An August Appendectomy
In August, (one month ago today)I had an appendectomy. There was very little drama involved, the doctors office visit led straight to a same day CT scan and an emergency review with the radiologist who informed me the appendix couldn ' t be seen but the colon was most definitely inflamed and I should go to the ER if it got worse. To the ER I went that night, to a hospital where the D Care is very good (had that going for it). They admitted me under observation, coursing enough pain medications through me to make me sick for the next 14 hours. The plan was to do another CT the next day. In observation, as I was trying not t...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - September 20, 2017 Category: Endocrinology Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
Everything New
This is Fiasp. Fiasp and I will be hanging out for 4,500 units over the course of the number of days it takes to go through that,& maybe more. We went to FFL 2017 and had a good time. My eyes are pristine despite the last horrid a1c and actually better then last year and I got a Dr Ben hug and all is right in the Universe. I finally have the courage to go to JH Wilmer Eye& move on from my joke of an opthamologist. I am good. I am thriving. And I deserve someone who I like, or at least, do not hate. In five years I may be eligible for replacement cataract lens surgeries because new technology will b...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - July 17, 2017 Category: Endocrinology Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
2017: On the Brink of Beyond.
2017 feels like December 31 @11:59.59 pm.We are waiting. Waiting on a new administration, waiting through upheaval in the streets and riots and the perfect fear of the unknown. Waiting on an ACA replacement. Waiting is not easy.We are waiting on 2018, when actual real live commercial " Artificial Pancreas " systems will hit the shelves and maybe maybe maybe anyone with insurance can get one. Without insurance your options are still non existent. Many,many people need these...they will save lives and improve a1cs and cut complications and make a lot of people functional& " compliant " for the first time ever. While we w...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - January 26, 2017 Category: Endocrinology Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
Two MODYs walk into a bar...
Recently I had my follow up with the geneticist/Endocrinologist of last August's appointment. I absolutely adore her, because I have her personal email and every question I have is a promptly answered. Learning to live with MODY hasn't been all roses and sunshine, as I've developed a swelling of my left kidney (called hydronephrosis) which I've had an ultrasound and abdominal CT for and am scheduled for a renal perfusion scan in two weeks. It hasn't affected the overall function of said kidneys but it's there,like an albatross, needing attention. There are no kidney stones (#1 cause) and the geneticist feels like it's MODY...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - June 29, 2016 Category: Endocrinology Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
Blog Week: The Mental Stuff(ing)
We think a lot about the physical component of diabetes, but the mental component is just as significant. How does diabetes affect you or your loved one mentally or emotionally? How have you learned to deal with the mental aspect of the condition? Any tips, positive phrases, mantras, or ideas to share on getting out of a diabetes funk? (If you are a caregiver to a person with diabetes, write about yourself or your loved one or both!)I wasn't planning on participating in #Dblog week, due to being fairly busy with the wrap up of Nursing School Year 1, but life had other plans. Tonight, my husband, son and I went out to eat a...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - May 19, 2016 Category: Endocrinology Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
Hello April
It's hard to believe that it's the end of March and April will be here by the end of the week. I'm busy (isn't everyone?), but it's Spring Break,so I'm feeling a little less stress. I am deep into the second semester of new nursing school,& that means OBGYN/Medical Surgical 1. As someone who has not closed the door on wanting more babies, being around babies makes you feel like that biological clock just cranked up to 2359.59.(not true,FTR,but those days will come) Babies do things to the sane part of your brain. Anyway,this semester is a whirlwind of tests-clinicals-lectures-skills-care plans. It always seems like I never...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - March 27, 2016 Category: Endocrinology Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
Year in Review: Diabetes Style
In conclusion,everything I thought about my body was essentially proved wrong this year,I got three new diagnoses,and my son can get MODY as well. (Which feels bad but anyone can get type 1 too so I'm not sure why it feels so bad. Every parent with D is afraid their child will also get it.(on the plus side,he's had no elevations in blood sugar and all the labs are good.) I'm waiting to January to try sulfonureas because it's going to be a very interesting can of worms to open,& my Endo gave me explicit instructions on how to do it all.(the drug causes hypos very readily) It's really unknown as to whether MODY 5 p...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - December 20, 2015 Category: Endocrinology Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
A Rendevous With the Artificial Pancreas
Last weekend, my dreams came true. Well, kind of.It was a joyous thing, to get off from class and coast off into parts unknown, the weekend entirely free from school and kid and spouse and life and blahdeblah...a kind of weekend getaway, as it were. I'd gotten a random "hey, we think you could be a good fit for this study" email from UVA several weeks prior, and after some serious analyzing of my schedule determined I could do it Friday Oct 16-Sunday October 18. Since UVA is a nice little 3-5 hour drive away, (depending on the Beltway traffic) timing was absolutely everything. I have certain days that absolutely do not wor...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - October 23, 2015 Category: Endocrinology Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
A New Diagnosis
On Monday, I awoke,took my child to the baby sitter(as schools were closed for the Jewish New Year) and came back to a voicemail on my phone."call us immeadietly." (Signed, Genetics Dept.of University)I called. I knew in my gut they were going to tell ME I was the reason for my child's genetic condition because that is how it is,my husband is the largely healthy one."we got the results back...Breathe.And you also have the 17Q12 deletion."Well, joy. And does this mean I have MODY as well?""yes,but we need to communicate with Dr.S (adult geneticist-it was J's genetic counselor who called me) to formulate a plan of actio...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - September 17, 2015 Category: Endocrinology Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
Wondering & quot;if & quot;
My head knows it ' s impossible..but on days like today and yesterday,my heart whispers " what if? What if you weren ' t type 1? What if pills were a possibility? What if everything you ever thought you knew about diabetes control is just another option? "I ate 200 carbs yesterday. 150 today. My sensitivity is through the roof.(Mostly that is because I was doing a grueling flea market prep,actual 7 hrs at flea market,& then carting the remainder home.) Hot weather,& exercise have serous effects on my bg. 14 units as a TDD is hardly a cure,but it is 10 fewer units then I ' d normally need for such a day. It ' ...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - August 16, 2015 Category: Endocrinology Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
Wondering " if "
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Source: The D-Log Cabin - August 15, 2015 Category: Endocrinology Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
Wondering "if"
My head knows it's impossible..but on days like today and yesterday,my heart whispers "what if? What if you weren't type 1? What if pills were a possibility? What if everything you ever thought you knew about diabetes control is just another option?"I ate 200 carbs yesterday. 150 today. My sensitivity is through the roof.(Mostly that is because I was doing a grueling flea market prep,actual 7 hrs at flea market,& then carting the remainder home.) Hot weather,& exercise have serous effects on my bg. 14 units as a TDD is hardly a cure,but it is 10 fewer units then I'd normally need for such a day. It's not the ...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - August 15, 2015 Category: Endocrinology Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
One Thousand Tomorrows
I use to thinkThat 1,000 tomorrows would make upFor 52 bad yesterday's.Ah,hope springs young,& eternalYears passA thousand tomorrows will soon be todayAnd turn into yesterdays.Normal numbers don't save meFrom the darkness of the place I'm in.I don't see the light.I don't see the hope.I don't see the promise of tomorrow.There is only today,& living the pain.(And the further spiral of the numbers.)Yesterday probably even wasn't that bad,because yesterday I was at least breathing.And my yesterdays with diabetes now match those without.(16.5 + 16.5)This also I knowThat a bad todayKeeps you from feeling the promise of t...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - August 4, 2015 Category: Endocrinology Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
FFL: Complicated
Ten years ago, I got on a plane and went to Florida to hang out with a bunch of diabetes people. I was getting to know (IRL) the people that had previously lived only in my computer.(aka the Children With Diabetes Chatrooms) There was no Adults With Diabetes support. I volunteered to be a chaperone at the Teen Dance,which amounted to me standing outside the door and making sure no parents snuck in.(That was how I met Joe S.)2015. My ninth FFL. I am kind like the shy little sister that hangs around and that everyone kinda knows of,but not really knows,because I am a shy introvert and public speaking doesn't happen much...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - July 15, 2015 Category: Endocrinology Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
Surfing the Sugah Wave
The best part of Endo appointments is after they are over..and the next three weeks are squeaky clean,filled with promise and hope and resolve..a diabetes clean slate.That day has come and gone for me.(almost a month into my current "journey.") In the meanwhile,all the promises I made (email CDE! Prebolus! Eat more green things! Do not stuff Twinkies into mouth at midnight and "forget" to bolus!) are a distant memory, I really suck at diabetes improv projects. But then I dropped a pump,& another threw 5 consecutive cartridge error alarms and had to be replaced and my blood sugars were a grand and unmitigated disaster a...
Source: The D-Log Cabin - June 20, 2015 Category: Endocrinology Authors: HVS Source Type: blogs
