topic Re: What I miss in Community Chat

What I miss

GoneButNotForgotten — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 01:06:54 GMT

I've been dealing with chronic pain (several health issues) for a long time. It really tires me out; even though I'm not very active I'm worn out by the end of the day.

What I really miss is cooking. I'd love to get out my big Kitchen Aid mixer (which I bought from QVC with all the bells and whistles and I got a great price too) and whip up a few batches of chocolate chip cookies, some meatloaves (I have a great recipe for sweet-and-sour meatloaf) etc.

It's surprising that I feel this way because I'd come to dislike cooking heartily. I guess I just miss the freedom of knowing I could cook if I wanted to.

Re: What I miss

Cakers3 — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 01:10:32 GMT

@GoneButNotForgotten I am sorry for your discomfort.

I hear you.

Re: What I miss

Mom2Dogs — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 01:15:26 GMT

@GoneButNotForgotten Would it be possible to bake over several days? Maybe prep one day, stir up a batch of cookies another and then bake another day?

I had back pain for about 6 months years ago...it was miserable, but I recovered. I hope you can get some relief.

Re: What I miss

homedecor1 — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 01:19:31 GMT

@GoneButNotForgotten

Many many years ago I recall my MIL who had severe chronic back issues who loved to cook & bake sitting on the chair, at the kitchen table with all her food to prepare and her KA mixer right there. (I inherited her KA mixer that was a real workhorse I've since updated mine).

As I type this I can visualize her good food as I watched her happily preparing it. She did everything sitting down when it came to the kitchen (even sat in front of the stove).

Maybe this is a option. I hope you start feeling better so maybe you can bake some things you enjoy (just don't try to lift that mixer I know it's heavy).

Re: What I miss

AuntG — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 01:20:04 GMT

I'm sorry to read about your pain @GoneButNotForgotten .

Re: What I miss

hckynutjohn — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 01:33:02 GMT

@GoneButNotForgotten

It's understandable why you miss these things. Hopefully at some point, you will be able to return to doing them.

Best wishes to you,

hckynut 🇺🇸

Re: What I miss

Trailrun23 — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 01:59:35 GMT

My great aunt was always by far the best cook in our family. As she got older she developed arthritis in her back and kept cooking, but she used a desk chair with roller-wheels. She would roll from the table to the oven to the sink and didn't have to get up and down from the chair, which was the hardest on her. I hope you get some relief from your pain and learn how to still do some things you like to do in spite of your pain.

Re: What I miss

LdyBugz — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 02:01:11 GMT

@GoneButNotForgotten It's certainly very frustrating when you physically can't do certain things because of health issues. 😔

Instead of doing big batches of cookies or anything else, perhaps you can just make a boxed cake mix or brownie mix and just use a hand mixer. Even the "slice-n-bake" cookies are good in a pinch. Maybe you can bake in stages by getting things ready one day, and then do the actual baking the next day. Baking in "baby-steps" so to speak so it's not so overwhelming and exhausting.

Wishing you better health, and a batch of brownies!

~LdyBugz

Re: What I miss

Roscoe the Rascal — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 10:14:29 GMT

I understand how you feel. My husband deals with that as well. He use to do all the cooking and really enjoyed it. Hard for him now to do much for long but I do help when he is in the mood.

I have taken over the cooking. Poor guy. Lol

I always ask any suggestions on what I could do differently or ask his advice so he is still involved.

I did good these last two nights and I said see how I am learning from you. If he goes for more then I know I scored.

Prayers for you and do what you can when possible. Simplify.

Re: What I miss

Imaoldhippie — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 12:17:43 GMT

Im so sorry for your health issues that keep you from doing something you love to do.

Do you have anyone that would be willing to setup a "cook date" with you? You could start out in the AM and take the time needed to finish and enjoy what you baked or cooked. Your cookdate could help with the process. Maybe even set up regular cook dates, for example once a month?

