was hospitalized this weekend...

Jackie,

I'm so glad you're okay. Amazing story, really. I do suggest you go find a
good doctor, though. Even though I think that doesn't relieve you of
managing your health, they can be very helpful in many ways beyond what you
can do for yourself.

Stay well!

I'm glad you're back home and feeling better, but it's my understanding
that an ultra sound won't always pick up gall stones, and sometimes they
need to do another kind of test, I forgot what the name was, but I'm
sure somebody else in here will know. Just something to think about if
you have another attack. Best to you.
--
Cheri

[email hidden] wrote in message

Quoted message said:

Everyone was quite shocked it wasn't my gall bladder. The ER doctor
told me pointblank he thought the ultrasound report was wrong. I knew
they'd suspected gall bladder problems cause I had been asked about 20
times by then if my gall bladder had been removed, so was relieved that
it tested clean.

Roger Zoul said:

Jackie,

I'm so glad you're okay. Amazing story, really. I do suggest you go find a
good doctor, though. Even though I think that doesn't relieve you of
managing your health, they can be very helpful in many ways beyond what you
can do for yourself.

Stay well!

I agree, really.

It's just such a pain in the butt to *find* a doctor that isn't gonna
start [censored] at me about eating low fat and other such nonsense. You
hafta go around and freaking interview them to find one that isn't an
idjit about diabetes.

I've had it on my "to do" list for months, but it's easy to
procrastinate doing it. I just want a sane doctor to *appear* and not
hafta go through the [censored] of trying to find one.

Anyone know a good general physician in Carlisle, PA who isn't opposed
to low-carb? And takes Blue Cross?

But yeah, I need to go anyways... I'm overdue for both pap smear and
mammogram... and I've had cervical cancer before, so that's kinda bad.
Probably way worse than the diabetes stuff... I *do* test, so know my
diabetes is not doing too bad. It's not doing *great* - I can't seem
to keep my bg below 140 on a regular basis, but it's below 160
consistently which is a heck of a lot better than it'd be if I followed
a crappy doctor's instructions anyway. But I obviously have no way to
test for cervical cancer, so need to get a checkup.

I just get frustrated dealing with the medical establishment about
diabetes. I'm quite willing to be "spanked" for actual poor decisions
I make, like being sent home with piles of "quit smoking" pamphlets,
but do not wish to have to argue and debate when I'm *right.*

But yeah... even if I ignore them about diabetes, I have gots to get
tests done for other stuff... I really should go.

Cheri said:

I'm glad you're back home and feeling better, but it's my understanding
that an ultra sound won't always pick up gall stones, and sometimes they
need to do another kind of test, I forgot what the name was, but I'm
sure somebody else in here will know. Just something to think about if
you have another attack. Best to you.

Is it some kind of blood test?

Cause... they poked me like a pincushion and I know were searching hard
for gall bladder problems since everyone thought that must be what it
was, so if it's a blood test, I'm sure I had it.

On 16 Apr 2006 12:17:31 -0700, [email hidden] wrote:

|I failed the blood tests with wacky enzyme levels

Next time you need to study harder
<g>

Serously, glad you're home and feeling better Jackie!
--

Peter

No, it's not a blood test, take a look here. I believe it was someone on
this newsgroup who told me about other tests, when it doesn't show on
some tests, so hopefully they will tell you for sure. Best.

http://womenshealth.about.com/od/gallbladder/a/gallstonetests.htm

--
Cheri

[email hidden] wrote in message
<[email hidden]>...

Quoted message said:

Cheri said:

I'm glad you're back home and feeling better, but it's my

understanding

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

that an ultra sound won't always pick up gall stones, and sometimes

they

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

need to do another kind of test, I forgot what the name was, but I'm
sure somebody else in here will know. Just something to think about

if

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

you have another attack. Best to you.

Is it some kind of blood test?

Cause... they poked me like a pincushion and I know were searching hard
for gall bladder problems since everyone thought that must be what it
was, so if it's a blood test, I'm sure I had it.

