This will probably be my final post.

It's been over two years since I've posted on this blog! Time flies. Wow.

I just wanted to let everyone know that I've started a new blog! I didn't consciously decide to stop writing here, it just kind of happened naturally for a number of reasons. (I'm just going to copy and paste a few of those reasons from my new blog because I'm lazy.)

For years (2011-2015) I kept a blog (OurFightNow) all about Childhood Obesity, Metabolic Syndrome, diet, exercise, and my experience having weight loss surgery as a 15 year old. To my knowledge, it’s still the only blog I’ve found talking about all of those issues from a teenagers perspective. At least as of 05/11/2017 when I’m writing this.

It’s now been 2 years since I’ve posted on that site, and while I’m still incredibly proud of the fact that I managed to keep that blog going so long- it was hard to upkeep. For numerous reasons… the most notable being:

1. I’m not a child or teenager anymore, and it didn’t feel right continuing to write under the pretense that it was from that perspective. I can still recount my experiences as a child, but it’s no longer coming from that frame of mind.
2. A large portion of that blog was in regards to weight loss surgery. I had a VSG in August 2011 and I’ve written the topic almost-dead. I don’t feel like I have anything else to say on the topic, at least for the time being.
3. Honestly? The blog was kind of cringe-worthy. There are a lot of errors (typo, and just general medical knowledge errors) that I made years ago that I SHOULD go back and fix, but the thought of doing so is extremely overwhelming at the moment.

So, I’ve decided to upgrade. I’m not 100% sure what all I’ll cover here. It’ll be similar health-related content, but I’m not going to pigeon-hole myself to only write about WLS/Metabolic Syndrome. To be honest, I’m not even 100% sure that Metabolic Syndrome is my be-all end-all diagnosis. (Currently being tested for Cushing’s Syndrome? We’ll see what happens with that…) So it doesn’t feel right to only write about those two things. This will be a journey for all of us.

So that's where I'm at now. 

My new blog is www.ashtrohealth.wordpress.com  if anyone is interested in checking it out! Other than that, you're still more than welcome to email/message me whenever you want! I still get comments and emails sometimes from people who read this blog and it always makes my day. I love being able to have an open discussion about these topics with people who understand or want to understand them.

My email is ashtrovert @ gmail . com & my Instagram/Tumblr/Twitter usernames are all ashtrovert as well! Feel free to get in contact whenever you'd like and I'd love to chat!

I hope you all are having a wonderful day and thank you all so much for following this blog.

-Ashley<3(: 

It's been awhile, hasn't it?

Hey there! Ashley here. It's been awhile since I updated. I've received a few emails and messages on Facebook lately about this blog, and it resulted in me logging back on to realize it's been ten months since I've updated! Wow. Time flies.

I was always motivated to update this blog when I was doing well. This blog was also a motivation for me to do well (and I define doing well by losing weight, which may not be the healthiest way of looking at it, but that's debatable.) But as far as that goes, I'm not doing well. Which is probably a huge part as to why I haven't updated lately.

I've gained 30 pounds in the six to eight months or so. I went from around 175 to 205. Which, in the grand scheme of things... I'm still closer to my goal than where I started, which is good and when I look at the situation objectively, I can see that. However, I'm still not pleased with myself even though it's not 100% in my control at the moment...

A combination of the holidays, and money issues making it difficult to stick to the low carbohydrate high protein diet I had been doing (which worked REALLY well)  were a huge part of my weight gain. Also I switched insurance companies, and there was an overlap of time I wasn't able to get 2 of my medications. I've also been having trouble stomaching one of my medications, which is better now that I've got the prescription changed.. But these are all excuses.

Its just one thing after another honestly and it knocks down your motivation real quick, you know?

I feel like whenever I get my medications under control I'll start to lose again, it's just a matter of getting in the routine of taking them the way I had for years which is something I've been out of practice of for the past few months.  I've never "fallen off" my diet necessarily, I just didn't follow it as strictly as I did in 2013, which is what I need to do again. I had so much more energy and felt so much better about myself when I stuck to Atkins. I hadn't felt that healthy in a long time, and I'm working my way back into it.

As far as the surgery goes.. I'm three and a half years out now, to the day. February 19th, 2015. I had surgery on August 19th 2011. I really don't feel like the sleeve has done much for me other than the lack of appetite and the restriction, which wasn't really much of a problem to begin with.. Not to say it's not a good dieting tool, because it's fantastic. But it certainly hasn't done for me what I've seen it do for other people within the Teen WLS program I went through, you know? And sure I can attribute that to all of my metabolic problems that are somewhat separate from anything the surgery could touch. I don't know the science behind it all, but I know things have certainly worked differently for me than anyone I've met in these support groups on Facebook or the few I've gone to in person at the hospital. I could make guesses, but they wouldn't be educated outside of what I've researched on my own. Obviously everyone's body is different, but when I look at my issues pre and post op, they are nothing like anyone I know. So... Who knows!

