Anyone Ever Done This? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Off Topic

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Anyone Ever Done This?

Thistle

Veteran

After 6 months of following the doctor's orders on an eating and exercise plan, the blood work is coming back worse than before I started.

I swear I am following what they say! I really want to get the issues under control so I can be there for the important moments of my kids lives.

The cardiologist has admitted he has no idea why this is happening and is recommending I try a doctor specializing in weight loss that has a team of dietitians on staff. He gave me the name of a clinic to try.

I've done A LOT of research, and I can't find a single legitimate study that shows that science knows how to get long-term meaningful weight loss. But, these are broad studies. What works for one person may not work for another.

I still need to check with the insurance company to see if it's even covered.

But I'm wondering if anyone here ever tried such a thing. If you did, what were your results?

Off Topic

16 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

Anonymous

Try a functional medicine doctor with nutritionist on staff. A FM doc will dig until underlying issue is revealed.
My cardiologist asked if he could play hide and seek with blood values that did not add up but was ignored by general practice doctor. His hide and seek unearthed 3 tumors. It saved my life. Although he is cardiologist he acts more like a Functional Medicine doctor.
Good luck and do not give up- your health is everything.....hug to strength

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Thistle, Are you willing to get your own blood work done by an outside lab? I am in no way affiliated with them but have used "Life Extension" that offers Lab Testing for individuals. A naturopathic doctor turned me onto them originally. A basic blood panel is rarely enough. Plus, blood tests can vary greatly depending on what you ate the day/week before, etc. so sometimes you need to do some thorough research on your own before getting the labs. The medical community only does so much - they used to never tell me to avoid high iron foods before getting my anemia tests for example. Bad idea. The skewed results meant I was nearly completely out of iron stores (ferritin) before it was discovered. I could have died.

You can order your own tests - take the forms to a lab close to home, and have the results sent to you first. Then YOU can choose to take copies to a doctor of your choice. I looked up and they have this test for example:
http://www.lifeextension.com/V.....Blood-Test

I doubt insurance will cover it. But it's about half price (or less) of what most labs charge when insurance is involved.

rachylou

Veteran

If it’s not too intrusive, what are we talking here? Cholesterol? Are you wanting to avoid pills? I mean, for example, as a diabetic, lots of normal advice doesn’t work for me because my body doesn’t work like normal. My doctor wanted me to eat a low cholesterol diet, but high cholesterol and blood pressure totally run in my family. Totally no effect eliminating butter, cheese and meat. And I have to say, I get great ‘good cholesterol’ results when I include cheese in my diet!

Thistle

Veteran

It's mostly heart related. Trying to lower triglycerides, cholesterol, etc. All of which runs in the family.

He'd also like me to lose weight in the process. I told him I've been trying to do that for 32 years with no long-term luck.

That's when he recommended the clinic.

rachylou

Veteran

Doing a clinic with a nutritionist is illuminating and a lot of fun, but I will say people shouldn’t expect weight loss miracles from it if there are underlying conditions in the way. What makes one’s cholesterol high etc. is not unrelated to what makes one’s weight what it is.

Are you averse to pills, Thistle? I don’t take statins, because they’re hard on the liver, but I do take something else. That is, other medications are available, altho docs like to push the statins.

Thistle

Veteran

I am trying to avoid statins. My family has trouble with them. Just like they have trouble with cholesterol and heart attacks.

I have to take a beta blocker as after months of testing, they still can't tell me why my resting heart rate is so high, or why I can spike it by walking down the hall. They think it's just "me", but given my family history of heart attacks, they want it down. So I do take that.

I am not sure I should admit it, but the beta blocker has made it a lot easier to deal with stress. I almost wish they'd have identified this 30 years ago! I no longer have the same physiological response when I get stressed, so I can cope with it better.

I just feel a bit defeated. I've been trying to eat right and exercise since my mid 20s when I could finally afford to, yet, my blood work and health issues make it look like I have been eating bacon and ice cream for dinner every night!