On 16 Apr 2006 13:14:18 -0700, [email hidden] wrote:

|Roger Zoul wrote:
|> Jackie,
|>
|> I'm so glad you're okay. Amazing story, really. I do suggest you go find a
|> good doctor, though. Even though I think that doesn't relieve you of
|> managing your health, they can be very helpful in many ways beyond what you
|> can do for yourself.
|>
|> Stay well!
|
|I agree, really.
|
|It's just such a pain in the butt to *find* a doctor that isn't gonna
|start [censored] at me about eating low fat and other such nonsense. You
|hafta go around and freaking interview them to find one that isn't an
|idjit about diabetes.

I've gotten really good at playing the word games with the doctors;
it's all in the presentation. LOL! When I moved here to Williamsburg
(VA) in 2005, I was faced with finding a new doc also. It was a real
pain because my last doctor was very low-carb friendly (she said I was
her "star patient" because I controlled my BG's and lipids with my
low-carb WOE alone. Se also was an advocate of holistic medicine and
was thrilled with the regimen of supplements I take).

I found a new doctor here that I like, but I can just tell that he'd
blow a gasket if I told him I'm "on a low-carb diet." (The reason I
know? -- he had no clue what many of the supplements were for that I
take, or what the even were! Although relatively young, I can tell
he's been indoctrinated into the old-school thinking). So when I
lost a bunch of weight between visits and lowered my cholesterol and
triglycerides and BG's were normal with no meds, he asked what I had
been doing. I told him (truthfully) that I had 'cut out all sugar and
simple starches' in order to lose weight. He was perfectly satisfied
with that, whereas the phrase "low-carb" probably would have sent him
into a tailspin.

Interestingly, its seems to be a matter of semantics more than
anything. I know one thing though: They can't argue with what I'm
doing when my HbA1c was 9.0 two years ago and is 5.1 now, never having
taken medications for diabetes!

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm home and fine.

I had something called pancreasitis, which just means my pancreas was
inflamed. They could not determine why - apparently it usually happens
due to excessive drinking (which I don't do) or gall bladder problems
(but my gall bladder tested fine). I mentioned *repeatedly* that I'm
diabetic, but they don't seem to think diabetes is related to this
particular problem with the pancreas.

Wow, Jackie - that sounds really scary! Glad you're on the mend now. Someone
on alt.support.diabetes has had pancreasitis recently - maybe it's one of
the nasties that cluster round diabetes, without actually being linked.

Nicky.

--
A1c 10.5/5.4/<6 T2 DX 05/2004
1g Metformin, 100ug Thyroxine
95/74/72Kg

In article <[email hidden]>,
[email hidden] says...

Quoted message said:

I'm home and fine.

I had something called pancreasitis, which just means my pancreas was
inflamed. They could not determine why - apparently it usually happens
due to excessive drinking (which I don't do) or gall bladder problems
(but my gall bladder tested fine). I mentioned *repeatedly* that I'm
diabetic, but they don't seem to think diabetes is related to this
particular problem with the pancreas.

Wow, that's a scary experience! I'm glad it didn't last long and that
you're feeling better. Good for you for being so proactive about your
care and treatment!

--
Saffire
205/138/135-140 (aka JUST RIGHT!)
Atkins since 6/14/03
Progress photo: http://photos.yahoo.com/saffire333

*** This post originated in alt.support.diet.low-carb -- its appearance
in any other forum is deceptive and unauthorized. ***

[email hidden] wrote:
:: Roger Zoul wrote:
::: Jackie,
:::
::: I'm so glad you're okay. Amazing story, really. I do suggest you go
::: find a good doctor, though. Even though I think that doesn't
::: relieve you of managing your health, they can be very helpful in
::: many ways beyond what you can do for yourself.
:::
::: Stay well!
::
:: I agree, really.
::
:: It's just such a pain in the butt to *find* a doctor that isn't gonna
:: start [censored] at me about eating low fat and other such nonsense.
:: You hafta go around and freaking interview them to find one that
:: isn't an idjit about diabetes.

I think you can hold your own quite fine.

::
:: I've had it on my "to do" list for months, but it's easy to
:: procrastinate doing it. I just want a sane doctor to *appear* and
:: not hafta go through the [censored] of trying to find one.

