I went to the dermatologist this morning. I saw one when I was in college but hadn't been in years. I have an itchy scalp and was going to have it looked at. No big deal, right? Easy. Walk in, they look at your head, provide you with a prescription or shampoo and you're on your way.
I get there early (just like Mom taught me) and everything is going according to plan. They put me in the room, ask about medical history and just when I think, "I've got this!", the nurse says the most dreaded sentence in all of medicine. "Put this gown on with the opening in the back and the Dr. will be right in". WOAH! Wait a minute. A gown? So I step over to the table and check out the "gown" that was left for me. First, it is made out of paper. Second, it is clearly designed for flat chested midget women. Third, it is stuck to itself (this will be important in the next phase of our story). So here I stand (a bigger girl) with a tiny, paper, bolero style gown/jacket thing but I don't want to make a scene so I slip my shirt off and put this bad boy on. I sit on the table just like I was instructed and where the "gown" is stuck together rips apart. AWESOME. So now I am wearing thin paper sleeves with my entire front and back sides hanging out. On the plus side the space between my shoulders and elbows were very comfortable.
The 60+ year old male Dr. walks in and my awkward attempt at humor is to say, "You're lucky. I usually at least make a guy buy me dinner before I let him see me without a shirt on". What does he do? Nothing.
After a short consultation I was on my way with a prescription for shampoo in hand. As I walk past the nurse on the way out I say, "Hey! Thanks for the great dress!". Again... no response. And for the record, I think the gown was just for his entertainment.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Super Sensor
I have taken a vacation from wearing my glucose sensor the last week. It was so relaxing. I didn't stress about lots of alarms and I didn't obsessively check to see what my sugar was at any given second. See, I have a love/hate relationship with my CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitor). When it works right, it's awesome. I am warned before having a high or low sugar, I know what my sugar is all the time, I am able to see trends and plan my exercise and foods better. Unfortunately it isn't right very often. It seems like there are always issues. My pump beeps if my sensor says my sugar is too low. I have that happen a lot. Unfortunately, most of the time it beeps for no actual reason.
I was feeling a little adventurous today and ready to try again so I put a new sensor in and started it up. I can happily say that it has been right all day. I am reminded again how nice it is to have a sense of security to know (for the most part) where I am at. So for the next 5 1/2 days I am going to enjoy it. I'll be watching my graphs, calibrating and celebrating technology.
Friday, August 31, 2012
I'm Too Excited to Sleep
When good things happen, it is hard for me to stay calm. I just get very excited. Thanks to a friend of mine, John and I are going to the circus. Not just any circus but Ringling Brothers! It is, after all, the greatest show on Earth. I'm so excited about it that I can't stay focused. I know that it's silly but I have always been a big fan of watching the elephants, clowns and even the high wire acts.
As a kid my dad would take me to the traveling circus that stopped in our little town each year. It almost always corresponded with my birthday and was a major highlight for me. We would watch the elephants put the tent up, go to the show and eat lots of junk food. As I got older I never lost the excitement.
This year I am probably going to pass on cotton candy. I'm not sure my pump could even handle it without bursting into flames. But peanuts are probably a necessity. I wonder what kind of crazy tricks the elephants will do. Someday, I should get an elephant (ok, that's probably not realistic but a girl can dream). Last year there was a little dog that dressed up in costume like an elephant and I considered finding a similar outfit for Tater Tot (our dog).
Until we go, I guess I'll have to keep dreaming of the amazing things I will see and the delicious snacks we will have. Remember that old Disney commercial where the kids are "too excited to sleep"? That's me.
As a kid my dad would take me to the traveling circus that stopped in our little town each year. It almost always corresponded with my birthday and was a major highlight for me. We would watch the elephants put the tent up, go to the show and eat lots of junk food. As I got older I never lost the excitement.
This year I am probably going to pass on cotton candy. I'm not sure my pump could even handle it without bursting into flames. But peanuts are probably a necessity. I wonder what kind of crazy tricks the elephants will do. Someday, I should get an elephant (ok, that's probably not realistic but a girl can dream). Last year there was a little dog that dressed up in costume like an elephant and I considered finding a similar outfit for Tater Tot (our dog).
Until we go, I guess I'll have to keep dreaming of the amazing things I will see and the delicious snacks we will have. Remember that old Disney commercial where the kids are "too excited to sleep"? That's me.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
A Lesson from the Field
For those of you who didn't know, I sell ads for a small town phone book. It's not really glamorous but it does leave me with lots of happy customers and even more funny stories. Sometimes you can't help but laugh when a customer tells you their views on life, religion, or politics (especially politics).
Just last week I sold an ad to a man who was proud to tell me that God gave him instructions to advertise on the front cover of my book. This week I had a woman tell me that our President was going to tax her over $2,800 a month because she could not provide insurance for her employees so she was going to sell her business, buy a gun and live off the land. You just never know what you're going to hear when you walk into someone's office.
I am happy to report that today I met with a nice woman who said, "I have a political opinion but I don't have to share it with you. I trust you to do your research and pick a candidate that best matches your beliefs". I really liked their approach. Sure, I can tell you my views and talk until we're both blue in the face but I trust you to make a good decision. Do your homework. Who shares your values, morals, goals and passions? Pick a good match and don't let people bully you into changing your mind. Choose wisely because the worst decision is not making one at all.
