Meanderings...

woo-hoo!!   

you bet!!

This must feel almost like a new world in some ways, after so long living 'the other way'. Congrats on achieving your goals so far!!

Think twice before giving up the metformin. It's supposed to help you live forever.

http://www.newsweek.com/2015/12/25/diabetes-drug-could-be-anti-aging-miracle-404370.html

: ) db

What wonderful news! I am so pleased for you.   

clothing stories....

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Found a suit that's gotta be ten years old. Hell. Older than that even. 15 maybe. Anyway, it fits pretty good. Gray pinstripe. Classic. Good deal.

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I threw out some more clothes today. Unremarkable perhaps, except these were clothes that I acquired since the surgery. Woohoo!

otoh,

I'm stuck on what might be my longest plateau yet. I'm at 250. I had dropped down to about 245 for a few days, but then bounced back up. Might have been fluid or something. For about a week it seemed like I was heading up from 250, but I managed to get that back under control.

isn't it a nice adjustment to be making, though? Even though it seems nothing is happening, you know from all those little adjustments inside you that the process is still unfolding and revealing the true you.  

actually, I just weighed myself, buck naked after playing racquetball, all of a sudden I'm 245.  I know that won't last but at least I'm still trending down.

woohoo!!! (If I had energy, I'd do a happy dance. But just over 3 hours sleep isn't enough)

When did Haagen Dazs shrink to 14oz?

They had some crazy Tangerine flavored ice cream today. Bought it but haven't tasted yet.

I have re-discovered the pleasure of writing with a Flair pen.  After years of looking for pens that give me just the right feel, all of the new-fangled gel pens fall by the wayside. And the Flair fine points are to die for.

weird things...

My employer ( a major financial firm that is Systemically Fundamental to Our Existence, or something) recently had a very big layoff. I've heard as large as 3000. But I've yet to read a word about it in the press.

Strange...

more strangeness...

don't know why I didn't turn here earlier, but I've got a new medical issue that is, to say the least, disconcerting. A few weeks ago, at home after playing racquetball (probably unrelated) I noticed that my legs were a bit numb and a bit tingly. From my toes to my waist. And the pinkie and ring fingers of both hands were tingly and a bit numb too.

And to bring us up to date, the tingliness has gotten worse in my fingers to the point that it's affecting my dexterity (you have no idea how many errors I'm making as I type this)

Saw a neurologist on Monday. Basically said - 'eh, no treatment for numbness' and didn't, frankly, seem to care what caused it or whether it would get worse or better. The only test he recommended was an EMG, which as far as I can figure out is simply to get a baseline of my condition so that we can see whether it worsens or not.

For some reason I accepted this, until my afternoon racquetball partner pointed out that this did not sound very acceptable to him and maybe I should see this other guy, so I'm doing that.

I'm hoping it's a pinched nerve, but it's got me worried....

Pretty sure it's not diabetic neuropathy. The sudden onset and the lack of pain (plus maybe the symmetry) argue against that. 

Anyway, any thoughts are appreciated....

Something is causing this, you need to know exactly what and that is is not progressive condition. Agree, second opinion with an excellent neurologist. Good luck and keep us posted.

There is one nerve that affects the pinky and ring finger!

A little over 48 hours after that monster shoveling storm, I lay down for the night and noticed my pinky and ring finger of my right hand was numb, but tingling.  Ignored it for a few days, until I realized on the weekend that I couldn't hold down the organ keys properly and if I hadn't moved my whole arm over, I would never have been able to play.  Eight full days after it started, I saw a chiropractor in Union.  Only guessing that it was related to 5 hours of shoveling and a nerve impinging near an old elbow break, we started treatment. (He did Xrays and multiple tests to see if I had strength or sensation in my hand and fingers.) With some electrical stimulation and a few adjustments, it improved 99% over the course of 4 weeks.  If it hadn't, his associate, who is an MD, could do some nerve tests and take it from there.  

The second stim treatment turned the corner, I think. I also worried about the sudden onset of neuropathy, but was told that's a gradual onset problem and I don't actually have diabetes.  It could also be a form of carpel tunnel brought on by bad computer habits (which I pretty much changed immediately). I also started driving with my right hand in my lap and wore a brace at night.  He recommended a multi-vitamin and an extra vitamin B for nerve health.

Sounds like you have something spinal going on that affects your legs, too. LMK if you would like his info. He was the only chiropractor who helped my mailman-husband a few years ago.

thanks folks. I'll see what my next doctor says. a Dr. Lipp in Chatham. They tout themselves as the finest spinal center around, but as I said, my friend loved this guy.

makes sense about one nerve for the two fingers, except it's happening in both hands. the symmetry in affect is frightening.

I have new respect for my body these days.

