Sunday, October 29, 2006

Daylight Savings Time

Sunday, October 29.
2 am-
Phone rings. Another one rings. Soon, a hundred, a thousand, phone calls flood the lines at all three pump companies. It's going to be a long night for the staffers.

"May I help you?"

"How do I change the time on my pump?" Panicky voice of new pumper.

"I can help you with that- go to x, x, press x, x, etc..."

"Is this gonna screw up my blood sugars???!"

"It may. You should be in contact with your health care team to determine how much more/less insulin you'll need, if your basal rates differ overnight."

Yep, your health care team will be so thrilled to answer that question(that you should have asked them about at said appointment last week).

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Sunday, October 29.
8 AM: I’ve got a odd quirk- every time the time changes, I wake up low. Or lower. I have done this 16 consecutive times-it's like a tradition. I do not know why this is, since I practically always sleep in on weekends + it doesn’t seem to impact the need to alter the basal rate down. Woke up 187 today, down from last night, if I’d have been normal last night I’d be low today.(and the last 3 nights blood sugar have gone up overnight)
Being a veteran pumper, I do not worry about it. Changing basal rates and everything at 2 AM is more trouble then it's worth.(and its so NEWBIE..)I just adjust later, and move on.
Diabetes is just so weird sometimes.

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I’ve discovered Grey’s Anatomy- and I’m so addicted.I live a very sheltered life(obviously), I rarely watch television. Television does not enrich one’s mind(except, in all the things you probably shouldn’t be doing anyway) or bank account, not to mention addicting you to so many shows you hardly get anything done (around the house). For those reasons, I don’t get it, but I occasionally watch back episodes of various shows. ER season 7 will have to wait, I’m still on Grey’s Anatomy second season.

I really need to speed up the getting-of-the-degree; work is getting on my nerves. Or rather, one of the individuals at work, who, as Designated Health Care Person milks this position to an extreme. She has a major Doctor Complex, calls herself a nurse, and is a CNA. Everything is about the company-and not the patient, no one “hurts themself at work, you did it at home”, quite a lot of that has been going on recently. If you aren’t bleeding-it ain’t a problem. (Yes, I once whacked my head and was told that) Some of my coworkers have been having some real problems w/her of late.

I know more then she does, and I’m pretty dumb- but I am an EMT + working on a nursing degree, which she isn’t. The company should hire someone who can actually do something(besides dispense aspirin + unsolicited advice), but this is about $35/hr cheaper, I guess. I would not want her to ever attempt CPR (or anything else) on me- if there were a way of having that tattooed on my chest, I would. Don’t let her near me.
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I got “Cheating Destiny” Tuesday(and had it read in three days). The one thing that really stands out to me is its just so much harder to see your kid diagnosed with diabetes then it is to have it yourself.
Man, what a powerful book. Especially the end- where they’re all at the 2005 Friends for Life conference.(I think I identified with that the most- seeing as I was there myself!) The author, who has had diabetes 30 years(and much of that time, had a1cs in the 6's) sees diabetes in a whole new light after his son is diagnosed.
- - -
Check out your status here:


“ Much more nice than naughty. Can be very thoughtful. Has improved cleanliness, which I like. Could take better care of toys. Says "thank you" often, but still not as much as I would like. Good mood often spreads to others. Hopefully, will keep up the good work!”
Hmm, dunno about all that. What I need- is a Good/Bad PWD meter, which would swing up and down based on current blood glucose readings + the phase of the moon.
- - -
My brother says I’ll feel better if I got into an exercise routine, while that might be true, its not like I get no exercise.(some of my family thinks exercise is the cure to everything, including diabetes) Getting payed to sweat is much better then paying to sweat. I sweat daily at my job, it’s a workout.(yes, I’m sure you all wanted to know that lovely piece of information) There’s a gym right across the road from work, and he’s offered to pay the membership fees if I try it/like it/stick with it. And exercise, to some extent, can make you feel better overall even if you’re going through a rough medical times. So I may try it. That being said,
I see the trainer tomarrow.

