Just got back from the Dr.

Brattyone · 01-03-2003, 02:51 PM

Would it be rude to kick my Dr.? Just kidding

Last time I went there he made me feel like I was a lazy overeating lady. So I told him about the research I've done and told him a year ago i wasn't having any of the problems I am now and it's more than what he's trying to say. I told him about this wonderful board and told him that I was on Glucophage a year ago but it didn't do anything. I didn't return to that Dr. maybe I needed the meds increased.

He then put me on meds for that, and I'm now taking Red Rice yeast for my cholesterol. Has anyone heard of it?
I guess my LDL is 177.

Then he went into this lecture saying how Americans need to walk more that we should get about 4 miles a day that things have become too easy. Ok maybe but I'm sorry I have 3 children I am very active and to see my house you know I'm not sitting on my behind all day it doesn't stay this clean by twitching my nose (wishing thinking) and with a 3 yr old I'm constantly playing with him or cleaning up after him. Not to mention that housecleaning is a form of burning calories

I told him I do 20 mins. on my treadmill every other day and still no weight loss. I don't drink anything but water AND a person with my weight would have to eat 3500 calories to MAINTAIN the weight I eat NOWHERE near it. I think he knew I was aggervated

He then tells me when a Dr. says syndrome that means they have no clue what causes it. They don't really know much about PCOS. DUH that's obvious

Sorry for being sarcastic but I really wanted to kick him, not a very good way of thinking but at least I was a good girl and didn't act on it

Oh and he thinks I should try the machine for the sleep apnea.

I have to go back in 2 months to see how things are doing. Could you say a prayer for me that I am losing weight and my health is better?

Do any of you find yourself battling to keep away from depression?

That is not like me but I am finding it hard, I don't feel like myself anymore

Ok enough rambling I hope you all have a great day

DianaG · 01-10-2003, 12:04 AM

Hi Brattyone:

I am sorry that your doctor is rather on the unsympathetic side. I think when doctors don't know what to say they fall back on old standby lines.

I definitely understand the exercising and low calories and still no weight loss. I haven't been gaining, but I also haven't been losing. It can be very frustrating at times.

I think depression is a part of PCO. I try to keep busy and stay positive, but it is so extremely hard sometimes.

I will definitely light a candle for you that you are able to gain your health back and definitely bring down your ldl.

I think it is a horrible bedside manner for your doctor to go off on you with his rant about American culture. That is his opinion about our culture, not you, his patient, who are seeking him for his Medical expertice help, not his thoughts on society. His concern should be for you and he should learn your situation before making broad judgements.

OK, off my rant on unprofessional doctors now!

I couldn't tell if I was reading your post right or not, but are you back on glucophage?

If so it has really helped me. Also, I highly recommend the PCOS Diet book by Collette Harris. Eating like that has helped me to maintain great blood sugar levels even if I haven't lost weight recently.

Best Wishes,
Diana

Brattyone · 01-12-2003, 07:24 PM

Yes I am on Glucophage now but last time I was on it, it didn't do anything for me. So I'm really hoping that it does do something this time around.

If you don't mind could you give me an example of what types of foods you eat in a day from that PCOS Diet book?

DianaG · 01-13-2003, 12:43 AM

Here is a typical days food for me. I sort of combine the PCOS diet ideas with the diabetic meal plan my doctor prescribed for me.

Breakfast:
1/2 cup of oatmeal
1/2 cup of blueberries
1/4 cup scrambled second nature eggs (like egg beaters only yummier)

snack at work:
1 medium piece of fruit; such as an apple, orange, or banana

Lunch:
whole grain bread sandwich (either tuna, pb&j (low sugar), or grilled cheese)
1 cup of soup; vegetable, chicken broth, or tomato
green beans, or zuchinni (some kind of green veggie)

Dinner:
3oz of protein (chicken, fish, or beef) I usually broil or bake it with lots of spices- like cayenne, garlic, tumeric, etc... (not all at the same time- but spice is a good way to flavor food without adding fat)
2 veggies 1 cup's worth
a small baked potatoe with garlic, or 1/2 cup mashed potatoes
(although in the PCO book these are considered high glycemic, but I cannot eat brown rices or noodles because my blood sugar goes sky high with them)

Throughout the day I drink tons of water and water with my meals. Occasionally I will have a diet vanilla coke, or unsweetened ice tea for variety.

