September 20, 2012 - I'm back!
September 20, 2012
(Post 604, Day 264 of 2012, 629 days since original post)
(Post 604, Day 264 of 2012, 629 days since original post)
Daily Comment
Twelve days - that's how long I've been away from the blog. That's the longest lapse since I started the blog, 629 days ago. I have missed these daily entries.
I need to recap, since when I left off (September 8), I was found not to have a heart attack, but possibly gall stones.
And gall stones it was! the next day, while waiting for tests, I was told there wouldn't be any stinkin' tests, they were just going to remove my malfunctioning gallbladder. Which the did, that Sunday early in the afternoon.
I was released from the hospital the next day, at lunchtime, with a prescription for hydrocodone and the advice that my pain would be gone in a week or so, the Steri-strip bandages that were used instead of stitches for my wounds would come off by themselves within two weeks, I was to take four weeks off for recuperation, and during that time, I was to limit heavy lifting to a heaviness of ten pounds.
And, significantly, no change of diet (as tolerated). I'm still sorting out which of my foods I might no longer be able to tolerate, but so far, in the past twelve days, I haven't found anything I couldn't eat.
From the beginning of this 'adventure,' I have managed to maintain a calm mindset. Maybe I should have been frightened at times, maybe that would have been prudent, but, well, no, that didn't happen. I wouldn't call my emotional state detached, but my viewpoint, overall, could probably best be described as 'curious'.
I think this is due to my meditation practice, with some help from my long-standing, but now pretty much defunct, desire to be cool (my idea of cool, which can pretty much be summed up as repressing an emotional reaction to any event, a kind of world-weariness I no longer consider desirable or important).
At any rate, the silver lining to my gallbladder-less gray cloud are numerous.
First, it wasn't a problem with my heart, which is my genetically-disposed (according to Joan, the "Kellerman curse") likely cause of death. Not only that, the work-up to eliminate heart disease as the culprit gave me a clean bill of cardiac health. Cool, that.
Secondly, there's that 10-day post-surgical narcotic vacation I got to take. It did end badly, in that towards the end of the period I needed them (last weekend), the pain changed, becoming quite specific and acute, and they were of no help. They always did get me stoned, though, and keep me from having any sense of time passing (I've rarely been more surprised than when I found out that Wednesday was, in reality, Thursday). Losing your place in the space-time continuum without experiencing a sense of loss is fun.
And, I got to read. I spent a lot of my waking time (not the majority of my average day during this period) reading. Fiction. I devoured 3 of John Burdett's trashy detective mysteries based on Bangkok's sole honest detective, a devout Buddhist named Sonchai Jitpleecheep. Quick, very entertaining (and, yes, educational, in their insights into Thai culture). Then I started Michael Chabon's 'The Yiddish Policemen's Union' which is much better written, much, much denser, and therefore slower going, but hilarious and worthwhile.
So, again, much to be grateful for. And we'll take it back up from there.
I need to recap, since when I left off (September 8), I was found not to have a heart attack, but possibly gall stones.
And gall stones it was! the next day, while waiting for tests, I was told there wouldn't be any stinkin' tests, they were just going to remove my malfunctioning gallbladder. Which the did, that Sunday early in the afternoon.
I was released from the hospital the next day, at lunchtime, with a prescription for hydrocodone and the advice that my pain would be gone in a week or so, the Steri-strip bandages that were used instead of stitches for my wounds would come off by themselves within two weeks, I was to take four weeks off for recuperation, and during that time, I was to limit heavy lifting to a heaviness of ten pounds.
And, significantly, no change of diet (as tolerated). I'm still sorting out which of my foods I might no longer be able to tolerate, but so far, in the past twelve days, I haven't found anything I couldn't eat.
From the beginning of this 'adventure,' I have managed to maintain a calm mindset. Maybe I should have been frightened at times, maybe that would have been prudent, but, well, no, that didn't happen. I wouldn't call my emotional state detached, but my viewpoint, overall, could probably best be described as 'curious'.
I think this is due to my meditation practice, with some help from my long-standing, but now pretty much defunct, desire to be cool (my idea of cool, which can pretty much be summed up as repressing an emotional reaction to any event, a kind of world-weariness I no longer consider desirable or important).
At any rate, the silver lining to my gallbladder-less gray cloud are numerous.
First, it wasn't a problem with my heart, which is my genetically-disposed (according to Joan, the "Kellerman curse") likely cause of death. Not only that, the work-up to eliminate heart disease as the culprit gave me a clean bill of cardiac health. Cool, that.
Secondly, there's that 10-day post-surgical narcotic vacation I got to take. It did end badly, in that towards the end of the period I needed them (last weekend), the pain changed, becoming quite specific and acute, and they were of no help. They always did get me stoned, though, and keep me from having any sense of time passing (I've rarely been more surprised than when I found out that Wednesday was, in reality, Thursday). Losing your place in the space-time continuum without experiencing a sense of loss is fun.
And, I got to read. I spent a lot of my waking time (not the majority of my average day during this period) reading. Fiction. I devoured 3 of John Burdett's trashy detective mysteries based on Bangkok's sole honest detective, a devout Buddhist named Sonchai Jitpleecheep. Quick, very entertaining (and, yes, educational, in their insights into Thai culture). Then I started Michael Chabon's 'The Yiddish Policemen's Union' which is much better written, much, much denser, and therefore slower going, but hilarious and worthwhile.
So, again, much to be grateful for. And we'll take it back up from there.
Please leave a comment if you visit my blog. Thank you!
Food and Diet Section
Today's Weight: 196.4 lbs
Yesterday's Weight: 198.8 lbs
Day Net Loss/Gain: + 2.4 lbs
 |
| Year 2012 daily weight from December 31, 2011. Four of the last 12 days are estimates, but the last 5 days are actuals. |
Diet Comment
Over the last 12 days, I had a 2-1/2 day fast, and two 24-hour fasts. I also had two cheat days and, yesterday, a cheat meal. I have been eating irregularly, but, except for the aforementioned cheats, on-plan. Now that I'm back, I will definitely return to the regular plan. This means today and tomorrow are on-plan, Saturday is a cheat day, Sunday is a fast day...
Food Log
Breakfast
Cocoa-kale protein shake (almond milk, whey protein (36g protein), kale, chia gel, cocoa, vanilla, cinnamon, stevia-erithrytol blend).
Lunch
 |
| Tuna salad on Spring Mix with red cabbage. |
Dinner
Pepperoni, celery, carrots, home-made spicy mayonnaise..
Liquid Intake
Coffee: 32 oz, Water: 64+ oz.
Please leave a comment if you visit my blog. Thank you!
posted by Reverend Ken at
6:32 AM
1 Comments:
Glad you are back. I missed you. Sounds like you are feeling well. I am so relieved. Love you, Joan
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