Just last week I sold an ad to a man who was proud to tell me that God gave him instructions to advertise on the front cover of my book. This week I had a woman tell me that our President was going to tax her over $2,800 a month because she could not provide insurance for her employees so she was going to sell her business, buy a gun and live off the land. You just never know what you're going to hear when you walk into someone's office.
I am happy to report that today I met with a nice woman who said, "I have a political opinion but I don't have to share it with you. I trust you to do your research and pick a candidate that best matches your beliefs". I really liked their approach. Sure, I can tell you my views and talk until we're both blue in the face but I trust you to make a good decision. Do your homework. Who shares your values, morals, goals and passions? Pick a good match and don't let people bully you into changing your mind. Choose wisely because the worst decision is not making one at all.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
What ISN'T Broken?
Every once in awhile I have a day where I'm just mad. Mad that I have to check blood sugar, mad that I have diabetes, mad that I can't eat a piece of cake and not stress about it.... just keep the list going. The last few days I have been stuck in this mindset. I want to shake it off and be happy, I really do. It just seems like I can't get anything to go my way.
Yesterday I got my blood work back and aparently my thyroid isn't working properly. GREAT! I'll go ahead and put that on the list (see, I told you I was angry). On top of that my husband's car broke down (again!). It seems like Diabetes makes everything amplified. It can be easy to become discouraged and angry but I have to remember this is just a season.
Anyone struggling with a chronic illness can attest to the fact that happiness is a choice. Contentment is a choice. Yep, things haven't been perfect and times have been hard but I'm going to choose to be greatful. I have a great family, supportive friends and I live in a time where medical advances are happening every day. No matter what you're facing, choose to be positive. It's going to be ok. And in the mean time, for inspiration, I'll be reinacting the following youtube video. Happy Tuesday, everyone!
Yesterday I got my blood work back and aparently my thyroid isn't working properly. GREAT! I'll go ahead and put that on the list (see, I told you I was angry). On top of that my husband's car broke down (again!). It seems like Diabetes makes everything amplified. It can be easy to become discouraged and angry but I have to remember this is just a season.
Anyone struggling with a chronic illness can attest to the fact that happiness is a choice. Contentment is a choice. Yep, things haven't been perfect and times have been hard but I'm going to choose to be greatful. I have a great family, supportive friends and I live in a time where medical advances are happening every day. No matter what you're facing, choose to be positive. It's going to be ok. And in the mean time, for inspiration, I'll be reinacting the following youtube video. Happy Tuesday, everyone!
Friday, August 24, 2012
A Visit to the Endo
Over the last year John (that boy that calls himself my husband) and I have been through a lot of changes, diet, carb counting, and most importantly a new endocrinologist and diabetes care team. I can't stress enough that finding a good endo makes a world of difference. She is awesome. Unlike the Dr. we were assigned by the hospital, she takes her time, listens to our concerns and is willing to help me live a "normal" life.
I had my appointment with her yesterday and was pleasantly surprised that my A1C was 5.7. All of the days that I struggled with post breakfast highs and leaking pump sites I thought I was a complete diabetes failure. She had a few minor pump changes and sent me on my way with paperwork to have blood drawn. I guess I wasn't doing so poorly after all.
I had my appointment with her yesterday and was pleasantly surprised that my A1C was 5.7. All of the days that I struggled with post breakfast highs and leaking pump sites I thought I was a complete diabetes failure. She had a few minor pump changes and sent me on my way with paperwork to have blood drawn. I guess I wasn't doing so poorly after all.
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Take it from the Top
I supposed it would be good to start at the beginning of this crazy ride. Last summer, while on vacation with my family in Minnesota I got really tired. Ok, not just tired, exhausted. I started sleeping a LOT. Family and friends assumed I was pregnant or getting the flu. After sleeping the entire way home I couldn't even stay awake to unload the car. Four days later, my mom arrived and decided I was going to the emergency room.
Two hours in the waiting room and ten IV attempts later I was told my sugar was over 750, I was severely dehydrate, in Diabetic Ketoacidosis, and had a severe infection in my finger. Tests later confirmed that I was Type 1 diabetic. Now I have always thought I knew a lot about many things. In my mind, Type 1 diabetics are always children. They are really sick. They have a lot of walks and fundraisers but they probably won't live to be grown ups. All of the sudden I began to realize I knew nothing. My hospital assigned endocrinologist spent less than five minutes with me over the next three days. I was sent home with insulin, needles and orders to 45 grams of carb per meal. Check back in three months.
I was left alone to manage a disease I knew very little about. I can never know everything about diabetes and every day is a new challenge but what I do know is that there is power in conversation.
Two hours in the waiting room and ten IV attempts later I was told my sugar was over 750, I was severely dehydrate, in Diabetic Ketoacidosis, and had a severe infection in my finger. Tests later confirmed that I was Type 1 diabetic. Now I have always thought I knew a lot about many things. In my mind, Type 1 diabetics are always children. They are really sick. They have a lot of walks and fundraisers but they probably won't live to be grown ups. All of the sudden I began to realize I knew nothing. My hospital assigned endocrinologist spent less than five minutes with me over the next three days. I was sent home with insulin, needles and orders to 45 grams of carb per meal. Check back in three months.
I was left alone to manage a disease I knew very little about. I can never know everything about diabetes and every day is a new challenge but what I do know is that there is power in conversation.
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