I can't believe today is October 31st. I know I said I would do better posting updates, I guess I broke my promise. On the bright side, no news is good news, right? The only thing that has changed is I stopped taking the Lenvima. My body couldn't tolerate it, even in small doses. I feel so much better now. Another good thing, a few weeks ago I had another CT Scan. There hasn't been any change since the last scan. Dr. Cohen is very happy with all my test results. I continue to receive my infusion of Keytruda every 6 weeks.
That's enough talk about my cancer journey. Some happy family news, my Grandson Daniel got married. Their wedding took place in the Poconos at a beautiful venue. Meaghan was a beautiful bride. Two of my Great Grand children were part of the ceremony. Eleanor Jane Russ was the flower girl, and Adam Russ was the ring bearer, they were so cute.
Until next time, live life to the fullest every day and thank God for every one of them you get to enjoy.
Once again, I've been neglecting my updates. I guess no news is good news. Let's pick up where I left off, I finished my round of radiation treatments. About the same time, a new ailment popped up. I woke up one morning with pain in my right wrist. About a week later my left wrist mirrored my right with pain. I procrastinated for about a month but finally made an appointment with an Orthopedic hand surgeon. Turns out I have Tendonitis and was given a shot of cortisone in each wrist. That was 2 days ago and I'm already feeling improvement. The Doctor said the shots should do the trick and I won't need any follow up.
Getting back to my cancer journey, I've started a new drug that Dr. Cohen says will enhance the job the Keytruda is doing. It's called Lenvima. I've been taking it for almost 3 weeks and am having some concerns about the side effects. I've reduced the dosage, so we'll see if things get better.
On a happier note, my hair has grown back. The weird thing is now it's curly.
I like ending with a positive note! I thank God every day that I have come this far. It hasn't always been easy, but my faith and my family make it better for sure.
I know it's been almost two months since I posted an update on my cancer journey. I didn't have anything new to report. I'm still doing maintenance with Keytruda every 6 weeks and seeing Dr. Cohen . Last week I hit a bump in the road. I won't go into details on what happened, but it was enough to get me to the Emergency room. It was Thursday night when I got there, and I finally was sent home on Monday. If I hadn't insisted on the hospital contacting my Surgeon, Dr. Hackett I would still not know what caused me to be there. "Too many cooks in the kitchen spoils the broth." In this case too many Doctors and no one comparing notes with each other. The end result is, Now I go for radiation treatment every day for 3 weeks and that should do the trick. Apparently, what happened to me is very common with my type of cancer. To say I am relieved is an understatement.
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On another subject, I decided to push myself to be more involved in my community. About a month ago I was asked to volunteer to be on the board of directors of my Communities Residents Association. I would have declined if I had known how badly that would turn out. I thought I was doing the right thing by offering my experience as a past President and Treasurer. If you've ever been involved in local politics or even like me, a community association, you probably know how tenuous it can be. I am ashamed to admit, I gave in to my emotions and voiced a few things on Facebook I shouldn't have. I jumped to a conclusion and may have accused someone wrongly. I'm still not sure about that but I will give them the benefit of the doubt. I did apologize on Facebook. Here's where it gets interesting, I felt an apology face to face was appropriate. Big mistake. Instead of accepting my apology and moving on, these two former friends were childish and hateful and bullied me. I should have known you can't reason with Narcissists. I don't feel a sense of loss losing them as friends. I know I tried to make amends and they will be judged not by me but by our creator as will I.
I totally forgot to blog an update last week. There's really not to much new to report. I had my first appointment with my new Oncologist, Dr. Cohen on April 2nd. His style is totally different than Dr. Tang. I can't say I liked him very much. He seems like he is in a big hurry to get rid of me. I also didn't like that he made a joke about my hearing loss, I don't find that funny. I struggle with missing what is said to me. I also got the feeling he doesn't like questions being asked, because he changes the subject and goes onto something else. All that being said, I will see what my next appointment is like and give him the benefit of the doubt.
On a happier note, my hair has started to grow back. Happy about my head but not so much about my facial hair and legs, LOL. My weight has been staying steady, but I will be vigilant about watching it doesn't start going back up. It's been great being able to eat things that taste normal. My love of pasta, french fries and ice cream to name a few. I don't know if I mentioned a few things that got me through the worst days. I ate lots of chicken with rice soup, Boost protein shakes and Liquid IV water supplements.
