Finally – Weight loss Success!

Finally able to Lose Weight

I’ve been carrying around lots of extra weight ever since I was pregnant with my only child. Jennifer was born in 1988 and I gained 60 pounds during my pregnancy – mostly during the last trimester (months 7-9)   My back went out on me during my seventh month and I had to stop all exercise and any lifting because of the severe pain I was in. This continued after my C-section delivery and I couldn’t even bend over to place Jennifer in her car seat. I was 34.5 old and ever since that time, I’ve had back pain and issues off and on.  I know my metabolism took a big hit because during my pregnancy my eyes changed and afterwards I could not stand to wear my contacts.  Also before I got pregnant, I could never wear a wrist watch – they all stopped on me.  After I gave birth and several months of very little sleep I found I didn’t stop watches anymore and now I can wear one.   In 2006 when I was 53, I was able to retire from my FDA job a couple of years early and work full time at my previously part time Photography Studio. But I began having more and more back pain and other health issues, so I had to sell out to my partner in 2009.

Diets, You Name it and I’ve tried It!

Being overweight is the pits. It affects everything in your life but especially your health. I was diagnosed with pre-diabetes, then full blown Type 2 diabetes. I began taking oral meds to control my BG, but then I had to begin injecting insulin to control it. Now I’m on both oral Metformin twice a day and injecting two types of insulin 3 times a day. And my metabolism has been shot. It’s so messed up that losing any pounds at all has been almost impossible. I’ve tried many ways to diet – Weight Watchers, Atkins, Paleo, diet shakes, liquid diets, diet pills – garcino, etc. But nothing has worked and if I lose 3 pounds, it always comes back with a couple more to go.

I know that Type 2 obesity and diabetes is on the rise in the US and I’ve just been another statistic. My weight has made it difficult to control my blood sugar and I’m in a wheelchair because of back and hip pain from my 8 month journey through diabetic induced feet and leg ulcers. My activity outside the home is restricted to doc visits and attending a few meetings of my art league. I spend most of my day in bed because of my pain which has also moved to my left hip and knee. Even when I’m up in my wheelchair, I’m usually in some pain. At night I’ve struggled to sleep because I can’t find a comfortable position and I get up and down all night – finally getting on average about 3 hours of sleep. At my heaviest I’ve weighed 284 pounds with a BMI over 40. Way too much!

Finally Success!

I’m an avid reader and read lots, so I’m always downloading ebooks from Amazon to read on my iPad or Kindle. Mostly I download free eBooks, but on occasion I purchase one I want to read. On August 13th I downloaded “Jumpstart Your Metabolism: How to Lose Weight by Changing the Way You Breath” by Pam Grout.

Actually I began changing some things about my diet during July. On July 6th I weighed in at 277.4 and began drinking more water and trying to eat more veggies. I finished reading Ms. Grout’s book on August 13 and began doing the deep breathing exercise (just the basic one) several times a day. I also decided to only eat when I’m hungry. This has basically worked out that I usually eat breakfast between 10:30and noon. I have a snack around 3pm and dinner around 6pm. When I think I’m hungry, I drink more ice water and see if I’m still hungry. If I am, I try to eat a snack/smaller meal with a protein included. My dinner is regular, however I do try to not have seconds as much as I have in the past. I’ve chosen to not deny myself of sweets altogether.  I’ve had ice cream blasts from Sonic, Chocolate Milk Shakes from McDonalds and occasionally a nutty bar or treat that my MIL keeps around the house. I’ve even had pizza, but stopped at 3 slices. I made some gluten free chocolate chip cookies last week and have eaten some of them also. So I’m not deprived. Yet this morning when I weighed, the scale showed my weight as 258.9.

I do not exercise except for some lying down crunches for my back and the deep breathing exercises. I’m using my wheelchair full time so far and move around very little during the day. I’m drinking lots of ice water and trying to include more protein and veggies in my diet in a little smaller portions, but that’s all. For the next month, I’m going to only drink ice water, no more tea or milk or diet drinks (which are not common beverages for me anyway). 277.4 less 258.9 is 18.5 pounds lost so far. I’ll be blogging more about this and adding some more references I found during my research on metabolism and breathing..

In the meantime, you might want to download Pam’s ebook and start using her breathing techniques. Let me know if it works for you also.

Comments

Thanks for looking at my site and coming to this page. I would love for you to leave any questions or comments below.  In addition, I’m open to new topics to research and comment on as they pertain to my own health and experience living with diabetes.  Please share your interests and questions in your comments.  I also love to hear others stories about how they handle their own diabetes issues.

– Shirley

I’m healed of feet ulcers at last!

Released from care!

Eight days ago I was released as a patient by my wound care doctor.  This ended  an 8-month journey of severe pain, great fear of amputations and searching for correct care-givers.

