Thursday, September 01, 2005

August 2005 - This Blog Moved to http://HARTandYVONNE.com

This blog is closed - I have recopied everything up to this point in time and placed it on our personal website .. since May 19, 2005

You are invited to follow our progress by clicking the link below:

HARTandYVONNE.com - Getting In Shape

Thursday, May 19, 2005

May 19, 2005 - Just Got Back From The Doctor's Office

Enclosed is a copy of an email to my wife ... I wrote it about 3pm that afternoon so the details (as I remembered it) would be fresh and documented.



FROM: HART
TO: YVONNE
SUBJECT: Just got back from the doctor's office




Well. it didn't quite go as I imagined it. Here's a summary, feel free if you want to call me, it's up to you although, i will try to recall everything for my own piece of mind.

My appointment was re-scheduled for 1:05pm - I arrived at 12:56pm

At 1:52pm I started to play with my cell phone settings, and played the "Baby Elephant Walk" song twice ... the receptionist asked if I could turn the volume down, and I replied "Is it too loud? It can't be as annoying as waiting for my 1:05pm and it's now 2 o'clock...

At 1:55pm they called me and directed me to a room to sit.

At 2:05pm or so Dr. G. came in and asked me how I am doing. I replied "It's been a bad week actually .. had sunburn on sunday, went to a workout Monday morning and I seemed to have caught that stomach flu that has been going around with a case of diarrhea and - oh, my right eye swelled up to the size of a golfball.

Then, he looked at me, focusing on my eye, and said .. "Ok. let's look at your results".

(fine I figured - he has that sign in the office - one symptom per visit - was thinking that I'll just ask him what could have caused it at the end of the meeting).

He reads me the results of last blood test and I write them down.
ALT .75
AST .51
CPK .119

Apparently, this all means that the readings are "slightly elevated". I asked him 'elevated from what?" and he said, 'from normal'.

I told him I just didn't understand - was my liver affected? was my cholestrol normal now?

He said, there was some effect on the liver, but just slightly (I take it that's what he meant) We'll have to watch it over time. He asked me how if felt taking the Crestor and he'll write me a prescription for 100 at a time now.

That's when I started talking more.

I told him that I didn't like the Crestor, and I found it very discomforting actually, because at night, when I was inactive all I can feel was inner body burning as if trying to increase my metabolism and my legs were quite annoying and I couldn't sleep for more than 2 hours at a time.

He said that shouldn't have happened, and it's probably in my head.

I asked him ... "well?? did it reduce my cholestrol?" he said my cholestrol was 6.48 and my glucose sugar spot was 7.8 ... I looked in my notes, and that is exactly what it was last time. I said.. "Nothing changed using these pills?? He said, no those are last month's readings .. I just tested your liver this time.

He was writing his prescription, and I said - Listen, you can stop. I am not getting that filled. I stopped taking these pills after the May 12 blood test. Everyone I talk to and who I show these results to can't believe that my doctor is prescribing me pills, especially something designed to be taken for life, before trying other things.

That's when I guess I insulted him, and he got offended.

He suggested that when people say stuff like that, I should ask them if they have a license to practice medicine and make diagnosises. I replied, they are not asking me to be their patient, they are asking me to see another doctor.

oops. then he wrote something in my permanent file, just like on Seinfeld.

Apparently, he wrote down his new prescription for me... "make meaningful life changes and life choices". He suggested to me that "listen, try to change your life. Do what you think you can help yourself. Try what others think or tell you to do and see me in 6 months. Will you do that?" And, if your levels get worse, keep in mind that you just lost 6 months of health care and you may not live as long because, you have above average cholestrol, you are borderline diabetic type 2 with your sugar levels, you are overweight, and you should be concerned.

I answered, "fair enough". And, I scheduled an appointment for November 15, 2005.

HART




Well, that was my email that I sent to Yvonne so I wouldn't forget the little details.

Tuesday, April 12, 2005

April 12, 2005 - Wow! Everybody's pissed off - Including me!

I just filled the prescription as prescribed. But - boy oh boy - was Yvonne mad. And, apparently everybody that both she and myself mention this story to. Here is the general reaction from all of our family and friends ..

