Geminidream
Hello Again!
May 28, 2025
Boy has it been a looooong time, OH! Eons ago at Dr's support group the leader said in their practice they always worry about patients who never come back for yearly checkups. I *was* a star patient for many years then... I began having health issues, several surgeries that reduced my mobility and an unpleasant HR issue at work and I ended up quitting the job that was pretty much my only physical activity. Letting go of that stress was great but the pounds steadily crept back and bad habits returned. Besides not exercising the worst was drinking fluids with food. Everything became a slider and volume was no issue, I quit worrying about calories and would eat and eat and eat and the scale showed it.
As the weight increased so did health problems the surgery originally fixed: high blood pressure and joint issues. My knees got so bad this year that I had to suck it up and see to the new PCM for a checkup and hopefully an MRI (fearing a thorough scolding). For the knees she only ordered basic x-rays which found 'mild' arthritis with bone spurs. Odd, since I'm this close to needing a cane and can't even go shopping without it causing my legs to swell up crazy then being basically lame for the next two days. But, whatever. She then surprised me by insisting that I lose weight (first military doctor in my 42 years of seeing them that has happened!). I told her I know for a fact my RNY pouch is completely working still; on the rare occasions I don't drink with meals I can only eat a tiny amount and continue to have trouble eating meat without a slider componant. Dr. Rawlins does great work. His surgery didn't fail, it was me who failed his surgery.
We discussed a variety of prescription options and most were contraindicated for me except Contrave. I'd never even heard of it. The military only uses generics so it's Naltrexone and Bupropion with very specific dosing the first few weeks and mandatory follow-up bloodwork. I agreed and was surprised to find myself facing full-on dieting again when I hadn't even considered it ever possible. I went in hoping for an MRI and left with prescriptions to lose weight. Long ago I'd lost all hope of that happening due to bad habits and wicked cravings.
Amazingly, the 2nd day someone flipped a switch in my brain and ALL cravings were gone. No food noise. POOF. Is this what normal people feel like? My mood lifted and there was real hope again not just for weight loss, but for life in general. I never realized how far down I'd sunk until hope returned. Yikes. I'm willingly slogging through the early side effects now in week three (extreme tiredness, lightheadedness, dizzyness, horrible nightmares and feeling kind of spacey during the day) and I'm thankful my husband is being extra patient and supportive. Now to wait for the next dose change and getting accustomed to it all which supposedly can take up to six weeks. PT starts soon for the knees to strengthen and increase range of motion so I can at least be able to walk for exercise. Not going to impose a goal weight on this process, my main goal is getting my health back. I've got four amazing grandkids and I want to be able to keep up with them. But I sure wouldn't complain about fitting back in smaller clothes again. 
See you soon with another update, I promise!