I suggest you not worry so much about that right now...in fact, you don't
need to mention LC to your doctor. After all, you're just eating food,
right? You might have an attack like this again...so knowing more about
what's going on is important.

::
:: Anyone know a good general physician in Carlisle, PA who isn't
:: opposed to low-carb? And takes Blue Cross?
::
:: But yeah, I need to go anyways... I'm overdue for both pap smear and
:: mammogram... and I've had cervical cancer before, so that's kinda
:: bad. Probably way worse than the diabetes stuff... I *do* test, so
:: know my diabetes is not doing too bad. It's not doing *great* - I
:: can't seem to keep my bg below 140 on a regular basis, but it's
:: below 160 consistently which is a heck of a lot better than it'd be
:: if I followed a crappy doctor's instructions anyway. But I
:: obviously have no way to test for cervical cancer, so need to get a
:: checkup.

Yes, please go. Perhaps it's time to some meds? There is nothing wrong
with meds to get those numbers under control, right? You must protect your
remaining beta cells and check the progression of cancer. I don't want to
sound scary, Jackie, but please get a handle on this.

::
:: I just get frustrated dealing with the medical establishment about
:: diabetes. I'm quite willing to be "spanked" for actual poor
:: decisions I make, like being sent home with piles of "quit smoking"
:: pamphlets, but do not wish to have to argue and debate when I'm
:: *right.*
::

I understand.

:: But yeah... even if I ignore them about diabetes, I have gots to get
:: tests done for other stuff... I really should go.

Yes, please go ASAP. Thanks.

Marengo wrote:
:: On 16 Apr 2006 13:14:18 -0700, [email hidden] wrote:
::
::: Roger Zoul wrote:
:::: Jackie,
::::
:::: I'm so glad you're okay. Amazing story, really. I do suggest you
:::: go find a good doctor, though. Even though I think that doesn't
:::: relieve you of managing your health, they can be very helpful in
:::: many ways beyond what you can do for yourself.
::::
:::: Stay well!
:::
::: I agree, really.
:::
::: It's just such a pain in the butt to *find* a doctor that isn't
::: gonna start [censored] at me about eating low fat and other such
::: nonsense. You hafta go around and freaking interview them to find
::: one that isn't an idjit about diabetes.
::
:: I've gotten really good at playing the word games with the doctors;
:: it's all in the presentation. LOL! When I moved here to
:: Williamsburg (VA) in 2005, I was faced with finding a new doc also.
:: It was a real pain because my last doctor was very low-carb friendly
:: (she said I was her "star patient" because I controlled my BG's and
:: lipids with my low-carb WOE alone. Se also was an advocate of
:: holistic medicine and was thrilled with the regimen of supplements I
:: take).
::
:: I found a new doctor here that I like, but I can just tell that he'd
:: blow a gasket if I told him I'm "on a low-carb diet." (The reason I
:: know? -- he had no clue what many of the supplements were for that I
:: take, or what the even were! Although relatively young, I can tell
:: he's been indoctrinated into the old-school thinking). So when I
:: lost a bunch of weight between visits and lowered my cholesterol and
:: triglycerides and BG's were normal with no meds, he asked what I had
:: been doing. I told him (truthfully) that I had 'cut out all sugar
:: and simple starches' in order to lose weight. He was perfectly
:: satisfied with that, whereas the phrase "low-carb" probably would
:: have sent him into a tailspin.
::
:: Interestingly, its seems to be a matter of semantics more than
:: anything. I know one thing though: They can't argue with what I'm
:: doing when my HbA1c was 9.0 two years ago and is 5.1 now, never
:: having taken medications for diabetes!

Exactly. Simply avoid "buzz phrases" that people tend to not understand due
to immense media misinformation. Good results can't be argued with, either.

x-no-archive: yes

Quoted message said:

I'm home and fine.

I had something called pancreasitis, which just means my pancreas was
inflamed. They could not determine why - apparently it usually happens
due to excessive drinking (which I don't do) or gall bladder problems
(but my gall bladder tested fine). I mentioned *repeatedly* that I'm
diabetic, but they don't seem to think diabetes is related to this
particular problem with the pancreas.

