So today I had the 1 month follow up with Dr. T. As I suspected... he was thrilled with the "4lbs loss" (which is what I registered on his scale and based on my weigh-ins at his office). And as you may suspect, that kinda pissed me off. Which is stupid on my part because, c'mon... it's 4 pounds. Pounds I couldn't lose in any other way, so why am I having such a hard time accepting pounds lost with a pill? Still working on that one.
At our initial appointment a month ago I got the distinct impression that the doc doubted my compliance. Ummm... not a good move on his part, huh? You all know how much data I have and how much I love my charts and lists. So I kicked it up a notch this past month and became a bit obsessive with the data. I recorded my food everyday on FitDay
and uploaded my GoWearFit
data everyday. Then I also created a little notebook that I carried around with me and transferred those number into a handwritten log. And in that log I also recorded my meals, exercise, fluid intake, vitamin doses, calorie deficit and also notes about what I did that day. It drove me a little batty - I don't like writing stuff down in long hand or having to prove myself to anyone. So I kept good logs this month and for my appointment today I printed all my reports (daily, weekly and monthly) in case I got questioned on my compliance again. And I got the question, of course. So I kindly told him I'd brought him a copy of my food logs and asked if he's like to see it and handed over a packet of about 50 pages of data. Ha! I can't say for sure, but I think his jaw dropped. LOL! I explained how I weigh and measure all the food I eat, how I plan my meals on a weekly basis and strive for certain percentages of nutrition and then how I record that info in my online food journal. I told him about the GoWear Fit and how clinical trials showed it is accurate within 5% of other clinically approved methods of recording calories burned and was a medically accepted device. To which he asked for the name of it again and wanted the website and information about where to buy one and how it work. :: grin :: He kept the pile of my reports and expect he'll probably check out BodyMedia.
Ok.... so I know you're waiting for the report about what happened.
He wants me to continue on Adipex. And also wanted to start me on Metformin to deal with any residual affects of PCOS and insulin resistance. I thought I was ready for that recommendation. I mean.... I expected him to be thrilled with the results and to want me to keep using the drugs because it was this big joyous success. But I guess I wasn't as prepared as I thought I was because I started to cry. Just more emotional crap creeping up. He asked me why I was crying and I told him the truth -- that being on a diet pills feels like I'm a failure and that I can't do it on my own and that anything I lose doesn't count. He looked pretty confused and caught off guard, I think. But he recovered soon enough and assured me that if this is what works, then we should continue until it stops working - then we'll explore what is going to work next. Ok. Fine. Again.
Still haven't decided on the Metformin. Need to look into that a bit more. Kind of worried about how it will affect the hypoglycemia issue. So I'll decide on that after some research and learn more about what it's suppose to do. (BTW - I was on Metformin for a while years ago after first being diagnosed with PCOS, but couldn't bear the side effects of upset stomach and general yuckiness.)
Ok, so the Adipex Rx has been filled. I'll start this round tomorrow morning. I've got two months on this round and a follow up with Dr. Diet Pills again in May. I'll keep you updated on how things go -- not with weekly updates like I have in this first month, but yes, regularly.
I have some thoughts on the use of diet pills after gastric bypass surgery that I'll share with you. My thoughts today are not what they were a year ago. I'm still not convinced this is the right thing - for me or anyone else. Once I get those thoughts a bit more in order, I'll share them here.
~Pam
I can't wait to read your thoughts re: diet pills post-RNY. Gosh, I knew I'd be dieting my whole life to make this work, but on meds? I think I'd react the same as you have - painful, but whatever works, right? I look forward to your posts on this issue in particular.
ReplyDeleteWow.... I found your blog when I googled "how to prepare for an endocrinologist appointment" and I'm almost speechless--stunned by some of our similarities.
ReplyDeleteI'm meeting with the endo tomorrow due to the fact that I was previously diagnosed with PCOS, am obese and successfully lost 50-55lbs through diet and exercise before hitting a 2 year plateau. I'm currently being treated for PCOS with birth control pills and metformin (750mg, twice a day). When I first tried metformin years ago, I also had stomach upset and dizziness (at a much lower dose!). Fortunately, the newer extended release formula is much better in terms of side effects--I've had none.
That said, I've faithfully and obsessively tracked my calories burned (using my Bodybugg--very similar to your GoWearFit) and tracked my caloric intake since January 1. Despite consistent daily deficits of 1,000-1,800 calories, I've only lost 3 lbs. I'm still 80lbs overweight. This should not be so difficult. Additionally, my C-reactive protein has been quite high (10+ range--normal is less than 3), suggesting full-body inflammation either due to PCOS, obesity, metabolic disorder or some kind of autoimmune disorder.
My PCP finally recommended I see an endocrinologist to see if something else is going on. I'm both nervous and excited for tomorrow's appointment--especially since my endo came highly recommended by my PCP--but fear the potential outcome. If I hear anything that might be helpful to your situation, I'll share, if you're interested. It sounds like you're on the fence with your faith in your endocrinologist.
I just saw an endocrinologist for the first time (I am post-RNY) and I literally BEGGED for Adipex and Metformin and was told 'no' for both.
ReplyDeleteConsider yourself lucky!!!