Re: What I miss

chrystaltree — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 16:16:42 GMT

I'm sorry for what you are going through and I can totally relate to you. I've had undiagnosed chronic pain for 10 years, osteoarthritis in my knee for years and now I have Afib which leaves me very low on energy. This all contributed to my decision to retire at 62, the job I loved was getting more stressful, more complicated and I didn't have the strength for it. There are indeed things I just don't have the strength or energy for and it makes me sad. Sometimes it makes feel older than my 62 years. I'm home and I also would like to do some real cooking but I can't. I'd like to go to our storage unit and go into all my Christmas boxes and pull out some beloved items and really do up the house this year. I have the time and will, I don't have the energy. I kinda hid this from my family and friends, even hubby. I don't want to worry people. I'm not sick. I try hard not to whine or complain because I know I'm fortunate not to have serious, life threatening health problems. So. I just do what I can do.

Re: What I miss

Milo on qvc — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 14:35:26 GMT

I am so sorry for your pain. If I lived close to you I would be happy to come over and "cook" with you. I taught high school Home Ec for 32 years and although there were challenges, I loved working with the kids. Agree that prepping in stages could be an answer. Could supply you with suggestions if desired.

I am curious about your Asian meatloaf. Would you be willing to share that recipe?

Maybe a community HS could give you a few names of students who excell in cooking and would be interested in working with you. (Do they offer that anymore?)

Just another idea, start with a recipe you like, fewer ingredients and simple directions. Move to more complicated after the easier ones are completed. Best of luck.

Re: What I miss

GoneButNotForgotten — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 15:45:09 GMT

chrystaltree--

I know exactly how you feel and you have my sympathy.

Some people think you can just "will" the pain away, but you can't. And then there are the morons who don't understand anything at all about chronic pain and think you're faking. I know you aren't.

Best of luck to you, and thank you all for your kind sentiments.

Re: What I miss

hckynutjohn — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 16:23:24 GMT

@chrystaltree wrote:
I'm sorry for what you are going through and I can totally to you. I've had undiagnosed chronic pain for 10 years, osteoarthritis in my knee for years and now I have Afib which leaves me very low on energy. This all contributed to my decision to retire at 62, the job I loved was getting more stressful, more complicated and I didn't have the strength for it. There are indeed things I just don't have the strength or energy for and it makes me sad. Sometimes it makes feel older than my 62 years. I'm home and I also would like to do some real cooking but I can't. I'd like to go to our storage unit and go into all my Christmas boxes and pull out some beloved items and really do up the house this year. I have the time and will, I don't have the energy. I kinda hid this from my family and friends, even hubby. I don't want to worry people. I'm not sick. I try hard not to whine or complain because I know I'm fortunate not to have serious, life threatening health problems. So. I don't what I can do.

@chrystaltree

Being I am a person with CAD, and again diagnosed with CHF, I am curious.

Has your doctor told you which type of Afib you are experiencing? You certainly do not need to answer this, and I would truly understand.

My spending many weeks after weeks on the Heart Floor at my hospital, I met heart patients of many kinds. I also have many friends that suffer from Afib, most of them have not had a Heart Attack. Quite a few of them had/have Afib, and at that time, I was unaware there were 3, maybe 4, different types.

Most I spoke with told me it did not cause them fatigue, but that their heart rates would just shoot up extremely high, for no apparent reason. Many told me that the Prescription Meds they were given is what started their issues with fatigue.

The majority of the friends and patients I know that suffer from Afib, were close to you in age. I was 64 when I had my 1st Heart Attack, my 2nd was 5 years later.

I have experienced many years with overriding fatigue, but by different causes. Of course any serious a Myocardial Infarction is going to cause fatigue, because part of one's heart no longer functions.

From my massive blood loss(over 130 blood transfusions) I was Anemic for many years. Anyone that has suffered from this understands fatigue quite well. I managed to work my way through these years of being in perpetual fatigue. Took me close to 18 months of very hard work, but I did make it.

Anyways, the only reason I ask is because of the reasons I stated above. I retired at 52, but unlike you, I retired because of my job. And can easily say I have never regretted that decision

hckynut(john)🥅🏒 🇺🇸