It hurt like a mother, though, which is why I went to the ER in the
first place. They gave me a couple shots - one in the hip (something to
cause abdominal spasms to relax) and the other via IV
(anti-inflammatory and pain med) and took blood to run tests.

I failed the blood tests with wacky enzyme levels so they sent me for
an ultrasound of gall bladder, liver and pancreas, and apparently only
the pancreas failed (which I guessed based on where the pain was while
the tech was typing in organ names). When I got back from being poked
and prodded, I was in pain again, so they gave me Dilota (sp?) via IV
and I became instantly completly stoned and wonderfully pain-free.

Everyone was quite shocked it wasn't my gall bladder. The ER doctor
told me pointblank he thought the ultrasound report was wrong. I knew
they'd suspected gall bladder problems cause I had been asked about 20
times by then if my gall bladder had been removed, so was relieved that
it tested clean.

The only treatment for an inflamed pancreas is to not eat or drink for
a few days to let it rest. They admitted me to the hospital, and while
setting up the IV, a very stoned me said, "Don't put any glucose in
there, I'm diabetic." So they just put a potassium chloride solution in
there.

I spent most of yesterday sleeping, likely due to the narcotic, but
when awake... I was unstoned again and had no pain. They kept offering
me more drugs, but there was no pain. Eventually, I asked if I could
have some ice chips, and since I was pain-free, they allowed it. Either
the narcotic or being ill kept me wiped out though, I just kept going
back to sleep in between eating ice pretty much round the clock until 6
AM today. So... 24 hours of sleeping and ice.

I became a pain in the butt at 6 AM today. Asked for the IV to be
removed so I could shower, then got dressed in street clothes again
cause I didn't feel like lying around in bed anymore. Then I asked for
a pass to leave the ward so I could smoke, which they don't like much.
And I repeatedly asked if I really needed to be here since the
treatement seemed to involve not eating anything but ice, which I could
do just fine at home. In short, I became conscious and became a pain in
their butts simultaneously.

My lipase level was something like 7000+ yesterday, but was down to 298
today (normal being 280), so the doctor decided if I could eat and not
be in pain, I could go home.

Kitchen screwed up and sent me cereal with a banana and a cup of fruit
cocktail and a glass of juice and packets of sugar! I explained I
couldn't eat this stuff without my bg going up to over 200, so they
fixed me some beef broth and sugar-free jello instead. And no pain
resulted, so they got to get rid of me.

Apparently, it was a very minor case - as the information sheet they
gave me said it usually took 2-4 days of no food before the pain would
go away and 6-10 days was the normal length of hospitalization for
this. So... I bounced back quickly.

The whole thing was very ironic. I've felt really good lately.
Wednesday... I had really high energy and felt better than I've felt
since I was in training last year. Thursday was so-so. Then Friday, I
felt great again. I was attributing this to my chiro treatments, as I
was adjusted both Wed and Fri morning.

Friday night I met Steve at the local Petro. He had a delivery in NJ
Saturday morning, then was going to come home, but had a ten hour break
to take in Carlisle. We do these "truck stop" dates where I meet him,
we have dinner, take a shower together, and watch a movie in the truck.
I was feeling great. Then a half hour after I got home, suddenly I was
in horrific pain and puking. I literally couldn't get up off the bed
for a half hour, just lying there screaming cause the pain was so bad.
When I could finally get up, I called my daughter and asked her to take
me to the ER.

I was pretty sure it was food poisoning... cause I had felt so *good*
all day, and hadn't eaten, and then had pigged out on the salad bar at
the truck stop. So... wound up at the ER and then in the hospital, and
it wasn't food poisoning at all but my pancreas having a bit of a hissy
fit.

My only instructions leaving the hospital are to quit smoking and see a
doctor about my diabetes (they didn't like that I hadn't seen a doctor
in a couple years). Nothing even about diet at all - though I think I
will stick to the broth-and-jello thing for a couple days just cause I
don't wish to do anything that has any chance of causing that pain to
reoccur.

