Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Home From the Doctor

And the verdict is...

I am astonishingly healthy. :D I do have a few issues but they are controllable, easily handled. All of my blood work checked out very well. My cholesterol is 177. I almost fainted dead on the floor when she told me that! My cholesterol was 240 when I was 24. So, I am older and heavier but my cholesterol is normal. :D My "good cholesterol" number is a little low, but it is not worrisome and will increase and improve as I continue to lose weight, eat right and exercise. My liver functions are right on the money, kidneys are perfect.

I was tested for diabetes and happily, I don't have diabetes. My blood sugar is perfectly normal. (Whew!!!!! :D) No anemia, thyroid function is good. I am vitamin D deficient and will have to take a high potency prescription and a lower OTC vitamin D supplements for the rest of my life.

My blood pressure is perfect. In fact, it is a tiny shade low. This gives me hope that I can dump the Lisinopril one day soon. I discussed the terrible puffiness I suffer with my doctor and showed her my poor, swollen legs. She prescribed Lasix and a high potency prescription potassium I have to take with it when I need it. I can use it at my discretion. Hopefully, this will banish the Puff Monster from my life. ***pleasepleaseplease***

My heart and lungs are good. My lungs are nice and clear, once again and my doc has cleared me to exercise. Yay!

My spleen is slightly enlarged. My doctor isn't too concerned about it, at this point. She is pretty sure it is due to my current weight and isn't worried and sees no reason to chase zebras, at present. We will keep an eye on it and see how it goes, as I go. My gallbladder is chronic. And will have to come out, sooner or later. Unless I have an acute attack, she wants to send me to a surgeon after I reach 250 pounds. Which is fine with me. It isn't acute, right this moment and the lower your weight, the safer surgery tends to be. I am content to wait. I do have stones in my common bile duct but they aren't causing me too terribly much grief at present so... I am good, for now.

So, yeah... She told me that I am doing everything exactly right and to just keep on doing what I am doing. That is validation to me that capping my calories, drinking a gracious plenty of water, exercise and digging the shit out of my head and heart is a damned effective way to lose weight, get a healthy body and a calmer, clearer, happier mind. And, unless I have a specific problem, I don't need to go back to my doctor for six months.

I am pretty damned pleased, today. And pretty damned pleased with myself.

They forgot to weigh me. They just went by my last Sunday weigh in. lolol

It is colder than a witch's lunch bucket today. Windy and crystal clear. It was seventeen, an hour ago. I had to run the furnace, last night, this house was freezing. Marley actually climbed under the covers and curled up against me to get warm. lol My furnace was on, earlier and my fireplace is going, right now and I am still chilly. I may fire up my heat just long enough to warm it up a bit more. I have goosebumps all over.

I also have housework to get done. Not too much, the place actually looks pretty good. I am halfway tempted to be a total slacker, today. I might just have to do that... ^^

Okay, I need to fetch myself some more water. I'll catch all you losers (I totally mean that as an endearment and a complement!) later.

14 comments:

  1. OMG - that is such great news!!!! Your cholesterol is way better than mine - I'm jealous! Keep up the good work!

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  2. Glad you did so well at the DR!!! :>

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  3. Thank goodness! Good job on that great bill of health-keep it up!

    Polar's Mom
    www.polarspage.blogspot.com

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  4. So glad your appointment went so well. Great news on the lab work! Congrats on all the hard work and reaping some rewards.:)

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  5. Dangit, girl, you are healthier than a horse! I am so glad you got good news, and there are a few things that can be treated. I had the vitamin D deficiency a year ago, took the high dose, and now take a daily dose. That one diagnosis changed my life for the better. Where I was craving food ALL the time before, it made me have a more normal appetite. I hope it does the same for you. Keep up the good work!

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  6. That's a wonderful report from the doc!!! Obviously you're doing all the right things.

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  7. Wow, that is great on the cholesterol front! Excellent news. I'm so pleased for you, hearing that kind of news is exactly why this is so important, eh?

    Fingers crossed the puffy meds work for ya. Any chance of you sending me a few across the pond? ;0

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  8. That is such a good wrap up - wohoo! And you made me laugh when I read "..colder than a witch's lunch bucket today" - never heard that before. Awesome!

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  9. WOW! I'm so excited by your doctor's visit! This is marvelous news. For your total cholesterol to drop that many points isn't common, because most people don't do what they need to do. I hope you can get off the cholesterol-lowering med, too.

    I've read that women often have low serum Vitamin D. They're just finding out about it. I'm glad she was able to catch it in you. The best news is the blood glucose level. Whew! When we're overweight, the risk of diabetes is very real. It was one of the reasons I dieted in the first place--it's in my family, and my mother has lost most of her eyesight due to it. I want to avoid that at all costs. Good for you.

    I don't like those gallstones in the common bile duct, though. They can be very dangerous and nasty. But I'm sure you know that. Well, 250 isn't that far away for you the way you're going, and you can have the surgery. Trust me--you'll feel a million times better.

    I'm terribly sorry about your migraine siege and that you're going through this again. I'm going to do the closest thing to prayer I can do for you.

    Finally, it's terrific news about the diuretic. You have a real problem with water retention. I'm glad she took it seriously.

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  10. I'm so thrilled your tests came back normal!! Good for YOU!! You're doing everything right! Keep up the good work!

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  11. So glad to hear that all is pretty darned well, Erika!

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  12. Happy Doctors, validating your plan, you Rock

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  13. Yeah congrats on a great dr's visit. I have always found that it is nice to have more than one way to measure that what are you doing is working!

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