Hi Liz,

I'm back, work around the house is now all but finished, thank you for checking up on me during my absence from the forum, would love to catch up soon.

Congratulations on seeing off your UTI, cranberry juice always seemed to help my girls when they have had it in the past, and a massive well done on achieving your weight goal!

Super exciting times ahead only a few weeks away now, I'm getting excited for you too.

Hugs

Nicole

@SteffN

Quote from: SteffN on November 08, 2018, 12:15:16 PM
Great News Liz!!

Hi SteffN 🙋‍♀️ Welcome to Susan's Place!  I'm Jessica.
Here you are right under our noses and no one has greeted you yet.
You are new here, so I'll post some links that may help you get better acquainted with the site. Pay attention to the site rules they can be of great help and don't forget the link highlighted red.  It has answers to questions that are commonly asked.  Then join in on a topic you find interesting and learn and share.

Please feel free to stop by the Introductions Forum to tell the members about yourself!

If you are one of our younger members, please stop by the Youth Introductions Forum and get acquainted with us all!

Site Terms of Service & Rules to Live By	Standard Terms & Definitions	Post Ranks (including when you can upload an avatar)	Cautionary Note
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Re: @Alaskan Danielle

Quote from: SteffN on November 08, 2018, 12:15:16 PM
Great News Liz!!

@SteffN
Dear SteffN:
    I am most pleased that you had decided to join the Susan's Place.

    I see that our lovely member and California Girl   @Jessica   has already welcomed you to Susan's Place.  Please allow me to also welcome you here.
    Thank you for writing your several first postings.... as you get more involved in exchanging comments on various posts other members will be along to offer their thoughts and comments in response to any of your specific questions and concerns..

    This is the right place for you to be to find out what others may have to say that may have been in your circumstances and with your questions and concerns.
    There are a lot of members here that will be able to identify with your situation as you continue to feel free to share it.

    I want to warmly WELCOME you to Susan's Place. 
You will find this a safe and friendly place to share with others and to read about others similar trials, tribulations, and successes.

    As you are certainly aware you can share with others and involve yourself with some give and take with other like-minded members.  When frustrated or if you have successes you can share it here if you wish and receive support from others and offer support to others. ....
     ***It's a very good chance that you might find that you will make some new friends here. 

    Please come in and continue to be involved at your own pace.
   
    There is information and important LINKS that  Jessica  included in her welcome message to you.   You will find information about the site that will help you navigate around and best utilize the features here.   
Please look closely at the LINKS in RED, answers are there to many questions that new members ask.

Again, Welcome to Susan's Place.
Danielle

@SteffN
Oh, and another thing SteffN,
As our lovely member @Jessica mentioned in her Welcome Message to you please make certain that you find your way to the Introductions Forum  to let more members about yourself!

If you are one of our younger members, please stop by the Youth Introductions Forum and introduce yourself therel!

Again, Welcome to Susan's Place
Best wishes to you and enjoy your time here.
Danielle

@LizK
Dear Liz:
So very sorry to interrupt your thread with a little "greeting" activity for our new member.... 

I am mow most happy to return your thread back to you... 
....again, sorry for the interruption.

Many Hugs,
Danielle

Quote from: LizK on November 07, 2018, 02:47:21 AM

UTI DROWNED

I am going to call it....Tested 6 Days ago, no call to say positive result = no UTI...I drowned my UTI(applause erupts)...thankyou... although it could also have been scared off by the unsweetened cranberry juice that it was swimming in...makes me shudder just thinking about it. LOL

Received my (new) final instructions and admission forms for Knox surgery is an afternoon event...1:30pm.... Like Masada they have an online patient registration which I have completed and with the exception of my Meds and Dr's Details.

I actually think everything is now completely in order and paid for!!...there are no apparent barriers or even hoops between me and GCS in 4 weeks...only took me about 42 years  and 3 attempts to get my stuff together LOL 

I am now looking to maintain my weight around the 89Kg Mark if Possible....so long as my BMI remains under 30 I am fine. My fitness is pretty good I just did my BP, 120/72 resting heart rate of 50 bpm. I have trimmed my daily walk to 5 KS with 1-200m "jogs" where permissible. I have promised myself if I can maintain my weight till I am out of hospital then I am going shopping for new clothes in Melbourne.