I’ve not thrown up for 4 days, pretty good in my book. Monday-Wednesday was absolutely horrible, Tuesday evening my blood sugars shot to the moon + it became even more of a problem keeping ketones at bay. Spike (blood sugars), vomit, drop (blood sugars), eat, vomit, spike, vomit, etc. It wasn’t real sure what was the result of not eating and what was the result of the 400's but since all ketones aren’t good, it didn’t really matter. I called the gastro doc(they didn’t return my call till a day later) + tried to up my intake of caloried fluids, etc. It stopped, (that evening) much to my relief. It is like flying blind- dealing with ketones (you aren’t sure if being positive is a result of not eating, or a result of being high).
If whacked up bgs are the result of some gastro illness, who does one contact anyway- endo or the gastro?
- - -
On Thursday, it was Chili Day at work- it was good, hot, and stuffed with beans. I ate about half, and stuck it back in the refrigerator for the next day’s lunch. On Friday, I went to get my lunch + it was gone. I was peeved (especially when I saw my ex supivisor eating chili, maybe she got mine by mistake?) But figured it happens, its not the first time someone’s taken my lunch. Not exactly 100% honesty, where I work. That’s why there are vending machines- as backup for such misfortunes.

My body. A collection of various organs, all designed to function in perfect harmony. Only it never works out that way, my body organs get to pick the days they want to go on strike. Monday-Wednesday, its the stomach, followed by the lungs on Thursday, the brain(hypos) on Friday, and the brain and gut on Saturday. On Sunday, I crash(getting ready for another week!) I feel like a collection of medical disasters.I believe in predestination- some people will be healthy + die in their sleep at 98, some people won’t. My 40'ish coworker(currently in the process to donate a kidney) has never been in the hospital- including at birth.
Some people get all the breaks.
How many carbohydrates in this?
It looks good- worth every single unit of that 20-30 unit bolus.
- - -
The Top Eight Things to dress up as(on Halloween)
1. Sugar Free Plum Fairy
2. A Syringe- Orange pointy cap, white dress, black unit markings, and a plunger(out the back end).
3. Vegetables. Because they’re low carb, of course, and you’ll know how much to bolus for them. (Most of them)
4. A Food Nazi- Very, very scary, if you ask me. “Trick or Treat- Should you be eating that???”
5. An Endocrinologist. White lab coat, Elmo scrub cap, orange + blue striped socks. Stethoscope slung carelessly, authoritatively, around neck. Reading glasses perched on end of nose. (And yes, I’ve been watching too much Grey’s Anatomy)
6. A pancreas- Red, puffy, and with little black dots for your islets.
7. Hypoboy or Hypogirl-
(More powerful then 10 strapping firefighters..
Faster then a speeding ambulance..
I’m low, and I need sugar NOW.)
8.A meter- with a perfect 100 mg/dl written in black permanent marker ‘cross your chest. Seeing is believing.

Monday, October 23, 2006

Energy=Millions of Carbohydrates Squared

E=MC(squared)
The one thing that’s wrong with that equation is its Sans Insulin, and one won’t be getting much energy off that deal. With all due respect to Mr. Einstein, it should be:
E= MC(squared) x I(to the 4th gallon)
That should cover it.
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So you think your website has problems? I’ll tell you right now, they pale in comparison to these guys, whose website has been crashing regularly for months. Apparently (big surprise!) many YouTube’s users do not know how to spell. 62 million hits does present somewhat of a problem, and the poor utube guys couldn’t handle it.(see story)
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Endoscopy went ok, it was over just like that. I was nervous, and thus high, but it was 200's going in which wasn’t too bad + when I got to recovery, the nurse checked it again(215). It took 2 hours for my blood pressure to recover(I think, because I was slightly dehydrated going in), it was 90's/50's range. 25 points off the norm makes one heck of a difference. After the rest of the IV fluids, it went up but I still felt rather off + the nurse checked my bg again, just to make sure I wasn’t low.
159 that time. Guess all those drugs make you feel like crud anyway, quite independent of actual vital signs. My dad drove me home, where I slept it off.
And the results were normal. Yay- still no answers. At least not in the esophageal tract.
Meanwhile, the puke-a-thon continues.
My blood sugar control, though, is great. This will work wonders on my a1c, which, quite frankly, definitely needs something..Life is pretty much one great big fasting basal check!
Since I can’t eat much.
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Thought for Today: Only the mediocre are at their best 100% of the time. So if your recent blog entry sucks, take heart. It just goes to prove you’re not mediocre- you’ll have that brilliant, inspiring post soon.
Keep on plugging away.

