September a1c

 My a1c was 8.2.

Eyes

 This has been a hard year...hard summer...hard month...hard week...hard day. I had an MRI done in December of last year. Long story short (or as short as I can make it) that was the start of it all. The MRI showed my shunt was over draining. The neurologist that I was seeing locally wasn't qualified to treat me so she wanted to refer me to another neurologist for this problem. She tried for a while to find someone locally to take my case, but because I was already shunted no one locally would agree to take my case. My neurosurgeon who installed the shunt has since retired.

So in May, I ended up at Vanderbilt Hospital to see another neurologist who then referred me to a neurosurgeon who I saw in June. During this time I had a shunt series, an MRI and an MRV. I also had to see my eye doctor for a specific exam. Everyone was trying to figure out if my shunt was causing problems. The Neurologist and the Neurosurgeon frustrate me with the differing opinions. I will see the Neurologist and he will see or agree there is potentially a problem, but then the neurosurgeon is like "Ah, I've seen worse cases than this." Both are excellent doctors, but it is frustrating at times hearing the differing opinions.

This week was the week of doctors for me. Tuesday, I went back to Vanderbilt for my three month check up. My day started with a CT. We go to the neurologist who shows us the CT and gives us a couple things to look at. He also told us that my pituitary gland is enlarged. He has ordered another MRI that I will have in December when I return to him. I have been having daily headaches so he referred me back to my primary doctor for some med changes. The neurologist is going to be the one treating the headaches but he is wanting to increase some meds I am already on so he wants the primary doctor's approval in doing this. Next, off to the neurosurgeon for my follow-up appt with him. He listened to my concerns and the issues the neurologist brought up as well as the findings from the eye appointment and ruled out shunt issues. "I've seen worse." Frustrating, but I am glad all is ok for now on the shunt front.

Yesterday, I had my last appointment with my local neurologist. The issues I saw her for she decided would be monitored by Vanderbilt so I didn't need her any longer. This was a huge answer to prayer because my visits to her were very stressful.

Today, I had to follow-up with my eye doctor. Unfortunately, that appointment didn't go the way I had prayed it would. The last several times I have seen him, my eye pressure has been elevated. This is the third time it has been tested in the last twelve months and it was elevated a couple times before that. When I went to see him in June he decided that he wanted to see me in three months for further testing. I had several things done to my eyes. His diagnosis is that I am in the early stages of Glaucoma. He put me on an eye drop that I will use in one eye and I'll see him again in a month where they will once again test my eye pressure. If the drops do what they are supposed to then I will start using them in both eyes.

I did okay with this news until I got home. On the way home I spoke with my best friend. I spoke with one of my sisters. I was ok. I took one look at my husband and started sobbing. Then I did something stupid. What is the #1 rule when you are faced with medical issues? DO NOT GOOGLE! Well, I googled!! Stupid, stupid Lisa. I knew better but I did it any way. I have spent my evening grieving and praying. I turned on worship music and prayed. I know that none of this has surprised God. I know that I am in His hands and He has my best interest at heart. I am thankful that we caught it early and praying it doesn't get worse. I would be lying if I didn't admit that I am scared. This disease can make you go blind. The thought of never being able to my husband and kids again, never being able to see my future grandchildren, not being able to read or drive or...or...or... It shakes me to my core. But God... I am doing my best to lean on Him; to cast my cares on Him, because He is ultimately the only one who has any control over my situation. I can, and will, seek meds and treatment, but my future is in His hands alone. So if you have made it this far, thank you for reading my tale of woe. If you are the praying type, I would appreciate your prayers. Thank you.

A Year In Books 2022

 Each year I make a blog post to keep track of the books I have read that year. Usually, my goal is 100 books, but 2021 proved to be extra busy and stressful. When I am anxious it makes it harder for me to concentrate on reading and I have not made my goal. Therefore, I am adjusting my goal for 2022 to 52 books. I think I can totally handle one book a year. I would under estimate my goal than to feel like I failed and that is how I feel right now. So here's to smashing those reading goals! 