Had a busy day doing housework and now just catching up on the goings on around here

Take care

Liz

@LizK
Dear Liz:
How many ways can I say I am so very happy for you that everything is now working out for your surgery day.... 
... the UTI is gone, you got an acceptable date scheduled for your surgery, you have your latest final instructions and admission forms....  and all of it is Paid For...   

Yes indeed, do your very best to maintain your weight and keep healthy......
... and after your recovery period in the hospital.... 
          it will be post-op clothes shopping therapy time.

I will be eagerly looking for any and all of your postings and updates as you feel free to share them.
Thank you for keeping us all in the loop...  your followers want to follow...
Hugs and best wishes,
Danielle

Quote from: Faith on November 07, 2018, 07:17:41 AM
Happy for you Liz, just thought I'd tell you while I'm logged in instead of just thinking it.

Faith

Thank you Faith I had a wonderful day

Quote from: Jayne01 on November 07, 2018, 08:12:27 AM
Happy birthday Liz!!! [emoji322] [emoji324] [emoji322]

So happy you had a great day and got spoilt. You deserve it.

Glad to hear you managed to ditch that UTI. Now, with all the paperwork out of the way, it should just be matter of counting down the days or hours as you seem to be doing now. [emoji2]

Hugs and happy birthday wishes!
Jayne

Thanks Jayne yes it is very much just counting away the  days and I keep updating my countdown just for the fun of it...going to switch it to hours soon LOL

Quote from: Laurie on November 08, 2018, 12:17:16 AM
Great news Liz all systems go for rebirth. (I wouldn't be surprised to see her emerge as a roo). Never know about them Aussies.. Glad to hear you have all your ducks in a row and paid for.

btw belated Happy Birthday Liz May you have many many more to just be you.

Love you,
  Laurie

Well we Aussies girls are known for being exceptions to the rule in everything we do...why should this be any different 

Quote from: JudiBlueEyes on November 08, 2018, 09:53:33 AM
No more barriers!  No more hoops to jump through!  Awesome news.  You are sooooo close.

I'm happy to hear you're feeling better.
Judi

I am so happy the hoop jumping is over...although I am building good looking legs with all that exercise...Thanks Judi 

Quote from: SteffN on November 08, 2018, 12:15:16 PM
Great News Liz!!

Thanks Steffn


I hope you consider yourself well and truly welcomed LOL...thanks for popping by and wishing me well.

Quote from: Nicole70 on November 09, 2018, 08:13:51 PM
Hi Liz,

I'm back, work around the house is now all but finished, thank you for checking up on me during my absence from the forum, would love to catch up soon.

Congratulations on seeing off your UTI, cranberry juice always seemed to help my girls when they have had it in the past, and a massive well done on achieving your weight goal!

Super exciting times ahead only a few weeks away now, I'm getting excited for you too.

Hugs

Nicole

To be honest it was your comment last time we got together that prompted me to follow through on the cranberry juice. Thanks for the compliment I hope we can catch up over the coming week if you have time I know Cindy is keen...

Quote from: Alaskan Danielle on November 09, 2018, 09:24:03 PM
@LizK
Dear Liz:
How many ways can I say I am so very happy for you that everything is now working out for your surgery day.... 
... the UTI is gone, you got an acceptable date scheduled for your surgery, you have your latest final instructions and admission forms....  and all of it is Paid For...   

Yes indeed, do your very best to maintain your weight and keep healthy......
... and after your recovery period in the hospital.... 
          it will be post-op clothes shopping therapy time.

I will be eagerly looking for any and all of your postings and updates as you feel free to share them.
Thank you for keeping us all in the loop...  your followers want to follow...
Hugs and best wishes,
Danielle

Hi  Danielle don't worry about the "interruption" you have a job to do and welcome one at that!(sorry but ti was there for the taking)...Thanks for the job you do greeting our newest members. It is an important one that you do very well.

Thanks for the kind words...I was staring into my wardrobe today and all I could see was the need for some clothes that fit!!


At only 23 days out I have been off my Oestrogen for about a week and well that...kinda...just..... sucks!!!!

I may be a little slow to respond over the he next few weeks as I continue to try and distract myself that comes with the discomfort of reducing hormone level....by this time next week they will be lower than they have ever been since 2015.  So that should be fun  trying to keep positive here guys and gals


Weightloss...hmmm had a birthday this week...did I mention that....ummm...so I put on some weight but still weighed in under my surgery weight....just a mars bars difference LOL

Take care

Liz

Hi Liz and all!

