VDM - staying positive

[cat03]

yea, that's my problem too, wish they'd at least bolded or put in a different color!

[NikB]

Speaking of which...finally found you!

Great points about bitterness Ellie, those are good reminders. I know someone who has the bumper sticker version of what you saw on the license plate and it's really sad! He considers himself "damaged goods" and won't even consider another long term relationship, and it's been 5 years since the D.

[Survival_Goddess]

I am trying something:

Under "My Stuff" there is something called "My Watch Lists" and you can choose what you want to "watch"...User or forum or topic. I have e-mail notifications turned on, so I should get an email when one of my friends posts.

[Livnlearn]

I agree that the new design isn't as user friendly. Maybe it's time to wean myself off of here? I am waiting to see if our divorce will go through smoothly, that would be a relief. More and more folk that I know here are not posting any more, bar a few old faithfuls like you, Ellie.

Another thing, these forums can be addictive and time consuming, and I end up with a numb butt and extra weight too. But this was a life saver in the early days, when thoughts about the recently left SO were obsessive and I was all in pieces emotionally. I have had great support and learnt so many life skills.

Livnlearn

[amd]

I think the watch lists act like the old list of bookmarked sites--when there is a new post, the file folder is yellow. When there are no new posts, it stays white. Still experimenting...

How is you crazy life going, Ellie? Have things settled somewhat?

[oldtimer]

Oh wise one,

Waaaaa!!!

I am having health issues. I've gained 15 pounds in two months while breastfeeding. I had lost to below my highest pre-pregnancy weight. But now I weigh more now than ever before in my life except during pregnancy.

I have not been eating great, but I have also not been eating uncontrollably either. I'd say my eating would explain a slowing of pregnancy weight loss, but not a gain at all.

Also, I've been sick for a month. I'm on my second round of antibiotics for a sinus infection. I got a UTI I didn't even know about.

My blood sugars are out of control. I was borderline diabetic or glucose intolerant before pregnancy. HBA1C never above 6.1. I had very tight control throughout pregnancy (with both NPH and regular). Got lax after the birth. Discovered BGs were not cooperating. I've been using 25units of NPH morning and evening for a couple of months (does this explain the weight gain???), yet my HBA1C came back at 6.8. I wasn't surprised as even with NPH, my fasting BG has been around 120 and bedtime around 150. But, it was NEVER high like that before pregnancy.

Also, H noticed that my pupils are pulsating. I googled this and found stuff on "Adrenal fatigue." I'm not sure if this is a legitimate thing or something concocted to sell herbal remedies. I have been under incredible stress for about 18 months. In terms of life events, H and I are both over the top with stress. Marriage, pregnancy, birth, deaths in family, car accident, serious eye injury, neck surgery, work uncertainty, multiple moves, etc...

I have total brain fog, my brain sometimes feels like it is rolling around, lol, dry skin (though it is finally winter here...) I'm very tired and easily can sleep 12 hours.

Here are some labs I got over the phone:

ldl: 108 (doc said high for diabetes)
hdl: 63

tsh: 1.83
Free t3: 291 (this number makes no sense)
Free t4: 1.4

HBA1C: 6.8 (YOUCH!!!)

Anyway, my doctor didn't change anything, told me to finish breastfeeding and come back in three months. This is a primary care doc. I need to see an endo, but I'm not sure there is much they can do as I am breastfeeding.

I'm thinking of adding back some Humalog before meals. (Yuck)

I want to try Byetta, but I think my pediatrician won't approve while breastfeeding.

Oh, and I'm still on 100mg levoxyl.

Plus, we want to try for a second baby ASAP. I need to lose at least 30 pounds before this and get BGs under control. (Thus, the attraction of Byetta.) Any idea of how to do this while breastfeeding? How important do you think it is to breastfeed beyond 7 months? I had intended to continue until Newtimer is at least a year. Right now, she is breastfed + one jar food/day. But, I'm wondering about the trade-offs in terms of my health/fertility at this point simply because of the limits on my drug options.

The good news is, in spite of all this, we are doing great as a couple and a family. It is so good to have that strength and support while I'm messing with these health issues.

