Deb asked a question that made me stop and think. "Has it been the two years you projected for the new house?" I looked back through my posts, and found that Carrot Top, aka Johnny began pouring our basement June 1st of 2023. So. Yes, it has been two years. Two years, 1 month and 2 days to be precise. It seems like such a long time ago, and I am grateful this project is winding down. We have the next big project which is the attic, and then it needs to be sided this summer, which can wait until we are moved into it to get done.
We've been cleaning up around the outside of the house now that the house is no longer a construction zone. William was a big help with that today, neatly stacking some wood. He also helped put up some lattice on the raised beds for the cucumbers. I've never done that before, but I see other people doing it, and it will save garden space if the vines are going up instead of sprawling out.
I am discouraged today. I've been working very hard on lifestyle changes. Part of that has been paying close attention to what I eat. Part of it has been walking faithfully. It is frustrating to me that my healthcare provider is really, really pushing the metformin. My A1C was 6.4, which is prediabetic levels. That really galvanized me into making those lifestyle changes. My A1C dropped to 6 which made me feel better. Much to my surprise, I still received a phone call. "The doctor has reviewed your test results and wants to put you on Metformin."
I told her that according to NIH, themselves, they do not recommend treating prediabetes with metformin. They encourage healthy eating and exercise and watching the numbers carefully to see if the levels respond to that. There was some polite disagreement. In the end, I refused to medicate.
My next well check? They wanted to send me to a podiatrist for a diabetic foot evaluation. I was starting to get frustrated. I said, "I am not diabetic. I am prediabetic, and after three months of exercise and good eating, I've reduced my A1C by .4. So no. We're not doing the foot doctor."
Today, I had another A1C test to monitor the situation. I walked to the appointment, which was a mile and a half. I was feeling pretty confident about the whole thing. I've lost 25 pounds now since making the big changes back in December, so I was pleased with that. Surely, surely, all my hard work would pay off.
I looked at my A1C results just now. 6.1. How disappointing! Mostly because I know I will have to argue with the doctor again, and I hate that.
So.
That's my day.
America has had even a worse day. I'm not going to go into it.
But here are some words of wisdom from Pete Buttigieg:
"The thing I would like for Americans to feel is that it is the very pain of this moment that signals how important it is. All the moments in history that we study, admire and romanticize were pretty brutal to be in the middle of and that's what makes it so interesting. For better or worse, we are in one of those now and that should propel us to think more originally as things get burned down around us - about what we would build instead."
(Thanks to Jackie for passing that along to me. If ever was a day that I needed to read an encouraging word, this is that day.)
There are some very helpful thoughts here. Thank you. And I hope you stay strong on your own behalf with doctors. Rx isn't always the answer
ReplyDeleteOh. I am resolute. I just don't understand why my decisions cannot be respected, esp. when there is plenty of health data to back those decisions up.
DeleteYou don't have to fix today. You just have to move through it. Gosh, I need to get better at that.
ReplyDeleteTwo years then it has been.... and you can see the end in sight. I'm looking forward to more pictures.
I don't understand the medical push on you either. You are very aware of what you are doing and keeping good care of yourself.
I'm so sorry! I dread blood tests because I'm guaranteed a tactful lecture about my A1c (pre-diabetic although I can't remember the number) and my cholesterol. The doctor didn't mention that my cholesterol number had dropped by 20 pounds, don't ask me why. She didn't give me any kudos at all! At least, she didn't try to push medication on me though. I am sickened and frightened by so many of my fellow citizens these days. Disgusted.
ReplyDeleteThe doctor can get stuffed. Does your doctor work for a large corporation? Just curious. I can imagine a large corporation would want more tests, more procedures, more crap. Your A1C is good. You lost 25 pounds. Wow! I saw my doctor today and my A1C is 6.2 and she said that's good. I argue with my doctors too. I don't care anymore if they don't agree with me. If they want to try and convince me, that's on them.
ReplyDeleteI stole that meme, Why is it important to be kind? It's everything.
We keep hearing that you have to be your own advocate for your health. You also have to do a lot of research to be sure that what you're doing is right. You are doing all the right things. It will pay off.
ReplyDeleteYou have done impressively well this year. It is odd that A1C number rose. I have also lost weight and am learning how close the line is between gaining, losing and staying steady.
ReplyDeleteI am glad the quote I shared helped. Thank you for sharing Pete's words with your readers.
ReplyDeleteI am very stubborn with doctors, myself. Stick to your guns and your lifestyle changes. You know yourself better than anyone else. Yes!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you are getting toward the end of your build. Whoohoo! :)
Maybe I wasn't there in Med School that day, but I (like Pixie) think your Doc is wrong. You're doing all the right things. Stay the course!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the words from Pete. I am still sad, angry and frustrated, but he makes me feel a little better.
ReplyDeleteI think you are doing wonderfully with your lifestyle changes. And I think you know YOU best.
Wow, what a journey both with the house and your health. You're doing all the right things, and it’s tough when progress feels slow. Keep going! That quote from Pete Buttigieg really hit home.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this honest post.
Definitely stand your ground over the unnecessary medications. You are doing really well. Wish I could lose 25 lbs - lost 4 when I was ill last week and the moment I had a couple of meals, it all came back on. In my defence though, I've not been able to walk because of the heat. That makes a difference. Even though after an hour's walking, you've only burned 100 cals!
ReplyDeleteLike you, I am trying not to think about the way my country is going at the moment - it's just too depressing. Like having the inmates in charge of the Asylum . . .
Have you got any idea when you may be moving into your new home yet?
Keep standing up for yourself...and asking the hard questions of them...like how much do they get for prescribing certain things?!
ReplyDeleteYou are doing well with diet and exercise..you don't need them stressing you!!
Looking forward to seeing you move in!!
Life becomes too complicated sometimes. Make your own decisions about pills, I've been fighting off statins for years. Somehow the doctors think a handful of pills are alright for each person, when it is not so and all these pills are just handed out routinely. We are all waiting for the big move!
ReplyDeleteI often think doctors have a script to follow and a plan to pursue and dislike it when there's pushback from the patients. I'm sure it's all to do with money.
ReplyDeleteDebby, most people are like, sure, just give me a pill, rather than make the necessary life style changes. Bravo to you that you did. Stay the course, keep refusing meds. Most Doctors have a template for care, rather than looking at each person as an individual. They are covering their bases. So we must be our own advocate.
ReplyDelete