There Must Be an App for That...

I received a call the other day from my GP, Dr. Laura Miller of Lifelong, telling me that Caitlin, someone who used to intern with Lifelong, wanted to do an in-house visit with me. Caitlin was with Lifelong for a couple of years as sort of a health assistant. She set up the workshops, like diabetes and stroke, which I would attend. She was very competent, had a good sense of humor, was engaging, and seemed to have a lot of knowledge about general health matters. Caitlin is now in medical school at USF. She told me today that medical school is now emphasizing much more the patient end of health care. So, she shadows Dr. Miller a couple of times a month, and is now doing these in-house visits. She asked me after we sat down, "What would you like to talk about? Your cancer surgery, your diabetes, your support system?" I started out by telling her about the uterine cancer, how it was diagnosed, about the surgery at Alta Bates. When she asked me the question at the end, "What would you change?" I replied that there's nothing about the Alta Bates hospital care, the care I received at the hands of my oncologist or gynecologist, or even Dr. Miller. They are very caring, extremely competent doctors, with great caregivers in each of their practices. (That last statement doesn't apply to my GP; Lifelong doesn't have the resources.) For instance, Dr. Poddatoori has a scheduling person, a surgery scheduling person, someone who helps me in the examining room, etc. Dr. Stern, the oncologist, has his own assistant physician, Dr. Stephanie Summers, a scheduling person, an insurance person, ad infinitum, it seemed. I told Caitlin that I have had two cancers, I have had two surgeries, and it's gone. Twice. But diabetes beats my butt every day. I don't have a hold on diabetes, and haven't for a good, what, 20 years? I have all the information, but I can't seem to make the right choices. It doesn't help that I feel I'm addicted to sugar, and sugar snacks are the easy way to go. As are potatoes and bread. I wished -- well, almost -- I was back in the hospital. When the dietitian came by, he gave me a menu from which to choose my next three meals. After I kept checking everything -- I was hungry after having not eaten in three days! -- so he stopped me and pointed out that I was allowed only so many glucose points because I'm diabetic. Once I learned that, I could choose more optimally, and end up with a glucose-balanced meal. Ruth suggested that, just like there's a Weight Watcher's app on her cell phone, there's probably one or two good apps for diabetics. Sure enough, I just found one and bought it: Diabetics Buddy (shortened version is "D Buddy.") I have yet to use it. I hope I can figure it out and use it to my advantage.

Weight and See

I did not go into this great surgery with the idea of losing weight. But, hey, if they take out a uterus with really abnormally thick walls, plus ovaries, wouldn't that give minus a few pounds? Of course, they had to put something back -- I don't know what that is, and really don't want to know.

As near as I can figure, the difference in weight was about 6 pounds, as I weighed myself on my first day back. I'm not sure if that's uterus or if that's mostly I was on a reduced diet while I was in there due to the fact that I was nauseous my first few days.

I do remember eating that big, orange popsicle they gave me on my second day. I promptly threw it up. But it sure tasted good for a few minutes. They then, I think, figured out I was diabetic, and I never saw a popsicle again. But everything, once I was able to eat again on the third day, tasted great. A little tin of fruit. Some chicken soup. I really didn't have an appetite and wasn't at all hungry while I was recovering from the nausea in the first few days of hospitalization, but then my appetite came roaring back. I almost wished I could have stayed to see what the evening meal was like on Tuesday. But I was discharged around 2pm.

I weighed myself this morning, and I've lost 11.2 pounds since I went into Alta Bates. I'd like to continue eating small, frequent meals, fewer carbs, more healthy choices. I don't know if I can keep it up, but I have so many reasons to try.

So, for the young adults out there contemplating surgery for one reason or another: don't go into the procedure thinking you're going to lose weight as a goal. But if you do happen to lose some pounds, maybe it's a new beginning for you to start on healthy habits.

A Weighty Matter

This is sort of an addendum to the last post, but not really. Sorta, kinda.

I've been eating a lot. I've gained 20 pounds, exactly, since last August. And I know exactly why, or at least I do now. I didn't over the last several months.

Worry, stress, all over this medical thing. Do I have cancer, or don't I. What has to be done. Sometimes the tests are more onerous than the surgery. Being poked and prodded, suffering invasions and pain. It took a while for me to report, and now, some three months later, I'm still waiting for the solution.

So I'm eating my way through California. Actually, it's mostly sugar I'm eating. My nemesis, my addiction. This cancer thing isn't exactly eating me alive; rather, it's the other way around.

Still, I have to think of the colonoscopy I just had today (one less thing to worry about, DONE!) to get on the proper weight training track. I just cleansed my system. I hope to take advantage of that.

And if we ever get around to having that uterine- and ovaries-removing procedure, WHAM! I'll instantly lose, what, 10 pounds? At that point, I'm almost even for the year!

Early Detection for Cancer

Thanks to a reader for sending me this link to a recent Wired magazine article on early detection of cancer. Our reader says, "It's an interesting piece on how money is being spent to fight cancer and the potential for getting an edge on the disease through better early detection."

The Psychological Challenges of Surviving Cancer

There's an article at Newsday.com today from the Harvard Mental Health Letter (December 1, 2008) that discusses the psychological challenges of a patient after the cancer has been treated.

To quote the first part of the article, "...the most difficult times occurring during transitions... One transition in particular is likely to cause psychological distress: the period immediately following completion of intensive (primary) cancer treatment. For some patients, this transition may be as stressful, if not more so, as undergoing treatment itself.

"Patients, family, and friends understandably look forward to the completion of cancer treatment, especially when the prognosis is good. But when patients complete what may have been a grueling series of daily, weekly, or monthly medical visits, they also lose both the support system and structure provided by regular contact with an oncology team and other patients."

To read the rest of the article, look here.

60 Is a Magic Number

Today is my birthday. It's not only my birthday, but a milestone: it's my 60th birthday.

I actually never thought I'd see this day. I had so many self-destructive days while growing up, as a young and even more mature adult. In fact, I was telling someone the other day that I wished I had the power to go back in time, confront myself and say: No more candy bars!

I have to laugh as I typed that. The truth is, I never really woke up to health issues until the cancer, which I contracted at age 54. Then, slowly, bit by bit, I started paying attention. I was kind of reborn.

In the last few years I've lost some weight (still working on that one), stabilized my diabetes, cholesterol, and blood pressure, and hit the exercise road (walking) anew, finding a friend to do it with. And, six years later, I'm still cancer free.

In the other phases of my life, I am really happy. But I still struggle with portion control, eating from the rest of the pyramid, getting my body into fighting shape.

It's all a process, isn't it? The process of life.

I'm going on a week's vacation starting tomorrow. Traveling is always a problem for me as far as exercise and diet. I'll let you know how things went when I return.