BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 15 Nov 22 - 03:10 PM

> chocolate covered brussel sprouts?

Should have been clearer: balls of milk chocolate*, about 6mm across, covered with green silver paper, and labelled "chocolate brussel sprouts". No green vegetables were harmed in their production. We await confirmation that Grandsprog gets the joke.

* As pure as chocolate usually gets in the UK, but that's a separate rant.

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: Helen
Date: 15 Nov 22 - 03:16 PM

No really, MaJoC, now that you've said it you have to do it! Lightly steam the brussels sprouts and chocolate coat them. You have to include at least one in the gift pack, surely??!! LOL

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 15 Nov 22 - 03:18 PM

.... and I agree with you about fast-cooking greens of all types. I'm of the generation which was given cabbage stalks to eat, raw, at a formative age; it saddens me whenever I find Herself's put them in the bit bucket.

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 15 Nov 22 - 03:23 PM

For the record: Chocolate-coating veg was tried once IRL, in an attempt to make them palatable to children. The experimental results iirc were that it made eaters of all ages go "urgh" and "*akkh* *phht*". But nice try, Helen.

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: keberoxu
Date: 15 Nov 22 - 03:46 PM

By the way, there does exist
a Mudcat thread about brussels sprouts,
started in 2003 and ended in 2010.

I am notorious for refreshing threads,
but somebody else can refresh that one for a change.

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: Helen
Date: 15 Nov 22 - 04:24 PM

Yes, but it would be funny!

My Hubby cuts off the stalk end of the broccoli and chucks it in the compost. If I get to it first, I cut it up fine and steam it and put it into stew, soup or omelettes etc.

He also throws out the brown onion skins, even though he knows I'm collecting them to - one of these days - dye some natural wool. I keep having to fish the onion skins out of the compost bucket and tuck it away somewhere safe. I did buy the natural wool at the start of the first COVID lockdown but then got sidetracked.

Dyeing wool with onion skins

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 15 Nov 22 - 04:44 PM

I know someone who used to mash sprouts into their child's ice cream!

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: Helen
Date: 15 Nov 22 - 04:50 PM

Also, I remember reading somewhere a long time ago that children grow into liking the taste of some vegetables as their metabolism develops.

This is a recent study which says something different:

Researchers find why kids hate broccoli

but what I remember is that as a child matures there is a change which leads to tolerating or even liking veges of the brassica family.

My Hubby attempts unsuccessfully to (what he calls) "steam" broccoli in the microwave using half power and not full power for maybe 10 minutes, not just a couple of minutes. I ask him what the definition of steam is, i.e. heating water to a temperature which converts it from a liquid to a vapour. Half power just does this half-ass attempt which creates a pale-beige-green coloured inedible yukky-ness, but full power for a couple of minutes creates beautiful, vibrant green yummy-ness.

I never even saw broccoli until I was an adult so I don't know whether I would have hated it as a child. I remember hating soggy over-cooked cabbage, but when I had coleslaw later in life I loved it.

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 15 Nov 22 - 05:45 PM

I have a lovely two-tier steamer that someone gave me. There was a time when I steamed all vegetables. No longer. The only veg I steam now is chopped cabbage, which stops it from getting waterlogged. Carrots, peas, beans, sprouts, all boiled in slightly salted water. I have been known to roast carrots (and cauliflower). Cauliflower, tenderstem, purple sprouting and the like, I stand them up carefully in the pan with their stalky bits in the water and their tops above, lid on. The tops need less cooking than the stalks, so steaming, which cooks all the bits the same, just seems wrong to me. As for that sort of broccoli we call calabrese, I wouldn't know. We don't give that most boring of veg house room. Each to his own I suppose. The steamer does come in handy for the steaming of Mrs Steve's superb Christmas puddings, which have invariably been stored for a year.

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Nov 22 - 10:57 PM

I have a couple of steel steamer baskets that rest in pans with good lids. 3/4 inch of water and a few minutes on high and I have steamed broccoli, cauliflower (darn, I forgot I was going to have asparagus with dinner tonight - that's one of the few I boil for a few minutes). Carrots, squash, lots of things, though I don't steam them all for me. My dogs get dry food but in the evening I add fresh vegetables, often times cooked. They like veggies raw but love them cooked - then they're "people food" and they show by their interest that this is their favorite. Cooking also means they won't choke on chunks of carrots.

