Health Update

[ellyssian]

Been awhile since I posted anything health related (or, at least, that I remembered to tag as such), so I figured it was worth a mention.

I misremember exactly when I stopped taking my three blood pressure meds, cholesterol meds, and four asthma meds, but, with the exception of two or three inhaler hits and five or six Flonase sprays, it's been awhile.

The one asthma med ran out early January, and the health insurance gave me trouble about the last refill I had on it. Based on that experience, I didn't renew anything else.

January and February saw the last of the pills, even as I began to space them out from one a day to one every other, to every third, to ease the transition.

I have a cold now, so I can't exactly say I am all healthy, but:

• My weight prior to getting on the meds a little more than three years ago was around 220. When I started actively watching it while on the meds it was 230. I stopped when it went over 240, although I did check it once and was appalled that it was over 250. I expect it reached at least 270, if not more, over the last year. It is now 240.
• I have far more energy, and far less drowsiness and lethargy. Even with this cold stuffing me up, I am still more functional than I was on average on the meds.
• When I do physical activity - such as the yardwork or going out on 2 mile + walks at lunch time - I no longer give up part way through a task, out of breath and worn out. Even after an abusive session pulling shrubs out of a mountainside in the hot sun, the only soreness I had the next day was in the half dozen or so scratches from branches.
• I eat less, and I'm okay with that. I had been starting to eat less and not missing it before getting sick, and then I noticed that food intake pick up. Now, when Subway talked me up from a 6" to a 12" sub (it was BOGO, so I paid for a 6"), I realized after I forced it down that I would have been happier without that second half, and I know I won't make that mistake again. I also no longer feel I need to eat at least one Whopper a day in addition to my regular meals - in fact, I have no desire to have one at all.
• I am sure, though, that my blood pressure is not within the parameters of normal human operating levels. My asthma and allergies have not been kicked yet.

Considering weight is a key factor either causing or increasing the problem with *all* aspects of the health issues I'm dealing with, I'm fairly confident that the best way to control those issues is to control those key factors.

While the doctor could tell me to control my weight even as he loaded me down with - literally - hundreds of dollars of medications, each providing him with a healthy kickback in perks if not cash, I think the evidence is fairly clear that those meds actually had a disastrous effect on my weight, and no amount of knowing I should lose weight actually helped to reduce that.

Comments

[patrixa.livejournal.com]

I was happy to read how you are managing your health.

Not really a blood pressure check, but heart rate has an effect on BP, so take your pulse (neck and wrist) no more than 3x a day: after physical labor, at rest 10m+ and at bedtimes. If it should be higher than good for you (over 90 or so), you can control it by taking deep slow breaths (via the nose and exhale via mouth) and visualize it slowing down.

At your age, I did that. It worked, but I was too lazy too maintain and too full of anger to care. So I screwed myself. Sounds like you are NOT making it work, so keep going as you are. Vitamin pills would be a good idea and not as expensive as prescriptions.

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

Oh, neglected to mention one thing:

Although they are still a factor, my asthma and allergies are no worse off the meds than they were on the meds.

[jenjiyana.livejournal.com]

I would have been happier without that second half

I do this a lot. I always overestimate how hungry I am or eat based on things such as boredom or visual appeal. Then I beat myself up over it. Food shouldnt be an enemy but oftentimes I feel as though Im locked in battle with it.

Considering weight is a key factor either causing or increasing the problem with *all* aspects of the health issues I'm dealing with, I'm fairly confident that the best way to control those issues is to control those key factors.

totally agree. I see my mom with the same issues. Although the cancer took its toll, i think her weight issues contribute a lot to her overall health issues.

At least recognizing this is half the battle for you.

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

I forget where, but I remember reading - or hearing - that eating should be a spiritual practice. Each bite is like a prayer in physical form. Following that, it is important to take the time to enjoy your food, to eat slower and eat better foods.

One of my problems is eating fast - although not because I eat before the "All Full" signal is sounded. I find that the more I enjoy the food, the quicker I scoff it down. I generally do stop at an appropriate point, as far as hunger goes (i.e. I don't tend to feel overstuffed even when eating what counts as an excessive number of portions), but I am trying to train myself to stop at an earlier point. Some of that is a part of the aging process - I'm finding I could (before meds) and can (after meds) hit that point a lot earlier than expected, so now I have to be a bit more wary about that limit.

[opakele.livejournal.com]

It sounds like you are doing great. I know it isn't easy.

(Why do men always loose weight? I am chubby and I've had two medical professionals tell me, "It will be impossible to loose the weight." Well. Fuck you very much. Thems words to fire up a contrarian...")

[ellyssian.livejournal.com]

Over the last x number of years, I've done a lot better at gaining weight than losing it... the doctors have been wanting me to get down to 180 since I was 205.