cosmickelly
Weight at birth: 7 lbs 11 oz. A little about my medical history: I’ve been a diabetic since childhood, but was not diagnosed until college (around 1987) after a midnight raid of the vending machines (to get energy for an all-night study marathon) sent me to the infirmary. Fast forward to May 2003. I’m a 3rd-4th grade teacher. On field day, I get blisters on my toes that get infected. My blood decides to get infected, too, and I become septic. I also become an amputee and a kidney dialysis patient. Two for one!! (Don’t go to that 2-for-1 sale!!) I have diabetic neuropathy that has left me pretty much wheelchair bound since January 2006. I am currently in physical therapy and occupational therapy twice a week. I was able to walk in (from the parking lot-approx. 600 feet) using my walker to PT on Wednesday of last week. So, my PT is letting me learn to use forearm crutches. I’ve gotten around on flat ground OK, but inclines really whack me out--with no feeling in my feet, legs or arms!!) Say a little prayer for me, please!! Some of you may know me from the North Carolina Forum. I was participating there after being referred to the program at Duke by two of my nephrologists (kidney doctors). I have decided not to have weight loss surgery @ Duke because after submitting my 6 months of weight loss attempts including the diet my doctor put me on, DETAILED (3 page) monthly lab reports, weekly evaluations from a doctor and monthly evaluations from a RENAL dietician, treatment reports for each treatment (3 times a week) which included blood sugars, blood pressures, weights, and temps plus more, the people at Duke had the audacity to tell me it had to be a program like Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig. Well, F*** them. I don't think for one minute that the insurance would require another 6 months of weight loss failure, especially from someone like me who has diabetic AND renal diet restrictions that Weight Watchers (WW) and Jenny Craig can't address. It's completely retarded for me to go from having a diet planned specifically for me to WW just because the Duke people don't want it to be "in-house." (their words) It also tells me that the Duke people are going to be uncooperative with my selected nephrology team which is unacceptable. The one good thing I did get from Duke was their patient info packet which outlines (in very specific detail) each stage of the post-op diet. At first, I followed stage one (liquids) of the diet to a T. Then, I found some protein bars that gave me twice the protein with 9 less carbs than the supplement I was drinking, so I switched to them. As you can see by my ticker, I’ve lost almost 60 pounds this way. I’ve not eaten anything other than these bars since 6/26 and I’ve lost a little over 20 pounds in that time period. I am totally and completely addicted to carbohydrates. Pasta, bread, rice, fruits and fruit juices in particular. I’ve never been into sweets. When I crave something, it’s usually spaghetti and meatballs or vegetable lasagna. Once, a week or so ago, it was a cheeseburger. I haven’t figured that one out yet!! I’m so thankful for the regimen these bars give me. I don’t have to fight with myself over what I’ll be eating and how much of it I can have. I know when I get up in the am, I’ll have a bar and the meds I have to take with it (3 phosphorus binders). Repeat twice for lunch and dinner. If I get hungry, tough luck. Sometimes, I chew on some ice. But, even that is limited because on the renal diet you are limited to 32 ounces of fluids between treatments. (Treatments are three times a week Tues-Thurs-Sat for 5 hours a pop for me.) My dietician asked me the inevitable question the other day….”What in the world are you going to do when you have to start eating real food again??” She couldn’t admonish me because my docs had approved the diet and my labs were the best they have EVER been. I told her I was in my “personal zone” where I really felt good about what I was doing and that I was going to keep it up until all the weight was off. She suggested that I look into getting some Lean Cuisine’s to learn portion control. I went to my local Super Wal-mart to check them out and was completely astonished at the number of carbs in each meal. Almost every one of them had either pasta, rice or potatoes as a side dish. I did go on the Lean Cuisine site and found some other options. Thank goodness!! Now, if I can just find some that don’t have a boat load of sodium and potassium in them!! (That knocks out potatoes, tomatoes, and spinach!!) Now, if you’re still with me…I said all of that to say “Yes, I’m addicted and until I am personally ready to venture out and try things that I’ve researched completely, I am happy with my protein bar only lifestyle.” Hope I didn’t bore you to tears, A very COSMIC Kelly :-p
Weight in third grade: 115 lbs.
