Steroids Strike Again

Believe me, I have much better things to do with my life then complain about my weight and kvetch about doctors…I mean I run a company and could barely stay awake long enough this week to sign everyone’s paychecks! What a train wreck! I have 2 days of to-do’s completely un-done. I’m crushed. How can I keep my career going at this rate?

This week my pain management doc had a “private” meeting with me (he sent Jax out of the room which is very unusual..never been done). He told me how he is worried that I’ve been gaining so much weight. In fact, I haven’t gained any weight since January, but I’m not sure if he understood that. It was very painful mentally. Facing the facts that I am fat is impossible! I’ve never been this blubbery my whole life and I am not dealing with it well. The last thing I want to do is give a report about my non-decreasing weight and my inability to get anything done… I know Jax doesn’t want to hear about it.. but there is news from the front lines of my doctor’s offices. I finally couldn’t deal with the extreme exhaustion anymore and i mentioned it to my RA doc… I am still not a fan of his (he’s new as of January) and I’ve not yet been able to win him over. I told him about my inability to get ANYTHING done except for 1 day this week… and he said it could be my weight… That’s when you just say HUH?!?!?! Jax calmed me down from freaking out that my doctor told me I’ve become fat.

I was 132lbs from 18 years old-35 years old. It’s only been the past 5 months since my 35th birthday that I was put on steroids and then gained weight… I wish I had gotten on Weight Watchers the second I starting taking steroids! Now I’m 174lbs and can’t lose weight for the life of me. I eat almost nothing. The food I’m eating is all weight watchers approved. I should technically be losing weight according to the Weight Watcher’s calculator. Also, I started working out again, yet I can’t stop gaining weight. I’ve actually been working out each body part with a DVD rental new per week from Netflix. I actually think it is a great motivation to workout! I’ve been guzzling water and doing the right things but still I gain (or at least never lose) weight. There was a moment when I rejoiced for losing 1.5lbs… but that is not enough to even be real.

About the same time I started taking steroids I’ve had the following symptoms: extreme exhaustion (part of

RA symptom), some hair falling out, weight gain, and freezing cold hands/feet even when i am boiling up. I asked the doc if it could be anything else besides RA but no one would listen. Finally, on Friday I called the doc after my bloodwork came in and turns out that I have hypothyroid. (Link to webmd site on hypothyroid). I have every symptom but again it’s masked as RA. The RA doc said {CLICK HERE TO READ ON ABOUT THE SOLUTION, PREDNISONE, and CP}…HERE –>

Getting Outta Meetings -Tip#1

I’ve decided to begin a tip list. It’s just a little addition area to my blog that will list some helpful tips on dealing with health crisis. For example, how to deal with billing offices and tips i have found along the way. Today’s item is called:

Getting Outta Meetings: Tip#1
It would be a fantastic world if i did not have to write a blog about my medical issues – that become life issues – that become relationship issues. I loathe and detest every moment of my life I have to waste on medical office billing calls, insurance company calls, grievance letters for my lame insurance company to pay up, and relationship issues with friends, family, and my Jax as a result of my health issues.

I’ve been more up front with people lately in stating “I have really crappy health – so could you just come to my place and I’ll make us some tea or drinks…that way I don’t have to cancel plans on you”. It works out well since very few people actually take the bait and schedule to meet after I say that…this allows me more time to spend sleeping-resting and basically stopping the madness. – Share your tips with us on life/dealing with a chronic disease (or two).. by entering it into the comments area below. – Sasha xoxo