Monday, October 16, 2006

Endoscopy

In 9 hours, they'll be doing an endoscopy. Shoving a tube down my throat, all the way to the colon.
And I'm scared to death.
I'm scared of what they'll find, I'm scared of going under anesthesia.
I've been under general anesthesia several times, and never had a problem. But it still scares me.
And I'm scared of what my blood sugars will do during the procedure. Pre-surgeries, I've always just reverted back to Lantus but I think I should just stay on the pump for this. Will the staff moniter my blood sugars + keep them in a safe range?prob. so, but I'm still worried.
My dad's going to drive me to their house, after the procedure( where I'll sleep off the anesthesia)
I now have the overwhelming urge to clean my house, I won't be sleeping tonight anyway.

Saturday, October 14, 2006

Cause and Effect(s)

Rain falls.

Sun shines.

Grass grows.

Type 1 drags mower out for one last shearing-of-the-lawn before winter.

3 hours later...

Meter reads 112.

Put on temporary rate, go to bed.

Awake sweating like the dickens. Rip pump off, go on 1:30 AM eating spree and check blood sugar while doing so.

22 mg/dl.

Panic, consume more candy corn. Grab phone, fall back into bed wonder if it’ll kick in anytime soon or if anyone would find me(days later). The phone is comforting though, it is my link to the outside world(and even if I’m fuzzy headed I would still know how to press 9) Fortuantly, its never come to that.
Feel better, go back to sleep.

Wake up 579. Hate morning, work, diabetes, and everything else(in that order)

Check ketones. (None)

Take corrective bolus(put pump back on)

Feel rotten till 10 AM, and which point the just eaten breakfast has obviously not effected the massive amount of insulin still floating around in your system from 4 hours earlier. You’re headed low, and its time for another snack.

Lunch-139.

- - - -

The greatest fear of every PWD...

Is not blindness.

Is not retinopathy.

Is not an empty wallet.

Is not stroke/cardiovascular disease.

Is not amputation x 2.

Is not “Dead in Bed” Syndrome.

Is not El Stupido Insurance Company.

Is not further Autoimmune Adventures.

Is not making a hypoglycemic idiot out of oneself at the lunchroom at work.

No, the greatest fear of every PWD is this.

It’s a simple, powerful story, and it makes me cry every time. Read the CWD review
of James Hirsches book(Cheating Destiny) and I knew I have to get it on Amazon. Any review that so completely sucks me in within the first two paragraphs I just gotta get the book/watch the movie.

How would you react, if there was no insulin available?

I’d like to say that I’d take it calmly, but from past experiences I’ve disproved that little illusion. When I’m high, I take water + insulin like it was going out of style + I’m really, really, cranky in the process.(diagnosis + last year proved that)Back in the later part of 1999, when the entire world was going a little nutso over the Y2K computer deal, I worried about whether I’d be able to get the medical supplies I needed.

Me: In January, if I can’t get test strips should I still take my insulin?
Pediatric Endocrinologist: (looking alarmed) You should ALWAYS take your insulin, don’t stop, you will get very sick! Promise me you’re not going to skip your insulin doses?
Me: Ok, I promise.
(thinking) How am I going to pull that off, if I can’t test my blood sugar? I need to test, otherwise I will not know the right dose of insulin to take. I will really suck at guessing.
(Yes, I’m very much a PWD of the Age of Glucose Monitors- and back then, I was very new to D as well)

Fortuantly for all of us, Y2K came and went(with no major problems). But I’ll admit it, dying from DKA is not on my list of ways to go. No, I’d not be calm + resigned to the situation, I’d be pretty hysterical.
Someday, the world may be faced with that situation again- or another disaster scenario befall this country. The television shots of Hurricane Katrina reminded us all of that. Who can forget the poignant Need Insulin sign?+ the teeming mass of humanity in need of diabetes supplies? People out there are still dying from it, simply from the lack of medication/supplies.

I am lucky.

I am lucky that I have insulin, a pump, testing supplies- and an insurance company, (even if said insurance company is a major pain in the gluteus maximus). So many people don’t have any of those.

I am lucky to have a great diabetes team- ranked one of the finest in the nation. Dudes(and Dudettes), I love ya all.

And I’m lucky to have the OC- and a blog, where I can vent out all my frustrations. Thanks for listening, guys.

And I can’t forget that, no matter how many insulin reactions(5) I've had in the past 24 hours.

Sunday, October 08, 2006

The Latest Meme

Working its way around the O.C..

