stupid NP.
Wants to return to an insulin schedule he tried 2 years ago that failed miserably.
Why?
Because he didn't try it with her.
He was so mad when we left that his bp was 145/95
He said he will never go see her again
I have to agree
She was completely demeaning towards him
Talked down to him as tho he was a child.
Asked him if he knew what a carb was!!!
That's the problem with an HMO...you get someone different every time.
She said no way he could have dka
I asked what the smells were. She looked at me like I was a complete idiot
No, she never gave me an answer, just changed the subject.
Today's visit set him back 2 years in my opinion.
Sigh.
Dw
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Return manipulation
For lack of a better term...he won't paint, so I told him I won't clean up after the dogs anymore. I will no longer put away food that he leaves in the counter. I will no longer take the dirty dishes that he puts in the sink in the dishwasher for him.
About once a day I'm finding something else I won't be doing for him anymore.
I think he's going to end up picking up a paint brush yet! LOL!!!
I'm taking the week off and going up to my sisters again. Finished the kitchen, breakfast nook, and 2 walls in the family room. That included 9 huge windows, a door and a regular sized window. Have been at this nonstop for 10 days and need a break. But it is starting to look wonderful!!
Might just get as good at this as DW2!!
DW
About once a day I'm finding something else I won't be doing for him anymore.
I think he's going to end up picking up a paint brush yet! LOL!!!
I'm taking the week off and going up to my sisters again. Finished the kitchen, breakfast nook, and 2 walls in the family room. That included 9 huge windows, a door and a regular sized window. Have been at this nonstop for 10 days and need a break. But it is starting to look wonderful!!
Might just get as good at this as DW2!!
DW
Freakazoid
Oh, James. Name calling is just so unfair. Yes, he called me that and said he expects someone else to call 911 when he passes out.
Now, I think we can assume that James is a diabetic.
So why is he passing out? Because he didn't test often enough? Because he doesn't know that his glucose is low? And while he doesn't take care of himself, and passes out....he still expects someone to be there and call 911!!!
Now I think most of us know that if our spouse passes out, we will make the call. My point is that a diabetic EXPECTS someone to make that call. And my question is why the heck are they passing out??
99% of the time it's going to be because they go low. So why the heck do they allow themselves to get so low they pass out?
Absolutely no excuse for that these days with all the testing equipment available.
James is such a typical diabetic. So quick to accuse and call out names! Never willing to look at themselves and ask the very questions I'm asking. Why do you allow yourself to be in a situation where anyone has to call 911? And yes, we are only talking about Diabetes 911 related calls.
My hubby went all day long without eating. Then went out in the hot sun for an hour, then drank a gin and tonic. I made the call when he passed out. His glucose was down to 30. He had not tested in months. I understand not being hungry and not wanting to eat...but that's still no reason to not test and not take care of yourself. And when you don't do that, it's not my job to be here 24/7 just in case you might need someone to call 911. Lucky for him I was here when it happened!
So James, go ahead, call me all the names you want. But I happen to think the real freakazoid here are men like you who expect someone to take care of them rather than stepping up to the plate and taking care of themselves!!!
DW
Now, I think we can assume that James is a diabetic.
So why is he passing out? Because he didn't test often enough? Because he doesn't know that his glucose is low? And while he doesn't take care of himself, and passes out....he still expects someone to be there and call 911!!!
Now I think most of us know that if our spouse passes out, we will make the call. My point is that a diabetic EXPECTS someone to make that call. And my question is why the heck are they passing out??
99% of the time it's going to be because they go low. So why the heck do they allow themselves to get so low they pass out?
Absolutely no excuse for that these days with all the testing equipment available.
James is such a typical diabetic. So quick to accuse and call out names! Never willing to look at themselves and ask the very questions I'm asking. Why do you allow yourself to be in a situation where anyone has to call 911? And yes, we are only talking about Diabetes 911 related calls.
My hubby went all day long without eating. Then went out in the hot sun for an hour, then drank a gin and tonic. I made the call when he passed out. His glucose was down to 30. He had not tested in months. I understand not being hungry and not wanting to eat...but that's still no reason to not test and not take care of yourself. And when you don't do that, it's not my job to be here 24/7 just in case you might need someone to call 911. Lucky for him I was here when it happened!
So James, go ahead, call me all the names you want. But I happen to think the real freakazoid here are men like you who expect someone to take care of them rather than stepping up to the plate and taking care of themselves!!!
DW
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Diabetic labels
Rachel wrote: I don't think you can blame it on Diabetes. I am a type 1 diabetic, have been through two separate major rounds of chemo, almost have lost my life and hand to infection, and have had countless surgeries. My kidneys are failing and I have heart problems. I NEVER use any of my health problems as an excuse, if anything it's just the opposite, I work until I am ready to fall on my face. I can work circles around any healthy person even on a bad day. I usually work 60 hours a week and have a farm for a hobby. If people play that kind of manipulation game, they will find any excuse. Giving another label to diabetics is cruel. Although some may disgrace us with this behavior, it is not a characteristic of all diabetics. Please use care when placing labels, and good luck.
You claim you are not manipulative. However, by saying it is cruel to give another label to diabetics....aren't you being manipulative? The definition of the word is: to negotiate, control, or influence (something or someone)cleverly, skilfully, or deviously.
If you tell me it's cruel to use a label - you are trying to influence me to do something else. That's manipulation.
And that, my dear, is the problem with diabetics. So fast to make accusations.....so slow to accept responsibility. The fact that you can work circles around a healthy person has very little to do with it....it's how you treat those healthy people, what you expect/ask/want them to do for you.
Do you:
ask someone to carry glucose tabs with them in case you go low?
expect someone else to give you orange juice or something when you go low?
ask someone else to eat at a specific time because you need to?
ask someone else to limit carbs, sugar....any foods they might like because you don't eat it?
think someone else should call 911 when you pass out.....because the love you?
think that the person you are in a relationship should want to help you because they love you?
ask someone else to make room in their refrigerator for your insulin, or make room on the shelves for your medical supplies?
do you give consideration for what other's might feel when they see you injecting yourself?
do you expect someone else to assist you with your injections?
I think you get the gist.
Diabetics as a whole seem to think that the people around them that love them are mandated to assist them with the day-to-day operations of this disease. Based on "love". I contend that it's your life, your disease, you deal with it. I'd feel that way about any disease.
Finally, remember, this is my place to vent so that in real life, I can support my husband as a loving wife. I don't say these things to him. I say them here. And remember that he has had 35 years of non-compliance so I'm sure the outcomes of his daily life are much, much different from anyone younger, with less years of the disease ravaging their body.
Still....I'm going to stick with my "label". He is manipulative and I suspect there are a lot just like him.
You claim you are not manipulative. However, by saying it is cruel to give another label to diabetics....aren't you being manipulative? The definition of the word is: to negotiate, control, or influence (something or someone)cleverly, skilfully, or deviously.
If you tell me it's cruel to use a label - you are trying to influence me to do something else. That's manipulation.
And that, my dear, is the problem with diabetics. So fast to make accusations.....so slow to accept responsibility. The fact that you can work circles around a healthy person has very little to do with it....it's how you treat those healthy people, what you expect/ask/want them to do for you.
Do you:
ask someone to carry glucose tabs with them in case you go low?
expect someone else to give you orange juice or something when you go low?
ask someone else to eat at a specific time because you need to?
ask someone else to limit carbs, sugar....any foods they might like because you don't eat it?
think someone else should call 911 when you pass out.....because the love you?
think that the person you are in a relationship should want to help you because they love you?
ask someone else to make room in their refrigerator for your insulin, or make room on the shelves for your medical supplies?
do you give consideration for what other's might feel when they see you injecting yourself?
do you expect someone else to assist you with your injections?
I think you get the gist.
Diabetics as a whole seem to think that the people around them that love them are mandated to assist them with the day-to-day operations of this disease. Based on "love". I contend that it's your life, your disease, you deal with it. I'd feel that way about any disease.
Finally, remember, this is my place to vent so that in real life, I can support my husband as a loving wife. I don't say these things to him. I say them here. And remember that he has had 35 years of non-compliance so I'm sure the outcomes of his daily life are much, much different from anyone younger, with less years of the disease ravaging their body.
Still....I'm going to stick with my "label". He is manipulative and I suspect there are a lot just like him.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Manipulation
Does it go hand in hand with diabetes? I have to wonder. Is it connected to any type of disease or disability? Is it just the nature of some people? Is it magnified in some people because they have a disease?
"I'm sick, so I can't do that"
"My back hurts, I can't do that"
"I have a headache so I'm just going to lay here and watch TV"
(I never fully understood that one - you have a headache yet you can watch the motion and noise from a TV?)
"I think I'm going low, we have to stay home"
"I don't have the energy to walk through the grocery store, you will have to do it"
get the pattern? And because they have all these "excuses" they don't have to do a thing.
I told hubby 6 years ago that the windows in our house were starting to get bad. Paint stripping away form the wood. Leaks. The house is just 17 years old now, so only 11 years old them.
3 years ago I pointed out to him the water coming in from one of the upper windows during a rain.
A year ago I told him I thought we had mold in one of the windows
This week, I took down the blinds, started stripping paint, sanding, recaulking, painting......
We have a huge house. Enormous floor to ceiling windows. 5 in the breakfast nook alone - where I started.
It HAS to be done. We cannot sell this place the way it is.
I asked him if he would help me. He said, "You know I don't do stuff like this. I hire it done." I SCREAMED at him, "you know you can't afford to hire it done!"
He picked up a piece of sanding paper and said, "what do I do?"
I YELLED at him to get out of the kitchen - to just go upstairs and get out of my sight.
So there he's been all week until today - he parks himself in the family room off the kitchen with the TV on blare. I asked him if he would go to Lowes and buy me a new sander. He said "no".
I am livid. Again. He has manipulated this situation to the point where I am sanding and repairing all the windows, painting the walls and baseboard as I go, while he sits in his recliner watching TV, eating nuts and petting the dogs.
I just want to scream my head off.
My pain level is excrutiating today. I am ready to simply walk out of here. And I may yet. Just go back to my sister's for another week. I am so pissed off at him.
But then, we all know he does not want to sell this house. He does not want to move. So this is intentional on his part. To not repair or fix a thing and thus, he can't sell it.
He is such an asshole. Diabetes is his crutch. It allows him to manipulate me, plus everyone else he knows, into doing things for him. I hate this disease. But today, I hate him even more.
And I now honestly know why he doesn't even try to take care of himself. If he were healthy - he wouldn't have this crutch and he might actually have to get off his ass and do something.
Horrible human being.
DW - really pissed off today!
"I'm sick, so I can't do that"
"My back hurts, I can't do that"
"I have a headache so I'm just going to lay here and watch TV"
(I never fully understood that one - you have a headache yet you can watch the motion and noise from a TV?)
"I think I'm going low, we have to stay home"
"I don't have the energy to walk through the grocery store, you will have to do it"
get the pattern? And because they have all these "excuses" they don't have to do a thing.
I told hubby 6 years ago that the windows in our house were starting to get bad. Paint stripping away form the wood. Leaks. The house is just 17 years old now, so only 11 years old them.
3 years ago I pointed out to him the water coming in from one of the upper windows during a rain.
A year ago I told him I thought we had mold in one of the windows
This week, I took down the blinds, started stripping paint, sanding, recaulking, painting......
We have a huge house. Enormous floor to ceiling windows. 5 in the breakfast nook alone - where I started.
It HAS to be done. We cannot sell this place the way it is.
I asked him if he would help me. He said, "You know I don't do stuff like this. I hire it done." I SCREAMED at him, "you know you can't afford to hire it done!"
He picked up a piece of sanding paper and said, "what do I do?"
I YELLED at him to get out of the kitchen - to just go upstairs and get out of my sight.
So there he's been all week until today - he parks himself in the family room off the kitchen with the TV on blare. I asked him if he would go to Lowes and buy me a new sander. He said "no".
I am livid. Again. He has manipulated this situation to the point where I am sanding and repairing all the windows, painting the walls and baseboard as I go, while he sits in his recliner watching TV, eating nuts and petting the dogs.
I just want to scream my head off.
My pain level is excrutiating today. I am ready to simply walk out of here. And I may yet. Just go back to my sister's for another week. I am so pissed off at him.
But then, we all know he does not want to sell this house. He does not want to move. So this is intentional on his part. To not repair or fix a thing and thus, he can't sell it.
He is such an asshole. Diabetes is his crutch. It allows him to manipulate me, plus everyone else he knows, into doing things for him. I hate this disease. But today, I hate him even more.
And I now honestly know why he doesn't even try to take care of himself. If he were healthy - he wouldn't have this crutch and he might actually have to get off his ass and do something.
Horrible human being.
DW - really pissed off today!
Friday, July 08, 2011
Time flies
I can't believe it's been a week since my last post. His endo called because of his high a1c and he ha an appt with them. Nephrology called and scheduled him. At least someone is watching his numbers now. Protien in the urine is way too high. Still getting the dka smells daily. A friend said that Glade works better than Febreeze.
My pain seems to be improving. I start PT next week.
Still downsizing, selling off on eBay and craigslist. Feels great.
When I was at my sisters, I found a glider rocker and ottoman at a thrift store. Put it in my studio. It seems to have turned out to be a kind of therapy. When I rock in it, it makes my hips move which seems to help the pain. The gliding seems to be therapy as well. Very restful. Hubby really liked it so I found one just like it this week on craigslist and we now have it next to his bed. Maybe it will help him as well!
Teaching art all day tomorrow. Had a genealogy meeting all day today. Continuing to do the things that I enjoy with less worry about him. Just working tom reduce my own stress.
My pain seems to be improving. I start PT next week.
Still downsizing, selling off on eBay and craigslist. Feels great.
When I was at my sisters, I found a glider rocker and ottoman at a thrift store. Put it in my studio. It seems to have turned out to be a kind of therapy. When I rock in it, it makes my hips move which seems to help the pain. The gliding seems to be therapy as well. Very restful. Hubby really liked it so I found one just like it this week on craigslist and we now have it next to his bed. Maybe it will help him as well!
Teaching art all day tomorrow. Had a genealogy meeting all day today. Continuing to do the things that I enjoy with less worry about him. Just working tom reduce my own stress.
Saturday, July 02, 2011
A1c at 8.3
proof he's not keeping it under control at all. Can hardly wait to see what the other labs show, but probably won't have the results til Tuesday due to the weekend.
I had a wonderful staycation at my sister's place. So rested. Came back Friday. He fell Thursday evening going down the stairs and didn't tell me until I got home. Hurt his back. Taking dilaudid again. Fine with me....I'm just going to "use" this as ammunition that we need to get to a one level as soon as we can. :o)
So, his back is hurting him and everything for the weekend got cancelled. Not going to slow me down. I'm back from my morning errands and I'm off to the movies next. Taking care of my stress the best I can.
DW
I had a wonderful staycation at my sister's place. So rested. Came back Friday. He fell Thursday evening going down the stairs and didn't tell me until I got home. Hurt his back. Taking dilaudid again. Fine with me....I'm just going to "use" this as ammunition that we need to get to a one level as soon as we can. :o)
So, his back is hurting him and everything for the weekend got cancelled. Not going to slow me down. I'm back from my morning errands and I'm off to the movies next. Taking care of my stress the best I can.
DW
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
The great experiment
I have been here at my sister's since Sunday. My body is loving it. No pain, no stiffness.
I moved heavy furniture today helping her. I lifted, carried, restacked heavy books. I worked hard for 3 hours. I could not have done this a week ago.
I am going home Friday.
If I get sick again, then I am going to turn around and come back here and if it goes away.....then I will know that is is the stress he is causing me.
My brother-in-law and I talked about that tonight. He started pointing out to me all the stressful things my husband says and does. Things I hadn't paid an ounce of attention to.
Others are seeing what I'm blind to. It helps to know.
This is my "great experiment" We won't know the results for a few weeks....but I have to say, it is wonderful to be able to move again.
DW
I moved heavy furniture today helping her. I lifted, carried, restacked heavy books. I worked hard for 3 hours. I could not have done this a week ago.
I am going home Friday.
If I get sick again, then I am going to turn around and come back here and if it goes away.....then I will know that is is the stress he is causing me.
My brother-in-law and I talked about that tonight. He started pointing out to me all the stressful things my husband says and does. Things I hadn't paid an ounce of attention to.
Others are seeing what I'm blind to. It helps to know.
This is my "great experiment" We won't know the results for a few weeks....but I have to say, it is wonderful to be able to move again.
DW
Saturday, June 25, 2011
What is up with the potato chips?????
Is this EVERY diabetics food drug of choice? I was reading other posts/comments and it hit me....it is my husband's drug. He will sit and eat an entire LARGE bag at one time.
OK, if I ate a whole bag of potato chips - I would be vomiting! We never have less than 3 or 4 bags in the pantry and I can't begin to tell you when the last time is that I had any. If I do the shopping, I get pringles low fat. He hates those! So he will actually go to the store to buy chips and tell me I forgot to get them! LOL!!!
It does not pay for me to shop "healthy". If I buy fat free cream cheese, or low fat cheese, or skim milk....he will just go get what he wants. I sometimes wish we lived an hour from a grocery, but I doubt that would change a thing.
Eating out is his all time fav thing to do. I've written before about how he can't decide until the last minute what he wants for dinner.....and it doesn't matter how full the fridge is....it's something that we don't have.
But potato chips. That's a quandry for me. Carbs. Boost in glucose? Salt? Oh, he always wants the same kind, too. Lays. unflavored. And he will just sit there and eat the entire bag.
Down to the crumbs.
Then he will fold the bag over the top and put it back up in the pantry. Yes....even when there are only crumbs left. One time, I conducted an experiment. I didn't empty the bags out of the pantry and he just kept buying more. We had 20 bags up there with only crumbs in them. Men - idiots! LOL!!!
So my pain has been much better today. Now that I now this is coming from stress, I can tackle it head on. Every morning I get up and turn my day over to God. This morning I asked God to just take everything that was on my mind and hold it for me. Maybe it will work. I had a good day. I made cocktails of Aleve and tylenol. Have one more that I can take. Seem to help. That and the heating pad. Oh, I have a heat massager - one of those thumper kinds - and I spent half an hour running it over muscles today. We'll see if that helps. But I could get my legs in and out of the car and hadn't been able to do that in a couple of weeks.
I did tell him that he has to start doing more around here.....that we have to take some of the stress away from me. So he went outside this morning and uncovered the awnings and got the sunbrella up. Then he helped me get the pads on the chairs. First time in 4 years that he's helped me get the back deck ready for summer. And I was able to spray all the flower beds for weeds. It's been a good day. Yeah!!!
7:00 pm though and he's been in bed for half an hour. I literally couldn't lay in bed that long - from 6:30 pm to 7 am??? Not me!
I'm thinking of going to my sister's tomorrow instead of Monday. Get a head start on my time away. I think I need it! But before I leave, I'm going to tell him that I do not want to come home to a dirty house, dog-peed on carpets, etc. He's going to have to take care of the place this week. :o)
DW
OK, if I ate a whole bag of potato chips - I would be vomiting! We never have less than 3 or 4 bags in the pantry and I can't begin to tell you when the last time is that I had any. If I do the shopping, I get pringles low fat. He hates those! So he will actually go to the store to buy chips and tell me I forgot to get them! LOL!!!
It does not pay for me to shop "healthy". If I buy fat free cream cheese, or low fat cheese, or skim milk....he will just go get what he wants. I sometimes wish we lived an hour from a grocery, but I doubt that would change a thing.
Eating out is his all time fav thing to do. I've written before about how he can't decide until the last minute what he wants for dinner.....and it doesn't matter how full the fridge is....it's something that we don't have.
But potato chips. That's a quandry for me. Carbs. Boost in glucose? Salt? Oh, he always wants the same kind, too. Lays. unflavored. And he will just sit there and eat the entire bag.
Down to the crumbs.
Then he will fold the bag over the top and put it back up in the pantry. Yes....even when there are only crumbs left. One time, I conducted an experiment. I didn't empty the bags out of the pantry and he just kept buying more. We had 20 bags up there with only crumbs in them. Men - idiots! LOL!!!
So my pain has been much better today. Now that I now this is coming from stress, I can tackle it head on. Every morning I get up and turn my day over to God. This morning I asked God to just take everything that was on my mind and hold it for me. Maybe it will work. I had a good day. I made cocktails of Aleve and tylenol. Have one more that I can take. Seem to help. That and the heating pad. Oh, I have a heat massager - one of those thumper kinds - and I spent half an hour running it over muscles today. We'll see if that helps. But I could get my legs in and out of the car and hadn't been able to do that in a couple of weeks.
I did tell him that he has to start doing more around here.....that we have to take some of the stress away from me. So he went outside this morning and uncovered the awnings and got the sunbrella up. Then he helped me get the pads on the chairs. First time in 4 years that he's helped me get the back deck ready for summer. And I was able to spray all the flower beds for weeds. It's been a good day. Yeah!!!
7:00 pm though and he's been in bed for half an hour. I literally couldn't lay in bed that long - from 6:30 pm to 7 am??? Not me!
I'm thinking of going to my sister's tomorrow instead of Monday. Get a head start on my time away. I think I need it! But before I leave, I'm going to tell him that I do not want to come home to a dirty house, dog-peed on carpets, etc. He's going to have to take care of the place this week. :o)
DW
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Too much stress - what it can do to your body
Just something to think about.
Diseases caused by stress:
Skin disorders
Obesity
Asthma triggers
Autoimmune Diseases
Hypertension and heart disease
Migraines and headaches
Constant stress can cause serious immune system dysfunction.
Home, children, overtime at work, finances, volunteering, husbands.
Death of a loved one, divorce,substance abuse, miserable jobs.
All promote the release of cortisol (our stress hormone) which can cause destructive immune factors to be released.
Abnormal levels of these cortisols are associated with autoimmune conditions, inflammatory diseases and allergic conditions.
When cortisol counts go up, DHEA counts go down. DHEA is the immune and anti-aging hormone which helps repair and maintain tissues, reduce atherosclerosis, increase insulin production and balance, control allergic reactions, and balance the immune system.
Low levels of DHEA cause sexual dysfunction, muscular shrinkage, memory loss, degenerative disease and poor immune function.
Life with a non-complaint diabetic is 24/7 stress.
So how do we go about reducing stress?
1. touch therapies and reflexology....relax the muscles, relaxes the circulatory system, sooths the nervous system.
2. slow down. take care of yourself. eat healthy food. take a daily multivitamin that includes high levels of B complex.
3. learn relaxation techniques that suite your lifestyle and personality
4. meditate (any activity that helps keep your attention calmly in the present moment)
5. breathe. Deep. Slow. In. Out.
6. self massage
7. take a time out. No wonder I love long hot baths.
8. music. sing. play the piano. listen to soothing music.
9. positive thinking. 30 seconds is enough to shift your heart's rhythm from stressed to relaxed
10. love. Love your pet. Love your child. Love yourself.
So I have failed at this. I have been under such intense stress for the last 3 years. First with his heart attack, then open heart surgery a year later, then the 2 spinal fusions surgeries a year after that (this past February) 21 days of him in the hospital with me fighting for his life, for his care, nearly 24 hours a day. Then 3 months of intense home care.
And in that process, I did not take time to take care of me. Oh, I thought I was. But I really wasn't. My art wasn't enough. My body started to attack itself. I ignored every single symptom. Until 2 weeks ago when I physically could not move. I called my doctor and said I needed help. Today, she did all kinds of xrays, lab work and she thinks that my immune system is attacking itself. We are going to rule out as much as we can, but it seems apparent that my body has attacked my muscles, causing weakness and muscle pain.
We are starting physical therapy immediately and will be treating this with meds. There is hope for a good prognosis, but if we don't "fix" me, I could well end up in a wheelchair - way too young!
All because I thought it was more important to take care of him than to listen to my own body.
Hrump! I think things will be changing around here tomorrow! I have cleared my calendar for the next 10 days. I am going to stay with one of my sister's next week and relax. Completely and totally forget about everything and anything here. Sort of a "cleansing" process so to speak. I will be altering my diet, adding exercises and stretches, doing everything possible to nip this in the bud.
My body is screaming at me to slow down. I'm going to listen.
DW
Diseases caused by stress:
Skin disorders
Obesity
Asthma triggers
Autoimmune Diseases
Hypertension and heart disease
Migraines and headaches
Constant stress can cause serious immune system dysfunction.
Home, children, overtime at work, finances, volunteering, husbands.
Death of a loved one, divorce,substance abuse, miserable jobs.
All promote the release of cortisol (our stress hormone) which can cause destructive immune factors to be released.
Abnormal levels of these cortisols are associated with autoimmune conditions, inflammatory diseases and allergic conditions.
When cortisol counts go up, DHEA counts go down. DHEA is the immune and anti-aging hormone which helps repair and maintain tissues, reduce atherosclerosis, increase insulin production and balance, control allergic reactions, and balance the immune system.
Low levels of DHEA cause sexual dysfunction, muscular shrinkage, memory loss, degenerative disease and poor immune function.
Life with a non-complaint diabetic is 24/7 stress.
So how do we go about reducing stress?
1. touch therapies and reflexology....relax the muscles, relaxes the circulatory system, sooths the nervous system.
2. slow down. take care of yourself. eat healthy food. take a daily multivitamin that includes high levels of B complex.
3. learn relaxation techniques that suite your lifestyle and personality
4. meditate (any activity that helps keep your attention calmly in the present moment)
5. breathe. Deep. Slow. In. Out.
6. self massage
7. take a time out. No wonder I love long hot baths.
8. music. sing. play the piano. listen to soothing music.
9. positive thinking. 30 seconds is enough to shift your heart's rhythm from stressed to relaxed
10. love. Love your pet. Love your child. Love yourself.
So I have failed at this. I have been under such intense stress for the last 3 years. First with his heart attack, then open heart surgery a year later, then the 2 spinal fusions surgeries a year after that (this past February) 21 days of him in the hospital with me fighting for his life, for his care, nearly 24 hours a day. Then 3 months of intense home care.
And in that process, I did not take time to take care of me. Oh, I thought I was. But I really wasn't. My art wasn't enough. My body started to attack itself. I ignored every single symptom. Until 2 weeks ago when I physically could not move. I called my doctor and said I needed help. Today, she did all kinds of xrays, lab work and she thinks that my immune system is attacking itself. We are going to rule out as much as we can, but it seems apparent that my body has attacked my muscles, causing weakness and muscle pain.
We are starting physical therapy immediately and will be treating this with meds. There is hope for a good prognosis, but if we don't "fix" me, I could well end up in a wheelchair - way too young!
All because I thought it was more important to take care of him than to listen to my own body.
Hrump! I think things will be changing around here tomorrow! I have cleared my calendar for the next 10 days. I am going to stay with one of my sister's next week and relax. Completely and totally forget about everything and anything here. Sort of a "cleansing" process so to speak. I will be altering my diet, adding exercises and stretches, doing everything possible to nip this in the bud.
My body is screaming at me to slow down. I'm going to listen.
DW
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Another wife blogging.....
Tired wife and mom
She's started her blog and telling her story. Wow....we are growing!!! I can't tell you how wonderful it is to NOT be so alone in all of this. Finally. Together, in unison, we might yet make a difference in how therapists think....and give a voice of reality to what happens when a diabetic doesn't take care of themselves.
So, I will call her TWM (tired wife/mom). I completely understand. You are actually very brave to be able to tell him at such a young age that you will not watch him die. And kudos to you for telling him that you will not allow your children to watch him die. It takes strength to say something like that. And while it's terribly hard to do, it's the right thing (in my opinion).
This past week, there has been a terrible fire where my brother lives. It came within 2 miles of their home. Lots of dry timber in the area and at times, the flames were jumping 300 feet high and the winds were going 45 mph. His kids are 9 and 11. Nightmare city. They packed and packed and moved stuff out to a friends place and the sheriff came and told them to get out and they waited and waited and watched. Children should not have to experience that kind of fear at such a young age. Then I got to thinking. I was 12 years old when my grandma's house burnt to the ground on a farm in the midwest. I cried for days. Life was never quite the same because she moved to town in an apartment and all the cousins couldn't run on the farm and play together. I remember seeing the pile of ashes and blackened timbers that I had been inside of just the day before. I have been scared to death of fires ever since.
I think watching a parent die from the effects of diabetes would not be any less frightening. And perhaps more so because it could last for years on end. There is much of this that they can be protected from. But the yelling and screaming while in a low.....no one is immune from that.
Sunday was Father's Day. My husband's children are grown and are from his previous marriage. Neither one of them called him. Neither one came to visit. My heart simply ached for him. But I know why. They honestly believe that they grew up in an abusive home. They do not understand diabetes at all. All they remember were all the times when he screamed and yelled at them, blamed them, threatened them. And I'm pretty positive that he was in one of his sugar lows. I've learned to deal with them. But children don't learn and their mom was pretty oblivious to his diabetes back then.
They don't want the grandchildren to be around him. I can guarantee you that he has never had an outburst around them. When we do get invited to attend an event, I make sure that his glucose is ok. If it's not, we call off sick. I almost always go with him and his behavior is perfect. But his children remember. They have not forgotten. And yes, I have tried to explain to them that it was his diabetes. But they have chosen not to forgive him.
So if you do have children, educate them. Teach them that this is not normal behavior. Let them know why lows and highs happen and what can be done to help the diabetic. Always have a safe place to go to. And never hesitate to walk away if the situation gets that bad.
TWM, if you've read my blog, you know I'm not a therapist. I just write about my own experiences and give my own suggestions. Take them as a grain of salt! My husband is alive today because of many, many prayers said for him from all over the world. Yet he still refuses to take care of himself.
Welcome to the group!
Nephrology called today. He was supposed to go have labs done on June 1. Hopefully, he will do them tomorrow. I'm so grateful they are staying on top of this. :o)
She's started her blog and telling her story. Wow....we are growing!!! I can't tell you how wonderful it is to NOT be so alone in all of this. Finally. Together, in unison, we might yet make a difference in how therapists think....and give a voice of reality to what happens when a diabetic doesn't take care of themselves.
So, I will call her TWM (tired wife/mom). I completely understand. You are actually very brave to be able to tell him at such a young age that you will not watch him die. And kudos to you for telling him that you will not allow your children to watch him die. It takes strength to say something like that. And while it's terribly hard to do, it's the right thing (in my opinion).
This past week, there has been a terrible fire where my brother lives. It came within 2 miles of their home. Lots of dry timber in the area and at times, the flames were jumping 300 feet high and the winds were going 45 mph. His kids are 9 and 11. Nightmare city. They packed and packed and moved stuff out to a friends place and the sheriff came and told them to get out and they waited and waited and watched. Children should not have to experience that kind of fear at such a young age. Then I got to thinking. I was 12 years old when my grandma's house burnt to the ground on a farm in the midwest. I cried for days. Life was never quite the same because she moved to town in an apartment and all the cousins couldn't run on the farm and play together. I remember seeing the pile of ashes and blackened timbers that I had been inside of just the day before. I have been scared to death of fires ever since.
I think watching a parent die from the effects of diabetes would not be any less frightening. And perhaps more so because it could last for years on end. There is much of this that they can be protected from. But the yelling and screaming while in a low.....no one is immune from that.
Sunday was Father's Day. My husband's children are grown and are from his previous marriage. Neither one of them called him. Neither one came to visit. My heart simply ached for him. But I know why. They honestly believe that they grew up in an abusive home. They do not understand diabetes at all. All they remember were all the times when he screamed and yelled at them, blamed them, threatened them. And I'm pretty positive that he was in one of his sugar lows. I've learned to deal with them. But children don't learn and their mom was pretty oblivious to his diabetes back then.
They don't want the grandchildren to be around him. I can guarantee you that he has never had an outburst around them. When we do get invited to attend an event, I make sure that his glucose is ok. If it's not, we call off sick. I almost always go with him and his behavior is perfect. But his children remember. They have not forgotten. And yes, I have tried to explain to them that it was his diabetes. But they have chosen not to forgive him.
So if you do have children, educate them. Teach them that this is not normal behavior. Let them know why lows and highs happen and what can be done to help the diabetic. Always have a safe place to go to. And never hesitate to walk away if the situation gets that bad.
TWM, if you've read my blog, you know I'm not a therapist. I just write about my own experiences and give my own suggestions. Take them as a grain of salt! My husband is alive today because of many, many prayers said for him from all over the world. Yet he still refuses to take care of himself.
Welcome to the group!
Nephrology called today. He was supposed to go have labs done on June 1. Hopefully, he will do them tomorrow. I'm so grateful they are staying on top of this. :o)
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Diabetes Decor
I'm stealing a topic from a fellow blogger because I think it's important. I truly wish I had thought about this years ago.....but subconsciously I have been moving in this direction for the past 2 years. Considering all of hubby's medical conditions (open heart surgery, spinal fusion surgery, foot surgeries, gout surgeries)....I am slowly "decorating" our home for diabetes.
Let me explain.
We gave up our king size bed in exchange for 2 twin sized adjustable beds. After surgery, he was able to lift himself up out of bed by using the hydraulics on the bed and I did not physically have to assist him. More independence for him, less strain on my back.
We have a small party fridge and microwave in his closet in the MBR. He keeps his insulin and snacks there. I can get to them in a minute. Better than running downstairs in the middle of the night and risk breaking my neck....or his.
A huge 2' x 3' medicine cabinet on the wall in the bathroom filled with everything you can think of for open wounds, wound care, skin care, rashes, allergies, and so much more. This does not count the shelves of drugs for colds and flus, or his RX meds. Separate shelves and bins in his closet for all of his insulin test strips, needles, etc.
Hospital type bed trays that wheel under both beds to hold meds and other necessities that he needs multiple times a day.
Light weight corning ware in the kitchen because he has parkinson's and tends to drop things. Because they are so light, he can easily handle them. Gave up my wonderful china and stoneware - just too heavy for him. Paper plates, cups and bowls for everyday use as they are even easier for him to use.
Bathroom on the main floor - added those over the toilet shelves to hide toiletries that he uses on the main level. Pray that no one ever opens those doors! Seriously, where/how do you hide adult depends???
My decorative items now include a lot of boxes. Very pretty. No one would ever know they are anything but decorative. But they store loads of supplies, meds, depends, needles, etc....in a nice way. :o)
Febreeze air fresheners - the plug in types - in every room - to camoflauge the smells and odors. My sis says they do help.
The entry closet that should house coats now houses crutches, walkers, canes and the closet in the utility room is where I store the toilet seat lifts and bars.
I never ever thought my life would revolve to this, but it has. And when you need so much stuff, you have to have a way to store it and still make your home a home, not a hospital.
I did chuck everything in the master bath and buy everything white. I found it's easier to use bleach to get out stains and you don't have to worry about it fading colors if everything is white. Who knew I would actually like a totally white bath? Not just towels and washcloths, toothpaste holders and soap holder, but white wicker stands and shelves, white baskets and boxes. It actually looks nice and it's pretty easy to keep it all clean and white.
We sold most of our lamps and now have ott-lites or similar types that bend and go over the sofa so he can see to read wherever he sits. Not as attractive as decorative lamps....but really much more functional.
In our living room, we have 2 full size sofas and 2 recliners. He can go from a recliner to the sofa, from sitting to lying, as his pain increases and decreases. That leaves the other recliner for me and the other sofa for guests. My kitchen chairs are in the basement and rolling student type chairs are at the table because he says they are easier for him to get in and out of. I'm getting ready to put the wood chairs back because there are just some things I won't sacrifice!
One whole kitchen cabinet is filled with stuff that he needs on the main level during the day as he can no longer run up and down the stairs multiple times a day, and I'm not going to do it for him.
The grill was moved right beside the back door with a chair next to it. Disrupts the flow on the back deck, but makes it easier for him to do the grilling. Besides, we never eat outside anymore so who needs to get to the patio table? :o)
Wondering if anyone else has done diabetes decor in their homes.
DW
Let me explain.
We gave up our king size bed in exchange for 2 twin sized adjustable beds. After surgery, he was able to lift himself up out of bed by using the hydraulics on the bed and I did not physically have to assist him. More independence for him, less strain on my back.
We have a small party fridge and microwave in his closet in the MBR. He keeps his insulin and snacks there. I can get to them in a minute. Better than running downstairs in the middle of the night and risk breaking my neck....or his.
A huge 2' x 3' medicine cabinet on the wall in the bathroom filled with everything you can think of for open wounds, wound care, skin care, rashes, allergies, and so much more. This does not count the shelves of drugs for colds and flus, or his RX meds. Separate shelves and bins in his closet for all of his insulin test strips, needles, etc.
Hospital type bed trays that wheel under both beds to hold meds and other necessities that he needs multiple times a day.
Light weight corning ware in the kitchen because he has parkinson's and tends to drop things. Because they are so light, he can easily handle them. Gave up my wonderful china and stoneware - just too heavy for him. Paper plates, cups and bowls for everyday use as they are even easier for him to use.
Bathroom on the main floor - added those over the toilet shelves to hide toiletries that he uses on the main level. Pray that no one ever opens those doors! Seriously, where/how do you hide adult depends???
My decorative items now include a lot of boxes. Very pretty. No one would ever know they are anything but decorative. But they store loads of supplies, meds, depends, needles, etc....in a nice way. :o)
Febreeze air fresheners - the plug in types - in every room - to camoflauge the smells and odors. My sis says they do help.
The entry closet that should house coats now houses crutches, walkers, canes and the closet in the utility room is where I store the toilet seat lifts and bars.
I never ever thought my life would revolve to this, but it has. And when you need so much stuff, you have to have a way to store it and still make your home a home, not a hospital.
I did chuck everything in the master bath and buy everything white. I found it's easier to use bleach to get out stains and you don't have to worry about it fading colors if everything is white. Who knew I would actually like a totally white bath? Not just towels and washcloths, toothpaste holders and soap holder, but white wicker stands and shelves, white baskets and boxes. It actually looks nice and it's pretty easy to keep it all clean and white.
We sold most of our lamps and now have ott-lites or similar types that bend and go over the sofa so he can see to read wherever he sits. Not as attractive as decorative lamps....but really much more functional.
In our living room, we have 2 full size sofas and 2 recliners. He can go from a recliner to the sofa, from sitting to lying, as his pain increases and decreases. That leaves the other recliner for me and the other sofa for guests. My kitchen chairs are in the basement and rolling student type chairs are at the table because he says they are easier for him to get in and out of. I'm getting ready to put the wood chairs back because there are just some things I won't sacrifice!
One whole kitchen cabinet is filled with stuff that he needs on the main level during the day as he can no longer run up and down the stairs multiple times a day, and I'm not going to do it for him.
The grill was moved right beside the back door with a chair next to it. Disrupts the flow on the back deck, but makes it easier for him to do the grilling. Besides, we never eat outside anymore so who needs to get to the patio table? :o)
Wondering if anyone else has done diabetes decor in their homes.
DW
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Add one, minus one.....
We have a new blogger. JoannD. Just check on the right side of my blog. She asked a question on my post yesterday, but she blogged the topic, so go there and answer her.
And did we lose "new to this" or is her blog just down? I can't seem to connect. I always worry when someone disappears!
But I also know how hard it is to write about this. It's hard enough to live the ups and downs of living with a diabetic.....let alone take the time and find the emotional strength to write about it. There are days when I can't write. There are times when I have to walk away from everything. But there are also days when I NEED to write my feelings down.
So here are my tips for blogging about this:
1. Don't force yourself to write. Let it come naturally.
2. If you need to leave for awhile, think nothing of it. It's your blog - handle it the way you want.
3. If you need to spill your guts, just do it!
4. Don't worry if no one ever leaves a comment. Write for you. Write to document your life. To keep a record of what happens. Write as though you are writing to yourself, for yourself.
5. If you get negative comments, hit the delete button and don't give it a second thought. There are a lot of idiots out there. No one can understand what you are going through except you.
6. When you start out, start slow. Don't try to tell the whole story all at once. Just write about what's important at the moment. The rest will come over time.
7. Don't argue with others. Don't argue with yourself. It's not an argument, it's a documentary.
8. More than anything else, write what's on your mind. Good or bad. Happy or sad.
DW
And did we lose "new to this" or is her blog just down? I can't seem to connect. I always worry when someone disappears!
But I also know how hard it is to write about this. It's hard enough to live the ups and downs of living with a diabetic.....let alone take the time and find the emotional strength to write about it. There are days when I can't write. There are times when I have to walk away from everything. But there are also days when I NEED to write my feelings down.
So here are my tips for blogging about this:
1. Don't force yourself to write. Let it come naturally.
2. If you need to leave for awhile, think nothing of it. It's your blog - handle it the way you want.
3. If you need to spill your guts, just do it!
4. Don't worry if no one ever leaves a comment. Write for you. Write to document your life. To keep a record of what happens. Write as though you are writing to yourself, for yourself.
5. If you get negative comments, hit the delete button and don't give it a second thought. There are a lot of idiots out there. No one can understand what you are going through except you.
6. When you start out, start slow. Don't try to tell the whole story all at once. Just write about what's important at the moment. The rest will come over time.
7. Don't argue with others. Don't argue with yourself. It's not an argument, it's a documentary.
8. More than anything else, write what's on your mind. Good or bad. Happy or sad.
DW
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Another calm before another storm.
That's how it goes and I have learned to go with the flow. He actually did the grocery shopping today. I think that's the second time in our marriage. I had a genealogy meeting today and told him I couldn't get them.
Going to be a busy fun week. My sis is coming back and we want to play with dichroic glass in the kiln, do some shopping and she wants me to help her with her eBay. I continue to sell and downsize and am feeling so good about that. I still haven't found the strength to do hardworking this summer. Maybe next week.
For now, all is well. Mostly. Still have the fruity smell. He is still running too high.
Dw
Going to be a busy fun week. My sis is coming back and we want to play with dichroic glass in the kiln, do some shopping and she wants me to help her with her eBay. I continue to sell and downsize and am feeling so good about that. I still haven't found the strength to do hardworking this summer. Maybe next week.
For now, all is well. Mostly. Still have the fruity smell. He is still running too high.
Dw
Thursday, June 09, 2011
How to blog with "this" group - when there is no "group"!!!
JoannD wrote: DW and others - I keep clicking on stuff but can't seem to find the magic door.
How does one start a blog that is hooked to this community? I'm one of the most computer-ignorant people I know (but I did figure out how to list stuff on eBay, so I don't think I'm entirely hopeless - just need a little help :-)
All you need to do is start your own blog. Go to blogger.com
If you already have a google account, then just go to your account settings, click on blogger, and follow the steps to set up a blog.
Once you have done your first post, send a link to me (post a comment here with it on it) and I will then add you to the list over on the right. And you can create a list on your blog and add any blog to it that you want to follow.
I know there's a way to do a blog ring, but I think this is just as easy. I click on all the blogs every couple of days and read what's going on with everyone else.
You can also subscribe to this blog to follow it
After you have done your first blog post, then go to dashboard, settings, site feed. You can burn your posts to feedburner and that will get it out on the net for others to find. I think the key there is to use the labels block in the bottom of each post. I keep forgetting to do that!
You can then start in with all the add ons on the far right hand side. I let people search my blog, subscribe, I have other blogs of spouses, the blog archive is automatic.
I think allowing someone to google search your blog is important. If they are looking for something specific, they can find it easier that way.
I also use adsense. Don't ask me about that! I'm not sure it's set up and I haven't figured out how to check it! LOL!!! I need time to research that one, but the ads have no problem showing up, that's for sure!
OK, I know that all sounds pretty simple, but it is. For me, blogging is the best thing ever. It's a record of what he does, my reactions to it....but mostly a place to vent so I don't get mad at him in person.....I just get mad here.
Like right now. I came home from teaching a craft class. The kitchen was absolutely filthy. The TV was on blare with some sci fi shooting movie on. I cannot stand that sound - guns going off non-stop. It just puts me in a foul mood. So I came into my studio, put my headsets on and am venting here. So I don't go scream my head off at him. But I mean seriously - in the middle of a work day, he's watching movies? If they fire him I won't be surprised at all. This is the really bad thing about working from home.....him being such a non-compliant diabetic - he's an absolute pro at telling a great lie about whatever he needs to cover!!!
Now, off to create something fun and wonderful while I listen to some soothing tunes on my ipod. Hmmm....maybe ipods should be mandatory for spouses of diabetics!
DW
How does one start a blog that is hooked to this community? I'm one of the most computer-ignorant people I know (but I did figure out how to list stuff on eBay, so I don't think I'm entirely hopeless - just need a little help :-)
All you need to do is start your own blog. Go to blogger.com
If you already have a google account, then just go to your account settings, click on blogger, and follow the steps to set up a blog.
Once you have done your first post, send a link to me (post a comment here with it on it) and I will then add you to the list over on the right. And you can create a list on your blog and add any blog to it that you want to follow.
I know there's a way to do a blog ring, but I think this is just as easy. I click on all the blogs every couple of days and read what's going on with everyone else.
You can also subscribe to this blog to follow it
After you have done your first blog post, then go to dashboard, settings, site feed. You can burn your posts to feedburner and that will get it out on the net for others to find. I think the key there is to use the labels block in the bottom of each post. I keep forgetting to do that!
You can then start in with all the add ons on the far right hand side. I let people search my blog, subscribe, I have other blogs of spouses, the blog archive is automatic.
I think allowing someone to google search your blog is important. If they are looking for something specific, they can find it easier that way.
I also use adsense. Don't ask me about that! I'm not sure it's set up and I haven't figured out how to check it! LOL!!! I need time to research that one, but the ads have no problem showing up, that's for sure!
OK, I know that all sounds pretty simple, but it is. For me, blogging is the best thing ever. It's a record of what he does, my reactions to it....but mostly a place to vent so I don't get mad at him in person.....I just get mad here.
Like right now. I came home from teaching a craft class. The kitchen was absolutely filthy. The TV was on blare with some sci fi shooting movie on. I cannot stand that sound - guns going off non-stop. It just puts me in a foul mood. So I came into my studio, put my headsets on and am venting here. So I don't go scream my head off at him. But I mean seriously - in the middle of a work day, he's watching movies? If they fire him I won't be surprised at all. This is the really bad thing about working from home.....him being such a non-compliant diabetic - he's an absolute pro at telling a great lie about whatever he needs to cover!!!
Now, off to create something fun and wonderful while I listen to some soothing tunes on my ipod. Hmmm....maybe ipods should be mandatory for spouses of diabetics!
DW
Tuesday, June 07, 2011
holey shirts
Hubby pokes his insulin shots directly through his shirt into his stomach. He says that it helps the pain of the needles. Of course, blood then gets on the inside of his shirt and stains it.....and those tiny little needle jabs break through the fabric and with each wash, tend to break down the fibers in the shirt until little holes start to appear.
I did not know he was doing this until I started finding holey shirts. I refuse to let him wear them - I toss them out. I truly hate the fact that he has resorted to this. But when I look at his stomach, it is simply one gigantic bruise of black, blue, green, purple, yellow, and orange. So I suppose that if he thinks this insulates the pain, it's a small price to pay.
He now has to do his own laundry. I'm not going to presoak to get the blood stains out. He can figure out how to do that. And if he comes downstairs in the morning with a stained, holey shirt, I will tell him that if we are going out, he will have to change.
Maybe I should just let him go out looking like a hobo! I could just tell people I married a holey hobo!
OK, one must laugh at least once a day to get through this.
I ended up sleeping on the sofa because the smells in our room were just rancid. I didn't sleep a lot, so I'm not moving so well today. May just take the entire day off. After I go clean up the bathroom. You know, there is just nothing I love better than cleaning a toilet that someone else has messed up with their uncontrollable diarrhea. Nope - I am so looking forward to that task...I just can't tell you!
Blood stained holey shirts, diarrhea splattered toilets, and the acetone smell -rank fruity smell permeating the house at the moment....
and yet diabetics get mad at ME when I tell a young person to run away rather than marry into this? They get angry with me when I tell them that if they are married, don't bring children into this situation? They deny that any of this is ever going to happen to them?
Maybe I should write more about the grossness of this disease. But first - I have to go clean toilets, open windows, air out the house!!!
DW
I did not know he was doing this until I started finding holey shirts. I refuse to let him wear them - I toss them out. I truly hate the fact that he has resorted to this. But when I look at his stomach, it is simply one gigantic bruise of black, blue, green, purple, yellow, and orange. So I suppose that if he thinks this insulates the pain, it's a small price to pay.
He now has to do his own laundry. I'm not going to presoak to get the blood stains out. He can figure out how to do that. And if he comes downstairs in the morning with a stained, holey shirt, I will tell him that if we are going out, he will have to change.
Maybe I should just let him go out looking like a hobo! I could just tell people I married a holey hobo!
OK, one must laugh at least once a day to get through this.
I ended up sleeping on the sofa because the smells in our room were just rancid. I didn't sleep a lot, so I'm not moving so well today. May just take the entire day off. After I go clean up the bathroom. You know, there is just nothing I love better than cleaning a toilet that someone else has messed up with their uncontrollable diarrhea. Nope - I am so looking forward to that task...I just can't tell you!
Blood stained holey shirts, diarrhea splattered toilets, and the acetone smell -rank fruity smell permeating the house at the moment....
and yet diabetics get mad at ME when I tell a young person to run away rather than marry into this? They get angry with me when I tell them that if they are married, don't bring children into this situation? They deny that any of this is ever going to happen to them?
Maybe I should write more about the grossness of this disease. But first - I have to go clean toilets, open windows, air out the house!!!
DW
Monday, June 06, 2011
JoannD has questions for you
she wrote:
I wonder if my DH could have had blood-sugar issues for years and not known it. He has a predictable pattern of being the nicest guy in the world until about 3:00 or 3:30 in the afternoon, and then he gets short-tempered and irritable. This shows up especially while driving - he becomes the King of Road Rage - being belligerent as all get out toward other drivers and then not having a clue why some of them come back at him. Trouble is, he also carries a loaded firearm and is willing to escalate the quarrel. If I can, I try to grab the guncase and try to put it between my seat and door, where he can't reach it, because he is clearly irrational at those times. I can't tell you how terrifying this is. A confrontation between two testosterone-poisoned males (and hey, I'm a grandma myself, and while I am a competent shot with a firearm, I'd just as soon not have to shoot anybody.) Why do they have to get crazy like this???
Well, I have a couple of questions first. Has he been diagnosed as diabetic? Does he test his sugar? You probably need to get him to test on a regular schedule. If you think he's going low at 3 pm, then I'd suggest he test at 8 am, 11:30 am, 3 pm, 6:30 pm and bedtime. If you can get him to do that for a week, you could probably determine a pattern and relate it to his behavior.
Road Rage is terrible. My hubby is equally guilty of it. I have been doing most of the driving for the last 2 years. I just refuse to ride with him behind the wheel. Some states do not allow diabetics to have drivers license. I think that would be great for every state. If your state doesn't have that law, you could always advocate for it.
then she wrote:
I honestly think that overeating is a form of addiction. My DH watched his father die of (among other things) uncontrollable insulin-dependent diabetes - the man smoked like a bad chimney, was a SEVERE alcoholic, and absolutely refused to comply with any sort of diet. My DH has resolutely stayed away from tobacco and alcohol all of his life (he says of alcohol "I'm afraid I might LIKE it.') But his main vice is food, and boy, does he shovel it in. He has multiple health problems stemming directly from being 100+ pounds overweight but short of putting him on a desert island somewhere, I don't know how to cut off his access to excess food. Some of you have commented on how your husband's personality and/or temper changes if his sugar is out of whack. My husband is normally one of the kindest, sweetest people I know, but when he is stressed or overtired, it's almost as if another entity takes over and he becomes angry, aggressive, and nasty to the point of viciousness, especially when driving. I guess I'll have to figure out how to set up my own blog so that others can comment on it. I really want to get some feedback from the rest of you because this is all new and bewildering to me.
My thoughts are that too much of anything can kill you. Too much alcohol, smoking, eating, sugar.....probably doesn't matter what it is, if it's done to excess, it could kill you.
And "we" probably can't cut of their access. After all, these are grown men who need to make their own choices - even if they might die from those choices. Did I mention here that my sister's husband's brother just died from alcohol at the age of 51? You might think that was a wake up call to my sister's husband who drinks non-stop. Nope - he just drank more at the funeral.
To some extent, I think diabetes is just like any other thing out there. You don't control your glucose levels, you will have all kinds of side effects. You might die. You don't control drinking, smoking, eating....same end result.
Some of us refer to a syndrome called the "roller coaster ride" where our spouses emotions seem to always be up or down, high or low, sweet or angry, excited or depressed....and it's the fact that we never seem to know where we are on that ride. We can't predict when the next high or low will be. And our spouses seem to have different reactions. When my hubby is high, he is agitated, nervous, jittery, irritated. When he goes low, he is very argumentative, combative, belligerent. And somewhere in between the highs and lows, I get glimpses of that guy I fell in love with.
Anyone else want to make input?
Blogging is wonderful. It's therapy. It's a record of what happens. It can provide a history of the prognosis of the disease. My blog has been helpful in finding dates of when issues first started. It's even answered questions for doctors. No, hubby still doesn't know about it. I just said, "I have kept some notes, let me go look at them and see what I can find."
So, hubby has now had diarrhea for 10 days. He refuses to go see a doctor. He is experimenting by eliminating various foods. He stopped ice cream, cheese, milk as he thinks it might be lactose intolerance. His glucose is still testing around 220. He still has the horrible fruity smell about him. I got up this morning and sprayed febreeze all over the house. Thank goodness for that stuff!!! It does tone down the smell! But I have had my moments this weekend when I thought I would get sick from the smell. Guess I'll stock up on those plug-in air fresheners at the grocer tomorrow.
I spent the day today teaching 2 friends of mine how to do ebay. One is age 70, the other is age 52. Neither knew how to download a photo from the camera to the computer. Neither had ever edited a photo on the computer. Neither had previously set up or used a paypal account. It was a very long, very frustrating day, but at the end of the day, each had listed one item for sale on ebay. It taught me that there are some things worse than diabetes! LOLOL!!!
DW
I wonder if my DH could have had blood-sugar issues for years and not known it. He has a predictable pattern of being the nicest guy in the world until about 3:00 or 3:30 in the afternoon, and then he gets short-tempered and irritable. This shows up especially while driving - he becomes the King of Road Rage - being belligerent as all get out toward other drivers and then not having a clue why some of them come back at him. Trouble is, he also carries a loaded firearm and is willing to escalate the quarrel. If I can, I try to grab the guncase and try to put it between my seat and door, where he can't reach it, because he is clearly irrational at those times. I can't tell you how terrifying this is. A confrontation between two testosterone-poisoned males (and hey, I'm a grandma myself, and while I am a competent shot with a firearm, I'd just as soon not have to shoot anybody.) Why do they have to get crazy like this???
Well, I have a couple of questions first. Has he been diagnosed as diabetic? Does he test his sugar? You probably need to get him to test on a regular schedule. If you think he's going low at 3 pm, then I'd suggest he test at 8 am, 11:30 am, 3 pm, 6:30 pm and bedtime. If you can get him to do that for a week, you could probably determine a pattern and relate it to his behavior.
Road Rage is terrible. My hubby is equally guilty of it. I have been doing most of the driving for the last 2 years. I just refuse to ride with him behind the wheel. Some states do not allow diabetics to have drivers license. I think that would be great for every state. If your state doesn't have that law, you could always advocate for it.
then she wrote:
I honestly think that overeating is a form of addiction. My DH watched his father die of (among other things) uncontrollable insulin-dependent diabetes - the man smoked like a bad chimney, was a SEVERE alcoholic, and absolutely refused to comply with any sort of diet. My DH has resolutely stayed away from tobacco and alcohol all of his life (he says of alcohol "I'm afraid I might LIKE it.') But his main vice is food, and boy, does he shovel it in. He has multiple health problems stemming directly from being 100+ pounds overweight but short of putting him on a desert island somewhere, I don't know how to cut off his access to excess food. Some of you have commented on how your husband's personality and/or temper changes if his sugar is out of whack. My husband is normally one of the kindest, sweetest people I know, but when he is stressed or overtired, it's almost as if another entity takes over and he becomes angry, aggressive, and nasty to the point of viciousness, especially when driving. I guess I'll have to figure out how to set up my own blog so that others can comment on it. I really want to get some feedback from the rest of you because this is all new and bewildering to me.
My thoughts are that too much of anything can kill you. Too much alcohol, smoking, eating, sugar.....probably doesn't matter what it is, if it's done to excess, it could kill you.
And "we" probably can't cut of their access. After all, these are grown men who need to make their own choices - even if they might die from those choices. Did I mention here that my sister's husband's brother just died from alcohol at the age of 51? You might think that was a wake up call to my sister's husband who drinks non-stop. Nope - he just drank more at the funeral.
To some extent, I think diabetes is just like any other thing out there. You don't control your glucose levels, you will have all kinds of side effects. You might die. You don't control drinking, smoking, eating....same end result.
Some of us refer to a syndrome called the "roller coaster ride" where our spouses emotions seem to always be up or down, high or low, sweet or angry, excited or depressed....and it's the fact that we never seem to know where we are on that ride. We can't predict when the next high or low will be. And our spouses seem to have different reactions. When my hubby is high, he is agitated, nervous, jittery, irritated. When he goes low, he is very argumentative, combative, belligerent. And somewhere in between the highs and lows, I get glimpses of that guy I fell in love with.
Anyone else want to make input?
Blogging is wonderful. It's therapy. It's a record of what happens. It can provide a history of the prognosis of the disease. My blog has been helpful in finding dates of when issues first started. It's even answered questions for doctors. No, hubby still doesn't know about it. I just said, "I have kept some notes, let me go look at them and see what I can find."
So, hubby has now had diarrhea for 10 days. He refuses to go see a doctor. He is experimenting by eliminating various foods. He stopped ice cream, cheese, milk as he thinks it might be lactose intolerance. His glucose is still testing around 220. He still has the horrible fruity smell about him. I got up this morning and sprayed febreeze all over the house. Thank goodness for that stuff!!! It does tone down the smell! But I have had my moments this weekend when I thought I would get sick from the smell. Guess I'll stock up on those plug-in air fresheners at the grocer tomorrow.
I spent the day today teaching 2 friends of mine how to do ebay. One is age 70, the other is age 52. Neither knew how to download a photo from the camera to the computer. Neither had ever edited a photo on the computer. Neither had previously set up or used a paypal account. It was a very long, very frustrating day, but at the end of the day, each had listed one item for sale on ebay. It taught me that there are some things worse than diabetes! LOLOL!!!
DW
Friday, June 03, 2011
Having a mini vacation
Two of my sisters live 3 hours a way and I came to visit them this week. It's been wonderful!! Loads of chatter, creative art work and good food. No menus to plan. I have such wonderful sisters!! And they know just when I need a break. I haven't been here in almost a year. Way too long!
Hubby and I skype a couple of times a day, so it's not like he's completely alone. I pretty much leave the camera on and he can call when he wants.
He's had diarrhea all week. Extreme case. So I'm really glad to be here. He misses me. But I know this is good for him. He will be very nice and on his best behavior when I get home! Ha ha!
When I went to check my blog tonight, I found TEN comments!! Wow! Some made me laugh! And it's good to laugh about this journey.
My one sister's husband just lost his brother to alcoholism, so we had a good talk about how similar diabetes can be to something like that...in the sense of how sugar destroys the physical and mental aspects of ones health just as alcohol does. I had never thought to compare the 2, but alcohol turns to sugar, something more tom study when I have time.
I highly recommend getaway weeks to keep your sanity, recharge your engine, revitalize your spirit! This is just perfect!!
DW
Hubby and I skype a couple of times a day, so it's not like he's completely alone. I pretty much leave the camera on and he can call when he wants.
He's had diarrhea all week. Extreme case. So I'm really glad to be here. He misses me. But I know this is good for him. He will be very nice and on his best behavior when I get home! Ha ha!
When I went to check my blog tonight, I found TEN comments!! Wow! Some made me laugh! And it's good to laugh about this journey.
My one sister's husband just lost his brother to alcoholism, so we had a good talk about how similar diabetes can be to something like that...in the sense of how sugar destroys the physical and mental aspects of ones health just as alcohol does. I had never thought to compare the 2, but alcohol turns to sugar, something more tom study when I have time.
I highly recommend getaway weeks to keep your sanity, recharge your engine, revitalize your spirit! This is just perfect!!
DW
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Here's why I quit cooking!
I really am a very good cook. But no one knows it! LOL!!! After about 3 years into this relationship, I realized that there is no way I could have a restaurant in this house, with a menu, with options available at each meal!
I mean, seriously, who expects that?
My husband does!!!
If I fix hamburgers, he wants chicken.
If I ask him this morning if he wants chicken this evening, he will say yes. I will thaw it out. Then about 4 pm, he will say, "I don't feel like chicken, what else do we have?"
My answer is usually, "well, frozen pot pies, soup, or sandwiches"
None of that will sound good to him. He will want to go out to eat.
What does he order at the restaurant?
Something with chicken in it!!!!
So I simply gave up. I buy things that go into the freezer. I always have fresh deli meats, veggies, salad and fruit in the refrig. I always have eggs on hand. In the pantry, there is always fresh bread, tortillas, and usually buns of some kind.
And I started telling other people this line: "I cooked for 25 years while raising my sons. When they left home, I quit." Hey, I think cooking for other people for 25 years is more than enough! Did he do that for his family? Hardly! And I'm just not in the mood to try and figure out what he wants to eat and have the stuff available to fix it for him 30 minutes before it's time to eat!
He has learned that he cannot "demand" a home cooked dinner from me (note to raging diabetic's wife).
He has learned that I don't stock orange juice.....just in case he needs it.....just to let it grow mold because he doesn't need it (note to wife of a diabetic2) He's going to have to do a better job of preventing his own sugar lows. All I have are glucose tabs to give him. If he passes out, I call 911....and he will pay the bill.
He has learned to cook for himself. Now - isn't that amazing? He loves chinese food and I hate it, but he has become pretty good at making it.
I'm not a huge eater. I don't like 3 meals a day. I don't get up and eat breakfast. I like a little something about 11 am, then a meal around 4 or 5 pm. I don't like to eat late and then go to bed with a full stomach. I hate going out to eat. So with his schedule of needing 45 carbs for breakfast, lunch and dinner,needing to eat on a set schedule, loving to eat out....we are just about as opposite as we can be on this subject.
We are also at complete opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to exercise. I love to get up first thing and get on the treadmill. Listen to mp3 on my ipod while I walk. Starts my day out great. I like to go to bed early and get up early.
He would stay up until 2 am and sleep til noon if he could. He wouldn't consider getting on the stationary bike until 4 pm. If there's yardwork to be done, I prefer to get it done early before it gets too hot. He wants to start at 2 pm.....when it's at the hottest.
I do not take any medications. He has more than enough for an army.
How did we ever hook up? LOL! But I think you can see how different our entire metabolic systems are.
Most of these are simply non-issues. I made eating a non-issue as I simply quit cooking after 3 years in this relationship - when I realized how much work I was doing when I would sit down to the dinner table and he would tell me that he wasn't hungry for whatever I had fixed, get up and fix himself a bowl of cereal.
Yep, my cooking days are over. And it's great!!! He still asks me every morning "what's for dinner tonight?" and I still say, "I have chicken I can thaw out". Once in awhile - we actually thaw out that chicken! LOL!!
DW
I mean, seriously, who expects that?
My husband does!!!
If I fix hamburgers, he wants chicken.
If I ask him this morning if he wants chicken this evening, he will say yes. I will thaw it out. Then about 4 pm, he will say, "I don't feel like chicken, what else do we have?"
My answer is usually, "well, frozen pot pies, soup, or sandwiches"
None of that will sound good to him. He will want to go out to eat.
What does he order at the restaurant?
Something with chicken in it!!!!
So I simply gave up. I buy things that go into the freezer. I always have fresh deli meats, veggies, salad and fruit in the refrig. I always have eggs on hand. In the pantry, there is always fresh bread, tortillas, and usually buns of some kind.
And I started telling other people this line: "I cooked for 25 years while raising my sons. When they left home, I quit." Hey, I think cooking for other people for 25 years is more than enough! Did he do that for his family? Hardly! And I'm just not in the mood to try and figure out what he wants to eat and have the stuff available to fix it for him 30 minutes before it's time to eat!
He has learned that he cannot "demand" a home cooked dinner from me (note to raging diabetic's wife).
He has learned that I don't stock orange juice.....just in case he needs it.....just to let it grow mold because he doesn't need it (note to wife of a diabetic2) He's going to have to do a better job of preventing his own sugar lows. All I have are glucose tabs to give him. If he passes out, I call 911....and he will pay the bill.
He has learned to cook for himself. Now - isn't that amazing? He loves chinese food and I hate it, but he has become pretty good at making it.
I'm not a huge eater. I don't like 3 meals a day. I don't get up and eat breakfast. I like a little something about 11 am, then a meal around 4 or 5 pm. I don't like to eat late and then go to bed with a full stomach. I hate going out to eat. So with his schedule of needing 45 carbs for breakfast, lunch and dinner,needing to eat on a set schedule, loving to eat out....we are just about as opposite as we can be on this subject.
We are also at complete opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to exercise. I love to get up first thing and get on the treadmill. Listen to mp3 on my ipod while I walk. Starts my day out great. I like to go to bed early and get up early.
He would stay up until 2 am and sleep til noon if he could. He wouldn't consider getting on the stationary bike until 4 pm. If there's yardwork to be done, I prefer to get it done early before it gets too hot. He wants to start at 2 pm.....when it's at the hottest.
I do not take any medications. He has more than enough for an army.
How did we ever hook up? LOL! But I think you can see how different our entire metabolic systems are.
Most of these are simply non-issues. I made eating a non-issue as I simply quit cooking after 3 years in this relationship - when I realized how much work I was doing when I would sit down to the dinner table and he would tell me that he wasn't hungry for whatever I had fixed, get up and fix himself a bowl of cereal.
Yep, my cooking days are over. And it's great!!! He still asks me every morning "what's for dinner tonight?" and I still say, "I have chicken I can thaw out". Once in awhile - we actually thaw out that chicken! LOL!!
DW
Monday, May 30, 2011
I want that flashing red light!!!
Dr Weber is requesting that you call us or email us with a week's worth of blood sugars and your current insulin doses.
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