I just read a post that made my blood boil. I had typed out an 8 paragraph long response in her comments section, but decided against actually publishing. Anytime someone writes a post in which they generalize about Fat People or they discount entirely that a person can become overweight due to medical conditions, I think they are either a) just trying to stir shit in order to draw attention to themselves b) an asshole. I refuse to give people like that the attention they obviously are seeking. Instead, I remind myself that I know MY truth. My doctors know My Truth and that's really all matters. People can take their All Fat People Are Lazy Self Righteousness and shove it up their Beautiful, Trim Asses.
Speaking of asses.
Mine continues to shrink. Anyone who has followed my battle with Hashimoto's knows how difficult my battle of weight has been over the last 3 years. A year of following weight watchers and working out consistently resulted in little weight loss. (10 pounds was the most, but it would always creep back on.)
When my doctor had no advice to me beyond "join Weight Watchers" (which I had already done) or "Work out harder!" I asked that he refer me to a female endocrinologist.
When I saw her, she asked questions my doctor had not asked. She looked over test results that my doctor had characterized as "slightly abnormal, but fine!" and came to the conclusion that I was insulin resistant and had slight PCOS. That would explain why I was having a difficult time losing weight. That would explain why I would go 5 months without a menstrual cycle. That would explain THE MOTHER EFFING BACNE. That would explain why I continued to be fatigued despite the fact that my TSH had stabilized.
I cried right there in her office. And when I say "cry" I mean "SOBBED." Finally, an answer. No more stupid advice like "don't judge your success by losing weight, but by not gaining weight!"
She prescribed metformi*n. She went over all of the risks. I stopped listening at "LACTIC ACIDOSIS." Because OH MY GOD I COULD DIE FROM THIS. I came home and twittered about it, researched the shit out of it and researched it some more just to be sure. I was terrified to take it. But after almost a month of "thinking about it" I decided the risks of diabetes was much more real, much more terrifying. So, I made the decision to start taking the medication.
It was the best and also the worst thing I've ever done.
Best thing in the sense that since I began taking it, I've lost weight. I was 226 pounds the day that I was prescribed the medication. 8 weeks after taking it I am 210 pounds.
TWO
HUNDRED
TEN.
That's like a miracle for me. I hadn't been able to go under 230 for months. And now, here I am, only 11 pounds away from being under 200. That's not a coincidence. It's the proper diagnosis/medication.
I will say this. The "stomach issues" that it has caused me are HORRIBLE AWFUL THE WORST. They have improved slightly, but leaving the house for extended periods of time still has the potential to be an "explosive" situation. If you know what I'm saying. And I think that you do.
I still have a long road ahead of me. This drug is not a Miracle Drug. It still requires that I make good choices with food. I still have to work out every single day. (and baaad me. I hadn't worked out since BlogHer until this week. But, luckily, I still lost weight.) My muscles are now more sensitive to insulin. When I work out now, it counts for something. My body is working as it should. And it feels wonderful.
I've decided to share some photos I've taken of my tummy area, as that is where I seem to be losing weight the fastest. (6 inches gone.)
Jan 2008
June- 2009 (just before starting Metformin.)
This Morning:
(not a penis. Combination of pants being baggy/zipper being open. I wish I could say it was a penis. That would be awesome.)
Eeee! Y, I am SO excited for you – what a tremendous achievement. I am so proud of you for sticking with the pain in the arse workouts (Lord knows I need to get back on that horse) and you look fabulous, dahling. :)