Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Where's Cindy?

I swear--if you don't see my around for a while, assume something is wrong. Maybe REALLY wrong.......
Where is Cindy?
Well, I've been having kind of a tough time recently, but I think I'm coming out of the other side of it now. This is the first time I've been able to sit up at the computer in about a week. !!
I was diagnosed about 2 wks ago with Type II Diabetes and doc started me on metformin. The next day after the diagnosis, I started in on eating the way a diabetic needs to to stay well and I started following drs. instructions to lose weight. Two days later, I came down hard with the AWFUL respiratory infection thing that both my daughter and my husband have had recently. I quickly progressed into acute bronchitis and a serious sinusey infection. I've been to the urgent care place twice and to my drs. once in the past week or so. It's almost an exact repeat of what happened to me last spring only this time has been far worse than that was. I haven't been able to get out of bed, just to go to the bathroom, and most of the time, walking there and back was almost more than I could handle. I'm on my second round of antibiotics. This one is a strong one, CEFDINIR.
I'm also fighting bouts of what appears to be low blood sugar, apparently related to the metfomin dose level and related to the fact that I've dropped TEN pounds in a week and a half.That wasn't altogether intentional. Some of the weight loss has happened because I've been so sick.
So, now when I'm asleep, my blood sugar drops too low and I wake up drenched in sweat and with very low blood pressure. (one reading was 91/49.) I haven't been able to check my blood sugar levels because my dr. originally said she didn't think I needed a glucometer. She sure changed her mind about that once she saw how sick I am. Hubby is picking it up this evening. Doc doesn't want to drop my metformin dose down til I give her some numbers but I have to say I don't agree with that. I started at 500 mg. once a day and then increased to two pills a day this past Sat. per Drs. initial instructions and I've been having these weird 'sleep sweats' since that. I should also mention that the significant fever I had with this bug (highest 102.8 at one point) broke last Friday night and is not a factor now with this sweating/low blood sugar stuff.
At the second urgent care appt. they checked my blood sugar and it was 103, almost normal. Also, I had to go to the urgent care place both times, because, again, like last spring, I couldn't get in to see my regular dr. I couldn't even get in on the phone lines.
Just wanted to let you know what's been happening. It has been BAD and really scary. I mean, at a couple of points last week, I really thought I might die. Honest. Must go now.

10 comments:

Hopemore Studio said...

Cindy, I really, truly, hope you are on your way to getting better. It does sound like you are a strong woman and your family is very supportive. You will be in my thoughts.
~Angie

Enchanted Hollow Designs said...

Angie,
I can't thank you enough for your comment and for your thoughtfulness. I easily get 'fussy' these days (which means I tear up very easily) and your comment makes me feel fussy-in a very nice way. I won't forget your kindness. Love, Cindy

Ohhh Snap said...

Hope you are feeling better soon. Stick to your guns if you feel the medication is wrong, make sure the doctors hear what you are saying.

Enchanted Hollow Designs said...

Ohhh Snap,
Thank you so much! And, I definitely agree about articulating one's concerns to one's doctor. Many times, I have to practically hit a doctor over the head with whatever it is. And, most of the time, I am right. I come from a medical family and I try never to assume ANYTHING with today's medical profession. I am not one who just blindly follows what the dr. says. (I've seen way too many times when things fall between the cracks). I research stuff myself and I ask a lot of questions.
(It sounds like you are a kindred spirit in that). : )
I really appreciate your support and encouragement. I am so glad to have it!
Love,
Cindy

Mary Ann Tate said...

OMG...I wondered where you were. I have been sick myself since Christmas day and am just now getting back on my feet. Take care of yourself:)

vivian said...

My dear little friend! I was wondering about you. I thought maybe you had just said the heck with blogging and moved on! so sorry to hear you were so sick. I hope you continue to recover more quickly now. Diabetes is a scary disease. My daughter is a type 1 diabetic and is on an insulin pump. She recently turned 26 and had to come off of my insurance. Her work insurance is a joke. the poor girl is going to struggle to pay her rent with the crazy stupid deductable on her insurance! I thought dumb obama was going to do something about that. (i knew he wouldnt) anyways.. I hope you have good insurance and will be able to maintain your diabetes with oral meds and not have to use insulin.
Get well soon Cindy and stay in touch!
xoxoxox
vivian

Enchanted Hollow Designs said...

Vivian!
There you are! Oh, that brightens my day/night. : ) Actually, all of the comments are helping so much.
Yes, diabetes is very scary. Man, is it ever scary!
The health insurance stuff is also very scary. Albert the hubby works for a major company and it seems like the health insurance is paying less and less. Last year, and now this year, we have a $700.00 deductible that has to be met before the insurance pays anything. I think it has been met now for this year with the stuff that has gone with me of late. We still owe the urgent care place about $150.00 from the health stuff I had last spring. Now, we're gonna owe em a bunch more. They are good about letting us make payments fortunately.
And, don't expect politicians and government to actually do anything to help us. They won't. They lie like Hell. They will say ANYTHING to get elected and then they will say ANYTHING again to stay in office. The only politician I listen to now is Ron Paul.
As for my diabetes: my goal is to reverse it if I can. Right now, I've got to get the med situation sorted out. I'm pretty sure I'm on too high a dose of the metformin. We'll see tonight. I have the glucometer now and the strips and all that and I did my first finger stick about an hour ago so I know how to do it. If I wake up bathed in sweat again tonight, I'm checking my blood sugar level and we will see.
Love you, my friend,
Cindy

Enchanted Hollow Designs said...

Oh, Mary Ann!
I am so sorry you have been ill! What has laid you so low? I wish I had known. I would have inundated you with get well cards. : )
Geez, I swear, this year just isn't starting out well at all for a lot of us!
Love and I hope you keep getting better and better, Mary Ann. I will email you soon.
Cindy

Wendy said...

Cindy my dear--
I've been worryied about you since your diagnosis--now I wish so much I had said so! I'm so glad you're doing at least a little better--hope you get stronger and your health continues to improve! Keep us posted!

--Wendy

Enchanted Hollow Designs said...

Hi Wendy,
Thank you so much for your concern and caring. I truly appreciate it so much. I'm so sorry I haven't been back in touch with you. I got the little outfit and I need to email you about it.
I will as soon as I can.
Lots of love,
Cindy