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 16 Nov 22 - 04:58 AM

The reason I gave up on steaming for most veg was that I had the distinct feeling that boiling just cooks things better. I get that some nutrients will end up in the water, but, when I look at steaming water after cooking, there's plenty of stuff in there that came out of the veg anyway. I'll look up comparisons if there are any. I'd likely think again if I thought that Mrs Steve and I were in danger of going short of vitamins and minerals, but I don't think that's the case in view of our varied diet. We both eat at least some raw citrus fruit every day, tomatoes play a big part in our diet and we eat green veg until it's coming out of our ears. My childhood abhorrence of greens, triggered by overboiled, dark green school cabbage, has long since evaporated.

Certain prescriptive Italian cooks have been known to declare that to leave the kitchen whilst the pasta is boiling is a mortal sin. I feel the same about boiling sprouts, tenderstem or cauliflower, which are all very unforgiving. I'm an obsessive checker for doneness. The only other thing I'd say is that the best way of putting someone off Brussels sprouts for life (apart from overcooking them) is to cook loose, leafy ones, or frozen ones. For me, they must start off like rock-hard, tight little balls.

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 16 Nov 22 - 05:15 AM

It seems that Vitamin C and folic acid suffer the most from boiling rather than steaming. Boiling veg might lose you a quarter of vitamin C and about a third of folic acid, though steaming does lose some of each too, but not as much. Folic acid is one of those that it can be tricky to get enough of if you don't eat your greens, but I wouldn't be worrying too much about Vitamin C. Thing is, whether you steam or boil, you're still eating veg, which can't be bad.

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: Stanron
Date: 16 Nov 22 - 05:49 AM

You don't have to steam with a steamer. I do one lidded pan cooking because I only have a single electric cooking ring. I put meat in first with a little oil long enough to colour both sides, add a small amount of water, 1/8th to 1/4 of an inch, then add vegetables on top.

Work out when to put vegetables in by how long you want to cook them. I do slow, low heat, cooking and I like vegetables like carrots and swede in large chunks. So they go in first after the meat. Mushrooms take a lot less time and things like petit pois just need warming up.

I check during advert breaks to make sure the water hasn't boiled away and at the end the little bit of water that is left tastes amazing. Nothing gets thrown away.

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 16 Nov 22 - 06:23 AM

Mushrooms should be lightly fried in butter, as every hobbit knows.

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 16 Nov 22 - 06:40 AM

Oddly enough the best way to cook mushrooms to retain their nutritional value is to microwave them!

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/how-microwave-mushrooms

From the above article -

New research says the healthiest way to cook mushrooms is to microwave them. We explain how to preserve their goodness while making them taste great.

I can confirm that it does really work :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 16 Nov 22 - 07:58 AM

> New research says the healthiest way to cook mushrooms is to microwave
> them.

We don't have a microwave oven in the house: 't'ain't natural, saith Herself (who's a seriously good cook), so that's that.

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 16 Nov 22 - 08:58 AM

We've had a microwave for 25 years, the same one. I use it to soften butter in winter and to make porridge. Oh, and to heat my cat's gel "hot water bottle" which goes in its outdoor shelter on winter nights.

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: keberoxu
Date: 16 Nov 22 - 10:54 AM

...meanwhile, back in the Mrrzy-verse -- ??

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: keberoxu
Date: 17 Nov 22 - 04:23 PM

Earth to Mrrzy . . .
Earth to Mrrzy . . .
come in, Mrrzy . . .

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: Helen
Date: 17 Nov 22 - 06:15 PM

Mrrzy might be enjoying a well-earned rest after all this medical drama.

Ar Hyd Y Nos

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: Mrrzy
Date: 19 Nov 22 - 11:14 AM

Mrrzy is not enjoying much.

