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After several months of trying I had to give up Jenny Craig.  I like Jenny Craig but you can only do their food for so long.

Even their menu changes don't help.

I'm in a weight loss class with Baylor Scott and White.  I had to be "admitted" by a medical doctor and I wasn't thrilled with her at all.  The first visit wasn't bad, but the second visit was a disaster.  She didn't accept that the medication was causing severe diarrhea.  Before I even saw her, the assistant tried to get me to get a tetanus shot and change to them as my primary doctor.  When I tried to leave, the assistant was on the phone and too busy to help me OR give the shot she was pushing.

I did get one with my primary care doctor.

I had a major issue with the original class.  I wanted to go at noon to downtown Dallas and they put me in the Wednesday evening class.  There was a drug addict in the class who was dominated the conversation and talked crazy talk.

I don't think the emphasis on eliminating as fat from the diet is diabetic friendly.  It's a pain to be counting carbs/calories / and fat, but myFitness pal helps.

My biggest problem right now, is that the class is getting started with 15 minutes of walking on a regular floor.  Not knee friendly.  

It's also that the group leader assumes I don't exercise — oh, I'm writing this blog post at the gym on a recumbent bike.

He reminds me of someone who has just started clicker training and doesn't quite get it.  

The assuming I don't exercise was also a drag at Jenny Craig.

A lot of that is getting the topirimate out of my system.  It was like having a gastrointestinal virus for 4 weeks.

Though I am sure that one of the biggest side effects was being dehydrated and I'm not fully hydrated yet.

I'm feeling good enough to start putting the house back together.  That stuff made me as sick as the flu, especially with the foot problems.  It still bothers me but more of a dull ache now.

I've got my mac mini up and running upstairs, and I'm still thinking about bringing up one of the older Surface PC's.

The nice thing about the Mac Mini, is that I can drop anything in it's place, including another Mac Mini.  Or a Mac Pro….

I finally got Medtronics to credit my account for an order that I had them cancel.  That was weird, because they are usually good about those things.  I'm down to 3+ boxes of infusion sets and I'll probably stay on the pump for a bit longer. I'm still on 40 units a day and that's the easiest way to do that.

The job is going great!  I'm averaging 15 hours a week, maybe a bit more.  Sadly most of that is on the weekends, but that will balance out in a few weeks.  

I start a weight loss class tomorrow.

I took a new medication — which was an old medication and it really back fired.   Literally no weight loss which was the reason even though I have severe diarrhea the entire time.  I think some of the other side effects were caused by the diarrhea, but I went off of it and am not completely over it.

I'm not thrilled with the doctor's response, she denied some of my claims as to side effects — but did agree that we should hold off on trying any new drugs until this was completely out of my system and I had completely recovered.

I don't really like her office — I have been to two of her offices — the intake for the weight loss program and her regular office, and both times arrived early and was seen way after my scheduled appointment time.  I really dislike my time not being valued.

I complained on the patient survey.

We'll see how the weight loss class goes. 

Today was change everything.

Change the infusion set, the transmitter and the sensor.  Just did the mandatory two finger sticks.

Used the same blood finger stick and get one reading at 196 and one at 217.

Really……

And am hoping to go to Dexcom G6, when the transmitter expires in three months.

About a month ago I went to an orthopedist – foot specialist and my toe is finally not hurting after a steroid shot.  I went to the Ft Worth dog show, walked for miles to get from the parking space and back and have been having heel pain ever since.

It quieted down, went walking again and it flared up again.  <Sigh>

Formally diagnosed by the orthopedist and have heel inserts, tape, stretching and keeping off of it as much as possible.  It's a bit better.

Didn’t expect it because my Dexcom Clarity reports have sucked.

My first A1C after Victoza was 7.0 and my latest A1c (the second after Victoza) was 6.9. 

I have had a steriod shot, and I am expecting a second one in my heel on Wednesday.  After that I am looking for a pain management specialist though I have an appointment with an RA doctor in June, though I expect that to be a pat on the head.

I saw an obesity specialist this week and am starting a weight loss class as soon as they have 5 people in it.  She also suggested an RA specialist, but then agreed on a pain management specialist but did not make a recommendation.  I’ll be asking my foot orthopod for that on Wednesday and the endo for that on Thursday.

I’ve already seen the instructor and have implemented his suggestions.  I see him two more times in addition to the class.

Jenny Craig stopped working for me a long time ago.  I kept trying, but then the guilt made it worse.  I quit a few months ago and started doing some research.  Years ago I did a weight loss program I enjoyed that was led by a nuitrionist so I was looking for something like that.  I found a program put on by Baylor Scott and White, and signed up for it yesterday.  I met with the intake doctor and she put me back on topamine.  I also met with the nuitrionist in charge of the program.  He made some suggestions and we are not waiting for enough people to start the class.

Got a letter from a third party on the behalf of TRS.  They wanted me to check my status to see if I was eligible for disability.  Well, I was pretty sure I wasn’t though there online questionnaire says I am.  My part time pay is too high.

I am always get Medicare mail, and I’m pretty sure either TRS or Texas Retired Teacher Association has sold my information, though I am voting highest for the Association.

I have logged a complaint with TRS.

Just got three months worth of Neupro — on it for Restless leg.  $30 for three months after insurance and savings card

I'm close to getting the two monthly prescriptions at the same time — Victoza and Dexcom.  They are about $100 a month, but that was true when I was doing the old insurance.

My part of my doctor's visits are averaging less than the copays I was paying.

I'm about $2500 from meeting my out of pocket.  

The key is not to use the mail order pharmacy because they can't accept savings card from the manufacturer.

Here's the previous post:  http://www.kweaver.org/blog/2018/01/new-endocrinologist-thanks-to-rubenhealth.html

Basically my second Endo ever can't get his act together and be in network with Aetna.  Sad because my new Endo is.

The good news: no bills since I wrote the letter firing them, though I did get an invite to the new clinic.  I do occasionally see them try to rerun the initial office visits which still show them out of network.

I'm also $2500 from meeting my out of pocket. 

Interesting news is that Dr. Lyde is in Aetna's network as of 3/15.