hump day

Another rainy morning. I saw the city mowing truck go around the woman's yard downhill on the corner. Her house looks abandoned and so sad, it's surprising that someone actually lives there. She is much more of a ghost than I am.

I spent most of the day with Karen, browsing at Friendly Center, where I found a new pair of lounge pants. The sweat pants I have now, which I bought years ago while shopping with her, are kinda thread-bare now and I have been wanting to find some new pants to replace them for a while. We had lunch at Harpers.

What I ate today:
2 cup coffee
Rosuvastatin 5mg
Letrozole 2.5mg
1 oatmeal cookies
1 Orgain 16g chocolate protein shake
grilled asparagus
spinach quesadilla
fried chicken fingers
Ocuvite multivitamin
one 600mg Calcium + D3 10 mcg (400 IU) supplement

10:00AM weight: 108.9 lbs

Lethargic

It's another day of tired sleepiness. I blame the medications I'm on now for my lack of energy and the hot flashes I'm having today. My back / sciatica is especially painful today as well. Could that be the humidity (85%) and barometric pressure (30.10 in)?
I gave up and took an Advil Dual Action at 1:20 pm because I was tired of my side hurting so much today. I can ignore most things.

What I ate today: 2 cups coffee
Rosuvastatin 5mg
Letrozole 2.5mg
Ocuvite Adult 50+ multivitamin
one 600mg Calcium + D3 10 mcg (400 IU) supplement
crackers and curry chicken salad
1 oatmeal cookie
1 Advil Dual Action tablet (Acetaminiophen 250mg + Ibuprofen 125mg)
love Butternut Squash Ravioli

12:30PM weight: 108.0 lbs

Monday

I started the day going to the post office to send a sample to a new Duke study. This time, it was a tube of spit for genetics research.
Then I went to an Atrium medical center for blood labs, which the telemed doctor had ordered in good faith when she renewed my prescription for Rosuvastatin.
It's been raining off and on most of the day. We had a power outage for about 45 minutes in the afternoon, during which I decided to go to Publix to kill time rather than sit in a dark house.

What I ate today:
2 cups coffee with whole milk
Rosuvastatin 5mg
Letrozole 2.5mg
chicken salad and triscuit crackers
1 slice pound cake
Ocuvite Adult 50+ multivitamin
two 600mg Calcium + D3 10 mcg (400 IU) supplement
1 banana
1 Orgain 16g protein shake
1 boiled egg

10:00AM weight: 108.5 lbs

tired

I haven't been anything beyond lethargic today. Probably a result of the letrozole I'm on now. Waiting for my body to adust to that. I've been sleepy all day and haven't wanted to do much more than lay on the couch.

I did make it out to Home Depot to buy a new broom for John to use for yard work. I also went to Publix to pick up some more protein shakes so that I would have some ready when I get up in the morning.

MonsterMustDie and I watched the final Sandman episode, the stand-alone story of Death The High Cost of Living. We went for a very brief walk afterwards and I ended the night with a long phone conversation with Cindi. She phoned while we were out walking to catch up and find out how I was now. We talked mostly about all of my medical appointments and the ongoing treatment plans for me. She told me about taking care of her mother, who is in managed care now. We talked about the high cost of medical care and the arthritis she now has in her hands and her own concerns about the worst possible side effects of the medication she is finally starting to take for her arthritis. She put it off as long as she could because of fear of those effects, that includeds kidney failure, but she said the pain was bad enough to try it now. I said her doctors should keep her very closely monitored for whatever might or might not happen with her medications. It was a good talk.

What I ate today:
2 cups coffee with whole milk
Rosuvastatin 5mg
Letrozole 2.5mg
Ocuvite multivitamin
two 600mg Calcium + D3 10 mcg (400 IU) supplement
Orgain 30g protein shake
1/2 sweet pepper and goat cheese flat bread
Triscuit crackers with curry chicken salad
1 cup ginger lemonade

Fit app:
20 Heart Points
1.81 miles

current weight: 108.7 lbs

Farmers Market morning

MonsterMustDie and I went to the Greensboro Curb Farmers Market this morning. It was the first time I've been there in quite a while.
We stopped at Deep Roots Market afterwards so I could get some breakfast at the hot bar there.
When we got home, I decided I'd like one more cup of coffee and there was hardly a cup left in the carafe. I heated that up 30 seconds and topped it off with one of the cans of Columbe coffee that Sandy left here for me when she was taking care of me. It had a surprising about of foam at the top, designed to have a lush head of cream on top when poured from the can. Combining it with the hot, unsweetened coffee was perfect.