I've got to exclaim that Liz, you've had one hell of a ride, and everyone's support turned your story into a cliffhanger with a Greek Tragedy chorus. What a sweet, kind, wise blanket of women's energy here! Such a soft buffer for Liz as she hit hard bumps along the road.

I add my wishes for your best chances at happy distractions during the rest of your countdown. May you slide into the start/finish line on a magic carpet of tranquility.

Quote from: Moonflower on November 12, 2018, 06:59:16 PM
Hi Liz and all!

I've got to exclaim that Liz, you've had one hell of a ride, and everyone's support turned your story into a cliffhanger with a Greek Tragedy chorus. What a sweet, kind, wise blanket of women's energy here! Such a soft buffer for Liz as she hit hard bumps along the road.

I add my wishes for your best chances at happy distractions during the rest of your countdown. May you slide into the start/finish line on a magic carpet of tranquility.

Hi Moonflower

Glad you made it over and thank for the lovely invocation...

The women and men who have supported me through my journey have been amazing....I have made some great friendships and grown close to a number of these gals.

It has been a bumpy ride but each one of those bumps has taught me some hard won lessons. I am currently keeping my head down concentrating keeping it all together with only...21 days and 29 minutes to go.[emoji3]

Take care



Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Quote from: LizK on November 07, 2018, 02:47:21 AM

UTI DROWNED

I am going to call it....Tested 6 Days ago, no call to say positive result = no UTI...I drowned my UTI(applause erupts)...thankyou... although it could also have been scared off by the unsweetened cranberry juice that it was swimming in...makes me shudder just thinking about it. LOL

....

I am now looking to maintain my weight around the 89Kg Mark if Possible....so long as my BMI remains under 30 I am fine. My fitness is pretty good I just did my BP, 120/72 resting heart rate of 50 bpm. I have trimmed my daily walk to 5 KS with 1-200m "jogs" where permissible. I have promised myself if I can maintain my weight till I am out of hospital then I am going shopping for new clothes in Melbourne.

Good news on the UTI XD

I wish my BP would stay low, but all my life it has fluctuated wildly based mainly on life events or even if i am nervous.. which is always when a BP is taken and it shoots up, heck when i was 18~19 it was high enough to prompt a trip to the ER and into ICU (which i declined, and meds which i declined as well and it came down after an hour). apparently i was in extreme danger territory esp for someone my age too , anyway gonna have to find ways to bring mine down as well.. i am hoping exercise will help..

soo super excited for you. XD

V

Quote from: Veronica A on November 14, 2018, 01:46:48 PM
Good news on the UTI XD

I wish my BP would stay low, but all my life it has fluctuated wildly based mainly on life events or even if i am nervous.. which is always when a BP is taken and it shoots up, heck when i was 18~19 it was high enough to prompt a trip to the ER and into ICU (which i declined, and meds which i declined as well and it came down after an hour). apparently i was in extreme danger territory esp for someone my age too , anyway gonna have to find ways to bring mine down as well.. i am hoping exercise will help..

soo super excited for you. XD

V

Hi V

Thanks for dropping by. My BP was consistently high when I saw the GP and she asked me to take it at home and see what it was. This is when we discovered that I my blood pressure reacts to being in a medical environment  which they call White Coat syndrome. My Bp at home is somewhere around 120 to 130 over 60 - 70 when in the Drs office its always above 150 over 70+ so based on this I have added a high blood pressure pill at the insistance of my Dr. She wants it to be no more than 130 in her office...whihc we achieved and promptly made me dizzy as my BP was 90-110 over 40-60  So I still take a small dose to keep my Dr Happy...


I would have thought exercise and losing weight would have helped but to be honest in my case it hasn't made that much difference because it was never that high.


I am about to do another update on how I am feeling and changes that are occurring so rather than talk about it twice I will finish the update I am currently working on...thanks again for dropping by


Take care
'
Liz                   

Quote from: LizK on November 14, 2018, 06:39:06 PM
Hi V

Thanks for dropping by. My BP was consistently high when I saw the GP and she asked me to take it at home and see what it was. This is when we discovered that I my blood pressure reacts to being in a medical environment  which they call White Coat syndrome. My Bp at home is somewhere around 120 to 130 over 60 - 70 when in the Drs office its always above 150 over 70+ so based on this I have added a high blood pressure pill at the insistance of my Dr. She wants it to be no more than 130 in her office...whihc we achieved and promptly made me dizzy as my BP was 90-110 over 40-60  So I still take a small dose to keep my Dr Happy...