I'm still struggling with the peripheral neuropathy in my hands and feet. I would say that's my biggest complaint right now. It's hard to walk normally when you can't feel your feet. I 'm constantly dropping things too, because my fingers are numb. Hopefully this will go away eventually.
I'm looking forward to some warmer weather. My happy place is outside on my deck, enjoying the warm sun on my face. Soon the community pool will be opening as well. I guess I'd better think about buying a few smaller swimsuits. That will make me happy! 🩱💕😁
1t's hard to believe it's been six weeks since I finished chemo treatments. Yesterday I went back to the infusion center for my first maintenance IV of Keytruda. This isn't something new, I've been getting Keytruda for the past three months along with the chemo drugs. Since it's only one 30 minute IV, I'm not hanging out there all day like before. I only have to go again in six weeks.
I received a letter notifying me that my Oncologist, Dr. Tang is leaving RWJ/Barnabas Health. He's moving to Atlanta, Ga. Although I will miss him, I wish him well. I could not have been in better hands.
To update the progress I'm making, several things have improved. I had a CT scan to compare with the one I had before I received treatment. The new scan didn't show any abnormalities. In other words, the chemo did its job and kicked a$$. I'm still experiencing numbness in my fingers and feet. My sense of taste is slowly starting to get better. Dr. Tang said my hair should start to grow back as well. I have to work on getting my muscle tone in my legs back. I'm looking forward to warmer weather so I can get outside again.
I will do another update in six more weeks, until then stay healthy and safe 💘🙏🙏💘
In case you are wondering what this picture is, it's me ringing the bell at the Infusion Center. The ringing of the bell ceremony signifies the last day of chemo treatment.
Yes, that's right yesterday was my last day of Chemotherapy.
So what's next? Maintenance every 6 weeks with "Keytruda" an immune system building drug.
I can't say enough about the staff at RWJ/Barnabus. Every staff member I interacted with was top notch. Yesterday was so special for me. The staff in the infusion center conspired with my daughter, Tracy to pull off a surprise for me. You'll see what I mean if you watch the video. I hope you can open the link>>>>>>>
https://www.messenger.com/t/100034306898349
I didn't know my family was standing behind me until I turned around. I never suspected they were there.
I probably won't be writing another blog for at least 6 weeks, unless I have something new to tell you. 💓💖Thank you for following my journey.
Yesterday I met with my Oncologist, Dr. Tang. After he reviewed my lab results, he said. "You are doing so well; you don't need any more chemo treatments." That lasted about five minutes when he changed his mind. Originally, I was scheduled for 6 rounds of chemo but technically I only completed 5 over the course of 3 months. The very first day of treatment, if you remember was cut short because I had an allergic reaction to one of the drugs. So, that being said I now have one more treatment in January. I will still be getting maintenance treatments every six weeks for an indefinite time. I can do one more chemo treatment standing on my head if I have to. I'm so grateful to know there will be an end to the effects of chemo.
I know it's a small thing but on the last day I will get to ring the brass bell that hangs on the wall in the infusion center. And, best of all I will get to thank all the staff and nurses for being so kind and professional. I absolutely know how fortunate I am to have done so well. Not everyone has the same results as me. My late husband, John had cancer and suffered through chemo and radiation simultaneously. At the end of his treatment there was no improvement in his tumor and the end result was he passed away. Also, I lost my son, Bob to cancer just 2 years ago. I've been given a gift and I know it. You may not believe in the power of prayer and that's O.K., but I do. God has answered so many of my prayers over the years that I absolutely have faith in him.
I will most likely post again after my last treatment and hopefully I can share a picture of me ringing that wonderful brass bell. Till then, stay well 💖💖
It's been a rough three weeks. The extremely strong chemo drugs have wreaked havoc with my body. The drugs can't pinpoint just the cancer cells.Which means some good things get wreaked. This past week I had to make a trip to my primary Doc to get checked out because I was feeling so bad. He was very thorough and ordered blood work, which showed a significant increase in my hypothyroidism. Changing my thyroid medication should correct this new situation. It seems like everyday something new pops up but I just have to roll with it. I know there is light at the end of the tunnel. The journey getting there can be rough.
