Re: My Intro

[Guest guest]

Hi Cristina,

Welcome to the board - I hope we can help you out :-) Here are my

answers to your questions (I am 33, and 5.5 weeks post-myo):

>Can I request he take pictures?

Some women on this site have requested and gotten photos taken of

their fibroids. A couple women supplied disposable cameras to the

surgeons. You can certainly ask.

>I am also nervous about having my abdominals cut. I am in not that

great of shape abdominally, (I walk about 15miles a week). Those of

you in good shape, how was it for your abs to gain some strength

again. I have started crunches and hope that will help that process.

I worked with a trainer to get some additional strength in my abdomen

before the surgery. Any additional strength will help a lot. My

abdomen felt fine just a couple weeks after the surgery (I am a bit

odd - I have a vertical incision of about 4.5 inches starting about 3

inches below my belly button - most women hava a horizontal incision

for their myos).

>Do you bleed vaginally afterwards? If so, how much? Can tampons be

used or only pads as with child birth?

I bled just a little bit, and when I bled it was always after doing

something like sneezing or stressing my abdomen. The surgeon will

tell you something along the lines of " nothing, and I mean nothing,

in your vagina for at least 2 weeks " . So, you should have some pads

on hand.

>I read somewhere about jeans being uncomfortable. Good to know,

since all I where is jeans and my walking clothes. I guess I have to

go shopping for more work out clothes! (I need new ones anyway!) How

long until I can exercise again?

Definitely have some very loose fitting clothes on hand - things with

very, very gentle waistbands. You will be able to start walking not

too too long after your surgery, but you will have to listen to your

body about how much it can take. Go very gently on yourself!

Best of luck,

Janet

[Guest guest]

Dear: J Cristina Salmon J

Here my answers to your questions:

Now I have some questions for you that have had this procedure done.

Can I request he take pictures? I am really curious about what mine

look like.

**don't know about this one, I didn't ask**

I am also nervous about having my abdominals cut. I am in not that

great of shape abdominally, (I walk about 15miles a week. My legs

look great, but my abs, ugh!) Those of you in good shape, how was it

for your abs to gain some strength again. I have started crunches and

hope that will help that process.

**I do have strong abs (or at least did prior to my myo, but I'm only

2 weeks post, so don't have any idea. I'm just starting to be able

to bend and reach for things now without pain. The doc and nurses at

the hospital said I was recovering very quickly, but I have nothing

to compare it to.**

Do you bleed vaginally afterwards? If so, how much? Can tampons be

used or only pads as with child birth?

**Only slighly. Unfortunately, I was due for my period the day of my

surgery. It came 2 days later, and i bled a lot, but it was my

period, not bleeding from the surgery. Having to use a pad again

wasn't fun.**

I read somewhere about jeans being uncomfortable. Good to know,

since all I where is jeans and my walking clothes. I guess I have to

so shopping for more work out clothes! (I need new ones anyway!)

** I have a strong answer here. I'm still having problems wearing

any pants besides draw-string cotton pants. Someone on this board

recommended overalls, they work too. But you definitely won't want

work-out pants. They have way too much elastic and lycra in them.

You won't want anything that touches the incision, or your whole

abdomen area (which is very sore and tender). I'd recommend going

shopping for pants that don't look like pj's so once you are doing

better, you can go outside!**

How long until I can exercise again? That is so important to me,

since that is the only way I can keep those 80lbs from coming back.

**Don't know the answer yet, I'm going to ask tomorrow at my 2 week

post-op follow up

I only had 2 weeks notice before my myo was scheduled, so I didn't

have a lot of time to research here. Good luck to you.

Liz**

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/21/2005 1:24:20 PM Eastern Standard Time,

shados@... writes:

Was this a " fasting " number? Have you been given the hour or

even three hour glucose test? (I would request the hour one if you haven't)

Are you overweight? (I am) Were you advised to go on a special diet?? do

you have a meeting with a intuitionalist set up? (I would do this too)

Hi and thanks for the welcome! Okay let's see if i can answer some of these

questions. Okay I went for the three hour fasting test. Yes I am overweight.

No advice was given as far as diet since it was my Gyn that had ordered the

test and not my reg doc. Not really sure where to go from here with what the

doc said. How do I know that I have this under control? I am trying to get

preg and so I know that is playing a part as well.

As far as eating I eat mostly wheat bread, I love veggies and always have, i

rarely eat " junk " food to begin with although my biggest downfall would be

sodas. I have made a huge effort to switch to diet sodas though and doing

pretty

good with that.

Jenn in Baltimore

[Guest guest]

First of all... I am not a doctor. But I would get more info about your

diagnosis. Was this a " fasting " number? Have you been given the hour or

even three hour glucose test? (I would request the hour one if you haven't)

Are you overweight? (I am) Were you advised to go on a special diet?? do

you have a meeting with a intuitionalist set up? (I would do this too)

I have found the best exercise is strength training and swimming! I love

it!

I have also found that not one person is the same when it comes to diet. I

eat pretty much whatever I want. I just watch the portions and enjoy lots

of veggies and whole grains. I also eat lean meats and fish.

My name is Angelia and I Live in Oregon on a little bitty farm! I garden

avidly... and hubby is going to build me a greenhouse this weekend!!! I

cant wait!

Good luck, and there is always someone here to give insight on an question.

Don't over educate yourself. Things can fill the brain and muddle it,

making you feel so overwhelmed that you want nothing to do with it.

Welcome to the group!

Angelia in OR

----- Original Message -----

>

>

> Hi everyone. My name is Jenn and I was just diagnosed with diabetes. I

am

> looking for good ways to diet and ways to work out that will burn the most

> calories. Don't know exactly what to do with this information. I'm not

on pills

> or insulin. I had a blood glucose of 127 and was told that 99 is

" normal " .

