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cherryfizz

Update on My Brother

18 years ago

Paul came by this morning before his appointment with the Endocrinologist. Paul just seemed out of sorts and worried. He said he didn't know what to eat, and hadn't eaten since last night because he figured he would be getting a blood test. I told him once he has this appointment he can pretty much eat everything in moderation but will have to cut down on the high sugar foods or foods that will make his blood sugar rise.

Paul was worried that if his knee surgery was delayed for another few months he would be forced back to work because his compensation pay for being off is changing to monthly instead of weekly like it is now. He would rather be at work but can't work with the way his knee is now.

So when Paul left I just started to cry for him. He has been so happy these last few months, lost a lot of weight so feels better about going out in public or visiting family other than me. LOL Everyone comments about the change in him.

I waited all day for him to call me and he finally stopped by. He said "I've got 3 months to live" and I knew he was just joking. He looked a lot better than when he left my house to go to the Doctor.

The Doctor pricked his finger and tested Paul's blood and it was down to 12 which is a lot better than 20. He said they were worried about Paul after the surgeon got Paul's pre-operative blood test results. Paul's blood then tested 28!! I still don't know why they didn't make him go to the ER when it was that high and to think he drove to Toronto on Christmas Eve with it that high! I just shudder when I think about it. Paul said he had eaten a bag of chocolate before the test because they just called him on the spur on the moment to come in when they had the surgery date for sure.

So the Endo told Paul not to worry too much. He gave Paul a glucometer and a prescription for pills and one for Lipitor. He is going to see a Dietician and the Diabetic Educator later this week. He can go to classes to learn about his disease or just meet one on one with an educator. We don't pay for the glucometers and since Paul works for the auto industry his prescriptions and test strips are covered too.

Paul asked the Doctor if he could still drive to Toronto and he said yes. Paul asked him if he could eat meat and the Doctor said yes and showed him a size comparison. He said think of a tv dinner and notice how the meat is in the largest section. Then think of whehre the potatoes are - that is the size portion of meat he should be eating. LOL

He told Paul not to worry that he will do fine.

Paul's surgery is still on the go for January 15 or 16 and he is wishing now it is delayed for a week longer. I think he is itching to get back to work since he has been waiting for this surgery since last February.

I am relieved and once Paul is educated on diabetes he will do good.

I think Paul's main worry was having to give himself insulin injections. Now that is one less worry.

Thank you for all your good thoughts and prayers and thank you Ed for offering to drive him from London to Richmond Hill. He is driving up on Sunday and his daughter is going with him.

LOL I guess I will have to get some Splenda in the house now so he can have a dessert for special occasions and holidays or just for cooking something that calls for a bit of sugar. I don't like the stuff myself.

I am going to get my Diabetic for Dummies back from a friend and read up on diabetes again and I do have a good Diabetic cookbook with lots of recipes. I am thinking of making Paul up meals he can just pop them in the microwave and not have to worry about what to eat. I just need to see the papers once he meets with the dietician.

Sue, I did get your email, thank you

Anne

Comments (12)

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Anne-That's great news.DH and I both have been diagnosed with Diabetes.We both take Metformin and have totally cut out anything with sugar in it.The things that set me off more than anything is bread (white flour) and starchy vegetables.I also have to be careful with anything comercialy made that says "sugar free".I make my own sweets with Splenda.You can substitute it for sugar in just about any recipe.I think everyone just has to figure out by trial and error what affects their blood sugar.Eating several meals a day seems to help with the fluctuations also.You are a good sister to do everything you are doing for him.

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Anne, you're a wonderful sister!!! I hope Paul knows how lucky he is to have you. Best wishes to him on his new healthy life!

    ~Betsy

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  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Thats pretty good news! I am happy for him.
    He knows that he should keep something on hand for when his sugar gets low right? Our neighbor many years ago had an awful time with his insulin and went into diabetic shock. Once in the winter he was outside laying in a snowbank by his back door and couldn't get his coordination enough to get up. We didn't know til then he was diabetic. DH walked across the street to get him up and into the house and in a chair. He couldn't talk right either, slurred speech almost and DH came home and said we'd better call the ambulance, cause Virg said he was ok and would be fine now but I don't think he will. His sugar was way too low. I found out later from his neice, we should have gave him a pop or orange juice or anything sweet. He lived alone, his wife had died and kids were grown and didn't live in town. I wished we'd have known what to do earlier!

    Good Luck to your brother with the surgery and the diabetic education!

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Anne ~ I'm glad your brother is doing some better. Good luck to him with his surgery and his lifestyle change.
    Linda

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Glad he is facing the problem now so he can get the sugar under control. Is it possible for you to go with him to counseling? That way you can ask the questions he won't ask (you know how men are) and help him plan him meals.

    Linda

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    That's good news Anne. I hope he learns to deal with his diabetes diet. I know he'll do good if he has you backing him.
    Leslie

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    What a relief to know for sure what it is. He is lucky to have you to help him. Best wishes for him with his knee surgery. With you on his side he will do great.

