Are we having fun yet?
Oh, you betcha! :-D
The bariatric consult with Dr. Baggs went very, very well. My weight is 245 and change. My goal weight is 243. Evidently, the doctor is counting the weight at which the referral to the bariatric program was made, which was somewhere in the mind-250's. Three pounds!!! We discussed a number of things such as past surgeries and health issues. He wants to test me for sleep apnea, and he says I need to get my diabetes more firmly under control, which makes sense. He wants to see the results of the bone marrow biopsy, because leukemia will quite obviously take me out of the program (at least until it's resolved). His other concern is that I have a large number of adhesions in my belly. If things are too stuck together, he won't be able to re-route my innards. I have another orientation in Vacaville on October 20, as well as more blood work. Yes, more! The vampires strike again! The doctor seemed very interested that I was kayaking and seemed almost like he wanted to come along when I told him we were headed to Santa Cruz after the appointment.
Ah, sea kayaking! I learned a lot about it yesterday. Yes, indeed. The first thing I learned is that you do NOT want to attempt to launch from the beach while the tide is coming back in, especially at a place like Santa Cruz, which is famous for its surf. We drove to Helen's place, chatted for a bit then drove to the beach. We scoped out the pier, decided there was no really good way to get to the water then parked on the street, unstrapped the kayak and dragged/carried it down to the water. I got in. I launched and started to paddle...then then a really big wave hit me. I was nose-first, but that did not matter. The boat was swamped. I was still afloat, though, so I tried to paddle out further. The next big wave hit, turned me sideways, added more water to the several inches of water already in the kayak, and THEN the NEXT big wave hit, and that was it for kayaking. *bzuh*
Helen and I valiantly tried to drag the boat up past the waves. Do you have any idea how heavy a water-filled kayak is? @.@ I don't know who was more winded...Helen or I. And of course, every time another Big Wave crashed in, the boat filled with water again. We'd get the boat almost bailed and then *SPLASH!*. Oh, and that's not counting the sand that began to accumulate in the bottom of the kayak. Lots of sand! Oodles of sand! Sand, sand, sand! I ran back to the car for the bilge pump. It did not help much. It was like trying to bail the boat with a teaspoon. We were beginning to get more than a bit desperate (Allan was on his way), when two nice, strong fellows came along and asked if we needed assistance. Oh, yes! Please! They got on either end of the boat, tipped most of the water out and dragged it up above the waves. After that, all we had to worry about was digging the sand out of the bottom...
Allan came from the bus stop by the time we had most of the sand removed. He helped us carry/drag the boat back to our car. As I was strapping the boat back onto the car, we were approached by a panhandler. He went to Helen and Allan first. When he got around to me, I was already in a less-than-charitable mood, so I hissed at him, "Mommy's busy, and you're not helping!" He backed away very quickly.
We went back to the apartment complex and hit the hot tub. I learned another very valuable lesson: when you place a recently sunburned limb into hot water, it hurts like hell! I did enjoy the soak, though (with my left leg held out of the water). Supper was Costco pizza, fetched by Neil and Allan, and we had a very nice natter afterward before heading home.
So, that was yesterday. I have more to write about today, but chores beckon.
Take care, all.
Namarië
The bariatric consult with Dr. Baggs went very, very well. My weight is 245 and change. My goal weight is 243. Evidently, the doctor is counting the weight at which the referral to the bariatric program was made, which was somewhere in the mind-250's. Three pounds!!! We discussed a number of things such as past surgeries and health issues. He wants to test me for sleep apnea, and he says I need to get my diabetes more firmly under control, which makes sense. He wants to see the results of the bone marrow biopsy, because leukemia will quite obviously take me out of the program (at least until it's resolved). His other concern is that I have a large number of adhesions in my belly. If things are too stuck together, he won't be able to re-route my innards. I have another orientation in Vacaville on October 20, as well as more blood work. Yes, more! The vampires strike again! The doctor seemed very interested that I was kayaking and seemed almost like he wanted to come along when I told him we were headed to Santa Cruz after the appointment.
Ah, sea kayaking! I learned a lot about it yesterday. Yes, indeed. The first thing I learned is that you do NOT want to attempt to launch from the beach while the tide is coming back in, especially at a place like Santa Cruz, which is famous for its surf. We drove to Helen's place, chatted for a bit then drove to the beach. We scoped out the pier, decided there was no really good way to get to the water then parked on the street, unstrapped the kayak and dragged/carried it down to the water. I got in. I launched and started to paddle...then then a really big wave hit me. I was nose-first, but that did not matter. The boat was swamped. I was still afloat, though, so I tried to paddle out further. The next big wave hit, turned me sideways, added more water to the several inches of water already in the kayak, and THEN the NEXT big wave hit, and that was it for kayaking. *bzuh*
Helen and I valiantly tried to drag the boat up past the waves. Do you have any idea how heavy a water-filled kayak is? @.@ I don't know who was more winded...Helen or I. And of course, every time another Big Wave crashed in, the boat filled with water again. We'd get the boat almost bailed and then *SPLASH!*. Oh, and that's not counting the sand that began to accumulate in the bottom of the kayak. Lots of sand! Oodles of sand! Sand, sand, sand! I ran back to the car for the bilge pump. It did not help much. It was like trying to bail the boat with a teaspoon. We were beginning to get more than a bit desperate (Allan was on his way), when two nice, strong fellows came along and asked if we needed assistance. Oh, yes! Please! They got on either end of the boat, tipped most of the water out and dragged it up above the waves. After that, all we had to worry about was digging the sand out of the bottom...
Allan came from the bus stop by the time we had most of the sand removed. He helped us carry/drag the boat back to our car. As I was strapping the boat back onto the car, we were approached by a panhandler. He went to Helen and Allan first. When he got around to me, I was already in a less-than-charitable mood, so I hissed at him, "Mommy's busy, and you're not helping!" He backed away very quickly.
We went back to the apartment complex and hit the hot tub. I learned another very valuable lesson: when you place a recently sunburned limb into hot water, it hurts like hell! I did enjoy the soak, though (with my left leg held out of the water). Supper was Costco pizza, fetched by Neil and Allan, and we had a very nice natter afterward before heading home.
So, that was yesterday. I have more to write about today, but chores beckon.
Take care, all.
Namarië