Great morning

I had an appt with my PCP this morning - I needed to get all my blood tests before my 3 month meeting with the surgeon.  They were vampires, and I am now 12 tubes of blood lighter.  Six big tubes and six little tubes take a looong time to fill up with a butterfly needle!  Then it looked like it was going to give out on the LAST tube and the nurse and I were both holding our breath as we watched it slowly drip to full.  It was a great morning though.  My doc experience was like that of a normal person - I could use the regular chairs in the waiting room instead of the extra wide heavy duty fat chairs (which I think are really great to see in any doc's waiting room, but I am glad to say bye to).  It was a slightly tight fit, but my butt was determined to sit in the regular chair and would not listen to the rest of me.  Then, I finally was able to weigh in there!  Their scale only goes to 400, so I'd never been able to get a weight from that doctor.  I was super excited - the nurse probably thought I was crazy to be excited about getting weighed when I still weigh 350lbs!  Blood pressure time.  I hate blood pressure time - someone find the adult thigh cuff... oh it doesn't work with this machine.. someone find the other machine.  Oh, this cuff is too long on your short little t-rex arm, but what else can we do?   And then the many attempted readings ensue.  Well, today I was able to use the large adult cuff!  And *drum roll* my blood pressure has dropped from 170/110 (unmedicated) to 112/78!  I stopped my pills after surgery, but I was still running slightly high two weeks ago when I had my nurse friend take it.  I asked the nurse today to take it a couple of times just to make sure.. I haven't had normal blood pressure since I was 20!  Finally, I went to climb up on the exam table.  I hate the exam tables at this particular docs, because they aren't bolted down so when you stand on the end and are heavy, its like a see-saw, it tips - and then when you step off it SLAMS back on to the floor.  Usually I ask the doctor or nurse to lean on the head end while I climb up.  And the little ledge you step on isn't wide enough so its hard to climb up (also remember I'm 5' tall so its hard to climb up anyway)  I have always dreaded those tables! Today I stepped up backward and hopped up to sit using my arms for leverage, like a normal person!!!  And it didn't even threaten to tip!!!  I was giddy at this point so while I was waiting alone in the doc's office I stepped off and hopped back on three more times   I'm lucky I didn't hurt myself, or I'd have to explain.  So overall, it was a good morning, they even hit my vein first try.  I haven't enjoyed a doc visit since... well...ever.   I did today though.  I'm definitely curious to see my numbers for everything, and I hope all is well in that department too.  I didn't have high cholesterol or triglycerides, but it was getting close, so I hope those numbers have dropped. 

Hi, there, fellow T-rex! I am not considered short (5'5"), but I have basset hound legs and t-rex arms, so I totally relate to your experiences with the exam table and the blood pressure cuff.  In my case, factor in knees that don't bend very well, and you get an SNL comedy routine! The first time they were able to actually take my blood pressure with a normal cuff on the top of my arm rather than on the lower part almost made me cry. Are you six lbs lighter now that they have tapped you dry?  As you keep losing weight, the experiences just get better and better, and I get to enjoy them again when you share your stories.   Some days, it's hard to remember that I weighed over 500 lbs, and I don't ever want to forget how horrible it was to weigh 500 lbs. Let us know how your blood work turns out! Kix

Jenn I am so happy to hear about your great Doc visit. I laughed so hard about the T-rex arms because my son says that is what I have all the time!!!LOL. I will be interested in your blood work too. My first month my pre albumin and D vit was low. For my 3 month after adjustments they are still low but have come up. This time tho my potasium was low so I started on those pills. I am a walking pharmacy. Haha.

Yippee!  I look forward to those days  ... although, I have to say that I always thought the step was difficult because of the lack of length.  I wear a size 7 shoe and my feet hang off the edge.  How are you supposed to get your balance if your feet are bigger as most are! ...............  going to look for that video of the wild woman hopping up and down on the exam table........