Well ,Amazing that I am still here and this is January18, 2020. I have gotten myself back on my feet thanks to extensive physical therapy as well as getting my attitude in order. I may be almost 80 years old now but that actually won't be until July 7, 2020. I think you can see from all of my past posts, that I never think I am even going to make it until the next day, week, month, year! Too funny. I just keep going on and on. I am only sorry that I don't have any important job in this world but have to figure that our heavenly being must certainly feel that I am important in someway here . Life is pretty amusing, if I must say so myself.
After having lots of physical therapy and then going every day to the pool and doing all the exercises I was supposed to do, it seems that I can be well enough and be contented enough with the life that I am living here. I am still able to drive locally which means to the store or the bank or the drugstore. I am able to take care of myself. I have found transportation in the area for longer trips to doctors or other venues that might be a little far for me. I've discovered the best way to make sure that I am eating properly is to make a crockpot full of what I call chili, which consists of beans, (3 types, red, black, white.) meat, onions, peppers, some spices and make them into half cup portions and freeze them. Every night I take out a portion, add a different vegetable to the meal along with a carb and fruit and there you have it! Eating basically the same type of food every night keeps my blood sugar consistently low and I certainly do feel better as well as not having that nonsense of having to cook something every nightnight. God bless the microwave.
Well I am back on here and hope to speak with you again. As you know I never know! I saw 3 Angels yesterday morning when I got up. Sounds pretty "off-the-wall" , doesn't it?
Will tell you about that next time and explain why I am going to Investigate which artists drew Angels and their history of doing so. So interesting. Perhaps some saw them?
Good, Good night. ❤️
Saturday, January 18, 2020
Saturday, July 29, 2017
End of July
July 29, 2017
Will be very glad when July is over.
I can not believe I have been this impaired and in this much pain since June 12th. Because of the pain, I can't get an MRI. I end up vomiting from the pain before the 'scout' is even done with the machine.
I was on oxycontin for a bit which did help but I started retaining so much fluid that I was gasping for breath much of the time
I'm back to p/t again after being sent to the Pain Clinic. I 'm off the boxy and just taking advil. Not working and I am pretty discouraged.
I feel guilty praying that I can 'leave this planet' and sad that I sort of erase all that positive stuff by doing so. I hope no one loses hope for all the good things and years one can have before this kind of event.
We have done wonderfully you and I. Everything on this Earth does come to an end. You can do this well too, my friend, my brothers and sisters.
I've loved completely through all this and I HAVE done well. PLEASE SHARE YOUR GOOD STUFF WITH OTHERS BECAUSE THE BAD IS ONLY FOR A MOMENT.
Loving you all forever and from wherever.........your sister with diabetes on this planet. 💛😚
Will be very glad when July is over.
I can not believe I have been this impaired and in this much pain since June 12th. Because of the pain, I can't get an MRI. I end up vomiting from the pain before the 'scout' is even done with the machine.
I was on oxycontin for a bit which did help but I started retaining so much fluid that I was gasping for breath much of the time
I'm back to p/t again after being sent to the Pain Clinic. I 'm off the boxy and just taking advil. Not working and I am pretty discouraged.
I feel guilty praying that I can 'leave this planet' and sad that I sort of erase all that positive stuff by doing so. I hope no one loses hope for all the good things and years one can have before this kind of event.
We have done wonderfully you and I. Everything on this Earth does come to an end. You can do this well too, my friend, my brothers and sisters.
I've loved completely through all this and I HAVE done well. PLEASE SHARE YOUR GOOD STUFF WITH OTHERS BECAUSE THE BAD IS ONLY FOR A MOMENT.
Loving you all forever and from wherever.........your sister with diabetes on this planet. 💛😚
Wednesday, July 12, 2017
July 12, 2017...STILL IMPAIRED, NOT GOOD!!
WELL HELLO AGAIN IN BEAUTIFUL JULY. This is my favorite month because of my birthday, I guess.
When the physical therapist evaluated me yesterday she stated "I'm going to send you back to the doctor before we proceed ant further. I think we may be missing something. You've hardly progressed"
As worrisome as that sounded, I was relieved because I felt the same way but was trying to keep my spirits up. They're going to check that I don't have some sort of fracture somewhere. Boy, THAT'S scary and serious , especially for someone who has been as active as I have been!
My 77th birthday has passed. I have accomplished 72 years of brittle diabetes and that's a miracle in itself. Let's see what the next chapter is.
The saga continues as we check out what's happening on Thursday. I'm not suffering too much but it is over a month that I've been so debilitated. Still using the rolling chair successfully but do have episodes of pain and other times, peacefulness for my poor body.
Well I certainly have good people and helping Angels all around on this planet and I am so thankful and blessed.
All of you....keep the courage and faith. We do all have an ending , you know. We are doing it as gracfully as possible.
Love to you all................
When the physical therapist evaluated me yesterday she stated "I'm going to send you back to the doctor before we proceed ant further. I think we may be missing something. You've hardly progressed"
As worrisome as that sounded, I was relieved because I felt the same way but was trying to keep my spirits up. They're going to check that I don't have some sort of fracture somewhere. Boy, THAT'S scary and serious , especially for someone who has been as active as I have been!
My 77th birthday has passed. I have accomplished 72 years of brittle diabetes and that's a miracle in itself. Let's see what the next chapter is.
The saga continues as we check out what's happening on Thursday. I'm not suffering too much but it is over a month that I've been so debilitated. Still using the rolling chair successfully but do have episodes of pain and other times, peacefulness for my poor body.
Well I certainly have good people and helping Angels all around on this planet and I am so thankful and blessed.
All of you....keep the courage and faith. We do all have an ending , you know. We are doing it as gracfully as possible.
Love to you all................
Sunday, July 2, 2017
July 2, 2017 MENDING....SCIATICA?
It's going on a month since I told you about my trip to the ER and the shock of being totally helpless....and since I'm not able to take any Prednisone, a recovery is taking quite a long time. However, the key word here or sentence is "recover."
Going to P/T two times a week and trying to do the painful exercises as faithfully as possible. I've been given a medication for pain. I am probably using it too sparingly because I'm so afraid of addiction, thus the exercises are more arduous than they might be. But....I'm doing it.
I have a wonderful 'executive' office chair that I've been using more like a walker than the real walker loaned to me. For some reason walkers for the elderly symbolize something so negative to me that I find it discouraging to use one. I must when I am picked up for P/T, but otherwise, this marvelous office chair seems to work so well in the apartment. I had most of my beautiiful rugs rolled up so the wood floors are exposed and this 5 legged chair rolls easily. It even rolls well on the 3 rooms that have carpets.
When I'm in severe pain, I have the chair facing me so I can turn to sit in it if necessary, or......turn it so the seat faces away from me and use the high back to push it and I am standing up straighter. It glides so well either way.
I even took it outsdie with two bags of garbage on it and went to the dumpster! THAT was big. Can't get to the mailbox yet though.
I have a kitchen that is 'sort of' galley- like', but wide enough; maybe 4 feet wide. I push the chair in there and sit down. Then I pull out one of the lower drawers, put a bread board on top and can actually use it as a low counter to make a sandwich etc. One day I even decided to make a meat loaf. I had the ingredients that I took as I was sitting, from the fridge. Then swiveled the chair around, opened the draw and actually had the large bowl go INTO the draw and it was just the right height to squish the meat loaf up with the ingredients. Then patted it into a loaf and put it into the slow cooker, which was standing in another lower, pulled out drawer . I was able to do all that myself. The only help I needed was from a neighbor who put the slow cooker (crock pot) up on the counter to plug it in.
I take the chair everywhere, almost, and when I go from one area to another, can use the seat to carry a tray with food, portable phone, papers, insulin thermos, glucose testing supplies and so on. I use the couch as my 'cockpit' where I spend some of the day. That's where I take supplies back and forth.
This chair goes with me to the bedroom at night and when I get up in the morning, I get dressed. It's too painful to stand and get dressed so I have my day time clothing ready and can sit down and get dressed a little at a time. Early on in this saga, I was unable to even GET into pj's or bed. I slept with my clothes on , on TOP of the bed with a small blanket. IT WAS BAD! A few nights I even slept in a lounge chair. I have come a long way in just 3 weeks.
Now however, the P/T is helping. I'm a little more independent and hoping for recovery......whenever. Have P/T for one more month, August 1st.
Have decided perhaps I've had a little too much pride at how well I've done. I have been extremely humbled by this event and thank God every day for the merciful lesson. It could have been so much worse. One physician does want me to consider a neurologist to assure that this is not a neuropathy condition.
Considering years of brittle diabetes, ?? It certainly would make sense. We do suspect the two years I've been experiencing muscle weakness is probably a neuropathy problem and is what has stopped my ability to ballroom dance. After my 50th year as a diabetic, doctors would be amazed that I did not have any neuropathy. Well on the 7th of this month, it will be SEVENTY TWO years I've dealt with this so most likely this could be a diagnosis. There are some medications for neuropathy. I'm scared of all these meds now, at this age and fragility. Apparently they affect the brain and some of them warn of 'suicidal tendencies'. I won't go to that area of thinking yet but if and when I do, well, we'll do all the homework and plan to start with very small doses.
