Hi, I guess I should say who I am first. My name is Marilyn but you can refer to me as Sprout.
I am very overweight - obese to be truthfull - and I have cancer.
When I was told back in June 2000 that I had cancer and needed a hysterecony (SP?) I weighed in at 286 pounds. I had to travel 12 hours to the major hospital for the operations as our regional hospital would not operate on me due to medical problems that came with being overweight -- mainly sleep aphnea.
They told me that I would be in the hospital for 14 days min. and probably in ICU for up to 5 days so that they could regulate my breathing.
On September 7 2000 at 2 pm I was operated on and was back in my room that evening -- no ICU. They had hooked me up with a morphine drip as they do all patients but they had informed me that because of my weight and my sleeping problems that they would not be able to give me much morphine for pain. But guess what, even though this was very very major surgery I did not need morphine -- the nurses could not understand it and the morning after surgery my doctor plus a huge delegate of other cancer doctors came to talk to me -- no pain? no pain med's?
Anyway I left the hospital on September 11 -- 4 days after surgery -- not needing chemo or radiation.
Unfortunately I did not get my act together re my weight even though I once again was told -"You have had a brush with cancer -- get this weight under control" -- I did nothing. It was not until January 2002 that I decided that I should 'get up and get moving'. And that I did. I started walking -- pain in the hips and all. And as of today I have walked 619 miles!!
But unfortunately the cancer came back. I have spent since May 25 until July 24 having radiation treatment -- not a fun thing at all. The side effects have not been pleasant. Add to the side effects that I have IBS -- not a pretty picture.
I have just had my 6 week check up -- it could not be completely done as I am not completely healed inside. So back to my oby/gyno beginning of October -- if he can't get a good exam done then off to the big city -- 5 hour car trip -- to be put to sleep for the exam. If all goes well, and that is my prayer, then I just go to having my 3 month check ups.
Now why all this 'ramble' -- because after all my reading and talking with the cancer doctors I see more now how lifestyle -- exercise and food -- have a big part in our health -- and in fighting cancer. But what changes in food -- WW, TOPS, Diabetic plan -- I think it could be that we have to personalize our food for our lifestyle -- we know our bodies.
After all of the above, here is what I would like to ask:
a) Have any of you giving up just bread and found any change in your 'health' -- I am wondering about giving up the refined flour and what effect this has on our health. I know I have to much of this
b) What about sugar? How have you eliminated sugar and to what degree -- just no sugar on cereal or all forms of sugar meaning no fruit?
Ok, I have rambled on enough for one post -- hopefully there can be some good discussions on how to change my food by small daily steps.
