ObesityHelp

January 24, 2008

Wow, I haven't updated for so long it's hard to know where to begin.  The last few months of 2007 went by with no real changes.  I kept losing, kept feeling fine...things were going along as smoothly as could be.  In late December I went in for a routine blood test.  That's when things went south fast!!  My iron came back at a 22.  The "acceptable" iron level is anywhere from 42 to 100-something.  So, I got a call from my surgeon's nurse and was told I had to see an oncologist about an iron infusion.  I saw the Dr on Jan 7th.  I was told what to expect at the procedure.  I was also told that adverse reactions were somewhat more common with iron, but that they usually took place immediately and that I would be monitored closely, was going to be at the hospital, blah, blah, blah.  So, I showed up on the 14th for my infusion.  My nurse was great, I got hooked up, no problem and spent the next 6 or so hours watching Grey's Anatomy on my iTouch.  I was to have 900 ccs of iron and was just feeling great and doing great.  Then, with less than 10cc's to go, I had a reaction.  My body completely cramped up and I went into shock.  It was horrible!!!  They stopped the infusion, pumped me full of fluids, gave me steroids, tons of benadryl.  It took almost a hour to get me back under control.  I wasn't able to move any of my joints, like they were fused or something.  It was weird!!  I went home that night still unable to make a fist and as the evening went on, I developed a shake in my right arm.  I called for days about that and was told it was probably just an after effect of the muscle spasms and would eventually go away (it did after 5 days or so).  I spent all day Tuesday sleeping and trying to recover from Monday.  I went to work Wednesday, although I still wasn't back to myself.  By Thursday morning I had developed a horrid pain in my lower back and wasn't able to lean up against anything.  I went into the walk in clinic that afternoon.  I explained to the Dr what had happened on Monday....her face went pale and she told me we had to immediately do a kidney function test (apparently, there was a possibility that they were shutting down due to the amount fluids I had been given).  Well, 4 hours and 3 tests later, it was determined that I had a very sever kidney infection.  They also insisted that this had nothing to do with the iron infusion, but I doubt that.  So, now I'm on massive antibiotics, I can't take my multi-vitamins or my protonix because they will block absorption of the meds.  I'm run down, look awful, feel awful.....it's HORRID!!  The thing that really irks me is the fact that, even with the low iron, I felt just FINE!!  I wasn't tired, I wasn't sore, I FELT FINE.  But my Drs. all insisted that I had to have the infusion.  Being a sheep and following their advice has left me in the current position that I'm in.  I don't know what I'm going to do if my iron falls to that level again, I do know that I never want to go through another week like this!!

July 5, 2007

I DID IT!!!  I can't believe it only took 6 months to reach the 100lb mark!  I'm sooo excited!  My Mom was here for the 4th.  This is the first time she's seen me since April.  She couldn't believe it!  She said I looked just like the girl she remembered from jr. high.  That's almost 25 years ago!!  I'm so, so glad I decided to do this!!  I feel great, I look great.....what more could you want?!?

June 4, 2007

Well, I knew this day would come.....I'm no longer losing weight like crazy.  Instead of the usual 2lbs here, 4lbs there, I'm now only losing 1-2 lbs a week.  Still no plateau, still no gain, but I'm not losing like I was and like I was getting used to.  I was hoping to be at my goal by my 6 month anniversary.  Maybe that was a little excessive, but I thought it was obtainable.  I am only 4 weeks from that and I'm 16lbs from goal, at the rate I'm losing at now, it's going to take at least 8 weeks to get there.  So, I'm gonna shoot for my birthday (mid August) that should be easy enough to accomplish. 

My Dr. never set a goal for me, so the one I'm working toward is of my own creation.  Maybe I set my sights too "low"?  I mean, I'm trying to hit 145lbs which is a weight I haven't been at since I was 19.  But, I do think it's realistic and I would love so much to do it.  My surgeon said he'd like to see me at 155 (that's 6lbs away).  I thought he was crazy at the time, but I told myself that I would try for 10lbs less than that (since we were dreaming at the time).  Now, just a few months later it all seems within reach.  I don't, however, want to get back into the "if I could just lose 10 more pounds" routine.  That was so discouraging and I think added to my weight gain.  So, where ever I end up, I'm gonna be happy with it!  My main goal is to never, ever, ever be 200 anything EVER again!!!!