I can’t explain the sheer joy I’ve felt from being declared “healed” after all this time and all I’ve been through during this period.  But to be sure, I’m very happy to be able to get on with my life.

I’ve learned a lot through this ordeal also, about paying attention to my body, my diet, exercise and who to choose as a care-giver.

My journey started with a red rash that covered both feet, legs, forearms and my tummy.  I first visited my family doctor, who sent me to a dermatologist who diagnosed me with vasculitis and began treatment;  then I visited my hematologist who sent me to yet another dermatologist.  Several months later, now with painful, non-healing, open ulcers on my lower legs and feet and the fear of amputation in my mind, I saw my rheumatologist who advised me to go to a wound care center.

Fortunately, after an emergency room visit because of one of the ulcers tearing open and ER docs also advising me to go to a wound center, I made an appointment with our local wound care clinic and met Dr. Bennett who took over my care, prescribing more prednisone and both medical and surgical debridement of the wounds.

From that appointment forward, I made good progress toward healing.  I had more than 15 ulcers on my feet and legs and one by one, they began to mend together and heal.  My experience with the wound care center was very positive, although I admit the first couple of debridement’s were extremely painful.  But Dr. Bennett did prescribe me pain killers which my dermatologists refused to do.  So finally after months, I was able to sleep at night again instead of spending hours battling the pain of severe neuropathy and praying for God to take me home.

Lessons learned

From this ordeal, I’ve learned to take care of my feet every day, looking for sores and wounds and using lotions to keep them smooth and crack-free.

I’ve also learned that when one doctor is not working for you, don’t just suck it up and stay – find someone that can help.

Also, from now on, I believe in Wound Centers and Clinics.  They are more likely to be up on the latest method to heal nasty wounds.

 

Comments

Thanks for looking at my site and coming to this page. I would love for you to leave any questions or comments below.  In addition, I’m open to new topics to research and comment on as they pertain to my own health and experience living with diabetes.  Please share your interests and questions in your comments.  I also love to hear others stories about how they handle their own diabetes issues.

– Shirley

Prednisone – handling this strong medicine as a diabetic!

Corticosteroids and Your Blood Glucose

Image of pill bottle and pills, copyright Microsoft
Image of pill bottle and pills, copyright Microsoft

Prednisone is considered to be a corticosteriod(which mimics hormones produced by your adrenal glands) and is used to reduce inflammation from many illnesses, like vasculitis, myositis, and rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and others. It is also used to suppress your immune system as in helping to reduce rejection of organs.

Corticosteroids can be taken via mouth, inhaled, in creams topically or by injection.

The synthetic cordicosteriod Prednisone is a very effective anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant drug. However, this strong medicine can have several undesired side effects, especially if you are a diabetic.

Side effects of Prednisone Use

There can be many side effects when using Prednisone, from mild to severe:

  • Irritability and nervousness, mood swings
  • Chipmunk cheeks and buffalo hump (on the back of the neck)
  • Depression, even suicidal thoughts
  • Blurring of eyesight and even cataract development
  • Thin skin and easy bruising
  • Bone thinning
  • Excess hair growth
  • Increase in your susceptibility to infections
  • Appetite increase and weight gain
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Elevated blood glucose levels.

Reducing the Impact of Prednisone on Your Body

Chipmonk Image
Chipmonk image

Here are some things to do to lesson the impact of prednisone on your diabetic body:

  • Use less salt to help reduce fluid retention and help avoid higher blood pressure.
  • Try to eat a more balanced diet to help avoid excess weight gain.
  • Reduce sugar intake, add more protein and fruits and vegetables.
  • Reduce calories consumed and increase exercise
  • Add calcium and vitamin D to your supplements for your bones, and potassium for blood pressure.
  • Take your prednisone with food to help avoid stomach ulcers.
  • Also avoid drinking alcohol for the same reason.
  • Taper off your dosage of Prednisone when you are finishing treatment to avoid cramps, body aches and other side affects.

My Experience with Long-term Prednisone Use

In the past, I have used short term dosages of steroids and corticosteroids for my asthma and other mild illnesses; however when my problems with vasculitis and the formation of leg and feet ulcers occurred, I began long term use of Prednisone.  By long term, I mean months (so far, over six months).  While I realize that I really need the anti-inflammatory effects of the Prednisone, I am not happy with my chipmunk face, weight gain, trouble sleeping, blurred vision and some other side effects I am experiencing.  I’m also not pleased with the increase in my blood glucose levels.

