gail2b

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Finally some good news.  My lab work is on the way to being normal.  All of the tests came by negative so they believe it is the cholesterol meds that did this.  The only bad news I got was that I have to have a colonscopy in two weeks.  So not looking forward to that.  My weight loss has slowed but still losing.  I've got 50 lbs to go and I hope to acheive this within the next 5 months. 

Well since December I have been going back and forth to the dr about elevated liver enzymes even to the point there is now a specialist involved.  Well I had stopped the cholesterol meds and after a month there was no change and last week the dr indicated that after having more blood work done on the 23 of Feb if they were not better then I would have to have a liver biopsy.  Well I had stopped taking my anti depressant a week ago as my dad who is a pharmacist suggested they could be the culprit.   So my dr called me yesterday and said that after my levels being 5 x  the normal for the past 2 1/2 months they are now coming down.  They dropped over half since the last set was done.  Now hopefully they are going to continue to trend down and get back to normal.  I was so worried about have the liver biopsy done but I knew that in order to find out what was going on it would be necessary if the levels were still up.  I guess after the WLS our bodies just metabolize different drugs differently now.  I knew that from having read the posts about some meds but generally it appeared it was due to getting correct blood levels in that person's system in order to mange their condition. 

Anyway good news for now and just hope it contiues to get better.  Other news weight loss has slowed but I have gotten back in the pool and I know I am developing muscle mass so I guess flabby vs firm will weigh a little more for now unti the body decides to let go of some more weight.  I am in a size 12 to 14 pant and large top.  I am so glad to be back in normal size clothes. 

Well they are pretty sure it is the cholesterol meds increasing my liver enzymes.  Between that and having anesthesia back in Dec for my knee surgery can also increase the levels.  I've got to have some more bloodwork done and hopefully they will be back to a more normal level.  Otherwise I feel great.  Still having to use the cane as my knee is still unstable.  I have gone back to the water for exercise so I hope I can build up my quads again so that I can do away with it. 
We had puppies after Christmas so we are enjoying them.  They had their first set of puppy shots.  We originally had four but are down to two now.  We are going to keep one and my dad is taking the other one.  They are so cute.  Whenever I get time I'll post their pics. 
Still staying focused on the things I need to do to keep on track.  I need to start journeling again as this keeps me accountable.  I don't ever want to see a "2" in front of my weight again.  I am down to a size 14 pant and can get into a 12 put cannot button it comfortably yet.  Top size is between a large and an x-large. 
I love the non scale victories like being able to look at a magazine in my lap and not having it up to my chest.  I noticed that today while I was waiting in the drs office.  Goal for the week is to get to the pool twice this week; just hope I don't freeze to death as it is cold here.

Well my primary care dr called yesterday to say that my levels are still not normal so she is sending me to a specialist.  So today at 4 I go see another dr.  I hope he can find out what is wrong.  I am not yellow nor do I have any symptoms.  She did test me for all of the bad stuff like hepatitis etc and everything was negative; which is good but I'm still worried as to why my levels are so off.  Especially since I saw Dr Blaney back two months ago and everything was good.  Lab work at 3 months and 6 months were great.  It has only been since I was put on the cholesterol meds that it has gone out of whack but when my dr did the last blood work she had me off of the cholesterol meds for about 3 weeks prior to drawing the labs.  Hopefully I will get some answers today.  I did go ahead and make an appointment with Dr Blaney next week so he can review the labs as well to see what his thoughts are about it.

Well I followed up  with my surgeon thorugh all of the visits as well as having blood work done at 3 mos and 6 mos and everything was good.  I went to my primary care dr and she wanted to check my cholesterol levels as they had been elevated and she was thinking as I was that they were coming down.  Well that was not the case so she started me on cholesterol meds.  I have had a problem in the past with any of the statins giving me leg cramps well this one didn't and I thought everything was fine.  So after a month she checked my levels and they were very elevated.  This was righ after Thanksgiving.  So she had me come back in in two weeks to have them redrawn which of course I did and the blood work showed that the levels were still elevated but coming down.  She said lets get some more blood work in two weeks which was this last Monday.  She kept saying she did not think it was the choleterol meds but due to my having surgery and the pain meds that could elevate it.  Well the levels were still up and even higher than the one done about 6 weeks ago so I had to go back and have more blood work done.  So now I am sitting and waiting for a call from her regarding the results.  This is very worrisome as I have never had a problem.  She did tell me to stop taking the pain meds my orthopedic gave me and she wrote a prescription for something that doesn't have any tylenol in it and I am to stop taking the cholesterol meds; which of course I did.  She has asked me each time she has called if I am yellow or have any belly pain.  I haven't had any of these symptoms so I find it strange that my liver levels are so out of whack.  She even sent the blood work to the same lab my surgeon uses to check the results.  I am justing having faith that everything is going to be okay.  She did tell me that if this blood work comes back abnormal that she is going to send me to see a specialist. 

I have every confidence in my primary care dr as she was the one who encouraged me to have the surgery and has been one of my biggest supporters as she knows how much it means to me to get this weight off after my fall several years ago.  Heres to praying everything is going to be okay; with as much blood as they have taken I would not be surprised to be told that my Hb is low.

