Friday 24 December 2021

Blogmas - Advent Day 24

 

The final day of the beauty Advent calendar and I have a bronzer.  When I saw the box my first thought was 'ooh a soap', but no it's a bronzer.  Do I want to be bronze, not really ... maybe if I was one of Paul Kelly's turkeys, but no thinking about it who would want to be a turkey at this time of year  😟

I'm not usually a mince pie type of person, but these are the best I have ever tasted!!

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For all those of you who have been kind enough to ask after my health over the last seven months, here is the final results of The Back Saga.  You'll have guessed by now I'm not someone who likes talking about my health and usually you will just get a quick 'not bad' or 'I'm fine' if you enquire about my health ... yes even these days ... so this is actually quite hard to write about. 

Seemingly I'm so healthy ... apart from the obvious ... that the broken bones have already healed too much for any simple operation to be done.  The consultant, who is a spinal surgeon said that the best option is to let the healing continue and to just accept the new curvature to my back, taking pain killers for as long as I need them which could be for a few more months as the bones continue to heal and my body adjusts to it's new shape,  and to rest and exercise to suit how I feel each day, just pushing forward slowly with the amount I do.  It was not quite the outcome that I was hoping for, but at least now I have had an expert opinion.  He also said that I am lucky in my doctor and the MSK team that he works in, as they are excellent in their field.

The blood tests that I had have showed that I am really healthy in everything.  Heart, liver and kidney and thyroid function.  I am also really good for all vitamins, minerals and iron, and I  have very good calcium levels ... something that seems so weird to me ... but my doctor says this could be because I don't drink cows milk which actually leaches calcium from your bones leaving you with a calcium deficit over time.

So I am relieved that I have finally completed all the necessary tests and now have heard the expert's opinions, and that I can now just let nature take it's course, helped along with daily doses of paracetamol, Naproxen, Omeprazole and Alendronic Acid once a week ... oh and some rather tasty calcium and vitamin D tablets every day.

Don't shake me too hard or I'll rattle 😄

Here endeth the one and only health update, and thank you for all your concern.  We can now move forward slowly but surely into the Christmas festivities, then come January ... on my own orders ... I want to try to lose two stone in weight, after all if I'm staying three inches shorter I have to get my BMI down to a sensible level again.


Sue xx  🎄


32 comments:

  1. I'm sorry it's a bit of a frustrating outcome, Sue, but at least you now know. And it's good you're so healthy in other respects! The weight loss is a good thing to aim for come January, I'll join you. Perhaps we could have a joint Blogland effort, I'm sure there'll be lots of us wanting to lose the Christmas gains!

    How odd about the cows milk depleting calcium levels, I'd never have guessed.

    Happy Christmas Sue xx

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    1. A joint/team weight loss venture in the New Year could be good ... and keep us on track. 🙂 Instead of paying a fiver into Weight-Watchers pockets each week we could pop a pound into a money box to be spent when we reach our targets 😀

      I found that out about milk way back in my vegan/dairy-free journey in 2017. Now I'm glad I switched when I did.

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  2. Thank you for the health update. I didn't like to ask as I know you find it uncomfortable. I'm very glad things are easing off and healing, even if it's not the outcome you were hoping for.

    You can lost that weight, especially with that motivation! I know my strategies won't be your strategies but - well, just ask if . . .

    That mince pie looks amazing . . . Have a lovely Christmas!
    xx

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    1. Your comment made me realise ... one minute I'm showing a photo of delicious mince pies, then I'm talking about losing weight. 🤣🤣

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  3. I suppose that 'do nothing and just keep taking the tablets' is as good as it can be. No radical invasive treatment. Very best wishes for Christmas and the New Year and if you can lose two stone it can not do any harm! I feel sure that you do have the determination to do it. Take care.

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    1. I should have asked for some willpower for Christmas shouldn't I. 😀🤣

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  4. I did not know that about milk, I'll be looking for a substitute and a calcium tablet. I have every confidence you'll succeed at your goal and wish you a happy Christmas and healthy new year.

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    1. Most of the shop bought plant-based milks are fortified with everything you would get from cows milk for health. If you are looking to use them in hot drinks go for the ones labelled 'Barista', as they tend not to look curdled.

      If you decide to take a calcium tablet take a vitamin D tablet with it, some are available with the two already combined. The vitamin D helps your body absorb the calcium more efficiently. ❤️

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  5. Merry Christmas to you. I always read your blog, but don't often comment. My heart goes out to you with your ongoing back issues (I'm three months in with back pain and not much relief). However, that is good news that you are otherwise very healthy. -Jenn

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    1. Back pain is just so debilitating isn't it, as one of my neighbours said 'it's invisible, if you had your foot in a cast you'd get so much more help and sympathy'. I hope yours improves soon.

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  6. Glad your back is healing in its own way and you don't need surgery. Hope you get relief soon!
    Merry Christmas! Best wishes for a happy, healthy New Year!

