Monday, March 30, 2009

Mmmmm...sleep good


Warm and cozy bed, originally uploaded by Kodamakitty.

To begin bringing down my blood sugar levels, my doctor prescribed metformin, also known as Glucophage. Apparently, one of the most common causes of PCOS is high levels of insulin reducing the amount of estrogen and progesterone in the system and prohibiting ovulation. Also, half of the women diagnosed with PCOS are overweight. One of the benefits of metformin is that women who take it often lose weight, which has been my experience so far (mostly water weight, but at least its moving!)

I started my first dose almost two weeks ago and had sufficiently recovered enough to up my dose a few days early so I could adjust over the weekend. Common side effects include nausea, diarrhea and upset stomach, which is really not something I want to have to deal with when I have appointments every half hour on the half hour.

The funny thing about lists of side effects is that is very easy to become a hypochondriac and identify with every symptom. On the other hand, I don't want to discount a reaction if it means something is seriously wrong. I know I'm on a serious medication, so I am trying to be observant. For now, none of my symptoms have lasted longer than a few days or been uncomfortable to the point of being unbearable, so I am pushing onward.

My first week, I had some stomach rumblings and I was in the bathroom pretty soon after taking the pill, but nothing terribly awful. There was a day that week (roughly two or three days later) I stayed home to work on e-mail and slept almost the entire day. Clearly, I will need to plan for a day like that each time I up the dosage (ultimately, I'm supposed to take four doses a day).

I moved up to two doses last week Friday and wound up straining something in my right shoulder blade area. I was working on getting through a lot of e-mail and didn't move from my desk for a long time. It felt like a nerve pinch and I'm still a bit tender, though now it's moved to the front of my rib cage. And of course, since it's now two to three days since I began the increased dose, I'm feeling pretty sleepy (or at least sleepy enough that whenever I lay down, I fall asleep).

To make matters worse, there was quite a bit of snow around here yesterday, so my sinuses are also draining, which makes me sleepy as well.

Why the concern about sleep and shoulder strain? I have to make sure I'm not exhibiting Lactic Acidosis, a very rare reaction that occurs in about 1 out of 33,000 people taking metformin.

Symptoms include:
• feeling very weak, tired, or uncomfortable
• unusual muscle pain
• trouble breathing
• unusual or unexpected stomach discomfort
• feeling cold
• feeling dizzy or lightheaded
• suddenly developing a slow or irregular heartbeat
source: Diabetes Monitor.com

It will be interesting to see what happens when I increase to three pills two weeks from now. I want to be able to stick with this medication, especially since it seems to be working, but I promise that if this pain persists, I'll contact my doctor.

Sunday, March 29, 2009

Caffeine and Blood Sugar


Dinner at Ruby Tuesday's, originally uploaded by Kodamakitty.

I wouldn't say I've done a ton of research about losing weight, but one of the more recent news items I've come across regarding insulin and blood sugar is the connection between caffeine intake and blood sugar.

For the past two weeks, I've cut back on my caffeine - drinking caffeine-free Diet Pepsi, mixing half sugar-free caffeine-free International Foods Café Mocha with half coffee for my daily cup at work, and only having one cup of coffee on the weekends at home. I'm not actually tracking my blood sugar at this point, but I figured every bit helps, right?

In thinking about this blog, I've been meaning to post this once I had a chance to find a reputable summary. So, on researching it this morning, I've found this happy (for me, at least) news:

From Mayo Clinic.com

Question
Does caffeine affect blood sugar?

Answer
Short-term studies indicate that caffeine impairs insulin action but not necessarily blood sugar (glucose) levels in young, healthy adults.

However, in individuals with type 2 diabetes, the impact of caffeine on insulin action may be associated with a small but detectable rise in blood sugar levels, particularly after meals. The amount of caffeine noted to have caused this effect was about 500 milligrams (or the equivalent of five cups of plain, brewed coffee) a day.

For individuals with type 2 diabetes who are struggling to control their blood sugar levels, limiting your caffeine intake may provide a benefit.




