Archive for March, 2009
I thought it was just Menopause
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Menopause the Musical
Here I am getting closer to 50 and suddenly I start to gain weight for no reason, I have a “tummy” now where before I had a relatively flat stomach even though I’ve always battled with weight due in part to my chronic Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis. “Info on Hashimoto’s Throiditis from Woman’s Health” (Just like Oprah. I would wish for something else to have in common with Oprah if I got a choice)
The rest of my symptoms weren’t much fun either!
- I couldn’t sleep more than a few hours in a row without waking.
- I was a bit depressed even though my relationship with my boyfriend turned fiance’ turned husband and two fabulous almost grown daughters was the joy of my life.
- Lack of energy and tired even through I couldn’t sleep for very long
- I started loosing strength when I was working out
- I started having aches and pains in strange places
- Digestion issues
- Higher blood pressure than ever in my life.
- Feeling that something just was NOT right in my body
All of these symptoms didn’t start at once but over the span of the last 2 years they have gotten more pronounced along with a “pending doom” type of feeling that unfortunately lots of women I know have with a greater frequency than our male counterparts.
I also have arthritis in my joints so whatever aches and pains I wasn’t associating with Menopause I figured were that. So… I decided to go and get a physical and get set up to see a Orthopedic doc to see if having a hip replacement was eminent and maybe that was the reason I was feeling sort of miserable more and more.
Blood tests revealed that I had a VERY high level of calcium in my blood, elevated to the point of hypertension blood pressure, my lady doc is looking at me with that concerned look… yikes! What is happening now. She explains that she needs to run parathyroid blood tests on me as she suspects something. What now? Being at the doctors office has the ability to make you panic before you even know what is going on.
Next blood test shows that my parathyroid numbers are all sky high which tells her she was right in her diagnosis I have hyperparathyroidism. YIKES! The longest word ever.
Hyperparathyroidism is a condition where 1 or all of your 4 glands develops a tumor on it which is excreting lots of calcium into your blood stream causing all of the symptoms above. You mean I might not have to be miserable until the end of time? WOW… I’m excited and scared at the same time.
She tells me I’ll have to have the tumor removed and quickly explains that 99% of the time the tumor is NON-Malignant (no cancer) and that I’ll need to see an Endocrinologist next.
Look for part 2 of this series to join with me in this my pursuit of health! Appointment with the Endo next week!
No it was NOT just Menopause!
Resources about Hyperparathyroidism:
- The National Endocrine & Metabolic Diseases Info Center
- Hyperparathyroid Wiki
- Mayo Clinic on Hyper Parathyroid Disease (My doc recommended this one)
- Endocrine Web
Definition:
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“Parathyroidectomy“
Parathyroidectomy is surgery to remove parathyroid glands or parathyroid tumors. Parathyroidectomy is recommended when one or more parathyroid glands are producing excessive amounts of parathyroid hormone.
Spring Gardening Tips
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Spring is my absolute favorite time of year.
This winter has been very mild in Colorado, but in years past when snow has covered the garden for winter, that first splash of color from your crocus bulbs you lovingly planted last fall just warms your heart. I’m anxious to get out there and get my hands dirty and luckily there is plenty to do in your garden in March.
MARCH
In the Garden
- Plant your Pansies
- Prune your Junipers
- Plant container and balled or burlapped trees and shrubs late in March.
Spring Lawns
- Get your lawn mower ready and if there were any issues when you winterized your sprinkler system, head to your favorite Home Depot / Lowes to get your supplies.
- This winter has been very dry, so I’m hand watering my lawn until we get our sprinkler system going.
Kitchen Garden
- You can sow seeds of peas, onion, carrots, lettuce,spinach, beets, swis hard & radishes outdoors
- Plant seedlings of broccoli< cabbage< kale< brussel sprouts and cauliflower now
- Plant Potatoes late March.
- Plant bare root asparagus & rhubarb, bare root raspberries, grapes, strawberries and fruit tree’s.
- This is of course if your garden area isn’t still frozen! I know parts of mine still are.
Indoor Plants
- Fertilize pots of annuals that you kept inside for the winter.
- Re-pot root bound houseplants.
The columbines aren’t out yet, but that’s such a pretty picture from last year I wanted to share it. I find that Colorado’s state flower is happiest in some shade and beneath your Aspens since it most closely mimics their wild cousins that grow in the Rocky Mountains.
Do you have any tips to share? Favorite spring flowers? Talk to me below.
Thanks to a Techie Guru
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This is a shout out to Spencer Winegarden for helping me get this WP Blog site set up. I don’t know what I would have done without him and he made it all seem so easy. Check out his site here http://spencerjw.com/
I thought I had married one of the too few great guys on the planet, but he is another one!
Oh and for those of you out there who think Twitter is a waste of time, I met Spencer on Twitter! What is Twitter? I’ll do a blog post on that soon!
Pollo Verde con Arroz
Posted by: | CommentsGreen Chili Chicken w/ Rice
Heather’s Favorite
1 cans Green Chili Enchilada Sauce (or home made of course) I use Hatch’s Medium.
2 cups cooked, shredded chicken breast
1 can (16 oz) diced tomatoes
Mexican spices to your taste, (chili powder, cumin)
1 cloves garlic (smashed and diced)
1 small onion diced
1/2 tsp cumin
2 – 4 oz can’s green chili’s
1/4 – 1/2 c. chicken or veg broth
2 cups package, shredded Cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
1 package of 10 (or so) burrito size Tortilla, flour
1 package of microwave Spanish rice (follow package directions and add 3 Drops HOT sauce & can of green chili’s)
Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 9 x 13 Pan. Feeds 4-6 depending on other side dishes.
Microwave Spanish rice using packing directions & special directions above.
Prepare your chicken by either using a store bought cooked chicken or grill your own. Shred or cut into small pieces. Combine in a large skillet tomatoes, 1 can green chili, garlic, cumin, onions & tomatoes stir and simmer, add chicken and chicken broth as needed for moistness and to de-glaze the plan.
Place a large spoonful of chicken mixture 1 of rice & 1 of shredded cheese. Roll up and place in a greased 9 X 13 pan.( How full you want the enchiladas to be, etc., is up to you. ) Repeat till pan is full. Pour green chili and cheese over the top.
Place in oven for about 30 minutes or so.
The cheese should be melted and bubbling.
My extra daughter Heather (one of my youngest daughter’s best friend that ”lived” at our house, always requests this dish for any and all special occasions. Love you Heather!
You Won’t Believe What’s In It – Football Playoff Dip
Posted by: | CommentsPlayoffs Dip! Make this for your playoff get togethers and you are guaranteed to be a big hit! This is SO easy and is always such a surprise when people ask me what’s in it??
Take 1 small jar of Apricot Jam
1 can of green chili’s
1 16 oz pkg Neufatel Cheese (Lowfat)
1 cup shredded cheese (4 cheese Mexican is my favorite)
Place the block of cream cheese in a microwave safe serving container,
Combine the jam and chili’s and pour over the cream cheese
Top with the shredded cheese and heat until the shredded cheese is melted.
Serve with crisp crackers, crusty bread etc.
SO good, and is guaranteed to disappear and make you the hit of the potluck.
Note: I have tried to get a picture of this the last three times I’ve made it, but before I can get the camera out, someone has already dug into it.
