This has been a pretty exciting week for me! On Tuesday, I got a call from my endocrinologist's office to let me know the lab work I had done on Friday was good and to continue on my current dosage of meds. My primary care doctor's office called a little later to let me know that they had faxed the referral to the Weight Loss Clinic at Memorial. WOO!
I made myself wait until Tuesday afternoon to call the WLC about seeing when I could schedule my initial consultations. The girl that answers the phone, Marissa, was an absolute angel and sorted through the faxes they had received to find mine, added it to my file, checked everything for completeness, and then scheduled me. She did not have to do that, but she did it anyway. Working in admissions for as long as I have, I know what it's like when someone calls who submitted their paperwork 35 seconds prior and then wants to know their status. So I became THAT annoying person. Sorry, Marissa! But she got me scheduled for my initial consultation and that appointment was YESTERDAY! I couldn't believe I got in that quickly.
Yesterday was like Christmas to me. I was so excited and nervous and was unsure of what to expect. I was so scared someone was going to say, "Uh, you don't meet X qualification, so you're done now. Go away!" No one said that though.
First I met with the physician's assistant. He examined me and we talked about my medical history. It's a pretty short history and can be summed up in one sentence: I've had two kids, have hypothyroidism, gallbladder came out in 2001, and torn meniscus surgery in 2013. Annnnnnnd, we're done. We also discussed which of the 3 surgeries I should have. I did not want lap-band, as I felt it was not appropriate for me. He agreed. It then came down to Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (aka VSG or "sleeve") or the Roux-en-Y (RNY or bypass) surgery. I went into the appointment with leanings toward the sleeve surgery, but I also saw benefits to the RNY. We ended up deciding together that RNY is the best bet for me. And I'm ok with that, because deep down, that was my choice from the start. They are also considerably more experienced in performing the RNY surgery, which makes me feel good with my decision. I have no doubts that the team would do an excellent job with the sleeve, too, but I like that they are more experienced with RNY.
He assured me that they will check everything over very carefully in the OR to ensure there are no leaks or problems. The complication rate is less than 5%. There will be two surgeons performing the surgery, along with their team of nurses. This is standard procedure for this clinic, and I like that. It's good to have two sets of eyes in case one picks up what the other may miss. We are all human and mistakes can happen, but with two experts dong the job, the chance of anything being missed is almost zero.
I then met with the social worker so she could assess my mental preparedness and, I'm sure, to make sure I knew what I was getting into. She asked me to explain what happens in the RNY surgery and I believe I told her way more than she was expecting. What can I say? I'm the Queen of Research and I know my stuff. I've watched countless YouTube videos on the procedure and read numerous articles. I know what to expect after surgery, too. I am fully cognizant of the changes that I will need to make in my life to prepare for my new life. I am ready to make those changes. I feel like I have a pretty good support system, too. We talked about all of that and she pronounced me ready and capable of handling this. I do not have to see her again.
I asked both of them if it was possible to do the surgery in December. They both felt it was able to be done. Doing it in December would allow me extra time for recovery because the University is closed from December 24 to January 1. It's also a slower time in our office. So that is what we are shooting for!
Next up, I will meet with my primary care doctor once a month for six months, starting June 25. She will monitor my weight loss efforts and the changes I am making to prepare for life after surgery. I was not told that I had to lose any percentage or amount of weight prior to surgery, so I'm just going to keep working hard and eating right. In July I go back to Springfield for my first two classes and to meet with the nutritionist, physical therapist (for fitness discussions), and the medical people. In August I will attend a support group meeting to see what it's about (the July meeting is going to be a clothing exchange (COOL) so it won't do me any good).
I have no doubts the rest of this year is going to drag by and fly by. The hardest change I will face will be giving up carbonated beverages. I love my Diet Mt Dew, but I'm in love with the idea of living life at a healthy weight even more. I've already started preparing for that by getting used to drinking iced tea. I didn't like unsweetened tea, so I learned I could use Stevia. I tried it and liked it really well. I am going to double-check with the WLC people to be sure I can use Stevia post-surgery, but from what I read I should be able to. I want their final approval, though, because they are the experts. Of course, during my appointments, I could think of only a few questions. Afterward, I thought of 800 questions. I'm going to email them later today with my list of questions. They are very good at responding, which is awesome.
The part that excites me the most is that the physician's assistant said I should be at or very near to my goal within a year. That means when I walk across the stage to graduate with my master's degree in December 2015, I will be doing so at a healthy weight! I love that idea!
Saturday, June 14, 2014
Sunday, June 8, 2014
Stumbling Blocks
I seem to be unable to accomplish things in my life without encountering stumbling blocks. Instead of becoming angry or upset, I (mostly) laugh because it is so crazy sometimes. For instance, getting started on this surgical process, I encountered a stumbling block a few weeks ago that sort of became a comedy of errors.
I called the bariatric center on May 28 (Wednesday) to find out if they had everything they needed so I could schedule my first consultation so that I can finally know if this is going to be an option for me. (Although the Weight Loss Clinic people said it was, I won't believe it until the surgical people tell me it is.) The nice young lady I spoke to dropped the bomb that my primary care doctor refused to fill out the (required) referral form and wrote on it that he was leaving, so I should have my new PCP fill it out. Um, he's what?!?!?!?!
So I frantically called my PCP's office, only to speak to some bitter older woman who unkindly informed me a letter was sent (I didn't receive) and that the information was published in the newspaper. I responded that I lived 30 miles away and did not read that town's newspaper! I don't even read the newspaper in my own town! Geesh.
