Can I Celebrate?
Friday, January 13, 2017 at 6:00PM This blog was started on this day in 2006. That was 11 years ago! For many of those years I wrote quite often but not recently.
So can I celebrate an 11 year old blog when the past few have been sparse?
The thing is I have a lot to share since a lot has happened. Stuff that falls into the category of why I started this in the first place.
To help others by sharing my stories in hopes of making lives a little easier. And so people who read this blog never feel alone.
So what happened in 2016 that needs to be shared? Well, my diabetes went out of control for starters. Nothing I did would get my post meal bg's anywhere near where my doctor wanted them.
We tried Victoza, Trulicity, and some other type 2 drugs but nothing worked. And through all this my weight kept increasing.
I was refilling my pump every other day because I needed so much insulin. So my doctor had me start using U-500 insulin. That is basically concentrated Regular insulin. So 1 unit of U-500 is like 5 units of Regular. Now as you probably know, Regular insulin has been around for a long time and it is not a very stable and predictable insulin. That being said my control only seemed to get worse.
And I got to the heaviest I have ever been.
340 pounds.
I cannot believe I typed that for all to see but I had to share it, I know I am not alone so its okay.
By the end of March my doctor said we needed to consider bariatric surgery. He felt it would be more dangerous to not have some sort of weight loss surgery.
My family and I met with a surgeon and after many discussions I decided to do it. It was not an easy decision at all but I knew I was doing it for the right reasons. I had tried to lose weight. I had tried to control my numbers. Nothing was working and this very well could be the thing that gets me to be at my healthiest.
Months of doctors appointments, arguments with insurance, and education classes helped prepare me for an August surgery date.
15 days before surgery I went on a liquid diet. My doctor changed my insulin to Novolog and we came up with new basal rates to make sure I didn't go low with my new smaller stomach. By the time I was ready for surgery I had lost 12 pounds. Months before that I had a lost some weight but not enough to make a real difference.
The surgery when well. I felt great afterwards and moved my daughter to college the week following. All was good. I went back to work two weeks later and everything seemed to be progressing as planned.
Then I got sick. It felt like I was not getting enough water and protein, something I was warned about, and I had zero energy. I tried to eat drink protein shakes but could not keep them down. Then my blood sugar started to rise to the point my meter only read "HI." Weak and nauseous, I tried to eat but kept throwing everything up. This was DKA no doubt. My wife called 911 and I was off to the hospital.
When I got to the hospital I was having a hard time breathing. It was like I was panting. This was a new symptom for me. The ER nurses drew blood to run tests and tried to calm me down. A bit later the ER Doc tells my wife that I had a heart attack.
WHAT THE HELL? A HEART ATTACK?!?
And from what the tests said, it looked to have happened a few days before.
So now I was in the hospital for DKA after I had a heart attack I didn't know about! I spent a few days in the
hospital as they worked to get my bg under control. Then after I was no longer DKA they transported me to another hospital to have an angiogram. The angio showed I needed triple bypass surgery.
The next day I was in surgery again for the bypass and spent the next 2 months recovering at home.
In the end, everything is good now. I have lost over 70 pounds. My energy level and overall feeling is awesome. My post meal bg's are the best they have been (I also started using inhaled insulin for boluses) in a long time.
There was a lot of emotional stuff I went through around all of this. Many things I want to explore and share. I just wanted to update everyone on where I have been and what went on in 2016 for this old ninja.
So I have a lot to celebrate besides starting this blog. But today I'll celebrate "Ninjabetic" anyway.
Reader Comments (11)
Celebrate, my friend!! Celebrate big!!! Pete and I are celebrating with you and we love you!
Wow, that's quite a scary roller coaster journey at an amusement park nobody wants to visit. Glad the ride has ended and you are walking on terra firma. Best to you and your wonderful family.
You've worked so hard. I'm happy things are going well for you and your family. Hugs!
OH George! So thankful you are doing better. We have lost touch with most of the doc and we miss y'all. So very sorry that you have been going through so much. You are such a light and we are thankful you exist. Sending much love from our family to yours.
Happy Blogaversary to one of my oldest (in blog age) and dearest! I'm moee than relieved that you've made it through so much.
George, This is my first visit. You and your family have been through the wringer but happy to hear that things are looking up. I have always love your spirit and know that you will come through this even stronger. My husband has been going through a lot in the last 17 years but we are still taking each day as a blessing. Keep your wonderful smile and know that you've got what it takes.
Doris Daems
george, so happy you made it thru all that!! & thanks for sharing ur story!!! I found ur blog last year and I enjoy ur stories. Stay well!!! HUGS!!!!
George,
I've wondered where you've been since last May. Know I now. You've been busy getting run through a wringer!
Glad to hear that things have taken a turn for the better. Celebrate! Do it healthy and do it well as you are still here for your family! I hope and pray that things only get better for you from this day forward.
Looking forward to more posts from you. I have been following you for a long time.
You have been missed my friend.
Welcome back!
Stuart
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You've worked so hard. I'm happy things are going well for you and your family. Hugs!
Diabetes is one of the most frightening disease as it affects our whole body, even our emotions. We should know that Diabetes also affects our physical appearance