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    1. Thank you so much. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year ❤️🥳

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  7. Thank you for the update, Sue, I have been wondering about the outcome of your consultation. It's probably good to know that you don't require surgery but can allow yourself to heal naturally. I need to lose a bit of weight after Christmas too so I'll follow you closely again! Your motivation is inspirational 🙂 Have a very happy Christmas Sue. Enjoy your mince pies while you can 🙂

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    1. I see a diet group appearing amongst us bloggers in the new year 😃

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  8. Sorry it's not better news but at least you know where you are up to now. Happy Christmas to you and your family and critters and hoping for a better new year for all us. xx

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    1. A quick fix would have been wonderful, but sometimes a long slow fix is the best option. Happy Christmas to you too. 🎄💖

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  9. Glad you at least have a good team of doctors behind you, even if the advice isn't exactly what you hoped to hear. Will join you in January with the weight loss. I took off three stone+ in 2020, but a stone or so has crept back on. Mustn't let any more find its way back on. Gave away all my larger clothes. :0) Take care.

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    1. Wow, getting over three stone off is amazing, well done. Time to send that sneaky stone packing again 🤣. Getting rid of the larger clothes was a genius idea. ❤️

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  10. I hope that you are a little bit stronger, feel better and able to do a bit more every day.

    About four years ago I gave up cow’s milk just because I had the idea that it was not good for me. I feel SO much better and use soy milk for my dairy. My calcium levels are still good.

    Happy Christmas, Sue!

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    1. I'm getting there slowly but surely. I've been out on a doggy walk every day this week, it's only a hundred or so yards at the moment, but I try and go as far as I can ... and Suky lives that we come home sooner while Alan and Mavis do a longer walk

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  11. I accidentally deleted this comment -

    Shrimpton and Perfect has left a new comment on your post 'Blogmas - Advent Day 24':

    Sounds like you have a clear idea about your health problems now. Not all good news exactly but at least you know how to plan for the best outcome. I think we'll all be aiming to lose some weight in the new year. I shall be following your progress.


    Oops ... sorry 😬😲😃🎄

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    1. A slip of the finger and oops it was gone!!

      I think there will be a lot of us trying to lose some weight in the New Year. 😃

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  12. Merry Christmas and A good new year for us all! Take care.

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    1. Merry Christmas to you too, and all the best for the New Year. 💖🎄🎀

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  13. Merry Christmas, and may the New Year bring continued healing. My husband actually has scoliosis. Back in the day, it was considered something that girls needed to be checked for, not boys. It was missed. When we met, the curvature was quite clear to my eyes, and it was one of those things that he was sensitive about and I was relentless about. He finally saw a doctor who was amazed that he'd gone 45 years with it. The body DOES adjust itself around the curve. Good luck.

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    1. How sad that it was missed for all those years.

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  14. Hi Sue,

    Wishing you a Merry Christmas and blessed New Year.

    I do hope you continue to heal with your good quality healthy food plan. For the past two years I have been on the whole food plant based food plan after being vegan for many years. These days I feel fantastic!

    Stay safe and take care,
    xTania

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    1. Food really is the best medicine isn't it.

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  15. I'm a retired nurse and yet I still opt for letting nature take its course... so hurray to you in finding a doctor who feels the same. Treasure him as they're hard to find. I need bilateral knee replacements and have for several years but I refuse. If the Good Lord intended me to have titanium knee joints He would have given them to me before birth! So I take it easy when in too much pain to do anything else... and keep busy when my knees allow. I have a prescription Rx for some arthritis-type pain medication but I take it sparingly, saving up for when I need to take it daily someday down the road. Merry Christmas to you! ~Andrea xoxo

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    1. Nature is wonderful, we really do have to respect her more don't we. All the very best Andrea. Merry Christmas 💖🎄🎀

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  16. Sue, I am sorry to be late to this. Thank you for letting your friends know how things are with your back and bones.

    In respect of weight loss - cut down on carbs. When I found I was pre-diabetic I rationalised that if my body was having trouble dealing with sugar then I should reduce the amount I was inflicting upon it. That does not just mean stopping sweeties & chocolate - white flour has the same carb content as sugar so I cut out pastry, bread, cakes, pasta, biscuits - anything with flour in it. I know that is going to sound quite horrendous but the weight fell off me without any further effort.

    I had to be careful with pulses and rice (was careful with portion sizes) and ate loads of veggies. I was never hungry and it has become a way of eating, not a diet. When M. retired and wanted to slim down he joined me and rapidly lost 25kg . . .

    It was easier for me because I am not vegan so I had cheese & eggs. In summer endless massive salads with grated cheddar, or hard boiled eggs. Omelettes, scrambled egg, assorted curries with Quorn all featured on colder days. Oh, and Aldi "Ryvita-a-like" spread with peanut butter when you really HAVE to have something toast-like!

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    1. As I'm healthy in everything other than my spine, I'll just be cutting back on portion sizes slightly. The doctor told me in no uncertain terms that if I want to lose weight I must do it slowly and steadily, and definitely no drastic dietary changes as what I eat is obviously doing me good. So I'll stick to my carbs ... just smaller portions of them. 😀

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