Wordless Wednesday

*Two weeks ago - Happy Birthday to my little 🖤

 

The Flu & Searching for a New Doctor

Last week, I was taken out by Flu B. My daughter had it the week before and was prescribed Tamiflu so it only lasted about 4 days. For me, the flu lasted 6 days, and then a sinus infection took over for the next 5 days. And while I can finally breathe without the assistance of a NeilMed Sinus Rinse and a warm humidifier, I still have congestion and drainage. It’s been fun. Out of this whole experience, I had two takeaways. 1) I need to start getting the flu shot because I’m too old to be out for 10+ days. 2) I need to find a new primary care physician (PCP) because I haven’t seen mine in the past 4 years and I’ve had plenty of appointments within that time frame.

My PCP has taken on way more patients than she can see. And because of that, the majority of us are repeatedly pushed off to the nurse practitioner (NP) - which is fine - only they change every few months. This time, I started experiencing symptoms on a Friday, and my appointment was scheduled for Monday. After my test came back positive for Flu B, which I expected, they said I would have to wait it out. Then when I called two days later, explaining my symptoms were worse, and also pointing towards a sinus infection I was told I would have to have those symptoms for an additional 10 days before they could look at other treatment options. They told me to stick with OTC congestion meds that were not working. And I tried them all. DayQuil/NyQuil. Theraflu. Allegra-D. Afrin. Mucinex. Ibuprofen. Elderberry. Nothing was touching my symptoms or my fevers for those first 6 days.

Then my congestion got so bad that I couldn’t breathe properly. I started having difficulty catching my breath, and we could all clearly hear the wheezing when I tried. At night, I woke up choking frequently, and I was only getting about 4 hours of sleep (2 hours at a time). I finally asked my boss about a device he used, as he was getting sinus infections almost monthly before he had surgery, and he recommended a NeilMed Sinus Rinse. And don’t you know, that thing worked like a charm? There was a lot of disgusting stuff that came out of my nose within the first 3 uses. And then continued for the following 3 days. But it brought me some much-needed relief. And by Saturday, I was at 75% with a few sinus headaches and occasional stuffyness. But I was still able to run the Cowtown 10k, which is what really matters because I had spent a good chunk of money on that race. And I was able to attend the AMA Supercross event with my family. By Sunday night, I was finally able to get 7 hours of sleep. And it was glorious! 

Anyway, all of this is to say that this next fall/winter I'll be getting the flu shot. Your girl can't risk being taken out like that again. And I wish the NP or even my PCP would have given me Tamiflu or a steroid shot. Anything to get some relief and be able to rest. I originally chose my PCP because she didn’t just throw meds at her patients for every little thing. Which I still think is wonderful. However, when you have a patient who has already missed 4 days of work, isn’t getting very much sleep, runs high fevers for more than 6 days, has clear symptoms of a sinus infection, and is having issues breathing - give them a damn shot. Give them something. Telling them that they have to suffer for an additional 10 days and maybe then they can be given something is just ridiculous in my opinion. We’re technically in a “rural” area so options for doctors are pretty limited. But I really wish I could find one with a happy medium. One that doesn’t throw meds at every little thing, but understands that sometimes patients NEED something. For now, she'll still continue to be my PCP but I'll be on the lookout, and seeking recommendations for other doctors. 

In Pursuit of Wellness // February 2024

Last year, I briefly touched base on my health. At the time, things were looking a little not-so-great. The words “diabetes” and “cardiac event” listed in red on my lab paperwork were kind of scary. And so, I had to start working on reversing these issues before they became huge problems that I couldn’t fix anymore. With that, I started on a different kind of journey. One that didn’t focus on the scale, but rather on overall wellness, movement, and being selective about the food I consumed. Thanks to Dr. Hogan, and my wonderful husband’s cooking skills - the tough changes that I had to make became bearable. That said, I wasn’t exactly sure how this would turn out. Before, I used to have this obsession with losing weight and being thin. It was as if I gauged my worth based on what size clothing I fit into and what number was listed on the scale. And if I’m being honest, I still struggle with my relationship with food. The dietary restrictions I have been placed on have allowed me to see just how bad that relationship had gotten too.