1. A Heart of Hope By Samantha Price

2. A Season for Change By Samantha Price

3. Amish Farm Mayhem By Samantha Price

4. His Amish Nanny By Samantha Price

5. The Amish Maid's Sweetheart By Samantha Price

6. The Amish Deacon's Daughter By Samantha Price

7. Impossible Love By Samantha Price

8. Love at First By Samantha Price

9. Faith's Love By Samantha Price

10. The Trials of Mrs. Fisher By Samantha Price

11. A Simple Change By Samantha Price

12. The Stolen Amish Wedding By Samantha Price

13. The Amish Girl Who Never Belonged By Samantha Price

14. The Amish Spinster By Samantha Price

15. The Bishop's Daughter By Samantha Price

16. The Amish Single Mother By Samantha Price

17. The Temporary Amish Nanny By Samantha Price

18. Jeremiah's Daughter By Samantha Price

19. My Brother's Keeper By Samantha Price

20. A Simple Choice By Samantha Price

21. Annie's Faith By Samantha Price

22. A Small Secret By Samantha Price

23. Loving Lacy By Kirsten Osbourne

24. Ephraim's Chance By Samantha Price

25. A Season for Second Chances By Samantha Price

26. A Second Chance By Samantha Price

27. Mail Order Midnight By Kirsten Osbourne

28. Choosing Amish By Samantha Price

29. Arranged Marriage By Samantha Price

30. Falling in Love By Samantha Price

31. Finding Love By Samantha Price

32. Amish Second Loves By Samantha Price

33. Amish Silence By Samantha Price

34. Amish Rose By Samantha Price

35. Amish Tulip By Samantha Price

36. Amish Daisy By Samantha Price

37. A Change of Heart By Samantha Price

38. Jane's Journal By Kirsten Osbourne

39. Amish Lily By Samantha Price

40. Mail Order Misprint By Kirsten Osbourne

41. Amish Violet By Samantha Price

42. Amish Willow By Samantha Price

43. The Amish Marriage Pact By Samantha Price

44. Elizabeth By Jovie Grace

45. The Last Wedding By Samantha Price

46. Grace By Jovie Grace

47. An Amish Adoption By Beth Wiseman

48. Sarah's Siblings By Kirsten Osbourne

49. Alyssa's Admirer By Kirsten Osbourne

50. Mail Order Mother-in-law By Kirsten Osbourne

51. Lilly By Jovie Grace

52. Henrietta's Home By Kirsten Osbourne

53. Starting Over By Samantha Price

54. Emma's Engagement By Kirsten Osbourne

55. Bride for the Innkeeper By Jovie Grace

56. Millshore Brides Prequel By Kay Dawson

57. Edward's Bride By Morgan Dawson

November Health Update

 Last month we changed some of my meds around. I had bloodwork yesterday. The nurse called this morning and said my A1C had come down. I also lost 10 lbs in the last month. Yay! 

November A1C - 7.8

Day 1 - And It Starts (again)

Today I went to see Dr. M for the first time in several years. I had my "annual." He also put me back on the Provera again.  This wouldn't be so bad, EXCEPT, this stuff makes me extremely moody. A normal person takes this medication for 5-10 days at a time. I will be taking it until the end of time...Ok, that is a bit dramatic, but I WILL be on it until I am ready to go through menopause. Speaking of the evil M word, this medication pretty much puts me into chemical menopause. Yay me! I don't think anyone reads my blog any more. I mainly just write as an online journal, a place for me to keep notes that I will not misplace. Anyway, if you do read this and you see me in public in the next few years.. I apologize if I am hateful. Though I do have those moments normally, this medication can make the most angelic of creatures seem like Satan himself.

So here we go....Day 1

August Health Update

 After an extremely long time without insurance, I was finally able to see the doctor and have blood drawn again. While they drew a lot of things, the only thing I really keep track of on here lately is my a1c and it was 9.1 . That is my update for now. 

Health Update

 So here I am again. I try not to post too much stuff any more because out of sight out of mind. This weekend I wasn't feeling great. Saturday, I was what-I-can-only-describe-as "off." I just wasn't feeling right. I had been extra tired for the last couple weeks (I was coming down from a CFS flare so I didn't think too much about it. Something told me to test my ketones, though. You must toss ketone strips six months after you open them. It was time for a new bottle so I stopped by Walmart on my way out and grabbed more. When I got home I tested and my ketones were measuring high. I have had some super high blood sugars and NEVER tested that high at home. When I was diagnosed with DKA, I hadn't been introduced to ketone strips yet so I do not know what they would have measured at then. So I did what any normal person would do. I felt like a woman who was just surprised by a positive pregnancy test. I took another test...then another. With each test I was sure I just had a bad bottle of test strips. So, for kicks and giggles, I used a strip out of the "old" bottle. Again, same thing. You must read the results at the 15 second mark. These strips were turning "high" before 10 seconds. So I tested my blood sugar. (Yes, I did things backwards.) It was 129. Wait just a minute. "Rules" say I shouldn't even be testing my ketones unless my blood sugar is over 150. If I had tested my blood before my ketones I wouldn't have taken the ketone tests. So I called the on call doctor for my office and they sent me to the ER. I waited in the waiting room almost 5 hours before I saw a doctor. They did bloodwork and gave me fluids. The bloodwork showed that my ketones were measuring at 80 which is the number my home test gave me. It also showed I was dehydrated. The good news was that it wasn't in my blood, though. They sent me home after I had fluids. I did not have I good visit with the ER. Some things can be overlooked. I am well aware that our health care system is strained right now due to COVID, but the ER never even asked what meds I was on or anything. They also had a host of meds on my discharge paperwork that I haven't taken since the last time I was admitted (2 years ago). 

Today I had my follow-up visit with my doctor. Have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE my doctor. He is awesome. We talked about my blood sugar. He added a new medicine for that to try to help control my levels. I have also "graduated" to the next level of diabetes today. For a while now I have been having nerve issues with my feet and some in my hands as well. I knew what this meant so I ignored it for a very long time before I brought it up. Out of sight out of mind, right? Finally, I wised up and realized that refusing to acknowledge the issues I was having didn't mean they weren't happening (pretty simple, duh!) but I was staying in pain out of my own stubbornness. We talked about things regarding the pain. I have been diagnosed with Diabetic Neuropathy. I am now on a new med to help that pain. I am hoping both of these new meds help get things under control. 

I am so frustrated with my body, though. I do not understand why I was throwing ketones with my blood sugar so low. I do not understand why I was dehydrated. I have a mug that I have with me at all times when I am home. It is a huge trucker's mug. It is always filled with ice water and it gets refilled at least 2-3 times a day. I drink well over a gallon of water in a day. When we got home at 7AM on Sunday from the ER, I told John I felt like the only solution was to stop eating anything and to start drinking enough water to give myself water poison. At this point, I hadn't slept since I got up Saturday morning. I'd had lunch at noon Saturday and hadn't eaten since then because I was stuck in the ER forever. I felt helpless and hopeless. After some sleep, I felt a little better emotionally. So here we are... we will see how these new meds help. 

Today's A1C 8.3. It has only went up 0.1 in almost a year. It isn't a good number. It could be better, but at least it is pretty stable so I will take it as a starting point. 

Mama