Plus! Had to get an emergency appt with my podiatrist today because I had a worsening pain in my heel. The doc attended to it very well and it feels better already, but geez louise...

and I think I sprained my knee....

The two may not be related, except for the similarity of symptoms and their both being symmetrical.

https://wuphysicians.wustl.edu/your-health-update/post/3625
In your hands, it is likely a nerve situation but think more about how quickly the symptoms came on. Sudden or gradual? That would be a good clue for your doc. Back when I wasn't so good a rider I developed exactly that situation over the course of my solo trip across Ontario and Québec. It was gradual in its onset and I couldn't get my hands in my pockets towards the end of it.

You legs on the other hand are a different story. The explanation could be either nerve-related or artery-related.

http://www.healthgrades.com/symptoms/leg-paresthesia
Be persistent in getting that sorted if it is still happening. Even a little bit.

I mean it. Is it merely tingling or is there any cramping/pain sort of feeling (claudication) in your legs? What about during exertion like climbing stairs? Does it increase with effort and ease up when you stop the exertion?

Do you feel any pain or tingling symptoms when you've been at rest?
http://www.oregonsurgical.com/vascular-center/surgery/occlusive-disease/

at the moment I feel no weakness or pain in either my legs or hands. It is affecting my dexterity somewhat. typing, playing trumpet & other fine motor stuff requires more attention.

in terms of onset it's not easy to characterize as sudden or gradual, but I'd tend towards sudden. I've had these symptoms for some time due to my diabetes, but at about 95% less (whatever less means - severity, frequency, coverage) I'd get tingling in toes/feet/fingers but never for very long, nor was it very severe.

but one night it was markedly, markedly different - more severe, more extensive - and has not relented since.

Not sure why I happened to check this blog today, but the latest news is a bit disconcerting. Hope you get the nerve thing sorted out.

I'm glad you're seeing someone else - the first neurologist should have his medical license revoked.

Do you know if you have you had B12 level checked since your surgery?

yes, I get my blood checked pretty regularly. My nutrient levels are all pretty good. Vitamin D a bit low. The neuro did talk about vitamin B.

Yeah, I'm gonna have to see what to do about doctor number 1. We'll see what #2 says. My PCP is not the best doc around, but he's always been good about picking specialists. The last two he picked - not so much. He's been absorbed into the Summit Medical Group borg and his recommendations are, of course, now for SMG doctors only. Maybe it's time to find a new PCP.

I emailed my endocrinologist about my numbness and he agreed it's probably not diabetes related.

btw, the EMG can help distinguish some forms of neuropathy from others.  It is a good starting point, because the list of potential causes for neuropathy is very, very long.  I think the recommendation for EMG as a starting point is a reasonable one.  

I've had cause to see neurologists off and on for 30+ years.  I find them, as a group, to too often have very poor people skills and loads of arrogance.  I know you're very doctor-savvy, but just a reminder to try to look past general a$$-holishness if you can otherwise get what you need.

When I read the initial comment about the tingling and raquetball, I immediately thought of a low back nerve impingement. I have stenosis in the L4/L5 lumbar area and sometimes have these symptoms. 

mjh said:

btw, the EMG can help distinguish some forms of neuropathy from others.  It is a good starting point, because the list of potential causes for neuropathy is very, very long.  I think the recommendation for EMG as a starting point is a reasonable one.  

I've had cause to see neurologists off and on for 30+ years.  I find them, as a group, to too often have very poor people skills and loads of arrogance.  I know you're very doctor-savvy, but just a reminder to try to look past general a$$-holishness if you can otherwise get what you need.

yeah, the emg is appropriate -my problem was that doc #1 gave me no indication, at all, that we can find out what the problem is, let alone whether it's reversible or not.

 and actually, the doctor was very personable and we had a very long appointment and we talked a lot. His people skills were kinda good. And SMG had just recruited this guy (kinda youngish) from NY and he has just moved out here.

jimmurphy said:

When I read the initial comment about the tingling and raquetball, I immediately thought of a low back nerve impingement. I have stenosis in the L4/L5 lumbar area and sometimes have these symptoms. 

someone else mentioned to me that it might be a pinched nerve kind of thing. And i was wondering about stenosis too. A friend of mine had a couple of vertebra plated together due to stenosis about a year go.

Raquetball being relatively high-impact with all of the direction changes and foot plants, combined with your size (diminishing as it is    )  , are a recipe for back and knee problems, in my admittedly non-doctor opinion.  I'd definitely get the back checked out and at least consider a lower impact sport for the time being. Hope things improve for you!  And congratulations on the weight loss.

racquetball is the only sport I've ever cared about playing, so switching to something else nagahappen.

unless some doctor tells me so, but I'm gonna take a lot of convincing.

I hear ya. Gave up running for a few years after the initial back diagnosis and missed it. Back at it now with a lot of stretching incorporated.