I had a nurse last night who said she was diabetic too and was going to
eat some of her mom's famous chocolate easter eggs today. She said her
theory was moderation. I said there is no such thing as moderate levels
of sugar for a diabetic, and explained to her how to make milk
chocolate with sweeteners from bittersweet chocolate (Lynne's
chocolate)... or that she could eat Lindt's 85% cocoa dark chocolate
which is nearly sugar-free.

This morning when the tech tested my bg, it was 132. And this nurse
said that is good, hers is usually higher than that. And I said, no
that is not good, I've been fasting for over a day, that is an insanely
high bg. It shouldn't go over 140 even after eating, I have almost no
leeway if it's 132 to start.

And... this is pretty much why I refused the first tray they sent me.
If I'd eaten cereal and 3 servings of fruit (one in HEAVY SYRUP for
crying out loud!), I'd have gone up over 200, and been in need of a nap
immediatly. Doubt they'd have decided I could go home then.

No, we'd be discussing insulin about now and I'd be getting "spanked"
for not being under a doctor's care for my diabetes. As if anything a
doctor could do would lower my bg enough if I ate [censored] like that
anyways... even the Metformin never lowered me more than 10-20 points
on average. I'd be in the hospital for days more...

But... I don't understand how a freaking nurse can be this dumb about
diabetes. Well, I guess I *do* understand, as I'm the idjit insisting
on a pass to go out in the courtyard to smoke...

Today, I was explaining to my day nurse that the night nurse seemed to
be an idjit about her own diabetes, and she told me the night nurse has
been hospitalized repeatedly for high bg. So... apparently, I've got
the diabetes thing under control even without strictly being under a
doctor's care lately.

This is a very small little rural hospital here, and I was very
surprised that I got such good care. Other than having to be vigilant
about my bg (which is *always* the case when anyone else is involved
with diet and such), they were quite good.

I have rarely been treated so well - never had such a good experience
at a citified hospital. I especially liked that there was no [censored]
about pain... I was turning down pain meds left and right. They were
quite determined I didn't need to suffer. Much as I hate being
hospitalized, this was a pretty good place to do it. Everyone was quite
nice, even when I became a pain in the butt.

It is quite difficult to believe I was on so much pain Friday night and
am sitting here feeling perfectly fine, just a bit tired, now.

Wow, hairy story. Glad you're feeling better, and I hope you have no
recurrences.

Susan

Marengo said:

On 16 Apr 2006 12:17:31 -0700, [email hidden] wrote:

|I failed the blood tests with wacky enzyme levels

Next time you need to study harder
<g>

You have the same twisted sense of humor I do, cause that's exactly
what I said to the doctor... "Tests? But, I didn't study!" 😉

x-no-archive: yes

Quoted message said:

Marengo said:

On 16 Apr 2006 12:17:31 -0700, [email hidden] wrote:

|I failed the blood tests with wacky enzyme levels

Next time you need to study harder
<g>

You have the same twisted sense of humor I do, cause that's exactly
what I said to the doctor... "Tests? But, I didn't study!" 😉

You shoulda asked to be graded on a curve... ;-)

Susan

Roger Zoul said:

Yes, please go. Perhaps it's time to some meds? There is nothing wrong
with meds to get those numbers under control, right? You must protect your
remaining beta cells and check the progression of cancer. I don't want to
sound scary, Jackie, but please get a handle on this.

I've tried Metformin twice and both times got really sick and it only
lowered me about 10-20 points.

I tried Actos, and it didn't even seem to lower me even 10 points -
there's enough variation in my bg readings that I couldn't tell if it
did anything or not. Didn't seem worth the risk of side effects to
keep taking it.

I utterly refuse to do any of the meds that stimulate the pancreas, as
I believe Bernstein's view that actually progresses the disease along.
So I believe the only oral med left to try would be Avandia.

So... I have generally kinda blown off the oral meds, having not had
real good experiences with them.

