Okay. Mid-June, I weighed around 93, 94 lbs. or so. Last night, I weight 123. That's 30 lbs., about a third of my body weight, in a tad over two months. Not possible, medically, to be fat or muscle. At least not from that starting weight. It would be possible to gain near 30 lbs. if I weighed close to or over 300, thereabouts, but not 94. Some of this must be water, then, but who knows how much? I can't begin to guess, so I have no clue what I weigh.
The swelling is so bad that my skin has split in two other places on my right lower leg, and once on my left leg, for the first time. I'm eating more and more protein, as they told me to do, and still I can't get a hold on this anasarca. It's driving me crazy. It would go a long way toward making me feel better, and have less pain, if only the edema would go away. It's now in my butt, too, and my abdomen is enormous. Never saw such a thing. Oh, well.
Our washer died and can't be repaired--paid $129 to a repairman just to have him do nothing. So we have to go out tomorrow and buy a new one. But none of my clothes fit. There's one skirt that just might, so I'll have to go ahead and squeeze myself into that and pray I can still breathe.
My gut isn't any better. Piss caca.
There's a place called the National Weight Registry, or close to that, open to anyone who's lost 30 pounds or more and not regained it for at least one year. They're doing a study and need tons (no pun) of people to volunteer for the group. I checked it out, and it's a mix of every size, shape, color, gender, and so forth, who are succeeding at maintaining weight loss. I was thinking about joining; however, I was pressured by my ED into doing it. While it took tremendous determination and control over hunger, that's not the same as losing it--for lack of a better word--normally, as you did/are doing.
Here's a link: National Weight Control Registry
So many of you have lost way more than that, and I expect that most or all of you will maintain the loss for a year or more. Sunshine, you're already in maintenance mode and have been for some time. Has it been a year? Anyway, I think it's worth looking into, because it would be a great thing participants could do for others in this battle of EDs.
BIG bragging here. . . My brother-in-law, who's been posted once to Iraq and twice to Afghanistan, was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service in combat. We had an ugly time of it from the very first, when he married my sister. I hated that, since I didn't want to put my sister in the position of being in the middle. He didn't want her to associate with me because I was a feminist and would make her "hate men," and turn her away from being a good wife. Can you believe that? So the only time I could visit her over the decades was when he was in the field. It was awful to have to sneak around like that. My sister and I are so close that we're almost one, like a married couple, and he wanted to divide us.
Anyway, I had tried to make him join me in a truce, telling him that since we both loved her, we should do it for her. Plus, I told him, I thought he was a decent guy. Which was basically a lie, since he's a sexist and racist, but what can I do about it? FINALLY, he agreed to start over. He writes to me every day from Afghanistan, and I told him how very proud I was of him, winning the star. Which I am.
Back to the washer for a little complaining. I'm pissed that Chick has been laid off; I have no income for at least 12 weeks, and the washer has to break down now of all times. I belong to Consumer Reports online, so I looked up some models. Two Kenmores I liked were reasonably priced and had all the features (I need very few) that I need, EXCEPT for a bleach dispenser. Have you ever heard of such a thing? NO bleach dispenser? Each of those washers was 600+ bucks, and they can't give you one? Boy, was I pissed. I then looked at other brands, concentrating on Whirlpool, and it was the same damn thing!!! WTF?
Chick wanted to go to get one tomorrow, alone. After reading up on them, I told him I want to tag along. I can tell he wants me to let him take care of it, but no way. I'm going to ignore CR, since they only tested a few models, and study the various brands at Sears online. Then I'll be better informed when we go.
I'm still reading fiction like a fiend. It's been entertaining me, as well as taking me away from the daily blues. I'll snap out of it soon--don't worry. I'm just afraid of the weight gain, as all anorexics would be, and desperately don't want to lose my hair. Maybe I won't. I'll just look on the optimistic side when it comes to this. It's the only thing I can do.
My chubby kitty, the female, is disgusted with her diet food, so she sits by her dish of kibble and stares at me. lol I don't give in, because she has cardiomyopathy and I also don't want her to be a diabetic. Chick, on the other hand, will give her treats. I gave him hell about, so I think he's not doing it anymore. I told him that if she ultimately needs insulin or something, he'll have to give her the shots or pills, not me. I think that made an impression.