My last treatment was on Nov. 27th, according to my Oncologist I have either one more or two more treatments and then I will go into maintenance. I won't tell you it has been easy because it hasn't been. After this last round of chemo, I have been unable to function like I would like to. The reason being my team decided to increase the dosage of chemo drugs and switch to every three weeks instead of every week. I met with my Oncologist yesterday and he suggested we lower the dosage a little and see if that helps with my extreme fatigue. My next round of chemo is scheduled for Dec. 18th. It could be the last one or depending on some test results it could extend to January. Whatever it is I am very thankful that I've gotten this far with minimal discomfort.
I want to thank my team for all the support you've given me. My family has been here for me every step of the way. Tracy, Denis and Don have gone above and beyond taking such good care of me. Tom and Nancy have been encouraging as well. And then there are my friends who have also been there for me. I have even had complete strangers reach out to pray for me and wish me well. I am one very lucky lady to have so many blessings, I know God is a huge part of it. This year Christmas may not be like years past, not as many cookies baked, not as much shopping done, and maybe not our usual Christmas dinner but it doesn't really matter. There's always next year God willing. 💖
This was a hard week for me, bouncing back after treatment took longer. This week was only the second time I went for chemo without Tracy. My son-in-law, Denis came down with a nasty cold and passed it on to Tracy. I'm happy to say they are both back in top form. It was also the first time they missed an appointment with my Oncologist, Dr. Tang. That was on Thursday. We discussed my course of treatment going forward. We decided that I would switch from chemo every week to every three weeks. It will be a stronger dose. But, it will give me a little break in between treatments. While there, I was able to give Dr. Tang's nurse a blood draw from my arm. This has been a problem so having it succeed was a plus. It meant I didn't have to go to the Infusion Center and have it drawn from my port. Why am I telling you all this detail? I'm happy to say it will all make sense in a minute.
Jump ahead to Friday night. I was watching a Hallmark Christmas movie when my phone alerted me to a text message. All of my appointments, test results and after office visit notes are organized on an app called MY CHART. The alert was for my lab report from Thursday. Back when I started treatment in September I had a CA-125 of 109. This is the marker used to determine the presence of the Cancer antibodies in your blood. One month after treatment my number had dropped to 69. Dr. Tang was very happy with that result. Now back to last night, when I opened the results of my blood work, I was surprised to see that my CA-125 has dropped to 31. Since 38 is normal for women, 31 is awesome. I'm afraid to get too excited but Denis said I can, because it's fantastic news. I am beyond grateful for getting to this point in my journey. I won't deny it has been the hardest thing I've ever done. I couldn't have done it without the support of my family and friends. I will truly have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.
Where do we go from here? I'm not really sure because Dr. Tang hasn't seen the test results yet. He usually reviews them on Monday morning before my chemo treatment. I'm guessing my nurse on Monday will call him and a decision will be made then, how to proceed. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that maybe I won't have to get a stronger dose of chemo. Keep me in your prayers, it's working!! 💖
Good morning everyone, yesterday I completed my eighth Chemo treatment. I am pleased with how good I have been feeling. The only thing I can complain about would be the length of time it takes at the Infusion Center. There are many factors that contribute to a longer day. The first hurdle to get through is your Oncologist has to review your lab report from your last blood work. If anything is concerning, he or she will advise the nurse assigned to you on chemo day weather to proceed or not. Once she is given the go ahead to proceed, then the order is sent to the pharmacy to prepare your medications. This can be another hold up if they are extremely busy. Also, I have to add that if there is a weight change the pharmacy has to adjust your dosage. Once all that is done, your nurse can then proceed with treatment. Please always ask what medications you are being given. Most of the Nurses are good about explaining each step to you. Never assume, always ask; especially if you are concerned about anything. As I mentioned back on week three, I wasn't given any pre-meds before I was given the chemo meds. I was very sick that week because of someone's mistake.
At this point in my treatment, My Oncologist has given me the option to switch from treatment every week to once every three weeks. After consideration and discussion with my family, I have decided to switch and see how it goes. It could mean an increase in side effects. I won't know until I try, and I can always go back to every week. This new schedule won't start until Nov. 20th, I will post how it goes.
The only other thing I did this week was, visit the Liz Inspiration Boutique. This is a wonderful program offered to Cancer Patients who lose their hair. I was shown an assortment of wigs at no cost to me. The women who run this service are very knowledgeable and helped me pick a perfect wig. They receive these wigs through donations, so if you are looking for some way to help Cancer patients, please consider donating. Their number is 732-232-3110.
