Physical Check-In

It’s always best to take care of any possible health problems as they do certainly effect our mental health is a huge way

Lots of information here! I read all of the posts in their entirety. I find for me I can’t conceptualize any one particular diet. When I did low carb before I did not do keto but still attempted to keep my carbs under 20g per day. It was incredibly difficult. That’s why I only lasted two months.

The reason I’m doing lower carb now is because of the hunger, as you all know. Wild coyote suggested high protein and I brushed it off initially, but decided to try it because nothing else was working. And I feel so much better because of it. Whether it helps me lose weight or not remains to be seen but I feel better physically and that’s all I wanted.

Good luck to everyone! We all have a lot to think about!

So glad that you are feeling good!@!!!
bizi

I need to get bloodwork done soon, at my psychiatrists request, just because it's been awhile since I've had any. Will need to set a date to do that before I see her again in January.

The sores in my mouth from biting my cheeks in my sleep have healed, I'm relieved about that because they were really frustrating me. I haven't done it in the past week and the TD type movements of my jaw have calmed down a lot.

In a dilemma because I'm trying to lose weight but I'm also trying to recover from an ED at the same time. I'm starting to think maybe that's just not compatible for me at the moment honestly, it's just making me obsess and have unhealthy thoughts and behaviors. Maybe it's just too early in my recovery to do that in a healthy way. I'm going to focus on eating healthy and put my scale away for now. I'm not very overweight so I'm not having any health issues as a result of that so I think I'll just put that on the back burner for now

My awful lungs are MUCH better - how are your doing these days? You mentioned in another post your doc started you on Spiriva -so did my doc and I really feel it's helping

((Hugs))

I'm fine, thnaks.

That’s wonderful you found help with Spiriva. So far it not helping that I can tell.

A pork roll omelette sounds yummy! I've never had it in an omelette. My mom would serve it for dinner sometimes without bread, though. Just fried and eaten almost like you'd eat a steak. My Czech husband doesn't like it. He's no true New Jerseyan, for sure.

Good for you! You are going for whatever makes sense for you , taking great care of yourself! I happen to think your plan is very wise; yet, it really does not matter what I think, thankfully!

I am very happy for you!
I recall feeling much like you were feeling when having unstable blood glucose. It was a horrible feeling 24/7.

I try to be careful when I suggest a trial of a higher protein diet. I am not sure what a high protein diet means to anyone and I am a bit concerned about any stress on the kidneys if someone starts with too much protein.

It seems safer for everyone to suggest a "higher protein" diet or even lifestyle.
I cannot suggest a specific number of protein grams per day, as I am not a trained medical/nutritional/dietician specialist.

Again, I am very concerned about the safety of everyone. If anyone knows s/he has kidney issues, please do not increase your protein intake without the proper review by your physician. None of us need any adverse event in trying to become more healthy!

I must say it is best for everyone to talk to their doctor about any protein intake guidelines. Other aspects of any diet/lifestyle are best discussed with your doctor, including diets with higher fat intakes, etc.

Wild, feeling better allows us to do so much more, including being more Present for oursleves and our family, etc. Happy for you!

I finally completed the tests, including bloodwork that the doctor prescribed for me since I haven't gone to one in about three years. Actually, one test has been delayed till Spring so my Dad doesn't have to drive me in the cold weather and sit there for 3 hours! I also put off my dental appt. till Spring because I just didn't feel like going since I'm worn out. And I'm waiting to get my eyes checked and get an eyeglass prescription but I'm on a waiting list for Medicaid patients so I have to wait a while...it's been a few months. But I'm grateful that the eye doctor is kind enough to fit in Medicaid recipients when he can.

My health is good except I'm pre-diabetic by one point. I'm supposed to cut down on the carbs, and I'm doing what I can. I got rid of my nightly brownie and 2 small lemon cookies, and switched to unsweetened applesauce cups and just put some cinnamon on it. It actually tastes much more natural and delicious! I'm also eating a little lunch and trying to have a tiny snack in the evening to keep my blood sugar from spiking or falling. As far as cutting down carbs in meals, I haven't been able to do very much in that area, at least yet. *With my bipolar, when I found out about my pre-diabetes, I couldn't handle it mentally because of the new load on my brain it would bring in having to think about switching how I eat, so I literally had a meltdown in the grocery store looking at the endless food choices, carbohydrate counts and costs of items, etc. I couldn't cope....At All. Now I've got a handle on it. My stepmom gave me good advice which I've been using: to make small changes. Basically one step at a time, and it has worked and that's why I've been able to make the changes I listed above. Now I feel better! Have a nice day everyone!

You received some very sage advice. Too much change at once can feel overwhelming causing us to lean harder on the habits we have for comfort. A little change at a time is a great way to go. You're doing a lot of healthy things for yourself. Wishing you all the best!

