Life, the good the bad the ugly

In April I started Zepbound injections once a week for weight loss. As much as this was aesthetic it was also for health reasons. It is not for everyone. I am followed by my primary care doctor. I have labs drawn frequently and I exercise with current limitations due to a sore shoulder.

As of this morning I am a 1/2 pound from my goal of 60 pounds lost. More importantly I have either eliminated or improved the following:

-Obesity (technically I was "obese" when I started).

-Cholesterol (LDL was high but not requiring medication, it has drastically dropped).

-Blood pressure (Prior to my cataract surgery last November I was put on a small dose of blood pressure medication and now I don't need it).

-Asthma (Over the summer the wildfire smoke would have triggered my asthma and it didn't).

-Sleep Apnea (Much to Bob's delight I don't snore anymore).

Other things that I can't see in lab results is that I move better and easier. I don't ache as much although I would be delighted if my shoulder stopped hurting.

I have donated most of my closet to friends, family, and a thrift store my cousin works at that supports their local food pantry with the proceeds.

I have gone from a size 14 to a size 8 (size 6 for Ann Taylor).

This wasn't simply a shot to lose weight. I also changed my diet. I pack protein dense lunches when I work. I do have the occasional slice of pizza but I stop at one. I will have a few bites of whatever Bob orders when we eat out or plan to have a meal or two of leftovers if I order my own. I have beer, wine and cocktails but not often and not in excess. I do drink lots of water.

For me there have been minimal side effects. Nausea but it doesn't last long, and it does not lead to vomiting. Constipation, twice. I manage it now with twice daily stool softeners and lots of water. Fatigue that has lessened but there were days that I was exhausted. Injection site itching. Gold Bond anti-itch cream worked well for this.

The emotional impact I am still working through. I honestly don't know how to dress. I have figured out sizes, but I still shop for clothes to hide all the things I didn't like about my body. Friends who notice the weight and don't know the story behind it don't always know what to say. I am an open book about this. Yes, I got pharmaceutical help, but it wasn't that alone. I think the nicest thing someone said to me (that knows about Zepbound) was "you look so healthy". Yes, that was the goal. I have also been selective about what I read online. Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who have many negative things to say about GLP drugs.

It's been expensive to buy a new wardrobe. I have bought quality, versatile pieces and clothing to keep me warm because I am cold most of the time now. I went to Nordstrom's for a bra fitting.

It's been a hot minute. Super busy summer so far.

Just before Matt and Michelle's wedding in May I started a GLP 1 drug. Lots of amazing (to me) things have happened:

-I lost 34 and counting pounds. I will step on the scale tomorrow.

-I no longer need blood pressure medicine.

-I don't snore

-Even with the wildfire smoke (thanks Canada!) I have not needed my rescue inhaler.

-I move with ease.

Not long after the wedding we went to Ireland as a surprise to Bob's sister Cathy. After food and Irish beer, I didn't gain weight that week which I consider a win. I also didn't gain during the time I was in New Mexico for Matt and Michelle's wedding.

I seem to lose about 10 pounds per month. I am currently on 7.5mg. The max dose is 15mg.

My job is my job. Some frustration. Lots of down time. Absolutely wonderful partners.

It was a magical weekend. Laughs were had. Tears were shed and our family grew by 1 (well 3 if you count the cats).

It's so much fun having girls!! Especially being that I didn't have to raise them during their teenage years. I love them like they are my own and I am thrilled that they married my sons.

The ceremony was at a Catholic church with a very and I mean VERY conservative priest. The reception was on a terrace with the mountains in the background. Open bar. Amazing food and it ended at 9:30PM which was so appreciated. Receptions that go until midnight or 1 am just aren't our thing anymore.

Matt and Michelle have so many wonderful friends and coworkers. I got to see 2 of my Navy sons. Ben who had to put up with Mom hugs and Mike who willingly gave Mom hugs.

Much to Bob's chagrin, I rarely look at receipts when I go shopping so color me surprised when I realized the sales tax in our county is 9.03%. WTF.