I had hoped this day would never come but no such luck! Over this past weekend, my hair began to fall out, slowly at first and then by Sunday morning it was driving me crazy. The only solution was shave it all off. I always considered my hair my best feature. As you can guess making the decision to go bald was traumatic. I cried and cried some more. Good news was my son has experience with clippers. He keeps his own hair short, so he knew how to do it. The other good news was I had ordered a wig, anticipating the inevitable. You can see the wig below at the end of this blog.
So why am I posting this and putting myself out there. When I started this blog, my main reason was maybe I could help someone else going through this journey. The other reason was because my Son-in-law fights this battle every day. It's his line of work, Cancer research. I can't even tell you how invaluable it is to have him in my corner. He goes to all my doctor appointments with me and my daughter, Tracy. Doing a blog was his suggestion. Tracy also goes with me to all my chemo treatments every Monday. This isn't the normal procedure, but I have a hearing disability. We obtained special permission for her to be with me during treatment. The infusion nurses are mostly ok with this arrangement. There have been one or two who give her a hard time about being "in the way" but she's a warrior and usually puts them in their place pretty quick. This is vitally important; you have to stick up for yourself especially if something doesn't feel right at any time.
Let's get back to the hair subject. My advice is "be prepared ahead of time". There's a very good company called Paula Young Wigs. Their wigs are good quality and affordable. There are hundreds of choices and colors to choose from. It took about a week and a half to receive my order. The total cost of the one I chose was just over $60.00.
RWJ/Barnabus also has a program called "Liz Inspiration Boutique" their number is 732-232-3110. The first day in the infusion center, I was visited by Jane the Nurse Navigator. She gave me this information. The only drawback is, you have to wait until your hair is gone before you can get measured for a wig from them. Apparently, the cost is covered by Medicare. But don't quote me on that because I haven't called them yet to find out what it's all about.
I've now had six chemo treatments and for the most part, I feel really good. Some of the things I've noticed, some foods taste different and not as good as before. I don't get nauseous, but I do get heart burn. Omeprazole or Tums usually helps. I also have noticed that the day of chemo, I have a lot of energy that evening. That's due to the pre-meds I'm given to keep the nasty side effects from happening. One of them is a steroid. After it wears off, I find I get tired more. Luckily, I sleep very well. I guess that's enough information for now so here is the much-anticipated last photo of beautiful me:
I know I'm late posting this week. Thankfully, it's because it was a pretty good week. I didn't have very many side effects from the treatment. Just some minor stomach rumblings. I did experience some fatigue on Friday, but I think I did too much. Since I don't have much to report this week, I'm thinking maybe I will only post once a month. Unless, of course, I have something to report. As long as things keep going smoothly, I can't complain. I still have all my hair as well, yeah! 😁
I'll post again in a few weeks or sooner if anything changes. Thank you for following my journey, I hope it's helping someone traveling this journey with me. 💘
Monday 9:30 arrived at infusion center for third chemo treatment. Things got off to a slow start because I had to have blood drawn before treatment. I sat around in the not so comfy recliner for two hours before treatment actually started. Once the first bag was hung on the IV pole it took 30 minutes to run. There's a little down time in-between each bag. Last bag also took 30 minutes to run. Then it takes a few minutes to disconnect from the IV. I was free to go home.
My Son Don picked me up and we were home by 1:30. Somewhere around 3:00 I was hit with excruciating stomach pain. I won't go into detail but let's just say once a trip to the rest room was over, I felt better. I tried to drink lots of water and I had a little bit of soup at dinner. I was feeling pretty good except for being tired. I went to bed around 10:00. I woke up off and on thru the night feeling mildly nauseous. By 4:00 am I was throwing up. My mistake was not taking the anti-nausea pill. My excuse was, I was too sick to walk to the kitchen to get it. I know, dumb reason. Going forward each week I now know to not wait but take the medicine before it's an issue.
Tuesday, the day after chemo. I was so wiped out all day, all I wanted to do was sleep. I was sick again in the afternoon after eating some leftover soup. Finally, after the last bout I started to feel better. I kept thinking to myself, I have to eat something, but what? I asked google what foods settle an upset stomach. I made some white rice that I boiled in chicken broth and ate that. Then I ate a cup of applesauce and a few ginger snaps. I also drank a cup of mint tea. All things google recommended. Good old google to the rescue!
