Health Update
Posted: Fri Aug 13, 2010 5:44 am
Well, I figured I'd better update everyone on my health status considering how many of you voiced concerns, which were greatly appreciated...
I managed to in to see a doctor who would actually take cash payments... Odd how few will do that these days... Was sent for blood work, which ain't cheap, and found that my thyroid is doing fine, but discovered that I am diabetic... So now I'm on two medications, Glipizide and Metformin (Glucophage), which I can get at Wal-Mart for about $4.00 per prescription... The blood sugar levels are coming down, slowly, and I'm feeling a lot better... I've even started putting some of the lost 40 pounds back on, but not as quickly as I'd like... I never had any extra weight to spare... My diet has never been what I would consider bad, at least not until I had to eat everything in sight in an effort to not wither away to nothing, which pretty much happened anyway... I was eating for three and going broke trying to keep food in the house... No more of that... I can eat normal portions and not have to eat snacks between meals or take food and drink to customer sites just to make it through a job...
The one side effect of the Glipizide is swollen lenses in my eyes, which is supposedly temporary... With the lenses swollen my eyesight is actually better than it has been for many years... The problem with that is that my glasses no longer correct my vision properly so everything looks blurred... And because this is supposedly temporary, usually only lasting 1 - 3 months, I'm not about to run out and pay $500 that I don't have for a new pair of glasses... And they don't make a pair of cheater reading glasses that are strong enough to suit my needs either... So, most of the time I am in front of a computer, which is day and night, I sit without glasses and have my nose just inches from the display screen... When watching television I can compensate with my progressive glasses lenses...
I have to go for more blood work and then go back to the doctor later this month for a follow up... As long as I can eliminate the need for insulin injections I'll be happy...
I'd like to thank everyone, again, for your concerns and kind words... I know I have been corresponding with several members via PM's but wanted to update the general membership with my progress...
I managed to in to see a doctor who would actually take cash payments... Odd how few will do that these days... Was sent for blood work, which ain't cheap, and found that my thyroid is doing fine, but discovered that I am diabetic... So now I'm on two medications, Glipizide and Metformin (Glucophage), which I can get at Wal-Mart for about $4.00 per prescription... The blood sugar levels are coming down, slowly, and I'm feeling a lot better... I've even started putting some of the lost 40 pounds back on, but not as quickly as I'd like... I never had any extra weight to spare... My diet has never been what I would consider bad, at least not until I had to eat everything in sight in an effort to not wither away to nothing, which pretty much happened anyway... I was eating for three and going broke trying to keep food in the house... No more of that... I can eat normal portions and not have to eat snacks between meals or take food and drink to customer sites just to make it through a job...
The one side effect of the Glipizide is swollen lenses in my eyes, which is supposedly temporary... With the lenses swollen my eyesight is actually better than it has been for many years... The problem with that is that my glasses no longer correct my vision properly so everything looks blurred... And because this is supposedly temporary, usually only lasting 1 - 3 months, I'm not about to run out and pay $500 that I don't have for a new pair of glasses... And they don't make a pair of cheater reading glasses that are strong enough to suit my needs either... So, most of the time I am in front of a computer, which is day and night, I sit without glasses and have my nose just inches from the display screen... When watching television I can compensate with my progressive glasses lenses...
I have to go for more blood work and then go back to the doctor later this month for a follow up... As long as I can eliminate the need for insulin injections I'll be happy...
I'd like to thank everyone, again, for your concerns and kind words... I know I have been corresponding with several members via PM's but wanted to update the general membership with my progress...