Keep fighting those urges, bizi. You did well knowing it would not stop at one.

I could never fathom any sort of poetry set to music - to Beatnikky for me:D. Hope you enjoyed it as you had the personal connection with Jeff performing.

It does sound a promising idea, having a letter detailing your services passed on to resident's relatives. I do hope you get plenty of positive feedback from this.

Dave.

Thanks dave.
I will be imbibing next friday, just to let you know.:)

jeff only organized it, he did not play. There were only two people, one playing piano and the other acting and reciting poetry.
It was excellent!
Even so, IT WAS TERRIBLY attended.
Maybe 15 people there, what a shame.
sigh
Lack of publicity on ULL 's part.
It was in the paper under book reviews because of jeffs friend. She noticed Jeff's facebook post about the performance.
anyway
(((HUGS))))
bizi

My Ex didn't believe I had put on so little over the Holidays with my Mirtazapine/night hunger/Depression problems. So I got on the scales today and found I am up a further 1.8lbs in 10 days to 201.8lbs. This is not good, my overnight snacking is getting out of control because of the pangs.

I need to get a grip and ramp up my willpower. Encouragement and words of wisdom, Please:D

Dave.

oh dave,
You can dothis.
Get yourself some organic apples and at night an hour before you go to bed if you watch tv.....
have one eating it slow and thoughtfully enjoy each bite. I find by the time I am done that the hunger that I was feeling is gone. I also drink a large glass of water with my night meds.
I may snack on nuts, seeds, plantain chips if I feel snacky.
I wish you strength to reel it in.
((((((HUGS)))))
rooting for you
bizi

Thank you bizi,

I realised today the worsening pangs started when I cut my midnight fat free, low cal yogurt. I ate one a couple of hours after my meds, while I had a break from reading Posts here. Maybe that small pot each night was coating my stomach and sating my hunger. I will start up again.

I take my Ketamine at midnight, then listen to programmes I have recorded until 2-3am while I unwind my mind and try to get comfortable enough to sleep for an hour or two at a time.

I will definitely try some substantial fruit, apple or pear, as they are only 70cals and are far more filling.

Dave.

how much sleep are you getting dave?
bizi

Dave, please don't stress about your weight gain - it is not a big number and you have had a fair bit to deal with recently.

I agree with bizi about nuts and seeds. I often snack on them - they are healthy and, at least for me, create a sensation of saiety so I don't overdo them.

I sleep badly due to the pain and continence problems caused by the Cancer/Radiotherapy. When I fall asleep I usually wake up 30-90 minutes later with pain and/or numbness, or - in the early hours - to go to the bathroom numerous times. It then takes a while to get settled and get back to sleep, so totting up I would say I have 7 hours of broken sleep a night - I have taken to falling back to sleep after my pain meds at 7am unless we are going out.

When I have my Lidocaine Infusions I sleep for virtually the whole weekend following. I am also in a constant state of drowsiness due to meds side effects - Morphine, Ketamine, Tramadol and Mirtazapine all make me drowsy and foggy.

I have been sleeping like this since 1990. I had an excellent night's sleep in '05 when they took my gallbladder out and I was still under the effects of the anaesthetic and was given a lot of Morphine. I felt GREAT:D

Dave.

Kiwi,

It is stll the wrong direction and I know the reason, even though it is hard to control med induced cravings.

I bought some mixed peanuts and raisins - no salt - and snack packs of dried fruit, sultana, raisin, coconut, banana, etc. All peanuts here, except ones for birds, seem to be roasted/salted/coated/dry roasted. Buying mixed with fruit means getting plain ones. The dried fruit eases my pangs for something sweet, chocolates have been creeping back into my diet these past 2 months.

I do not know whether I am repeating myself here, but at least I now know, with my weight being virtually stable for 8 weeks, that my dieting isn't the cause of my liver Blood Test Numbers being out of control.

Dave.

Dave, am sorry that you have interrupted sleep, pain etc.
One of the things they suggest is not having any fluids after say 6 pm or several hours before bed. If you take night time meds only take them with sips of water. This might help you avoid more bathroom trips at night. or even some plain yogurt to get a little protein in before sleep?
I wish you felt better.
What kind of cancer are you dealing with? I forget:o
bizi

Hi bizi,

I had a rare gallbladder tumour in '05, then a rare Colorectal Cancer, low down in my bowel in '13. I had had it for years, growing and bleeding, but I was in denial until the bleeding got too bad. The scarring and the Radiotherapy severely damaged my bowel and waterworks - it is not amounts that affect me, anything can work through at any time. Sorry to be so graphic:( As of mid last year I have been discharged by my Oncologist.

Anyway, my daughter picked up some yogurts today, so I have one on hand to eat in a few minutes. Then I have ONE cereal bar to snack on overnight if needed instead of 4.