Then I began to frantically try to find another doctor. I called the first one who said he was taking new patients. Yes, they were taking new patients, but he's booked up until the end of July. Ok, let's try another one. The next one was also taking new patients...BUT...only on the first of the month. What? The nice receptionist said I had to call back on Monday, June 2 - since the 1st was a Sunday - and if I was one of the first 20 callers, I would be accepted. Wow, I love radio call-ins as much as the next person, but I'm not going to play a game to see if I can get into a doctor. I'm sure that method works great for them, but I do not care to participate. Is that how they schedule appointments, too? "Gee, sorry to hear you are sick, but she will only treat you on the 5th of the month. If you're the 9th caller, you can get in to see her, PLUS you'll win a meet and greet to see the band backstage!" No.
However she did tell me about another doctor who was accepting patients. I called that office and could get in to see that doctor's nurse practitioner the following Wednesday. I'LL TAKE IT! Then I checked my insurance online to make sure that doctor was covered. She was not. I called the company to be sure, and apparently she was. Whew! So they changed my PCP to the new lady and I was set. Except for the part where I had to convince the new nurse practitioner to fill out the referral form.
I dreaded my appointment and was so nervous. I didn't know what I was going to do if she wouldn't fill it out. The day finally came and I headed off to my appointment, not knowing what to expect. Of anything, I truly did not expect to be there for two hours. But I was. I waited 45 minutes to be called back, and then I was with the nurse practitioner for almost an hour, going over my history. WOWSERS!
Basically, I am extremely healthy. My blood pressure was "amazing" according to the nurse that checked me in. I'd just had a bunch of lab work done and we went over that. My A1C, which checks your last 3 months blood sugar, was good so I have no pre-diabetes lurking, and no diabetes. My cholesterol was slightly high, as was my bad cholesterol. My good cholesterol was also high, which is a good thing. My vitamin D was low, which she said was to be expected after winter.
We finally discussed the referral and she was reluctant to fill it out because my BMI was 39.25 or something. It must be 40 or higher to have surgery without any co-morbidities. Since I'm so dang healthy, I have NO co-morbidities. She finally agreed and said it would be sent in, along with her notes from our visit, by Monday evening.
I'm hoping to call the surgical center this coming week to get my initial consultation scheduled so that I'll finally feel like I'm getting started! I'm not a patient person and this is making me crazy. I've also had second thoughts on whether this is right for me. I get scared thinking of what changes will happen before and after surgery. Basically, I'm just doing what I do when it comes to big decisions like this and I'm having doubts. It is a scary, scary thing to think about. And it's life-changing. I'm not backing out on the consultation, because I trust these people to tell me if this is the right thing for me. They have been in practice for a long time and they are the experts. I continue with my research and talking to those who have had surgery. Some days I'm convinced it's right, and other days I have doubts. I think this is normal.
I've already had one family member who is not thrilled with my decision. There may be others, but they haven't voiced their opinion to me yet. That's ok. Not everyone IS going to agree with this. Just like I don't agree with all of their decisions in their life. However, I'm the one who has to live this life and they are the ones who have to live their own lives. We're all entitled to our own opinions, and I'm ok with that, as long as people are respectful about it.
In other news, I got the syllabus for my next grad class. It actually starts June 30 and ends July 25. So I have 4 weeks in which to cram 16 weeks of learning. He sent the syllabus early so that we could get an early start, and I'm taking advantage of it!
We also started the summer exercise challenge in my little town and I'm excited about it! I hope to take part in some of the longer bike rides they have and some of the other events. I'm going to have to get a newspaper to find out when things are being held, though. Haha!
Does your town offer any type of exercise program? Ours is free thanks to a grant. If not, have you thought about getting one started? Do you think people would take advantage? I'm always surprised at how few take advantage of this one. It's rather sad, actually.
I called the bariatric center on May 28 (Wednesday) to find out if they had everything they needed so I could schedule my first consultation so that I can finally know if this is going to be an option for me. (Although the Weight Loss Clinic people said it was, I won't believe it until the surgical people tell me it is.) The nice young lady I spoke to dropped the bomb that my primary care doctor refused to fill out the (required) referral form and wrote on it that he was leaving, so I should have my new PCP fill it out. Um, he's what?!?!?!?!
So I frantically called my PCP's office, only to speak to some bitter older woman who unkindly informed me a letter was sent (I didn't receive) and that the information was published in the newspaper. I responded that I lived 30 miles away and did not read that town's newspaper! I don't even read the newspaper in my own town! Geesh.
Then I began to frantically try to find another doctor. I called the first one who said he was taking new patients. Yes, they were taking new patients, but he's booked up until the end of July. Ok, let's try another one. The next one was also taking new patients...BUT...only on the first of the month. What? The nice receptionist said I had to call back on Monday, June 2 - since the 1st was a Sunday - and if I was one of the first 20 callers, I would be accepted. Wow, I love radio call-ins as much as the next person, but I'm not going to play a game to see if I can get into a doctor. I'm sure that method works great for them, but I do not care to participate. Is that how they schedule appointments, too? "Gee, sorry to hear you are sick, but she will only treat you on the 5th of the month. If you're the 9th caller, you can get in to see her, PLUS you'll win a meet and greet to see the band backstage!" No.
However she did tell me about another doctor who was accepting patients. I called that office and could get in to see that doctor's nurse practitioner the following Wednesday. I'LL TAKE IT! Then I checked my insurance online to make sure that doctor was covered. She was not. I called the company to be sure, and apparently she was. Whew! So they changed my PCP to the new lady and I was set. Except for the part where I had to convince the new nurse practitioner to fill out the referral form.
I dreaded my appointment and was so nervous. I didn't know what I was going to do if she wouldn't fill it out. The day finally came and I headed off to my appointment, not knowing what to expect. Of anything, I truly did not expect to be there for two hours. But I was. I waited 45 minutes to be called back, and then I was with the nurse practitioner for almost an hour, going over my history. WOWSERS!
Basically, I am extremely healthy. My blood pressure was "amazing" according to the nurse that checked me in. I'd just had a bunch of lab work done and we went over that. My A1C, which checks your last 3 months blood sugar, was good so I have no pre-diabetes lurking, and no diabetes. My cholesterol was slightly high, as was my bad cholesterol. My good cholesterol was also high, which is a good thing. My vitamin D was low, which she said was to be expected after winter.
We finally discussed the referral and she was reluctant to fill it out because my BMI was 39.25 or something. It must be 40 or higher to have surgery without any co-morbidities. Since I'm so dang healthy, I have NO co-morbidities. She finally agreed and said it would be sent in, along with her notes from our visit, by Monday evening.
I'm hoping to call the surgical center this coming week to get my initial consultation scheduled so that I'll finally feel like I'm getting started! I'm not a patient person and this is making me crazy. I've also had second thoughts on whether this is right for me. I get scared thinking of what changes will happen before and after surgery. Basically, I'm just doing what I do when it comes to big decisions like this and I'm having doubts. It is a scary, scary thing to think about. And it's life-changing. I'm not backing out on the consultation, because I trust these people to tell me if this is the right thing for me. They have been in practice for a long time and they are the experts. I continue with my research and talking to those who have had surgery. Some days I'm convinced it's right, and other days I have doubts. I think this is normal.
I've already had one family member who is not thrilled with my decision. There may be others, but they haven't voiced their opinion to me yet. That's ok. Not everyone IS going to agree with this. Just like I don't agree with all of their decisions in their life. However, I'm the one who has to live this life and they are the ones who have to live their own lives. We're all entitled to our own opinions, and I'm ok with that, as long as people are respectful about it.
In other news, I got the syllabus for my next grad class. It actually starts June 30 and ends July 25. So I have 4 weeks in which to cram 16 weeks of learning. He sent the syllabus early so that we could get an early start, and I'm taking advantage of it!
We also started the summer exercise challenge in my little town and I'm excited about it! I hope to take part in some of the longer bike rides they have and some of the other events. I'm going to have to get a newspaper to find out when things are being held, though. Haha!
Does your town offer any type of exercise program? Ours is free thanks to a grant. If not, have you thought about getting one started? Do you think people would take advantage? I'm always surprised at how few take advantage of this one. It's rather sad, actually.
Sunday, May 25, 2014
Decision Made
After a great deal of research and discussion, I made the decision this week to begin the process for weight loss surgery. This was not an easy decision by any means. This is not something I rushed into, either. This is not something that everyone is going to agree with, however, this is something I feel is right for me.
I have been trying to lose weight for many years, with minimal success. I've tried every diet under the sun, too. I can exercise until the cows come home, but this weight just will not come off now. Age? Metabolism? I don't know but I'm tired of getting no results.
Weight loss surgery is a TOOL. It is a very powerful, irreversible tool. There will be work to be done leading up to the surgery, and there will be work to be done every single day after the surgery. It is not a magic fix. They don't do the surgery and then I can eat whatever I want and lose, lose, lose. I still have to eat healthy and exercise. That will never stop. There will never come a day when I can say, "I am done." and then start eating junk. I will have good days and I will have bad days, just like everyone else. This will not make my marriage perfect, my job perfect, my kids perfect, or any other aspect of my life perfect. I will still have disagreements with my husband. Things at work will stress me out. My kids will continue to make me nuts. My life will still be just as crazy at is it now, but I will be seeing success on the scale if I'm doing the work.
This will not be a fast process, either, and I may not even be approved by the doctor. I have to see a team, similar to that which I worked with at the weight loss clinic. I will have to meet with a nurse practitioner, nutritionist, physical therapist, and psychologist. There will be classes to take and support groups to attend. I plan to continue to research and read as much as I can about this. I've found some great forums online and am currently lurking, reading. I have a friend who just had the surgery and I'm talking to her to gain her fresh perspective, and a friend who had the surgery 5 1/2 years ago and has kept a great deal of weight off. I have different questions for each of these ladies and they are kind enough to share their experiences with me.
If you don't agree with my decision, that's ok. I'm the one that has to live with it, not you, so it's ok. Only my husband knows exactly what I've been going through because he's watched me suffer, struggle, and he's been the one to wipe up my tears when I step on the scale and have to face a gain when there should be a loss. He knows and he supports this decision. As my biggest supporter and best friend, his support is the only one I really need.
I've submitted the paperwork to the Bariatric Center at Memorial Hospital in Springfield and I'm just waiting for them to schedule my first appointment. Of course, you know I will be keeping you all up to date on this process. I have a lot of goals that I want to accomplish and I think this is my best opportunity for reaching those goals. I hope you will all stick along for the ride. I promise, it's going to get pretty exciting! There are going to be more 5Ks, some 10Ks, half marathons, maybe a full marathon, some obstacle course runs, and maybe even some triathlons! Yes, those are all things I want to do! And I will do them!
Are you ready? I am.
I have been trying to lose weight for many years, with minimal success. I've tried every diet under the sun, too. I can exercise until the cows come home, but this weight just will not come off now. Age? Metabolism? I don't know but I'm tired of getting no results.
Weight loss surgery is a TOOL. It is a very powerful, irreversible tool. There will be work to be done leading up to the surgery, and there will be work to be done every single day after the surgery. It is not a magic fix. They don't do the surgery and then I can eat whatever I want and lose, lose, lose. I still have to eat healthy and exercise. That will never stop. There will never come a day when I can say, "I am done." and then start eating junk. I will have good days and I will have bad days, just like everyone else. This will not make my marriage perfect, my job perfect, my kids perfect, or any other aspect of my life perfect. I will still have disagreements with my husband. Things at work will stress me out. My kids will continue to make me nuts. My life will still be just as crazy at is it now, but I will be seeing success on the scale if I'm doing the work.
This will not be a fast process, either, and I may not even be approved by the doctor. I have to see a team, similar to that which I worked with at the weight loss clinic. I will have to meet with a nurse practitioner, nutritionist, physical therapist, and psychologist. There will be classes to take and support groups to attend. I plan to continue to research and read as much as I can about this. I've found some great forums online and am currently lurking, reading. I have a friend who just had the surgery and I'm talking to her to gain her fresh perspective, and a friend who had the surgery 5 1/2 years ago and has kept a great deal of weight off. I have different questions for each of these ladies and they are kind enough to share their experiences with me.
If you don't agree with my decision, that's ok. I'm the one that has to live with it, not you, so it's ok. Only my husband knows exactly what I've been going through because he's watched me suffer, struggle, and he's been the one to wipe up my tears when I step on the scale and have to face a gain when there should be a loss. He knows and he supports this decision. As my biggest supporter and best friend, his support is the only one I really need.
I've submitted the paperwork to the Bariatric Center at Memorial Hospital in Springfield and I'm just waiting for them to schedule my first appointment. Of course, you know I will be keeping you all up to date on this process. I have a lot of goals that I want to accomplish and I think this is my best opportunity for reaching those goals. I hope you will all stick along for the ride. I promise, it's going to get pretty exciting! There are going to be more 5Ks, some 10Ks, half marathons, maybe a full marathon, some obstacle course runs, and maybe even some triathlons! Yes, those are all things I want to do! And I will do them!
Are you ready? I am.
Sunday, May 18, 2014
Catch up
It's been a few weeks since I last posted, I know. I've had a lot going on and a lot on my mind. I finished up my two grad classes and I'm still getting used to no homework. I'm now 14 hours into my master's degree (still with a 4.0 gpa! WOO!) with 21 hours to go. If things go according to plan I will graduate in December 2015. I can't wait!
Speaking of wait/weight, I don't even know what to say. It's all over the place. Last week I was down 5 lbs and this week I'm up 2 lbs. I guess that's still a loss of 3 lbs, though, so I'll take it. I have been doing a LOT of thinking about and researching weight loss surgery. I am very strongly leaning toward it right now. It's a decision for me and me alone, though, regardless of what anyone else thinks or wants me to do.
Only my husband and I know exactly how hard I have been working at this weight loss and the lack of results make me want to cry. I would love to be able to inspire everyone and say that it's so simple - eat less, move more! But it's not working for my body for whatever reason. I can only bang my head against a wall so many times before I have to stop because it hurts. And it's starting to hurt a LOT. Surgery, however is not a cure-all or a magic fix. It's a tool. A very, very powerful, irreversible tool. And this is a hard decision.
I met with the HyVee Dietitian for the last time on Wednesday and was disappointed to see that my weight was up 6 or 8 lbs from what I started with at my first visit with her in January. She wanted me to reduce my calories even further but I'm scared. What happens if I do reduce them and lose a little and stall again? I cannot keep reducing, reducing, reducing until I am taking in nothing, can I? I don't think it will do anything, but I will try tweaking my calories for a bit to see what happens. If I am not comfortable with the tweaks, I'll go back to where I am now. I'm already relatively low carb, which I didn't even realize until I started looking back at my entries on MyFitnessPal. I was a little surprised by it, but Jennifer was not. She's a smart cookie, that one.
In other news, my youngest son and I went to St. Louis last weekend for the 2014 Heart Walk at Busch Stadium. We walked 3 miles around the streets of downtown St. Louis and ended with a walk around the field at the stadium. It was very, very cool to be down there, even though I'm not a big baseball fan any more. Back in the day, though, I was a huge Cardinals fan and that will never change. My idol, Ozzie Smith, was the honorary chair of the event and I was really hoping we would get to meet him, but the opportunity never even came up. He did give a speech before the race, but it was so noisy it was hard to hear.
Yesterday, Nick and I traveled to Quincy to take part in our 2nd Bridge the Gap 5K walk. The finisher medals we got were incredible! They were huge, heavy and on a nice wide ribbon. It felt like we were Olympic champions almost! Next year Nick wants to run the 5K. I want to try it too. I hope I am able. Then maybe the following year we'll do the 10K, and then the half marathon! Oh yeah, I have big dreams. One way or another they WILL come true.
I'm not sure what our next race will be. There's one in Mt. Sterling in June that I'd like to do and I might try running a little at that one. We'll see. I also want to get my bike out and go for rides. It needs a little work, which my husband has promised to complete this week. I also need to get a bike helmet. And probably a big pillow to pad my butt. LOL
What kinds of plans do you have to stay active this summer? Do you like to participate in organized events? If so, what is your most favorite that you've done?