To tell you the truth, it'd be easier for a doctor to sell me on
insulin than another oral med at this point. Not that I'm gung-ho
about insulin or anything, but at least I know what the hell it is and
what it does and don't feel all guinea-pig about it like all my
"experiments" with oral meds.

That is really why I don't wanna get into the whole diabetes thing with
doctors. They just always automatically want to put me on meds... and
try to talk me into a stupid ADA low-fat diet thang, which would shoot
my bg up beyond what their meds would lower it. I can keep it lower
myself.

My bg stays below 160 all the time (except when really ill) and that is
good enough for me, mostly because experiments with ways to get it
lower still haven't been all that successful. Basically, my fasting bg
doesn't go down much below 120-140 even if I don't eat at all, so...

I mean, I'd be happy to get it under 140 regularly, but it doesn't look
like that is gonna happen.

OK, I think I just made a decision. I am going to take a week's worth
of readings before I go to a doctor. And... I am gonna tell him or
her, I'll try anything they like, but if it doesn't result in lower
readings than I get on my own, then I'm not gonna stick with it.
That... they are not allowed to make decisions about my diabetes unless
they work better than what I do on my own.

x-no-archive: yes

Quoted message said:

I've tried Metformin twice and both times got really sick and it only
lowered me about 10-20 points.

Me, too. I tried it a couple of times a few years apart, and it made me
incredibly fatigued and headachey. Even at 500mg per day, the starting
dose to ramp up from. Then I tried it last year; no probs! I've been
taking 1500 mg per day, even on an empty stomach, with no problems.

It doesn't lower my bg much, but it did reduce my IR a LOT. I slowly
began losing weight, which I hadn't been able to do even on very low
carb and calories. The weight that had begun collecting on my abdomen
went away. I have more muscle definition in my arms and calves without
working out.

More importantly, metformin protects against CVD by reducing IR. It
lowered my fbg and my TGL a bunch. There are very good reasons to take
it besides dropping post prandial numbers. It took me about 5 months to
see significant improvements, but I was very IR.

Quoted message said:

I tried Actos, and it didn't even seem to lower me even 10 points -
there's enough variation in my bg readings that I couldn't tell if it
did anything or not. Didn't seem worth the risk of side effects to
keep taking it.

I wouldn't touch it, either.

Quoted message said:

I utterly refuse to do any of the meds that stimulate the pancreas, as
I believe Bernstein's view that actually progresses the disease along.
So I believe the only oral med left to try would be Avandia.

So... I have generally kinda blown off the oral meds, having not had
real good experiences with them.

I would encourage you to re-trial metformin periodically, but not to
expect more than a max of 20 pt. drop.

Quoted message said:

To tell you the truth, it'd be easier for a doctor to sell me on
insulin than another oral med at this point. Not that I'm gung-ho
about insulin or anything, but at least I know what the hell it is and
what it does and don't feel all guinea-pig about it like all my
"experiments" with oral meds.

Dr. Bernstein recommends some early insulin therapy for type 2, to give
the beta cells a rest, along with low carbing.

Quoted message said:

That is really why I don't wanna get into the whole diabetes thing with
doctors. They just always automatically want to put me on meds... and
try to talk me into a stupid ADA low-fat diet thang, which would shoot
my bg up beyond what their meds would lower it. I can keep it lower
myself.

Most endocrinologists are doing better than most GPs with this. For
example, the AACE recommends no higher than 140 at one hour, 120 at two
hours. Big improvement over ADA and Joslin recommendations.

Quoted message said:

My bg stays below 160 all the time (except when really ill) and that is
good enough for me, mostly because experiments with ways to get it
lower still haven't been all that successful. Basically, my fasting bg
doesn't go down much below 120-140 even if I don't eat at all, so...

Mine goes lowest if I have an oz. or two of protein at bedtime.

Quoted message said:

I mean, I'd be happy to get it under 140 regularly, but it doesn't look
like that is gonna happen.

OK, I think I just made a decision. I am going to take a week's worth
of readings before I go to a doctor. And... I am gonna tell him or
her, I'll try anything they like, but if it doesn't result in lower
readings than I get on my own, then I'm not gonna stick with it.
That... they are not allowed to make decisions about my diabetes unless
they work better than what I do on my own.