The mouth injuries can be so painful!
I hope they heal and you don't have more of those. Is it likely a mouth guard or something else might help with this?

"ConcernedI am developing TD again...anyway just a small issue but it has been irritating me for awhile now."

TD is not a small issue. Is that what you had meant?
I hope you are not developing TD and if you are, I hope your pdoc is prepared to help you immediately. I am concerned about you.

Congrats!

It's very difficult to go shopping and to try to focus on looking at nutritional data on every item, or lots of items, for many of us for various reasons.

You might want to check out some of the online sites which offer the nutritional info on most food items, prior to shopping? You could do this in the comfort of your home and can choose foods prior to going to the store.

An example of such a site: Food Nutrition Facts and Free Calorie Counter | CalorieKing
I am sure there are other sites offering the same/similar info.

Just a thought!
Great to have you sharing with us!

Exact same issue as Blue_Bird, only I somehow managed to injure a molar yesterday and it is absolutely killing me. 8/10 and I have a high pain tolerance. I never hurt. Very lucky. NSAIDs not even touching it. Got some Orajel, which is cutting into it a bit, but not all the way. No way to see a dentist this week, with holidays, obviously, so I must somehow make it to Monday. Argh! I do have a stash of injectable 1% lidocaine somewhere from practice days. I am tempted...

Thank you so much! And I thank you and Wild Coyote for the support! (And anyone else who may not write anything but feels it in their heart just the same!)

Hi WC the past week I haven't seemed to have the involuntary movements of my jaw at all. When I had them previously (on Invega Sustenna) and my doctor noticed and I had to get off the medication and onto different ones.

I should probably see about getting a mouth guard in case it becomes an issue again though, that's a good idea.

I'll definitely bring up the TD symptoms to my doctor when I see her next.

Thank you!

Thank you for your thoughtful response! I do check out the nutritional value (and price!) online before I go shopping, when the stress is too high to think! I just checked out CalorieKing and I like it, thank you for that!

A part of the psych meds (and some other meds) causing ill health is the fact that some of these meds alter glucose metabolism. So no matter your caloric intake, large or small, this alteration occurs. What, exactly, does this mean? I think I know ;yet, I am not sure I fully understand ALL of what this may mean. I am meeting with my PC doctor very soon and am hoping to get more info on this, as he is the source of the info I have shared in the prior sentence.

It's never healthy to take in too many calories, of course.

All 3 of my docs recently involved in the labs and in the review of the US did, repeatedly, state the "cause is your meds." I countered that argument a few times and was told the culprit is, in fact, the meds. That was their perspective on that day. Again, I will see what is said to me in another appt soon. The most urgent action taken was to discontinue the Seroquel. They'd said they would be monitoring and would discontinue additiona meds if the liver enzymes continue to climb.

I was also told the liver condition is slowly progressive. Is it always slowly progressive? Is it only slowly progressive if still exposed to certain meds? Is it slowly progressive if offending med is discontinued and living a healthy lifestyle? Does the progression stop under certain circumstances? All questions I have that need to be cleared up and I will ask them when I see my PC doc.

It's important to get these questions answered in order to fully understand how to prevent certain health conditions and how to "heal" certain health conditions, if possible.

I am grateful to everyone for all of the experiences and info shared.

Do you liver enzymes get elevated when you have a fatty liver?
bizi

Yes they do.. any stressors on the liver will show up by increases in liver function blood work.

Which is good because often medications are a lot of the problem. So getting off those as quick as possible will help reduce stress on your liver.

Well after a lot of consideration regarding different diets and needing to improve the health of my liver, metabolic syndrome, and losing actual weight.

I’m going to do a basic diabetic diet, I had gestational diabetes while pregnant with my daughter. So it’s not anything new and trendy and is easy to follow, affordable for us as that is a big concern too.

I will likely go with a lower carb tho, I can test my blood sugar anytime I want so I’m going to fiddle with the carbs to see where my blood sugar is most stable.

Planning meals and shopping for them is simple for me.

As for exercise ? Right now it’s just not possible until my breathing returns to normal, I got so out of breath just putting sheets on my bed today it’s just ridiculous. So that will come later.

I told my husband to enjoy the rest of the year because the day we return from Florida it’s all healthy 100% of the time and very controlled portion sizes.

So I have lots of chili, soups, and pasta dishes in the freezer to pull out and eat.

I’m glad I finally just made the decision.

~Christina

I am proud of you.
((((((HUGS)))))
bizi

one of my liver enzymes readings was 5 points higher than normal.
This is the first time that I have had an elevated reading. I had been alcohol free for a month before the lab tests were run.
bizi

Does your Doctor want you to get your blood work rechecked ? Usually they wait about 2 weeks if there’s any elevated.