What I ate today:
2 cups coffee
Rosuvastatin 5mg
Letrozole 2.5mg
Ocuvite multivitamin
600mg Calcium + D3 10 mcg (400 IU) supplement
breakfast at Deep Roots Market: Grits, 3 vegan sausage links, 1 spinach mini quiche
1 Orgain 30g protein shake

Fit app:
34 Heart Points
3.03 miles

10:00AM weight: 108.9 lbs

Rainy Friday

On my own this morning. MonsterMustDie is at work and Friday is typically the day that Karen and Bob have lunch with his former co-workers from Volvo.

Yesterday was spent going to the dentist to get approval and a faxed signed document from him for my Zometa treatments to start in the future. The plan from Duke is for me to have an infusion treatment every six months for a minimum of three years. I got approval. They said my dental health is good. Afterwards, I was a bit achy (maybe the weather?) and my eyes burned (something in the air at the dentist office). I still had a bit of grit in my mouth from the visit when I woke up this morning despite rinsing my mouth out several times after getting home. Karen and Bob invited us to join them for dinner but I really did not feel up to it. My belly didn't feel quite right either, so I just spent the rest of the day napping and pacing around the house. The weather felt too cool and wet to do any walking outside.

I feel a lot better this morning. It's still raining and drizzly outside.

What I ate today:
2 cup coffee
Rosuvastatin 5mg
Letrozole 2.5mg
Ocuvite multivitamin
two 600mg Calcium + D3 10 mcg (400 IU) supplement
2 oatmeal cookies
6 vegetable steamed dumplings with a splash of soy sauce
2 Orgain 30g protein shakes
1 yellowtail + avocado sushi roll
1 fresh spring roll
I also took one Aleve today for the pain in my hip. That is something I rarely do now.

Fit app: afternoon walk
37 Heart Points
3.23 miles

10:00AM weight: 106.0 lbs

I got a call from the Dietitian at Duke today at 10:30AM. I really don't know what to say to her about my continued weight loss. She did not have any new insights about what I could do to improve things, other than to try a couple of new supplements. I sincerely hope my body uprights itself soon. She said, generally, that I need to be at 15% more weight to what I am now. I should be at 115 or 120 lbs.
More protein shakes.

TeleMed with Atrium today

I had a pleasant conversation with a doctor at Atrium, who said she would immediately refill my Rosuvastatin prescription and told me she would put in an order for blood labs. I can just walk into any Atrium clinic on the list she sent me on any day in the future to have the necessary blood labs to check my cholesterol. She was also going to put in a standard order for Hep-C screening and a Thyroid test because of my age.
She also assured me that the possible side effect of Zometa causing osteonecrosis is actually very rare. She said the benefits of Zometa greatly outweigh the risks.

What I ate today:
1 cup coffee
Rosuvastatin 5mg
Letrozole 2.5mg
1/2 Turkey sandwich
Ocuvite Adult 50+ multivitamin
two 600mg Calcium + D3 10 mcg (400 IU) supplement
2 oatmeal cookies
Orgain 16g protein shake

11:00AM weight: 105.8 lbs

Yesterday was spent mostly with Karen, who was kind enough to get up before dawn to go with me to Duke for my appointments starting at 7:15AM.
I was not able to start the Zometa infusion therapy that was scheduled yesterday because my dentist still has not signed off on it. I unintentionally dropped the ball on that one but I'll probably be starting the 3-year infusion therapy that prevents all invasive dental work on November 5, 2025. At this point, to be honest, putting it off does not break my heart. I've been kinda afraid of the Zometa treatments possible side effects. It's a drug intended to prevent bone loss that can cause osteonecrosis.

What I ate yesterday:
1 cup coffee
Rosuvastatin 5mg
Letrozole 2.5mg
Miso Glazed Salmon + hot and sour soup Lunch at PF Chang

Monday

I am experiencing new effects of my Letrazone treatment. By the time I got up today, I started to experience morning hot-flashes.
Had my evening walk while talking with Lisa about Halloween, cats, giant puppets, and sewing.

