i finally went to see the surgeon for this diverticulitis. first off, my bp high, 148 over 124.
after talks he decided that surgery for diverticulitis is not good right now. i am 100 pounds overweight, no exercise, mentally a wreck, and have palpitations. one doctor awhile back said enlarged heart.
he said i need to get these things under control before i have major surgery.
so i went back to gp. bp was up so he changed my meds to include a small water pill. gave me the number of a cardiologist and said i need a stress test and ecko something. also said if i don't loose the weight we may be looking at a prescription med to help. and get back on exercise.
well the exercise is hard cause my knees are bad.
the home situation doesn't help either. no support.
and right now i am physically exhausted. the alaska trip just crashed me. overall body pain, just soooo tired.
so for now, the surgery is off until i get these other things taken care of. heart problem is bothering me.
could this all be lyme? i'm doing cowden now. so far, umm, don't know if it's helping or not but it's only been a week or so.
Posted by GretaM (Member # 40917) on :
Randibear-I'm so sorry you're going through this right now. Diverticulitis sounds very painful and unpleasant.
As to losing the weight, that is something I can relate to. It is hard to exercise when our joints are inflamed. And cardio is not good for lyme, especially with lyme patients with heart problems.
Personally, I always scoff internally when docs say someone needs to lose weight. Like overweight people have not been telling themselves this over and over again. Like the docs are giving us a big revelation. Haha. I always want to say, "What?! I'm fat!? You're kidding? This isn't my butt! How did this get here?!"
I am sorry you are going through this, and I am also sorry I can't offer any advice, as I am an overweight lyme infected person also.
All I can offer is a cyber hug and lots of good wishes that you will feel better soon, and the diver. will go into remission so your body can catch a break.
Best wishes to you
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
Any chance you can totally change your lifestyle to get off the carbs, gluten, dairy, etc? Eat clean organic foods?
The chemicals in the foods and the GMO's can add weight because they screw up our metabolism.
I'm glad he's saying no to surgery! Smart man!
You have to get your heart in a safe place. It won't be until you lose some weight.
Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
im 100 lbs overweight too and still keep passing my stress echo tests...good luck.
i want to exercise too...but cant figure out what to do-nothing weight bearing and hands/arms are having issues so rowing seems out
the weight reducing drugs scare me...read the stuff about how it changes your bms...that would be scarey with diverticulitis...my recent experience is docs know about one thing...a knee or a heart or a colon...but they cant get it that everyting is connected
good luck...
Posted by Carol in PA (Member # 5338) on :
"well the exercise is hard cause my knees are bad."
Consider using the SOTA Magnetic Pulser on your knees. You can use it on the abdomen too.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
The key to weight loss is not exercise, it is what we eat.
But we NEED exercise too.
Posted by randibear (Member # 11290) on :
I can walk around the lake fine but I tried the treadmill and it tore my knees up something fierce. I'll have to find something else maybe elliptical.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
food
Posted by Ellen101 (Member # 35432) on :
I have to agree with lymetoo . Cutting out sugar and gluten as well as processed foods can make a huge difference in your weight.
Posted by lymednva (Member # 9098) on :
Try a recumbent bike. It won't hurt your knees. I can't use an elliptical, but use what they call a seated elliptical. It's like a recumbent bike with the arm movement.
Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
good idea lymednva i wish i could afford one of those
a tricycle recumbant for outside is on my wish list. i used to dream about me and kris on the beach road...now its me and etta.
Posted by Anthropologista (Member # 35483) on :
If you can, try an overnight fast for anything between 9 and 12 hours. Our bodies burn fat when we haven't eaten for 9 hours.
My friend, in her early 70s, was told by her doctor to lose weight by not eating after 6. It was really effective!
I have weight issues too, and TRY to do this. I don't always succeed. But when I do, it works.
The secret, for me, is to be satiated with low-carb, high-fiber, good tasting foods before I stop eating in the evening.
Sending good wishes for your surgery and your support situation.
Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
anthro.. I even heard 7:30 pm as a good time. She could start there and try to do 6 pm once she gets used to that.
You're right about having good foods in your belly first! Be especially sure to eat good fats like avocado and don't eat carbs early in the morning.
It just sets you up for craving them all day.
Posted by sixgoofykids (Member # 11141) on :
Maybe try pilates, with proper instruction (there are plenty of poorly trained instructors out there) it can be an intense or easy workout depending on your needs and be helpful to the joints. I don't know that I'd do yoga unless you had someone really knowledgeable about the joints because you want to strengthen the joints more than stretching them. And I say properly trained because you want someone who's really teaching pilates and who knows how to cater it to your needs.
You could also do a tape of a pilates mat workout. Here's a good, short mat workout online. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az516yA3-1w Mat is a pretty safe workout that you can do on your own.
Don't think of exercise as walking/running/elliptical only. There are plenty of exercises that will get your heart rate up.
Weight is 80% diet, only maybe 20% exercise. So I'm with Tutu, change the diet. But movement is very important, don't let the 20% number fool you. You have to move to get the blood flowing, lymph flowing, oxygenate the blood, and get the toxins out.
Posted by faithful777 (Member # 22872) on :
If you can start gentle stretching that would help. Pilates is awesome!!!
Posted by Anthropologista (Member # 35483) on :
Lymetoo and Randibear--I don't think it even matters when you start fasting in the evening, as long as you keep it up for the next 9-12 hrs. My ability to do this improved with time, so be kind to yourself and maybe start with 9 hrs!
Posted by lpkayak (Member # 5230) on :
Re. Is this lyme
At last colonoscopy they found minor divertic and ihad many samples sent for bb testng-all neg-but after reading alans recent stuff I don't think a neg is. A neg unless someone like him does it
Posted by Pinelady (Member # 18524) on :
I agree with Ipkayak. Divertic disease is caused by infections. I would treat with some oils to see if it helps it along with treating however your lyme doc thinks. You might consider getting the new culture if undecided which could save you surgery and your life.
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