CGM

 CGM - Continuous Glucose Monitoring... When I was at the doctor last week he recommended we upgrade to CGM to try to get my blood sugars under tighter control. Insurance required prior approval before I could get it so I picked the monitor and sensors up yesterday. Diabetes has me nevering like I never nevered before. Before diabetes, I swore I could never check my own blood sugar. Well, I had to learn. I swore I could never give myself a shot. It was difficult the first few months but now, years later, I do it without trouble most days. So when it came to CGM, it was no different. I had literal nightmares the last few days about sticking myself with the CGM sensor. For those who do not know, the CGM sensor goes on your arm. It stays there for two weeks and you just scan the sensor to check your blood sugar. The sensor continuously keeps track of your blood sugars. If it has a high reading it will tell you to scan it. I am no expert by any means because I just started this journey. I was woke up this morning with a high blood sugar. It was 200. I am not sure how or why it was 200 at SIX AM, but it was. I didn't have anything sugary or carb filled at bedtime last night. By the time I woke up and checked it again, it was 160. Not a great fasting level by any means but I will take it over the 200. I was unaware that these little discs required adhesive patches to keep them on, but that do. I have ordered some and now I am just trying to keep the disc in place until they get here. It is a bit of tape around it but it keeps wanting to try to come up. I just keep pressing it back into place. So here is the start of my journey. It is mildly frustrating. Hopefully, it will help get my levels under control and keep them there. 

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