very discouraged and tired

sharona97, BSN, RN · Dec 25, 2007

I don't blame you for not wanting to go back to he same endo M.D., but you should see perhaps another group (if insurance permits).

Let the internal med M.D. know about this situation. It will bring some relief,possibly enable you to begin something for depression, if the M.D. agrees. and last but not least, let your mind and body begin to heal. People are weird and say stupid things and may not even realize it.

What is important here is for your body to begin healing in all ways. You deserve that and with working towards that goal hpefully you will begin to want to feel good again and be less sensitive to disrespectful comments. There are diabetic nurse counselors out there and that is what the Endo M.D. should have suggested and set you up with. Ask the IM doc for a good diabetic teacher and I am sure it will be arranged.

Don't give up, please. Take our medicines. One doctor's coment can come crashing upon you, I truly know. It takes strength to continue forward in healing and it is easier said than done. But as a nurse wouldn't you want the best and give the best to your patients? Of course you would. Only this time all the care and attention is for you, be kind to yourself and take it.

Fell free to PM me anytime. I am so glad you are going back to see the IM doc.

(((((((((Sharona)))))))))))

woody62, RN · Dec 26, 2007

I would like to take the opportunity to invite you to the American Diabetic Association website. There are several of us nurses who are Type 1 and 2 diabetics. You will receive the support that even you, as a nurse, need. I was diagnosed in 1990 as a Type 2 and advised to change my diet and increase my exercise. I ignored my diagnoses for two years before taking control of my life. I was able to control my blood sugar with diet and exercise until 1996 when I was put on an oral medication. In 2001 I was put on NPH for better control of my blood sugars. I have also been on oral steroids for prolonged periods of time, due to my asthma. This also played a role in my developing Type 2. And the fact that my father had this disease and both my maternal and paternal grandfathers had this disease.

I eat approximately 70 to 80 grams of charbohydrates a day and take 35 units of NPH twice a day with 500 mgs of Metformin twice a day. There are those that control their blood sugars with just diet and exercise. There are those that control theirs with diet, exercise and oral medications. And there are those that control theirs with diet, exercise, oral medications and insulin. And we all eta a wide range of carbohdyrates a day from 30 grams to over 140 grams a day.

And some of us suffer from neuropathy, some from renal disease, some with eye problems, some with circulatory problems. But we all support each other. And we try not to judge one another.

Woody:balloons:

Silkiebyrd · Dec 28, 2007

Update:

Went to Internist today. We are starting Cymbalta for the neuropathy, a short term pain med, and antianxiety med for sleep and anxiety. He is concerned that the acute onset of such severe pain is related to a possible back problem (back really doesn't hurt much but is a little achy...feet are much worse and lower legs). He was very very positive, we are using a new endocrinologist and I am going to a diabetic educator and a counselor to help me deal with all the new things going on from my health to family responsibilities. I did check out the ADA site and it is great and very informative. To be a nurse, I sure am ignorant about the ins and outs of some adult illness even with ER experience. I have been NICU nursing for the last 5 1/2 years. Thanks again for everyone's support and PM's. I am also relieved that today went so well after the last doctor's visit.

sharona97, BSN, RN · Dec 28, 2007

This is great news and I'm so happy you are being led in the right direstion!

(((((((Sharona))))))))

Nurset1981 · Dec 31, 2007

I was daignosed in April of this year with Type II diabetes. I take Glucophage twice a day and watch what I eat. I was so sick for a while...I was up literally every 1/2 hour peeing all night. I felt like crap...sweaty, dizzy, blurred vision. I feel 100% better after starting the Glucophage and diet. I drink a lot of water, eat lots of fruits and veggies. I stick to low carbs and low sugar. I've learned to pay attention to my body. I feel gross when I over eat or eat something too sugary. I was practically in a coma after Christmas Dinner :) Anyway, if someone like me who has struggled with weight all her life can change her lifestyle anyone can! But I feel for you because I know the toll it can take on one's body. My father is a diabetic, and neither one of us does well on the night shift with it...or working 12-16 hour shifts. Wishing you all a healthy and happy New Year!

sharona97, BSN, RN · Jan 1, 2008

Just an FYI: Pharmaceutical companies have programs to help patients receive free meds if their requiements are met. Some really good nurses get on the process while others drag their feet.

