Doctors I have known

I have a list of 21 doctors I have been to over the last 50 years.  And the list isn't complete.  I want to share some of my experiences with you.

Family Physician---I have been with my current family physician for about 20 years.  He is much younger than I am but has his problems too.  He isn't overweight but has come down with diabetes.  It can happen to anyone, but mostly to fatties like me.  He has been a good doctor and has referred me to many specialists as my numerous health problems arise.  He recently had two surgeries for pain in his neck and is now working half time while he recovers.

Weight Loss Specialists
-MD 1962---I read an ad in the paper about a doctor who helped you lose weight by "balancing your metabolism."  I was skeptical on my first meeting because he weighed about 400 pounds.  I then was a "sleek" 250.  He told me about this wonderful plan, which he had been on himself for a month.  He gave me a whole slew of different colored pills and instructions of which ones to take and when during the day.  I didn't need to do anything else.  Then he would see me in a week, check me and change the quantity and type of pills I took each day to balance my metabolism.  The next Friday I received a call from the dr.'s office reminding me of my 2:00 pm appointment.  However, I couldn't see my regular dr. but another dr. would see me.  I asked why I couldn't see my regular dr. and they said because he had passed away the day before.  I cancelled my appointment and flushed the rest of my pills down the toilet.
-MD 1972---Protein Sparing Fast.  I had 2 oz of liquid protein and water every day for 40 days. Nothing else.  I lost about 30 pounds and developed gout.
-Psychiatrist 1977---I went to a psychiatrist who claimed he could help people lose weight.  On my first session he explained that he would examine my past over many visits and find out what happened in my past that causes me to overeat and gain weight.  I never went back.
-Surgeon 1981---I became really desperate about my weight because I weighed 430 pounds.  So I had stomach staple surgery.  I lost about 75 pounds then gained it all back.  This really soured me on receiving medical help on losing weight.
-DC Chiropractic & Bio-Identical Hormones 2009---Several things he had me do to lose weight include the following:  Take a whey protein drink every morning with breakfast.  I am still doing this but will stop on my new WFPB diet.  Stop drinking all soda pop, diet or regular.  I followed this advise and have not had any soft drinks for the past 4 years.  Use stevia as a natural sweetener in place of sugar.  I am still doing this.  Any comments on this for the WFPB diet?  I never lost any weight and stopped seeing him after 6 months.
-I have seen many doctors for different problems and they all tell me I need to lose weight (da).  So I ask them what diet they recommend I go on and they usually say some variation of the Standard American Diet (SAD).  I then ask them if they will tell me the names of two of their patients who have weighed as much as I do, who have gone on his diet and lost down to their normal weight and kept it off for two years.  No doctor I have seen has ever been able to do this.  After this they do not discuss diet with me anymore.  I have basically been the same weight (between 415 and 430) for the past 33 years.  HELP HELP HELP.

Diabetes
MD Family Physician 1986---Diagnosed with diabetes.  Given pills and a diabetic diet.
Current MD Family Physician 1994--- Blood sugars went over 200 so I was put on insulin.
MD Endocrinology/Diabetes Specialist 2000---My blood sugars started going wacky so my family physician recommend I go to a diabetes specialist.  He put me on 2 different insulins, 4 shots a day and has me check my blood sugars 2 to 4 times a day.  I see him every 3 months when he checks my blood sugar meter readings and draws blood for testing.  He than makes adjustments when necessary.  He also has me take a weekly shot of testosterone to help me feel more energetic. I also take Klor-Con tablets which is a potassium supplement. It seems to be keeping my diabetes in control. My A1C is 6.3.
DPM Podiatry 2013---I see a podiatrist every 10 weeks for a diabetic check of my feet and to trim my nails.

Sleep Apnia
MD Internal Medicine/Lung Disease 1987---I was diagnosed with sleep apnia in 1987.  They put me on a CPAP machine and oxygen at night.  In 2002 it was changed to a BiPAP machine.  It is wonderful and I use it with no problems.

Rotator Cuff
 #1MD Orthopedic Surgeon 1995---I had surgery to repair a mangled rotator cuff.  It couldn't be repaired so now I can't raise my right arm.

Total Knee Replacement
#2 MD Orthopedic Surgeon 2000---I had a total knee replacement on my right knee.
#3 MD Orthopedic Surgeon 2005---I had a total knee replacement on my left knee.

Congestive Heart Failure
MD FACC Cardiovascular Medicine 2002---I had congestive heart failure, gained up to 600 pounds and was in the hospital for 9 days.  My weight came back down to normal after treatment (415 is normal for me).  The only medicine I am taking for this problem is Furosomide which is a diuretic to treat fluid build-up and swelling.  Because of this medicine and being somewhat incontinent I have to get up about 3 times a night to go to the bathroom.  Rather inconvenient.  I am in bed about 9 hour a night and get 7 hours of sleep.  I see my doctor for a check up every 6 months and every year I have an echocardiogram which is is a sonogram of the heart.  He says my heart is in good shape.  My blood pressure is 130/70 and my HDL is 160.

Chronic Cough
 In 2007 I came down with a chronic cough.  I have continual phlegm in my throat which makes me cough and it will not go away.  In the past 7 years I have been to 3 ENT's, a lung specialist, a specialist on sleep apnia and an allergy specialist.  But no one can find out what is wrong.  Perhaps this diet, with losing weight will solve my problem.

Cataract Surgery
 MD Laser & Cataract Eye Specialist 2009.  I had a cataract removed from my left eye.

Hope Springs Eternal
I plan on staying on the WFPB diet for the rest of my life.  My goal is to lose down to my normal weight in the next two or three years.  And along the way resolve many of my health problems.  Thank you Jane Birch and your book "Discovering the Word of Wisdom" which has given me this great hope.