We're in the big leagues now so I'm listening carefully to my professionals.
I so want to encourage others....I so want to be an example....I so want to prove that one can experience a quality even with a diagnosis of Juvenile Diabetes......until the end.
Bless you all........
Going to P/T two times a week and trying to do the painful exercises as faithfully as possible. I've been given a medication for pain. I am probably using it too sparingly because I'm so afraid of addiction, thus the exercises are more arduous than they might be. But....I'm doing it.
I have a wonderful 'executive' office chair that I've been using more like a walker than the real walker loaned to me. For some reason walkers for the elderly symbolize something so negative to me that I find it discouraging to use one. I must when I am picked up for P/T, but otherwise, this marvelous office chair seems to work so well in the apartment. I had most of my beautiiful rugs rolled up so the wood floors are exposed and this 5 legged chair rolls easily. It even rolls well on the 3 rooms that have carpets.
When I'm in severe pain, I have the chair facing me so I can turn to sit in it if necessary, or......turn it so the seat faces away from me and use the high back to push it and I am standing up straighter. It glides so well either way.
I even took it outsdie with two bags of garbage on it and went to the dumpster! THAT was big. Can't get to the mailbox yet though.
I have a kitchen that is 'sort of' galley- like', but wide enough; maybe 4 feet wide. I push the chair in there and sit down. Then I pull out one of the lower drawers, put a bread board on top and can actually use it as a low counter to make a sandwich etc. One day I even decided to make a meat loaf. I had the ingredients that I took as I was sitting, from the fridge. Then swiveled the chair around, opened the draw and actually had the large bowl go INTO the draw and it was just the right height to squish the meat loaf up with the ingredients. Then patted it into a loaf and put it into the slow cooker, which was standing in another lower, pulled out drawer . I was able to do all that myself. The only help I needed was from a neighbor who put the slow cooker (crock pot) up on the counter to plug it in.
I take the chair everywhere, almost, and when I go from one area to another, can use the seat to carry a tray with food, portable phone, papers, insulin thermos, glucose testing supplies and so on. I use the couch as my 'cockpit' where I spend some of the day. That's where I take supplies back and forth.
This chair goes with me to the bedroom at night and when I get up in the morning, I get dressed. It's too painful to stand and get dressed so I have my day time clothing ready and can sit down and get dressed a little at a time. Early on in this saga, I was unable to even GET into pj's or bed. I slept with my clothes on , on TOP of the bed with a small blanket. IT WAS BAD! A few nights I even slept in a lounge chair. I have come a long way in just 3 weeks.
Now however, the P/T is helping. I'm a little more independent and hoping for recovery......whenever. Have P/T for one more month, August 1st.
Have decided perhaps I've had a little too much pride at how well I've done. I have been extremely humbled by this event and thank God every day for the merciful lesson. It could have been so much worse. One physician does want me to consider a neurologist to assure that this is not a neuropathy condition.
Considering years of brittle diabetes, ?? It certainly would make sense. We do suspect the two years I've been experiencing muscle weakness is probably a neuropathy problem and is what has stopped my ability to ballroom dance. After my 50th year as a diabetic, doctors would be amazed that I did not have any neuropathy. Well on the 7th of this month, it will be SEVENTY TWO years I've dealt with this so most likely this could be a diagnosis. There are some medications for neuropathy. I'm scared of all these meds now, at this age and fragility. Apparently they affect the brain and some of them warn of 'suicidal tendencies'. I won't go to that area of thinking yet but if and when I do, well, we'll do all the homework and plan to start with very small doses.
We're in the big leagues now so I'm listening carefully to my professionals.
I so want to encourage others....I so want to be an example....I so want to prove that one can experience a quality even with a diagnosis of Juvenile Diabetes......until the end.
Bless you all........
Tuesday, June 27, 2017
THOUGHT I MIGHT BE 'FINISHED'.
WELL HELLO ON JUNE 27, 2017.
I can't believe how sturdy we humans are. Here I am, nursing a sore back with some degenerative disk disease and apparently a possibly pinched sciatica.
On June 12, I took a cab to the ER and had to be given anesthesia just to have an MRI of my back since I couldn't stand up or lie down. I was bent over at the waist from pain running dwn my left leg into my foot. It actually felt as though my whole skeleton, my core, was collapsing. It had come on slowly over a few days and then KABOOM. I hadn't done anything that I was aware of but this was bad.
