A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Banter Hall Coffee house 2399,,, we're doing so fine ^-^

The swiss steak sounds good....and the future meals already done is great---
I do not think I would like that jalapeno soup...

James---ya gotta love (not) insurance companies.....
it just slays me hoe THEY get to decide what meds a person should take---

Yeah, verdict is that they will NOT cover the "safer" medication until I take the "other" medication and determine to have side effects... Nevermind that the side effect that I have issues with is a little one called DEATH...

:rollseyes:

I'm actually surprised when my insurance DOES cover something these days. They used to cover my Restasis, which I use 6 times a day...now they won't cover it. I can't afford the $200+ a month for it. Seems like they don't cover much of anything anymore.

A doctor ordered a cat scan for me (my guts) on March 8th...I just assumed it would be covered. The insurance company called today to "let me know that they have approved my cat scan"!

at least you guys have insurance, I don't But IF I did I wouldn't be complaining about anything,cuz every little bit helps.
I just had my RX's filled and it cost me 320 dollars, out of pocket for a 30 day supply for ONE med, not to mention 130$ for nitro patches for 30 days as well as the other 5 meds I take daily, that fortunately are on the 4 dollar list. I spend close to 500 a month just for meds, I would do anything to have health insurance right now, ONly the 3 boys have it and I can barley afford for them to have it.With my pre existing heart problems health insurance for me will be as much as my rent, so do I pay rent and keep a roof over my head, or be homeless on the strength of having health insurance,

Cindy, at least you were told before you had the scan that it was covered---I routinely got letters saying whatever it was, was going to be covered months after I had had said item.

My DH's work changed the health insurance, and now I pay $10.00 MORE for each co-pay at my DRs., for just a beginning--and the deductable is $500.00 more a year that it was--& it was $2500. for each of us, and that is in-network. We pay the same for it all--(me thinks the companies portion is way less though)...and there was a small raise in Rod's wages--but then we get that and then some more taken from his check for taxes & such( DH is bringing home $60.00 less a pay check, than say a year ago---and things cost more & more all the time---

DH will turn 62 in October of this year. The 2 people that got to the same age where my DH works heard for the first time at the monthly meeting a few months before their 62nd B-day that they were "retiring".--well, we can't afford for Rod to retire until we are both on Medicare.......so if he loses his j ob, I have no idea what we will do....and no, no one will hire a 60 yr old lady, I have tried--for years...
The car is 13 years old & the truck is 6 years old, and I do not see being able to get new ones ever---I could go on for days....
but I will spare you all.

I am sorry, Carol. Life's expenses are really tough right now.
I looked and and studied and looked around and decided to invest in food. Food items I bought last year are about 20% more this year on average. That is a bigger return than I get on my IRA. And food has never, ever gone down. I am certainly enjoying it all. I love to cook and plan meals. I like the idea of being ready if something happens.

sorry.....
...I will not complain anymore.

yea ok I will not either--but you know, what it boils down to, I guess is that we all of us have our problems, it is just that we each have different problems.

I think I am finally tired enough to be able to go to sleep--nite nite

Thankfully here all procedures and operations are covered...but I do know people who had to give up good jobs to go on Welfare so that medication would be covered. All their pay was going to cover meds and leaving them with no money to eat.

Snowing here still...but pretty sticky snow, the trees are covered.

Sunny even if I were to quit my job I couldn't get on welfare,, they don't give adults welfare here,, only the children of adults.Unless you are on disability, or Social security, then adults don't get any help. I did apply for medical assistance thru a hospital, But I didn't meet the requirements to get RX prescriptions assistance, they said I make too much money,even tho my Rx's use 1/4 of my take home income. Only when I reach retirement age will I get any help at all, and I'm not even sure then if SS retirement will even be in existence any more .

The boys have dentist appts' this morning,, FUN

Pretty good actually I have an adopted daughter who lives in Sawmill Az. every once in a while she will stop by and make me some Jalapeno soup and her mother always sent me home made Jalapeno jelly good enough to kill for.

as for Ins. I got a raise in my SS retirement but then they raised the cost of medicare to more then $10.00 more then my SS raise only thing is I don't pay office calls to my main dr but the others I have to go to cost $20.00 every time they do their check on my heart and legs costs me $1000.00 for each test that is after medicare pays what little they pay.

Good afternoon. I got up and started right in on some of my outdoor stuff today. Before ever turning on my computer. Then I ran into town to do some banking. I am seriously considering a nap about now.

We have the guys coming out to start laying our solar panels on Monday; this weekend seems to be the weekend of cleaning out the garage so they can get started... It'll be over the next few weeks too, so I have to get everything straitened around for the solar guys, the guy from the city, zoning, etc... "fun" :/... lol

Plus Monday afternoon I have a dietitian from the hospital coming over to discuss diabetes and all that fun stuff... Evidently drinking a v8 for breakfast, one for lunch, and having a decent sized dinner isn't "healthy" as a continued diet... Even though I lost ~140lbs with it...

back from the dentist,, shoe shopping and going out to eat,, It's been a good day outing with the boys,,


Congrats on your weight loss James,, unfortunately some of the foods can't be eaten as a diabetic,, you'd be surprised what foods turn to sugar once digested.

yes I know---I do not have diabetes, but my cholesterol meds have given me the perchance to have a higher than usual sugar levels, so I am well aware of said foods----some days I think I should just eat non-starchy veggies

I have a pretty simple diet since I started loosing weight.. A V8 at about 8am, another at about 10am, a snack at about noon, a snack at about 2, and a decent sized dinner at about 5... Evidently it's unhealthy as V8 has so many carbs... And heaven forbid that I want to have a sandwich; "Daves Killer Bread" has a lot of carbs and several sugars per slice... They're joking if they expect me to give up sandwiches and pizza; i don't ask for much on cheat days, comeon...