Speaking of wait/weight, I don't even know what to say. It's all over the place. Last week I was down 5 lbs and this week I'm up 2 lbs. I guess that's still a loss of 3 lbs, though, so I'll take it. I have been doing a LOT of thinking about and researching weight loss surgery. I am very strongly leaning toward it right now. It's a decision for me and me alone, though, regardless of what anyone else thinks or wants me to do.
Only my husband and I know exactly how hard I have been working at this weight loss and the lack of results make me want to cry. I would love to be able to inspire everyone and say that it's so simple - eat less, move more! But it's not working for my body for whatever reason. I can only bang my head against a wall so many times before I have to stop because it hurts. And it's starting to hurt a LOT. Surgery, however is not a cure-all or a magic fix. It's a tool. A very, very powerful, irreversible tool. And this is a hard decision.
I met with the HyVee Dietitian for the last time on Wednesday and was disappointed to see that my weight was up 6 or 8 lbs from what I started with at my first visit with her in January. She wanted me to reduce my calories even further but I'm scared. What happens if I do reduce them and lose a little and stall again? I cannot keep reducing, reducing, reducing until I am taking in nothing, can I? I don't think it will do anything, but I will try tweaking my calories for a bit to see what happens. If I am not comfortable with the tweaks, I'll go back to where I am now. I'm already relatively low carb, which I didn't even realize until I started looking back at my entries on MyFitnessPal. I was a little surprised by it, but Jennifer was not. She's a smart cookie, that one.
In other news, my youngest son and I went to St. Louis last weekend for the 2014 Heart Walk at Busch Stadium. We walked 3 miles around the streets of downtown St. Louis and ended with a walk around the field at the stadium. It was very, very cool to be down there, even though I'm not a big baseball fan any more. Back in the day, though, I was a huge Cardinals fan and that will never change. My idol, Ozzie Smith, was the honorary chair of the event and I was really hoping we would get to meet him, but the opportunity never even came up. He did give a speech before the race, but it was so noisy it was hard to hear.
Yesterday, Nick and I traveled to Quincy to take part in our 2nd Bridge the Gap 5K walk. The finisher medals we got were incredible! They were huge, heavy and on a nice wide ribbon. It felt like we were Olympic champions almost! Next year Nick wants to run the 5K. I want to try it too. I hope I am able. Then maybe the following year we'll do the 10K, and then the half marathon! Oh yeah, I have big dreams. One way or another they WILL come true.
I'm not sure what our next race will be. There's one in Mt. Sterling in June that I'd like to do and I might try running a little at that one. We'll see. I also want to get my bike out and go for rides. It needs a little work, which my husband has promised to complete this week. I also need to get a bike helmet. And probably a big pillow to pad my butt. LOL
What kinds of plans do you have to stay active this summer? Do you like to participate in organized events? If so, what is your most favorite that you've done?
Monday, April 28, 2014
Weight Loss Clinic Visit
I wanted to write about this while it's all still fresh in my mind. It's been a long and overwhelming day. I got to the clinic around 7a and we got started filling out papers. There were 3 other people in the clinic with me, 2 ladies and a man. We were each called individually to meet with a physical therapist, a nutritionist, nurse practitioner, and psychologist. The appointments lasted about an hour each.
Basically they each told me I was doing everything right and by all accounts I should be losing weight. But I'm not. And I'm gaining, gaining, gaining. Twenty pounds to be exact.
They told me that I was actually the ideal candidate for surgery. I am tracking my food, I am exercising regularly, and I have developed coping mechanisms to deal with emotional eating and stuff like that. These are things they teach patients in this clinic and those that are preparing for bariatric surgery. So I'm sort of ahead of the game by quite a bit.
The physical therapist had a couple of suggestions for tweaking my exercise and I will begin trying her suggestions ASAP. The nurse practitioner ordered an array of labs which I will have drawn in the next day or two. Depending on what they show, she may order some changes. Based on my history, I'm pretty sure she's not going to find any problems. The nutritionist told me to keep doing what I'm doing and keep tracking my food. The psychologist really had nothing to add.
I go back in a month to see the NP and nutritionist. The PT and psych said they don't need to see me for 3 months. I have to attend some mandatory classes in June, but they told me I probably already knew what they would teach in the classes, but I had to do them anyway as part of the program.
The one thing that was kind of nice was hearing the compliments on my fitness level and my efforts thus far. The frustrating thing is that no one has an answer as to why I can't lose and why the gains are happening. I really didn't think I'd get a black and white answer, to be honest, but I was kind of hoping.
If I don't see some results in the next 3 months, I can be referred to the bariatric people for weight loss surgery if I so desire. Do I? I don't know. Part of me does not. I want to do it the "old-fashioned way" and people have a tendency to look down their noses at those who have undergone surgery. There are many people in my life who are against this choice for me. Quite frankly, I don't care because they are not the ones that have to live my life. Weight loss surgery is not an EASY option. It comes with its own set of struggles and issues.
Part of me is willing to undergo surgery if it will help me lose weight. I cannot begin to tell you how frustrating it is to work so hard and get nothing for my efforts. I cannot continue to do this if I don't start seeing some results soon. If something doesn't happen, I'm going to throw in the towel and my weight is going to spiral out of control. I know me. I know my limits and I'm almost there. Something has to give!
This is not a decision I will make lightly and I will definitely not make it without putting a lot of research and thought into it. It's not something I have to decide tonight, this month, or even next month. Whatever I decide will be what's right for ME and my life.
