Thursday, 23^rd February 2006 | 10:34 AM
Still fat and sleepless

Egads, my doctor was right about biscuits.

See, I dragged myself to the clinic on Tuesday. The insomnia was really driving me nuts, having had it for a good part of 2 weeks (the couple of nights or so when I actually could fall asleep early and sleep the whole night through was caused by, I'm sure, accumulated sleep deprivation). I was getting a terrible headache, dizziness, nausea and there was some vomiting involved. I went to the doctor, and I was prescribed lozarepam, cafergot and propranolol (I thank God for computer-printed labels on prescriptions.). I am a person who even views paracetamol with suspicion, so I just googled all these drugs and learnt what they are. They all work to help with migraines, but they also seem to help to reduce anxiety. The propranolol especially, because I've been given what looks to me several weeks supply of it. I was worried if it might be my blood pressure, but the doctor didn't say anything bad about that, just that my heart was beating too fast.

I was instructed to take the lozarepam at bedtime, so I thought those are the sleeping pills he said he would give me. In typical silly defiance that I have, I decided to skip it last night. Big mistake. I went to bed at midnight, and only fell asleep at 3.30am.

This is horrible. I feel like one drugged out person.

We also re-visited a previous discussion we had on weight-loss medications. I was weighed, and my doctor agreed that I was an eligible candidate for such medications. He explained the choices I had, with all the pros and cons and the cost. Because of my migraine & insomnia issues, he feels that stimulants will not be suitable for me. And so we decided that we would try out Xenical. He instructed me to keep a food diary, and that if I fail to do so, he would not prescribe it to me anymore (heh). I am to go and see him again in a month's time so that he can monitor my progress.

He warned me of the side-effects - the main one being oily stools and discharge. He also warned me that there are many foods out there which are actually very oily and fatty, and just because they're not deep-fried we tend not to realise that. He brought up the case of biscuits. Even two biscuits, he said, are very oily.

He was right. I ate two 'light' Digestive biscuits just now, and during my next visit to the toilet, discovered oily discharge. Euw.

At least I haven't had any 'oil leaks' yet though.

Gym is still going on for me. I'm considering if I'm really the sort to go for classes. I can't seem to keep up even in low-impact aerobics. It's a coordination thing, not a strain thing. I think it's the instructors of the classes that I've been going to that's the problem. I didn't have problems following the same class when I first joined the fitness centre a couple of years ago - but back then, a different instructor was taking that class. So for now I've decided I'll just stick to the gym and yoga, and maybe try pilates. If even yoga isn't becoming a big draw it will just be the gym for me then.

- last entry / next entry -

recent entries:

Saturday, 1^st April 2006 - The constant struggle

Sunday, 26^th March 2006 - Finding my stride again

Monday, 20^th March 2006 - It's like I'm Vulcan, or something

Monday, 27^th February 2006 - My house of cards finally comes down

Saturday, Feb. 25, 2006 - Books and fitness