I would have thought exercise and losing weight would have helped but to be honest in my case it hasn't made that much difference because it was never that high.


I am about to do another update on how I am feeling and changes that are occurring so rather than talk about it twice I will finish the update I am currently working on...thanks again for dropping by


Take care
'
Liz                   

yeah i think food as well as stressing over things. i just want to stay away from those tablets as much as possible. when i am relaxed or at home just chilling its well within norms. but i stress each time my blood pressure is taken..so it climbs.. it really should never have climbed when i was 19 and even now it really shouldn't climb as much as it does under pressure.

Quote from: Veronica A on November 15, 2018, 03:54:39 PM
yeah i think food as well as stressing over things. i just want to stay away from those tablets as much as possible. when i am relaxed or at home just chilling its well within norms. but i stress each time my blood pressure is taken..so it climbs.. it really should never have climbed when i was 19 and even now it really shouldn't climb as much as it does under pressure.

My Dr made the point that if mine was rising like that at the Dr's where else was it rising and how often. About 4 weeks ago I was really upset thinking about what had gone down with my family and took my blood pressure in the middle of it. My BP was something ridiculous like 160/95. It was around this time that I began to rethink how I was dealing with the situation with my family...I am not happy taking any medication but in this case it has good preventative qualities.

Take care

Liz

Quote from: Veronica A on November 15, 2018, 03:54:39 PM
yeah i think food as well as stressing over things. i just want to stay away from those tablets as much as possible. when i am relaxed or at home just chilling its well within norms. but i stress each time my blood pressure is taken..so it climbs.. it really should never have climbed when i was 19 and even now it really shouldn't climb as much as it does under pressure.

@LizK   @Veronica A
Dear Liz & Veronica:
Stress and worry are very bad for BOTH mental health and physical health.  It can leave a person feeling restless and jumpy, cause a rise in blood pressure,  sleep problems, headaches, stomach and digestion problems, and muscle tension, and make it difficult to concentrate at work or at school.... and impact one's immune system.

Constant worrying and negative thinking, and always expecting the worst can take a toll on one's emotional and physical health.

If you have not been there yet you might want to visit my thread:
         "Positive Mindset... put away negativity"

Hugs and well wishes,
Danielle

Tick, Tick, Tick ...time moves on steadily and the date gets closer...as the date gets closer the more I feel the need to pull back and start focussing on the next part of my journey. To focus my mind on the upcoming task like you might do if you were focusing on a job interview or a particularly hard exam.


It has been awhile coming and I knew maybe 3 weeks ago my walking days were numbered. My hip has been firing waring signals at me to "slow up" and finally on Wednesday night I was getting around home like a 90 year, shuffling along barely able to lift my leg, requiring my stick when moving around inside the house...Meryl yelled at me ..ok maybe it was more like a severe talking too anyway long story short my days of walking 6 days a week are over. I took Thursday off and walked Friday and Saturday instead. I still maintained my weight easily this week and in fact lost slightly, to be sitting almost exactly on 90KGS...


I have been asked that several times.... I don't know that I am that excited.(maybe a little lol [emoji23] ) There has been too much fear for me to seriously consider anything else until recently. My mood at the moment would be subdued to flat but always better when I have some company. I am calm and not anxious at all, I am still fearful but even that has no strong power over me...maybe "contented" is the word I am looking for. I said to Cindy that I was "hunkering down" keeping myself in good health both physically and mentally. There have been several days where I have let myself fall into a "doubt trap" which usually inevitably leads to a rabbit hole...but that seems to have abated now...all the silly doubts over the last few years have all come back to be replayed in technicolour with surround sound seemed to have mainly stopped....I knew much of this was spurred on by my falling Oestrogen levels so I was ready for it. Being mentally prepared made many of those rabbit holes very shallow. I knew what to expect and  preparedness myself a bit more. 

Did I mention that stopping HRT.....SUCKS!  just sayin...if you are wondering is it as "bad" as you have heard...Roger That!! YMMV...I am 14 days and starting to see physical signs(just the beginnings) as well as experiencing the moods changes. Its is quite unpleasant at times but after everything I have been through I am not prepared to add any Oestrogen because if there is going to be a first person who's surgery is stopped because of "Oestrogen levels" you just know it will be me LOL

I am trying to learn how to use Tapatalk so I can use my iPad to communicate with the board whilst away. Funny enough... I got told the other night that I seem a bit preoccupied lately...guess I am a bit. Till next update...