Can you find an AACE member endo in an academic medical center near you?

Susan

[email hidden] wrote:

:: OK, I think I just made a decision. I am going to take a week's
:: worth of readings before I go to a doctor. And... I am gonna tell
:: him or her, I'll try anything they like, but if it doesn't result in
:: lower readings than I get on my own, then I'm not gonna stick with
:: it. That... they are not allowed to make decisions about my diabetes
:: unless they work better than what I do on my own.

That's a good plan. Work it their way until there is no choice left but
insulin. Keeping good records will win the day. And of course, they have
no way to know what you're eating.

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Roger Zoul said:

Yes, please go. Perhaps it's time to some meds? There is nothing wrong
with meds to get those numbers under control, right? You must protect
your
remaining beta cells and check the progression of cancer. I don't want to
sound scary, Jackie, but please get a handle on this.

I've tried Metformin twice and both times got really sick and it only
lowered me about 10-20 points.

Met can take ages to kick in - months - but then it's really worth it. I've
completely lost a dawn phenomenon, my fastings are all under 100, and my
highest pp reading this year was 130.

Have you tried both the normal and the extended release versions? Some
people can cope with the extended release but not the normal.

Nicky.

--
A1c 10.5/5.4/<6 T2 DX 05/2004
1g Metformin, 100ug Thyroxine
95/74/72Kg

ok, ok.................i am glad that your pain in
gone....................now "lets talk turkey", ok?
beside you, who is managing your diabetes?

--
..
..
..

<[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I'm home and fine.

I had something called pancreasitis, which just means my pancreas was
inflamed. They could not determine why - apparently it usually happens
due to excessive drinking (which I don't do) or gall bladder problems
(but my gall bladder tested fine). I mentioned *repeatedly* that I'm
diabetic, but they don't seem to think diabetes is related to this
particular problem with the pancreas.

It hurt like a mother, though, which is why I went to the ER in the
first place. They gave me a couple shots - one in the hip (something to
cause abdominal spasms to relax) and the other via IV
(anti-inflammatory and pain med) and took blood to run tests.

I failed the blood tests with wacky enzyme levels so they sent me for
an ultrasound of gall bladder, liver and pancreas, and apparently only
the pancreas failed (which I guessed based on where the pain was while
the tech was typing in organ names). When I got back from being poked
and prodded, I was in pain again, so they gave me Dilota (sp?) via IV
and I became instantly completly stoned and wonderfully pain-free.

Everyone was quite shocked it wasn't my gall bladder. The ER doctor
told me pointblank he thought the ultrasound report was wrong. I knew
they'd suspected gall bladder problems cause I had been asked about 20
times by then if my gall bladder had been removed, so was relieved that
it tested clean.

The only treatment for an inflamed pancreas is to not eat or drink for
a few days to let it rest. They admitted me to the hospital, and while
setting up the IV, a very stoned me said, "Don't put any glucose in
there, I'm diabetic." So they just put a potassium chloride solution in
there.

I spent most of yesterday sleeping, likely due to the narcotic, but
when awake... I was unstoned again and had no pain. They kept offering
me more drugs, but there was no pain. Eventually, I asked if I could
have some ice chips, and since I was pain-free, they allowed it. Either
the narcotic or being ill kept me wiped out though, I just kept going
back to sleep in between eating ice pretty much round the clock until 6
AM today. So... 24 hours of sleeping and ice.

I became a pain in the butt at 6 AM today. Asked for the IV to be
removed so I could shower, then got dressed in street clothes again
cause I didn't feel like lying around in bed anymore. Then I asked for
a pass to leave the ward so I could smoke, which they don't like much.
And I repeatedly asked if I really needed to be here since the
treatement seemed to involve not eating anything but ice, which I could
do just fine at home. In short, I became conscious and became a pain in
their butts simultaneously.

My lipase level was something like 7000+ yesterday, but was down to 298
today (normal being 280), so the doctor decided if I could eat and not
be in pain, I could go home.

