X-Ray, PFT Follow Up, and More

Today I had yet another doctor's appointment, and this time I got some answers (sorta).

First, we discussed the results of my x-ray. She went down the list and told me how many things look beautiful in my back. Then she scooted over the real information I was looking for. She (again sorta, vaguely) told me the cause of my back pain. It results from a couple spots where my discs didn't have much space, and the added weight I have is pressing on them.

I was (and still am) kinda confused, but happy to hear both that a. nothing extremely serious is going on, and b. she knows why it is happening. She asked me about what I take for it usually (~600-800mg of Ibuprofen a dose, and different frequencies of dosages depending on how much I'm upright). I also told her that the ibuprofen does nothing to help my pain; I barely see a difference. The ibuprofen only helps the dull ache that I have when I'm resting, but not the extreme pain when I'm walking that makes me have to sit and rest frequently. Annnnnddd, she just moved on to the next thing and didn't say more about it. I didn't think about this until later and was like wait, she didn't recommend any suggestions to do anything about this...

Except to lose weight.

Well, duh.

Then we went on to talk about the results of my PFT. The results came out good for this as the NP had suspected from the previous day. So, I have no major respiratory problems, at least during the day.


Now, she has prescribed me to go for both an Overnight Oximetry and a Sleep Study. The Oximetry is easy because someone drops the machine off at my house. I attach the thing to my finger and go to bed. Simple enough. This only tests my oxygen levels while I'm sleeping (and if they get low - that's bad).

The sleep study is more in depth. I have to spend the night in a lab designed specifically for this purpose. They hook you up to and test many different things at the same time. They even video monitor you (kinda creepy).  I forgot all of her specific reasonings she wanted me to go for this. I do, however, remember her telling me that sometimes when you're not getting a good nights sleep the brain senses that you need more energy and triggers you to eat more (which can lead to obesity). This is obviously a stupid reaction for the body to have because its just masking the original problem (and creating more if it does lead to obesity).

Because the body can get confused in this way and lead to obesity, she wants to rule out (hopefully) sleep apnea and other respiratory disorders as a cause (or helping hand at least) to my weight. In her words

"I want to test you for everything so those people (a.k.a. my insurance company and the bariatric surgeon) have no reason to deny you."

I totally inserted an evil laugh in my head after that statement. I like to think of it as a battle of us against them right now (and I think we might be winning).

We also talked about diet and exercise of course. She wants to set me up (doesn't that sound like a date?) with a dietitian to go over things I could be doing. Also, we talked about exercises I can do that won't hurt my back as much. Mainly exercises that can be done sitting or lying down. I got some 5lb hand weights, and she recommended I lay on my back and do leg lifts.
If you have some ideas of easy home exercises that can be done sitting or laying down, I would love to hear about them!  
I also have an exercise ball and a yoga mat/blocks (but no video) to give you what I have at home.

Also, I'm still waiting to hear from Upstate Medical University (the bariatric surgeon) about my first appointment. The doctor is trying to get in touch with them again, and in a few days, if I don't hear anything, I'm going to start calling them myself.