Next I got a call from Washburn County zoning. We added a deck to our camper. I sent in the application for the building permit and found that our deck is too big. We may have to cut it from 200 square feet to 150 square feet.

Bob went to the office today. I cleaned (kinda) and have been surfing Tiktok.

I took a bath to try to get my back to stop hurting and had an instant "ear worm", the song "If I had a million dollars"....and I thought, what if I had a million dollars? What would I do? What would I buy? With my current back pain a hot tub came to mind. >Someone< in this house acts like we're poor. I guess one of us has to. To be fair I took a huge pay cut to go work as an EMT. No regrets though.

We had a "shit show" of a patient my last call of my last day of this rotation. Thankfully we had a paramedic in training, and we all pulled together like a well-oiled machine. The 80-year-old man fell in the bathroom at a care facility. He activated his pendant and 20 minutes later someone finally came to check on him. He was such a nice man. On hospice for melanoma. The bathroom looked like there was a murder. So. Much. Blood. He also fractured his collar bone and his humerus. This is exactly why I took care of my Dad when he was on hospice. Their response was unacceptable. First thing we want to know, is he on blood thinners? They couldn't tell us. Surprisingly he wasn't. We need health care professionals in these places, not place holders.

In healthcare and law enforcement use of the "Q" word is frowned upon. I ignore that sentiment. It's a word. It has no bearing on if we will be busy or not.

My first four days of this rotation were not busy. Unfortunately, the calls we did have were frustrating and resulted in a sore back for me. I am not injured per se, just sore.

Yesterday we had a patient that is under 12 years old. He was having an epic meltdown. His Dad called 911. As we arrived to take him for mental health treatment he was hitting and kicking the cops. He kicked my partner. He was calm during transport because he hates needles (what 11 year old doesn't) and didn't want a shot (for sedation purposes). He did end up in soft restraints on the 20 mile ride to the hospital.

Work rants.

Around 2 years ago when I left Tumblr I had been working at a financial institution at a desk in an office where no one spoke to each other. You would come into work, select a work station for the day and sit down and review complaints of fraud against the financial institution. Most of the time the institution knew one of two things, either the account holder was committing fraud or the account holder, often elderly was the victim of some type of scam. Lather, rinse, repeat. I did this for about 9 months. The pay was okay but it was soul sucking.

I came home at Christmas time and told @trivialbob that I wanted to do something else. My father in law was there and said that he would support that choice financially if we needed it. I got my EMT. I initially worked some sporting events and used my skills there. Eventually I got hired in my home town for a local ambulance service. I selected this particular service because I was also a deputy in the area, so I know the geography well. I also seem to know a good portion of our patients and/or their families. I make peanuts compared to other times in my life. I have also learned to live a little bit more frugally.

One of the photos is me getting ready for work and the other is Ella visiting me at work. I have been a part of savings lives. It's weird to think of it that way. I have also watched people die. Also, a bit surreal. I work with a paramedic. Most of the time I drive. I have learned to start IV's and I can assist with most of the things the paramedic does. I work a lot with mental health patients because 90% of the time they don't need medications so I can attend to them on the way to the hospital.

The emotional toll of this job is way different than law enforcement. If we responded to a medical emergency, we were there briefly before the patient was transported or we were investigating after they were deceased. Although I have done CPR countless times as a deputy it wasn't the same. Now we are transporting those patients and throwing everything we've got at saving them. So far, I have only had one where I came home and cried in Bob's arms.

Like most places in health care, we are short staffed. I could probably work 7 days a week if I wanted to, but I have learned to say no.

I'm back after a several year hiatus. So much has happened.

We just returned from White Rock, NM. Our oldest and his future wife bought a house there and I'm pretty sure it will be their forever home. The background on my blog is the area behind their house. It is a national park, and they will never have anyone behind them. They have a huge fenced in yard and many friends in the area. As a parent I am so excited that his life is where I hoped it would be. The wedding is less than a month away.