Basically they each told me I was doing everything right and by all accounts I should be losing weight. But I'm not. And I'm gaining, gaining, gaining. Twenty pounds to be exact.
They told me that I was actually the ideal candidate for surgery. I am tracking my food, I am exercising regularly, and I have developed coping mechanisms to deal with emotional eating and stuff like that. These are things they teach patients in this clinic and those that are preparing for bariatric surgery. So I'm sort of ahead of the game by quite a bit.
The physical therapist had a couple of suggestions for tweaking my exercise and I will begin trying her suggestions ASAP. The nurse practitioner ordered an array of labs which I will have drawn in the next day or two. Depending on what they show, she may order some changes. Based on my history, I'm pretty sure she's not going to find any problems. The nutritionist told me to keep doing what I'm doing and keep tracking my food. The psychologist really had nothing to add.
I go back in a month to see the NP and nutritionist. The PT and psych said they don't need to see me for 3 months. I have to attend some mandatory classes in June, but they told me I probably already knew what they would teach in the classes, but I had to do them anyway as part of the program.
The one thing that was kind of nice was hearing the compliments on my fitness level and my efforts thus far. The frustrating thing is that no one has an answer as to why I can't lose and why the gains are happening. I really didn't think I'd get a black and white answer, to be honest, but I was kind of hoping.
If I don't see some results in the next 3 months, I can be referred to the bariatric people for weight loss surgery if I so desire. Do I? I don't know. Part of me does not. I want to do it the "old-fashioned way" and people have a tendency to look down their noses at those who have undergone surgery. There are many people in my life who are against this choice for me. Quite frankly, I don't care because they are not the ones that have to live my life. Weight loss surgery is not an EASY option. It comes with its own set of struggles and issues.
Part of me is willing to undergo surgery if it will help me lose weight. I cannot begin to tell you how frustrating it is to work so hard and get nothing for my efforts. I cannot continue to do this if I don't start seeing some results soon. If something doesn't happen, I'm going to throw in the towel and my weight is going to spiral out of control. I know me. I know my limits and I'm almost there. Something has to give!
This is not a decision I will make lightly and I will definitely not make it without putting a lot of research and thought into it. It's not something I have to decide tonight, this month, or even next month. Whatever I decide will be what's right for ME and my life.
Sunday, April 27, 2014
So many, many things going on!
Last Saturday I was astounded to get on the scale and see that I'd gained 5 lbs. Yes, FIVE pounds. I have no idea where it came from, but it was very disheartening to see. On Wednesday morning, I just did a quick check to see where I was and I was up 2.5 more lbs.
I decided I needed help in figuring this out and getting a plan together, so I called the Memorial Weight Loss and Wellness Center. I spoke to them for almost an hour and got a lot of my questions answered. I have an appointment for my Global Health Assessment tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. in Springfield. I will meet with a doctor, a physical therapist, nutritionist, and counselor, among others. It is a 4-hour appointment, so this will be exhausting, I'm sure. After their assessments, they will meet and decide the best course of treatment for me. I am not interested in their physical therapy as I am already taking care of that. If I like their plan and feel it will benefit me, I will go to Springfield once a month to meet with the doctor and do whatever I need to do. If I think it's a waste of time, I can just walk away. I feel like I have to at least try.
On Friday I met with my endocrinologist to talk about my inability to lose weight and these sudden gains I'm experiencing. Mathematically, they make no sense and shouldn't be happening. According to my Fitbit report I get weekly, I am in a deficit between what I'm eating and what I'm burning. Therefore, I should be losing! But I'm NOT!
We talked for 40 minutes about a lot of different things. She went over my labs from the past 2 years and we discussed the results in detail. I feel like I have a better grasp of this disease now. She did agree to increase my medication so I do hope it will help. She also wants to see me every 3 months and keep a closer eye on my levels. So I'll be getting lab work done every 3 months as well. She wanted to change my meds, but right now I want to get this weight loss thing going, so I prefer to stay on what I'm on for now. Once I get that sorted out, I am not opposed to trying a different medication. I just worry about changing too much at once.
So yesterday I weighed in and was happy to see I'd lost 1.5 lbs. I wish I was more, considering this was of the 5 lb surprise gain, but I'm happy with a loss. Nick and I also went to Macomb to do the Inaugural Purple and Gold Rocky 5K Run/Walk. We had a great time and we weren't last. We were close, though. Even if we were, I told Nick it didn't matter because Dead Last Finish is greater than Did Not Finish which is greater than Did Not Start. We won because we were out there doing it and not sitting on our butts. For a $15 registration fee we got a really nice Under Armour moisture wicking race shirt. I was surprised that it was so nice considered the inexpensive fee. I've paid more for races and got cheap cotton shirts that shrank 3 sizes in the first wash. So BONUS!
I dread having to get up at 5a tomorrow to make it to Springfield in time for this appointment, but I'm also anxious to hear what their suggestions might be. I will not do something weird, such as drinking meal replacement shakes, or buy boxed foods, or go on a super-restrictive diet. I refuse. I want to do something that I can do for LIFE. I will not drink a shake for life, I'm not going to eat pre-packaged food all the time for the rest of my life, and I'm not going to restrict myself from eating any food groups. If it works for you, that's great because that is YOUR life, not mine. That's not how I want to live. I'm not asking anyone to follow exactly what I do, either. What I do won't necessarily work in your life. Stepping off that soapbox...