So, some lessons learned; take the anti-nausea pill before you feel bad. Could I have eliminated the stomach upset? I guess I'll know next week. Drink as much water as you can, it helps to flush out the chemo drugs. I still have all my hair, I'm not sure when that will start falling out. I have to tell you also, the nurses that work in the infusion center are angels sent from above. They work so hard and have many patients to care for. They are constantly moving and doing something for each patient. They are always asking if you need anything, a warm blanket (there's a blanket warmer in the center) something to drink or a snack. I only wish they had bottled water but all they offer is juice or ginger ale. Did I tell you they offer sandwiches too? Each day at 11:00 am they come around with sandwiches and drinks. The sandwiches are always fresh and really good.
To sum up my third treatment, it could have gone better. Most of the reason for that was because of me and my choices. Now I know better. As I take this journey I'll be learning things as I go and hopefully I'm also helping others who may be taking the journey along with me. It's hard to open yourself up for all the world to see but if it helps someone else it's worth the embarrassment. Till next week 💘
It's been a year since I've posted anything here. I guess I didn't have anything to say. Well all that has changed for me. I'm fighting for a longer life right now. Yes, the big C, Cancer has caught up with me.
My story starts back in 2021 during our year of lock down due to Covid. I went to my primary Doctor for a normal check up as I do every 3 months. I'm type two diabetic, therefore my blood work gets checked on that schedule. While there I told my Physician's Assistant I was concerned by some vaginal bleeding, a concern when you're post-menopausal. She suggested I make an appointment with a genecologist. From this point I'm going to outline the time frame for you:
February 2021 - Saw a genecologist.
March 2021 - had an ultrasound
April 2021 - I went back to genecologist for results and consultation. Her recommendation was to have a biopsy. I was told I would get a call to set up an appointment at the hospital.
This is where things went wrong, I never got a call from anyone. Also at this time (May 2021) I found out that my son Bob was diagnosed with cancer. The next months were some of the worst of my life. He passed away in September and I was devastated. As you might imagine, I wasn't thinking about me and my health. In other words, I blew it off. I had plenty of excuses, must be covid related reason for hospital not calling was the one I used the most.
Jump forward to 2022 - Another appointment with my primary. He asked me about my original concerns regarding my gynecological problems. I told him I never got a call from anyone and I wasn't too thrilled with the Doctor I saw anyway. He recommended another Doctor and urged me to make an appointment. I did because now my discomfort has increased to add pain to the mix.
April 2023 - First appointment with Dr. Sutherland. His recommendation was a biopsy. I agreed to have it done at Community.
June 28, 2023 - Checked into Same day surgery and had the biopsy done.
July 5, 2023 - appointment with Dr. Sutherland for results. Biopsy is positive for Cancer. Referred me to Dr. Hackett for further treatment.
July 13, 2023 - First appointment with Surgeon, Dr. Hackett. He recommended complete hysterectomy.
July 26, 2023- Went to Community for pre op testing.
August 8, 2023 - Checked into Hospital for surgery. Things didn't go as planned. My surgery was more complicated, Dr. Hackett couldn't do the laparoscopic/robotic procedure. My hystorectomy was done the old fashioded way. My stay in the hospital was 4 days.
August 16, 2023 - Follow up appointment with Dr. Hackett. My prognosis was not good. My cancer has spread outside the uterus. Dr. Hackett referred me to and Oncologist, Dr. Tang.
August 24, 2023 - First appointment with Dr. Tang. I liked him right away because he didn't hold back on the reality of what I'm up against. There's no cure but my condition is treatable to extend what time I have left.
Sept. 8, 2023 - Appt. at Community Outpatient dept. to have port implanted. This is for easier administration of Chemo drugs. The actual procedure took about an hour. It was uncomfortable but I was mildly sedated and alert.
Sept. 11, 2023 - Back to Community Outpatient dept. for a CT Scan. This was to establish a base line for future scans. Hopefully future scans will show improvement after receiving chemo.
Sept. 18, 2023 - First day of Chemo treatment. Reported to Infusion Center at 8:00. The center is very well run and everything was going smoothly. Around 1:00 pm I had an allergic reaction to one of the drugs. The staff were incredible and reacted immediately. Treatment was cancelled and I was transported to the ER. I was checked out there and it was determined it was indeed a reaction to the drug.
Sept. 25, 2023 - Reported to Infusion Center to start again. Everything went well this time. A replacement was ordered and I received my full chemo treatment. I will be going every Monday for how ever long it takes to receive treatment.
