OT: A personal milestone

Sep 22, 2012 8 Replies

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Dave Balderstone 14 years ago

A full year dry. Dropped 60 lbs, gained 10 back and am at 185 - 190 from 240. Feel great. Can jog more than 20 feet. Blood work shows that aside from potassium levels being a bit high, you wouldn't know my liver is damaged, and adjusting the diuretics is sorting out the K levels quite nicely.

My internal med specialist made it perfectly clear. (with an Austrian accent) "You have to make a decision, and as your doctor I will support you making that decision. If you keep drinking, you will die. If you stop drinking, you will live."

Hmm... Let me think about that, Doc.

And yet, my GP told me about a patient he had, younger than me, same diagnosis, who sold everything he had, moved to Arizona, sat looking out at the desert, and drank until he died.

Anyway... not looking for kudos or congrats. Just sharing a personally important anniversary with friends.

As JOAT would say, life is basically good.

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Lew Hodgett 14 years ago

-------------------------------------------------------- Congrats

-------------------------------------------------------

--------------------------------------------- Sounds familiar.

Lew

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Ed Pawlowski 14 years ago

Congrats on a good decision.

I miss his comments.

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Han 14 years ago

Dave Balderstone wrote in news:210920122054546612%dave@N_O_T_T_H_I_S.balderstone.ca:

A message as uplifting as it gets! Way to go, Dave! I hope others with similar predicaments will follow your example ...

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Dave Balderstone 14 years ago

Me too.

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Swingman 14 years ago

Congratulations ... changing a lifestyle is a difficult undertaking. Your words are an inspiration. Thanks.

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Leon 14 years ago

If you want to feel like a kid again you have to eat your veggies like you were told and you have to exercise like you did.

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Casper 14 years ago

Awesome to hear. I know too many who just take more drugs and get angry instead of taking action. Very glad to hear you took action. Thanks for sharing. :-)

I myself have lost 111 pounds. Gained several back listning to the dietician but hope to lose more making a few further adjustments. Walk

4 miles or so every day and exercise with weights once a week.

Huge difference for me. BP has been ok (low of high but that's due to meds) but my cholesterol dropped 40 points with my HDL coming up 15 points. My doc is impressed and I feel way better. Feels great to walk in the fresh air without gasping. ;-) `Casper

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krw 14 years ago

Congrats! IME, it gets easier (though I didn't have any big issues).

My cardiologist basically told me the same thing 5-1/2 years ago. The liver was OK but they blamed A-Fib on it. Haven't had more than a few non-alcoholic beers since.

Your doc did say there were two ways it could go.

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