I had my first medically supervised diet visit with my PCP today. If their scales are the same as my bariatric doctor's, I lost SIX POUNDS in one week! I am stoked! God is so good. My blood sugars have been dropping like crazy, though. Sooooooo... He dropped my insulin TWENTY-SIX UNITS and dropped one thousand milligrams of Metformin! Again,,, STOKED!! I will come back and finish my update when I get my lab results.
UPDATED: All labs were good. A1C was 6.3.
Waiting in the Water By The Isaacs
A helpless man blind from birth
The only one who saw his worth
Didn't pass him by, He heard his cry He rubbed his eyes with a handful of clay Then He said, "Go wash in the pool today" And the blind man knew that's what he had to do You know along the way He couldn't help but trip and fall Each time he got back up I wonder if he thought Every step I take is a step in faith When I can't see what's in front of me I'll walk on and just believe He hears my prayer And when I get there The miracle promised by my father Is waiting in the water I've walked in darkness, I won't lie Just like that blind man sometimes I've felt all alone, like all hope was gone I know that His word is true And no matter what I'm going through He promised me that He would never leave I know along the way I may stumble and I may fall But I'll make it to the water Even if I have have to crawl Every step I take is a step of faith When I can't see what's in front of me I'll walk on and just believe He hears my prayer And when I get there The miracle promised by my father Is waiting in the water I know He knows where I am And somehow this is all in His plan So until my healing comes I'll keep pressing on Every step I take is a step of faith When I can't see what's in front of me I'll walk on and just believe He hears my prayer And when I get there The miracle promised by my father Is waiting in the water
This is going to be a long blog and for that I apologize. I am not sure it makes a difference because I am still not sure I am going to share this one with anyone. Still, I try to keep my health updates posted here and so that is what I am doing.
It has been a long week. But to explain that, I have to go back a few years. When I was first diagnosed with anxiety, I had several visits to the ER with bouts of chest pain. I honestly thought I was having a heart attack, because (as a person who has never had a heart attack can say) that is what it felt like. I had a stress test at that time and all was clear. I can say that not all of my anxiety attacks feel this way, but some of them do. Because I have been conditioned by doctors and myself I have come to say that all chest pain that I have is nothing but anxiety.
That brings me to the semi-present. About six weeks ago, I woke up in the middle of the night with chest pain. I didn't feel particularly anxious at that point, but I assumed that was what it was. The pain eventually left so I went back to sleep. Over the course of the day, the pain came and went. Eventually it started wrapping around my left shoulder. It left, but came back. I casually mentioned something to my husband around 11 AM and he flipped out. He wanted to take me to the ER but I refused. I was NOT going to sit at the ER for an anxiety attack. He wasn't happy but he went to work. (DISCLAIMER: For those reading this, he works from home.) He checked on me on his first break. The pain was still coming and going. I told him if I was still feeling like this by his lunch break I would consider going to the ER. On his lunch break, I wasn't feeling any better so I called my friend Stephanie to get her opinion. Surely, she would side with me. She didn't... Off to the ER we went.
When I got to the ER, they got me registered and had me to sit down. I was triaged and had an EKG. Once they saw I wasn't having a heart attack I became just a number and sent to wait. Stephanie sent me to our best ER and they were incredibly busy that day so I waited for about 6 hours before I got a room. In that time the doctor had ordered a couple more EKGs, repeat labs, a chest x.ray, etc. Long story short was that I wasn't having a heart attack, but he wanted me to follow up with my doctor to get a referral for a stress test to make sure all was ok. And that is where my long week started.
If you have read any of my blogs recently, or know me personally, you know that I am 250+ pounds. (I almost put 300+. I no longer have to write that! Yay!) I had been using the elliptical but fell off the wagon. There is no way I could walk on a treadmill long enough to pass a stress test and I told Stephanie this. She told me there was a chemical stress test they could do if I requested it. I talked to my primary doctor about it when he referred me to the cardiologist. Then I talked to the cardiologist. That is what was scheduled. I left the initial appt with the cardiologist with (take note because this is semi important) the stress test info and an appt to follow up with the cardiologist a month after my stress test. I went home and proceeded to freak out. I was scared of having a heart attack during the test.
The morning of the test came and I was still very scared. God blessed me with a nice Christian gentleman who was very reassuring that everything would be ok. He tried his best to distract me through the process. He also made sure I knew what was he was doing with each step. The test was a lengthy process. First, I had an IV and had some radioactive meds injected. I had some scans 45 minutes later. Then the actual stress test. Then more radioactive meds. Forty-five more minutes of waiting then more scans. I left the test feeling pretty confident because I didn't have a heart attack. Now, the waiting for the results began.
The next day, I was out doing some things with my daughters and my phone rang. I get a lot of spam calls so I don't answer numbers I don't know. This one left a message so I checked it. It was my cardiologist office. I think my heart stopped for a moment. I knew in that moment that things weren't good. I called the lady back and she informed me that the doctor wanted me to come in that afternoon to be seen for the results of my stress test. I didn't know what was going on but I knew it wasn't good. Remember when I said my follow-up appt was in a month? Yeah... The only thing they would tell me over the phone was that my stress test results were abnormal. I started freaking out internally (my girls were with me remember)... We head home. I called John and after some discussion we decided he would go with me just in case they admitted me. I made a couple other phone calls and interrupted people during their lunch, doctor's appt, etc. Leave it to little sisters to cause problems. 😜
The PA explained that stress tests either rule out that there are problems or that there could be potential problems. My test showed that there COULD be blockages. So I have won an expenses paid (by my insurance company and me) trip to our local hospital for a heart cath in about three weeks. They sent me home and told me to take it easy and try to remain as stress free as possible. Sure! I am 40 years old, with an anxiety disorder, being faced with a lot of potentially scary stuff. Relaxing should be a piece of cake!
I am trying to remind myself of God's promises. It is harder at sometimes than others, I am just trying to get through the next couple weeks, though. I know God has this. None of this has surprised Him.
If you have read this novel of a blog, God bless you. I would appreciate your prayers. I am sure I will update when I have more info.
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.
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.
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
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is classified as
The kind of fatigue sleep cannot cure: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is the common name for a group of significantly debilitating medical conditions characterized by persistent fatigue and other specific symptoms that lasts for a minimum of six months in adults (and 3 months in children or adolescents. The fatigue is not due to exertion, not significantly relieved by rest, and is not caused by other medical conditions. Symptoms of CFS include malaise after exertion; unrefreshing sleep, widespread muscle and joint pain, sore throat, headaches of a type not previously experienced, cognitive difficulties, chronic and severe mental and physical exhaustion. Additional symptoms may be reported, including muscle weakness, increased sensitivity to light, sounds and smells, orthostatic intolerance, digestive disturbances, depression, painful and often slightly swollen lymph nodes, cardiac and respiratory problems."