I check my blood sugar before bed and if it is above 100 then I do not eat before bed; if it is below 100 then I eat a small protein with a carb snack. Like pb on a cracker, or milk and a graham cracker.

In the PCO book it says to keep try to balance your carbs with your protein. 2carbs to 1 protein for meals and a snack is a 1 to 1 ratio.

You may not need the mid-morning snack. I usually do or my blood sugar drops low enough for me to get shaky or disoriented and that is definitely not good.

I hope this helps
Diana

VitaBella · 01-13-2003, 05:22 PM

Wow, Diana - I love when people type out what they actually eat each day, because it really helps me visualize better. I know your diet has been designed just for you and it sounds like it works really well, but it sounds like you eat next to nothing!

This may sound silly, but are you ever hungry during the day? Or do you think that you "fill up" with all the liquids you drink?

I pack my "lunch" in the morning and since I'm at school from around 8 - 6 some days, it counts as my lunch and a morning and afternoon snack. I usually bring:

1 sandwich, usually turkey and cheese on whole wheat bread
1 baggie of baby carrots
1 tube of portable pudding (16 g carbs, 3 g fat)
Some kind of fruit - apple, orange, watermelon chunks
String cheese
A full quart of iced tea (sweetened with Sweet and Low - I can't help it)

Supper is somewhat harder, because DH is SUCH a carb-loving man. I have slowly switched to MORE protein, though, and less portion sizes - so if we do have lasagna, for example, I have more meat in mine and eat only about 30 g of carbs per meal. We have salad with every supper, too.

My blood sugar has been doing really well lately, but I'm really anxious to lose some of this extra weight - I'm hoping to help TTC along when the time comes by being in better health.

Anyway, this is a really long post to say that I can't believe you're not losing more weight - I think I would starve to death on your diet (or at least be hungry all the time)! And I would just like to complain in general that being diabetic is awful because we have to eat such strict things and on such strict schedules. If I don't eat that morning snack, I'll never make it through the afternoon and I'll end up having to treat for a low. But if I'm actually hungry later in the evening, sometimes I can't eat for blood sugar purposes. Kudos to you for sticking with your diet so well.

DianaG · 01-13-2003, 06:36 PM

Jen,
It is really more food than it looks. I should clarify that the 1/2 cup of oatmeal I eat is measured dry, so it is really about 1 cup when cooked which is very filling with the fruit and scrambled egg.

I guess I fill up with my water, which I drink constantly all day long, and with my vegetables. Eating higher fiber veggies and fruits will help to fill you up as well.

Your lunch doesn't sound bad to me. You are at work for more hours than I am. when you break your lunch down into a lunch and two snacks you are not eating more than me.

It took me a long time to get rid of the bread and potatoes with the evening meal. I can't give up my mashed or baked patato because lets face it, we do need some carbs for energy. However, I really have to watch my serving sizes on my starches.

I am surprised to not be losing as well. I am maintaining. I did gain about 4 lbs over the holidays with the pregnancy, but now that I am miscarrying I think those should come off again. The doctor doesn't want me to cut out any of my snacks, so I am trying to exercise more. I have been a bit depressed about it these past two weeks, but now that things have begun maybe I can settle into a routine again.

I have always had trouble losing weight. The only time I have really lost a lot of late was in my mid teens and it doesn't seem that healthy to me now. I lost 60lbs in about 8mos my freshman year by eating a 1200diet, and walking to Elaine Powers gym after school and doing 30minutes on the stationary bike, the nautilus circuit and then finishing off with an hour long aerobics class. I did this 5 days a week after school and my mom picked me up and fixed my dinner plate for me. After my homework I would swim 100 laps in our backyard pool. (It was small, so I am thinking equal to about 25 laps in a YMCA pool)

This worked, but good grief I was hungry all the time and I was constantly exercising. Now, as an adult with a job there is no way I could fit that many hours of exercise in my day. I am surprised I didn't get really sick from all of that. My dad thought I was anorexic, but I have to admit I love food too much for that which is probably why I gained so much weight when I moved out of the house after high school.