I also met with Dietitian Jennifer for my next-to-last meeting last week! It's been a very good experience working with her, even if my weight hasn't moved in the right direction. I still feel that I've learned a lot and have become very aware of some of my attitudes and feelings toward food. We had some discussion and then she took me on another tour of the store. I had already seen most of what she showed me, but it was good to get a refresher because I had forgotten about some of the products.
This time she told me about chia seeds and gave me a sample to take home and try. Some feel that chia seeds aid in weight loss because they will swell up to 10 times their size in water. The theory is that if you ingest them, they will do that in your stomach, making you feel fuller faster and for a longer period of time. I'm not sure I buy into that, but they are also a great source of Omega-3s, so I figure it can't hurt.
She also encouraged me to try Activia yogurt and suggested adding some Kashi Go Lean cereal. So I got all of that and added the chia seeds to the yogurt, along with the granola stuff. It was very, very tasty. However, if you have never had Activia and the granola, you should be aware that Activia is an ancient Indian word for "cleans colon." Kashi is a Japanese word for "with pain." So when you mix the two...it's not exactly a delightful walk in the park. At least that was MY experience. I would use caution when trying these foods and be sure you are near a restroom in which you feel comfortable being for a slightly extended period of time. And that's all I'm going to say about THAT.
In other news, only a couple of weeks left in this semester and I'm so glad. Once it is over, I will have the rest of May and all of June to devote to ME, ME, ME! My online class starts July 1 and ends July 25, so it will be an intense time and I will not have much ME time. In the Fall, I'm taking 2 Weekend Academy classes, which will be a new experience. Each class only meets 3 weekends. One of them is on Fridays from 5p - 10p and Saturday from 8a - 6p. The other one meets Sat/Sun from 8a - 5p. Of course they are all on different weekends. This will start in September and I will be done in early November. I'm not sure what my time for me will be like, but I think I will still have time to workout through the week.
How are things in your life? What is your weight loss/get healthy plan like? What are the things you absolutely refuse to do in order to lose weight (drink daily shake, take pills, etc)? Any upcoming 5Ks in the area you are doing?
I decided I needed help in figuring this out and getting a plan together, so I called the Memorial Weight Loss and Wellness Center. I spoke to them for almost an hour and got a lot of my questions answered. I have an appointment for my Global Health Assessment tomorrow at 7:30 a.m. in Springfield. I will meet with a doctor, a physical therapist, nutritionist, and counselor, among others. It is a 4-hour appointment, so this will be exhausting, I'm sure. After their assessments, they will meet and decide the best course of treatment for me. I am not interested in their physical therapy as I am already taking care of that. If I like their plan and feel it will benefit me, I will go to Springfield once a month to meet with the doctor and do whatever I need to do. If I think it's a waste of time, I can just walk away. I feel like I have to at least try.
On Friday I met with my endocrinologist to talk about my inability to lose weight and these sudden gains I'm experiencing. Mathematically, they make no sense and shouldn't be happening. According to my Fitbit report I get weekly, I am in a deficit between what I'm eating and what I'm burning. Therefore, I should be losing! But I'm NOT!
We talked for 40 minutes about a lot of different things. She went over my labs from the past 2 years and we discussed the results in detail. I feel like I have a better grasp of this disease now. She did agree to increase my medication so I do hope it will help. She also wants to see me every 3 months and keep a closer eye on my levels. So I'll be getting lab work done every 3 months as well. She wanted to change my meds, but right now I want to get this weight loss thing going, so I prefer to stay on what I'm on for now. Once I get that sorted out, I am not opposed to trying a different medication. I just worry about changing too much at once.
So yesterday I weighed in and was happy to see I'd lost 1.5 lbs. I wish I was more, considering this was of the 5 lb surprise gain, but I'm happy with a loss. Nick and I also went to Macomb to do the Inaugural Purple and Gold Rocky 5K Run/Walk. We had a great time and we weren't last. We were close, though. Even if we were, I told Nick it didn't matter because Dead Last Finish is greater than Did Not Finish which is greater than Did Not Start. We won because we were out there doing it and not sitting on our butts. For a $15 registration fee we got a really nice Under Armour moisture wicking race shirt. I was surprised that it was so nice considered the inexpensive fee. I've paid more for races and got cheap cotton shirts that shrank 3 sizes in the first wash. So BONUS!
I dread having to get up at 5a tomorrow to make it to Springfield in time for this appointment, but I'm also anxious to hear what their suggestions might be. I will not do something weird, such as drinking meal replacement shakes, or buy boxed foods, or go on a super-restrictive diet. I refuse. I want to do something that I can do for LIFE. I will not drink a shake for life, I'm not going to eat pre-packaged food all the time for the rest of my life, and I'm not going to restrict myself from eating any food groups. If it works for you, that's great because that is YOUR life, not mine. That's not how I want to live. I'm not asking anyone to follow exactly what I do, either. What I do won't necessarily work in your life. Stepping off that soapbox...
I also met with Dietitian Jennifer for my next-to-last meeting last week! It's been a very good experience working with her, even if my weight hasn't moved in the right direction. I still feel that I've learned a lot and have become very aware of some of my attitudes and feelings toward food. We had some discussion and then she took me on another tour of the store. I had already seen most of what she showed me, but it was good to get a refresher because I had forgotten about some of the products.
This time she told me about chia seeds and gave me a sample to take home and try. Some feel that chia seeds aid in weight loss because they will swell up to 10 times their size in water. The theory is that if you ingest them, they will do that in your stomach, making you feel fuller faster and for a longer period of time. I'm not sure I buy into that, but they are also a great source of Omega-3s, so I figure it can't hurt.
