Author: kathleen

I think I'm at about 90% now and I believe that changing the glasses prescription will fix it.  Of course, I haven't seen the cornea doctor — that's on Tuesday.

Photo sensitivity is gone.

I have finished the steroid eyedrops.  I am down to an NSAID drop a day, artificial tears in both eyes 4 times a day, and antibiotic eyedrops 4 times a day.

Vision is no longer cloudy but have a major blur going on.  A little disturbed because they took a $120 copay and insurance says it's $25. That always comes out in the wash with them not charging for after care or getting a check from Aetna. Occasionally I have to call the billing department to get it together.  

Had to make that call to Medtronic yesterday and to my diabetes doctor (old one) today.

However, I love my insurance. 

Doing well.  Better than yesterday, not as much photosensitivity and better on the blur I think.  So much better than before doctor saw me.  I am attributing the blur to the contact lens bandage.

No pain, but I'm sure that's because of the NSAID eye drops.

Woke up very photo sensitive and with two very dry eyes.  Put artificial tears in each eye.

Marked each of the bottles with a sharper to indicate which I take.  One is once a day, two are twice a day.  I have a feeling that it doesn't matter how often I use artificial tears as long as I wait 10 minutes between drops so as not to wash out the others.

Pain is a very low buzz if that, more photo sensitive than anything.  That eye isn't as clear as after the repair but loads better than before the repair.

Did do a conformation class with Summer last night, but quit as soon as I started sweating.  About 50 minutes in.

At a cornea specialist and she doesn't think the dental procedure cause the eye issue. I have had dry eye issues before. She is doing a debradement and putting in a contact lens bandage. 

They assure me that it will hurt but the contact lens will help that.

 I promise I will put tears in my eye from now on.

I’m not 100% but I’m not having sharp pain and I am not as photo sensitive.  It’s still blurry and I still have quite a few drops left.  The other eye is much better since I’ve been doing artificial  each time I treat the injured eye.

The cause – dental surgery is also healing up.

i do have an appointment with a cornea specialist inhe morning. 

The cornea specialist I saw on Tuesday was convinced and convinced me that it was merely coincidence.

So I removed most of this post.

I haven’t had my lapband looked out in over a year.  Partly because the place i was getting it done went out of business.  Seems the principal owners have been charged with a crime.

I went back to the surgeon who did the procedure originally, as the company who I went to went out of business.  Sensing a theme.

It checked out fine.  I think they tested the port, as they numbed the area it was at, and had me swallow barium  We all watched everything work, and it does work correctly.

I’m quite ambivalent about lapband.  I never have been that happy with it but it does help with the binge eating – I still binge, but can’t eat as much food.  I can also choose not to eat easier.

I remember when Amy started Diabetes Mine!  I met Mike last November.   There is an article about Dulce and I on their site today.

http://www.healthline.com/diabetesmine/kathleen-weaver-diabetes-story

First, the lap band was successful.  I took off 60 pounds with it. 

+However, it takes more than that.  If you look at the literature, I’m typical.  I needed more.

A program where you have a certain number of calories or points has never worked for me.  I run out of them.  (Weight Watchers).

A program that is punitive doesn’t either – I tired Slim4Life, and man, it might work for some people but not me.  Every thing was a formula or magic.

What I needed is what I get from Jenny Craig. 

• A list of things to eat.  Do I always eat that food and only that food, no.  But it’s a starting point.
• Positive support – no matter what I weight, my consultant is support about it.
• Someone I can talk to about it.  Though I have other people.

First I had done Jenny Craig years ago, but when I tried to restart, my primary care physician insisted I go for the band.  There are a lot of days its made me unhappy, but it does have an impact on binge eating.

And on the goal.

My consultant wanted me to have an attainable goal, so she insisted on going with about 60 pounds.  Basically it was something I could do in less than a year if you figure on losing 1 1/2 pounds a week (basically 10% of a healthy persons weight).  I get my money back if I hit that goal and maintain it.  Though I think the 10% on the food covers the enrollment fee.

And here’s the smart way to do the food.  Always buy 1 week at a time (you don’t get the discount otherwise).  Keep your extra food on one shelve and the food for the menu you are on another shelf.  When you have 7 extra snacks, 7 extra breakfasts, and 14 extra meals, don’t buy food that week.  I like to have a day or so cushion myself, so that’s an estimate.  Also the travel meal DOES count as a full week, but not all consultants know that.  Mine had to call in and ask.

Also keep easy to eat foods on hand.  I keep a couple of salad kits in the car, in case I want to stay on plan when I’m out and about.  I also do the same with the breakfast bars.  In fact, buy a few one the week you are buying a few menu so you get the discount.