I hear you----if I cut out carbs, it would be a sad day in my household...

I live on carbs. I crave pasta. Well, I also crave veggies.
It turned into a busy-ish day and my afternoon nap never occurred. I will be heading to bed early.

you get to eat grapefruit ?? no fair !! Please eat some for me, OK ????...Or were you just offering up some food for us here in the CH ???

Bad enough for me that I am going to eat lunchmeat today---& I was told to never ever eat lunchmeat---and never even so much as a hot dog, not even a turkey dog---

yes I can eat grapefruit why not?????

and yep this is CH breakfast,, but I also made it this morning at home,, LOL

I eat deli meat all the time,, can't do the turkey burgers or turkey dogs,or turkey bacon,, Nope Not gonna happen.. Nasty eeeyyuk!

Thinking about Dodge,, Hope she is feeling better,,

Good morning!

Thought I'd chime in here about the foods you all are talking about.

Firstly - James - congratulations on your weight loss - that is fantastic!

Diane - many of us are not supposed to eat grapefruit or drink the juice because aside from having a lot of sugar in it, it's been found to increase the effects (dosages) of some medications, which can be serious, depending on what particular meds one is taking. Of course there are people/drs who are on each side of that thought, so I say proceed with caution. I was told not to consume it, but I do enjoy a fresh grapefruit every now and then, and also really like the red grapefruit/tangerine juice that my grocery store has private label.

As for deli meats and processed foods such as hot dogs, turkey dogs, and sausages, they contain nitrates, but also TONS of salt, which as you know, are not good for those of us with high blood pressure, or those who have had heart issues. I haven't had any of those foods in a very long time, and a few weeks ago we got deli meats for a quick dinner. I could barely eat it because of the salty taste. Good thing I don't like it anymore - makes it easier to avoid.

By the way... V8 iS LOADED with salt! Even the light ones.

Anywho... I won 4 free tickets to a comedy club in our large mall for tonight, so I am going with my friend and her mother. The comedian is Orny Adams - never heard of him, but he's worked with Jerry Seinfeld, David Letterman, and writes for Jay Leno and Gary Shandling among others. Should be a fun evening out. The catch is that we each have to order 2 items - food or drinks, but last time I was there they had a very nice salad. Fun times!

Hi Lynne Good info you had there,
Have fun at the Comedy show,, We have free tickets here too and you have to order two items.You'll have a good time, comedy shows are always fun,

Thanks for all the info, Lynne---and yep you are spot on,... thanks for saying it so eloquently--Diane, it was a statin I was referring to, I would think you would be on one. ???.....
....I LOVE red grapefruit.....and I truely miss having it.

I had 1/2 a hogie sandwich with deli meats on it today for lunch----I thought that was plenty of a bad thing...

carol are you talking about pravastatin ? My doctor has never mentioned not eating grapefruit ever... I wonder why he hadn't?? I eat grapefruit almost daily too

yep that is one--and yes---there should be a sticker on your bottle---that or did you get a printout with your meds ever??- next time you are at the pharmacy I would ask the pharmasist about it--& There is a time frame--like several hours before & after taking it to avoid grapefruit--but mine told me it is best to avoid it all together---
\
BUT you will be glad to know that statins can cause your blood sugar levels to raise, but pravastatin is one that usually does not--lucky you...
I was on it in the beginning, but as the pravastatin was not doing it's job on my body I had to be switched to Lipitor, but I take the generic, as my ins. company said so...GRRRRRRR BUT still no grapefruit for carol.

I section the grapefruit and take it for my lunch so that is at least 7 hours before I take it(I take it around 8 pm) I'm going to have to go look at the papers I got with my RX, I just had filled.

Nothing in my paper about it, so I looked it up,, this is all I could find about Pravastatin and Grapefruit

Grapefruit and Pravachol do not appear to significantly interact with one another. Therefore, people taking Pravachol do not need to avoid grapefruit products (such as grapefruit, grapefruit juice, and grapefruit supplements). However, some of the other statins (such as Zocor) are affected by grapefruit products. It is thought that grapefruit interferes with an enzyme the body uses to break down these medications. This interaction can increase the chances of developing a serious muscle problem or other complications.


The combination of pravastatin and grape fruit may cause damages of the muscles (fibromyalgia), however this is more common for Lipitor and Zocor.
I will ask my doc next week,,,

biscuits and gravy are my favorite breakfast item...

Love me some Bisc'N Gravy too

I like biscuits and home made gravy too. I rarely eat it because of the nutrition value but home made gravy is so good.

I am not fond of biscuits and gravy. I love biscuits slathered in butter though. I wish my oven baked more evenly so I could really enjoy them. It may be a good thing it doesn't.

Good morning I was babysitting my grandchildren all weekend so it is good to be back in my little cubbyhole.

The sun was nice yesterday but with a COLD wind and the news says another winter storm is moving in....half the time they're not right.

Hi all....

Good morning. Keep safe in your winter weather, Shirley. You too, Sunny. We are to get cold and maybe another thin layer of snow late this week.

Good morning...Sunny & Shirley, keep safe--and Shirley,. I sure hope that they are wrong--I want spring to be here for us all..Having winter is jsut wrong. :wink:

hi peeps...be packing some winter stuff up this week to take home. Should be really warm here from now til end of the school year.

me too yummy

Morning. I don't think I remember what biscuits taste like but I do know I used to like biscuits and gravy as long as the gravy didn't have chunks of sausage in it. Still not feeling right, still waiting to see my doc.

whew....happy st patty day here I come lol