WLS Reality Check - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

GloryRN · 02-27-2010, 07:21 AM

I chose WLS mostly because of my lab work, 3 years ago, I was told that I have type II diabetes, then 2 years ago, high cholesterol. So my doctor explained that diabetes makes the cholesterol twice as deadly and if not controlled, then I would be experiencing a heart attack or stroke in 10 years. I tend to agree with her, since I am supposed to be an RN in my real life. Sooooooooo, I took the meds, got lab work, slight change, nothing dramatic but some help with the cholesterol, the blood sugar on the other hand is easily managed and my A1C is almost normal (6.2)

So, yesterday, I went to see my PCP, I went skipping in there, all happy like I had just won an Olympic GOLD, excited about baggy clothes - and she gave me the "news" that the cholesterol is now 244 (up from 203) and I need to switch to Lipitor. Despite the 40+ pound weight loss since last summer, it had no effect on the cholesterol.

I am almost heart broken (no pun intended) that I put myself through all of this for a stupid lab value and it was for not. The bad news is, i am prone to high cholesterol and the good news is, I will look good in Jeans again.

My best plans were just derailed and I am off to pick up the $$$$$ Lipitor$$$ and devote my life to CHERRIOS.

Just sharing, yes weight loss is good, exercise is good, smiling is good, but you can't change your grandparents. oh well, Reality Check time.

Laureate · 02-27-2010, 07:28 AM

Darn! But at least the A1C is dropping, and that's a wonderful thing.

Psimer · 02-27-2010, 08:48 AM

I am on Lipitor and I am hoping that the surgery and weight loss takes care of it. My younger sister recently lost about 40 lbs and she is off of al cholesterol meds. My A1C 5.2. I am really hoping I come out of the hospital no longer diabetic.

mistymee · 02-27-2010, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Psimer

I am on Lipitor and I am hoping that the surgery and weight loss takes care of it. My younger sister recently lost about 40 lbs and she is off of al cholesterol meds. My A1C 5.2. I am really hoping I come out of the hospital no longer diabetic.

Sometimes, it will just take a bit of time before you get off the meds. My diabetes became significantly worse the day of surgery and I ended up being on slow & fast acting insulin during the 5 days in the hospital and then I move to slow acting insulin and oral meds.. it took several months before things stablized and I was off ALL medication- diabetes, blood pressure and cholesterol meds. Only medication I take now, outside of vitamins and supplements is my allergy medication.

My point? Give it time and don't stress if things get a little bit worse before they get better.

GloryRN · 02-27-2010, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mistymee

Sometimes, it will just take a bit of time before you get off the meds. My diabetes became significantly worse the day of surgery and I ended up being on slow & fast acting insulin during the 5 days in the hospital and then I move to slow acting insulin and oral meds.. it took several months before things stablized and I was off ALL medication- diabetes, blood pressure and cholesterol meds. Only medication I take now, outside of vitamins and supplements is my allergy medication.

My point? Give it time and don't stress if things get a little bit worse before they get better.

I appreciate your post so much, My blood sugar was sky high during surgery and they gave me insulin ( i thought i was going to die when I heard ), but then within a week, my fasting blood surgar was 109.

I was on another cholesterol med and didn't really take it as consistantly as I should have, but never missed the metformin. I was upset yesterday, to the point of tears, but today, i got back to the gym and figured I needed to just keep doing the right thing. It's only been a little while, and my doctor kept telling me this is a 2 year process. I like the word STABILZED! I am going to strive to STABILZE!!! Thanks so much, karen

mistymee · 02-27-2010, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GloryRN

I appreciate your post so much, My blood sugar was sky high during surgery and they gave me insulin ( i thought i was going to die when I heard ), but then within a week, my fasting blood surgar was 109.

I was on another cholesterol med and didn't really take it as consistantly as I should have, but never missed the metformin. I was upset yesterday, to the point of tears, but today, i got back to the gym and figured I needed to just keep doing the right thing. It's only been a little while, and my doctor kept telling me this is a 2 month process. I like the word STABILZED! I am going to strive to STABILZE!!! Thanks so much, karen

I remember bursting into tears when they came and told me my blood sugar went up to 400 when all I'd read said that there was immediate remission of diabetes after this surgery. I couldn't help think that I was the exception that would prove the rule and I'd be on insulin forever.

Yes, it is a process... I think mine was closer to 3 months than 2 months but even if it takes 4 or 5... just know that all the things you're doing now will eventually pay off. And if your genetics are such that you always need cholesterol meds, so be it.. overall you'll still be healthier than you were before you started losing weight, eating right and exercising. Some people do have that genetic marker that will keep their cholesterol high regardless. It doesn't mean you have failed or anything, it's just part of who you are and what makes you, you..

Jodi · 02-27-2010, 01:19 PM

Hi Karen, how are you feeling? Do you have any regrets? I have my pre op appointment on March 11th, with my surgery date of March 24th so, it is really feeling REAL!!!! I just want the surgery behind me, I hate the anticipation!

cinwa · 02-27-2010, 03:45 PM

Karen - did they tell you what your HDL (good cholesterol) was?

The day I had surgery, my LDL was 240H and they were talking about Lipitor. At the 6 month mark, it dropped down to 157 but is now back up to 203 (which is just high) - thank you cheese!

But to offset that, my good stuff (HDL) has risen from 48 to 78.

GloryRN · 02-27-2010, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corrine

Karen - did they tell you what your HDL (good cholesterol) was?

The day I had surgery, my LDL was 240H and they were talking about Lipitor. At the 6 month mark, it dropped down to 157 but is now back up to 203 (which is just high) - thank you cheese!

But to offset that, my good stuff (HDL) has risen from 48 to 78.

She did tell me, but I wasn't listening after I heard the "244" number, which is up from 203. I found my new resolve and have more determination than ever and see what the new set of labs show in 3 months. I miss typed my earlier post, the doctor told me that think of this as 2 YEAR process, I wish I could do it in 2 months. : )

I have to tell you that this forum helps me so much, where else could I discuss lab values and have friends who really understand.

As a side note, I took the dog to play at doggy daycare today and when I picked him up, the lady said "karen, Jackson is way too heavy". She of course is right, so it's diet city for both of us. If he's heavy, it's because I am feeding too much. Time to cut it out.

Wow, what a weekend. k

GloryRN · 02-27-2010, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jodi

Hi Karen, how are you feeling? Do you have any regrets? I have my pre op appointment on March 11th, with my surgery date of March 24th so, it is really feeling REAL!!!! I just want the surgery behind me, I hate the anticipation!

Regrets? absolutely not, I am so happy Jodi, happier than I can remember. I am smiling more and everyday there is hope that something good is about to happen. I can't express how it feels to go shopping and figure out that a size LARGE is really a LARGE and maybe I need to get a Medium. Or maybe just make do and get a size SMALL in a little while. It's strange, I hold up my clothes and they look so BIG. There is a sense of peace and I know that I know that this is working and there's no need to keep old clothes (just in case I go back up). Now, I have given clothes away before, but this feeling is different, I have confidence and I believe that I have found the answer. I am open to new things, like cooking with PAM, sugar free popsicles, low fat yogurt, did I mention SPLENDIA?? My God where has it been all my life. So Jodi, it really was a good decision and I am pleased, if the cholesteral and blood sugar get under control, those are bonus compared to the sense of well being that I am experiencing. I honestly thought it would be the other way around. K