Follow Up From Yesterday
Thursday, March 17, 2011 at 11:12AM “You are my coach and I promise I will be your best patient. Whatever you tell me to do, I will.”
Those are the words I keep holding onto. I said them with honesty and desperation.
My doctor smiled at me and said, “George, you know more about diabetes than most doctors out there. You should commend yourself for that. You are going to be okay. All of this stuff we can fix.”
Sure I felt better but looking at the numbers that do not lie makes it tough to handle.
“I am sure you would rather understand these numbers instead of me just prescribing medicine and telling you to come back in a month right?”
He is absolutely right. He brought out a white board and wrote down every test he ran on my blood, told me where I should be, and where I am. He drew diagrams to explain everything and explained what we were going to do to get my numbers where they should be.
As many of you know my dad died of a heart attack at age 42. From what these numbers are saying, I am on the same path. My good cholesterol is good, my bad cholesterol is not horrible but needs some work. He ran a test to show how at risk I am for a heart attack or stroke within the next 5 years and let’s just say you should put your money on that. Dialysis is also in my future if I don’t get my bg’s under control.
“And that’s not even the worst number you had!” I could not understand why my doctor was smiling as he said this to me.
He stuck out his hand and said, “Congratulations, you have the lowest Vitamin D count I have seen in a year. And actually the only one lower was a lady with muscular sclerosis.”
From what he explained anything less that 20 is considered Vitamin D deficient and I came in at 8. “Low vitamin D makes you feel tired all the time, it’s hard to think, it can mess with your A1C, your cholesterol, and lead to depression. You must have been feeling like crap for years!”
I started to well up again. “It’s not like I don’t go to the doctors. Why is this the first time this has been checked?”
The fact is that it doesn’t really matter now. I have to move on. I have to take the steps I need to get myself in better health soon.
I know I have the right coach. I know I have the support from you all. I just wish I wasn’t so damn scared.
Here’s a plus, I was 7 pounds lighter than I was 2 weeks ago.
More on this tomorrow.
Reader Comments (12)
The nice thing about the Vitamin D thing: it's a pretty easy fix, I think, and might help you feel a lot better. Feeling better would be a nice start on addressing the rest of it.
Wow, George!!!! You definitely have yourself a great doc! So happy for you!!!!! :-D
I have been following your story about Dr. Unger, George, and I am so happy to hear how well things are going for you.
I'd love to hear more about his take on low Vitamin D levels. I think I'll ask my endo to check mine next time because I can certainly relate to his description of the symptoms.
Keep up the good work and please keep sharing Dr. Unger's bits of knowledge with us!
Hi George,
Congratulations on being 7lbs lighter. Sounds like you have found the right Dr and coach.
First: I LOVE YOU & I''M SO GRATEFUL THAT YOU ARE MY FRIIEND.
Second: Congrats on the lost 7lbs and here's hoping that you don't find them again
Third: Challenging news is hard to hear, BUT here's the silver lining of it all: Now you know what you need to do and have a diabetes coach who has your back!
I agree with your Doc, you know more about diabetes than most MDs, and you have the ability to fix what needs to be fixed!
I know that you can do this, and everyone who loves and cares about you will love and help you in anyway we can.
You WILL do this George, and I'm so proud of you for sharing with us, and forging ahead!
LYLTB (The T stands for turkey & I'm making the switch to it to day in your honor!)
Kelly K
So glad to see this continues to be a good experience, G. I'm low on D, too - nice to just have a vitamin to take for treatment! :)
Gotta LOVE his whiteboard~!~! <3
YOU GOT this! You've got tons of support...now baby steps to reverse some of this, I know scary but doable and you my brother are a fighter like no other! ((HUGS)))....
That's awesome you've found such a great doctor, George. That's a huge step. Good luck getting the numbers under control. I know you can do it!
Had "the talk" about the early heart disease in my family with my endo this week.
You and I have what those who came before didn't - knowledge...which is power against the same fate.
I am proud of you. I know you can do this. You have the will, the fortitude and the strength of the DOC behind you. I am glad you have such a great doctor.
I had that level last year and he is right...it does mess with you! I couldn't take the vitamin d pills either. So I spent the summer making sure I was in the sun 3-4 times a week for at least 30 minutes in my new swimsuit and this winter my dh spent some moola on a canopy tanning bed fitted out with natural sunlight bulbs. My last Vitamin D level in the middle of winter was 30!
Wow, I'm going to get my vitamin D checked!
Been wondering why I've been so tired and exhausted lately, although I've been in the sun, so it's likely not that. Worth checking though.
I'm having nana-naps nearly every day and it feels just like high BGs, but my numbers are always very ok when I check and then re-check half an hour later, because I don't believe the meter!
I like the 7lbs lighter! Unfortunately, there's sometimes a price to pay using insulin and that's weight gain. Losing it is really difficult! So good on you!