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Anne, sounds like Paul is on the way to getting his problem under control. It will be a change I'm sure to have to watch what you eat, but the people I know who have diabetes say after a while it just seems normal, and life gets better in the long run.

    He is lucky to have you watching out for him, and I'm sure he knows that. Take care of yourself while you're taking care of him.

    Sue

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Best wishes for your brother. I was recently diagnosed and talk about a death sentence!! I was so afraid but actually I'm doing OK. He should notice a difference in how he feels too, once he's on meds. The one thing my Dr stresses to me is to be sure to keep taking meds, regularly, and to stay monitored. Diabetes is an ugly disease and does a lot of damage to many parts of the body - including the heart. The damage actually escalates, but the meds help to control the amount of damage as well. Have him ask about vitamins and minerals too - they help, especially magnesium. No, I'm not a Dr., but I've noticed a difference when taking the mg. As I said, best wishes - it's not a death sentence as I though, if I keep doing what I'm supposed to - like not eating potato chips!! I know exercise helps too. I read somewhere on another Forum here that one person doesn't go to bed with the BS level above 120. I actually tested the exercise thing a few times - IT WORKED!! My bs went down significantly. Protein is key too. My friend's dietician actually told her to eat a piece of turkey or something before going to bed to keep it level during the night. He even had her waking up in the middle of the night to prevent the early morning lows. That worked too.

    Just some suggestions to discuss with Dr/Dietician. Glad to here he's getting help.

    gng

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Anne I'm so glad that Pauls got his blood sugar levels sorted out ... he was obviously really worried about it.

    Just a word of warning for him tho ... PLEASE impress on him the importance of being aware of any side effects from the Lipitor. My Mum took statins for 6 years and for a long time she put the gradual decline in her health down to old age. It got to the stage where she was almost ready for a wheel chair as she could barely walk and the deep muscle pains she had were agonising. Within 3 days of going off the drugs the muscle pain was almost gone but the muscle damage is permanent. Other side effects she had was 'brain fog' (constantly forgetting things), depression, muscle aches, swelling in the feet & legs ... she couldn't wear proper shoes for about 3 years due to the swelling in her left foot. She was on pills for depression, water retention, pain killers and sleeping pills - she'd also had cortisone injections in her back for the leg pains! .... once she came off the statins she was able to stop all those meds & she now just takes a really good quality fish oil (in liquid form) for her cholesterol.

    There's alot of info out there Anne ... google Statin side effects and you'll be as amazed as I was at the number of problems these drugs can cause.

    Please wish Paul all the best for his pending op ... he'll be like a new man onces he's back on his feet!

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Any chronic medical condition comes with upset,fear,worry, lifestyle changes, and any of those can cause a person to become depressed. Every hospital has a social work department who can counsel your brother, help him with the rough stuff. Please urge him to talk to the hospital SW. There's no stigma of mental illness. I know it, I've been there, my kidneys failed and I'm on dialysis. My hospital SW helped me with everuything from diet to medical insurance to planning out-of-town trips. She's a doll!

  • 18 years ago
    last modified: 11 years ago

    Thank you again everyone and thank you for the health tips on diabetes and the statins.

    Kiwi, my sister Marjorie can't take any statin drugs because of the muscle pains and swelling she experienced so she will watch Paul closely and ask him questions. Health Canada wants everyone who is diabetic now to be on a statin drug such as Lipitor which is why Paul was prescribed it. His cholesterol levels are good right now. Kiwi, I am sorry your Mom had so many side effects from the drug.

    Just for anyone who doesn't know in Canada our blood sugar measurements are different than in the US so blood sugar readings between 4 and 7 are considered in the normal range.

    Paul doesn't suffer from mental illness and isn't really depressed. He is great at handling stress and let me tell you he and his children have seen mental illness at its worse (his ex wife now deceased). Paul is actually handling his diagnosis better than I am. LOL

    Paul is on his way home from the Toronto area right now. He went to see his daughter and to pick up a china cabinet for himself and 8 banana boxes filled with stuff for me from my cousin who is moving. I am excited to see what she is sending me.

    Paul was happy to tell me his blood sugar level went down to 8 with the pills and he only had to get up to go to the bathroom once during the night. He said that is the best part, not being thirsty and not having to go to the bathroom all the time. LOL

    Paul should be meeting with the dietician one day this week and also the diabetic educator. His surgery is outpatient but the educator will probably come to see him while he is in the hospital. I just want him to be aware too that his blood sugar can drop and he needs to have something on hand or in his car to elevate his blood sugar if he has a reaction.

    My best friend has been a diabetic all her life and I have met with the diabetic educator because of my Mom so I am quite familiar with the disease. My Dad had type 2 diabetes as well. My blood sugar levels have always been on the low side. I think Paul is getting fed up with me bombarding him with information LOL so I will ease up a bit. He is a big boy. LOL

    Thank you again.

    Anne