I am a DIABETIC

and I'm very unhappy right now. I knew I was diabetic. I've tried controlling with exercise and diet. Had done a really good job of it prior to TAH/BSO. Now......

All weekend my sugars were sky high.....nearly 300 at times. Then, would jump down to the low 70's. I know this isn't helping the depression or the recuperasion. Last week, my sugars seemed to be doing better. But now........

So, called today and I'm to start back on the Glucaphage in the AM. YUCK! I thought I was done with that. I guess I should be happy not insulin, but still..........

I had no control over my female problems. Now, I can't even control my diabetes! I'm very unhappy, but trying SO to remain positive. I'm tired, no exhausted! I'm at work and wish I were home!

When will my life be better? When will I be able to live again?

Sorry about the downer post, I'm just very unhappy right now.

Michelle

Dear Michelle,

You're recovering from major surgery, grieving over the loss of your female organs and the loss of possible future birth children, work full-time, take care of a husband and challenging son, recently experienced major hormonal changes in your body, and you're also facing the extra demands of being diabetic. You're going to have some days which are harder than others. You will need to take your live one day at a time.

I'm sorry about your difficulties with glucose management. I'm not an expert on diabetes, but it seems to me that the hormonal changes which surround a hysterectomy, plus starting HRT, which adds new and different hormones to the mix, will have an effect on your diabetes. It may take some experimentation, by you and your doctor, to stabilize your diabetes. That's likely to be a one day at a time proposition, too.

I wish every day could be rosy. I wish the sun could always shine, the flowers always bloom, and every afternoon bring a brief, cooling rainshower. But this is real life. We're all going to have bad days, and boring days, with a few beautiful days thrown in for spice.

If today is a bad day for you, I sincerely hope that tomorrow will be better. I'm sending you hugs, and I'll keep you in my prayers.

Best wishes,
Helen

...and my sugars have been all over the boards as well. I've been taking Glucophage XR for quite a while now (500 mg, twice a day) and I've noticed big fluctuations depending on how I am feeling with my recovery, sleep levels, and general achiness.

It's frustrating...just when I think I've got stuff under control, my hemoglobin A1C was 6.2 at the pre-op appointment, then everything gets all out of whack again. I guess we just need to contact our physicians and get the OK to up our meds if necessary or just bide our time until all this healing stuff is done. It's not a pretty thought, but I get the feeling from my dr. that the spike in blood glucose when we are sick is less of an issue than maintaining continual high numbers.

I have my 6 week appt. next week with the gyn. Maybe he'll offer some insight. Until then, I just try to watch what I eat, walk a little more, and keep a close eye on my sugars.

Lynn

(((((Michelle))))) and (((Snivel))),

I am so sorry that you are having problems with adjusting your glucose levels, I know all to well how that can be, my Mom is a Diabetic, and when she gets sick or stressed, her levels go crazy, stress can cause your sugar levels to elevate and any sickness can cause your levels to go up and down. Also lots of activity (like exercise can lower your Glucose levels) First of all, please let your doctors know what you are experiencing, then make sure you keep good records of when your sugar goes up and down, this will help the doctor get a better understanding of how your glucose levels behave at certain times. Are you burning up a lot of calories, what type of foods are you eating? Are you on a particular Diabetic diet? My Mom is only allowed to have 1800 calories a day, she has to eat 3 meals a day, and a snack (the doctor determine how many calories by her weight and size) we also took classes to learn how to maintain and control Diabetes. You are not alone and it will get better.Try to relax K? I will keep you in my prayers, God loves you both.

sGod Bless You both! Feel free to come to Prayer Forum and ask for prayers.

You have a wonderful spirit about you even though you are going through tough times. I can it in your posts. Keep your eye on the prize my friend. Somehow I know you'll get there!

Started the Glucaphage XR 500 today. YUCK. I got home from work at 6:15 am. Ate breakfast, took the lovely estratest and the glucaphage.

Slept from 7:30 am until 9:30 am. Had to pee. Then, had such a hard time getting back to sleep. Just dozed off and on, finally gave up about 1:30 pm and just got up. Then, started the diarrhea and wanted to , but couldn't.

Went to the Y to some, thought it would make me feel better. Did emotionally, not physically! Went back home, showered, dressed, yelled at son who came home from school in a foul mood! Ate dinner, which, thankfully, mom fixed. Said 'hi' to hubby. Told him I would really rather not go back to work tonite. Really bad night last night and just don't feel good. Of course, not much sympathy there. He was too busy dealing with the foul mouthed, tempered son to pay me much mind. Went back to bed from 7pm - 9pm, then, up at to work by 10pm. YUCK.

I hate it when my life is like this. I just can't stand it. I'm tired, I'm draggy, my sugars are down, but so what if I feel so yucky!?!

I know, I know, give it a few more days.......but still .

I just want to feel good. I was suppose to feel so much better after surgery. But, I don't think I do. Hubby says I do, that I look so much better. Whatever! I just truly hate being diabetic. I hate having had the surgery. Argh..........

Michelle - who, obviously needed to vent!

Also took the Paxil. I just hate all the meds I'm on. Why can't I just be healthy?

Sometimes life is just too hard. Or, at least it's too hard to live.

I'm sooooooooooo and depressed.

Michelle (again)

I've been chronically ill - enough to keep me on total disability - for nearly 24 years. I understand your frustration, honest I do. I understand the desire to go on vacation just to get away from it all. Doesn't work! I *really* understand just wanting it to all go away. And I also know that you will get over this and accept and deal with whatever you need to deal with.

So I'm going to guess here. Because you did ask when you'd feel better. Let's see, this is March already and you need to get your diabetes under control and your fatigue is going to last longer because you're working . . . you have a difficult situation with your son . . . hmmm, I'm trying to balance out stress and your strong will and generally positive attitude . . . . . . . . I would say that come June you will feel quite balanced. In the meantime, you will work hard at making things OK.

I'm sure this is not what you want to hear but it's really what I think.

Joselle

Michele,

I am diabetic too. i am pre-op so i'm not sure how the diabetes will be affected by my surgery. but i just wanted to let you know i felt a lot of what you're feeling when i was first diagnosed. Diabetes is one of those diseases that is easy to blame yourself for. i control mine with diet and exercise (when i can force myself to do it; i just hate exercising for the sake of exercising, as opposed to sweating it up playing volleyball).

i worked hard at eating right (very hard to do!) and got my sugar down, lost some weight, and pleased everyone around me. but some days i just want to say BLEEP it! why can't i be normal? if my sugar is up, i feel so guilty, like it's all my fault. it's something i'm going ot have to deal with for the rest of my life, i'm sure.
i can totally relate to you. hang in there. it can only get better


Jen

I figure you may not want to hear this, but oral HRT agents for we diabetics are not considered to be as effective as transdermal (patches and creams or gels) and have been shown in small studies to increase our blood sugar levels. THAT may be what is going on with you. I'll try to track down that study. It was published by the North American Menopause Society.

I would suggest you talk to your doctors (gyn or endocrinologist) about modifying your HRT regimen.

I'll do another post once I find the link.

Lynn

edit:

addition to my post

Here's the link to the abstract. You or your physicians should be able to get the entire article

http://www.menopause.org/abstract/7287.htm