I'm sure once I get back into a routine I'll do better, and I do still want to get down to my goal weight. I just need to find the motivation again, so I'm hoping getting back into blogging will help with that!

So if there are any topics anyone wants me to write about, or any suggestions.. feel free to let me know. I have 120+ posts on this site and I feel like I've written the subject(s) dry, but yet I still feel like there's more I could say... So let me know! Message me on FB or e-mail me!

Here's to hoping I get things under control soon. :) Hope you all have a lovely day. Talk to you soon.

-Ashley<3

How I Keep My Skin Clear

Whether it be PCOS, Insulin Resistance, Cushing's Syndrome, Hypothyroid, or any other one of the number of conditions that could be considered hormonal or metabolic, there's almost always a symptom/side effect of acne. Whenever there's a hormonal imbalance your body acts up, and a lot of times results in your skin getting messed up. I've gotten a few messages on Facebook from people who read this blog, asking how I keep my skin clear (or if it isn't, how I cover it up.) and I figured I'd do a post about it.

First of all, I'd like to point out my acne does still flare up sometimes. When I was younger, and before I lost a lot of weight, it was absolutely horrific. I had tried proactive and lots of different over the counter "acne treatment systems" and different perscription medications (Solodyn I think was one of them? and Doxycycline.) I was about to be put on the new version of Accutane or whatever it's called, though my mom was really against it because of how strong it is/what damage it apparently can do to your body. I haven't researched it much though, because she wouldn't have let me on it when I was younger in the first place so there wasn't much of a point.

However now it thankfully only flares up once a month (you can guess when that is... ha.) and is pretty much controlled by the medications I'm on, in combination with how I take care of my skin.

Sorry the lighting wasn't that great.. I decided to take the picture right after I got out of the shower so you could see my skin before I loaded it down with crap, but I didn't take into account the fact that it's almost midnight, and the lighting in my house no matter what room we're in is absolutely horrible.

Anywho, bottom line is most anything you can see on my face that could be considered a zit or anything is most likely a scar from when I had the worst cystic acne of my life when I was 15. 

(pictured here...) 

 (If you didn't guess it already, that's me on the right/top.. with makeup. There are 0 pictures of me without makeup trying to cover it.. it was so much worse with the makeup off, I promise.)

A lot of people assume I still have it and cover it with makeup. Which, when I do have flare ups, I cover it really well with makeup. I've had about seven years of wearing makeup on a regular basis to practice.. However, generally it's better to take care of the problem as opposed to masking it so that's what I focused on doing. To this day I still don't really wear makeup unless I'm going out, which doesn't happen often, so it gives my skin a chance to rest. But for those of you asking, this is how I take care of my acne now!

My skin's really sensitive. I blush super easily for no reason at all and get sun burnt super easily. Even if I'm not hot, but I'm in the direct light from a lamp or something, my skin gets all red and blotchy. It's annoying, but I have to treat my skin like it's tissue paper. My skin also used to be really oily, but it's dried out over the years so again, I have to treat it as such.

I do still exfoliate almost every day with St. Ives Blemish control Apricot Scrub. I use it in the morning & at night. (Especially on days I wear makeup, I use it after using Neutrogena Makeup Removing Wipes. It helps get the rest of it out of my skin.) It's pretty gentle, so it isn't really harsh on my skin. If I'm breaking out, I'll sometimes use a Neutrogena Acne Control face wash, but I don't have one at the moment because I used the last of my last one about a month ago. In the shower I do use this little rubber thing that helps get into my pores. I don't even know what it's called? It came with some 360 face wash I got like a few years ago. I didn't really like the face wash, but I loved the little tool it came with.

After washing my face, immediatley I follow with my Cetaphil lotion. It's pretty light, so in the winter I usually will put it on twice when my skin's extra dry. (I mean like, once, let it absorb into my face, then another layer, twice a day. Equaling four times a day, if that makes sense.) But it doesn't make me break out, and most lotions always have. So, that's always a plus. Not to mention the fact that the bottle lasts forever! I also use chapstick. I used to have a problem with breaking out around my mouth too, but I stopped using the lip balm I was using and switched to another one and I haven't had any problems. (I'd give you the name, but it's just some with my Dentist office's name on it? I doubt they make their own, they probably just enlisted someone and got their phone number and what not printed on it, but it has no brand name unfortunatley.)