Kitchen screwed up and sent me cereal with a banana and a cup of fruit
cocktail and a glass of juice and packets of sugar! I explained I
couldn't eat this stuff without my bg going up to over 200, so they
fixed me some beef broth and sugar-free jello instead. And no pain
resulted, so they got to get rid of me.

Apparently, it was a very minor case - as the information sheet they
gave me said it usually took 2-4 days of no food before the pain would
go away and 6-10 days was the normal length of hospitalization for
this. So... I bounced back quickly.

The whole thing was very ironic. I've felt really good lately.
Wednesday... I had really high energy and felt better than I've felt
since I was in training last year. Thursday was so-so. Then Friday, I
felt great again. I was attributing this to my chiro treatments, as I
was adjusted both Wed and Fri morning.

Friday night I met Steve at the local Petro. He had a delivery in NJ
Saturday morning, then was going to come home, but had a ten hour break
to take in Carlisle. We do these "truck stop" dates where I meet him,
we have dinner, take a shower together, and watch a movie in the truck.
I was feeling great. Then a half hour after I got home, suddenly I was
in horrific pain and puking. I literally couldn't get up off the bed
for a half hour, just lying there screaming cause the pain was so bad.
When I could finally get up, I called my daughter and asked her to take
me to the ER.

I was pretty sure it was food poisoning... cause I had felt so *good*
all day, and hadn't eaten, and then had pigged out on the salad bar at
the truck stop. So... wound up at the ER and then in the hospital, and
it wasn't food poisoning at all but my pancreas having a bit of a hissy
fit.

My only instructions leaving the hospital are to quit smoking and see a
doctor about my diabetes (they didn't like that I hadn't seen a doctor
in a couple years). Nothing even about diet at all - though I think I
will stick to the broth-and-jello thing for a couple days just cause I
don't wish to do anything that has any chance of causing that pain to
reoccur.

I had a nurse last night who said she was diabetic too and was going to
eat some of her mom's famous chocolate easter eggs today. She said her
theory was moderation. I said there is no such thing as moderate levels
of sugar for a diabetic, and explained to her how to make milk
chocolate with sweeteners from bittersweet chocolate (Lynne's
chocolate)... or that she could eat Lindt's 85% cocoa dark chocolate
which is nearly sugar-free.

This morning when the tech tested my bg, it was 132. And this nurse
said that is good, hers is usually higher than that. And I said, no
that is not good, I've been fasting for over a day, that is an insanely
high bg. It shouldn't go over 140 even after eating, I have almost no
leeway if it's 132 to start.

And... this is pretty much why I refused the first tray they sent me.
If I'd eaten cereal and 3 servings of fruit (one in HEAVY SYRUP for
crying out loud!), I'd have gone up over 200, and been in need of a nap
immediatly. Doubt they'd have decided I could go home then.

No, we'd be discussing insulin about now and I'd be getting "spanked"
for not being under a doctor's care for my diabetes. As if anything a
doctor could do would lower my bg enough if I ate [censored] like that
anyways... even the Metformin never lowered me more than 10-20 points
on average. I'd be in the hospital for days more...

But... I don't understand how a freaking nurse can be this dumb about
diabetes. Well, I guess I *do* understand, as I'm the idjit insisting
on a pass to go out in the courtyard to smoke...

Today, I was explaining to my day nurse that the night nurse seemed to
be an idjit about her own diabetes, and she told me the night nurse has
been hospitalized repeatedly for high bg. So... apparently, I've got
the diabetes thing under control even without strictly being under a
doctor's care lately.

This is a very small little rural hospital here, and I was very
surprised that I got such good care. Other than having to be vigilant
about my bg (which is *always* the case when anyone else is involved
with diet and such), they were quite good.

I have rarely been treated so well - never had such a good experience
at a citified hospital. I especially liked that there was no [censored]
about pain... I was turning down pain meds left and right. They were
quite determined I didn't need to suffer. Much as I hate being
hospitalized, this was a pretty good place to do it. Everyone was quite
nice, even when I became a pain in the butt.

It is quite difficult to believe I was on so much pain Friday night and
am sitting here feeling perfectly fine, just a bit tired, now.