She also encouraged me to try Activia yogurt and suggested adding some Kashi Go Lean cereal. So I got all of that and added the chia seeds to the yogurt, along with the granola stuff. It was very, very tasty. However, if you have never had Activia and the granola, you should be aware that Activia is an ancient Indian word for "cleans colon." Kashi is a Japanese word for "with pain." So when you mix the two...it's not exactly a delightful walk in the park. At least that was MY experience. I would use caution when trying these foods and be sure you are near a restroom in which you feel comfortable being for a slightly extended period of time. And that's all I'm going to say about THAT.
In other news, only a couple of weeks left in this semester and I'm so glad. Once it is over, I will have the rest of May and all of June to devote to ME, ME, ME! My online class starts July 1 and ends July 25, so it will be an intense time and I will not have much ME time. In the Fall, I'm taking 2 Weekend Academy classes, which will be a new experience. Each class only meets 3 weekends. One of them is on Fridays from 5p - 10p and Saturday from 8a - 6p. The other one meets Sat/Sun from 8a - 5p. Of course they are all on different weekends. This will start in September and I will be done in early November. I'm not sure what my time for me will be like, but I think I will still have time to workout through the week.
How are things in your life? What is your weight loss/get healthy plan like? What are the things you absolutely refuse to do in order to lose weight (drink daily shake, take pills, etc)? Any upcoming 5Ks in the area you are doing?
Saturday, April 12, 2014
Heading in the right direction
Ok, since we last talked I celebrated a birthday, so I'm a little older but not any wiser. I hope that part kicks in soon because I could use some wisdom. Last week I gained 2.25 lbs. I didn't work out as much and I wasn't as careful with my eating, so I wasn't surprised. However I got my act back together and I have lost 3 lbs this week.
One of the things that really helped me was to call my endocrinologist and schedule an appointment to see the actual doctor. I've been working with the nurse practitioner, and while I feel NPs play an important role in health care, there are just some times when it's better to talk to the doctor. This is one. I also requested they fax my last set of labs to me so I can see the numbers for myself. The NP had told me they were all fine in early March. Well, one of the levels was actually low and could be causing this weight to not come off. I see my endocrinologist on April 25.
In preparation for the appointment, I asked Dietitian Jennifer to write a letter to her that explains what we've been doing. She agreed and gave me the letter at my appointment on Wednesday. It basically outlines the changes we have implemented and points out that I've lost 1 lb since late January. That's not very impressive for the work I've put into this. It's absolutely maddening, to be honest! I hope the endocrinologist is open to listening and will help me figure out what's wrong with my body. The previous endo that I was seeing at that office has retired, so I've not met this lady yet.
I also cashed in my certificate for a training program that I won in the Biggest Loser contest. On Tuesday, I spoke with the trainer creating it at length about my goals, how often I wanted to work out, etc. He is working on it and will let me know when it's ready. Hopefully this week.
We're coming into the final weeks of this semester and I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. I have lots of homework waiting for me, as usual. I can't wait for Spring 2014 semester to end so I can enjoy a few weeks of vacation. July 1 I'll start again with a 4-week summer class. It will be stressful, but I'll be ready!
Hope everyone in this area is able to get out and enjoy the weather! It's 75 degrees out right now which is a lovely change after the horribly cold winter we just came out of. I think I'm going to take my textbook outside and sit and read.
How has your week been going? Successes? Failures? If you've hit a bump, let it just be a bump and do not let it derail you. Think of your progress and the good you are doing for your body. The number on the scale isn't where I want it to be, but working out and eating right are more important for my overall health. It is for yours, too!
One of the things that really helped me was to call my endocrinologist and schedule an appointment to see the actual doctor. I've been working with the nurse practitioner, and while I feel NPs play an important role in health care, there are just some times when it's better to talk to the doctor. This is one. I also requested they fax my last set of labs to me so I can see the numbers for myself. The NP had told me they were all fine in early March. Well, one of the levels was actually low and could be causing this weight to not come off. I see my endocrinologist on April 25.
In preparation for the appointment, I asked Dietitian Jennifer to write a letter to her that explains what we've been doing. She agreed and gave me the letter at my appointment on Wednesday. It basically outlines the changes we have implemented and points out that I've lost 1 lb since late January. That's not very impressive for the work I've put into this. It's absolutely maddening, to be honest! I hope the endocrinologist is open to listening and will help me figure out what's wrong with my body. The previous endo that I was seeing at that office has retired, so I've not met this lady yet.
I also cashed in my certificate for a training program that I won in the Biggest Loser contest. On Tuesday, I spoke with the trainer creating it at length about my goals, how often I wanted to work out, etc. He is working on it and will let me know when it's ready. Hopefully this week.
We're coming into the final weeks of this semester and I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. I have lots of homework waiting for me, as usual. I can't wait for Spring 2014 semester to end so I can enjoy a few weeks of vacation. July 1 I'll start again with a 4-week summer class. It will be stressful, but I'll be ready!
Hope everyone in this area is able to get out and enjoy the weather! It's 75 degrees out right now which is a lovely change after the horribly cold winter we just came out of. I think I'm going to take my textbook outside and sit and read.
How has your week been going? Successes? Failures? If you've hit a bump, let it just be a bump and do not let it derail you. Think of your progress and the good you are doing for your body. The number on the scale isn't where I want it to be, but working out and eating right are more important for my overall health. It is for yours, too!
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