Changing Meds, Donating Blood and Preparing to Travel

Enchantress

Changing Meds, Donating Blood and Preparing to Travel

It's been one month and some change since my last post. In that time, I've dropped down into another weight bracket (another 10 pounds gone). I picked up a psuedo-cold, then upped the immunity supplements and vitamin C to try and knock it out. I was down to a cough, which I couldn't tell if it was residual from the cold or the stupid side effect from my newest prescription.  Aside - the high-blood pressure meds came with a dry-cough as a side effect.  A little cough I could have dealt with but mind-numbing hacking every night was a completely different story. So, off to the doctor I went. 

I let him know what my situation was with the cold and also the meds. He prescribed something new. I hadn't had my medicine when I went to see him and he was astounded at the numbers of my blood pressure. He said, "Your numbers are great and you haven't even had it today!" He also applauded me for the change in my weight and my numbers overall. He let me know that I could halve the new meds, should I find that my blood pressure drops too low. Too low? Wow. I thought I'd never hear the day.

Scheduled two days later was a blood donation. I'd been meaning to do it ever since the first hurricane. I still had the cough, but I felt good and my levels appeared great for donating. It's been almost twenty years since I've donated blood. It really was time.

Once completed, I drank my little juice and ate my nuts. I got a call from the music store telling me an item was ready to be picked up so, off I went to the store (which was just down the street from the Red Cross building). Out of the car and into the store--too quick! The room was spinning and I knew if I didn't sit down, down I would go and not of my own volition. Yikes! The clerks were very nice and offered me food and water to help. I just sat there for a few minutes while we chatted. How embarrassing! The nurses at Red Cross also said no heavy activity for five hours. That turned into two days for me. Why was I so weak? I guess the change in size and weight can effect your rate of fluid and platelet return on a blood donation. I'll be better prepared next time.

My biennial trip is coming up in a couple of weeks. I'm so excited to see my bestie! As I run through all the things I want to do while I'm there, I'm left feeling (as always) that there just won't be enough time to get it all in. Part of the trip will be driving up to our Alma Mater to visit some of our old haunts. I think I'm more excited about that than anything else. It's where we met and where are friendship was born. We have the option to attend some parties but, we did that last time. Honestly, my ass is too old to try and hang out until one or two in the morning these days. No thank you.

Lastly, I let my girls know about the dramatic change in my weight (over 30 pounds lost) and told them that I set little goals in my mind to keep plugging along. The next goal is to go to one of them and say, "Hey, can I borrow your jeans?" The crazy thing is that I'm nearly there. Maybe, by my next post, I will be.

Three Months Later and...

Enchantress

Three Months Later and...

I met with my new doctor on Monday, May 22nd. Hubby and I had been arguing about some things but, before the drama, he had said he wanted to go to my appointment. We did end up there together and I was grateful (albeit sad at arriving in separate cars and at the circumstances all around). My doctor explained what was going on and what would be the best route for treatment. Hubby saw the benefits of the medication and his mind was put at ease. I think he's always worried about side effects and the like. Thankfully, one of Meformin's side effects is weight loss.

things are looking good! I had my follow-up appointment on Tuesday, August 22nd; however, let me turn back time a bit.



We left the appointment more informed and wiser, then drove to the park to talk. The talk went well and from there on, things were looking up. I picked up my prescription and began taking the meds the very next day. I had a thought later on, "What about wine?" We had a Vegas trip planned and I wasn't sure I'd be okay to indulge while away. The nurse confirmed my fears. No alcohol, at least until the initial three month review. Damn.

I had an initial drop in weight that I gathered was the result of the meds. Then, things began to stall. I knew that I couldn't just rely on the medication to make the changes. I decided that I had to really kick things into gear.

Three weeks after my appointment, the entire family went to the Diabetes 101 class offered by the local hospital. It was really well done and we learned a lot. It encouraged us to make changes as a whole, rather than it just being me all on my own. My youngest daughter has had a dramatic weight increase and I worried that she wasn't making the best choices. The class helped her with that as well.

There were three more classes held during the summer (we missed the last one, due to attending War on the Catwalk for my eldest daughter's birthday) and tons of workouts and extra workouts. I also slashed my calories and changed up my portion sizes. I've pretty much been a low-carber for years, but I've been much more "in control" than in times past.

On vacation (mid-June) we opted for clear alcohol as our one and only libation on the trip (yes. I cheated). It was good but I was so loopy. After eating clean and working out for months, my body reacted strongly to the vodka. I decided I wouldn't have any more for a while.

My goal was to be at least 20 pounds under by my follow-up appointment. When I got on the scale, I was at a 17 pound loss. Yes, I know it isn't the first weigh-in-the-morning number and I was wearing clothes but, I was still bummed. Then, the nurse took my blood pressure and it was high. Crap! Hubby was with me and wasn't as engaged as the first time so, I continued to get more and more bummed. The icing on the cake? The doctor prescribed Lisinopril and a glucose meter. Awesome.