1. Do you still have tonsils?
Yes.
2. Would you bungee jump?
Yeah I would, if someone else paid for it.

3. If you could do anything in the world for a living, what would you do?
Comedian.

4. How many tattoos do you have?
None.

5. Your favorite fictional animal?
Hard to say-but I like Speedy Gonzales.

6. One person that never fails to make you laugh?
My coworker, who is even more disorganized then me. Its not a mean laugh, though, she laughs at herself too.

7. Do you consider yourself organized?
Um, NO. I’m doing good just to show up at the right places at the right time, let alone being properly prepared for anything.
8. Any addictions?
Chocolate, Cheetos, and Diet Coke.

9 From what news source do you receive the bulk of your news?
Talk Radio- during the midmorning +mid-afternoon energy slumps. There’s nothing like hearing the latest political news, to get a person all fired up(and awake again).
10. Would you rather go to a carnival or circus?
Carnival - if I wanted to see animals, I’d just go to a zoo.

11. When you were twelve years old, what did you want to be when you
grew up?
The person who collects all the coins out of the Wishing Fountains.

12. Best movie you've seen this year?
“Ladder 49"

13. Favorite alcoholic drink.
Red Wine.
14. What is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning?
Look at my pump, and if it isn’t 6:00(on the dot), I go back to sleep.

15. Siblings?
Older sister, 2 older brothers, and 2 younger brothers.

16. What is the best thing about your job?
Some of my coworkers(friends), and the health insurance.

17. Have you ever gone to therapy?
Yes. And someday, I may need it again.

18. If you could have one super power, what would it be?
To be able to function off 4 hrs of sleep a night. I’d be a tremendously productive individual.

19. Do you own any furniture from Ikea?
No, there aren’t any around here.

20. Have you ever gone camping?
A few times, but not since I got diabetes.

21. Gas prices - first thought
"Supply and Demand, PEOPLE!!!”

22. Your favorite cartoon character?
Jason- in the “Foxtrot” comic.

23. What was your first car?
A 1989 Pontiac Grand Am.(red)

24. Do you think marriage is an outdated ritual?
No.

25. The Cosby Show or The Simpsons?
Anything is better then the Simpsons.


26. Do you go to church?
Most of the time, but I’ve been sick a lot recently+ I haven't felt like going.

27. What famous person would you like to have dinner with?
Nicole J. Baker.

28. What errand/chore do you despise?
Laundry.

29. First thought when the alarm went off this morning?
It didn’t go off(A. I don’t have an alarm clock, and B. I temporarily stopped it on my pump)

30 Last time you puked from drinking?
Never, I rarely drink + I don't particuraly relish the thought of getting sick from it.Its one of the few things I'm really mature about.

31. What is your heritage?
Scottish-English-German-French.
32. Favorite flower?
Sunflower.

33. Disney or Warner Bros?
Disney

34. What is your best childhood memory?
Playing hide and go seek in the neighboring cornfield, without the landlord chasing us out.

35. Your favorite potato chip?
Cheddar-or Sour Cream+ Onion.

36. What is your favorite candy?
Peeps, Candy Corn, and Airheads.

37. Do you burn or tan?
Burn, unfortuantly. I hate my complexion. Why does everyone else on the O.C. tan? (sigh)

38. Astrological sign?
Virgo

39. Do you own a gun?
No, but I intend to get one someday.'Round these parts,a gun is a necessary accessory, whether or not you actually use it(hunting), it still comes in handy to deter crime.

40. What do you think of hot dogs?
Quick, taste good- what’s not to like?

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Random Acts of Irresponsibility