After getting the above diagnosis from the ER doctor, I was sent home with pain pills and Prednisone. O.K. Found out diabetics can NOT take Prednisone. At least I can't!
My blood sugar after a half pill, of 25mg went to 600! Yes, Six hundred! I called my physician after 10 extra units of insulin did nothing and he said to get off Prednisone right away. It took approximately 3 days to get my blood sugar back into some sort of control. My fear (and his was) that if I corrected this dangerously high blood sugar with appropriate amounts of insulin, (from less than 20 units a day to 60 or more units a day), I could suddenly react to this insulin lingering in my system and that would be it!
At this moment, a week later, I'm back to about 16 units a day. However, I do not have the relief of inflammation that is causing the pain. Prednisone, for a few days would have helped that.
Of course all of this happened on the weekend so after the ER sent me home, I was lost. Didn't know what to do next. Both my cardiac guy and my diabetologist were gone and I didn't want to get involved with 'covers'.
While a bit drugged, went on the internet and got some orthopaedic names and also asked one of my neighbors who came in to check on me, if she knew of any. She liked a particlar ortho guy her family used. I was able to get an appointment on Monday.
I am going to physicial therapy twice a week. It's helping and there is hope for me to recover . I must say, I learned to use mywiles to take care of myself. I did call a gal who helps people "In Your Home' to come in and help shop, change the bed linens 1x a week and help with the wash. One of the biggest challanges is to get the garbage out. I have never been so helpless.
Some people tell me when they've had something like this, they just go to sleep with their pills for a few days until it lets up. Well, try that with needing to take blood sugars, inject insulin and then be sure you eat for the insulin on boardI always know I can never relax and just be cared for. I always have to be in charge. It is SO tiring! .
The taxi I took to the hospital and back was quite expensive. I have a friend that I could pay a little less than the cab, and she even stays with me until I'm ready to go home. It's a nice exchange for her as well and she's worth every dollar.
I'll tell you next time about some of the tricky things I could manage that one might not think of unless you're really this helpless.
Amazing, and indeed some great lesson.
Keep stretching!
I can't believe how sturdy we humans are. Here I am, nursing a sore back with some degenerative disk disease and apparently a possibly pinched sciatica.
On June 12, I took a cab to the ER and had to be given anesthesia just to have an MRI of my back since I couldn't stand up or lie down. I was bent over at the waist from pain running dwn my left leg into my foot. It actually felt as though my whole skeleton, my core, was collapsing. It had come on slowly over a few days and then KABOOM. I hadn't done anything that I was aware of but this was bad.
After getting the above diagnosis from the ER doctor, I was sent home with pain pills and Prednisone. O.K. Found out diabetics can NOT take Prednisone. At least I can't!
My blood sugar after a half pill, of 25mg went to 600! Yes, Six hundred! I called my physician after 10 extra units of insulin did nothing and he said to get off Prednisone right away. It took approximately 3 days to get my blood sugar back into some sort of control. My fear (and his was) that if I corrected this dangerously high blood sugar with appropriate amounts of insulin, (from less than 20 units a day to 60 or more units a day), I could suddenly react to this insulin lingering in my system and that would be it!
At this moment, a week later, I'm back to about 16 units a day. However, I do not have the relief of inflammation that is causing the pain. Prednisone, for a few days would have helped that.
Of course all of this happened on the weekend so after the ER sent me home, I was lost. Didn't know what to do next. Both my cardiac guy and my diabetologist were gone and I didn't want to get involved with 'covers'.
While a bit drugged, went on the internet and got some orthopaedic names and also asked one of my neighbors who came in to check on me, if she knew of any. She liked a particlar ortho guy her family used. I was able to get an appointment on Monday.
I am going to physicial therapy twice a week. It's helping and there is hope for me to recover . I must say, I learned to use mywiles to take care of myself. I did call a gal who helps people "In Your Home' to come in and help shop, change the bed linens 1x a week and help with the wash. One of the biggest challanges is to get the garbage out. I have never been so helpless.
Some people tell me when they've had something like this, they just go to sleep with their pills for a few days until it lets up. Well, try that with needing to take blood sugars, inject insulin and then be sure you eat for the insulin on boardI always know I can never relax and just be cared for. I always have to be in charge. It is SO tiring! .