I’ve really tried to work on keeping my blood sugar levels under control to improve the healing of my ulcers (something my doctor has reiterated over and over).  I’m reducing consumption of bread, sugars and other carbohydrates; and increasing my protein, fruit and veggie intake.  I’m also checking my blood glucose several times a day to see if I need to inject additional insulin.  As far as exercise, that is pretty much impossible for me to increase with my feet ulcers and my back issues and I’m in a wheelchair most of the day.  My goal is to keep my blood glucose readings below 200 and closer to 160 and so far, I’ve been successful.  I plan on really tightening up on my diet this next couple of weeks to speed healing of these ulcers.

Comments

Thanks for looking at my site and coming to this page. I would love for you to leave any questions or comments below.  In addition, I’m open to new topics to research and comment on as they pertain to my own health and experience living with diabetes.  Please share your interests and questions in your comments.  I also love to hear others stories about how they handle their own diabetes issues.

– Shirley

 

Time flies when you are in pain!

Time is passing

Back on December first, I really thought I was turning the corner on this case of leg and feet ulcers, but boy was I wrong.  I’ve had three more months of pain and worry since then.  The only moment of light was when I visited my rheumatologist and after telling him about the awful pain I was having, he prescribed Tramadol for me.  That allowed me to begin to get some sleep at night and be more comfortable during the days also.

Then, two weeks ago, I had an ER visit when one of the largest ulcers split open to become a 4″x1″ wound and was hurting a lot.  The ER docs told me I needed to start care at a Wound Center and so the next day I made my first appointment at the Pine Bluff Wound Clinic.  At my first session, I met Dr. Keith Bennett, Board certified 3 times over (Family Medicine, General Surgery and Plastic Surgery)  and over 25 years experience in surgery.

That first visit, he debrided several of the ulcers (I have over 10 of them) to remove all dead tissue.  Wow, lots of pain and blood everywhere.  The only good thing was that he was very quick with the knife and he did prescribe pain meds for me to take afterwards and before my next visit.

He felt the ulcers were more typical of diabetic ulcers than caused by my chemo drugs.  I was also shown how to dress the wounds and apply a compression dressing and was put back on prednisone (more chipmonk face… uhg!).  I was told that the prednisone, compression bandages and keeping my feet elevated over my heart was very important for my healing.  I’m also to really work on keeping my BGL down below 200.  So I’m being a good girl.

The second visit was more of the same, but I made my dh drive me to and from the Clinic so I could dope myself up with codeine before the debriding; it still hurt a lot but less blood this time.  The ulcers are looking much better and several of them were reduced in size.  We discussed using a type of growth factor/chemical on the wounds to help the healing and even if it costs us several hundred dollars, both my husband and I are ready to go for it.  Maybe we will learn more about this next week.

There are several ways to clean/debride the wounds:

Image of scalpel, copyright Microsoft
Image of scalpel, copyright Microsoft
  • Autolytic debridement.  This method basically allows the body to degenerate all the dead tissue on its own, keeping the wound moist and then allowing it to regrown.
  • Chemical debridement.  This method  promotes the break down of dead and damaged tissue by using a chemical enzyme debriding agent. (I’m using this method also and applying the special cream to my wounds during re-dressing.
  • Mechanical debridement. This method using saline and gauze dressings which stick somewhat to the dead tissue and when peeling off, take the dead tissue with it.
  • Surgical debridement, In this method, the surgeon is using a scalpel or scissors to remove dead tissue.  (This is the method Dr. Bennett is using on me and boy is he quick with his scalpel)!

Continue reading “Time flies when you are in pain!”

The Pain of Neuropathy – Oh Yes!

Now I know?*

Image of stickman with foot pain, copywrite Microsoft
Image of stickman with foot pain, copywrite Microsoft

I’ve been a type 2 diabetic for many years now and each time I’ve visited my endocrinologist (my diabetic doc), he asks me about neuropathy and do I need more meds for it. I have never really known what he was talking about because as I wrote in a previous post, I’ve kept really good care of my feet and aside from some numbness occasionally in a couple of my toes on the left foot and a rare kind of sharpe pain up a foot, I’ve never experienced any neuropathy.
However, the past two months have educated me greatly on what neuropathy is and the pain it can cause.

Just what is Neuropathy?

Image of foot pain, copyright Microsoft
Image of foot pain, copyright Microsoft

I’ve been studying and reading a lot about diabetic peripheral neuropathy (PN) for weeks now and have found that it is one of the more painful neurological complications of diabetes.

Neuropathy is basically nerve damage.  Sometimes peripheral neuropathy is called “Stocking Glove syndrome.”  This is because it mostly affects the feet and hands.  When your feet are affected, there is a great danger that the numbness will cause you to not notice an injury to your feet as you walk about.  An injury that is not noticed and taken care of can lead to infection and gangrene and then to a dreaded amputation.

“Distal polyneuropathy” is another term for the most frequent form of diabetic neuropathy.  Distal, meaning far away from the center of the body (i.e., feet and hands)  Poly means many and neuropathy is disease in nerves.  This disease can affect many nerves and is moslyt noticed in the feet and hands.  Here is a link to a great article on neuropathy.  Continue reading “The Pain of Neuropathy – Oh Yes!”

