almost 9 months out and in such a funk!! (long)

Yikes - what caught my attention more was the stroke risk - TIAs run in my family! I can't imagine I never told my neurologist this!! Thank you so much for this info!!

Yeah!  When I started reading about beta blockers and what they are now discovering about them---well, it blew me away.  I have been on Atenolol for 12 years.  I got off my Cardizem several weeks ago, with difficulty, as I had about 2 weeks of tachycardias, anxiety, etc, just like going thru rebound and withdrawal.   But finally the symptoms abated.  Then I tried getting off Atenolol, and it was even worse, so I had to go back on.  I keep thinking that when I get to 180 pounds I will try again.  Now I really feel the pressure to get off them all together.  Will you be able to get off your beta blockers?  I also saw those references to increased heart attacks and strokes, to say nothing of the diabetes.  Yikes!  My primary care physician is kinda worthless on the subject.  She just says "yeah, get off them if you can."   Duh---so I guess I have to figure all this out on my own.  wow, just wow.  I wonder if eventually the FDA will say the risks are greater than the benefits and will withdraw all of them? If we exercise and eat right and get our cardiovascular system in very good working order, we should be able to get back to our state of health before we had to go on them..................right??

You would think!! I am hoping that losing weight will get me off a whole bunch of meds... I'm on the Inderal (propranolol) because another one of my meds raises my BP. It definitely keeps me calmer, too (it is a beta blocker!).  I know there are other BP meds - I was on Norvasc years ago. Next time I see my neuro I'm going to pressure her to switch...

You will get off them--you are still so early into your journey.  You start seeing real changes in your health at around 60 pounds gone, at least that is where I noticed stuff.  Like ease of exercising, more stamina, bouts of dizziness from being on 2 cardiac drugs (the sure sign your blood pressure is low and you can wean now off them.)  It feels good to peel off the drugs.  I was able to stop HTCZ and Cardizem and a drug for a skin condition that is now completely gone from the weight loss (hidrenitis).  Getting off the meds is such a victory.  But give yourself time, baby yourself, as you are still in the throes of learning what you are supposed to be doing with food, water, vits, protein, and exercise, etc.  That takes your full concentration now.  You will know when the time is right to turn your attention to maybe weaning off your meds.  Keep me posted.  I hope you are starting to feel better--every pound you will feel better and better and congrats on the 30 pound weight loss you have already achieved. . 

Unfortunately it's not just our weight and foods but our genetics...sucks huh.  My dad is always asking about MY numbers because both he and my mother have diabetes and are on insulin.  With the exception of last year (93) my range in usually in the 86-88.  Please don't let your fear of the unknown stop you for going and getting tested.  Better to be proactive then reactive.

Now for your weight...those LAST 15 are the hardest, but don't fret over it to much...just keeping doing what you NEED to be doing and most importantly ENJOY life...it's short.  Those pounds will come off...eventually.

Ms Shell

Thanks, ms shell.  I appreciate all the suport you lend!  Please stick around for many more years!!
~Jennifer

You are quite welcome Jennifer I do what I can...and as long as I have a desk job I'll be here...

I hope the funk passes soon. I hate feeling like that!! And I'm not going to try to pacify you or trivialize what you're going through (like other commenters seem to be doing!) because I know your frustrations are real to you, and in that, they're valid. Just know that I read your post and am rooting for you!! 

Thanks, injeneral (funny name).  And I see you've just started this wonderful journey.  Best of luck to you, my friend!!  ~Jennifer