As far as prescriptions go - Epiduo is the only prescription I have for my acne now, as opposed to the 2 creams and 2 medications and what not I was on at the same time a few years back. You're only supposed to put it on your break outs, but generally I'll put it on the places I know I break out regularly, like my cheeks and chin. I use it preventatively, which to be fair I really probably shouldn't, but I do. Again, use it sparingly though. Thin layers. I've only had to get my prescription filled two or three times and I've had it for about 18 months now.

Then, I'm also on Spironolactone (Generic version of Aldactone.) This is a mild diuretic and I was put on it originally to help with my blood pressure and my high androgen level's back in early 2011 before I lost 100lbs. My blood pressure is perfectly fine now, I've just stayed on a low dose of it to help with the hormone levels and for the diuretic purposes, but it helps with my acne so that's a plus!

Last but not least is my birth control. I'm on Sprintec. I've switched birth controls a lot over the past few years, but they've all helped my acne except one that I can't remember the name of, which made it worse. again, I'm on it to help with the PCOS, which one of the side effects of is acne.. and this helps counter it.

With makeup, most of the products I use on my face are water based. I use Revlon, Covergirl, and Maybeline products for the most part. I've never had any issues with makeup making me break out, thankfully. But I won't go into specifics with those..

Obviously, I try not to touch my face too much, and I try to keep my hair out of my face when I can (but that doesn't always happen.) and... That's about it!

I hope that helped some of you who've been asking, or anyone who would have ended up asking. :) I hope you're all having a great day, and I shall talk to you all soon. <3

-Ashley

Life Update - 2 years post op.

I haven't been updating this blog as regularly as I used to, and I apologize. I really tried to stick with it and I still get ideas for posts all the time, but I don't have as much time anymore! I'm doing some online courses to get a certificate to get into medical transcription, and I've been writing a lot more non-medical things, working on my skills to maybe start some freelance writing soon.. I need to get paid. I need a job, you know? I turned 18 last month and since I'm not in a typical 'university' setting I need to figure out what I'm going to do with my life.. Kind of crazy that your whole future depends on some decisions you make when you're still a teenager.. but it is what it is.

Anywho.. Alright. I guess I'll just get right into it. As far as surgery goes.. Still no complications. All of my bloodwork is perfect.. Vitamins, A1C, Insulin.. My fasting glucose is usually pretty low.. However generally speaking my blood sugar runs in the 80's most the time, so it's not too much of a stretch. My thyroid last checked was slightly elevated, so my endocrinologist bumped up my dose of Synthroid from 75 to 88.8 and if it's still high in a few weeks I'll go to 100. The nurse practitioner was surprised with my bloodwork.. usually they don't see patients who's vitamin d levels are perfect, and mine were.... It was funny because a week prior she had bumped my vitamin d from 1000 to 5000 because of other kids levels being low, then mine turned out fine... Admittedly, I don't hardly ever take my vitamin d supplement because.. well.. I don't really have a reason. I just typically don't bother with it since there's some combined with my calcium citrate (800iu) and then my multivitamin has some as well. Probably not the smartest decision on my part, but I mean.. it's been 2 years.. If I was going to go deficient in something, don't you think it would have happened by now? -- My LDL (bad cholesterol) is within normal range, and my HDL (good cholesterol) was actually elevated last checked, which is a good thing. And... yeah. I think that's about it as far as bloodwork is concerned.

I can eat about a cup of food at any sitting.. give or take, depending on the density of what I'm eating.. I generally eat 4-5 times a day, unless I'm an idiot (like this past weekend) and only eat once a day because I'm on a road trip and don't want to spend the money (and since I'm never physically hungry, I usually feel like I can get away with it until it's 2am and I feel like absolute crap.) No food intolerance's or issues with things getting 'stuck' in my esophagus or stomach.. Honestly, as far as my stomach goes, it's as if nothing had ever happened aside from how little I'm able to eat. Which is an awesome thing! Whenever anyone who doesn't already know asks and I don't feel like explaining it, I just say "I had surgery on my stomach when I was fifteen and it's left me not being able to eat very much at one sitting. No worries. I'm totally fine." and people seem to accept that as an answer. I used it the other day with a guy who asked, and given, he asked more questions.. which was totally fine. But I didn't have to elaborate too much. It was more along the lines of "Are you okay now?" as opposed to "Why?" Haha.