My thyroid was checked and it is on the slow side of normal, but still normal. I guess with the PCOS we just have to work a bit harder to lose.

Sorry this got so long, but I haven't thought of those days in years.

Brattyone · 01-13-2003, 07:24 PM

Thanks Diane and Jen for posting what it is you eat.

The Dr. told me that being sensitive to carbs that oatmeal probably wasn't a good idea. Then I was talking to my chiropractor and she was saying the luck people have been having with the Adkin's diet so I went on their website and noticed the ingred. in their products is soy, I don't need anymore soy that is forsure!!!!

I'm getting so aggervated I feel like I'm losing this battle fast. Most days I'm feeling very tired and icky. sometimes with a slight headache and nauseated. I want to feel better, I am tired of feeling this way, I want more energy like I used to.

I'm going to be joining Curves for Women Thursday so I'm really excited and I hope and pray that things will start getting better from here. I huge part of me has to force myself to get out of bed and do the day to day things. I have 3 children to care for and I feel awful that lately I don't want to deal with anyone. I am a total people person but not in the last few months

VitaBella · 01-14-2003, 10:41 AM

Diana,

Isn't it funny how changing that into one cup of cooked oatmeal makes it sound like you're eating SO much more? Lol...once you clarified that, I was like, "OH, okay." Funny.

I think you're right about the PCOS thing just making it hard to lose weight...like you, I'm maintaining, but I don't want to maintain this anymore! I've never in my life lost a sizeable amount of weight like you have, but I'm bound and determined to change that! It's hard, though, because life is life...there's always so much going on and even when I make it a big priority, it's easy to get sidetracked. For example, AF made a BIG arrival late last week and I really felt too weak and crampy to go to the gym. And my birthday is this weekend, and we're going to NYC to celebrate - since DH is working extra hours early in the week to avoid taking any vacation, I don't feel like I can ask him to get up so early for the gym this week. So I guess it'll be my 21-year resolution - starting next Tuesday isn't such a big deal. Besides, we'll be walking in NYC! That's got to count for something...

I know exactly how you feel about the exercise, but my doctor said that even a low calorie diabetic diet wouldn't help me lose unless I threw the exercise in. When I do exercise, I see immediate results...BUT, I'm a naturally sedentary person. It's hard to change habits that have been in place for so long.

It's crazy that you had to work so hard in high school to lose that weight...that is a LOT of exercise, and very little food! Yeah, the days of having that much free time are LONG gone for both of us...but with time, hopefully that weight loss will return. I know that it can feel so good, it's just making it happen every day.

I'm glad to hear that things have started with your miscarriage. It seems like you'll be able to avoid a d&c, and I know you wanted that...I'm so sorry that it's being dragged out like this, but hopefully you'll be back in the saddle again (mentally and physically) soon. It's just such a hard situation. I'm sorry you're having to go through it again.

BRATTYONE,

My doctor said that carbs are carbs, but some are better than others. For example, no-bake cookies (you know, chocolate and rolled oats) are better for me than chocolate chip, because oatmeal is not refined and raises my blood sugar much less than a flour-based cookie might. I do oatmeal in the morning sometimes, too, but try to pair it with some protein to slow the digestion. Like Diana said, it can make you really full and that's a benefit as well.

Yeah, soy can be a real problem for some people. Myself, I tried the Atkins diet and thought I was going to die. I tend to be really brittle with blood sugar and even though I'm only on Glucophage, my sugar crashes with decent regularity. The Atkins diet gave me NO fuel and I just couldn't hack it...maybe I'm not as tough as some of the people who swear by it. Oh well, that's fine with me.

Some people REALLY like Curves - again, it's personal preference. I didn't think that their workout was strong enough for me. I need to work really hard and get really sweaty to see results, and weight resistance machines and marching in place didn't seem hard enough for me. I know some people love it, though, and they seem pretty motivating - I hope it works well for you!

You sound like you're going through the initial shock and adjustment, which is totally understandable. Just remember that the choices you make today have a HUGE effect on the consequences five and ten years down the road...that helped me a lot, to see the big picture. And just give yourself time. It gets easier.