Category: Current Status

But I am still wondering if we should up my basal at lunch time instead….

We moved my insulin to carb ratio at lunch from 1:8 to 1:5. TODAY, it worked. Though I was still sleepy but that might be more due to the heat in the building. I’m on the second floor with 30 computers, and usually that many students, so this time of year it’s hot.

But after lunch has always been my toughest time. My blood sugar is typically very high after low, but then goes low right before dinner. It’s even more pronounced when I work out after school.

I used the new CPAP last night for the first time. Man is it quiet!

It has also saved me quite a bit of driving time and hassle. I was supposed to pick up an oxymeter today from Baylor, which means driving downtown, finding a parking space, taking the elevator up, waiting for people to get their acts together, etc.

Then I have to sleep with the blasted thing, meaning I’ll wait up 3 or 4 times (been there, done that, literally), so I will be tired tomorrow.

Then I have to haul it back to Baylor.

SO, instead, I’ll take the new machine up there next Friday when I’m off and deal with it and the doctor then. Not sure I want to deal with the doctor, since I think I was thinking logically and I don’t think she was

The nicest thing though, is being able to pack up everything in one carry one sized bag. Especially since I am supposed to go to St. Louis in June.

Saw the new Endo’s CDE yesterday. I am very pleased with his practice. A fellow pumper recommended him and them.

Good news, I lost 7 pounds in the two weeks between visits. Of course, I know how to lose weight, I just don’t know how to keep it off! That’s one thing the CDE and I discussed.

We did some tweaking on numbers. The fixes we made two weeks ago really helped, I’m running between 90-120 every morning, which is MUCH better than 130-140 every morning.

I’ve also had a problem with carb lockup after lunch. We upped the insulin to carb ratio on lunch but left the rest of the meals alone. Also fixed my correction factor.

We discussed the weight loss thing, and she agreed with an idea I came up with this weekend. I’m going to lose 25 pounds then maintain it for 4 weeks.

I’ve also come to the conclusion that I will be logging food someway for the rest of my life. That does make a difference.

My experience with the sleep doctor has been VERY VERY frustrating. I should start by saying this is a PhD, not my pulmanary specialist, whom I really like!

I haven’t been sleeping well. BUT the first thing the doctor jumped on me with was my weight. Apparently I’d gained 20 pounds since the last visit. She was full of suggestions, of course, everything I’ve done.

So when I finally got a chance to talk … Well, I really think she brushed the sleeping thing off. And she refused to write a script for a new CPAP machine.

We FINALLY got to masks, since mine is driving me nuts, and IS worn out according to her. She wanted to go with a new nasal mask, which wasn’t a bad idea, but then we finally got to chin straps, and I explained I couldn’t wear one, everyone I had tried, slipped right off my hair — this is true of anything that goes on my head — barettes, rubber bands, you name it.

SO she suggested a full face mask — I wondered at the time why it had not been suggested before, and I need to do more research on it — BUT, they are not indicated for patients with reflux and hiatial hernia. WHOOPS!

I do have one now though … more frustration — I saw her last Wednesday, by the next Monday had not heard from the sleep company and called the office back. Finally heard Tuesday and the doctor’s office had given them the wrong insurance information!

So still had not heard from them by Thursday morning — so I called again, they had everything approved, and had a mask on their shelf. Finally good news, they are a few blocks from my school! So ran by after school picked one up, and took a nap after dinner. I felt so much better afterward.

It is going to take some getting used to…

On the new CPAP approval. Well, I asked the respiratory therapist — and he asked me at the same time. Told me about a new little CPAP model, which will facilitate traveling. I’ve seen it on the internet. Well, they have gotten approval from the insurance company and are now waiting on the doctor’s script.

In fact, I’m waiting for a call back for more information on that.

Talked to the MD doctor, and he is going to talk with the Sleep Med people to make sure they write everything up right so it will get covered.

WHEW!

Animas newsletter — article about Ezmanager

See page 6.

They interviewed me for this — pretty neat!

Do You Mind if I Eat? (washingtonpost.com)

“Healthy” Diet May Increase Risk for CVD

I guess this is why they call it practicing medicine and it is SO irritating.

As soon as they get us following something, they switch the rules on us!

My dad was actually on the list for the Jariv 7 when he died.

Home Is Where the Pump Is (washingtonpost.com)

He could have lived the way this guy Michael is — in fact, Michael has a much “richer” life than dad did when he had congestive heart failure.

Dad was told not to leave the house, primarly because he was on oxygen, and the doctor’s were also afraid any respiratory illness would have been the end.

He couldn’t eat and take a shower in the same 4 hour increment. He was in really bad shape.

But it’s nice to see that the artificial heart is getting people somewhere — this might have gotten him far enough and well enough to have a transplant, if the technology would have been available.

I’m really glad to see this.

Saw the sleep doctor and at least got one thing I wanted, a different mask. I really don’t like the one I have now. We’re going with a full face mask and I wonder why we did’nt do that before, as I have no problem with wearing the mask — this will elimate the need for a chin strap, so no more guilt about not wearing one. I’m sorry ,but I have very thick curly hair and anything I put on my head slides right off.

I want a new CPAP. Mine is 6 years old, and I find it hard to believe it won’t fail someday. And if it DOES fail, it will be in the middle of the night and I won’t be able to sleep. It probably WILL fail on a Friday night. I am not someone who deals with having one thing that I rely on that much.

Anyway, most of the conversation was about weight. I’ve gained 20 pounds since I was there last. I really don’t know want to know what I weighed last month.

I wish there was an answer, but I don’t think there is one. At any rate, I am very depressed over the whole visit.