BVickery
Contributor
Have had weight issues since I was young (not as bad then due to fact I was actually pretty active, hip problems then forced into sedentary life for close to 7 yrs).
So, to attack this like a squad of U.S Marines hitting an Open Bar went and talked with my Primary Care Physician.
Seems I hit a good one, since he looked at my weight and asked 'How serious do you want to be about your weight loss?" When I said I wanted to be very we sat down and made this more of a team approach than solitary struggle. We went over medical issues that are specific to me and looked at ways to adapt things so I can do them (SCUBA is still a go, but still keeping that off to the side as I get healthier, using it as the carrot so to speak). Had 3 visits, first was the initial one, second was a follow-up where he encouraged me the work I was doing (dropped about 6 lbs). The 3rd follow up visit (again, being put on new meds as well) turns out I did gain back the weight and then some. As I write this now, what I liked about the doctor was he was upset that I put it on, just by his body language, but what he said was different. Instead of lecturing me and trying to make me feel bad, he was "Well, lets see what we can do to get you back on track." Got another follow-up next month again mainly for the weight loss right now.
First off is we looked at my sleep patterns etc. Seems I exhibited many symptoms of Sleep Apnea. Current research it seems have sort of linked Sleep Apnea with weight issues and he was telling me that one aspect is some people with it would get hunger signals from the brain even though ate a good meal only a few hours prior. Told him I was having this problem and it was driving me crazy. No matter how big or small the meal was or what it was made of, like clockwork 1-3hrs later I was severely hungry again. From here we agreed I should see a specialist and get this diagnosis either confirmed or denied. After undergoing the sleep study was determined I had severe sleep apnea.
Up next was exercise. Since I really can't go for extended walks due to issues of arthritis and other medical issues in my ankles, it was a no go. Talking with him we came up with some of the new cycling machines at gyms would be ideal. I am lucky that the local Y is part of my health care providers initiative to cut costs by trying to get more people into healthier lifestyles. Additional benefit is to get my problem joints moving/used as well as hopefully helping me improve my cardio for diving.
Sadly, the third step is proving to be the issue. Since I am disabled and on disability, my health insurer is pretty much tied as far as what they can and can not provide for coverage even in terms of medications. One of these is weight loss meds at least as prescribed by my Primarey Care Physician. I have appeals in so need to see how that goes. But, in the denial letter they did send me the actual language of the fed. regs that they were, in essence, being told they had to follow. Basically, if I can show tangible reason the weight loss is important to my ongoing health issues as it stands now, it could be covered. Given I have a hip replacement and an increased weight on said joint causes the artificial joint to wear faster, I am hoping would be cause to approve it.
My advice on others in my situation:
- When talking to your doctor, be brutally honest. Let them know what the problems are and don't BS them.
- Not all weight issues are a symptom of other medical issues (IE sleep apnea) but perhaps talk to the doctor if there could be other factors in that are attributing to a difficulty in losing weight.
- If you fall off the track don't get upset over it. Just start up again the next day. When I was in a support group the nurses running it said studies have shown its not that 1 night that you went off your diet that killed you, it was the days following where you were depressed/upset that caused you to relapse back into the old behavior that was the problem.
I saw this first hand. I had 2 instances of where I fell off my plan. First one was an active part because a group of us was going to a BBQ place. I knew I was breaking my diet, I knew the stuff I was having was bad, but I looked at the whole and saw I was going out and having fun with friends. That one meal was a small blip, since the next day I started back up again. For that period I still managed to drop about 5 lbs. Second time was not planned, went off plan and got depressed. I had something I shouldn't have and relapsed. I gained back about 6 lbs that period.
- Most of all, try to keep a positive mental attitude and make sure your support group is the same way. If they start getting negative it will just make things worse. You will be amazed what positive energy/emotion coming from the support group can do for you and your own weight issues.
So, to attack this like a squad of U.S Marines hitting an Open Bar went and talked with my Primary Care Physician.
Seems I hit a good one, since he looked at my weight and asked 'How serious do you want to be about your weight loss?" When I said I wanted to be very we sat down and made this more of a team approach than solitary struggle. We went over medical issues that are specific to me and looked at ways to adapt things so I can do them (SCUBA is still a go, but still keeping that off to the side as I get healthier, using it as the carrot so to speak). Had 3 visits, first was the initial one, second was a follow-up where he encouraged me the work I was doing (dropped about 6 lbs). The 3rd follow up visit (again, being put on new meds as well) turns out I did gain back the weight and then some. As I write this now, what I liked about the doctor was he was upset that I put it on, just by his body language, but what he said was different. Instead of lecturing me and trying to make me feel bad, he was "Well, lets see what we can do to get you back on track." Got another follow-up next month again mainly for the weight loss right now.
First off is we looked at my sleep patterns etc. Seems I exhibited many symptoms of Sleep Apnea. Current research it seems have sort of linked Sleep Apnea with weight issues and he was telling me that one aspect is some people with it would get hunger signals from the brain even though ate a good meal only a few hours prior. Told him I was having this problem and it was driving me crazy. No matter how big or small the meal was or what it was made of, like clockwork 1-3hrs later I was severely hungry again. From here we agreed I should see a specialist and get this diagnosis either confirmed or denied. After undergoing the sleep study was determined I had severe sleep apnea.
Up next was exercise. Since I really can't go for extended walks due to issues of arthritis and other medical issues in my ankles, it was a no go. Talking with him we came up with some of the new cycling machines at gyms would be ideal. I am lucky that the local Y is part of my health care providers initiative to cut costs by trying to get more people into healthier lifestyles. Additional benefit is to get my problem joints moving/used as well as hopefully helping me improve my cardio for diving.
Sadly, the third step is proving to be the issue. Since I am disabled and on disability, my health insurer is pretty much tied as far as what they can and can not provide for coverage even in terms of medications. One of these is weight loss meds at least as prescribed by my Primarey Care Physician. I have appeals in so need to see how that goes. But, in the denial letter they did send me the actual language of the fed. regs that they were, in essence, being told they had to follow. Basically, if I can show tangible reason the weight loss is important to my ongoing health issues as it stands now, it could be covered. Given I have a hip replacement and an increased weight on said joint causes the artificial joint to wear faster, I am hoping would be cause to approve it.
My advice on others in my situation:
- When talking to your doctor, be brutally honest. Let them know what the problems are and don't BS them.
- Not all weight issues are a symptom of other medical issues (IE sleep apnea) but perhaps talk to the doctor if there could be other factors in that are attributing to a difficulty in losing weight.
- If you fall off the track don't get upset over it. Just start up again the next day. When I was in a support group the nurses running it said studies have shown its not that 1 night that you went off your diet that killed you, it was the days following where you were depressed/upset that caused you to relapse back into the old behavior that was the problem.
I saw this first hand. I had 2 instances of where I fell off my plan. First one was an active part because a group of us was going to a BBQ place. I knew I was breaking my diet, I knew the stuff I was having was bad, but I looked at the whole and saw I was going out and having fun with friends. That one meal was a small blip, since the next day I started back up again. For that period I still managed to drop about 5 lbs. Second time was not planned, went off plan and got depressed. I had something I shouldn't have and relapsed. I gained back about 6 lbs that period.
- Most of all, try to keep a positive mental attitude and make sure your support group is the same way. If they start getting negative it will just make things worse. You will be amazed what positive energy/emotion coming from the support group can do for you and your own weight issues.