A slight case of overblogging

GPs this morning to discuss implications of recent blood tests. It looks like the bad liver function test was almost entirely caused by the statins - I've only lost a couple of kg in the time between the two tests, so it's unlikely that made a difference. Only way to prove it is to put me back on them, but he doesn't see the need for that :) Cholesterol before I stopped them was at 3.3.

Blood sugar levels are also currently OK, although he didn't say what the HbA1C value from the most recent test was, and didn't take fasting glucose last time round. I've never had a value above 7 for fasting glucose though, and the metformin was mostly preventative, so given the excellent weight loss results the current plan is to stop taking that too. I'm to go back in 2 months and he'll test fasting blood sugar, cholesterol and liver function again. Hopefully those will all be OK and we can continue unmedicated thereafter.

Finally he did blood pressure, and showed an interesting effect: first result (immediately after fairly animated conversation) was roughly 150/90 - dreadful. After 60 seconds deliberately relaxing and breathing deeply it was down to 122/74 - absolutely fine.

Ideally I need to continue losing weight to a BMI of 25 or less and then stay there, but the main takeaway message is not to gain any weight from where I am now at about BMI 29.5. I may compromise on somewhere inbetween, depending on how hard it gets to keep losing weight. Overall I'm pretty happy :)

And in other news while checking if I had full access to the BMJ I discovered there's apparently a link between hyperparathyroidism and diabetes/glucose intolerance. Apparently just having had the abnormal gland removed may well have reduced my fasting glucose levels a little! See this relevant paper.

Sprained/chipped ankle: sufficiently better that most of the time I don't even remember I did it any more. Even when doing things like attempting to scale a climbing wall. Success.

Hyperparathyroidism/hypercalcaemia: Have appointment to see surgeon on 28th, at which point they'll make an appointment to actually have the operation and take my overactive parathyroid out. Relatively minor day surgery, will need to take calcium/vitamin D supplements for a while afterwards until the other three glands reset to normal operation.

Kidney stone: This is almost certainly caused by the excess calcium in my urine because of the above. CT scan results are in and I have a 4mm stone in my left kidney. At this size it's 50/50 whether it's worth treating, but since I have symptoms (pain again this Tuesday, and I can still sort of feel it now) the GP has referred me to have it broken up using external ultrasound. No idea how long this referral will take. In the meantime I still have enough diclofenac left to deal with the pain.

Metabolic Syndrome: Having lost some weight I've discussed this with my GP. Since I have a strong family history of diabetes it's very likely that even if I lose more weight I'm still going to get diabetes later. He'd rather I continued to take the Metformin and statins, since apparently they can have a protective effect and will hopefully delay its onset. I'm not terribly happy with this, but will review in maybe 6-8 months time, at which point I'll ask them to re-do all the sugar/cholesterol level tests too. This does mean I still can't drink.

Weight loss: 13kg so far to 97kg, which is over 10% of my weight and more than 5 BMI points. I expect to reach 90kg (around BMI 31.5, and my next target) by mid-September. I need to reach 85kg to no longer be classed as obese. Still following Slimming World online, still trying not to go on about it.