As far as weight loss goes.. Oh boy... Well, here we go. At my 2 year post-op appointment a little over a month ago, I hadn't lost weight since the last year appoitnment.. I think I lost like half a pound. Which is kind of ridiculous, because I don't eat junk... (I think I had frozen yogurt twice this past summer.. That was all the 'pigging out' I did.) I've never had much of a sweet tooth, you know? I've mentioned this dozens of times. That was never my issue. and I think everyone on my bariatric team finally decided to listen to me as far as that's concerned.. and my surgeon asked if I'd be wiling to be his 'guinea pig' and be the first patient of his to try this new diet of his, called the 5:2 diet.. which I had actually researched a bit before the appointment but hadn't tried.. So I was like, sure, why not. You think this will help me? Let's try it.. and I went all out.. did it for a few weeks, no issues.. But.. I gained 5 pounds... and immediately, I was freaking out. I had already had an appointment with my endocrinologist set up so I brought it up with her and asked why she thought that was and what she thought I should do.. She said the 5:2 diet works for a lot of people, but if my body didn't react to weight loss surgery like most other patients, clearly I need something slightly more extreme than excess calorie restriction 2 days a week... So she had me try the Atkins diet.. or, a modified version of it.. She wants me to aim for 100 grams of protein a day instead of 60 like I had been, and I'm currently still on phase 1 so I'm still consuming less than 20 net carbs a day as opposed to the 40-50 i was allowing myself during the 5:2 diet and I've already lost almost 10 pounds in 2 1/2 weeks... I'm down to 180-ish... So I'm pretty happy, and I'll probably be sticking with that for the time being.

I was supposed to have a follow up with my bariatric team about the 5:2 diet last week and I skipped out.. and I feel really bad about it. Because they wanted to use my results with this diet so to speak to help other kids but.... clearly, I'm not like all of the other kids they treat.. and I don't want them to base how they treat other kids after me.. I mean, if they find one with the same issues with me than great but.. So far no ones mentioned any so.. You know.. I'll leave it at that. Every other person I've talked to loses weight and eats junk.. given, they may not keep it off but.. I've worked my ass off trying to lose weight in the first place... and I've had enough trouble doing that, you know? I still don't have a real answer for why... but.. it is what it is. I'll continue going to my yearly appointments for the research study I signed up for,.. I feel like I need to.. there needs to be documentation that this tool isn't as much help to some people as it is for others..

As far as medications, my birth control has been switched a few times.. I'm on Sprintec now.. Also, Metformin 1000mg twice a day, Aldactone 50mg twice a day, and Synthroid 88.8mcg once a day.. I switched from monthly to yearly b12 injections, and I take a mutli-vitamin and my calcium citrate twice a day.

So yeah, I mean.. I don't regret having surgery. The benefit of never feeling hungry helps with some of these diets I've been doing, and it helped me find some amazing doctors who have worked with me and helped me figure out what I need to be doing as of right now.. just.. I was under the impression going into this that my Insulin Resistance would be gone after I had surgery, that I'd drop all my weight pretty quickly since I started at a lower weight than most, and that it'd be a relatively easy process as long as I stuck to my diet/exercise regimen.. and well, none of that happened. I didn't know going into it that I'd be talking to other patients the whole time who were doing so much better than me, and finding out how one of them was eating fried oreos and still losing 3 pounds a week.. Like... It's hard. It's been really hard. Also very frustrating. But it's made me a strong person, so at the end of the day I don't think I'd change anything. If I did, I don't know where I'd be today and that thought is a little unnerving.

As far as sizes go, I'd say what size shirt I am but it depends on the store.. and I like wearing things a lot loser these days.. I'm usually a medium or a large though. 40c bra, 16 pants (however I'm wearing a lot of leggings lately, and I'm usually a 'large' in those.)

Here are some pictures of me lately:

On my 18th birthday I drove up to Cleveland to see We The Kings (and a bunch of other bands) with my two best friends. :) (I'm on the right... a lot of people think me and my friend on the far left look a lot alike, haha.)

Road tripped with my brother and dad last weekend up to Kent to see another band at my friends house. :)

This was me earlier today (9/23/13) when i was about to leave for my brothers soccer game.

VVV

Soccer game. :) (Yes, I had 1/3 of a smoothie.. It was still in my carb allotment for the day. Shh.)

New tattoo I got a few months ago. :) It's on the back of my right shoulder. 

No makeup. You can tell my skin is a lot healthier than it used to be. Not as much acne (however close up there's still a lot of scarring from it.)

