- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Finally got some good news health-wise! So I figure I’d update everyone on what all is going on with me!
TL;DR: Insurance companies are butts, I’m now on the right track health-wise, and I hope you all have a happy new year.

So for the past 2 months I’ve been fighting with my insurance company because they keep denying the doctors from giving me the treatment that I need. My doctor wants to put me on Ozempic to maintain my insulin levels for my diabetes but shockingly its been hoops to try and get ahold of it, since everyone under the sun is also trying to get their hands on it for weight loss, leaving the people who actually need it in a tough situation. My insurance even had the nerve to tell me “they don't want to cover cosmetic weight loss” despite the fact that I’m not needing it for weight loss, nor is it a cosmetic weight loss medication. The Metformin I was on previously made me SO sick (I have really bad luck with medications, and my body likes to reject them) that my doctor really wants to avoid using that medication again. She tried to get me on Mounjaro but my insurance is INSISTING I try Ozempic first… Only they don't want to approve the Ozempic? Make it make sense. At one point they “approved” it, but when I went to try and get my prescription, the pharmacist told me my insurance was covering none of it despite it being approved. They also don’t want to cover the costs for my cardiology appointments and wont approve the cardiologist getting photos of my heart. They are insisting I try a stress test first but (as before) they wont approve of the stress tests either. My cardiologist and primary care doctor are currently working on appealing those claims for me.

In the meantime, since I’m stubborn and refuse to sit around and wait for someone else to fix my problems, I’ve decided to force myself into a serious health kick. I’ve been on a low cholesterol, low carb diet (lazy keto, as my doctor described it). Switched to eating egg whites over whole eggs, white rice to brown rice, more whole grain, oatmeal for breakfast and fiber vitamins. I’ve had a lot more energy due to upping some doses of other medications and getting me on a proper steroid inhaler for my asthma as well. I’ve been working out a bit, going on walks with friends, morning yoga and exercise videos online. Having a goal to focus on has really been giving me peace of mind, and it’s been kind of exciting to see the progress I’ve been making too.

I had a follow up doctor’s appointment just the other day and it turns out I’ve lost 15 lbs. In addition, my numbers are looking a bit better, all except my cholesterol levels which, albeit have improved, are still quite high. My doctor says this really confirms that there’s something genetic at play, and is putting me on a statin to try and get those numbers regulated. Since my grandmother had multiple strokes in the past it gives me a lot of reassurance knowing we caught this early.

I’m just really happy to hear some good news for once, and even though this is something I may end up dealing with for the rest of my life, I’m happy to see that I’ve accomplished something that I’ve genuinely set out to do.

If anyone has made it this far, let me know what’s something you’ve accomplished this year that you’re proud of! Even if it’s something as simple as having cleaned your room! I hate New Year’s resolutions, but reflecting on the previous year is never a bad thing!

Love all of y’all! Have a happy new year!
Keep on fighting!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -