Heath Update 10/31//2022

Hello Friends,

I haven't posted on this blog in a long time. 

I also haven’t shared a health update in some time. So here goes. 

First, the good news.

My weight this morning on my home scale is 298lbs. That’s a total weight loss of around 120lbs from my highest ever back in 2011 and 2012 or so. Since Alene and I stared the Kaiser weight management program in March of 2021, I’ve shed about 95-100lbs. My blood labs all come back in the middle of the average range, right on target. My A1C, which was never really bad, is in the low 5’s. Generally, considering my overall health, I feel healthier than I have in years.

However…..

When asked “Mike, how ya doing?”, the answer can get a little more complicated. My generic and honest answer nowadays is “I’m feeling well. My hips hurt.” They’re honest statements addressing different aspects of my health.

I think my emotional health has improved a lot. For a while I was in the doldrums over all the osteoarthritis pain and limitations that come with it. I did a pain management class (helpful but not really helpful, if that makes sense), that helped me to better understand how pain works and what it means. Kaiser (probably most medical systems) is clamping down on prescriptions of powerful pain medications (opioids), and I get it, so there’s not much beyond ibuprofen and Tylenol for pain. I’ve come to a place where the pain is just something that’s there. Not much I can do about it. Its constant and frustrating, and there are times when its excruciating, but it’s not always debilitating. I do find some relief by sitting in a comfortable chair or recliner, and I’ve been able to sleep pretty well as of late, which is a big win.

Walking is a straight up struggle. I can use a cane around the house for short trips down the hall, or from the front door to the car, or a very short walk into a restaurant or some such thing, but generally I use my walkers the rest of the time. If it's a longer walk, like into a medical appointment, Alene will grab the wheelchairs available and push me around. 

I’m still trying to concentrate on what I “can do”, instead of what I “cannot do”, but that takes a lot of energy because, if I’m honest, I really don’t want to “do anything” that hurts. And, unfortunately, anything I need to do generally involves standing and walking of some sort, and it all hurts.

So, that brings us to today.

Alene drove me to an early morning appointment with an orthopedic surgeon who came highly recommend by several friends. We met, we looked at the x-rays, he agreed I need hip-replacement.

Cool. 

However, my BMI is still too high in his opinion, which I sort of expected. My first surgeon wanted me to get to 285lbs before he’d consider surgery, so this was not a big surprise, but it was still disappointing. However, the surgeon we spoke to today said he would not do surgery on me, because of how he does his surgeries.  He goes in through the front of the thigh, which frankly I still have a lot of fat in that area, and I’d run a high risk of infection. He suggested I re-contact the other surgeon and follow-up, because that surgeon does his hip-replacement surgeries from the posterior, or kind of around the side toward the back of the thigh, which would work better for me. Alene asked some questions about the x-rays, about some necrosis at the head of the femur, and the doc kinda said, yeah… not much to do about it until we replace the hips. He was honest and kind, and I appreciated that.

Needless to say, we were disappointed. It was a bit unrealistic to expect anything different, but we had hope.

However, hope is not lost.

Surgery will happen. It will happen. There is a light at the end of this tunnel, and I’m beginning to be able to see it. I have 15-20 more pounds to lose (depends on whose scale I use, mine at home or the scale in the Kaiser office).

Bottom line, I’m disappointed but not surprised. I knew going in my weight is not where the doctors want it to be. I had a somewhat unrealistic hope that the doctor would look at the x-rays, and say “Dear Lord, Mr. Jones, how are you even walking? I’ve hardly ever seen hips so bad! We must get you into surgery immediately. How’s next week sound?”

I mean, I knew it was unrealistic, but its kinda like buying a lottery ticket and dreaming of what I’d do with the winnings. A completely unrealistic expectation, but….. it could happen, ya know!?

Well, I write this as an update for those who are interested, and as a catharsis for myself. Life goes on, we’ll manage best we can. Alene is such a wonderful caregiver, and even though I can still do most day-to-day things for myself, she is always ready to help.

My plan is to double down on what I know about weigh loss, and redirect my efforts to staying faithful to my plan. Honestly, 15-20 pounds is not a lot of weight in the grand scheme of my weight loss journey. I can do this!

If you’re the praying type, we covet your prayers. However, I don’t want you to pray for a miracle, or for supernatural divine intervention. Honestly. I know that God will move as God is pleased to move on the medical front. I trust that. Please simply remember Alene and I in your prayers, and ask that God would provide us with wisdom and patience to get through this bump on our journey, so we can heal and continue on with the journey.

If you’re not a praying type, I’d ask you to think good thoughts and send good will whenever you think of us. Believe it or not, its all a prayer of sorts. Whether we’re praying “in Jesus’ name”, or just hoping good hopes, it’s all positive when sent in friendship and love.  Just, when you think of us, send love in your own way!

If you read this far, I am super stoked and glad!

It’s been said a person (or people) can get through almost anything that come their way, if they have friends to help them along the way. I’ve found that to be true.

If any of you find yourself in need of good will or prayer, or just a talk, feel free to ask.

Love and friendship are nothing if not reciprocal.