Who Are We and Why Are We Headed for Shamrock?

We met online in 2005 trying to--what else--lose weight. We've had our ups and downs along the way, but we're not where we want to be. This is our journey to get fit and healthy. We invite you to follow us as we "exercise" our way across the country--track our progress on the map to Shamrock below-- in an effort to each lose 50 pounds by the end of 2009 and adopt a healthier lifestyle along the road.

Where will we go once we reach our goals? The sky's the limit... but we're thinking Greece would be nice.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Moving in the Right Direction

First of all, I have to say "Amen to That!" to Betty Lou's post below. BL and I are twins in so many ways, and the mood of her post is no exception. I feel exactly the same way.

Fortunately, things are going better for me this week since I decided to go back on Metformin, a drug I've taken to help with PCOS but which can also cause weight loss. I don't know why I waited so long to go back on it...probably because I hate taking meds. But with nothing working (not even Nutrisystem) I had to do something. The side effects have not been fun (how do you discreetly run to the bathroom while shopping at Michael's?), but my body seems to be adjusting. Sleepiness, weakness, and diarrhea are a small and temporary price to pay for a jump start on weight loss.

Earlier this week, before I saw that the Metformin was working, I called my endocrinologist to discuss weight loss meds. When I saw her in May, she mentioned a drug but we decided against it because its side effects and how that would affect a rare heart condition I was recently diagnosed with in March. At the time, I was still waiting for some test results to decide how to proceed with the condition. Since then, I have been made aware of two types types of medication to avoid. So I was calling the endocrinologist to find out if the weight loss med fit into either of those two types.

Man, did I get the run around. Can I just say that I really hate doctors/doctors' offices/doctors' offices' staff? Okay, so I don't hate all doctors. But the whole vibe that I usually get from these places is:
  • you can't possibly know anything about your own body.
  • we will tell you how we have decided to treat you.
  • you may only ask so many questions before you become a pest.
  • we'll get back to you when we feel like it.
  • we may judge you as harshly as we like.
  • we don't care what you read on the internet.
  • we have only so much patience for you.
I am venting a little here....the "liason" for the endocrinologist, although fairly nice (at first), knew zilch about medical topics. I could tell she was just regurgitating info from the doctor. She couldn't answer any questions. It was like calling tech support in India.

I was very clear in stating that if a med didn't fit into the two types of no-no drug types, I could take it. Well according to the supervising doctor (who saw me in May for about two minutes), this weight loss med would aggravate my condition. "My condition? Oh you mean the one that you know nothing about because only experienced cardiologists have ever even heard of it? You mean the one that I mentioned that you didn't read up on? That one?" Uh-huh.

I had to call my cardiologist, explain it to them, get their okay, then call the endocrinologist's office back and say "Nanner, nanner, nanner....I told you I could take it, losers!" Okay I wasn't that harsh...I only said "nanner" twice.

So then Miss Liason very curtly told me that she would talk to the doctor "again" (are you hearing the sass in her voice?) and call me back. Yeah. That was Thursday. I don't know if I'll hear from them. And I don't know if I'll bug them about it.

So far, the Metformin is working. The side effects have lessened in intensity, but the decreased appetite has remained. My only concern for the moment (I can't believe I'm about to say this) is that I may not be eating enough. I don't want to slow down my metabolism, but I really am only eating when hungry. I had a quick gain over last weekend, and since Tuesday I have lost almost seven pounds.

I know I can't keep that up, but it has given me just what I needed. A little boost to get going. I don't look any skinnier, but just knowing that I'm losing is exciting. Finally.

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