Rehab upped the laxatives till horrible unproductive stomach cramps I put up with for 4 hours [4-8am Tues night/Weds am] hoping they would *become* productive made them call 911. Ambulance, ER. Tranquilizer, pain shot in IV, CT, ultrasound, oh there seems to be some mass in your lower abdomen, follow up with oncology. Yup, looked like cancer.

I was tranquil.

Another impressively productive enema took care of the rest of the pain, can leave ER. Still tranquul.

Oh by the way, then says the ER, rehab has discharged you to home.

I am immediately no longer tranquil. All my stuff is at the nursing home and am not well enough to be gome.

Now the lucky part: one sis had been blowing through town heading for family thanksgiving, to drop off pie, so I had called a fiend to take custardy of said pie. Friend was thus able to drive me to fetch my stuff and then home.

It was so good to be home.

My own groceries my own cooking my own delivery places.

People came and were helpful (cannot turn on shower, contrils too low, for example), have a great rocking chair, nice to just be me in my house.

That lasted a day. Home Weds pm. By Thurs pm abdo pain has me calling people for advice. Friend moved a TV (for me) and chair (for visitor) into bedroom. Friday morning the advice was Call another ambulance. Back to ER.

By now I am convinced it cant bw cancer. It has got to be something from the surgery. And indeed, an MRI confirms fluid not a mass. Great. So they

Surprise! Did nothing. Sent me home again to pain and pooplessness.

I have appointments with my GP (Mon) and the conplicated abdo filks Tuesday. By which time I won't have pooped for another week.

I am not tranquil. I wept and wailed and hollered at people in the ER for not being able to TREAT me but it was the ER, and I was not in *deathly* danger.

I gotta ask if I were in the UK or Canada or France or anywhere civilized if there would be these kinds of runarounds.

I also should be being a lot mire rigorous in keeping keto. Moid needs stabilizing...

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: Helen
Date: 19 Nov 22 - 02:19 PM

Mrrzy,

I watch the real-life emergency medical shows on TV, from Oz and UK, but usually there are a few different people's stories packed into one episode. Your story has enough twists and turns to be one show on its own! And here was I thinking you were having a well-earned rest because the drama was over.

I'm so happy that cancer hasn't reared its ugly head. That would be just too much.

And no, the emergency departments and hospitals are overstretched everywhere so I doubt whether there would have been less runarounds elsewhere.

Am I allowed to mention the p-word again? (Psyllium) :-)

As I said earlier, with the problem diagnosed that is half the battle. Now to get on with the treatment and recovery - which may not be pleasant, but the light might possibly be visible on the horizon. (I was going to say "at the end of the tunnel" but it seemed a bit too *relevant* to your condition. LOL)

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 19 Nov 22 - 04:12 PM

faint, flickering light in the distance, hopefully getting closer & stronger?

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: Helen
Date: 19 Nov 22 - 04:45 PM

Ah well, Ar Hyd y Nos lyrics should soothe you in tranquillity or in distress.

There are variations on the English lyrics, depending on the translations or the intentions of the person presenting the song but all of the lyrics and the melody are beautiful, and also for me, the connection to my Welsh-born Grandmother, so my Welsh ancestry blessing on you Mrrzy.

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: Helen
Date: 19 Nov 22 - 04:48 PM

Ar Hyd y Nos (All Through the Night) - Bryn Terfel

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 Nov 22 - 08:30 PM

The question needing an answer is why is there a blockage or what is hanging up that waste isn't passing? The medical folks aren't interested in answering that question?

Cleveland Clinic topic on Colonic: 4 Things You Should Know About Colon Cleansing.

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 20 Nov 22 - 04:36 AM

No hints, tips or advice from me. That a job for the medics. I do wonder how one can get fibre with a non-carbohydrate diet...

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 20 Nov 22 - 12:06 PM

I suppose non-carb just means no bulky starchy stuff or explicit sugar. Things like spuds, rice, bread, pasta. I mean, even broccoli contains starches, sugars and cellulose...all carbs...?

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: Mrrzy
Date: 21 Nov 22 - 04:20 PM

All my fiber comes from vegetables. No grains no legumes.

