Orthopedist

Since I've been complaining to my new doctor here in Des Moines about my back so much, he sent me to an orthopedist.  I thought I'd be getting an MRI to check on my bulging discs, and I thought I'd be getting some more help with pain, at least until up to my surgery.  I thought he'd offer me different pain medication or an epidural or steroids or something.
Instead, it was the most useless fucking appointment ever.  I'm pretty pissed off about it.  I've been to a lot of doctors and most of them have been shitty, so I don't know why I thought this would be any different.
I gave an extremely detailed account of my back trouble to the nurse and watched her type it all up as I talked, so I know that fucker had all of the information.
I had two x-rays taken.  One from the front and one from the side.
The doctor came in, wearing a big gold chain around his neck and sat down.  I instantly knew he was a piece of shit.  He asked what I was taking so I told him I was on Diclophenac, Flexeril, Lortab, and a glucosamine supplement.  I also told him I was having gastric bypass on March 4th.
He got up once and tested my reflexes then sat back down.

This next part is why I REALLY need to take someone with me to my doctor's appointments.  For as mouthy and opinionated as I am, I freeze up in the doctor's office and never plead my case like I should.

He said the x-rays show clear disc deterioration, but there was no reason to take an MRI.

*I thought, but didn't say, my x-rays in 2006 showed the same thing, but the bulging only showed up on an MRI, so why shouldn't he do another one?*

He said he doesn't recommend surgery.  Fine.  I don't want back surgery.  Some of my uncles have had their vertebrae fused and they're miserable.

He said taking Lortab was a big mistake and had no therapeutic value and would only make me constipated.  He then said he has severely degenerated discs and he doesn't use pain medication.  He just deals with it and so should I.

*I thought, how the hell am I supposed to function?  I've missed at LEAST a week's worth of work and several days of classes because I can't even get out of bed the pain is so bad.  And I have diarrhea all the time, jackass.  But again, I didn't say anything.*

He said I need intensive physical therapy because my muscles are weak.

*I DID say I had done physical therapy before, but they told me they couldn't help me after 3 appointments because it hurt too much for them to touch me.*

I'm fine doing physical therapy again.  It struck me as odd that the last office I went to sent me away. I've been in physical therapy several times before, and it's never comfortable.  They always stretch the crap out of me because my muscles are so tight, but the last office that said they couldn't help never had me do stretches.

So I'm out of pain killers again, and now have to call my regular doctor to see if I can get a refill for a month and ask him to stop referring me to dick holes.

I have a sneaking suspicion this guy didn't take me seriously because of how fat I am.  He never mentioned my weight, but my snap judgements have a good track record.

I would like to add one more thing.  I haven't had a doctor's appointment this ridiculous since I was trying to find help with my uterus.  It took 14 years for someone to take me seriously.  I was laughed at, told I was exaggerating, told there was nothing wrong, and TOLD TO JUST GET PREGNANT.

*I did say something to the pregnancy guy, but my mom was with me so I was more confident.  I told him to jump on and do it himself because I was not in the market of OTC sperm and a shitty baby I didn't want.*

Anyway, that's that.  I'll call the physical therapist and keep going to my chiropractor and keep hoping that losing weight is going to make this infinitely better.  (Even though I had severe issues before I got super obese).

I ALMOST FORGOT!
http://www.dsmcapitalortho.com/physicians/
William Boulden.  Fuck face extraordinaire.

Excitement Poop!

I'm getting so pumped for this procedure that I'm giving myself anxiety diarrhea.  I put away several fat clothes today and looked at the clothes in my closet that I was wearing before my hysterectomy.  I kept most of them because I knew I'd get back to normal someday.  I just didn't think it would take this long.
I'm trying to change my relationship with food.  If I want to eat a huge piece of cake or other junk, I remember how awful I feel when I've packed it all in, and then I don't want it.  It's like nothing really tastes good anymore.  I'm on this kick where I want to get in all the crap food I won't be able to eat anymore before my liquid diet, but it's hard to make those foods seem appealing right now.  Hopefully this is a good thing.
I'm so stoked about being able to work out again.  I'm going to have to start wicked slow, but I build muscle pretty quickly, (thanks Dad), so it's typically not that tedious.  I need to go to bed.  I have to get up early for an orthopedist appointment, but I'm excited.  March 4th can't get here soon enough!!!

