The Old Folks Home

[ronott1]

Home from the Rheumy at 5 pm. Geesh, it was supposed to be a quick follow up. 8 vials of blood later and what seemed like a tour of the hospital along with a quick stop at the grocery store for a tenderloin from the deli and we are home.

Good news. Down to 129,9 pounds on the hospital scale, afternoon weight and fully dressed. Doctor told me my weight was perfect EAT! So I did.

I also went in prepared this time with pictures of my hands during joint flares since I saw him last. When I showed him one that I had taken the morning I woke up with the index and middle fingers of my right hand swollen past the big knuckles and red he paused, rubbed his chin and mumbled I don't think I'm looking at serum negative RA I think I'm looking at gout! and proceeded to order a whole list of labs for me. Something like 20 or more tests. Mom had gout so it's very possible. I'll know when I go back at the end of Dec/first of Jan. In the mean time, Micro is gonna eat turkey!

I hope it is gouty arthritis. I can live with that a whole lot better and easier than RA!

And for that Lord, I am truly grateful!

Someone told me that have to get the fluid out of the joint during a flair up to tell for sure. Gouty arthritis is treatable so I hope so too!

 

[microchick]

Thanks. I'm hoping that is what is wrong instead of RA. I think he is pretty confident with the ankylosing spondylitis diagnosis but following up with an HLC-B26 test. My c-reactive protein and sed rate were normal but he wasn't confident in the accuracy of those tests in light of my symptoms.

He did zap me with two shots for the inflammation I have in my neck and hands right now. More steroids. That means the house will never have been cleaner once it kicks in. The other shot was Toradol. I just haven't slept well lately so I hope I do tonight. Turkey is ready to pop in the oven and the roast is in the slow cooker and set to start at midnight. Pie is baked and I decided that instead of home made rolls I'd by a small package of Kings Hawaiian bread rolls for our dinner tomorrow.

Bring on the feasting!

 

[perchie.girl]

saw the doc today all is good... she is very happy I am moving forward with Gastric sleeve surgery...

She adjusted my BP meds... and scheduled my next appointment for six months.

Also when It comes time for the surgery she wants to do the screening. Which involves a stress test.


deb

 

[getaclue]

Sounds like good doctor reports. Good job deb, and micro.

 

[microchick]

Good job, Deb/perchie. See, no sweat! So you are looking at a date with surgery sometime in the second half of next year?

Yeah, @getaclue, could have been much worse. What was funny was when I went to get the blood draw, the phebotomist told me that medicare wouldn't pay for the HLC-B26 test and they wanted to know if I was okay with paying out of pocket for it. I said sure but asked how much it was expecting to see 3 or 400 dollars. 64 dollars and change. I broke out laughing.

 

[ronott1]

Thanks. I'm hoping that is what is wrong instead of RA. I think he is pretty confident with the ankylosing spondylitis diagnosis but following up with an HLC-B26 test. My c-reactive protein and sed rate were normal but he wasn't confident in the accuracy of those tests in light of my symptoms.

He did zap me with two shots for the inflammation I have in my neck and hands right now. More steroids. That means the house will never have been cleaner once it kicks in. The other shot was Toradol. I just haven't slept well lately so I hope I do tonight. Turkey is ready to pop in the oven and the roast is in the slow cooker and set to start at midnight. Pie is baked and I decided that instead of home made rolls I'd by a small package of Kings Hawaiian bread rolls for our dinner tomorrow.

Bring on the feasting!

Gout runs in my Family. I should have that checked out!

The Turkey goes into the oven at 11 tomorrow. I have sweet potatoes ready in the crock pot, Chocolate pecan pie and a pumpkin roll baked. The cranberry sauce is ready too and rolls are baked and in the freezer.

It should go smoothly tomorrow!

 

[pennyJo1960]

Gout runs in my Family. I should have that checked out!

The Turkey goes into the oven at 11 tomorrow. I have sweet potatoes ready in the crock pot, Chocolate pecan pie and a pumpkin roll baked. The cranberry sauce is ready too and rolls are baked and in the freezer.

It should go smoothly tomorrow!

Can I have a recipe for sweet potatoes please .... I have not been weighed but think Micro and I are twins now .... SCG you need full body armor and a helmet

 

[sourland]

Tomorrow we go to our daughter's. She is making the turkey and an apple pie. I am providing: green bean casserole, carrots, mashed butter nut squash, mushrooms in brown gravy, onions in white sauce - all to be prepared tomorrow morning. We are also bringing pumpkin and peach pies - purchased as I am not much of a baker

 

[microchick]

@ronott1. Chocolate pecan pie? Oh that is so delectably evil on so many levels and me allergic to tree nuts.

@sourland, the mushrooms in brown gravy has the same vote. I love mushrooms. DH hates them and calls them slimers. Making pizza is always a challenge in our house. LOL.

I don't know if they can tell if you are at risk for gout until you have a bout with it. Maybe check the uric acid level of your blood? Hmmmm. I've been looking at the recommended gout diet. Not very tantalizing. I don't eat a lot of red meat....well now I can't eat any. and they only recommend meat 3 or 4 servings a week. Have to avoid anything with high fructose corn syrup in it.

Had a bowl of low fat ice cream tonight and read the label. Yep, High Fructose Corn Syrup. Told DH I guess I'd be buying an ice cream maker and doing my own....I can do that!

 

[ronott1]

Can I have a recipe for sweet potatoes please .... I have not been weighed but think Micro and I are twins now .... SCG you need full body armor and a helmet

Candied Yams

We updated the Southern staple candied yams recipe so that it can be cooked in a slow cooker.It's an extra-easy choice to heat and take to your next family gathering or potluck dinner.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 4 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch

How to Make It
Step 1
Microwave butter in a microwave-safe bowl at HIGH 30 seconds to 1 minute or until melted; stir in vanilla and salt.

Step 2
Stir together granulated sugar and brown sugar in a medium bowl.

Step 3
Layer potatoes and sugar mixture in a lightly greased 6-qt. slow cooker, beginning with potatoes and ending with sugar mixture. Pour butter mixture over top. Cover and cook on LOW 4 hours or until potatoes are tender.

Step 4
Transfer potatoes to a serving dish using a slotted spoon, reserving liquid in slow cooker. Keep potatoes warm.


Step 5
Remove 1/3 cup liquid from slow cooker; whisk cornstarch into 1/3 cup liquid until smooth. Carefully pour remaining liquid from slow cooker into a medium saucepan. Whisk in cornstarch mixture. Bring to a boil over medium heat; cook 1 to 2 minutes or until thickened. Pour over potatoes. Serve immediately.

Chef's Notes
The recipe name "candied yams" is a bit of a misnomer. Orange sweet potatoes are often labeled as yams, but in truth, yams are in an entirely different family of root vegetables. A true yam is starchier than a sweet potato, but also sweet. Yams come from Africa and the Caribbean, and must be cooked in order to be safe to consume. Cooking a yam is laborious: it can be difficult to peel the thick skin, and it must be pounded and boiled.