After 8 weeks on my plan, Dr. Hogan* extended it another 8 weeks. Then, I got more blood work done in December. The results were positive! I was actually reversing the damage I had caused, and the weight was coming off. My numbers were moving in the right direction, but not quite where my doctor wanted them. So, she extended the plan by another 3 months. But then, Christmas happened. Followed by New Year's. Then I was gifted a large amount of chocolate (which I ate), and when our well pump broke in the middle of January we consumed a good amount of takeout during that time. And just as quickly as I had made the changes, I had slipped up. For the most part, I stuck by my dietary restrictions, I just indulged too much during those 6 weeks. While I did feel terrible, I opted to give myself some grace. I let Dr. Hogan know about the setback. And then my husband and I decided to start the plan over again. So, January 29 was our reset date. We got rid of a lot of things in our pantry that were tempting, and I started working on my workout/run schedule.

Now, I was super hesitant to post anything about weight on here. If you’ve followed along for a while you probably saw my “Weight Loss Weigh-in” series. Looking back, I feel bad about the place I was in, mentally, as I struggled with my self-esteem and weight. I would weigh myself every other day and feel like complete crap if the number didn’t change or if I gained. But I’m in a different headspace now. So, I don’t want to put that kind of “content” out there. I don’t want to slide back into those old habits either. However, I would like to document some of the positives that have come out of these new lifestyle changes. So, I’m going to write about my experience every once in a while. Maybe every other month. Just to track how I’m feeling, what movement I’ve been enjoying, and what snack/meal I can’t seem to get enough of at that time. Or maybe I’ll change my mind. We shall see.

For this post, I will list my starting weight (before any restrictions/my highest weight last summer), current weight (I weigh myself once a month for Dr. Hogan), and goal weight (this is the number Dr. Hogan recommended). I will also list my BMI numbers. Now, I’ve talked to Dr. Hogan about what I would like to see, and what is most important to me, which isn’t necessarily weight-related. So, that goal weight number may never be reached - which I would be perfectly okay with. My focus is on balanced hormones, and having a healthy body (inside and out) that allows me to be around for a long time - God willing. Going forward, any posts I make will only reference my current weight (CW) for that month. So, let’s get to it, shall we?

Starting Weight (SW): 211 lbs
Current Weight (CW): 183 lbs
Goal Weight (GW): 141 lbs
Starting/Current/Goal BMI: 35.6/32.4/25

Favorite Food: Cashews! Oh man, I can’t get enough of these. They have been my go-to snack for the past 6 months. I'm actually snacking on them right now. I get the H-E-B brand labeled “Roasted & Lightly Salted”. And I can go through a 32 oz bag in a week. Oddly, I haven’t gotten tired of them yet. Some days I actually crave them. I’ll grab a handful between meals, and sometimes when I need a snack in the afternoon because I don’t feel full - I grab another handful or two.

Movement: I started going back to the gym twice a week for anywhere between 30 - 45 minutes. Some days I would lift weights, and other days I just walked on the treadmill or hopped on the elliptical. Since I haven’t been as consistent with running as I would like, though I’m hoping I get back into a grove soon, my goal is to just move for a minimum of 30 minutes each day. That said, we’ve decided to make some cuts due to our budget, and well, the gym membership will be one of those I drop this month. So, I’ll be looking at doing at-home workouts starting in March. Wish me luck!

Quick Journal: While I can make it through my days, my energy levels are not where I would like them. Even when I get 7.5 hours of sleep I don’t feel rested. And I’m also struggling with a lack of focus. It’s affecting both my work and home life. I space out a lot. So, I plan to talk to Dr. Hogan about this the next time we check in. I’ve also noticed some changes in my emotions during my cycle, and while it’s not concerning - it’s different. We’ll see if this is just a shift, or if it’ll be permanent.

Overall, I feel like this is a good start. It wasn’t as hard to get back on track as I originally thought it would be. Having to decline eating out is probably the biggest struggle. Well, no, saying “no” to chocolate is the biggest struggle. And while I plan to stick with my restrictions, after these next 3 months we’ve (Corey and I) decided that I am allowed a “day pass” as a reward at the end of each month. I will get a day of eating whatever I want (in moderation of course). Whether that’s pan dulce, bread, pasta, chocolate, cheeseburgers, soda, sweet tea, pizza, or comfort foods - I can say yes for the day. This gives me something to work towards and look forward to having. I believe it will help me with discipline and self-control as well. For now, that’s the plan. I hope it continues to bring about a lot of positive changes.

*I’m not being compensated for anything written in this post regarding Dr. Olivia Hogan & her services. She's just doing a lot of good for women’s health & I am so proud. Super grateful too! She’s helped me understand a lot about what’s going on with my body. If you’re in Texas & interested in learning more about her services you can do so HERE on her website