What - is your doctor a quack or something? He doesn't ask you to change your diet? He doesn't ask you to exercise? He doesn't tell you to change your diet and exercise and come back in 60 days and if you can't do this on your own he can prescribe a drug like Crestor to help you?


Yes... Just like that, I have to pay almost $2.00 CDN per tablet per day for the rest of my life ...

Oh well - I'm on Day 2 already, I paid for the prescription, I've taken two tablets ... I started this thing - I may as well see if it will do damage to my liver (in case I really do need to take this for the rest of my life)...

HART

Monday, April 11, 2005

April 11, 2005 - The Results Are In

ALT .75
AST .51
CPK .119

To quote Frank Barone .. "Oh Crap!" ... I had a notebook of all of the blood test results .. but I don't know where it is anymore.

I basically came to my appointment and Dr. G. read me all of the test results. Here is a summary of what I remembered he said....

  • I don't have cancer or anything like that

  • >> Well, that's good to know!

  • It's hard to say what happened, but my 'spot' sugar levels were slightly above normal, but my long-term sugar levels were actually low and normal.

  • >> I might have chewed some gum late before the blood test .. I know! I know! I wasn't supposed to eat or drink water or anything ... Did gum count?
    >> Also, Dr. G. pointed out that since my dad is a diabetic, and my weight is above normal, I should probably want to watch out for this

  • My "bad" Cholestrol levels are slightly above normal and my "good" cholestrol levels are slightly below normal

  • >> I asked Dr. G. what this meant, and he defined it as 'something you do not want to have, if you can help it'.

    It seems that when you take all of these into consideration:

    (1) My mom has high blood pressure
    (2) My dad is diabetic and has had strokes
    (3) I enjoy eating out at restaurants and fast food take-outs, and
    (4) I am overweight ..

    Dr. G. prescribed me the CRESTOR drug. You know the one .. the one with Mandy Patinkin (from Dead Like Me .. etc) talks about. There is a potential side effect that it might destroy my liver however, so for the first initial purchase he will subscribe me 36 tablets. After that, I should take another blood test to see if any harm and damage happens, then after that, if okay .. he will prescribe me Crestor in 100-lot amounts, and I will have to take these cholestrol reducing pills for the rest of my life.

    "Oh Crap".

    So, I go to the local pharmacy and buy them ... "HOLY CRAP" !! $66.95 cdn for 36 TABLETS??

    GrrrRrrRrrrrRRrr

    HART

    Sunday, April 10, 2005

    April 10, 2005 - Dr. G's office calls me.

    But, it's nothing - they are just calling to confirm that they have the results, and I should come in April 11, 2005...

    um.,.. okay! That's what we scheduled last week.

    Monday, April 04, 2005

    April 4, 2005 - The Blood Tests

    I hand my three different samples of my stool to the technician and Dr. G's instruction for the many blood samples.

    Altogether, there were only 7 blood samples taken. Actually, I was quite surprised ... being that I haven't done this since the 1980's .. giving blood that is. There really was only one needle put into my veins, and 7 little containers popping on and off of it ..

    It was over in about 30 seconds.

    She said it should take a week to get all of the proper tests prepared and return them to Dr. G., so I phoned back the clinic and made an appointment for April 11, 2005.

    I was a little concerned, that I took the blood tests about 10am that day. I didn't stop eating until about 10pm the previous night. I was supposed to stop eating around 6pm and not even drink any water.

    HART

    Monday, March 28, 2005

    March 28, 2005 - HART's Physical

    Here's the reader digest version.

  • I already pee'd before getting to the doctors' office, because nobody told me I was supposed to NOT pee, and then come pee into a bottle.

  • I weigh in

  • My blood pressure test was a little high, maybe about something over 140....

  • I believe I passed all of the tests like.. "put left finger on nose" and "put right finger on nose", and other tests like the "leg kicks up after being smashed with a hammer" test....

