Friday, June 14, 2013

Me.

After Samantha was born, things were busy. Between the early arrival, the NICU stay, my recovery, the months and MONTHS of colic, things were absolutely nuts here. If you remember, about a month before she was born I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes. I have a family history of diabetes and my brother has had Type 1 and has been insulin dependent since he was 6 years old. So it was no surprise to me that I would get it. Well, I did what they told me for that month. Watched what I ate and pricked my finger testing my sugar all throughout the day. It was no fun, but I was going to do what I had to do to (try) and keep me and my baby safe. I had been told that when you have the baby the gestational diabetes just goes away. And with all the craziness that occurred with Sam's birth, I didn't even think about the gestational diabetes after she was born. It became all about her and we wouldn't have had it any other way! She was my #1 priority! I also, throughout my fertility treatments I was a a thyroid med to stabilize my thyroid. Well also when Sam was born, I didn't even think about it. I ran out of pills and just never refilled them. BAD IDEA.

Fast forward, 15 months and I have been feeling like total crap. I mean really crappy. I knew it was a combination of a few things. It HAD to be my thyroid as I just stopped my meds without talking to the doctor. And it had to be my weight. I have been gaining weight at a rapid pace. Here and there I would try really hard to lose weight. Would exercise and eat right, but could only seem to lose 3 lbs and then would lose track and would gain back even more. It was a frustrating cycle. There was also a little voice in the back of my head telling me that I might have diabetes. I am very short..5'0 and right now I weigh a few pounds less than I did a week before Sam came. I mean, that is really bad. I am so short and there is not much space on me for all this extra weight. So I knew, with all these factors combined was why I have been feeling so sluggish and exhausted and just not well. I was also losing my hair and having joint pain. Which I found out are thyroid symptoms too.

So, I finally went to the doctor this week. I had to. I need to feel well again and I NEED to be well for my daughter. They did a full panel blood work up on me. The results were that I have hypothyroidism and I am pre-diabetic. Kinda scary. But this all explains so much. Combined with not enough exercise and not eating great, I now know the thyroid issues are playing a part in my weigh and all my other symptoms. For those of you who don't know what hypothyroidism is, it's when your thyroid is not functioning properly or "enough." Which can cause all kinds of problems. My doctor vowed to get me feeling better. So I am back on thyroid medication and I am hoping to feel a difference in a week or two. She also put me on Metformin to help with the high blood sugar. This I was weary about because I had tried it about 5 years ago when I had started fertility treatments. My ob back then wanted to try that with me first to see if it helped me ovulate, etc. All I remember was spending my days in the bathroom :( It did not sit well with me. So my doc is started me out slow with it.

Now that I have the meds, I need to really buckle down with diet and exercise. I'm supposed to go for repeat bloodwork in a month and see a dietician. I'm also getting  an u/s of my thyroid done in September.

How did I get here you ask? I just lost track of ME. My girl is my life. But I just swept myself to the side. I know I need to take care of myself though! I want to be around and be healthy for Samantha too! I also do not want to try for a second child in my current state. It would not be healthy for me or a baby. I'm thinking about going Gluten Free. But I'm not sure yet. I might just ease into things first, as I hear it's very expensive and demanding and I'm not sure that's the diet plan I can handle right now. I did see this guy on The Chew the other day. He was pre-diabetic once and wrote a book called "VB6." Where basically you go vegan all day until 6pm. And I guess it works! Looks interesting.

So hopefully this summer I will see some major changes in my health!!! I just don't feel like "me." And I need ME back :)


10 comments:

Samantha said...

Sarah I'm so glad that you are taking care of yourself! It's so easy to get lost in mommy-hood. I hope you start feeling like yourself very soon. Keep us all updated.

Liz said...

I am so sorry that you haven;t been feeling well but I am happy you went to the doctor. As a Mom, you always put yourself last. There are always a million other things to do. It sounds like you are taking the first steps. I try very hard to eat well as an examply for my kids. I eat about 80% organic, whole grains, fruits & veggies & only local meat. It can be hard (expensive & time consuming) to eat fresh and homemade but your health is so important. As far as exercise, try and go for walks with Sam. My kids always enjoyed stroller rides. Start slow and set goals. You can do anything you set your mind to! I use My Fitness Pal to keep track of what I eat. I feel like I make much better choices when I track what I eat. Keep us update on how you are doing. Hope you are feeling better soon!

Amber said...

I understand forgetting about yourself because there just isn't enough time in a day. But I'm glad you listened to your body and got some things figured out. You can totally make the right changes to prevent developing diabetes and the thyroid meds will help a TON! Not only with the other symptoms, but especially weight loss. I took metformin for PCOS and it made me lose 15 pounds. I didn't have the nasty side effects, so hoping you have a better time on it this go round. :)

Good Timing said...

In so so glad you got your appt at the dr and that you are back on some meds to make you feel better. That's important! Sam needs a healthy mama to take care of her. How can we take care of others if we don't take cake of ourselves?? It's so easy to get lost in mommyhood and babies and forget about us but we are pretty important people too. :) hope the metformin helps you and that the side effects are not bad!! Keep me posted. :)

kkasun said...

I'm glad you figured out what it is and are able to start working to feel better. I totally understand putting yourself second. I hope everything gets better quickly!

Rebecca said...

Going vegan until 6 pm isn't all that hard to do if you like nuts and going nuts while eating nuts! Good luck!

Faith said...

Wow, do I know what you mean about losing yourself and not taking good care of yourself! I'm so sorry you are feeling so crappy - it sounds just miserable. Parenting is hard enough without feeling so sick! I do hope you feel a change very soon. Take care, hun!

grkanga said...

Sorry! I know the whole song and dance and it is not fun sticking your finger several times a day. HOWEVER,I found that the more even I kept my sugar levels in the day the easier it was to drop weight and watch what I was eating. And then it was easier to stick my finger. Sort of a circle. Fixing the thyroid issue makes it physically possible for your weight to go down too. It CAN become less of an uphill fight. And the fight is worth it because your wonderful girl needs you for AT LEAST another 30 years ... and needs you being physically healthy. You can move the universe for her so you can do this too. Good wishes!!!!

Natalie and Lee said...

I hope you get to feeling better soon! Sounds like you are on the right track:)

Jessah @ Dreaming of Dimples said...

I hope you get YOU back very soon, Sarah. It's easy to get lost in your girl I would definitely recommend going vegan. It is hard not to lose weight when eating non-animal products. Good luck with you new meds and diet.