So, we leave the appointment and I go to fill my prescription. I hadn't eaten lunch, so I grabbed some and took it home. Lunch was at around 3:00pm so, when dinner time arrived, I didn't want any. I've begun stopping all food by 7:00pm so, that meant no dinner. Hubby was paying attention to my mood and brought me a cocktail (clear - vodka and sprite). It was just what I needed to drift off into a lovely sleep and end, in my mind, what was a miserable day.

The next morning, my weight had plummeted past the twenty pound loss mark. WTH?! At least it was nice to see on the scale. I used that good news to motivate my day and pull me out of my slump. Why not? I was in a totally different weight bracket and that's always good news.  Anyway, it happened to be the first day of school, so I reveled in being home alone with no one to bother me. I had contractors come to give me quotes on internal doors I need fixing but, other than that, it was a glorious, private day.

By the afternoon, I received a call from my doctor's office. They let me know that my A1C had plummeted, too; more than two points from where it was when I came in, in May! Basically, my numbers are in the norms and life is good. Before the nurse left, I inquired about wine (I miss that more than the liquor).

"Yes! You can drink wine, just watch the carbs."


Can do! I'll have another appointment in 6 months (February) and, considering what's been happening, I'm very optimistic. It hasn't been easy. I've given up a lot and I have to pay very close attention to every thing I do. I think some people can manage things without documenting but, I tend to backslide if I don't. I use www.thedailyplate.com to track my food but, interestingly enough, I don't track my fitness. I found that when I do, I justify the drop in calorie intake by taking in more calories (one of my issues).

There are loads of other sites out there but I've used this one for years so, I'm comfortable with it. The workouts are still going strong. I try to get in extra activity whenever I can. The most eye-opening thing about all of this is that, instead of me making changes just for a trip or a dress or some event, now I'm doing this for my life. I want to be here for my kids and (Lord willing) my grand kids. I want to have a healthy, quality of life. I'm grateful that I've made these changes now while I'm still fairly young. It's also grand that I have a personal trainer living in my house to help with the changes, too. I couldn't have done any of this without his support.

Diagnosed

Enchantress

Diagnosed

I had a physical on Tuesday (May 16th). It's been a while. The good news is that my insurance changed and I got my favorite OBgyn back. While there, he basically gave me the business about my weight (it's high) and about my blood pressure (also high). He opted to do blood work right then. I had not fasted and worried that this would effect the outcome. The nurse indicated that, the way in which the blood is tested now, it wouldn't matter. He also scheduled me for a mammogram for the upcoming Thursday afternoon (5/25).

Fast forward to yesterday (Thursday). Mammogram complete, I picked up my favorite Thai dish and headed over to the school to wait for my youngest to get out. The phone rings. It's the doctor's office calling about my blood work. Thyroid? Great. Liver functions? Great. No anemia and all looks well accept for...my blood sugar.

Hello, diabetes. I really thought I wouldn't make your acquaintance until much later.

I asked the nurse if I was "pre" and she said,

"Nope. You've graduated."

"I don't want to graduate from this! I want to fail!" Although we were laughing at my joke, I died a little. I certainly didn't want this news. No one ever does.

The nurse, Kristin, was kind and shared a lot of information with me. She wanted to make sure I was moving forward with getting under my doctor's care. When I called my family practitioner directly after speaking with her, the receptionist told me that he would be out of town for a while. So, she scheduled me with his PA. This didn't sit well. I want the opinion of a real doctor (no offense to the awesome PAs out there).

Today, I called and left a message for Kristin to call me back. First, because my husband wanted to know about the validity of the test and how it could determine the numbers if I hadn't fasted. She indicated that, in the past, blood sugar tests where what were used exclusively, but you could cheat those (fast for hours, test with low blood sugar and your test comes back golden). Once you go out and eat after those, your pancreas struggles and the blood sugar goes wonky.  What they do now (and have for the last decade or so) is what's called an AC1, Hemoglobin test which basically reads sugar levels for the past three months. She noted that my levels weren't outrageous, but I'm definitely part of the club.

I let her know that, since my doctor was out, I'd really love for her to refer me to a new doctor in my area. It's just as well. I don't really live close to the city where my current doctor practices. I might as well find one closer to home. She was happy to refer her own doctor to me (turns out we live in the same area). I have an appointment scheduled with him for Monday morning. I'm a bit nervous, but eager to get things underway.

Finally, I talked to my husband after making the appointment. I explained to him with Kristin explained to me about the blood test. He went the rounds of,

"Is it really for sure?" and "Could the tests be wrong?"

I know for me, that it isn't wrong. There are things that have been going on for a while that now make sense; things I haven't mentioned to him. While talking, he wanted to make sure that the doctor didn't push drugs right away because he feels things can probably get under control without them. I feel that way too, but his approach seemed to suggest that I would just jump on the Metformin bandwagon. It's what my mother took when she was "pre". Once she lost a lot of weight, she no longer showed symptoms and doesn't need the medication.

I didn't want to start an argument, but I could tell that's where things were headed. I am not a proponent of "Big Pharma". I know what the end game is for them. What I want is a way to control this, without feeling like I don't have any options. I'm going in with an open mind but also with a drive to get things under control. I kind of wish he could go with me. I know he has questions and concerns. I know that he cares. It's all very up in the air and a little scary. I've got to work at not letting my emotions get the better of me during this transitional period.