Even on a regular basis, it is very rare for me to drink more than two cups of coffee a day, so this is a bit of a relief. I love coffee (it would be my profession if it were more lucrative than higher education, to be perfectly honest). I thankfully don't have withdrawal symptoms if I don't have coffee, but I am one of those seeming few who actually LIKE the taste of the stuff (Geoff likes it more, he takes his black - I rarely drink mine straight).

Granted, I will probably still continue with my usual routine because it helps me cut down on the amount of cream and sugar I use with my coffee. I like diet soda just fine, but I find that sugar substitutes are just too sweet in anything else.

Saturday, March 28, 2009

My fondest wish


My fondest wish, originally uploaded by Kodamakitty.

I asked a palmist once, if I was ever going to be recognized for my talents and abilities, and she said yes. And then, many months later, I receive this fortune. Kooky!

Do I even need this kind of recognition? I would argue that everyone wants to be recognized - for their opinion, their thoughts, their talents. It's about respect and appreciation.

What does this have to do with being good enough? Isn't it enough for me to know that I'm doing my best? Well, yes, to a great extent, but I think without recognition or feedback from others one could become narcissistic or convinced of one's worthlessness.

One of the many reasons I haven't really put forth the effort to lose weight has been an odd need to prove myself beyond looks or what I have previously dismissed as "swimming in the shallow end with floaties" - buying into the idea that one could be pretty or smart, and I was clearly destined to be smart. Which of course, is total bullshit. I am blessed to have friends who are both beautiful and brainy and I wouldn't put up with this kind of thinking from them, either.

So, now that my health is on the line, and now that I've accepted that I do want to look my absolute best and see what my best weight is where I can still eat what I like in moderation without having to spend hours in the gym, I want one of my talents to be that I can truly take care of myself and my health. It is a talent I have underutilized thus far and I plan to develop it.

As for recognition, in starting this journey I've received a lot of amazing support. Quiet, steadfast, stand-by-you support. For which I thank you (you know who YOU are) with all my heart.

And a special thanks to Geoffrey, who posted this on my Fiickr photo with which I created this blog:

galfridus73 says:
You've always been more than good enough, Sweetie, no matter what. I love you!
I love you, too, Geoff!

Awwwwww... :)

^_^

Thursday, March 26, 2009

REPOST: A New Start


A new start
Originally uploaded by Kodamakitty.

I will most likely be blogging about my trials and tribulations with trying to lose weight on a joint venture with my cousin Joann, but for now, I wanted to jot down a few thoughts before I forgot them all. At least I can blame the medication if I do!

On Monday, March 16, I had a second visit to my new ob/gyn. Pre-Med students, take note - bedside manner extends beyond the bedside and it can be the difference between a patient who listens to what you have to say, not to mention one who actually decides to return to your office and one who either disregards what you suggest or doesn't come back. Suffice it to say, I haven't seen my old ob/gyn for at least 4 years.

Old ob/gyn (which sounds like one of the background nicknames for the dancer on the left in CATS) clearly missed tons of clues about why after three years of not not trying, I still wasn't pregnant. Now, I fully disclose that I have been overweight since, like, the fourth grade, but still, this new doctor got it in one and I am now have a tentative diagnosis of PCOS - Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. I'll spare you the gory details (or at least save them for the new blog, lol), but at least now I feel like I have more of the bigger picture to work with.

It's funny, my parents both have/had type II diabetes, and I know how I'm supposed to be eating, sleeping, and moving, but until the reality of needing to lose weight becomes more concrete, it's easier to put things off until tomorrow and just have another slice of pizza. I still plan to be able to have that piece of pizza, only it will now be a bit smaller and accompanied by a large salad.

One thing I noticed about today - it's Saturday, and obviously, my weekends are less structured than my normal Monday - Friday routine. Today was a bit difficult because I was more in tune with my urges to munch on something - was I actually hungry? And what if I was, what was a good snack? Today's answer? A slice of whole wheat toast with exactly one serving of marmelade and some raspberry leaf tea. Not a lot, but just enough.

I'm not following any actual diets, and I'm looking at the Nutrition Panel primarily to work out proper portions and to avoid excessive fat/salt/nasty stuff. I don't want this to be a diet, I want it to be a lifestyle change. So this pic is of my new food sleep/food/water log. My plan is to become more aware of what I am eating and hopefully not become so aware as to be obsessed. Wish me luck!

^_^