..I don't really care, I'm not going to stay there for ever anyway. Plus I have a few colleagues who know why I'm not at work and also worry.

I can't wait for Tuesday!! My GP even called me today because he was worried (French doctors usually don't do that), he had a family emergency and was away today, but was worried about my scan results.

I was reading a study about the hernia and it seems it could also be a reason for anemia.
I will have my list of questions ready for my afternoon at the hospital on Tuesday!!
I will let you know how it goes! I hope they can repair everything soon...
XOXO

Originally Posted by DutchSleeve

I am so glad to hear from you!
I was asking about you in your last topic...
But OMG, what a turmoil...
I am so glad they finally found something to help you.
And no cancer, congratulations!
Don't worry about your weight now, please get better first.
I'm anxious to hear what they are going to say next tuesday.
Just take care now, can't you call in sick at work?
You have enough to deal with right now I think...
Sending positive vibes your way.
xoxoxox

I am so glad to hear from you!
I was asking about you in your last topic...
But OMG, what a turmoil...
I am so glad they finally found something to help you.
And no cancer, congratulations!
Don't worry about your weight now, please get better first.
I'm anxious to hear what they are going to say next tuesday.
Just take care now, can't you call in sick at work?
You have enough to deal with right now I think...
Sending positive vibes your way.
xoxoxox

Hi Sandra, how are you doing?

Keep us posted after your appointment on the 19th. We are here for you whatever needs to be done. I think for me, and maybe this is because my mother died from cancer, I would error on the side of caution and do the hysterectomy. I say this out of love!! I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. You are a truly wonderful person Sandra and I am glad I met you.