Dear celeste:

I know someone who needs two knee surgeries, one knee is worse than the other, bone-on-bone, yet he keeps postponing a surgery because he is not looking forward, to put it mildly, for all that a surgery and a recovery entail. I understand, I too postpone anything I don’t feel like doing.

Did you have two knee replacement surgeries?

anita

Dear celeste:

Congratulations for going through two knee replacement surgeries and the physical therapy afterwards! Like I said, I know someone who’s been postponing two knee surgeries forever. I wish he had your courage and determination. I heard in regard to post surgery on any joint that physical therapy (PT) afterwards is crucial.

When you say “property watch”, what do you mean?

Also, if you want to elaborate on “not doing well in the eating arena”, please do.

anita

Dear celeste:

You are a strong woman, and this is a heroic story, how you went up 2 flight of stairs, telling yourself: Mountain get out of my way! I am impressed!

As I was reading your post, I thought to myself: I should tell your story to my friend who needs two knee replacement surgeries. You then suggested it yourself… and then I read about your brother who is heavy, having a different (much more difficult, I imagine) experience than yours. My friend is heavy too, very heavy… so, he is not likely to be able to get the mountain out of his way, so to speak. He lost a lot of weight before, looked skinny, really, but gained back all the weight he lost. Currently, he is too  emotionally attached to overeating, so he is not ready to lose weight. Any advice I can pass on to him?

Reading about your experience with diverticulitis scared me. Pain scares me. The opoioids you took after the knee replacement surgeries added to the diverticulities issue, you wrote. I just googled and saw a study that opoids (and certain anti-inflammatory druges, even ibuprofen) are associated with an increased chance of developing diverticulitis (the inflammation of and sometimes infection of the diverticula, small pouches that commonly form in the lining of the digestive tract, particularly in the colon). And it says, to prevent it, eat lots of fiber and drink lots of water.. and exercise.

The Property Watch in Florida sounds good to me.

“I cave in on sweets” – me too,  and I found The Solution: stevia and monk fruit sweetener, both natural, both very sweet, both non-caloric. The downside- they are expensive… but anything for my huge sweet tooth!

anita

Ho Celeste.  I am glad to hear the surgery went well.  I was doing some pet sitting before COVID.  I greatly enjoyed it and the money was okay.  Then when lickdiwn came nobody could go away. I did manage to get a full-time job though.  I’m 62 now.  I can’t even semi-retire for another 5 years. I would live to do the pet-sitting again.  My best friend is 65.  She had to retire early due to an injury.  She us very in demand fir pet sitting and has regular clients plus she does retail sales.