This brings me up to date on my timeline. So far I haven't had any side effects from my first chemo treatment. Keeping my figures crossed to keep it that way.
I know this has been long, but hopefully even if it helps only one person going through something like me, it will be worth it.
If I can give one good piece of advice it's this, Don't be afraid to seek treatment for anything abnormal with your health. Your life could depend on it.
I will try my best to update my blog at least once a week.
This morning I was paying bills, as I do every month when my Social Security deposit arrives in the bank. In the past few months several bills have gone up. Today I was surprised once again by an unexpected increase in my Natural Gas bill. I got an increase of $29.00. Add this to the $30.00 increase to my phone bill, the increase to my out-of-pocket cost for medication, you can see where this is going. The cost of living increase I received in January is wiped out and then some. I got to thinking about how I can reduce my grocery costs. Groceries are the only place I can lower spending since rent and utilities are non-negotiable. That in turn brought my thoughts to my parents and how they survived during the great depression of 1929. That brought me to another question, what is the difference between a depression and a recession? I asked Siri and this is what she told me:
So, in my opinion in my own personal experience, we are in a depression. When I have to make choices between buying food or paying bills, I think there's something rotten in this country. Set aside your politics for a minute and just answer this question, are you better off or worse off than you were two years ago? I know what my answer is. Where do I go from here, I've already cut out just about everything to save money. I don't go out to restaurants, or movies and I haven't had a hair cut in almost a year. I shop mostly at Aldi now for groceries and I never go shopping for anything new like clothes or household items. Maybe technically we aren't in a depression or recession yet, but I am certainly depressed about my quality of life. The Golden Years, that's a joke.
Yesterday we had a Celebration of Life gathering to remember my son, Bob. It was exactly the kind of gathering he would have loved. The venue was my daughter and Son-in-laws Farm. The weather was almost perfect but could have been a little warmer. Everything was set up outdoors as a precaution against Covid.
I have to give a huge thank you to our friend Dee Dee. She went above and beyond to prepare most of the food. Thank you Denis for grilling the sausage. Thank you Dan for making some killer wings. Thank you to my grand daughter, Jessica for making the awesome salad. I would be remiss to not mention all the desserts that everyone brought, too numerous to mention by names. If I left anyone out I'm sorry, just know I thank you so much.
The roses you see above were given to me by my friend Deb. I met her through Tracy and Denis and she is like family to us. Our family is truly blessed to have people in our lives that have shown again and again that we are loved.
There were so many of those caring friends that came yesterday to honor Bob. Some of his friends from childhood that I hadn't seen in years. Some of Bob's newer friends that I had never met also came. Kurt and his wife brought a remembrance for all the ladies to take home (see mine here):
Each pot of flowers was a little different and each contained a packet of flower seeds (forget me nots) to plant next year. The flowers are all real and very cleverly kept fresh. She put a lot of effort into making these beautiful remembrances and I can't thank her enough for doing it.
We are a large family and therefore there were a lot of extended family. Nieces, Nephews, cousins, in-laws, grandchildren and even great grandchildren. I can't name you all but I am so very grateful to you for coming.
The day was spent sharing good food, and sharing memories and pictures. The only down side came when it started getting really cold. People started to head for home when suddenly a storm descended on us from out of nowhere. All of a sudden the wind kicked up and rain poured down on us. We all started grabbing the food and running for the house. I mean it was so strange, we had no warning. And just as fast as it came, it left. Could it have been some mischievous spirit who thought it would be funny to see us all getting soaked, I wonder!! 👻👻👻
In closing I'd like to share the poem we chose for the prayer cards:
His pain and suffering are over. His passing caught us all off guard because his cancer was stage two and he was responding to treatment. God had other plans for him it seems. Bob left behind his wife Donna and their daughter Ashley. He would have been 55 in November. Please pray for those of us who loved him..
I made this yesterday for the second time. It is so good, it's hard to believe it's Keto. The first time I made it, I used fresh blueberries. This time I used sugar free Cherry pie filling. The fruit topping can be your choice.
To get started you will need a 6 or 7 inch springform pan. I got mine from Amazon in an accessory bundle made for the instant pot. I recommend the bundle because it came with a trivet with handles for lifting the springform pan in and out of the instant pot.