Take care

Liz

Edit:I removed a section talking about fear as I want to discuss that as a seperate post and I also made other minor changes to make it easier to read.

Less than three, but more than two, soon to be just one.
Your excitement is a mix of your fears and your hopes.  Feeling it is life.
The end of this section in your journey is just the start of the next one.

Hugs and smiles from a California girl

"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself" was said in March 1933 but is just as relevant now.  With all the careful decisions and preparations you have made I think your fear is natural but mostly residual - much as we achieve great goals in other ways but our minds take more time to catch up with what we have accomplished.

Don't make the mistake I made... keep your coffee intake to a reasonable amount before surgery.  It's tempting to offset the blah feeling from temporarily stopping HRT with additional coffee.  My sudden caffeine withdrawal headache one day post-op was worse than any pain from surgery. 

Quote from: Jessica on November 16, 2018, 09:59:44 PM
Less than three, but more than two, soon to be just one.
Your excitement is a mix of your fears and your hopes.  Feeling it is life.
The end of this section in your journey is just the start of the next one.

Hugs and smiles from a California girl

Hi Jessica

I was heartened to see things starting to improve with you and your better half [emoji3] Hopefully things will get easier on that front....You are dead right, this feels like closing the door on that part of my life. Yes time races along and I feel to a certain extent to be coasting as I have nothing left to do except fill a prescription, pack a bag and get on the plane...once I hit the hospital the fun and games will really start. LOL

Take care Liz


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Quote from: Kendra on November 17, 2018, 02:56:19 PM
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself" was said in March 1933 but is just as relevant now.  With all the careful decisions and preparations you have made I think your fear is natural but mostly residual - much as we achieve great goals in other ways but our minds take more time to catch up with what we have accomplished.

Don't make the mistake I made... keep your coffee intake to a reasonable amount before surgery.  It's tempting to offset the blah feeling from temporarily stopping HRT with additional coffee.  My sudden caffeine withdrawal headache one day post-op was worse than any pain from surgery.

Kendra you are so right and the saying you quoted is no less relevant now than when it was first spoken.

I did remove a section of the post that Kendra is referring to as I want to discuss the topic of  "fear" in  more detail and as a seperate post but it makes what Kendra had to say very relevant.

I think you are right, Cindy used the term "boil over"...which describes perfectly what it feels like and what is happening.

Thanks for the tip on the coffee....it is the only vice I have left...I will probably get my last coffee after landing in Melbourne the day before surgery...I go "nil by mouth" at 12:30 on the day before surgery....I arrive in Melbourne at 9:35am which gives me a chance to get some good quality coffee and donuts(pre surgical meal of champions)before I relinquish control of my life at the hospital.

Take care

Liz


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Quote from: Alaskan Danielle on November 16, 2018, 05:53:49 PM
@LizK   @Veronica A
Dear Liz & Veronica:
Stress and worry are very bad for BOTH mental health and physical health.  It can leave a person feeling restless and jumpy, cause a rise in blood pressure,  sleep problems, headaches, stomach and digestion problems, and muscle tension, and make it difficult to concentrate at work or at school.... and impact one's immune system.

Constant worrying and negative thinking, and always expecting the worst can take a toll on one's emotional and physical health.

If you have not been there yet you might want to visit my thread:
         "Positive Mindset... put away negativity"

Hugs and well wishes,
Danielle

the only thing i suffer from is sleep problems, i just get a mild panic attack (feels that way to me) when i get my blood pressure being taken, stems from when i was 19ish and that whole incident of danger.... i start to feel my heart rate increase and the oh bugger sensations rising. i have a tendency to simply shove everything to the side when its too much, and just keep doing that till it smacks me in the face. and old habit of survival over the years, breaking down there and then is hard for me to do. for bp when i am home and measure it at least 2~3 times its in the normal range, the first is boderline.. like yesterday it was high the first time, i took a deep breath and it drop to the top of the normal range and the third time it was squarly in the normal range.

Liz the stopping hrt sucks and its what i am totally afraid of as well for my FFS and other surgeries. i am hoping my T production is crippled completely by that time.. and i dont suffer a sudden surge of T..  it has to suck, but as you said being mentally prepared sure helps.. will keep that in mind. i think i am excited because its a momentous milestone and totally happy for you. the only way i know how to convey everything i think and feel for all the ladies who get SRS.

Liz