The Big Adventure

Goldiegirl

shala_moo wrote: »

Hi Goldie,

I remember when my dad had to cut down salt my mom swapped him to Lo Salt.. don't know if it might be helpful to you at all, but thought I'd mention it.


http://www.losalt.com/uk/

I've got my Lo Salt arriving this evening ! I didn't realise that they had a web site too, so thanks for that. I had a very quick look and saw something with chicken and pepper and paprika that looked fab :T

misscousinitt wrote: »

When DH was first diagnosed with high blood pressure, we set about reducing his salt content. Got the gravy granules and stock cubes with 25% less salt; stopped adding salt to veg, potatoes, pasta or rice when cooking and tried to persuade him to drink more water to help flush the salt content out! Also used more herbs and spices and less processed meat.

It turned out that DHs blood pressure problems are genetic, so I don't really know if helped, but we managed to bring his salt level down without impacting too much on flavour.

Like to see it as a cooking challenge - hope you have fun with the new cookbook.

MCI

I've ordered some low sodium vegetable and chicken stock cubes from eBay this afternoon. I haven't added salt to rice pasta and veg for sometime, so at least I'm used to doing with out some salt. Together with low sodium / low salt choices and some other recipe sites I'm finding, plus the new cook book I feel I'm moving in the right direction.


Oh, and you wouldn't believe the amount of water I'm drinking!


I'm not thrilled to have a chronic medical condition, but I want to take control and do positive things to help myself. That's so important for me


On that subject, I had a letter from the hospital


Pre op assessment 22nd Sept
Operation 1st October.


So it seems it's no longer 16th Sept, but at this point nothing I have read has convinced me that a grommet and steroids is right for me at present.


I fully intend to stop this process.... but I need to stay on good terms with the consultant, as I can be refered for balance training, I want to discuss meds, and I will have to inform the DVLA, so I need him to confirm I can drive!


Tomorrow I have the balance function tests, which will confirm how my balance system is working.


On that note, I'm off for my daily walk!

Karmacat

Sounds good, GG, love the way you're taking control. I've used the supermarket's own lo-salt version - much cheaper, and the same thing really, of course. Hope the walk's nice - very sunny here, its lovely!

Goldiegirl

Lovely weather here as well, it was very pleasant walking around.

I've only been doing a loop round local streets, but it's nice seeing the gardens.

I've been saying all summer that I'm going to start walking again, but this has kick-started me.

On the money front, I had 5 eBay sales over the weekend, all on behalf of my friend. I haven't worked out my share yet, I'll get that done.

We paid our gas and electric in August. They had ignored our readings, and had gone with estimates instead, which were higher. We didn't bother to do anything about it, as our next bill would be lower. But today we got another bill, saying they'd refund the overpayment. It's going back to the bill account, so won't make any difference to the day to day budget, but I was pleased with their action.

Tomorrow I'm back at the hospital for my balance tests. It's going to take two hours to do. I'll happy to get these done, as it'll give more information about what is going on. But not looking forward to a two hour appointment. I feel sorry for Mr Goldie, he's ferrying me around to these appointments with no complaint at all, but all the waiting must be boring for him.

Habibiboo

:wave:

Just had a quick catch up Goldie & want to wish you well for tomorrow. I hope you can get it all sorted in a way that feels right for you and helps keep it all under control ... including taking sick days as and when you need them until 18th December comes around. Big hugs x

Karmacat

Yes, good luck with the balance tests - at least its not painful! Is Mr Goldie going to take up sudoku or anything? I take my kindle away with me nowadays, use the free games on there as well as the books.

hanging_on_in_there...

Another one just catching up! Good luck with your balance tests tomorrow! Glad to hear youre feeling a bit more in control of things re the diet etc. They say knowledge is power! All the best!

Goldiegirl

I didn't know you could get Sudoku on a Kindle, that's interesting to know, will have to look into that.

As it was, Mr Goldie read his Kindle for a while, went for a walk and sat outside for a bit, then came back to the waiting area, just as I was coming out of the appointment.

I felt the tests went well.

I had another hearing test, which confirmed my feeling that my hearing is 'up' again, to the level it was at in June

Then I was wired up to electrodes around my eyes, and had to follow various moving lights with my eyes, and having a test which meant I had to have warm and then cold water introduced into my ears:eek:, which wasn't to bad at all. These tests can make people feel dizzy, but I felt ok. These tests are to measure involuntary eye movements, which are normally present in vertigo.

Will now wait for the outcome of these tests.

I relaxed this afternoon, as it was quite tiring, as I concentrated a lot.

Then I met my friend for tea, and we had a good old matter.

She felt the same as me..... If she was in my position she'd rather try controlling the situation with lifestyle and meds.

She also made a couple of other good points. If I start my treatment half way up the treatment ladder, if it didn't work, the next treatment is even more extreme surgery, as the doc would probably not go back down the ladder again.

Plus, she would have hoped that the doc would have laid out the options for me, rather than just telling me what he's going to do. It's my body, so ultimately, it's my decision.

Her father in law has Menieres, and he's on a low salt diet and meds, and only has a rare vertigo turn.

I really appreciated her thoughts, she knows me very well and knows what makes me tick, so I feel I'm making the right decision for me.

She bought her lunch for the next few days, and I noticed a YS bean and pepper salad, only 0.03 salt, so i bought that to go with my lunch tomorrow.

Suddenly I'm considering everything in salt value, rather than monetary value:rotfl:

Karmacat

Sounds good, GG - and how useful to have a good, existing friend in RL with such a mine of information!

hanging_on_in_there...

Glad to heart you felt your tests went relatively well GG. Sounds add off you are going down the right path with your decision to control the condition naturally...
All the best,
Bo xx

Goldiegirl

Karmacat wrote: »

Sounds good, GG - and how useful to have a good, existing friend in RL with such a mine of information!

She also works in admin in the health service, so she's going to have a word with a doctor she trusts, just to get an informal alternative medical view


Today has been a day of blessed normality.


Just been catching up with a few things that I've forgotten to do, what with all the other stuff going on. Also did a bit of light gardening, and have been harvesting low salt recipes from the internet.


I went for a short walk this morning, but I'll go for another stroll shortly.


I've transferred £20 to the HAF, being my share of the weekend's eBay profits.


I'm starting to think I might not actually buy a hearing aid, but stay with the NHS (when I eventually get fitted). If I buy my own, I have to pay for batteries and 'tubing' as well, so maybe it's better to stay within the NHS.


So the Hearing Aid Fund may well get a rename, to something more exciting!