This and That and Talk - My Transplant

@contentandwell Hello, I just read your post about your health club and the need for an experienced person to work with you on exercises at the club. Here is what I did: I talked with the head-honcho trainer at my health club. I explained many of my physical problems and also the types of exercises/machines I had been using with the hospital PT person. I brought a sheet of the exercises/equipment that I had been doing with the PT and asked if they could give me an experienced trainer (not just someone who helps people lose weight or build muscle, etc.) but someone who could look at my exercise sheet and plan a program for me based on what I've done in PT. They were very happy to connect me with an experienced trainer who could work with these types of needs. You might give that a try. Teresa

@hopeful33250 Thanks Teresa. I may resort to that, or to hiring a different physical therapist. My club is rather large and within it there is a physical therapy that operates, not actually part of the club but uses the club's facilities. I will have to check on the cost of that. How much did you have to pay for personal trainer? Being in a bedroom community of Manchester our club, compared to city rates, is pretty reasonable ($70 for me with my "senior discount", but I have no idea what trainers cost.
JK

@contentandwell Since I had recently joined the club the first meeting with the trainer was free. I do not know what the usual charge is, I haven't gotten that far. However, based on other health clubs in the area, the amount that you mention sounds in the ballpark. I hope you are able to meet with someone, it should give you some extra help in designing your program.
Teresa

@hopeful33250 Teresa, the amount I mentioned was the monthly membership fee. I believe the personal trainer fees are well over $100. When I first joined I got a package of three sessions for a greatly reduced price but that was probably 8 years ago. I will look into this this week.

I saw in the "Daily Digest" that there were new responses but it was not easy for me find them. Usually the links bring you to them but not this time. Is this a general problem or just me?
JK

@contentandwell I looked at my Daily Digest today and the links to the various pages seem to be working OK. When you click on the "View and Reply" does it take you anywhere? Let me know what the problem is and I can report it to the tech team to figure out.
Regarding the fee for trainers, I'll have to check and see what mine is. The $70 is the same monthly fee as mine, however, because of the type of Medigap policy I have, I get a reduced fee of $40. Teresa

@contentandwell I think I'm going to try the myfitnesspal.com. I have been using my plate and although I'm eating less than it calls for and exercising I'm not losing weight. Very frustrating! I don't know if my metabolism is slowing down due to the change of life or I'm adding so much muscle that the scale is not changing. My husband and I both think my shape is changing but I really want the numbers on the scale to go down too. You would think after eating the right amount of calories and biking four days in a row including 15 miles on Saturday and 5 miles on Sunday you would lose weight, not gain a pound!!! The only thing I'm holding on to is that I know my cardiovascular health has improved and that is important when preparing for surgery too.

I wonder if your pre-transplant med, lactulose, had a lot of lactose in it (just sounds like it from the name but I have no idea) and that is what upset your stomach. I have learned to ask the pharmacist about the hidden milk and lactose that is in many medications. At least you don't need to take it now.

@hopeful33250 the link in the daily digest just brought me to the top of the message string. The link within the individual responses brought me right to the specific message.

Hmm, Medigap? Is that the same as commercial supplementary Medicare coverages? I have plan F I think it is but I believe it only covers things that Medicare covers. They pay the remainder of what Medicare does not pay. I don't think Medicare covers things like health clubs but I should check into that. We did have coverage at one point that did but that was prior to being on Medicare.

@contentandwell - The thing I have heard from physical therapists is that the elliptical can bother some people's hips because you are forced in a set stance and can't adjust how close our feet are. Just something to keep in mind if you discover other aches and pains after trying it.

The rowing machine does look like a standard rowing machine. I don't have a picture because I've not been to the YMCA since I've been biking. If you google "rowing machine workout" lots of pictures will pop up of different machines that all look relatively similar. They can get lost in a gym because they are so close to the floor that you might not notice them. I recommend asking an employee of the gym because they will definitely know and be able to show you the proper posture and how to set your feet and resistance. That is what I did and I found it very helpful.

@lcamino, good luck with myfitnesspal. It seems rather cumbersome initially but once used to it, it's a piece of cake (hmm, a piece of cake - sounds yummy). If you are eating commercial foods you can even somehow scan the UPC code to get it into the system but that is not something I use. My hepatologist was also using myfitnesspal and she went from slightly round to svelte. My husband didn't even recognize her initially.
I am sure between that and your exercise you will see some pounds drop off. I lost a lot but now it yo-yos a bit. I don't have as strong an incentive anymore. I need to be good now though, between a long weekend away on Memorial Day weekend and going to a baby shower yesterday I have eaten way too much and the scale shows it. Since I can no longer drink wine I do allow for my dark chocolate in the morning -- good for your heart and cognitive abilities you know, so I consider it to be medicinal. 😉 Now my incentive is not get too fat to fit into the new clothes I bought after losing weight, plus my health of course. The clothes are a more tangible incentive though.

You question about lactulose was intriguing so I googled lactulose ingredients and here they are:
Lactulose is a synthetic disaccharide in solution form for oral or rectal administration. Each 15 mL of Lactulose Solution USP contains 10 g lactulose (and less than 1.6 g galactose, less than 1.2 g lactose, and 0.1 g or less of fructose). It also contains D&C Yellow No. 10, FD & C Yellow No. 6 and Purified Water.Jan 18, 2017

As you can see it has a tiny amount of lactose but I have never exhibited lactose intolerance so I doubt that caused it. Lactulose is just one of those awful meds that is so disgusting tasting it's hard to stomach and of course it is working on your digestive system so I guess it's probably not uncommon to get an upset stomach. As one person commented (elsewhere), when you get off lactulose you want to do "the happy dance". Too true.
JK

@contentandwell - interesting reading those ingredients. All those ingredients are high in FODMAPS (acronym for Fermentable Oligo-saccharides, Di-saccharides and Mono-saccharides and Polyols) which will send someone with Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) to the bathroom in an instant. I'm not saying that is your issue but just my thoughts when I read the ingredients.