>

> Thanks for listening,

> Jenn from Baltimore

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/21/2005 6:09:58 PM Eastern Standard Time,

shados@... writes:

Angelia in OR who is 26 and diagnosed since Oct of '03

Okay the nutritionalist sounds like a great idea. i am also looking for a

diabetes specialist.

The blood glucose test that i had done was the one they do for pregnany

women, you can't eat and then you drink the nasty stuff and then they poke you

like

100 times.

What are refined carbs???? I swear I feel like I'm asking dumb questions but

I honestly never thought about all this before.

The diabetes for dummies book sounds like a great idea. I think my biggest

problem is the fact that I can't stand needles. Am actually terrified of them.

The biggest thing I need to overcome is being able to prick my finger to test

my sugar everyday and then what is " normal " ? What am i shooting for???

Like I said I feel like an idiot asking all these questions LOL.

Jenn who is being good and swiging some Diet Pepsi

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/21/2005 9:42:59 PM Eastern Standard Time,

shados@... writes:

My doctor wants my blood sugar to be below 120 2 hours after a meal, and

below 110 for fasting. that is something that your medical team will let

you know.

I hope my rambling has helped at least a little!

Angelia in OR

LOL Rambling you are not. Actually this is all very helpful. What I can't

understand however is that when i went to my reg doc and he wanted a fasting

bloodwork done, i forgot about it the night and morning of and ate and drank as

usual. He did the blood work anyway. The bloodwork was done about an hour to

an hour and a half after i ate and drank a big glass of iced tea that was of

course loaded in sugar. My sugar level was 124.

I am seriously making the appts on Monday. I need to get all this sorted

out!!!

Jenn in MD

[Guest guest]

hey! I am trying to get pregnant too... lol...

have you looked into Natural Family Planning??? (not the rhythm method)

Check out the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler, MPH

There are some great info sites online too...

First, I would request a prescription for a meter (to test your blood sugar)

find out if your insurance will cover one? Mine sent me a free one, though

I still have a pretty " high " co-pay for the strips. Test test test...

Drink diet sodas, tea with splenda or other sweetener. ( am a soda aholic

eheh) Try to cut as many refined carbs out of your diet. It seems as

though they " caught " it before it " got out of hand " and you may be able to

control it with diet your whole life. If you make the lifestyle change now.

As for " wheat " bread, is the first ingredient on the loaf whole wheat

flour?? if not, then there isn't enough whole wheat to matter in it.

I would request a lesson with a nutritonalist, just so that you can learn

what portion sizes and what not are. They do have some GREAT info.

I would start walking (if you are able) doing some sort of movement to get

the heart rate up and be active. (it helps with delivery once pregnant too,

it sure did for me)

Swimming if you are able is one of the best exercises out there. It works

the WHOLE body and keeps you " relaxed " the whole time so you don't feel so

worn out and sweaty. My body is so relaxed after swimming, even though I am

tired, I am not too tired. Try to get into shape now, (not necessarily

skinny) before getting pregnant, so that you can continue to be active

through your pregnancy.

I Honestly would request a glucose test, one where you drink the glucose

stuff after fasting for 12 hours. Just to see where your body is.

Diabetes for dummies has been recommended over and over on this group, I

would see if your library has it. (I haven't read it but I hear it is

great)

Angelia in OR who is 26 and diagnosed since Oct of '03

----- Original Message -----

>

> Hi and thanks for the welcome! Okay let's see if i can answer some of

these

> questions. Okay I went for the three hour fasting test. Yes I am

overweight.

> No advice was given as far as diet since it was my Gyn that had ordered

the

> test and not my reg doc. Not really sure where to go from here with what

the

> doc said. How do I know that I have this under control? I am trying to

get

> preg and so I know that is playing a part as well.

>

> As far as eating I eat mostly wheat bread, I love veggies and always have,

i

> rarely eat " junk " food to begin with although my biggest downfall would be

> sodas. I have made a huge effort to switch to diet sodas though and doing

pretty

> good with that.

>

> Jenn in Baltimore

[Guest guest]

Never feel dumb for asking questions!!!! It shows smarts that you are

asking them =)

Refined carbs are things like white bread, white flour, white rice. Refined

sugars, simple crap carbs that do nothing for your body. Empty calories.

So, all the sugar in the sodas would be refined carbs. Eating white bread,

is refined carbs... So, if you are going to eat rice, eat brown rice (I like

it better) Eat whole wheat bread. fill up on raw veggies! I love salads!

(lite on the dressing, because I use full fat types).

Just because something says sugar free, doesn't mean it wont shoot up the

blood sugars. Read the labels... it becomes habit after a while... lol

As for needles.. you may only have an issue when you get pregnant, because

you and I are more likely to be put on insulin (it's good for us)

Try to get a meter that allows for you to stab yourself in the arm or leg.

Mine I can check my finger, bicep, forearm, and calf. I LOVE it.. now that

I can get a good draw...

My doctor wants my blood sugar to be below 120 2 hours after a meal, and

below 110 for fasting. that is something that your medical team will let

you know.

I hope my rambling has helped at least a little!

Angelia in OR

----- Original Message -----

>

> Like I said I feel like an idiot asking all these questions LOL.

>

> Jenn who is being good and swiging some Diet Pepsi

[Guest guest]

Sounds good to me!!!

I would for sure get a " second " opinion...

Angelia in OR

----- Original Message -----

> I am seriously making the appts on Monday. I need to get all this sorted

> out!!!

>

> Jenn in MD