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Ah, thank you.
Loan Lady, thanks for all the constructive advice. Guess what? I love brown rice. I don't have anything to test my blood sugar, the doctor said I didn't need to yet. I will have to take the all-day class one of these Fridays and get the diet info, etc. It's incredible to me that is the only way the diabetes info is administered, but it would be the same with any of the family practice doctors. Believe me, I could not have made it through Saturday morning with the Imodium. The meclazine was Ok'd by the doctor for nausea and dizziness.
I've got so much to write, I think I'll just plop it into the blog. 
Ca88, thank you, no rush, I'm still thinking about Weight Watchers and following my own little plan which inclues lots of veggies, some fruits, yogurt, and whole wheat. I actually do eat the 8 portions of fruit and veggies every day.
I appreciate everyone's concern and helpfulness. 
posted by
Witchflower
on November 8, 2004 at 9:37 PM
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Witchflower - I will get something to you as soon as I can....
posted by
Ca88andra
on November 8, 2004 at 7:31 PM
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it stopped me I guess I am being a pain. YOU are a strong beautiful woman. You are already started on the path just by talking/writing about it.
posted by
the-loanlady
on November 8, 2004 at 4:17 PM
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The pool is a great beginning. Even if you can get there and put the suit on and swim one lap and walk in the water. It is much easier on the joints and will hurt a great deal less than most exercise. Things to be careful about with your condition: If you don't take medication and don't test yourself several times a day you can end up life threatening with little warning. Can you take half the meds? I would not add the immodium and the one for nausia. Less meds the better. Eat a whole lot more fiber- celery, multi grain, green vegetables, lots of veggies, I would even suggest temporarily taking some fiber like metamucil. The fiber will help the sugar level and so many other things. Take a good quality multi vitamin. . Your body is a beautiful temple that you need to wait on right now. Take little breaks at work and walk just a little. Wear good tennis shoes, your feet suffer from the highs and lows of the sugar and you need the feet to keep you going. Ask hubby for a foot massage and soak the dogs every night and put some good smelling lotion on those toes and maybe some pink polish. I don't go for pedicures from those sweat shops because I am ticklish and wierd, but if you can afford the toe polish and rub down do it - but don't let them use a shaver or sander on the feet. Your circulation will improve with the swimming pool, but the feet may be suffering and you have not realized it yet. Diet- all vegetables, fish, chicken, turkey, small portion of brown rice eat as much of the first four as you want every two hours. This is only temporary if you can tackle it now. This is one day one hour at a time. If you feel down, you have a right to. But when you feel down say to yourself " I am making the steps to change this, and I can do it" Now I hear you complaining with that little I hate brown rice ok so don't eat that. Bug your doctor. Look on the internet for information Bug your doctor again the nice squeeky wheel gets all the good stuff.
posted by
the-loanlady
on November 8, 2004 at 4:16 PM
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Trinka, Sketty, Wiley, and Mary x. . .
Your support and interest means more than you know. I do feel much more cheerful now, and motivated to boot. Wednesday I have a consult with a physical therapist for a "Fit for Life" program, tonight we're going to the pool, I walked more last weekend than I usually do, so I feel much improved.
Yes, I would recommend avoiding letting this happen to oneself, but since I'm "in it" now, I'll deal with it. Thanks again for reading and for the kind information.
posted by
Witchflower
on November 8, 2004 at 12:43 PM
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Witchflower,
I hope you're feeling stronger today physically and emotionally. I do know what you mean about things seeming bleaker some days more than others. That, too, I think is a physical manifestation. You sound like a very conscientious, caring employee and coworker, and they should be lucky to have you.
My father developed Type-II diabetes, and it runs in the family. If I don't take off the 40 or so pounds I put on last year due to stress and medications, I may be going the same route, so I need to watch it myself as well. I'm glad I could be some support.
posted by
Blanche.
on November 7, 2004 at 12:19 PM
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Witchflower
I am so sorry to read of all your troubles, I will pray for ya luv. May I say this.
The most important item on your agenda is weight loss, becauser by losing weight, you will probably arrive at a normal blood pressure and seriuosly decrease the risk for diabetes.
You will also need considerably fewer drugs.
Now look, I am 68 and been dieting since last January, and yes it is very difficult to do and requires prayer and self-discipline. I was 245lbs, and in 10 months I am down now to 224lbs and I want to be 195lbs but I don't care about any kind of time limit.
My motivation?? I can't bear the thought of being in the control of some facility where I can't do for myself.
Now Witchflower, if a shmuck like me can work on it, you sure as heck can do it too. Bless ya
posted by
WileyJohn
on November 7, 2004 at 11:57 AM
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Metformin
I don't know what you should do, I really don't but I was prescribed Metformin to combat my weight gain after my hormones went haywire after getting polycystic ovaries and I put on a ton of weight. I was warned that there were unpleasant side effects and to be frank I used to think that I would put up with ANYTHING to stop being fat but when I discovered just how crappy I could feel I decided it wasn't worth it. I am now getting the weight back off with diet and exercise. I am lucky, I don't have diabetes. Good luck with your decisions and blessing be to you
posted by
Sketty
on November 7, 2004 at 11:26 AM
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you can beat it, kiddo
Diet and exercise will be your salvation. I was diagnosed a few years ago, same thing. I try to keep to the diet my doctor recommended and I walk like hell every day. It's made the difference. I don't need medication at all, I just keep walking. You can do it, I just know it.
posted by
trinka
on November 7, 2004 at 10:13 AM
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Thanks, Ca88
Your comment is exactly the kind of thing I want to hear. I know my problems started when I didn't get enough exercise, and that is what I'm struggling with now. I have made a little progress; it is in very small increments, tiny really, but this has actually given me more incentive.
