back pain and things to give up.

He went to the doc fo rhis back and was told that it is his sciatic nerve and he needs to stay off his feet until it heals.

So I decided to do some research. Sciatic NERVE = any nerve = nerve ending damage as in neuropathy?

Sure enough. I think this is going to be an ongoing problem with him. Neuropathy in his sciatic nerve. It even has a name: Sciatica. So from past research on nerve ending damage - he should have severe pain for the next 2 years and then the feelings will die and he won't have the pain. Wonder if it works the same with the sciatic nerve? Will he lose all sense of felling as in his feet?

Time to look into getting a wheelchair?

I do believe he is starting to see the end results of this disease. When we were on the cruise, he had his first ever pedicure and loved it. So I talked him into signing up for a seaweed wrap and flotation massage. It was highly recommended for people with arthritis and I just thought it might make him feel better.

When he got to the SPA and they did their questionnaire with him, they told him he could not get the treatment. There was a risk of the lotions they use getting into a needle injection spot and causing an infection. A few hours later, he actually admitted being very depressed over everything that he can't do because he has diabetes.

So we had a good talk at that point. I simply reminded him that he has 2 choices. He can continue to ignore his sugar levels and endure the progression of this disease and give up more and more.....or he can try to maintain his current status by watching his sugar levels, dieting, and exercising. That's when he agreed to diet and watch his sugar levels.

The sad thing is that was a week ago and although he has been on our diet for 2 days now, he is just not willing to test his sugar even once a day.

So, yesterday, while at the grocery store, he had a low. He grabbed a bottle of fruit juice and downed that, then a hershey's chocolate bar and I was starting to wonder if he was going to make it out the door or not. He had taken his morning insulin and had not had a single thing to eat. So I asked him about that. Why would he not eat? And he said he just didn't feel like it. Once again I simply reminded him that if he doesn't take care of himself, all I can do is call 911 when he passes out.

Why doesn't he carry glucose tabs with him? And don't tell me to carry them for him - it's not my disease!!!!!

He said to me last night, "You should just leave me" and for the first time ever, I replied, "Well, I know it's an option that I have, but I'm not leaving yet."

He did not reply. I think I shocked him! I'm hoping he will think about what I said. I truly am not even considering leaving him, but knowing that it is an option is good mental health insurance for me.

DW