Corner turned overnight. Sat Sun got worse and worse but this morning woke up in *much* less pain...

And pooped a real whole day's worth!

Saw my regular doc.

Came home and pooped another whole day's worth! I figure at this rate I'll be caught up to last Weds by bedtime.

Tomorrow I see the abdo onco people. I hope they can drain the fluid.

Whew.

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 21 Nov 22 - 04:30 PM

YAH!!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: Helen
Date: 21 Nov 22 - 05:14 PM

Yahh!!! from me too.

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: keberoxu
Date: 22 Nov 22 - 11:37 AM

A friend of mine needed surgery and ended up,
not with excess fluid, but with something called
"free air." Excess air inside the body post-surgery.
He assures me it is very painful. Made it hard to breathe in his case.

Hoping the abdomen specialists get that fluid drained and clear up your troubles.
At least you are home now. Something to be thankful for!
Hang in there, we are cheering you on.

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: Mrrzy
Date: 22 Nov 22 - 06:09 PM

Abdo guy says go back to surgeon.

Surgeon says go back to vascular guy.

Will call vascular guy tomorrow.

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: Helen
Date: 22 Nov 22 - 06:48 PM

Aah! The old medical professionals' runaround trick! Good exercise, all that running back and forth from one medical office to the next, eh? :-(

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: keberoxu
Date: 24 Nov 22 - 06:32 PM

You made it home for Thanksgiving.
That is something to celebrate!

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: MaJoC the Filk
Date: 25 Nov 22 - 07:34 AM

Mrrzy: has (as I suspect) the vascular guy completed the circle and told you to go to the abdo guy? In our family, this is called "being given the Magic Roundabout treatment", esp when endless muzak is involved.

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Nov 22 - 10:40 AM

It sounds like the buck is circulating amongst those medical practices!

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: Mrrzy
Date: 26 Nov 22 - 09:35 PM

Tele-meet vascular surgeon tomorrow. Weds see GI folks. Still awful pain. But[t] still pooping... So there is that.

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 27 Nov 22 - 02:08 AM

it is indeed

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: keberoxu
Date: 29 Nov 22 - 09:19 AM

So the GI/abdo specialists are tomorrow?
What did the vascular surgeon say (anything new)?
Keep on keeping on, Mrrzy.

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: Mrrzy
Date: 29 Nov 22 - 08:39 PM

Vascular guy said I had nothing to complain about and passed the buck right back to the main surgeon. And was a jerk en général. I hate being pooh-poohed.

GI tomorrow.

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: keberoxu
Date: 30 Nov 22 - 12:26 PM

Phooey. Hope the abdo people can help you.

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: keberoxu
Date: 15 Dec 22 - 11:06 AM

... and two weeks later, how is Mrrzy holding up?
Hope things have improved!!

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: Mrrzy
Date: 15 Dec 22 - 06:42 PM

GI guy said not his department since the fluid is outside the intestines.

Anyway I got be'ah, to quote Monty Python. Driving, playing mah jongg, baking. Folks still load and unload my washing machine and the bottom of my dishwasher, and someone else is getting the goose in and out of the oven, but a lot of my life has returned!

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Dec 22 - 08:36 PM

So the runaround continues but you're feeling better - that's mostly good then!

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: Mrrzy
Date: 16 Dec 22 - 08:04 AM

Yeah, I gave up on getting answers.

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 17 Dec 22 - 02:08 AM

goodonya

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: keberoxu
Date: 20 Dec 22 - 06:45 PM

Mrrzy, what about your back, post-surgery?
The abdominal fluid was a side effect,
but the surgery was to mend your back?
Has it made a difference?

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: Mrrzy
Date: 20 Dec 22 - 08:09 PM

Oh, yeah. No issues at all with mt *back* ...

Subject: RE: BS: Mrrzy is living in interesting times...
From: keberoxu
Date: 24 Dec 22 - 03:04 PM

Hey, it's marvelous news that the surgical intervention rescued your back, and your legs, and your nerves, and so on the way it has.
You were ever so miserable before the surgery.
Great result!