Other instituitions have these programs as well, you may want to check with the local affiliated hospital as well.

ohmeowzer RN, RN · Jan 10, 2008

my prayers are with you .. how are you doing? i am sending hugs your way .. please keep me posted on your pain

dusky1228 · Jan 13, 2008

I just found out that I was diabetic in the last month.............. Sorry to vent, just hoping someone else out there has experienced this or knows of someone with good results. I just don't think I can handle this pain everyday for life, surely something will help. Thank you all for listening

I have the utmost sympathy for you, and I understand most of what you are feeling. I have had severe restless leg syndrome and neuropathy in my feet. I've had that for years, but it got much worse last year. Unfortunately, a treatment for the restless leg syndrome caused a chain-reaction series of events that I almost died from. The side effects caused a change in my body's metabolism of the Lovenox I take, and I hemorrhaged in my hip and legs (4-5 pints of free blood in my hip, actually) Long story-no time for most of it here. :) The pain from that is like nothing I could have imagined-excruciating. I told my doctor that I would take 10 kidney stones ay day than have that pain again, and I have a history of over 50 kidney stones passed, so I am well aware how bad *that* pain is. The leg pain is worse, and it doesn't go away.

What the 3rd hemorrhage left me with is further nerve damage and worsening neuropathic pain. Pain meds barely scratch the surface of the pain. I am unable to take many of the possible meds for neuropathic pain because of other medical problems.

I recently started Cymbalta (after what happened last year as a result of taking a medication to try and treat the neuropathic pain, I was very loathe to try anything else).. The Cymbalta seems a help noticeably so far, though the effect only lasts a few hours. For me, it's enough, because the pain is so severe that even a few minutes of lesser pain is a wonderful relief. Good luck! I continue to work, and sometimes it's really rought. I have to say that job is great for that, because my job offers me flexibility to develop my own schedule. It's made things possible.

dusky1228 · Jan 13, 2008

Oh yes, and I am a diabetic too.

By the way, I'm not sure that Byetta is approved for use in Type 1 diabetes.

Silkiebyrd · Jan 13, 2008

I am type 2, I am 36 years and just found out and here I thought menopause was the worse thing coming at me. :lol2:

I am on metformin, glipizide, actos, byetta, humulin N and Novolog (3 times a day each). They also put me on tricor for triglycerides, Lisinipril to protect the kidney. Now we added Cymbalta in addition to my heart meds. (Atenolol, Dig and cardizem). I feel like a zombie walking around sometimes. :nuke: But my pain is much better this week and my body is finally getting used to all the new meds. Had to get a pill box to keep up with them all.

Hope everyone is in good spirits and feeling well

Liz:icon_hug:

sharona97, BSN, RN · Jan 16, 2008

Dusky1228,

What an amzing comeback!

I, too went through a near death experience, subject to another day.

But the complications that have developed because of the DX is not allowing me to effectively work in my usual arena.

I truly envy you that you are working, despite the suffering that I'm sure is hard to endure. I hpe things continue to progress forward for you and I wish you the best.

dusky1228 · Jan 17, 2008

Dusky1228,
What an amzing comeback!
I, too went through a near death experience, subject to another day.
But the complications that have developed because of the DX is not allowing me to effectively work in my usual arena.
I truly envy you that you are working, despite the suffering that I'm sure is hard to endure. I hpe things continue to progress forward for you and I wish you the best.

Sharona97, I also am not working in the "same arena" (I love that wording, actually!), though still in nursing. I love my job, and I figured that I wold have pain anywhere, whether I was home on disability, working at a job I loved, or working at a job I hated. I chose a job that it turns out that I really enjoy. I work on my own a lot, without supervisors or managers nearby, since I am out in the field all day. When I work with co workers, I have a great team of co workers and friends who not only are aware of some of the medical problems, but also help out. When I was developing my illness last year, it was actually a co worker (and good friend) that I work closely with often who persisted in making me call the doctor when I did. I am very stubborn, and we nurses can be even *more* stubborn, and while I knew I was more ill than I wanted to believe, since it built over some time, even *I* didn't realize just how critical I was. I worked with him all day the day before I was admitted, and we had to stop often so I could vomit. I kept having to make sure I was sitting when I saw patients because I was so lightheaded that I was afraid I was going to fall, and yet I felt better when I sat so I was convinced I would just get better if I rested. And all the time, the indescribable excruciating pain in my right hip just increased to intolerability. The morning I was admitted, my friend called to see how I was feeling, and I was so bad, and told him I felt more awful than ever, and that I hadn't urinated since about 12 hours before, and the pain in my hip was intolerable. I told him I needed to run a few essential errands but I just wanted to go to sleep. He pushed me to call the doctor, and then, God bless him, he insisted I call and then said he would "call back in 15 minutes to find out what she said" which left me little to no choice. It was the right thing to do, because when I got to the hospital, and thankfully the doc paid attention to the hip pain, even though I was in full-blown kidney failure then (they gave me 25 liters of IV fluids in the first few hours I was in the ER) because the MRI showed all the free blood in my hip. At that time, the doctor told me I would have no woken up if I had gone to sleep, because I still was actively bleeding into my hip and there was very little blood left (where it really belonged, anyway). So it was an "interesting" life experience, one I never want to repeat, even though I have to constant reminded from the residual pain from the next hemorrhage that occurred last January when my car door closed on my left leg (never good when you are on Loenox....)

Sorry this post was so long-it was somewhat cathartic though! :specs: