Stress

The problem with making a commitment to do anything on a regular basis is that once in awhile life gets in the way.  Back in June when all this liver stuff was new and scary, I made an excellent decision to create a blog in order to be held accountable for my actions.  It has worked amazingly well for me - I have that anxious moment on Wednesday mornings before I get on the scale, wondering what I'm going to have to admit to on that week's entry.  But it helps to keep me in line during the rest of the week.

The problem is that my next doctor's appointment is not until December - and there really isn't that much to talk about right now as far as my liver goes (the liver isn't exactly that exciting) but there is a heck of a lot going on in my life right now that adds to my stress level - and stress can be very detrimental to your liver.  What's going on you may ask.  So please bear with me while I list some of the things in a way to put it out there and take a deep breath and hopefully push some of the heavy energy aside.

My mom, who has lived with us for the last 17 years, is not doing well.  She has dementia...some days she's fairly good, some days she's not.  She has been diagnosed with cancer.  She is currently in a Rehabilitation and Health Center because a little over a month ago she fell down the stairs.  They are looking at sending her back home at the end of next week.  She has improved in her walking and balance to the point where there will be no more improvement.  But that doesn't necessarily mean that she is "fine" to come home.  When it was suggested that she stay there due to the dementia issues, we found out that she falls into a different category and so there are financial concerns now, since it would be "long term care."  In a nutshell, she makes too much money between my dad's measly pension and Social Security to qualify for federal/state financial aid, but too little to be able to pay for the facility herself.  She's in that gray area that most families are now finding themselves in as they care for their elderly parents.  Her shortfall is between $372 and $438 per month - depending on whether or not there are 30 or 31 days.  Where is an 86 year old woman who exhausted her savings a long time ago (mostly due to other medical expenses such as the heart attack she had when she was 77).  I have no brothers or sisters, so there is no other help, and we can't pay that.  So we are in this back and forth mode with the facility on what to do about mom.  I know she really wants to come home, and it would be great to give her some happiness during this final stage, but she also needs to be safe too.

Stress?  Just a tad.  But somehow I managed to get back on track as far as the weight goes.

Weight Lost This Week:    0.8 lbs.
Total Weight Lost:           14.8 lbs.