Good morning everybody!
Chequita: Congratulations on twoferville! Downward and onward - we are all proud of you.
Jolly: I don't think that I could give up caffeine -- I could live w/out the soda, but I love the coffee too much.
I've gone off it several times, and I had terrible, terrible headaches. But, I always resumed it. I don't drink much - - just a cup or two on weekdays, sometimes 3 on a weekend. I never correlated caffeine with my weight loss success or failures - it seems to have more to do with the ice cream, cookie, and potato chip consumption than anything else! I am glad that is working for you, though.
Chach: 2.2 this week is great! You'll hit 20 next time. And, you have a permanent dispensation to discuss PMS. You see, I am one of the few guys who actually suffers from that ailment, so I am not the least bashful about hearing of it spoken (or written).
Now, I have some great news - - we went to see Eric's doctor, and the diagnosis was the best that we could realistically have hoped for. The doctor was right, the condition is chronic and not curable. It is, however, a condition that progresses very slowly if at all. Only about 25% of people with his particular condition experience chronic renal failure within 25 years of diagnosis. Without getting into too much detail, there are many factors that indicate that his chances are significantly better than that. The Dr. is optimistic that he will never have any significant problems from this. If he does, it may not be for another 50 years or more. He will need to be monitored and will be on medication for the rest of his life, but the medicine does not have any serious side effects. The protein loss waxes and wanes, and for the moment, he is not losing anything. He will continue growing normally, and he is unlikely to develop the swelling due to water retention so common in children with kidney disease. In short, he can expect a healthy and normal life. There is no good reason to put him on a very restrictive, low-protein diet. Fish oil supplements may help, and we are looking into that further.
This is such a relief, and it was very unexpected. The cessation of protein loss is unusual, and the levels of protein loss that he had previously had suggested a more serious problem. I want to thank you all for your kind thoughts, support, and prayers.
Now, I have some bad news. I have been eating everything in sight.
I know that I'm gaining. I am heavier now than I was at the beginning of the year. This has got to stop. My parents are coming into town today. They started SBD at my urging and have done extremely well. I expect that they will be a good influence on me.
So, it is time to turn from Eric's health and get a little selfish and focus more on my own. My new goals:
1. Resume South Beach Diet, resume 2 week induction starting NOW.
2. Back to the gym - starting tonight. At least 2X/week; preferrably 3 or 4.
3. 10 pounds by end of May; 10 more by end of June; 5 lbs/month after that until final goal is reached.
4. Log on here at least every other day. I'll let you know how those goals are coming along.
The birds are singing outside the window; I love spring.
Be well
Dan