Protein Deficiency

I've been running myself ragged, and I know that's no excuse.  I'm in school full time for my doctorate, work full time at my profession, am still trying to maintain a relationship with the EHarmony guy (almost 2 years now!), cook, eat, study, clean, grocery shop, see my friends, etc.  I thought I was eating well, still protein first, and was tracking in my head.  I thought I was getting about 100gms in a day. 

I started to notice more edema (swelling) in my ankles, and then, it seems overnight, they became tree trunks.  I had been at the doctors 12 days before, for routine stuff, so when I went as an emergency, his scale showed I had gained 18 pounds in 12 days.  We assumed it was all fluid, so after ruling out renal failure with a blood test, we surmised, maybe I was only getting in 80gm instead of 100gm like I thought.  Slowly, a deficiency developed, and I didn't realize it until my cells could no longer contain fluid.  We started diuretics, and increased my protein intake to about 150.  The blood counts showed a slightly below normal count, but the symptoms were terrible.  I couldn't wear shoes, my pants didn't fit over my calves, and I couldn't bend my ankles.  It took about 4 weeks, and 2 different diuretics (plus Potassium) to get back to normal.    
    I should have listened to those long time DS'ers who said,  Drink a protein shake every day.  It's the most bio-available for your body, it will boost your protein intake, and keep you on track.  I'm back to doing that, and will certainly recommend it to everyone I talk to.  Food is great, I love eating, and do like protein best....  but realize I still need a supplement.  The other thing that's started in acid reflux when sleeping, especially if I have had a higher fat than usual meal.  This is probably do to normal aging, stress, etc.  I'm not sure what to do, as I don't want to add a med that will interfere with absorption, like an acid reducer.  I may have to in the long run, but for now, I'm going to treat it with diet changes.  No bacon at night, no spicy stuff after dinner, no greasy snacks (pepperoni) at night, etc.  Things a NORMAL person would try!
    I'm still dating the EHarmony guy, G.  The commute each weekend is getting to me.  He's wonderful, but we can't keep this up forever.  His industry is only located in one section of the state, and required a daily physical presence.  No telecommuting for him!  I'm 21 years into a pension system, and have to stay until I'm 55 to collect.  That's still several years away.  Other than the distance, a few minor chinks have emerged.  I'm a planner, have to be working towards something, and really am probably a little too focused on outcomes.  He is NOT.  Everything is last minute, winging it.  It works for him, but it makes me melt down.  Most importantly, I don't feel like a priority to him (in my mind).  Everything comes ahead of what I would like.  I realize being older, and having lived alone,  I'm used to making the decisions.  If I want to go somewhere, I go...  If I want to leave, I leave.  We'll make a plan, but there's always something, kids, parents, work, house, that interferes.  I know he has a lot of responsibilities, but sheesh!  I'm tired of being understanding....  Whew, then, when not gripping, I realize he is kind, sweet, smart, a hard worker, etc....  and there aren't many like him anywhere.  So I hang on, and keep driving, driving, driving.
   I am 6 months or so away from finishing my Doctorate.  This has been the most incredible 2 years of my life...  I've grown so much, and worked so hard.  It will be great to finish my dissertation, and have that behind me...  so blogging falls to the wayside.  I still log on in the middle of the night, and play catch up, and read....  but seldom write too much.  This was relaxing, so maybe...  oh well...  time to hit the books....
   What was the busiest time in your life???  How did you handle it?  Would you do it again?
                                    MC

Where does the time go?

This is just a brief update.....   I'm still struggling, trying to fit in school, work, and dating.  It seems they're all getting short shift.  Instead of doing one thing well, I'm doing three things half-assed.  Well, actually a few more than that.  I'm still active in my professional organization, having one year left to a three year term I was voted in for BEFORE I went back to school.  I miss my dinners with the nieces and nephews, and only get to see them occasionally.  I try to log into Facebook once a day, so I have a vague idea of who went to what concert, or if someone's away on a vacay... you know, just to keep aware.  I'm running out of steam, I dream of sleeping for 2 days in a row....8 or 9 hours each time!!....  I miss going to the gym....  I miss cooking!  and eating better, and if I NEVER see another salad or can of tuna, I will be happy.  My DS is still my friend, and I'm maintaining my weight loss, with only a minimal effort.  I'm due for bloods in 2 months, so I'll post the results when they're done.  I'm more sensitive to carbs than I used to be...it seems,  or I'm just more comfortable around G.  Yep, the dreaded DS farts happened.  He thought he was going to die, he said....  I slept on, blissfully unaware I was choking him.  I'll have to go back to being really strict about not eating any white flour products around him.  I realized I was occasionally skipping a day or so of vitamins, so I quickly got back on track with that.  Vitalady's schedule with some modifications has worked well for me.... so I don't want to muck that up!
     The dating part is scary and wonderful and overwhelming and bothersome.  Yep, it's real.  He's a wonderful man, but the distance really gets to me.  We're together almost every weekend, but I vaccilate between wanting more time with him, and wanting to see what else is out there.  As a fat woman, I had (alot) less choices in dating, and I'm curious.  As an older woman, I realize meeting someone as caring, sweet and in tune with me is a rare thing, and if I screw this up, I might not find anyone even half as good again.  I also worry that I may have been the 'rebound' girl after he lost the love of his life to cancer.  He hadn't dated (or been with a woman) for 2 years since she passed, but the first few months made it clear to me he was still grieving.  It's much better now, but I wonder.  Was I really as great a person as he says, or was he just so lonely?  (Of course, I am....but he thought so rather quickly!)  AND he is so tolerate of my constant ranting about school, and homework, and library hours, and my thesis, etc.  He is an increadiably calming influence.... 
   Well, I feel better about posting.  I'm not going to do anything rash about G, just always have these thoughts in the back of my mind.....
    and the Princess?  I didn't realize how attached I could become to a dog....  She is amazing, friendly, I could watch her run and run forever, her fur is so soft, and she lays across my lap and lets me brush her endlessly.  (Of course, the fact that she's now fully grown, and is an 80lb Golden, makes this difficult).  I am so attached.  She comes to visit here on G's weekends at my house, and has made friends with the neighbors.  We go to the dog park, and let her play, because my surburbs are vastly different from G's farmland/marshland area!  Maybe when I graduate, I can get a dog of my own, and they'll be friends!
      Who has a pet they're attached to that belongs to someone else?  What's your story?