Dave.

You have been thru so much dave.
(((((((HUGS)))))))
bizi

Hi Dave

I can relate to the beneficial effects of Morphine on sleep quality - they had to physically shake me awake to sign the consent forms before my appendectomy - does wonders for pain relief as well. :rolleyes:

Don't fret the small weight gain - I know it bugs you but with your determination you'll get it sorted. I had a weigh-in at the doctor's today and was expecting an increase as I haven't been able to do any physio or exercise for the past month due to severe edema & pain (caused by very hot weather and meds). Surprisingly I had dropped 5kg (about 2lbs ?) - don't feeling like eating in the heat - Popsicles have become my new favourite 'food' (I think they may be called ice lollies in the UK).

Another good snack you might like is carrot sticks or celery dipped in hummus. Maybe not very appealing in the middle of winter but the chick peas (aka; garbonzo beans) are good for protein.

I had an interesting day at bridge yesterday. I don't buy bread, have not had it in my house for over 7-8 yrs. I will get a burger with a toasted bun when out but at home burger is wrapped in romaine lettuce leaves.

The hostess made lunch yesterday and she served sandwiches bread sandwiches. I guess I was like a kid who doesn't get candy at home and when out, look out. So I got a good bread fix but I'm done for a long time, I KNOW that.

Now two of our members LOVE bread and they say they do and both these ladies are probably 100 lbs overweight each. They are about 5' tall and both have knee and joint issues. One talks about being borderline diabetic, but I believe she is diabetic and in denial. She LOVES her breads and other sweets too..

Now I have a haircutter I've known about 8 months or so and she has taken off 72 lbs since I know here..she told me was 262 when she started taking off serious weight and was going to the diabetic area. She has eliminated all WHITE food stuffs...she's serious and so proud of her accomplishment in this weight issue. She walks a lot and goes to a gym too....says she wants to take off 50 more lbs...she's about 5' tall.

We are are worst enemies and sabatogue ourselves constantly but many do take charge and save themselves.

Hi bluesfan,

You went the wrong way with your conversion - 5kg is about 11lbs:)

I would eat chick peas all the time if I could - as Chana Masala. It is one of my favourite Indian dishes. Not entirely sure about dips, for me they are a 'gateway' food to other, unhealthy, creamy dips, then packs of chips sneak in. I was looking at baked Indonesian chips made from lentils today, but they were still 120cals per ounce/25g. Better to resist temptation.

Caroline,

Your Haircutter friend is rightly proud of herself. Next time you see her, give her my congratulations!

Dave.

Oh Dave, I see her tomorrow and I give her hugs all the time. She glows.

Her buddy next to her the salon has taken action too since Jina has done what she's done. She's probably taken off 50+ and starting to glow.

Saw my gal the other day, she's down 76 lbs and gave herself a new do....looks like a new person.

Her friend in the salon has taken off about 100 lbs so far and Jina had a pic of her in her iphone, a before and after...oh my goodness the difference in a 100 lb loss. This gal was nearing 400 lbs and needing insulin soon... So she finally took control.

From May last year I stuck rigidly to my diet for 196 days and lost 45lbs. Then I have had a Depression/Meds/Holidays break.

My Target is just another 25lbs in 112 days, counting from yesterday.

Lent is a good time to start.

Dave.

I gained 5kg
 

I'm back on the merry go round again, with my DB being ill this past fortnight and all my nursing skills taken up to the fullest extent I have not had time to cook or eat a decent meal. My depression reared its very ugly head and said hello let's eat... I worked really hard over 12 months to lose 15kg (2.2lb to 1kg) and the weight just kept falling, I went from 74 down to 56.5 which was too thin, I reached a happy balance at 60 last year but in less than a fortnight I have put on 5kg. At 65kg this morning, I rejoined the gym. I hate feeling like this, I struggle to go out and can't just take a simple walk around the block through stupid fear, And even though I hate driving now, having the gym to go to I hope will help me get out of the house more. I am becoming more and more housebound as the years pass, it is not healthy living I know, but chronic pain, depression and anxiety hold me prisoner. I hate this me I have become.

PamelaJune, please don't stress about the weight - you have had lots on your plate (pun not intended) in supporting DB recently.

I can relate to the depression/anxiety things. Rejoining the gym is a great idea.

When I think about you "stupid" is the last word that comes to mind. When my depression/anxiety was not good I was essentially house-bound as well.

I slowly, metaphorically one step at a time, began to get out of the house and walk. This helped me (with some ups and downs along the way) and I hope that it will help you as well.

:hug:

How is it going Dave?
How are you?
bizi

Hi Dave,

I am also thinking of you and hope you are well.

:hug:
DejaVu

Hi Dave,

I'm thinking of you and hope you're ok.

:grouphug: :Heart: