Truly tired

I don't know how other spouses take care of their chronically ill husbands. I'm not doing so well. I can't keep up with the house, the yard, cooking, groceries.....and helping him out of his hypos.

I've been doing some research on humulin RU 500. From rxlist.com, they say:

deep secondary hypoglycemic reactions may develop 18 to 24 hours after the original injection of Humulin R (U-500)

patients should be carefully observed

prompt treatment of such reactions should be initiated with glucagon injections and/or with glucose by intravenous injection or gavage.

We don'thave a glucagon pen. He is not being closely monitored at all. He's still going low a couple of times a day. But at least it's not continuous from 2 - 6 pm like it was.

And then from wikipedia.org:

affect of hypoglycemia on the brain:

if the amount of glucose supplied by the blood falls, the brain is one of the first organs affected

subtle reduction of mental efficiency can be observed when the glucose falls below 65 mg/dl

Impairment of action and judgment usually becomes obvious below 40 mg/dl

Prolonged, severe hypoglycemia can produce lasting damage of a wide range

The likelihood of permanent brain damage from any given instance of severe hypoglycemia is difficult to estimate, and depends on a multitude of factors such as age, recent blood and brain glucose experience, concurrent problems such as hypoxia, and availability of alternative fuels.

manifestations

impaired judgment
moodiness
depression
negativism
irritability
belligerence
combativeness
rage
personality change
fatigue
weakness
apathy
lethargy
daydreaming
sleep
confusion
amnesia
dizziness
staring
"glassy" look
blurred vision
auomatic behavior
slurred speech
incoordination
abnormal breathing

Hubby has had all of those since heart surgery during his lows.

continuning on, the same website says:

There is no consistent order to the appearance of the symptoms, if symptoms even occur

Specific manifestations may also vary by age, by severity of the hypoglycemia and the speed of the decline.

It makes perfectly good sense that his physicians should be following him closely. So, define "close". Once a day? Once a week? Inpatient?

He has not heard from his primary care physician in over a week.

He has not heard from the endocrinologist in over 9 days.

The surgery team has only called him one time since surgery.

He is being seen 3 times a week by cardiac physical therapy, but they would have nothing to do with his blood sugar lows.

And tonight, I am way too tired to care. Too tired to talk to him about it (like that might do a bit of good?). Too tired to read anyting else.

Diabetes can cause depression in the diabetic. I've read all the reasons why. I believe that it can also cause depression in the spouse and family members. I'm tired of worrying about him. I'm tired of taking care of him. Tired of eating the way he has to eat. Tired of cooking healthy food. If I see another piece of lettuce today I would simply scream!!! Tired of toting all his stuff up and down the stairs every day. Tired of fastening the seat belt when he gets into the car. Tired of opening doors for him.....

The list is endless.

I keep telling myself we only have one more week to go til the surgeon should release him to do some of this stuff.

I wonder if I will make it one more week.

OK, just ignore me - I'm tired.

DW