I read something that I think all of you know already, but just in case you haven't, I'll talk about it. There was a good amount of evidence that it would be easier for someone who'd had a gastric bypass/roux n y, etc., to maintain their weight than it would be for someone who'd had the band--or even more--the sleeve. That's because the bypass generally removes the area where ghrelin and leptin are formed, leaving the formerly obese person with less hunger. The stats for regaining weight aren't at the tip of my tongue, but sleeve people gained the most back, followed by band people, then the bypass people.
Also, they wrote about how many sleeve and band patients taught themselves how to "fool the system" and eat things other than what was recommended or allowed. They often ate protein last, too, and filled up on refined foods and desserts/candy, etc.
This really surprised me. It was like the study indicated that bypass patients took the surgery more seriously than those with the other procedures. I'll have to read more on the subject and will let you know what I find.
Oh, my. I sure can talk!
FF, I know you needed to gain weight, and I am glad you have, but I am so sorry you are having such complications. I hope all turns out well for you.
ReplyDeleteThis is probably a big adjustment for your body. It's probably in shock! I hope you are drinking plenty of water to flush out the fluids and cranberry juice is good for the kidneys. I am sure you already know these things but you have put me into "mom" mode. I don't know if I have recommended a muscle strength test by an herbalist but if I haven't I do think it might shed some light on the situation. Take care of yourself and keep us posted.
ReplyDeleteThat amount of swelling has to suck! Boo!!! :(
ReplyDeleteI've been holding a 60lb weight loss for a few years. But still considered morbid... Not sure I would count.
I can fix washers! Sorry to hear yours is broke. Do you know what part is broke? To bad I'm so far away, can't be of much help.
Stay busy! And hey... CHIN UP!! :)
Jo, thank you for your support. It makes me feel good. I finally got some sleep this afternoon, about three hours straight. I was shocked when I woke up, because I'd sat down to watch some silly shit on TV. I guess I conked out--hard. But I feel so much better. It's the longest I've slept in a while, and I guess just what I needed. So it's turning better, anyway.
ReplyDeletedownsizers, it's good that you reminded me to keep drinking water, because it's one thing I keep forgetting until I'm really thirsty. TWO of my meds MUST be taken with at least 8 oz. water, and I'm supposed to have a minimum of 64 oz./day. It's okay for you to act like a mom, even though I suspect we're around the same age (you're a young mom, lol). You're showing you care what happens to me. I appreciate that a lot.
Twix, where you be? You know, I don't know if they require that you be within "normal" limits for the registry as far as weight goes. It doesn't say anything about that on the site. I suppose you could email them. You're still hanging in there, trying to move to your goal without gaining any more, so who knows?
Chick bought a washer today and they'll deliver it Tuesday. Really expensive. I went to the Sears site and compared them all, and settled on two Kenmores (in case one was out of stock, there was a backup). One Whirlpool looked great, but it was OVER $1000!!!!! Lord have mercy.
Good to see you again.
FF, thanks for the ideas you left for me about my gluten free experiment. I DO love to bake bread, so they may be just what I am looking for!
ReplyDeleteFF, Thanks for the suggestion. I will look into it. I have been pretty much maintaining for a year now.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you are dealing with edema. I had some problems with it when I was obese and it is NOT fun to have your skin split open. I hope they find a solution soon. I know you are worried about the weight gain but you should just focus on taking care of yourself and the weight will take care of itself too. I believe you are right and that it is mostly water. Anyway, I'm keeping you in my thoughts.
My thoughts on lapband, sleeve, and bypass... Bypass people are taught, if they are paying attention, from the beginning of the process that they will need to make lifestyle changes. There is much hype about the sleeve and the band and how it is so restrictive that success is inevitable. That just isn't true. It is easy to eat around any of the surgeries. I believe there is a higher failure rate for the sleeve and the band because people aren't be taught correctly how to use the surgery tool. I knew before I agreed to surgery that I would have to make major changes. In fact, I was required to follow the gastric bypass diet for 6 months to prove I could follow the plan. I believe that everyone should be subjected to that plan before having surgery. It sorts out those who have more of a chance of being successful
FF, where are thou??? Please check in. It's bbeen 2.5 months and, well, ya know, peops worry!
ReplyDeleteHope things are going much better...(ie, swelling,health,e tc.)
Happy New Year to you, babe, one with a lot of health and progress and prosperity! Please update so we know you're alive and kicking out there in the big ole world.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Mir/Princess Dieter