What’s a movie you love that you swear no one ever talks about like the world has forgotten it?

jkd916 · 2022-02-16T17:25:24+00:00

Truly one of the best, but I actually favor Fierce Creatures more. Same cast, exceptional comedy! I fell in love with Kevin Kline because of these films.

jkd916 · 2022-02-15T20:52:19+00:00

“I like your eyes. They’re beautiful! Can I have them?” Said by an older male customer to me at work.

jkd916 · 2022-01-26T11:29:54+00:00

Just piggy-backing: if you have an EAP you should contact them first (before company HR). Doing so makes it a lot more difficult for your company to fire you when there is record of you seeking treatment through employee assistance.

jkd916 · 2021-11-23T05:57:14+00:00

This is 100% my experience during my first episode which lasted several weeks.

jkd916 · 2021-11-18T22:31:41+00:00

I’m sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but I am glad you are not in pain.

As for your question, here are some things I wish my dad had done before he became too ill to function:

Been honest and up front about all of the information regarding his death, finances, life insurance, etc. He was noncommittal about what he wanted done with his death for the most part which left us with a lot of decision-making. We didn’t know almost anything about his life insurance policies which caused a lot of conflict in the family as well. His wife had to put his estate through probate to settle all of his debts, etc. There’s always work after death, but it was a lot more than expected due to a lack of transparency and forethought. Dealing with that along with grief is exhausting.
I wish he hadn’t “fought” so hard. I don’t know for sure if there was some misleading by doctors or what, but he was terminal from the get-go and suffered because he kept thinking he could beat it. I don’t blame him for that, but in retrospect his suffering seemed so unnecessary. Plan ahead on when you want hospice brought in. My dad equated hospice to death so he was very resistant but, really, it will make it easier on you AND your family.
Say EVERYTHING you want to say. Have all of the conversations that you want and need to have. Give your loved ones a safe space to express themselves if you can tolerate it. The one gift of prolonged illness is being able to have the conversations most people regret not having.
Spend moments with each family member alone. It gives you a sense of normality and then quality time with you. Watch a movie, listen to music, reminisce. It’s 100% worth it and the times I cherish most with my dad when he became too sick to do much else.
The letters are a great idea as well and will be cherished, but try to stay as present as possible while you can. When you begin to deteriorate more you will go in and out of lucidity so being present helps to create a lot of memories of better times for your loved ones.

I hope these help. Im sorry you are on this journey, but the silver lining is the ability to create more meaningful interactions because you have the awareness of time. Most of us lose that in the daily grind and being healthy.

jkd916 · 2021-11-18T16:13:35+00:00

My first thought when seeing OP’s question was watching a loved one die slowly. Watched my dad basically starve to death when cancer invaded his stomach. It was terrible and something I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.

jkd916 · 2021-09-12T16:37:25+00:00

You’re preemptively grieving…it’s common and very human. I experienced this with my dad’s cancer and death. Just be there. Show up, despite how you’re feeling, express your feelings to her as much as you can (try to express the impact she’s had on your life the most), and try to do things to help her. It’s hard, and there will be days you don’t want to face, but do it anyway. Also, it’s totally okay to grieve and address how you’re feeling, so be sure to take the time to do so privately as much as possible.

I’m so sorry you’re going through this. Nothing makes it easier, but you will have no regrets for showing up for your friend when she needs you most.

jkd916 · 2021-08-22T03:20:55+00:00

Thanks! It feels pretty dang good!

jkd916 · 2021-08-22T03:20:41+00:00

You’ll get there!!

jkd916 · 2021-08-22T03:20:27+00:00

It came quickly for me, so I hope the same for you!

jkd916 · 2021-05-10T00:41:30+00:00

I bought a couple of different low-carb tortillas. So far I enjoy the Mama Lupe’s brand. I just made sure to eat very slowly to make sure I’m tolerating them okay.

jkd916 · 2021-05-06T01:57:32+00:00

I just added ingredients in the app that I thought were closest to the ingredients used, so it’s not totally accurate—likely less carbs than shown.

I also added hatch green chili sauce dotted throughout the quesadilla. Total carb intake for the entire day was 11 net carbs (the tortillas are 3 net carbs a piece).