If you would care to email me the details of her diet (or blog it, click, click, , there must be other people out there), I would appreciate it. Or point me to a Web site with the details.
I have looked at a lot of info on the Net, but it varies, and most says talk to your dietitician. I need to take off a day of work (there it is again), to attend an all-day diabetes education class provided by our HMO. This is the only way, apparently, that I'm going to get diet, etc., info. My doctor does not have the info, they have found it better for everyone to go to the session. I don't think that's a bad thing, because that way they are sure the correct information and amount of it is disseminated, but it's a pain to take a day off. I am going to do it, though.
I know I need to change my diet. I have felt for a long time that I would be better off if I gave up beef, but, it's just the thing I like most, so I'm trying to reduce usage, which I have, but can't quite eliminate it.
I appreciate your comments so much; don't want to howl at you at all, unless we have a group howl with Wolf-girl, who recommends it for stress release, etc. Maybe we can do that sometime.
posted by
Witchflower
on November 7, 2004 at 8:52 AM
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Witchflower - you probably dont really want to know what I would do, but I'll tell you anyway, cos that's just the sort of person I am! My mother was diagnosed with the same type of diabetes years ago and up until a couple of years ago, was able to keep it under control with diet and no medication. Its quite a strict diet, but she kept to it and it was only old age and Alzhiemers that defeated her. She is on insulin now. As for me, well I don't take any medication except homeopathic or naturopathic stuff. I don't even take pain killers for headaches, I use pressure points to get rid of them. I'm no saint, I've just had this aversion to medication since I was a child, my eldest son is the same. So, if I were you I would be looking for natural therapies instead of western medication and I would be changing my diet. You can howl me down now if you like! I do hope you get better soon.
posted by
Ca88andra
on November 7, 2004 at 1:14 AM
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Mary x
Thank you for the thoughful comment. I think my boss (a woman) and co-workers would be supportive to a certain extent, but we are a fairly small group. We work within the state Bar association, publishing continuing legal education books for lawyers. I am one of three production coordinators. We each have our own projects and very full schedules, so if I'm off work, it means others must double up, etc.
No one has been unkind or threatened my job, but the facts are that because of the fibromyalgia, I seem to have a sick day about once a month. In the past three years, I have taken off three months one summer and two months another summer because of joint replacement surgeries. Because of these various physical problems, my morning punctuality rate is not the best, although I always work my full hours and my work is always done on time. I am not the only person in the department who works this way, so it hasn't been a problem so far, but one never knows when attitudes will change.
I want to get a good evaluation so I can get a decent raise in December (if you can call 2-3% decent these days; it is the most we ever get), so I especially don't want to highlight physical problems right now.
I didn't mean to make boss and co-workers seem so heartless; it's my idea to anticipate that patience with me will eventually run out. Maybe I'm not giving them enough credit.
The other thing is that if I am off for a week adjusting to this med, and don't improve at all, I will be started on a new one, which could trigger the same scenerio. I've been through it many times with the bp meds, also antibiotics for cellulitis, UTIs, etc. Guess I'm kind of a mess.
I love your analogy about being driven like rented mules, though; it gave me a big smile.
Regarding the work: I sit at the computer formatting and re-formatting authors' and editors' input. I try to get up and move around, but the work is absorbing, and I often forget to get up every hour or so. Working at home isn't really an option because my projects involve short chapters, etc., and many projects worked on piecemeal in a given day.
I think under the ADA, they would be forced to let me have the time off, and they would, but it's the overall impression of my reliability and work that I worry about, I guess.
It took half the day today for me to feel better. I've only taken one pill, so my condition can't be much different than it was the day before yesterday. I'm not taking any more until I can talk with my doctor on Tuesday; maybe he can suggest something.
I think my anxiety this morning when I wrote this post was aggravated by the meds, plus between the election and worrying about the future, I have been quite depressed lately. I don't usually stay depressed for long; more than one day is unusual. My husband took me for a nice long ride this afternoon. We visited a winery and found a geocache, a new interest we have, so I feel better and more hopeful tonight.
Thanks so much for caring. It means a lot.
posted by
Witchflower
on November 6, 2004 at 4:16 PM
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Witchflower,
This isn't self-pity, these are real issues that need attention. I'm not sure what your relationship is like with your co-workers and boss, but it sounds like they aren't very aware or supportive of your medical condition.
I, also, don't know what type of work you do, other than it's computer and office-based. Is there any way that any of your work can be done at home on the computer? Could someone bring you some of your work? The boss may be more accomodating if he knows you're making heroic efforts to be productive and care about your deadlines.
Will he or she support you in making accomodations if you explain the medication side effects? It may be a better alternative than forcing yourself to keep to a standard and schedule you are not able to keep, collapsing, and feeling worse about yourself and jeopardizing your physical health.
You talk about your co-workers needing to take up the slack and not caring about your condition. If that's true, that they don't care, that's very heartless. They themselves will be ill at some point. Employers can only drive their employees like rented mules for so long before the mule a) keels over or b) goes on a sit-down strike. Last, resort, I suggest getting a lawyer and insisting on accomodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Good luck and take good care of yourself.
posted by
Blanche.
on November 6, 2004 at 11:11 AM
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