Oh yeah, and this is from the bariatric team's 'Summer Event' support group thing they held a couple months ago. I'm in the front on the right. Everyone there is doing so well and I'm really happy for them. I'm not a frequent support-group-goer because I live kind of far away and They're always friday nights, which I'm never able to get a ride for. But it was still nice catching up with some people, and meeting some new people as well. :)

and yeah, that's about it. :) 

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I hope this update filled some of you in.. and seriously, if anyone still reads this blog... Message me on facebook or twitter or email me! I'd love to talk to some of you, hear your stories.. If you ever need someone to vent to, I'm here. Need advice? I'm here.. I'm always checking my e-mail and facebook and what not (yay for smart phones) So just shoot me a message! I know what it feels like to be alone going through this.. not just surgery, but the metabolic issues seeing as those are mainly what I'm dealing with now anyway.. But either way.. You don't need to feel alone. You might feel like you are.. I always did. But you aren't. And you shouldn't feel that way going through something this important. 

I hope you all are having a fantastic day and I'll try and update this more often. :) Until next time.. Bye guys. <3

-Ashley(:

P.S. I had this song on repeat while I was writing this post: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLiUJyKdy3Y&list=FLN2Zuo7rzGnOe4f0e6EcQXQ&index=1 .. just in case any of you were curious. Which you probably weren't. 

Article on Insulin Resistance 2

http://jcem.endojournals.org/content/89/6/2526.full

I strongly suggest anyone interested in the topic of Insulin Resistance, whether it be you're recently diagnosed, your child or a family member has it, or you're just purely interested in learning about IR; checks out this article. It's absolutely amazing.

I (surprisingly) understand most of the medical terms used. If you don't, feel free to Google them. But in all honesty, although the article is extremely long, it's completely worth reading if you want to learn about the medical side of IR (aside from the fact that you need to diet and exercise to control it). There is a lot more to it that most people don't realize.

I've been on a research kick lately, and I'm really glad I came across this.

Let me know what you think?

Alright, have a good day. (:

-Ashley.

Blood Sugar Test Results

Alright. I'm pretty sure if you click on it, you can zoom in if you can't read the notes.. My handwriting isn't the best. Sorry :x haha.

So... Yeah. Summary: I was messed up,hadn't taken my metformin in 10 days.. The day beforeistarted it back up, i recorded my blood sugar (day 1... 2-13-12on the list.)... and then started it back up the next day.. then for the next 6 days i took my blood sugar,making sure i took my metformin and logged it.. Here are my averages:

Average fasting blood sugar: 81.

Average 2hr after lunch blood sugar: 92

Average 2hr after dinner blood sugar: 87

I found a paper that my endocrinologist gave me at my last appt.. in september i believe. She wanted me to keep it between 70&140.. it only went over 100 once. so I'm really happy. (: I don't think my blood sugars have ever been this great.

I love you Chewbacca<3

Alright. bye(:

-ashley

www.twitter.com/justashley1637

www.justashley1637.tumblr.com

www.youtube.com/justashley1637

www.youtube.com/aeo1637

ashleyellen1637@aol.com 

Logging!

A lot of people log things.. Their food/fluid intake, exersize, blood sugars, insulin (when diabetic) ... I've never been good at it. Ever. When I was really little my mom would do it for me.. Like.. when i was 7.. But i've never been good at iton my own. I'm good at just keeping track in my head.. I can look back and remmeber everything I"ve eaten/drank.. and add it all together... I've been doing this all so long.. i'm almost 100% accurate on eye-balling portion sizes (although i still measure to make sure, majority of the time.) I just stopped attempting to log things.. Because i'd do it for a day.. then sto pfor a week.. do it for half aday, for 3 days, then not do it again for a few days.. It wasn't helpfull at all. and more frustrating than anything..

But this past weeki've been REALLY off.. not remembering half of my meds.. (i seriously have slept maybe a total of 12 hours... the past week.)... I've had a lot going on... It wuoldn't seem like a lotto most people.. But itsa long story.. ANYWAYS. i realized I havent taken my metformin (or any of my meds, for that matter..)thsi week... normally i'm realllllyyyy good with my meds.. I don't typically havea problemremembering them. it's become a habit for me.. But this has just been a messedup week..