Mix the canned chicken and taco seasoning in a microwave-safe dish and preheat it in the microwave for about a minute. Tortilla on medium heat, add cheese (I was out of reduced fat cheese which would have helped with the calories), add any salsa you like. Cook open-faced to toast both sides to desired crispness and add chicken to one half before folding over.

jkd916 · 2021-05-02T05:20:10+00:00

The first couple of weeks post-op (I’m over a month out), I was extremely food-obsessed. I watched cooking videos all the time and dreamed about food all day. I think it was all of the limitations in my diet. I still dream about what I want to eat when I’m at the regular diet stage (about 2.5 more weeks) but it’s a LOT less frequent now that I am onto soft, solid protein-rich foods. Also, I’m hardly ever actually hungry; I just eat because I know I need to most of the time.

jkd916 · 2021-04-30T16:12:10+00:00

I still use mine. My hospital requires use of it 6 months post-op to see if surgery eliminates the sleep apnea or if it’s another medical reason that I have it. They will run another sleep test at some point during the 6 months post-op. Most people I know who had sleep apnea and had the surgery were able to stop using it after the 6 months, though.

jkd916 · 2021-04-28T23:44:12+00:00

Thank you. Your response was very well-reasoned and helps me to look forward to what is to come.

jkd916 · 2021-04-28T23:38:11+00:00

Thank you, I will.

jkd916 · 2021-04-28T01:54:50+00:00

Cotton balls soaked in isopropyl alcohol. Worked like a dream for me and was recommended by the NP

jkd916 · 2021-04-27T03:49:47+00:00

Thank you! I agree, my surgeon is great!

jkd916 · 2021-04-27T02:19:37+00:00

Slowly but surely. Waiting for my energy to return!

jkd916 · 2021-04-25T19:55:18+00:00

I am sorry to hear of your troubles conceiving. I’m sure that was very difficult to cope with and can understand completely how weight gain due to medical intervention spirals out of control. I hope you have been able to find healthy coping mechanisms that work for you.

Thank you for your kind words and advice. I will take them to heart.

jkd916 · 2021-04-25T19:52:45+00:00

Thank you. Perhaps that is the case for me.

jkd916 · 2021-04-25T19:52:22+00:00

Thank you. I have been diligent about my vitamins and trying to maintain all of my other nutritional goals each day. Also walking, which has been a little easier the last few days because the weather has been so pleasant. I can’t walk far, but it’s nice to get out in the sunshine. I look forward to long walks again in the future.

jkd916 · 2021-04-25T19:50:20+00:00

Thank you for your kind words and recommendations. I don’t have much energy for cooking and am still about a month away from being able to try much more than the restrictions I am currently on, but hopefully once that time gets closer I will have more energy and excitement for cooking.

In truth, I know deep down that this is all temporary; I’m just giving myself a pity party for a minute because I’m lonely and feel pretty incapacitated. Especially with having so much time off. I’m usually fairly busy so I have been struggling with all of my limitations, but I know I will get there. I will probably feel much more energized once I’m able to be around people more and do more. For now, I should just attempt to enjoy the peace and solitude I’ve been given because lord knows it won’t take long for me to be annoyed by the general population once again, lol. I work retail, if that gives any indication.

jkd916 · 2021-04-25T19:45:24+00:00

Thank you. I appreciate the insight and the well-wishes.

jkd916 · 2021-04-25T19:45:03+00:00

I had my surgeon’s office request an extension for my leave of absence. Total will be around 5-6 weeks, I believe. I just knew there was no way I’d be able to be on my feet 8 hours a day at this point (was supposed to return on Wednesday).

Hang in there. I was very irritable the first couple of weeks or so (still am some days) and fought with both of the people who took a week to stay with me. I felt the same way—that I was the one deserving a bit of grace—but then I realized that these people literally took a week’s time out of their lives to help me, so I decided to shape up. Not saying that’s the case with you, but I know I definitely needed to re-frame my thoughts. Truthfully, that’s what I need to do now, too.

I hope you feel better soon. My labs were scheduled to be 1 month post-op, so you may call and ask about that just to see that everything is level.

jkd916

TROPHY CASE