What I ate today:
2 cup coffee
Rosuvastatin 5mg
Letrozole 2.5mg
Ocuvite multivitamin
1 cup Chobani low fat key lime yogurt
handful of potato chips with sour cream
Orgain 30g protein shake
1/2 Turkey sandwich

Fit app:
43 Heart Points
3.55 miles

11:00AM weight: 105.8 lbs

Sunday

I am trying to come up with something to do today that does not involve sitting down in a chair, which is still painful for me. I only sit at the desk about 30 minutes at at time.
This morning, I walked to Stock+Grain and strolled around inside while a few people were preparing for the day.
I noticed yesterday, and more so today, that I am very tired now. All I want to do is nap now and it just dawned on me that this is probably a side effect of the Letrozole that I started on Friday. Fatigue and dizziness (which I'll interpret as sleepiness) are both listed as possible side effects of Letrozole. I certainly hope that is the only thing I experience from using it and I hope my body can adapt to that quickly.

What I ate today:
2 cup coffee
Rosuvastatin 5mg
Letrozole 2.5mg
Ocuvite multivitamin
1 cup Chobani low fat key lime yogurt

Fit app:
40 Heart Points
2.88 miles

10:00AM weight: 107.4 lbs

peaceful Saturday morning

Very overcast and quiet this morning. It rained last night.
Talked to Karen briefly this afternoon. They were at the hospital in Chapel Hill with Larry, waiting to take him home to Greensboro.

What I ate today:
1 cup coffee
Rosuvastatin 5mg
Letrozole 2.5mg
1 oatmeal cookie
1/4 spinach calzone
1 Orgain 30g protein shake
snack of brussels sprouts and 6 chicken wings
Ocuvite multivitamin
600mg Calcium + D3 10 mcg (400 IU) supplement
D3 1000IU supplement

Fit app: walk
40 Heart Points
2.32 miles

10:00AM weight: 106.5 lbs

Friday

Today, I took my first Letrozole 2.5 mg tablet. I will be taking these daily to suppress estrogen in my body.
Too many people working with leaf blowers, lawn mowers, and diesel vehicles to feel comfortable walking outdoors this morning. I did walk at least one mile before going back into the house.

What I ate today:
1 cup coffee
Rosuvastatin 5mg
Letrozole 2.5mg
1 oatmeal cup
Orgain 16g vanilla protein shake
2 boiled eggs
1/4 spinach calzone

Fit app: morning walk
16 Heart Points
1.01 miles

10:00AM weight: 108.5 lbs

Thursday

I met Karen and Bob for lunch at Mellow Mushroom. After Bob went home, Karen and I spent a leisurely hour browsing shops downtown.

What I ate today:
2 cups coffee
Rosuvastatin 5mg
2 oatmeal cookies
1/2 spinach calzone at Mellow Mushroom
Ocuvite multivitamin
600mg Calcium + D3 10 mcg (400 IU) supplement
1 serving roast beef

Fit app:
33 Heart Points
3.26 miles

10:00AM weight: 106.0 lbs

still trying to create a daily schedule

Wondering if I am over-thinking everything now.
I am also very tired of having to make myself eat everything while I still have no real appetite and I'm not seeing any weight gain yet, no matter how hard I try. Is this normal after lung surgery? How long can I expect this to last? The unintentional weight loss started several weeks before the surgery but definitely got worse afterwards when my appetite went away.

Had a long conversation on the phone with Karen while walking around outside after sunset.

What I ate today:
2 cups coffee
Rosuvastatin 5mg
Ocuvite multivitamin
600mg Calcium + D3 10 mcg (400 IU) supplement
1 oatmeal cup
1 cup low-fat Chobani Keylime yogurt
1 Amy's NonDairy beans and rice burrito with 1/2 avocado
1 Starbucks Spinach, Feta, and Egg White Wrap
Orgain 16g protein shake

Fit app:
60 Heart Points
4.15 miles

10:00AM weight: 107.8 lbs

hot day

The morning walk was very short because of the heat. I went out for a little while with MonsterMustDie while he ran an errand. Neither of us felt like finding a place to walk indoors but he put gas in my car. Later, I had a good walk in the early evening just after sunset, when it was much cooler outside.

What I ate today:
1 cup coffee
Rosuvastatin 5mg
Ocuvite multivitamin
600mg Calcium + D3 10 mcg (400 IU) supplement
D3 1000IU supplement
Owyn 32 protein drink
1/2 black bean and rice frozen entree
1 fried chicken finger
Arden's Garden Yoga juice mix
1 Bolthouse Protein Plus vanilla drink
1/2 cup cottage cheese jello salad

Fit app today:
33 Heart Points
2.41 miles