Moxie’s Musings – Oh My Aching Everything

I wake up tired every morning. Every. Single. Morning. Without fail. It doesn’t matter how much sleep I did or didn’t get; it doesn’t matter that I’m now tethered to a medieval-looking torture device called a CPAP to help me breathe overnight. I affectionately call it Darth CPAP, and The Boy (my sweet husband) likes to sometimes wheeze at me while we’re in bed: “Luuuuuke, I am your fah-ther!” I have to wear this uncomfortable face-hugging monstrosity because I developed sleep apnea.

Lots of people have it, but I most likely brought it on myself by packing on nearly 100 extra pounds over the last fifteen years. I’ve also developed plantar fasciitis in one foot, which feels like what I imagine walking on a nail would be like. Another tasty side effect of all this extra weight is something called GERD, or gastro esophageal reflux disease. I was terrified I was having a heart attack about eight years ago; it turned out to be esophageal spasms. Then there are the colds and other random viruses that make the rounds every year…they used to give me the sniffles and maybe a little fever for a few days, about once a year if that. Now they always escalate into secondary infections, sinusitis if I’m lucky- but usually bronchitis and sometimes even pneumonia.

Multiple doctors have all told me the same thing: obesity stresses the body and compromises the immune system. How long before I become diabetic? Oh wait… Dr. Lopez read me my lab results, and I am now officially pre-diabetic. I want a cheeseburger.

*Results may vary. Not all diets are right for all people, and weight loss is never guaranteed.