Ingredients
The crust:
3/4 cup pecan meal
1/4 cup all purpose flour (not Keto but it's minimal)
1 Tablespoon Monk fruit sweetener
2 Tablespoons melted butter
The Filling:
2 8oz. pkg. of Cream Cheese (I use Philadelphia brand)
1/2 cup granulated Monk Fruit (I might cut this in half next time)
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 large eggs (I used jumbo)
1/4 cup all purpose flour (next time I might try coconut flour but half the amt.)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
1 Prep the pan. Coat your pan with cooking spray. Line the bottom with a round of parchment paper. Pour 1 1/2 cups of water in the bottom of your instant pot. If you have a trivet with handles, make sure they are up. Otherwise you can make a sling out of aluminum foil.
2 Make the crust. Place the pecan meal, flour and monk fruit in a food processor or blender (I used a Ninja). Pulse a few times to mix. Pour in the melted butter and pulse again until mixed well. Transfer the crumbs to your pan and press into the bottom (I just use my fingers to press).
3 Make the filling. You can wipe out your blender. Add the cream cheese, monk fruit, heavy cream, eggs, flour, vanilla and salt. Pulse until smooth scraping down the sides as needed. Pour the filling over the crust and smooth out with a spatula.
4. Cover the pan with paper towels and a square of aluminum foil. Press the foil around the rim so it's tight. Place the pan in your trivet with handles or if you are using foil as a sling place your pan on that and lower into your instant pot making sure the pan is not touching the water.
5. Cook on high for 25 minutes. Lock the lid and make sure the pressure valve is set to seal. Use the manual setting to set the pressure cooker on high pressure for 25 minutes.
6. Natural release for 20 minutes. When the cook time is complete, let the pressure cooker naturally release pressure for 20 minutes. Then do a quick release if there's any pressure left. Gently remove the pan from the pot and uncover. The cake should be mostly set with just a slight jiggle in the center.
7. Let the cake cool on the counter for about an hour before putting it in the refrigerator to chill for about 6 hours. I add the fruit topping after about 3 hours. I don't remove the sides of the pan until I'm ready to serve.
I am not a dietician so I will not post nutritional values. I use an app to figure out carbs for my own personnel knowledge. I hope you try this, if you do please let me know how you liked it. 💕
Good morning, I know it's been a long time since I posted anything. I guess I've been in a rut, LOL! I'm posting this morning because I just read a very good Keto article on Facebook. The credit goes to Health Insider. I'm sure it was meant to sell something on Facebook, but the "7 mistakes" had some really good advice so I'm reposting for anyone interested in starting Keto. I will be the first person to tell you I have been guilty of several of these mistakes. I am recommitted to doing better and reaching my goal. So here's part of the article:
" Is it really possible to eat whatever, don’t watch calories and melt away stubborn fat from the comfort of your home without doing strenuous exercise at the gym?
What to do in these cases of “stubborn” fat?
According to health & wellness experts, the ketogenic diet is the one of the best solutions for transformation.
No Hunger, No Cravings, No Belly Fat…
You can have it all. The ketogenic diet allows you to enjoy delicious meals and lose weight fast, yet feel incredibly energized.
While AVOIDING sugar and carb withdrawal.
One of the main reasons so many people fail on the keto diet…
Is that they try to cut out too many carbs and sugar too fast, which then puts the body into shock.
If you want to smoothly transition into a keto diet and lose fat fast (and keep it off), keep reading.
What you’re about to read are 7 mistakes to avoid to be successful on your keto journey.
Mistake #1: Rushing Into KETO
Surely you’ve heard of the stories: Yes, the keto diet can melt 20lb per month or even more if you’re doing it right.
Thousands of men and women, all over the world, have used this eating strategy. It’s proven, and the results speak for themselves. People transform completely, losing flabby arms, big thighs, and stubborn belly fat quickly.
But before you get too excited, be careful. You can actually end up off worse than you were before.
According to health and wellness expert Dr. Alexander H. Blackwell, “Keto is a very knowledge-based diet.”
“Rushing in without a plan is short-sighted as it will most likely fail,” Blackwell says.
If you rush in without a plan, here’s what might happen:
You will keep craving sweets because you won’t know enough about healthy dessert substitutes.
You will keep snacking unhealthy food because you won’t have a well-thought-out meal plan that keeps you pleasantly full.
The weight won’t go down. It might even go up!
Instead, Dr. Blackwell recommends a professional, custom plan based on your body type, age, and eating preferences.
“Look for support and ideas on how to manage the diet correctly,” he says. “Your health is the number one priority. Invest in it now so you can save money and time in the future.”
Mistake #2: Not Getting Enough B Vitamins
Have you reduced carbs and then felt tired? Not enough vitamin B might be the reason why.
“B vitamins are mostly found in whole grains,” explains Blackwell. “Lacking them can make you feel tired, lower your energy levels, and slow down your weight loss progress.”
Fortunately, you can still get plenty of B vitamins from keto-friendly foods. You just need to eat the right stuff.
Here are our favourite options: meat, eggs, and dairy products. Combine those with seeds, nuts, and dark, leafy vegetables like spinach and broccoli for a more complete nutritional profile.
What to do if you still feel tired? Talk to your doctor about taking a B vitamin supplement to boost your energy levels.
Mistake #3: Eating Too Many Carbs
The big secret behind why the ketogenic diet works so powerfully at any age is ketosis.
Ketosis is an intense, fat-burning state. Instead of using carbohydrates for energy, our body starts to use our fat as fuel. This can double our weight-loss results.
But to enter ketosis, we need to limit carbs.
And here’s the problem. “Many people don’t realize how many carbs are in common, healthy foods,” says Dr. Blackwell.
Eating too much fruit is a common example. You think you’re doing a great job, but actually, you’re blocking yourself from entering ketosis. Keep reading to see how to avoid such mistakes.
The recommended carb intake is around 5% of our total calories. Finding this carb reduction tough when first getting started on the keto diet is normal.
However, it is essential if we want to reach and maintain ketosis. That’s the only way to start burning 20lb every month.
And thankfully, things get easier after the first week or two because our body starts to adapt.
Don’t give up early!
Registered Dietician and Wellness education specialist Nare Davoodi, says: “It is a common misconception to think you are in ketosis after doing the Keto diet for 7-14 days. But what often happens is people are not calculating their intake correctly.”
How to make sure you reach your intake goals? Consider tracking your macronutrients through an app like Keto Cycle.
Mistake #4: Eating Too Much Protein
Protein is great for you, but too much protein can cause problems too.
“When our body digests protein, it converts a small amount to glucose,” says Dr. Blackwell, which can then slow down your body’s ability to go into ketosis, he adds.
That’s because glucose is a sugar, and sugar is a carb.
Instead of using the keto diet as an excuse to eat as much bacon and steak as you’d like, remember that your main goal on keto is enjoying healthy fats.
Thankfully that includes delicious foods like nut butter, olive oil, and avocados.
So remember to have some form of healthy fat with every meal, and keep your protein intake in check.
Mistake #5: Not Eating Enough Fiber
There’s a lot of fiber in fruits and whole grains. But you can’t have many of these on the ketogenic diet.
So you need to be extra careful in order to get a nice amount of fiber during the day.
According to Dr. Blackwell, “Fiber is essential to help regulate digestion, hunger and fullness cues. It helps provide long-lasting energy and a steady blood glucose level.”
In other words, fiber is critical. If you don’t eat enough, you may feel hungry, overeat, and ruin your hard work.
The recommended approach is to eat more vegetables. All leafy greens are great. Follow this simple rule: the darker the color, the better.
Don’t like eating vegetables all the time? Consider trying fiber supplements to refresh your body.
Mistake #6: Leptin Resistance
Leptin is a powerful fat-controlling hormone.
It sends a signal to your brain that says, “you’re full,” so you know when to stop eating. If your body produces leptin properly, your appetite will stay in check.
But when your body produces too much leptin, your brain stops receiving the signal.
So you don’t feel full easily which causes overeating and eventually excessive weight gain. How to avoid that? Fix the underlying root causes of leptin resistance:
Irregular or poor sleep patterns.
Processed foods and overeating.
Too much stress
One of the many benefits of keto is that it can help fix leptin resistance. That’s because it consists of whole foods.
“Healthy sources of protein, fat, and fiber are proven to help improve sleep, decrease sugar pangs, and combat snacking habits.”
Mistake #7: The “Google Curse”
With a bit of light research on Google, you’ll find thousands of keto weight loss transformations. The proof is everywhere, and it’s easy to get excited.
Many people read a few articles, note a few keto recipes, then try to get started on their own."
Just to be clear, this is not the entire article, I left out the part where they get into selling their plan. If you want to read the full thing you can see it on Facebook.
