I learned a lesson during the holidays that I hope I'll remember for the future.
It's quite simple, really.
Bad moods happen.
To everyone.
You're not going to be sunshine and happiness every day.
It's an unrealistic expectation.
The key is to not beat yourself up when you say or do or act in a manner that isn't pleasing.
Say you're sorry and move on.
Life is too short to wallow in guilt.
Perfection is not achievable.
Forgive yourself and move on.
librarianintx
Monday, December 30, 2019
Survivor Finale - My Thoughts
The finale was weeks ago, so who cares, anymore, right?
Well, that's how I felt about the finale.
Usually I'm a sucker for redheads, but Tommy didn't do a thing for me. I wasn't rooting for Noura or Dean either. Kellee was my favorite of the season, until she got voted out with TWO idols in her pocket. So honestly, I didn't care who won.
For me, the best moment of the last night was at the reunion show when both Elaine and Janet were gifted with $100,000 by singer and Survivor super fan Sia. I would have been very happy to see either one of them win the million, but at least they were recognized for the impact they had on the season.
CBS and Survivor really mucked up (you know there's another word I want to use) when it came to Dan's sexual harassment. He should have been gone the moment Kellee made her first allegation. Period. What happened isn't going to cause me to stop watching the show. But they need to do better. Way better.
librarianintx
Well, that's how I felt about the finale.
Usually I'm a sucker for redheads, but Tommy didn't do a thing for me. I wasn't rooting for Noura or Dean either. Kellee was my favorite of the season, until she got voted out with TWO idols in her pocket. So honestly, I didn't care who won.
For me, the best moment of the last night was at the reunion show when both Elaine and Janet were gifted with $100,000 by singer and Survivor super fan Sia. I would have been very happy to see either one of them win the million, but at least they were recognized for the impact they had on the season.
CBS and Survivor really mucked up (you know there's another word I want to use) when it came to Dan's sexual harassment. He should have been gone the moment Kellee made her first allegation. Period. What happened isn't going to cause me to stop watching the show. But they need to do better. Way better.
librarianintx
Friday, December 06, 2019
Dehydration
Building on my previous post -
I believe I have been chronically dehydrated for several years, due to a number of factors:
1) low weight
2) small bladder
3) difficulty swallowing
4) transportation issues (long commutes)
I have had many uncomfortable para-transit rides where I had to pee. When your pickup window opens at 2:30, but you don't get in the vehicle until 3, and then you have to ride until 4 - 4:30 - it can make fluid intake difficult.
Chronic dehydration can cause skin and dental problems, fatigue, memory issues, kidney stones, and make blood draws and IV's a long and painful process. It can also, apparently, contribute to high levels of potassium and other issues with blood work.
The main way I am combating chronic dehydration is to make a conscious effort to drink more. Meaning, I'm not sipping on liquids throughout the day. If I do that, I won't achieve my quota. I am pouring 8 - 12 ounces at a time and trying to drink that amount in a relatively short amount of time. My goal is at least 40 ounces a day, which is about half my weight. I'm also using a straw, which is easier for me with my swallowing issues.
The other key component is to stop drinking an hour before I have to ride in a vehicle. That gives my bladder time to empty twice before I leave. Sometimes I get busy at work and forget to stop drinking at the allotted time. Sometimes I get busy at home and forget to drink. But I am working on those issues.
My schedule is working pretty well. Most days I get at least close to 40 ounces, and occasionally I even surpass that. My blood draws have been easy lately, and I feel like my fatigue is less. My potassium level has decreased.
I'm pleased with my progress so far. But I have to remain vigilant, so I don't fall back into old habits.
librarianintx
I believe I have been chronically dehydrated for several years, due to a number of factors:
1) low weight
2) small bladder
3) difficulty swallowing
4) transportation issues (long commutes)
I have had many uncomfortable para-transit rides where I had to pee. When your pickup window opens at 2:30, but you don't get in the vehicle until 3, and then you have to ride until 4 - 4:30 - it can make fluid intake difficult.
Chronic dehydration can cause skin and dental problems, fatigue, memory issues, kidney stones, and make blood draws and IV's a long and painful process. It can also, apparently, contribute to high levels of potassium and other issues with blood work.
The main way I am combating chronic dehydration is to make a conscious effort to drink more. Meaning, I'm not sipping on liquids throughout the day. If I do that, I won't achieve my quota. I am pouring 8 - 12 ounces at a time and trying to drink that amount in a relatively short amount of time. My goal is at least 40 ounces a day, which is about half my weight. I'm also using a straw, which is easier for me with my swallowing issues.
