I know, I know... been a while.

Yes, it's been a while. I've let the blog slide while tending to some problems at work and home.

I haven't really been "dieting," at least not like I was before, counting every calorie like it was my last. On the other hand, I haven't gained any weight. Still at 151.

One good thing: this week, I finally got in to the lab to have blood drawn. I expect to have results in the next couple of days. I'm looking forward to seeing those results.

I hope you've been checking in; I should have more data soon, especially when I finally get in to the endocrinologist. I'm a bit excited about that, actually, although I can't help but feel that my own problems pale into nothingness compared with those of Japanese or those in Libya, these days. My heart goes out to them.

(Why aren't they evacuating those who are within 100 miles of the F- plant?)

Day 62: 151.

Yup, I'm still alive.

About a week ago, I finally shook the hives. It took almost two weeks to fully get rid of them. I was taking Benadryl and drinking a gallon of water per day, but I did it. I am finally starting to feel human, again.

I haven't been taking any supplements for all that time (other than Benadryl about every other day), since I've been afraid of stimulating an allergic reaction, again. I've tried to keep eating healthy, but for a while I stopped being obsessive about calorie counting. Did I go over 1,000 calories? Yes, I'm sure I did, several days, but not too excessively. I know about how much food I can ingest without watching that scale go, bam! take that!

This weekend I intend to go back to Calorie King and start recording again.

One more month until I have the endocrinologist appointment. Next week I will have the bloodwork done, and will be sure to post results. I wanted to get it done this week, but got caught up in too many problems at work to make the time.

I appreciate the support from comments. Believe me, I am open to advice from ladies who are going through similar life changes.

Day 54: 151.5

I'm taking a few days off, obviously. It's so discouraging to see a lack of progress, despite your every effort.

I'm still waiting for these dam* hives to fully resolve, though it's a little better, not so itchy. I guess it takes a while for an allergic reaction to nullify.

Meanwhile, I'm just trying to stay up with healthy eating habits. I'll post again soon, after I start feeling a little better. Hypothyroid dieting is not easy.

Day 49: 152.5

I stopped taking supplements or the generic Wellbutrin for the past several days to try to get hives to resolve; only taking Benadryl for the hives, which makes me groggy. However, it does help with the itchy hives. Unfortunately, though, I find that after about 12 hours the hives just come right back if I don't keep taking Benadryl. Today, they are a little better. I've been going to work, but not exercising. My right shoulder and elbow are also deeply sore; it feels like there is something wrong with my bones. I don't know what's going on with that. A couple of years ago, my right shoulder was giving me pain and an x-ray showed some mild bone degeneration. I suppose it is getting worse.

I blew it: I ate some chocolate after Valentine's Day. About 30 Hershey's Kisses over a 3 day period. You see the result in my weight, above, from this morning's weigh-in. I was probably up to about 1500 calories per day with the chocolate, though I didn't really change the rest of my diet from what I normally eat.

I called the second endocrinologist that my doctor referred me to, and made the first available appointment: it's in mid-April. This week I will have the bloodwork done. I wanted to get over these hives first, though I don't know if an allergic reaction changes one's bloodwork at all. I'm pretty sure it was the generic Wellbutrin, since I first noticed the outbreak about 12 hours after having taken it the first time, though I've never had an allergy to medication before.

Well. Drinking lots of water, and no more chocolate. Back to less than 1,000 calories today.

Day 47: 150. Hives.

One of the supplements or perhaps the generic Wellbutrin (that I insisted on getting after I found out that the copay for the brand name drug was $85) has caused me to break out in hives. I've been miserable for the last couple of days, and sleepy due to the Benadryl that I've been swallowing every 12 hours to try to keep hives off my face. My right eye bulges like Igor. I am a monster. A 150 pound monster.

I've never broken out in hives before, though my daughters have and my sister has.

Just shoot me.

Day 44: 150.0, again... Miralax, great laxative

I am officially tired of dieting (I'm not quitting, just tired of dieting). For the last four weeks, I've only been averaging about 1,000-1,100 calories per day, and believe me that's not easy to do when you have a husband and kids that you are also feeding.

I've refused to give up my 5 oz. of red wine per day (worth about what an Activia yogurt counts in calories -- I'd rather give up the Activia and get probiotics in the form on no-calorie Sustenex, which is coming very soon, as soon as I can get to a pharmacy and buy Sustenex). It's my one real daily indulgence; my reward at the end of the day for sticking to the diet.

I'm now taking two tablets of Fiber Choice with antioxidants and Caltrate 600 (calcium & vitamin D) in the morning, Solgar gentle iron (25 mg capsule) every evening with dinner, and I've even started taking 2 capsules of CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) every night.  I've also started taking Miralax for constipation, and that does help a lot! However, Miralax can only be taken periodically. According to one gastroenterology physician website, "Miralax can be used periodically long-term. It should only be used for 14 days with a 2-4 week period of abstinence between use." However, I see no studies that warn against prophylactic use of the product. I am going to try to find a minimal dose that can be taken every day to stay regular, rather than take the entire cap for a week, then go without for 2 weeks.

Day 42: 149.0

Yesterday, I saw a commercial for a product called "Sustenex," which claims it provides sustainable probiotics to the colon in a more efficient manner than probiotic yogurt, like Activia, which I have made a staple (getting tired of it, though, I confess). Has anyone tried Sustenex? It is a tablet form of probiotics that is coated (so the literature says) to withstand the acid environment of the stomach and thus be more effective at delivering probiotic cells to the colon. Hmm. Maybe. I have to admit that having consumed Activia yogurt almost daily for the last month, I am less than impressed with its effectiveness. I think I will try the product.

There is a coupon for $5 off Sustenex here, if anyone is like-minded.

Today's goal: 30 minutes on Wii Fit.