If I didn't hate my job so much, I'd sell my car + live it out in high style, commuting via bicycle(all the essentials of life are within a five mile radius).
But I have dreams that one day, I'll have my RN degree(and my salary will quadruple overnight).Then, maybe I'll meet a rich doctor and he'll sweep me off my feet, support my D habit and everything else...
Cars are just money suckers-mine is no exception. Now Nugget is a fine little car, and I take decent care of her, but tires wear thin + state inspections come due+ weird roaring noises start creeping into the accelerator + you know it's going to be expensive. The tires are taken care of, but I hope I don't run into any town cops before Saturday morning... And yeah, insurance premiums are just around the corner.
Yesterday, I had to have several fillings-they wanted to put a crown on one of them,but I'm holding off on that for now. Namely, because my dental insurance has a lousy $1,000 yearly cap (and dental wise, that does NOT go far).
I checked before the appointment,bolused for 212.(2 units)
Checked 5 minutes after the 3 Novocaine shots-360. Gotta love that Novocaine.(this was about an hr after I'd bolused for the 212)My dentist thought my pump was an MP3 player and I told her there was no way I could be THAT relaxed.
Learned fact- Its impossible to eat/drink anything when one's face is still feeling the effects of Novocaine. If you've ever watched that movie Christmas with the Kranks, you'll know what I'm talking about. (the part where the dad gets a botulism shot and everything dribbles down his chin because he can't eat.)And I was hungry too, didn't wear off till 8 pm. I guess, if one became low(in a situation like that) you'd just have to inject glucogon.
Its shaping up to be a great holiday season for the retail world, sales in Sep.are above average + that means there's lots of work for us. We're deep into the Christmasy stuff with scarves,hats, coats,ornaments, jewelry,games,etc. everywhere. Its not that bad-especially since our supivisor got a big promotion and she'll no longer be our supivisor! (come Monday) HooRAH. Just hope the next one is better.
Today, however, was pretty awful,alot of the people in a certain section were out and I had to help do their job. I'm not Arnold Swartzenegger,+ found it difficult tossing heavy totes/boxes around like they were simply peanuts..Dude, I'm 5'2, 120 lbs-I'm sure some of that stuff weighed more then me! My back hurt,my feet hurt, my head hurt, and I ran into a steel bar(sustaining a nice little bruise on my leg). I couldn't do that all the time. One of the other workers(a big, tall,strapping guy) looked bored the whole time(it wasn't rough on him). Life is not fair.
And I have a grand total of 20 test strips left, gotta go to the Research Center after work tomarrow, or I'll run totally out.(Not advisable, on a weekend, and they give me strips free anyway for the research study.)
What a week this has been!

Sunday, October 01, 2006

Hola-Velkommin-Shalom-Drasvoytye-Hello

If you’ve ever faced a bagful of candy corn/pumpkins at the beginning of a hypoglycemic meltdown, one thing is always perfectly clear. (When the rest of the world is going fuzzy)
It is impossible to eat just 8.5. (15 carbohydrates worth)
I have a bad habit of scarfing down half the bag, especially if it goes down easy(like candy corn). And later, I have to deal with the resulting 300...
So after having two lows yesterday, one of which involved lots of french fries + the other, the bag of candy corn, I’ve decided it would probably be a good idea if I’d mark 15 carb baggies(of candy) to help control my eating habits. I’m less likely to overeat (during lows) if it ain’t in front of me. And plus, if I do still overeat, I’ll have a way to backtrack + give the proper amount of insulin. Works with juice. 15 carbs is nowhere NEAR enough to treat the vast majority of my lows, I usually require 25-30 carbs but if I measure for 15, that can also be a I’m-Not-Quite-Low-But-I-Gotta-Eat-Or-I-Will-Be-In-15-Minutes blood sugar treatment.
Today, I had a mild low,ate two (15 ct.)baggies,and did not spike.(go figure)
Then,after the half the bag low, I went to the annual International Festival, ate Thai food(Chicken Kabobs and some squashy-stringy Kolrabi-carrotty thing drenched in a black, extremely sweet sauce that most definitely was NOT soy sauce) + danced to Kurdish music till the pounding in my head echoed from my hair to my toes. I wasn’t quite sure if it was an insulin reaction or not, but the music ended +I didn’t feel low, so it wasn’t.
There was a pretty big crowd, (watching) and I’m not an extremily outgoing person, but I wanted to dance, so I linked in and danced. A person only gets so many chances in life, to make an idiot out of themselves, + I just had to hope that none of my coworkers were watching. And, it was FUN. (Regardless of any teasing I may encounter later) I’m glad I did it. I walked back to my car, and then drove home. Checked my pump,and the screen was blank.
Blood sugar was 376.
I momentarily freaked out, ready to call the pump company until I discovered my battery cap was missing. Pump was on my wasteband,and the battery was just nested in there,snug as anything sans this most important piece. Battery cap must have been loose and just knocked off at the festival.
In disgust, I disconnected from the pump, shoveled a large amount of insulin via syringe in, and went to bed. I have more battery caps, but I didn't feel like tracking them down,and I sure didn't feel like taking Regular/Lantus backup.
The next morning,waking up feeling even higher,I again shoveled in a correction shot +didn't check. Ate breakfast + bolused when I was sure it was down.
I doubt that I'll ever be nominated for Inspiring PWD of the Year.