I've been out of test strips for my blood sugar for a few months.. I just got some yesterday.. So i thought i'd take it..  i had just eaten.. figured it would bea ltitle high... no glucophauge(metformin), for a week.. and your blood sugar naturally goes up after you eat, right..? even in a totally healthy person..  well.. it was like 80.... .andi took it again later on.. and it was 78... -- uhm...? My blood sugars have never been... like... that great.. i've kept them controlled most my life.. without much of a problem (for which i'm grateful) but that.. without metformin? i was honestly amazed.. I've been on metformin/glucophauge since i as9 years old...

and for whatever reason this motivated me to start logging my blood sugars.. (get back on track with my meds, obviously..)
but i set a goal for myself.. to take my blood sugar fasting, 2 hours after lunch, and 2hours after dinner.. and see where i'm at.. just because this interests me. Now Itypically eat 4 (obviously pretty small) meals a day.. up to 60grams of protein total, sometimes more, and i keep the carbs under 45-50grams a day...  so i take it 2 hours after the first meal and 2hours after the last meal... and log it. I'll probably post my numbers on facebook each day.. because this is really.. id on't know. interesting i guess.. to me. to see what my levels are at. the first day i did (today) no glucophauge.. then the rest of the days i'm taking my glucophauge getting back into it..

(I'm not recommending stopping your medications, at all. This was honestly a mistake.. But i figured.. I'll take advantage of it, instead of sit there mad at myself for messing up so badly.)

then obviously i'll keep taking my meds.. like i'm supposed to. :P

But yeah..

So. the point of this post, is i'm going to try logging just for one week.. my blood sugars anyway. I've tried logging food. i just am not able to do it for more than 2 days without givng up.. its too much of a hassle for me.. I can tell you what i ate all day today.. no problem..:

Breakfast: 1/2 yoplait light blueberry yogurt, and a piece of string cheese.
Lunch: half of a chicken cheese quesadilla, and some milk..
Lunch #2: The other half of the chicken cheese quesadilla, and 2 small pieces of a peach.
Dinner: 5 small shrimp(with a little bit of coctail sauce) and a piece of string cheese.

Fluids: eh.. about 60oz.. made up of diluted diet pepsi, sugar free pink lemonade, orange flavored crystal light, and skim milk..

^^^^^. see? (: I made absolutely none of that up, either.

Butttt yeah. Just thought I'd put that out there. (:

but i did draw up two charts.. a food/intake log, and a blood sugar log.. the blood sugar log isn't exact to the one i'm using now, but it's pretty close.. you can use them as a guide to make you rown, if you want to try logging.. or just print them off. if you print off the picture, (just right click it, and click print picture, i believe..) it should show up when you print it, a full page.. the pictures look better enlarged.

Blood Sugar Log:

(i just scanned the drawing.. i didn't have the patience to try and do it on microsoft excel or whatever the name of the program isthat you can make graphs on.. sorry. :P haha.)

Food/Intake Log:

(I always hate when doctors would give me charts to try and fill out, that there was never enough room to write everything down.. ever. I'm not very good at writing super small.. so i tried to make this one have more space.. its basically for a week. 7 days. You kill more trees this way, but it's also easier to write.. and keep track of, i think.. anyway.. :P)

so.. there we go. (: I hope this helped some.. Have a great day!

-ashley.

www.twitter.com/justashley1637

www.facebook.com/justashley1637

ashleyellen1637@aol.com

Ps: Feel free to email me, or comment on this, or write on my page on facebook! i'd love to talk to anyone who keeps up with my blog.. If anyone ever has any questions or concerns, or suggestions on things i should blog about... let me know! (:

What is insulin resistance?

I've been asked this a few times lately, and I realized I've enver actually posted about what it is... So here we go. (:

(side note: other names for insulin resistance: metabolic syndrome, pre-diabetes, syndrome x, IR, being insulin resistant.)

"Insulin Resistance (IR) is a physiological condition where the natural hormone insulin becomes less effective at lowering blood sugars. The resulting increase in blood glucose may raise levels outside the normal range and cause adverse health effects, depending on dietary conditions. Certain cell types such as fat and muscle cells require insulin to absorb glucose. When these cells fail to respond adequately to circulating insulin, blood glucose levels rise. The liver helps regulate glucose levels by reducing its secretion of glucose in the presence of insulin. This normal reduction in the liver’s glucose production may not occur in people with insulin resistance.^{[citation needed]}

Insulin resistance in muscle and fat cells reduces glucose uptake (and also local storage of glucose as glycogen and triglycerides, respectively), whereas insulin resistance in liver cells results in reduced glycogen synthesis and storage and a failure to suppress glucose production and release into the blood. Insulin resistance normally refers to reduced glucose-lowering effects of insulin. However, other functions of insulin can also be affected. For example, insulin resistance in fat cells reduces the normal effects of insulin on lipids and results in reduced uptake of circulating lipids and increased hydrolysis of stored triglycerides. Increased mobilization of stored lipids in these cells elevates free fatty acids in the blood plasma. Elevated blood fatty-acid concentrations (associated with insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus Type 2), reduced muscle glucose uptake, and increased liver glucose production all contribute to elevated blood glucose levels. High plasma levels of insulin and glucose due to insulin resistance are a major component of the metabolic syndrome. If insulin resistance exists, more insulin needs to be secreted by the pancreas. If this compensatory increase does not occur, blood glucose concentrations increase and type 2 diabetes occurs."