I'm On The Books!

Valentines day at 10 am I go in for an upper GI scope and a biopsy to check for infection. I'll be drugged but not knocked out, so Mom is going to take me to the appointment since I won't be allowed to drive. 

Feb 19th I have a 2 hour diet/exercise class at 8:15 am. After the class is over, I'm officially on a liquid diet until the day of surgery to shrink my liver. 

Feb 21st is my second diet/exercise class at 8:15 am.

After Feb 25 I have to have a pre-op physical with my primary care physician. 

March 4th is the surgery. I don't know the time yet. Mom will be taking that day off of work to take me in.

You've Come A Long Way, Baby

I haven't updated this in months, and I'm only here now for one reason,

I HAVE BEEN APPROVED FOR GASTRIC BYPASS!!!!

Problems, Problems, Problems

So I finally got some pain killers for my back, which has GREATLY improved my ability to function at work.  Now my feet are an issue.  I've got large blisters on my little toes, my arches, and my heels, and now the second toes on both of my feet have developed these weird numb spots.  They aren't callused, they're just numb.  I actually just stuck a needle into one of them because I thought maybe there was a really deep blister, like on my arches, but the needle just kept going in and I didn't feel anything and no liquid came out.  I'm not sure how to fix this.  I ordered some diabetic shoes that have a stretchy toe box, so hopefully those will help.  I also bought some moleskin and blister protector things.  I guess we'll see.

Here's a picture of one of my blisters!  It's huge!

Long Time No See

I haven't updated forever, which sucks because quite a bit has been going on.  I'll try to keep this short.

I'm going through gastric bypass approval stuff for my new insurance company.  I just had an EKG, which was normal, but now I need a chest x-ray, drug test, thyroid test, and another meeting with a surgeon and a month supervised dieting with a nutritionist.  Can I get this done by winter break?  I'm not holding my breath.

I got a new job at Younkers working the Lancome counter.  My first day was Wednesday.  It was actually kind of fun, but my back was KILLING me.  Toward the end of my shift I had to sit down, so I went over to one of the makeover chairs.  As soon as I sat my right hip and lower back went into spasm.  I thought I was going to collapse, but I just clenched the shit out of my teeth.  There was a customer I should have helped, but I couldn't move and couldn't talk, so I pretended I didn't see her.

I went to my family doctor and talked to her about my back again.  I'm already on an anti-inflammatory/analgesic, but it's not cutting the mustard.  I asked for something for the pain, but she just told me to stretch and gave me a referral for physical therapy.  I'm going to take advantage of the physical therapy, but I had to go to another doctor to get pain killers.  I'm not sure why she won't give any to me, but I can't function like this.  Thank goodness I got something from the other doctor. I go back in a month, and if I'm still having issues he'll refer me to a back surgeon to get an MRI and possibly an epidural.  I've already had to miss school activities because of the pain.  I don't want to miss work, especially when I just started.

My back has done this since I was in middle school.  I was dragged by a horse when I was 6, and since then I've been fucked up.  This has kind of been a pattern.  My back does alright, then something aggravates it.  I get pain killers, anti-inflammatories, and do physical therapy, then it gets better.  I already know 3 of my discs are degenerating and bulging.  I go to the chiropractor once a week, but since I'm SO GODDAMN FAT, I'm fighting a losing battle.  This isn't going to get better until I lose weight.

My hot flashes have been HORRIBLE lately.  When I was sitting in the doctor's office, I swear it was 80 degrees.  I had to wait for quite awhile and by the time my appointment was over, I had sweated through my jeans and through the paper on the table.  How embarrassing.

Short Update

Indiegogo is winding down.  Final contribution date is Oct. 1st.  Please, even if it's just 5 bucks, help me.
I'd LOVE to get to 10 grand, but I'd be thrilled with 8 grand.  I'm obviously not going to reach my original goal.  I probably should have set it lower.

THANKS TO EVERYONE THAT DONATED!!!  Your support has meant the world to me.

On a completely separate note, I dyed my hair dark.