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Small achievements


Sarah Tee

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What a great idea for a topic! It's so easy to devalue what I do all day because it's so much less than it used to be, yet it takes so much effort!

My small achievement today was having a video call with two relatively new friends. I feel so socially isolated when I'm not feeling well, so it was nice to talk with someone other than my husband and my cat. :)

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Well, I achieved SOMETHING - yesterday I had a "bad" day, with pounding heart, tachycardia etc. Went about my business. This morning I realized that I had forgotten my am meds ... well, I did WAAYY better than I thought I would have ! I have not went a day without meds in many years! 

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Today I completed a draft letter requesting “reconsideration” of my state taxes interest and penalties. When I went from STD to LTD my withholding changed. My brain fog left me unable to understand let alone adjust to the change and I ended up behind! I don’t mind paying what I owe but the state has a reconsideration for medical reasons! If patients with POTS don’t qualify who…what was I saying…why am I here…

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@Abe, I love vegie soup! When I get enough energy to cook, I try to make something like that that will feed me for a few days and that I can freeze a few portions of too.

Sometimes I split a recipe over two or three cooking sessions to make it a bit less tiring. Or I make a big batch of roasted vegies that I can turn into various meals.

It’s a struggle sometimes to get something decent on the table. I will admit that I have eaten cereal for dinner, or, at my worst, nachos.

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I have a future small achievement that I want to … er … achieve.

I am currently 40% over my healthy body weight. Yikes. Part of it is due to failure of a past bowel operation, which has caused my abdomen to be very distended, but that’s only about 10%. The rest has been from a combination of a relentless feeling of low blood sugar (now known to be actually cerebral hypoperfusion), boredom, comfort eating, and not being able to prepare decent meals.

By the end of the year, I would like my weight to be trending down. I don’t care by how much, I just want to be heading in the right direction.

Also, my thoughts are with anyone struggling with weight in either direction. It’s not easy, and doctors and people in general can be very unhelpful on top of the actual medical issues.

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6 hours ago, Sarah Tee said:

The rest has been from a combination of a relentless feeling of low blood sugar (now known to be actually cerebral hypoperfusion), boredom, comfort eating, and not being able to prepare decent meals.

@Sarah Tee I "suffer" from all of the above also, but in my case I am able to maintain a healthy weight because I do not eat three meals a day but rather eat six small meals/snacks. I cook extra on good days and freeze in small portions. I also avoid carbs with meals and eat protein and veggies for meals. I do the carbs as my snacks - especially pretzels and crackers. Nuts, cheese, whole grains, fruit etc are good snacks for me also. AND - a big one - I avoid sugar. Also - I buy healthy low fat frozen meals for days I cannot get off the couch, that is an easy go-to. 

I hope this will help you achieve your goal - keep at it! You may find that your upcoming surgery may help you also. Maybe you could ask to consult with a nutritionist while in hospital? 

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@Pistol, that sounds like a good strategy. I can’t seem to find any palatable prepared meals to buy where I live, frozen or fresh. Small country town, so not much choice. Plus I have to eat a slightly specialised diet because of that past bowel surgery. We can buy decent produce, and have a monthly farmer’s market, but preparing meals has been my nemesis while ill.

If I can get my medication sorted out, I should be able to travel to the next larger town regularly. More choices there.

I might be able to see a dietitian while I’m in hospital. That will be in Melbourne (nearby capital city). If not, I can definitely see someone at the regional hospital. I’ll ask my GP to refer me. Good suggestion!

After the bowel surgery, I will have to follow a low residue diet for a few weeks. I’m sure you know that one, being a nurse. Luckily my dad makes excellent mashed potato!

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  • 2 months later...

I lost a small amount of weight!

I have come up with a small rotation of simple meals and snacks. Plus summer is here and there are early summer fruit and salad items that take little preparation.

In a couple of weeks I’ll be able to get a basil plant and maybe a tomato bush to pop on the verandah.

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  • 2 months later...

After getting completely exhausted by the trip to Neighbouring Regional Town to see my specialist, and having to do all the talking because he speaks so poorly that my support person cannot hear a word he is saying, I was unable to muster the energy for a shower for six days.

But tonight I did it!

I did still change my PJs, wash my face and clean my teeth every day. Hair remains unwashed but I don’t care. Birds can nest in it and keep me company if it’s that bad!

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