Diabetic Complications -the dreaded foot ulcer!

Diabetic Foot Ulcers

As a diabetic, my greatest fear has been the potential of complications leading to limb amputation. For me, this is the ultimate dread created from my disease.  Thus, I have been very careful to watch my feet and take good care of them by:

  • Daily inspection
  • Daily washing and careful drying
  • Using moisturizer but not between my toes
  • Gentle use of pumice stone to smooth callouses
  • Careful selection of shoes that are not tight, or rub anywhere and I do not wear higher heels at all.
  • Wearing diabetic socks.
  • Careful clipping of nails and care of cuticles.
  • Occasional foot massage to encourage blood flow.
  • Regular foot exercises to encourage blood flow.

Continue reading “Diabetic Complications -the dreaded foot ulcer!”

Diabetic Complications – Keeping Your Feet!

Caring for Your Diabetic Feet

Image of feet, copyright Microsfot
Image of feet, copyright Microsfot

Ever since I found out I was diabetic, I’ve had fears of complications to my legs and feet. In fact, this is my greatest fear, not the increased risk for heart disease, blindness, or kidney or even liver failure. Although, these things are very legitimate fears that I have worried about, the fear of losing parts of myself is the greatest one I have. Continue reading “Diabetic Complications – Keeping Your Feet!”

The importance of testing! (free excel spreadsheet)

Importance of Blood Glucose Testing

Image of BG testing, copyright Microsoft.
Image of BG testing, copyright Microsoft.

I know none of us enjoy the finger prick and testing of our blood glucose (BG) levels.  But we should truly be aware that this is very important for keeping this disease under control.

By keeping our BG levels under control, we help lengthen our lives and certainly avoid some of the very serious complications.  Who wants to go blind, lose limbs or go on dialysis? or have to have a liver transplant?

I’ve been told that I need to keep my BG levels between 90 and 180.  I tend to run high, so this takes real work for me to achieve.  My goal is to have my A1C down to the 6’s next time I see my doc.  It was over 9 last time I was him, but I’ve been working on it and I know its coming down.

Continue reading “The importance of testing! (free excel spreadsheet)”

The Power of NO!

What do I Mean by the Power of NO?

Image of heart attack victim, copyright Microsoft.
Image of heart attack victim, copyright Microsoft.

This week I have been reading and researching NO. I’m not talking about the word “NO,” but the molecule NO (made up of one atom of Nitrogen and one atom of Oxygen). I’m talking about “nitric oxide.” I’ve been learning about NO from reading various articles on the WWW and also the book “The Nitric Oxide (NO) Solution” by Dr. Nathan Bryan of the Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, and University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston.

Dr. Bryan’s research is directed to understanding the interactions of exogenous dietary nitrate/nitrite on the endogenous NO/cGMP pathway and how perturbations (agitations) in each system affect cardiovascular health. The other authors are Dr. Janet Zand and Bill Gottlieb.

 

 

I’ve been learning that NO or nitrate oxide can do many helpful things in our bodies such as:

  • Help prevent high blood pressure,

  • Help keep our arteries young and more flexible,

  • Help slow or even reverse the buildup of plaque in our arteries and stop the formation of blood clots,

  • Help lower cholesterol,

  • Help reduce the risk of diabetes and its complications,

  • Help limit swelling and pain of arthritis,

  • Help reverse erectile dysfunction,

  • Help reduce the inflammation of asthma,

  • Help protect our bones from osteoporosis,

  • Help the immune system in killing bacteria,

  • Help skin damage from sun exposure,

And basically help our overall health, especially that of our arteries and cardiovascular system.

Continue reading “The Power of NO!”

Exercise for the Non-walking Diabetic

Getting rid of that Leaned over Humped Back Stance

Image of Yoga pose, copyright Microsoft
Image of Yoga pose, copyright Microsoft

Hi there, this is Shirley and I’m back to talk with you about exercise today. Since I’m in a wheelchair a lot of the time, I find that getting any kind of exercise is pretty difficult.
But I do try to get some in. I especially enjoy water aerobic when I can find a pool open.   With the deteriorating discs in my lower back, I can only walk a few steps before I begin to feel a tremendous pressure in my low back area. If I keep walking, it turns into pain and sciatica down my legs. I have to find a place to sit or at least lean against and bend over to relieve the pressure for a minute. I’ll use my cane if I don’t have to walk too far and that helps a little.

However, I’ve found that since I sit so much, either in my wheelchair or a desk chair at the computer, when I try to stand up, I can’t seem to straighten out and I walk like a little old lady, all bent over. Continue reading “Exercise for the Non-walking Diabetic”