Thoughts on what to do about weight, BG, and freaky pupils while wanting to breastfeed yet get pregnant again ASAP? Remember, I'm your sister's age or a year older (43). (Hey, maybe she'll have another one too!)

Best,
Oldtimer

[amd]

OT, I'm no doctor, but one thing that's helped me with sinus issues is a neti pot. Basically it's a little teapot that you use to flush your sinuses with a warm saltwater solution. it sounds gross, but it brings me a lot of relief, and you don't have to worry about it affecting breastmilk.

[oldtimer]

amd,

Thanks, I've been usine saline spray, but maybe I'll check it out the neti pot. I have a cousin who swears by using a water pick and warm salt water up one's nose

Best,
Oldtimer

[kml]

Hey, girlfriend -

You've got a few issues that may be affecting your blood sugars. Infection makes them go up (and vice versa). Lack of sleep and decreased exercise ditto. Wild hormone fluctuations probably don't help either.

Weight gain, brain fog, dry skin, fatigue - could all be thyroid. Your numbers don't look bad, but fertility docs like to keep the TSH closer to 1. Make sure you're getting your thyroid dose on an empty stomach, and not missing any doses.

Adrenal fatigue is controversial. Typically, weight loss would be the symtpom, rather than weight gain. Mainstream docs tend not to believe in "adrenal fatigue", but I think that's rather silly. There has to be some middle ground between perfectly normal adrenal function and complete adrenal failure (Addison's). Autoimmune adrenal disease (Addison's) is rare but somewhat more frequent in people with other autoimmune diseases. You might ask your doctor to check your morning cortisol level - not a perfect test, but would let you know if things are really off. (Note - too HIGH cortisol, Cushing's, can cause weight gain). I'd be careful about self-treating - cortisol like drugs will increase your blood sugars - but vitamin C and pantothenic acid (a B vitamin) can help support the adrenals.

Ask them to check you for celiac antibodies and vitamin B12 levels while you're at it. Both problems are more common in Type 1 diabetics. They'll say you can't have celiac because you're overweight but that's a myth.

Breast feeding is very important. I would shoot for at least a year. Breast feeding is not making you gain weight, I don't believe.

Are you eating differently in some way because you're breastfeeding? For instance, adding in lots of dairy products which you never used to eat before? (If you're suddenly eating more of foods you have some intolerance for, you might be bloating). Eating more prepared foods or restaurant foods with MSG (used to make obese lab rats in experiments)? Better for you and the baby if you eat a healthy, balanced diet of UNPROCESSED foods. Meat, veggies, whole grains, fish.

Exercise? I know that seems ridiculous right now, but you know it has a profound effect on your blood sugar status. If it's too cold to walk with the baby, time to do exercise videos or watch Denise Austen on the cable.

Don't forget to keep taking your prenatal vitamins too.

Keep me posted.

Hugs.

Ellie

[oldtimer]

Hey Ellie,

I'll get back on the prenatals. I have them, but they've been sitting in the medicine cabinet. I signed up for Curves in December and was enjoying it before the holidays. I've been too sick to go, but hopefully by the end of this week...

About nine years ago, I had my Cortisol tested and it was wildly high. Doc thought I had Cushings, but then he retested it a few times and it came back normal. I've also had slightly elevated prolactin for a couple of years (no brain tumor though )

Something I saw on the web suggested that if adrenal fatigue is mixed with hypothyroidism, it can lead to weight gain, or at least not weight loss. Can you think of anything else that would cause the pulsating pupils?

I've been trying to do more whole foods. While that hasn't led to any weight loss over the last two weeks, it does seem to have stopped the crazy weight gain And, I can certainly do a better job with that.

I'll try to be a very good patient for a month and then get into see the endo that also does primary care that my high risk OB recommended. Oh, and I have to go see the regular OB too. Oh, and the eye doctor, and the dentist.... Time to get the health stuff in order if I want to make use of H's little swimmers BTW, did I ever mention that he had a vas reversal after 17 years? With my age and issues + the reversal, we were scared about fertility issues with Newtimer. But, I got pregnant on our honeymoon We'd only tried for two or three months before that, so I guess I was waiting for it to be legal, lol. I hope things go as smoothly this time. I think they will, but last time I was really on top of my health stuff at the time and I need to get back there.

Thanks!
Oldtimer