Thankyou Wikipedia.. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insulin_resistance

Now.. Lets break this down.

Insulin.. a hormogne that is used to break down all the food/liquid we take into our body, to use as energy... The pancreas makes it.

With Insulin Resistance, the Insulin doesn't work properly. It has trouble breaking down the food and drinks that we take in, and the body notices this. so the pancreas continues creating insulin to use.. and none of the insulin works. So its just free-floating in your blood, while everything you take in... is basically just stored as fat, in your body, because your body doesn't know what else to do with it.. resulting in you not getting the energy you need from the food, and your blood sugar is raised.. which causes a whole bunch of other issues, in itself.

Signs and Symptoms of IR?

**Fatigue.
**Having a hard time focusing.
**Bloating
**Feeling tired, especially after eating.
**Weight gain, fat storage, and difficulty losing weight.
**High blood trigliceride levels.
**Hypertension (high blood pressure)
**Depression (because of a messed up metabolism with IR, depression isn't uncommon.)
**Increased Hunger
**Acanthosis Nigricans (dark patches of thick velvety-feeling skin onyour neck, chest, back, groin, or underarms.. caused by high insulin levels in your blood.. I have pictures of this in a post about signs and symptoms of metabolic syndrome, here: http://ourfightnow.blogspot.com/2011/12/metabolic-syndrome-signs-and-symptoms.html )

and here are Risk Factors:

Genetic:
**Family history of Type 2 Diabetes
**LMNA mutations
**African American's, Hispanic;s, American Indian's, and Asian-American's are at higher risk for IR.


Physiological and Enviromental:
** age 40+
**Obesity
** central obesity (again, look at this post i made a few weeks ago: http://ourfightnow.blogspot.com/2011/12/metabolic-syndrome-signs-and-symptoms.html )
**Lack of much exersize, not a very active lifestyle.. "Couch Potato".
**Hypertension
**Low levels of 'Good Cholesteral" (HDL)
**Gestational Diabetes during pregnancy
**Giving Birth to a baby more than 9lbs.

Causes? There isn't any one specific cause for IR... poor diet, and a sedentary lifestyle and/or obesity have been known to cause it. Other causes:

Cellular, Molecular, and Disease..

"Recent research and experimentation has uncovered a non-obesity related connection to insulin resistance and Type 2 diabetes. It has long been observed that patients who have had some kinds of bariatric surgery have increased insulin sensitivity and even remission of Type 2 diabetes. It was discovered that diabetic / insulin resistant non obese rats whose duodenum has been surgically removed also experienced increased insulin sensitivity and remission of Type 2 diabetes. This suggested similar surgery in humans, and early reports in prominent medical journals (January 8) are that the same effect is seen in humans, at least the small number who have participated in the experimental surgical program. The speculation is that some substance is produced in that portion of the small intestine that signals body cells to become insulin resistant. If the producing tissue is removed, the signal ceases and body cells revert to normal insulin sensitivity. No such substance has been found as yet, so its existence remains speculation." Thankyou wikipedia, yet again..

(side note: I had the Verticle Sleeve Gastrectomy.. Which doesn't mess with your intestines at all... Which is why i'm slightly worried my type 2 diabetes won't be fixed, like i had thought before.. I guess we'll just have to wait and see..)

HCV has also been known to increase the likelyhood of getting Insulin Resistance.

and PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome) has been linked to IR being known to cause it, or be caused by it..


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Most of that is on the wikipedia page that i posted before, but i tried to make it a little easier to understand... If any of this concerns you at all, bring it up with your primary care doctor.. See what they have to say, and they'll probably order some bloodwork.. but a quick way to tell?

If you have access to a kit, check your fasting blood sugar on one or more occasions.. if its higher than 80-90 you should call your doctor. that is a pretty tell tale sign of insulin resistance.



So, I hope this helped whoever's reading this. Have a good day, anddd i'll talkto you all later. (:

If you have any questions or comments feel free to comment me n here, or talk to me on facebook, or email me! i'd be glad to help in any way i can. (:

-Ashley

Sources: Wikipedia & Google & own knowledge.