  • Dr. G. proceeds to check my prostate i.e. gets VERY personal "up front", asking me to cough while he is feeling me up ~~

  • Dr. G. then asks me to rollover and proceeds to get even MORE personal where the sun don't shine ~~

  • HART doesn't like that part too much ... and being tense and all, makes Dr. G's test unsuccessful


  • So, Dr. G. gets out his pad of paper, and starts to write out a series of blood tests that I am required to take, a total of 19 sets of initials that I don't understand. Because there were problems with the last test, he hands me a 'care package' and instructs me to take 3 separate stool samples before going down to take the blood tests.

    Dr. G. knows my background.

    My mother goes to the same clinic. She has high blood pressure at times, among various other things. My father is diabetic, taking insulin, among various other things. That knowledge had great impact on the doctor in choosing the tests for me, so he says.

    I asked if I could take the blood pressure test again, because I'm sure I could pass it this time.Dr. G. laughs, and claims that "it is what is is" and there is no point. But, I convinced him to let me try it again, because .. heck! I've never taken a physical before and was nervous. Now, he's fondled my balls, stuck his finger up my ass .. I think I am calm down now. This time, my blood pressure was something over 130 - an improvement.

    So! I can do this ... Bring it on! On with the collection of the stool samples that is ... and then the blood test.

    HART

    Tuesday, January 18, 2005

    January 18, 2005 - It Starts

    It was a Tuesday, just like any other Tuesday, at 11:13am I received an Email from my wife...



    FROM: YVONNE
    TO: HART
    SUBJECT: YOUR PHYSICAL




    You have a physical with Dr. G. on March 28 at 2:30pm. It's just one
    appointment. He doesn't do it in stages like Ian does.




    Well .. just like that - "It Starts". Honestly, that came out of the blue for me.

    In all my years, I have never had a physical. I hate doctors. I hate dentists. I hate all forms of hospitals and people and relatives in hospitals. I think it stems way back from when my grandmother on my father's side, "Baba", died. I used to walk to her place two times a week during my school years between grades 2 and grade 6. I was at the hospital the exact moment she died. There are many hospital stories that I could give you, but they are not too relevant for now.

    Anyway, we have been living in our part of town since 1997, and Yvonne immediately found a new family doctor, just down the street. It's the IAN mentioned in the Email .. Dr. Ian something-or-other. He has a medical practice and is partnered with his father, "G" something-or-other. I don't really know his first name, and I don't really know their last name. Everyone is referred to either Dr. I. or Dr. G.

    Well, Yvonne really liked this Dr. I. He is a young doctor, maybe late 30's? She already has had a physical, been there for a few ailments, etc. etc. It was 2002 before I had a need to go to any doctor, for my foot. I wanted to get X-Rays to see if I cracked something inside it. But, I never had a family doctor. Naturally, Yvonne recommended Dr. I. So, I went and made an appointment with him.

    But - Dr. I. was so popular and not taking any new patients. So, I was 'assigned' to be a patient of Dr. G., the father.

    That explains the Doctor.

    Yvonne knows that I hate doctors. She also knew that I hate the concept of a physical, because (like most men I figure) .. we don't like strange fingers poking in areas that they don't belong....

    But - today - Yvonne had figured that I owed it to her to get a physical, to make sure that nothing is wrong with me, and if something was wrong with me, I could get proper medical attention, and not die and leave her alone.

    Can't argue with that.... BUT!! I tried.

    I did remind her that in February 2004, when we were cancelled all of our revolving insurance on our mortgage, credit cards, etc .. to get a Term Policy insurance .. we both took a very extensive blood test, and I was given a good clean bill of health.

    Well, one thing that I have never been able to do, is change Yvonne's mind once it has been set, so ... I marked March 28, 2005 on my calendar.