DonnaF

Veteran

Can you get a referral to an endocrinologist? The weight loss clinic suggestion sounds like blaming and shaming to me, and from what you have said/written, won’t work for your body chemistry. Sounds like your body doesn’t respond to old style solutions. Plus, I am concerned that your cardiologist is a typical fat shamer. IMHO, that is not helpful. What I am hearing from you is that you are focused on your health; your weight may or may not be related, but is it necessarily a cause? I rather think not.

Best wishes in your search. Health is priceless.

rachylou

Veteran

I take the cholesterol blocker Zetia since I can’t take statins. Works on the stomach, if I’ve got that right.

Re. the beta blocker and stress... well, don’t tell your husband ... but that’s totally true and people don’t talk about it, but they should. You can be under more stress than you realise, or your body can.

Don’t feel bad... another thing no one mentions is that heart disease is the number one killer... from
Ancient Egypt to dogs. It’s really all about dying of it later rather than sooner. No, really... ! :p

L'Abeille

Veteran

Trying to correct both LDL cholesterol and triglycerides at the same time with diet can turn into a game of whack-a-mole, because what lowers one will raise the other. If your doc hasn't already sent you to see a registered dietitian, it's time. I thought i knew it all (as an MD) and was surprised how much i didn't know, when i was sent to see one for my own issues.

Also, I recommend this blog: http://www.weightymatters.ca by Yoni Freedhoff. He's a doctor with a non-surgical bariatric medicine clinic in Ottawa. I've been following him since I heard him speak on "Exercise: It's the best drug we have. It's just not a weight loss drug." His blog covers current news and gives an evidence based take on popular ideas about diet and weight.

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Veteran

Not a doctor, but have been on my own Heath journey for the last 2 and a bit years.

I would second looking at whether your endocrine system is out of whack. Have you had your blood sugar (hb1ac) done? Also, have you had your thyroid checked (TSH, T3 and T4)?

I would also recommend looking into a lower carb/healthy fat diet. It sounds contradictory, but changing my diet and eating like this has improved my health (including anxiety and stress issues).

There are two books I recommend - “What the Fat” and “What the Fast”. They are written by a doctor, dietician and chef. As well as recipes they explain the science behind the diet. They are books written in NZ, but they are the best that I have seen and I’m sure they are available on Amazon.

The website is - https://whatthefatbook.com

Anonymous

A good dietitian is a wonderful help. If you are on Medicare, it pays for an hour a year consultation. London Kiwi makes sense. A good blood workup may show what is going on. I lost weight on a low carb diet. South Beach is well designed.
Today I went to a talk by a 76 year old woman, who, with the help of her daughter who is a medical doctor has not lost bone and even improved some, in 26 years just by diet. She had bad osteoporosis when she started to make some small changes and was not allowed to ride a bike because she would break bones. She should, but says she is too immature to exercise or it would be better yet. One of her main points is that supplements usually do not help because what you need from them is not released in a way that the body can use it.

Anonymous

Taking statins or even its precursor- red yeast rice cause lots of side effects in people including me. some of us will never get it under control because of genetics but the best we can hope for is a decent ratio. I also have to do the juggling and balancing act because of a heart condition.Try Eliminating dairy and processed carbs ( sugars) it will actually help reduce values and stabilize your blood sugar. That’s why going to functional medicine doctor who works with a nutritionist is best. Clinics follow formulas and not everyone responds to cookie cutter treatment. Bariatric surgery is not for everyone either.
Please do not get discouraged- you are your own best healer- you just need to find the right guide on the path to healing.
Hugs

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Veteran

Just one other thing to add, I completely agree about seeing a therapeutic or functional nutritionist. Best thing I did.

Thistle

Veteran

I have an appointment with a registered dietitian at the end of August. It was their earliest appointment.

I guess we'll see what she says.

I need to call insurance, too. While I know they cover the first visit, it does seem strange that they'll cover all of the interventive care needed if I can't fix the underlying issues, but they may not cover the preventive care that could stop them all from happening. *shakes head*

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Sweet Thistle, I have no words of wisdom, but am sorry you are dealing with this. I have strong empathy for your ongoing efforts that have not yielded the results you had hoped for. That's such sodding rotten luck

(((HUGS)))

Sending good vibes and positive energy for the next set of appointments, and much love to you. xo

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

p.s. you'll go into those appointments with KILLER shoes