Hey everybody. I'm Pam, and I started this blog to kind of chronicle my journey to a healthier weight for me. I will be starting Weight Watchers in about a week. I have been on WW before with great success. Before I lost close to 60 pounds. That was BEFORE though.. before my body went completely crazy..
Let me tell you a bit about myself so you know what I am up against. I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome when I was about 13 years old. Because of the PCOS I have insulin resistance which is now veering into Type 2 diabetes. In 2001, I was hit by a drunk driver. Soon after I was diagnosed with Degenerative Joint and Disc Disease. That's when all the pain started. I started having migraines and severe back, neck, and shoulder pain. In 2011, I was also diagnosed with Fibromyalgia so there came more pain and exhaustion. In 2013, my immune system spiraled out of control. I have had something called hidradenitis supperativa since I was a teen but with the spiral of my immune system came the worsening of the HS. By 2015, I was to the point where I could barely move my arms. I was placed on Humira.
Humira lowers the immune system. Because of that I am even MORE exhausted than I was with just the fibromyalgia. It also makes me susceptible to anything contagious that is floating around in the air. The Humira has gotten the HS under control (mostly) but with it came a host of side effects to the point where I was sent to a Rheumatologist to be tested for drug-induced Lupus. I tested negative for Lupus but the doctor found that the Humira basically gave my fibromyalgia PMS. Now the fibro was about 10 times worse than it was before. Along with all this came the weight gain. Not only does the Humira cause weight gain but I eat out a lot (or don't eat at all) because cooking after work is just so... tiring. Since June 2015, I have gained about 20 pounds.
This weight gain has done terrible things to my pain factor. My pain factor has done terrible things to my life in general. I no longer do a lot of the things I used to enjoy. Do you see my problems here? How in the ever-loving heck am I supposed to lose this fat when my body and my medications are working against me? Well guess what? I am TIRED of being a victim of my health issues. I am taking my life back one way or another, and I am starting with my weight. I am hoping that losing some weight and getting healthier will lessen some of my health issues. I hope some of the pain will lessen too. The less weight on my bones and joints, the less that will hurt, right?
So here's my biggest issues:
1. I crave sweets! CRAVE. Sometimes I feel like if I don't get something sweet I may die. Exaggeration? Maybe. But it feels that way at the time.
2. I am always exhausted. My activity level has gone WAY down. If it was not for the fact that I am naturally hyper and always moving in some little way then I would have already been up the proverbial creek.
3. My medications are working against me. The meds make me predisposed to gain weight.
4. I let my head get me down. I get depressed and in a funk. When I do this, I often fall back on old habits. BAD HABITS.
I am going to attempt to get past these hurdles. So here's where I start, and I hope you will stick with me. I could really use the support (and possibly someone to kick my butt into gear once in a while).
Let me tell you a bit about myself so you know what I am up against. I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome when I was about 13 years old. Because of the PCOS I have insulin resistance which is now veering into Type 2 diabetes. In 2001, I was hit by a drunk driver. Soon after I was diagnosed with Degenerative Joint and Disc Disease. That's when all the pain started. I started having migraines and severe back, neck, and shoulder pain. In 2011, I was also diagnosed with Fibromyalgia so there came more pain and exhaustion. In 2013, my immune system spiraled out of control. I have had something called hidradenitis supperativa since I was a teen but with the spiral of my immune system came the worsening of the HS. By 2015, I was to the point where I could barely move my arms. I was placed on Humira.
Humira lowers the immune system. Because of that I am even MORE exhausted than I was with just the fibromyalgia. It also makes me susceptible to anything contagious that is floating around in the air. The Humira has gotten the HS under control (mostly) but with it came a host of side effects to the point where I was sent to a Rheumatologist to be tested for drug-induced Lupus. I tested negative for Lupus but the doctor found that the Humira basically gave my fibromyalgia PMS. Now the fibro was about 10 times worse than it was before. Along with all this came the weight gain. Not only does the Humira cause weight gain but I eat out a lot (or don't eat at all) because cooking after work is just so... tiring. Since June 2015, I have gained about 20 pounds.
This weight gain has done terrible things to my pain factor. My pain factor has done terrible things to my life in general. I no longer do a lot of the things I used to enjoy. Do you see my problems here? How in the ever-loving heck am I supposed to lose this fat when my body and my medications are working against me? Well guess what? I am TIRED of being a victim of my health issues. I am taking my life back one way or another, and I am starting with my weight. I am hoping that losing some weight and getting healthier will lessen some of my health issues. I hope some of the pain will lessen too. The less weight on my bones and joints, the less that will hurt, right?
So here's my biggest issues:
1. I crave sweets! CRAVE. Sometimes I feel like if I don't get something sweet I may die. Exaggeration? Maybe. But it feels that way at the time.
2. I am always exhausted. My activity level has gone WAY down. If it was not for the fact that I am naturally hyper and always moving in some little way then I would have already been up the proverbial creek.
3. My medications are working against me. The meds make me predisposed to gain weight.
4. I let my head get me down. I get depressed and in a funk. When I do this, I often fall back on old habits. BAD HABITS.
I am going to attempt to get past these hurdles. So here's where I start, and I hope you will stick with me. I could really use the support (and possibly someone to kick my butt into gear once in a while).
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