Back from the doctor

I couldn't take it anymore. Last week I went to the doctor and she did some bloodwork on me. Well, today I got the results. Surprisingly, I have optimal cholesterol (my mom is on a lipid lowering agent for high cholesterol so I must have gotten the good genes, thanks dad!). The purpose of the blood test was really to check my hormone and thyroid levels. All normal.

So, the not so good news. I mean, the news isn't major but it definitely explains A LOT. I am deficient in iron, vitamin b12 and vitamin d. So all of my tiredness (I am a self proclaimed professional napper), paleness, and low tolerance for exercise can seriously be explained away. Why the deficiencies? That's the real question here. Due to my previous medical history of IBS and all out stomach issues, my doctor is repeating the labs and then sending me back to the gastroenterologist. I had a colonoscopy 2 years ago but she thinks that the place where these vitamins are absorbed (where the small and large intestines meet) wasn't thoroughly explored enough. So, they might do something different where I swallow a camera instead.

After researching it some, the deficiencies explain much more than just being tired. The rapid heart beat, shortness of breath, dizziness and my recent lack of concentration. I thought I was having "life overload" issues, with graduating college, getting married and starting a new career. If left untreated, a vitamin b12 deficiency can cause paranoia, confusion and depression. I think at one point or another, I have touched on all three of those!!

So besides the vitamin D once a month for six months, my doctor has also "prescribed" weight watchers and restarting couch to 5K. Once the repeat labs are back, I might have to start taking vitamin b12 injections...yay! My first thought is, I'll start tomorrow. lol. Do they make pills for motivation?

On a scarier side note. My doctor wants to do a biopsy on a beauty mark that has changed. We were talking about vitamin D and sunlight and I explained that I had not gone in the sun much this summer because I noticed the change. She took a quick look and said "yep, on another visit I am going to numb that up and send it off to pathology". The beauty mark is flat, but the border has become irregular and the colors are two different shades of brown. GREAT. and here I thought it was getting stretched out due to my weight gain. If only I am that lucky.

We did it!

Jessica, Stephanie and I completed the 5K Walk/Run for Autism in downtown Raleigh today. We basically walked and talked the whole way but it was definitely fun!

Photo Credit: Heather Swanner Photography