Food, Doctors, Trainers, and COPD, I'm Insane
64
Lose How Much?
Okay, I know I could lose some weight. I have been trying to lose weight since 1990, when my first child was born. He made me gain a whole lot of weight and I kept it on and then added some more by baby number two. I don't consider myself fat, just a little fluffy around the middle and if you would remove my boobs I would be twenty pounds lighter.
At one point in my journey though life I managed to achieve the weight of 300 pounds, now I consider that just a little to heavy for my body. I managed to lose 100 pounds of that and have managed to maintain my weight right around that. Which I think I can applaud myself for not going back up to the 300.
I must wear a normal size pants, because I can never find my size on the racks. They are always sold out. Even when I go on line they usually don't have my size. That must mean that a whole lot of people are fat or that it is a normal size.
Anyway the point I am getting to is this, I went to the doctor twice this week. The first visit was for medication refills. This doctor I had to inform about my recent diagnosis of COPD and CHF. He looked at me and informed me that I was way overweight. He said that if I lost the weight I would be better. Then he said how much weight I needed to lose. Get this, he said 100 pounds, yes I said 100 pounds. I just shook my head up and down in agreement, I didn't want him to give me the wrong medicine. I was in shock.
My daughter in-law came over latter that evening and I told her about what the doctor had said. She said that I was not fat, and losing a 100 pounds would put me underweight. She said that I would look sick and diseased. I do believe she was on to something. I would be very thin and see through. She didn't agree with the doctor on that much weight lose for sure.
I then went to my second doctor of the week, I had never seen this doctor before. He was the doctor for my lungs. He ask a lot of questions and I answered a lot of questions. He decided I needed a sleep study done on the fact that I was very overweight. Again, I am fat. I need to lose weight. I know that I need to take off a little more then a little weight but gee, when you can't breath how do you get to the gym. He gives me four inhalers and said they would help me breathe so I could go back to the gym. How nice of him.
I'm not against losing weight, its how its put to me. Losing 100 pounds is just plain ridiculous. Doctors need to understand I have not been able to walk around the store to go shopping so how am I able to work out. I try to watch the diet, but depression has set in and when depressed I eat. If I was the person I was 4 months ago before I was sick I was at the gym working out hard with my trainer. I love to work with my trainer. I need air in my lungs to work with my trainer.
Doctors look at it from the medical side, they need to look at it from the human side also. I am not someone who just sits all day and does nothing. I try to clean, shop, and other tasks. I get too tired to do things I would have whizzed through four months ago. Try being on my side where I feel helpless and useless.
BMI Information
CommentsLoading...
Thank you for your comment, I am feeling stronger every day. Its just what you said they just don't listen. I have a very good primary care doctor its the specialist that are not so great.
I have just stumbled on you and was noticing that we have a lot of the same things in our lives. My husband has PTSD and I have COPD. My husbands is from Vietnam and since it was untreated for so many years while the VA denied it existed, his is not likely to get better. Keep him going and taking the medicine. The groups are wonderful as they can talk the problems out. Quit smoking and lose some weight. You don't say how tall you are but if you are taller than 5', you don't need to lose that much weight. Keep as active as you can and just walk, fast. It will help you build endurance. If you quit smoking, it just about totally halts the progression of COPD. That includes second hand smoke. You need to stay away from it. Keep in contact with me. You are totally welcome to and your getting through this halfway depends on your support team. Get one.
Becky Katz,
We are trying to get my husband into a group. He is in a lot of denial about his behaviors right now. I have stopped smoking since Oct 9. It is the exercise that is difficult for me due to I still can't get air. I am glad you stopped by and offered support, I need the support right now.
It is the hardest to get them to admit that there is something wrong in their heads. They do not understand that there is nothing wrong with them that getting it out and talking about it won't help. They have seen things that no person can see and remain sane. It is fighting to get out of their heads. Tell him to write me at my email if you would like. I will talk to him and explain it to him. The VA has some wonderful literature explaining it and the symptoms. Pick them up when you go in.
Becky Katz
I have studied PTSD in college and worked with many a family that is going through what we are. It is an awful mental illness that I don't wish on anyone. I know that we can get through this but the getting through is the hardest part.
Just a suggestion, but for about $300 you can buy a 'vibrational exercise machine' (just Google it) and since I bought one, exercise and weight loss becomes easier.
http://hobby.vocaboly.com/241/vibration-exercise-e
The things were invented by the Russians for their cosmonauts as exercise is difficult in zero gravity, they vibrate the muscles and in a medium period of time promise to get you fitter.
Certainly when I use it regularly (and yes they can become an expensive clothes horse if you do not) I feel better and have dropped about 20 lbs in about three months. I would have lost more if I used it every day.
You also feel invigorated after the 10 minute session, just by standing on the vibrational plate.
There is also research that shows that using a small trampoline works well for easing COPD and improving lung function, and I know that works as I had a friend who had full blown emphysema and it worked for her, whilst she did it daily.
Another good thing is using H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide, food grade) at a low dilution (5% in distilled water) with an ultrasonic humidifier for a few minutes each day, this will clear your lungs BUT do not use it if you have any chronic heart condition and smoke, as you could do damage.
Find a naturopathic doctor to talk with, (i.e. don't just take my word for it) they know things that white coat doctors refuse to even look at, because most white coat medicine is chemical and ergo, beholden to BigPharma, and BigPharma = expensive chemical drugs, which means traditional alternative treatments are actively discouraged. (too cheap to use, you cannot patent a natural occurring substance)
My natropathic doctor is also a fully qualified white coat doctor (MD) who decided one day to stop treating folks symptoms, and start looking to cure them.
He now works quietly behind the scenes and makes no claims about his work, but I have seen his success stories and our family have benefited from his work with us.
Hope that helps, but once again, self medication can be dangerous, we have been at it for over 12 years, and we have learned to test and check with our naturopath before we take action.
But there are alternatives and they are often cheaper and better.
Get you some sugar free menthol drops to make you breathe, those prescription medicines only make you nervous and breathe worse. The drops open you up and let you have plenty of air and you probably can cut down cigarettes that way if you do smoke. On the diet just start with eating better things, better choices, see what that does, like more salad less bread.
justateacher Level 7 Commenter 5 months ago
I hate it that doctors just don't seem to care about people anymore. My mother had the same doctor for the last fifteen years of her life. I feel that if he had listened to her and her complaints, she may still be alive today. Instead, he told her that her pains were "all in her head!"
If I had the money, I would probably sue him for malpractice!
I hope you are feeling better soon...