Well this weekend the 8 ladies I play bridge with went on a retreat to a cabin.  One of the eight just built a log cabin in the woods up by Lake Thurmond/aka clarks Hill Lake.  It was so nice her husband went and did steaks for us the first night and was there to protect us (ha ha).  I don't know who in there right mind would want to mess with 8 woman.  We played bridge and had a nice quiet weekend getaway.  Usually in a situation like this I would be interested in the food but this weekend I enjoyed the sites, the fellowship and the peace and quiet.  I'm not saying I didn't eat but I was mindful about what I put in my mouth; meat/protein first.  I didn't deprive myself but I didn't over indulge either.

It was a restful time with no access to phones or tv.  I needed this to just kick back and relax.  I go back to work next week and I am so ready.  I feel better but still having considerable pain in my knee when I am up to long.  I know that given how I felt before the surgery it really is no different.  The only issue I am concerned with is I am having buckling of that knee; I'm just ready for the pain to go away and in going back to work it will help take my mind off of it. 

I also have to go back to my dr on Monday and have more blood work done regarding my liver levels apparently they are still off and she is not sure if it is from the surgery or from the cholesterol meds.  So hopefully I will hear some good news about that at the end of next week.  I have started journeling my food again as I am still losing but has slowed down.  I am sure some of it is from the sedetariness from the last few weeks.  I have also started back to water therapy and plan to up it to 3 times a week. 

I find this forum very helpful as I don't always post on the message board but it helps to get information and read what others are doing or seeing the answers to some of the questions they have and that concern me as well. 

I accomplished my New Year's resolution from last year to lose weight.  I am so excited with my weight loss.  I know I still have several more pounds to go but I feel good and am wearing a size 14 petite.  Over the holidays there were sweets in the house and I did not deprive myself but one was good not the whole batch.  I have even noticed my taste changing I rather have a celery stick than a potato chip or cookie.  My resolution for this year is to continue with the weight loss and tone the loose skin.  I am starting back to water therapy tomorrow as I have been given the clear by my orthopedic. 
Our family had a good visit and my son went back to Seattle after spending two weeks with us.  I think that was the best visit we have had with him since he has been back from Afganistan.  I can tell he was just glad to be home and with family.  We also had a visit from the stork; Gabby who is pictured in my avatar had four puppies on the 28th of Dec.  They are so cute and we are enjoying them.  Three of the four are spoken for and hopefully we will find a good home for the 4th because I am afraid if we don't soon we will be keeping one.

Well I now have a 1 in front of my weight.  I can't tell you how long it has been since I've seen that; probably 10 years.  My older son flew home for the holidays and he hasn't seen me since last year.  He was really surprised about how much weight I've lost so far.  All of my family has been so supportive I am truly blessed.
I had 3 month and 6 month blood work done by my doctor and everything was fine.  I went to my primary care dr and she wanted to check my cholesterol since she added the medicine two months ago.  Well I got a call last Wednesday telling me that my liver function was off and she wanted to know if I had pain or was yellow.  I told her no that I was feeling fine.  She said she had a copy of my blood work from Dr. Blaney and she was concerned it may be the cholesterol medicine but she was going to redraw the labs this week and send them to the same lab Dr. Blaney used.  I had the blood drawn on Wednesday this week and hopefully I will have good news when she calls back Friday.  I feel fine.  We are looking forward to the holidays and will be sad when everyone has to go back home.
Hopefully Aaron will get a discharge date soon so he can make plans for going to college.  I know he will have to adjusting to do but I know he is ready to begin his life.
My middle son will graduate in May and will continue his education and hopefully transfer closer to home.  Well gotta go do my therapy I sure will be glad when my knee stops throbbing.

Well I had knee surgery a week ago so moving around is tough right now.  I am only down 0.2 of a pound this week; I guess I am going through another plateau.  I am having to be really careful about what I eat as nothing seems to bother me.  I am trying to do protein first and no grazing, which is tough when you are confined to the couch.  I had this surgery to lose and to obtain good eating habits.  I have not had any of the old friend foods around so that is not a temptation.  Just have to get my mind set that this is a temporary set back and move forward.  I start PT twice a week next week and they say I have to wait a week after the stictches come out before I can go back in the pool. 
 The rest of the family is doing well right now so I don't have to worry about anyone but myself.  Our female the one pictured in the hotdog suit is getting ready to have puppies at the first of the year so that is something to look forward to as well. 
I am just hoping that all of my sons will be able to come home for Christmas.  We are still waiting on my oldest to be discharged from the Army as he has served his time but they are delaying his discharge date.  He is very frustrated as he does not want to stay in he wants to start college this January.  He was supposed to get out in October but it is now December and they have not given him a date yet.  Hopefully though it will be soon. 

Well as many of you know my dad recently went through open heart surgery back in August and was doing great until he fell about 6 weeks ago and suffered a head bleed.  Well today we are bringing him home fromthe rehab center and he is doing so much better.  He has almost 90% of his left arm back and about 80% of his leg; which they think will fully recover.  There has been so much stress the last couple of months I hope everything will calm down now.

Went for my 6 months checkup and have lost 79 pounds so far.  I am feeling pretty good and have gone from a size 24 W pants to a regular size 14.  I have gone down from a size 24 (3X) top to a regular size XL to a L.  There have been a lot of WOW moments.  I used to go to a restaurant and when they went to seat us in a booth I would have to gauge whether or not I would fit comfortably or not.  Just went to dinner last night and I went to judge the booth size and sat in it and had plenty of room.  My head has not caught up with my weight loss and my size yet. 
I am so glad I did this surgery and the only regret I have is that I did not do it sooner.