    HART

    Monday, January 17, 2005

    January 17, 2005 - About us (Background)

    Everything you ever wanted to know about myself and my wife is pretty much documented in our personal website ... http://www.HARTandYVONNE.com

    Here's the Reader's Digest Version:

    March 1997 - HART and YVONNE meet from the internet .. believe it or not!
    September 1997 - HART and YVONNE buy a Condo together
    June 1998 - HART and YVONNE rescued Zeus (the cat) from the Shelter
    February 1999 - HART and YVONNE and ZEUS adopt Maxxie (the Papillon) from a breeder
    July 25, 2001 - HART and YVONNE decide to get married and book August 31, 2002 in a Medieval Themed style wedding

    August 13, 2001 - YVONNE Quits Smoking cold turkey

    October 22, 2001 - HART decides to quit smoking
    November 5, 2001 - HART Quits Smoking cold Turkey


    August 31, 2002 - HART and YVONNE get married and HARTandYVONNE.com is born!

    September 7, 2002 - HART and YVONNE and ZEUS and MAXXIE adopt Sophie (the Papillon) from a breeder

    And we lived happily ever after!

    ABOUT YVONNE

    Before I met Yvonne, although she smoked slightly, she was an aerobics instructor, and quite healthy. She quit smoking many times before we met and also quit many times. After we met, because I smoked quite heavily, she took back to smoking. When she quit on August 13th, 2001 .. it took her almost 14 months to get off of Nicorette gum, to regular sugarless gum. As a couple, we probably go through 40-50 packs of gum each week.

    ABOUT HART

    I have always been skin and bones and active in sports, water skiing, and other ways to keep well, not healthy - but in semi-good shape. I have NEVER EVER wanted to quit smoking. Other people would say that I should quit smoking, but I never wanted to. It wasn't until after Yvonne quit, that I noticed it was hard on her that I was smoking in the house. Soon, I was offering to smoke in the basement or upstairs in my office. But, then SIMS (the original) came out and she ended up playing the computer in my office. I didn't like smoking in the basement! So, I decided then that I would quit smoking on October 22, 2001. At that time, I was averaging 43 cigarettes per day. What I decided to do was reduce my intake by 3 cigarettes each day until I quit. I think, due to stress and deadlines, I probably smoked a pack on October 31, 2001 .. but other than that I was on schedule and quit on November 5, 2001. Cold Turkey. I have never wanted to smoke again.

    SIDE EFFECTS

    I think Yvonne was more affected than me with fighting the urges caused by quitting smoking. I never had any urges to smoke, nor did I use or had the need to use Nicorette. But, I can only assume that it was quite stressful and affected me subconciously. Because by New Year's day January 1, 2002 - I had gained about 30-40 pounds extra weight. Yvonne didn't gain extra pounds, although she was chewing a lot of Nicorette gum. However, I should mention that since we met in 1997 until 2001, I was the cook of house. We did gain a few pounds here and there and over the years .. a pound or two adds up if it keeps coming each year. It's tough when you have a great Stir-Fry and Chili recipe and love to BBQ all the time.



    Are we fat? This was 2002 don't forget. This was 3 years ago.

    As my story will continue, Yvonne looked about the same, but has been working out religiously and it's more muscle than body fat .. but her weight has been going down, back up, down again, etc etc. I probably looked about the same for the most part, but gaining maybe up to 10-15 pounds extra at any time. I recall thinking that when my back hurted, it was time to lose weight so I wouldn't eat OUT at restaurants that often, until I got the weight down. All in all, I would say at about January 17, 2005 .. we were both about the same weight as we were when we got married.

    Take care.
    HART

    January 17, 2005 - Greetings and Salutations! About this Blog..

    Greetings and welcome to this new blog, created August 19, 2005 ..

    I have backdated all the entries prior to August 19, 2005 to emphasize the date of occurence, and to maintain this blog in a chronological history of the events as I remembered it.

    I created this new blog and named it ....

    "HART-Attack"

    ... because:

  • My name is HART, and I wanted that to be part of the name

  • HART_Attack is one of my nickname userID's that I use on gaming sites, such as POGO.COM .. and thought that this name is an appropriately sounding name for a blog with this topic


  • The topic of this blog is about ....

    "GETTING IN SHAPE"

    ... because:

  • I want to start working on my life goal to get back in shape and become healthier

  • I want to be young and healthy enough and able to enjoy my retirement years

  • I think that writing it all down will help me keep on track with this goal


  • Take care.
    HART