Misery and Mirth

NO Surgery, I Passed the Stone(s)

Good News, I saw my primary Physician today. Dr. Nemeth says because my fever is gone, the pain is gone and the 2nd scan shows no stone in my gallbladder duct, the stone(s) passed so I‘m not having surgery. Woo Hoo!!!

She is sending me for fasting blood tests tomorrow morning to test my insulin, glucose(sugar), cholesterols and kidney function because she has to confirm I have Metabolic Syndrome ( AKA: Syndrome X , Insulin Resistance Syndrome) before she can prescribe medication. Usually an Endocrinologist would be best to treat this but since my health plan won’t help me find one, she will treat me

Metabolic syndrome is characterized by a group of metabolic risk factors in one person. They include:
• Central obesity (excessive fat tissue in and around the abdomen)
• Atherogenic dyslipidemia (blood fat disorders — mainly high triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol — that foster plaque buildups in artery walls)
• Insulin resistance or glucose intolerance (the body can’t properly use insulin or blood sugar)
• Prothrombotic state (clot to easy)
• Raised blood pressure (130/85 mmHg or higher)
• Proinflammatory state (e.g., elevated C-reactive protein in the blood )

Before this year my blood pressure was good but now it keeps coming up 130+/90 and
I have gained a TON of weight this year mostly around my middle. My Cholesterol levels have been in the normal range, but Dr. Nemeth explained to me that for people with Metabolic syndrome even the “normal range” can be high because the other factors cause an increased risk of coronary heart disease, other diseases related to plaque buildups in artery walls (e.g., stroke and peripheral vascular disease) and type 2 diabetes.

Dr. Nemeth plans to put me on Glucophage(Metformin) which will help my body utilize its insulin & glucose more efficiently and hopefully help me lose weight. This medicine sometimes cause a serious medical condition lactic acidosis but usually only in people with prior kidney dysfunction, hence the kidney function test. But all blood tests I’ve been having this year my kidneys have been tested about once a month and all test showed great kidney function, so all good.

Also while examining me Dr.nemeth remarked on how a mole on my back looks suspicious and wants me to see Dermatologist to have it removed and have any other moles checked out. I want to see dermatologist anyway about the other skin problems(Psoriosis?) I have, so I will need to try hunt down one that will take my health plan.

Tomorrow I plan to go visit Rob and Celebrate 2 years of mostly blissful dating . Also I have to “chaperone” Melissa on a date because she met a guy, Nick through online personals and been talking to him on the phone for couple months? , but is too timid to meet him alone. The poor guy thought she wasn’t interested because she kept making excuses not to meet him, so he stopped calling her last week, she freaked and I had to mediate between the two and set up this date. I better get a free beer; I think that’s a cheep service charge. LOL