The other key component is to stop drinking an hour before I have to ride in a vehicle. That gives my bladder time to empty twice before I leave. Sometimes I get busy at work and forget to stop drinking at the allotted time. Sometimes I get busy at home and forget to drink. But I am working on those issues.
My schedule is working pretty well. Most days I get at least close to 40 ounces, and occasionally I even surpass that. My blood draws have been easy lately, and I feel like my fatigue is less. My potassium level has decreased.
I'm pleased with my progress so far. But I have to remain vigilant, so I don't fall back into old habits.
librarianintx
Special Diet
I have never had to be on a diet. I feel fortunate to be at my age and have never had restrictions on what I can eat. I've been underweight most of my life, and a picky eater, so my Jewish mother was always intent on me eating anything. Plus there have been times in my life when I couldn't chew and swallow properly. So as an adult eating has been a highly pleasant experience, when I wasn't afraid of choking, because I can eat whatever I want whenever I want. Breakfast for dinner, fine. Dessert before dinner, hey, why not. A big meal at 9 pm - not great for my digestion, but I do it anyway sometimes.
For the past few months I have been dealing with high potassium levels from an unknown cause. Both high and low potassium can affect your heart and become dangerous, so the doctor has had me on a low potassium diet. It is amazing how many foods are high in potassium. Most of what I used to consume has been banned from my daily routine - beans, tomato products, bananas, avocados, potatoes, yogurt, milk, chocolate, etc. Other foods are not super high in potassium but can become high if you eat them in larger quantities, like mushrooms and peanut butter, two more foods I used to eat frequently. I have had to research and read labels and change how I eat, and I am not at all accustomed to that. It has been a frustrating experience. I want to eat healthy, but it's hard now, because so many healthy foods are high in potassium.
Mashed potatoes and sweet potato casserole are two of my favorite foods at Thanksgiving, and it was difficult to say no to them. Could a bite or two of each really hurt me? My potassium level was out of range again at the time, so the answer is a bite or two could have become a problem, so I did not eat any. But I got through it by being grateful about what I could eat. I was able to eat green bean casserole, dressing, turkey, and cranberry sauce, and they were all delicious. I thoroughly enjoyed the meal, plus two days of leftovers. I didn't spend time lamenting what I couldn't have.
The good news is that my most recent blood work was very good. My potassium level is down to 4.2 - well within normal range. I have been increasing my fluid intake, thinking that chronic dehydration may be at least part of the equation. I have at least one more test to do. Then we'll see what the doctor decides. I hope I can eventually add some of those foods back into my diet. But most of all I'm hopeful that I don't have an autoimmune disease or something even more serious than that.
Being on a special diet isn't fun, but it is necessary sometimes. The key is how you approach it emotionally and mentally. Being grateful for what you can eat, and knowing you are doing what you have to do to be safe, makes being on a diet much easier to deal with.
librarianintx
For the past few months I have been dealing with high potassium levels from an unknown cause. Both high and low potassium can affect your heart and become dangerous, so the doctor has had me on a low potassium diet. It is amazing how many foods are high in potassium. Most of what I used to consume has been banned from my daily routine - beans, tomato products, bananas, avocados, potatoes, yogurt, milk, chocolate, etc. Other foods are not super high in potassium but can become high if you eat them in larger quantities, like mushrooms and peanut butter, two more foods I used to eat frequently. I have had to research and read labels and change how I eat, and I am not at all accustomed to that. It has been a frustrating experience. I want to eat healthy, but it's hard now, because so many healthy foods are high in potassium.
Mashed potatoes and sweet potato casserole are two of my favorite foods at Thanksgiving, and it was difficult to say no to them. Could a bite or two of each really hurt me? My potassium level was out of range again at the time, so the answer is a bite or two could have become a problem, so I did not eat any. But I got through it by being grateful about what I could eat. I was able to eat green bean casserole, dressing, turkey, and cranberry sauce, and they were all delicious. I thoroughly enjoyed the meal, plus two days of leftovers. I didn't spend time lamenting what I couldn't have.
The good news is that my most recent blood work was very good. My potassium level is down to 4.2 - well within normal range. I have been increasing my fluid intake, thinking that chronic dehydration may be at least part of the equation. I have at least one more test to do. Then we'll see what the doctor decides. I hope I can eventually add some of those foods back into my diet. But most of all I'm hopeful that I don't have an autoimmune disease or something even more serious than that.
Being on a special diet isn't fun, but it is necessary sometimes. The key is how you approach it emotionally and mentally. Being grateful for what you can eat, and knowing you are doing what you have to do to be safe, makes being on a diet much easier to deal with.
librarianintx
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)