The taxi I took to the hospital and back was quite expensive. I have a friend that I could pay a little less than the cab, and she even stays with me until I'm ready to go home. It's a nice exchange for her as well and she's worth every dollar.
I'll tell you next time about some of the tricky things I could manage that one might not think of unless you're really this helpless.
Amazing, and indeed some great lesson.
Keep stretching!
Wednesday, June 7, 2017
Done with the Drama
Hey There,
Knee surgery (arthroscopy) over with and now bandages off with two little stitched up slits in each side of the knee. Doctor states I have an ACL like football players can have with a 'blown out knee' but they don't repair them the same way for older adults as they do for young athletes. Apparently age has something to do with it. Gosh, in my youth, everything was 'diabetic related'. Now it's age related.
It's been so long since I've been on this blog, I can't find the 'edit' area. I have a mis-spelled word on the last post and can't fix it yet.
During this recovery time I am keeping my blood sugars as stable as possible. Since I've retired, I'm able to really pay attention and take care of myself. That means taking numerous blood glucose tests per day (sometimes up to 8 a day) and if I get up for anything in the middle of the night, taking a blood test and correcting if it's over 250. It seems to be working well. I not only use the insulin pump, but also use the pen and insulin in a syringe for supplemental doses.
WHY? you say? Why can't I just use the pump? Well, after taking insulin for 70 years first with syringes (the ones when you boiled the needles and syringes ) and putting needles int my arms and legs and eventually belly for all those years, like a VooDoo doll, my skin is tired of absorbing. I've had a map I've drawn up so I don't continually 'insult' the same areas of my body but after all this time, well.....absorption really affects the readings of the blood sugar. So, now if I need more than 4 units, I use a pen and if I need more than 5 units and up, I use a syringe with insulin. The syringes have a bit longer needle than the pen so I'm getting deeper areas. All the while, the pump is working with the 'drip' or basal rate. My blood sugars are better than ever. I'm anxious to get my A1C in December. I'll let you know how well I've done.
All this? I do NOT want to have amputation complications or any more severity of diabetic complications than I already have. ESPECIALLY now with a surgery on my leg. So, it's worth it. I'm told I don't look my age and most can hardly tell I have to deal with diabetes let alone how long so I guess I'm managing pretty well.
Bless you all and I'll be back to finish up my life story from the teen age up to now, at 75.
Knee surgery (arthroscopy) over with and now bandages off with two little stitched up slits in each side of the knee. Doctor states I have an ACL like football players can have with a 'blown out knee' but they don't repair them the same way for older adults as they do for young athletes. Apparently age has something to do with it. Gosh, in my youth, everything was 'diabetic related'. Now it's age related.
It's been so long since I've been on this blog, I can't find the 'edit' area. I have a mis-spelled word on the last post and can't fix it yet.
During this recovery time I am keeping my blood sugars as stable as possible. Since I've retired, I'm able to really pay attention and take care of myself. That means taking numerous blood glucose tests per day (sometimes up to 8 a day) and if I get up for anything in the middle of the night, taking a blood test and correcting if it's over 250. It seems to be working well. I not only use the insulin pump, but also use the pen and insulin in a syringe for supplemental doses.
WHY? you say? Why can't I just use the pump? Well, after taking insulin for 70 years first with syringes (the ones when you boiled the needles and syringes ) and putting needles int my arms and legs and eventually belly for all those years, like a VooDoo doll, my skin is tired of absorbing. I've had a map I've drawn up so I don't continually 'insult' the same areas of my body but after all this time, well.....absorption really affects the readings of the blood sugar. So, now if I need more than 4 units, I use a pen and if I need more than 5 units and up, I use a syringe with insulin. The syringes have a bit longer needle than the pen so I'm getting deeper areas. All the while, the pump is working with the 'drip' or basal rate. My blood sugars are better than ever. I'm anxious to get my A1C in December. I'll let you know how well I've done.
All this? I do NOT want to have amputation complications or any more severity of diabetic complications than I already have. ESPECIALLY now with a surgery on my leg. So, it's worth it. I'm told I don't look my age and most can hardly tell I have to deal with diabetes let alone how long so I guess I'm managing pretty well.
Bless you all and I'll be back to finish up my life story from the teen age up to now, at 75.
Magnifiers
April 18, 2017
I believe I've mentioned that after more than 60 years of Type I diabetes, I've had a little trouble with visual detail. The only time I have a problem is with filling an insulin syringe, reading some copy
I believe I've mentioned that after more than 60 years of Type I diabetes, I've had a little trouble with visual detail. The only time I have a problem is with filling an insulin syringe, reading some copy
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