Metabolic Syndrome Signs and Symptoms.

Here is a page with all of the technical terms: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metabolic_syndrome

There are a lot of things that can.... be involved, in metabolic syndrome. Insulin Resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, type 2 diabetes, PCOS, hypothyroidism, hypertension, other messed up hormogne levels,.. Theres a lot that can be involved.. They're all listed on that page.. and if you google 'Metabolic Syndrome' or any of its other names, more information will come up.

I was born with Insulin Resistance, but later on developed PCOS, hypothyroidism, hypertension, and Type 2 diabetes..

PCOS - Polycystic ovarian syndrome. Irregular menstrual cycles, possbly cysts on your ovaries, messed up hormogne levels... All men and women have male and female hormognes... men just have less estrogen than testosterone,woman have less testosterone than estrogen, etc..there are a fewother hormognes involved.. It wasn't testosterone, but.. androgens? it started with an A.. i think that's it... but its another male hormogne,and mine was high..

Hypothyroidism - an under-active thyroid gland.. meaning not enough hormognes areproduced and you can gain weight, have hair loss, low metabolism, not much energy..

Hypertension - high blood pressure.

Insulin Resistance & Type 2 Diabetes - self explanatory... if you don't know what either are... i'll do a post on that later... or just look it up online.

A lot of the symptoms for all of these, are similar.. which is partially why if you have more than 2 or 3 it can be combined into just 'metabolic syndrome'.. I was actually tested for cushings syndrome.. which also has similar symptoms.. I ended up not having it, but that's how they found my higher androgen levels. But my doctor called it 'Pseudo-Cushings' because again, it has all the symptoms... here are symptoms at are associated with a lot of those:

Self explanatory..  the oily or really dry skin and acne from messed up hormogne levels.

Acanthosis*** Nigricans is a really long name for something i can't spell or pronounce without google.. it basically means darker leather-y-feeling skin.. It used to be a lot worse. it has lightened up sincei've startedlosing weight. Some people have iton their chest and under their arms, too.. I have itunder my arms, aswell.

Hirsutism is another word i always forget how to spell.. but it basically means on females, hair where there normally isn't very much.. or male hair patterns.. thanks to elevated male hormogne levels. Tip: if you have this.. don't shave. seriously. don't. it will come back darker and rougher and you won't be able to go a day without stubble coming back.. i use nair or sally hansen cream hair remover, or bleach.. i purpously didn't for a week or so so icould take these pictures.

Central obesity.. meaning.. most of your weight is in your stomach/sides/hips/chest, rather than evenly distributed thorughout your arms and legs.. all of these pictures are me after i had surgery.. but you can still tell.. i don't have many pictures of me at my highest weight, where you can REALLY see it.. but some people are really thin, or even, or apear shapewhere most of your weight is in your hips/thighs.. but not with metabolic sydrome, or most ofthe things assosciated with it.. think of an apple shape.

lots of reddish purple stretchmarks around your abdomen/thighs/chest.. i got my first stretchmarks on my thighs around the time i was 9.. now you can't even see them, 7 years later.. haha. a lot of the oneson my back, sides, and stomach are fading.. they used to be a lot bright.. these all have came over the past 2 years.. i never used to have any on my stomach.. /: i miss those days.. lol.

and the last one that i actually have pictures of...

Everyone loses 100 hairs a day, according to the person who cuts my hair... well.. i lose way more than that. /: i have for the past 2 years.. there is a ton ofre-growth that sticks up and comes in.. all the hair that is pulled down there in the front in the picture, is regrowth.. the rest of my hair is all really long.. itspatchy. and extremely annoying. alot of times weight loss causes it.. but i'm fairly sure its my hormogne levels.. it's been going on for years..  i guess the stress on my body from surgery could be adding to it. but thankfully it's not as bad as it used to be.. if it was.. i think i'd be bald :x lol.

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so yeah.. that's that. along with low energy levels, irregular menstrual cycles for girls, uhm... obviously the messed up blood sugars, high blood pressure (or low blood pressure.. i've heard of that with some people.)

I'm sure theres numerous others.. but these are all of the ones i've had, or i've seen with people I know.

If you have 2 or more of these, i'd suggest going toa doctor.. just to be sure.

Have a nice day. (:

-Ashley.
www.facebook.com/justashley1637
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Oh, and... HAPPY NEW YEARS!!! (:  its 10:20pm here in ohio right now.. but close enough, right? (: