Living with Diabetes

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  • ThinkGeek :: Personal Area Network T-Shirt

    Just found a really good t-shirt for insulin pump users.  I don’t have an affliates deal (but ought to look into it). They are currently on sale.  Black only.

    I have one on now, and the earbud holes work perfect for passing through tubing — my inset connector passes through fine.

    They are on overstock sale at Think Geek right now.

    ScotteVest has it in other colors and other fabrics.  I’m real happy with mine and ordered more.

    Quoted from http://www.thinkgeek.com/tshirts-apparel/unisex/generic/af26/:

    ThinkGeek :: Personal Area Network T-Shirt


    So when ScotteVest came out with their 100% cotton version of the same shirt, we jumped on it.

  • TSA Report

    Almost forgot about TSA — that is how good it was.

    First, there was a very shot line.

    When I got to the TSA agent, I said, I’m sorry, I’m going to need a pat down and a bag search.  Actually this time I don’t think they did do the bag search.  Had the CPAP and the insulin together.

    Did need the pat down though, and she was great. One of the things I keep saying at the TSA site — if you just keep my stuff together where I can see it and together, I’ll be fine. They are MUCH better at that.

    Funny, but they DID search my checked baggage — had a note inside the bag, and it didn’t go out with me.  I had several adapters and infusion sets, that was it.

    But it with smoothly.

    Next time, insulin stays in the box AND out of the "bag".

  • Rest of the New Orleans Trip

    First — I am home and Second — I had a good time.

    Rich and I went out again after my feet were feeling better.  Took the cable car up and bought tickets for the dinner cruise.

    We then went to Margaretiville — it was loud, it was a bar though they did serve the usual Margartiville stuff.  Yes, I love Jimmy Buffet music, but I"m not a drinker.  Did some shopping by my feet were still bothering me.

    We made it back via cable car to the cruise boat stop and did some exploring there, but mostly sat by the river, watched it go by and enjoyed the people.

    They played the Callilope while we were waiting, which was very nice. 

    The cruise was great but there were a lot of loud people and smokers.

    Dinner was good.  Fine New Orleans food for a change instead of the tourist/peasant food we’d been eating.   We made it back to the hotel room but I didn’t sleep good.

    I woke up aching this morning, between arthitis and the blister starting I could barely move and I was in a nasty mood.  We did have breakfast, and it was good.

    We took our time, packed and checked out, as we were both French Quarted out.  Drove around the suburbs, especially in the area where I hung out when I was in college (I dated a guy from there).  Did some shopping (got better socks) and then had husband drop me at the airport. 

    Managed to get my luggage out on the first flight, me on the second and was booked for the third.  I was the last boarder on my flight.

    It was nice to come home to a clean house and fed dogs.

    Husband is in Vicksburg gambling.

    Life would be better if I wasn’t as heavy as I am now.

  • New Orleans Lunch Day 2

    First, the bad news.  Something wrong with these socks as I feel a blister starting.  We’re back at the hotel room and I’m cooling down my feet.

    We ate lunch at the Riverwalk Marketplace.  I had half a Muffalata and Gumbo, Rich had a Cajun special with red beans and rice and other stuff. 

    I think we’re going to do a River Boat Dinner and Jazz cruise later on.

    Pictures so far:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/kath_weaver/sets/72157615590223300/

  • End of insulin saga – almost

    Got up this morning and called about script and was told it would be ready around noon.

    Ate our embassy suites breakfasts and then went out.

    We did NOLA things. Got a streetcar pass and went into the French Quarter. Did a mule carriage tour which was really nice.

    After noon we took the street car to Walgreens and the insulin was therebut they forgot the story. the.good news is that 9edco agred with me, the doctors nurse and the pharamcy I should get a full m supply for the copay so I have 5 vials in boxes. Rich took them to the room.

    Pictures of the day later.

  • The rest of the day in New Orleans

    We got situated in the room and got an internet fix.  Then we decided to do some New Orleans stuff.

    We walked over to the Riverfront “Mall” – It is a mall, but I don’t know if they call it that.  Probably says on the pictures.

    Oh, the pictures are here

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/kath_weaver/sets/72157615437187141/

    They had a Café De Monde so I made Rich eat beignets and drink coffee.  He liked the coffee, I didn’t even with chocolate.  It was okay, but I’ve never liked the coffee there and don’t drink coffee most of the time anyway.

    We got on the street car, rode it to the end of the line and then got off at Harrah’s.

    We played nickel poker slots.  I like nickel poker slots.  Rich won over $20 and I lost $3.00 of his so he was happy.

    We walked back to Embassy Suites and had their Manager’s Hospitality hour with a po-boy and fries (Rich had pizza).

    Now we are upstairs chilling, I’m waiting to check my blood sugar and see where I am.  317 – yuck and needed 7 more units.  However, before the hotel hurricane and dinner and after beignets, I was at 137.  I have 113 units in the pump and a little over 100 in a cartridge.  I still don’t trust the partial bottle so put it in cartridges – that way I have an estimate on the amount.

    Plan:  I have called Walgreen’s.  They don’t have my insulin in stock but think they can get it tomorrow.  Doctor’s office was to phone in script and they were to fax it. 

    We’re going to eat Embassy’s breakfast by 9:30, call Walgreens and then take the street car up Canal Street to get the insulin if it is in.  If not, we’ll punt, I have enough for most of the day tomorrow.

    I am not sure how I am going to get the insulin home, but should be exempt from TSA restrictions and I am already a problem child.  I should have 5 vials and I don’t think they will work in the plastic bag.  I also don’t want it out of the boxes.

  • Traveling Disaster

    Every time I fly something weird medically happens.

    I forgot to do the liquid thing at home.

    I grabbed one of the bags at the airport, sat down and put all my liquids in one bag like a good girl.  Then promptly dropped it.  I thought it was only one of the vials since the top nicely broke off.  But no, the bottom came off the other. Fortunately the partial bottle didn’t break.

    I almost didn’t go.

    But I did.

    I’m in New Orleans, at a REALLY nice room at the Embassy Suites.  Husband is sharing my WiFi off my phone.  We’ve running 3G.

    We’ve had lunch at Mother’s Restaurant (my MOTHER did insist we eat there), and had a Ferdi’s special.  It was good. 

    Then we got the room (by the way, it’s in the Lofts next door instead of there), and an upgraded room.   VERY nice.  I don’t feel bad about the rate with the upgrade.  It is a REAL suite.  Of course Embassy’s are. 

    I finally got the courage to see how much insulin I have and I have 50 units in the pump, and another 250 units in cartridges.  That wouldn’t be too bad, but I use 150 units a day right now and am in New Orleans.

    I was told there was a Walgreen’s on Canal Street (there is), and as I was calling them, the doctor’s nurse was calling me.  Walgreen’s has all my information (a bit creepy),and the information to fax the doctor (yeah, creepy too),, and since I have to pay a month’s copay, I insisted on a month’s supply of insulin.  How I am getting that home will be interesting, but it is medication so should be okay with TSA.

    Speaking of TSA.  It was one of the more pleasant experiences.  I set the metal detector off and they hand wanded me and found all the metal on my body.  They also had to hand search the cpap machine (why?).  But they got my stuff together right off, so I am a happy camper.

  • Adult Diabetes Camp

    I rarely got to go to camp as a kid.  It was something my parents couldn’t really afford — besides I had three sets of grandparents to visit in the summer so they didn’t need a break.  With aunts and uncles to entertain us.

    I’ve always wanted to go to camp or one of those retreats.

    Here’s one I’d LOVE to go to:

    http://www.fitwoman.com/type-2-diabetes-program.htm

    It looks like everything I’ve ever wanted except timing.  April isn’t the greatest time to take off from school.  Okay, when is?

    I love the fact that it focuses on diabetes.  Though I, my doctors, and everyone else thinks I’m pretty up there with knowledge, I figure you can always get more.  I also think that getting away and focusing on healthy behaviors has got to be a good way to get your head straight and into the game.

    I’ve actually talked with them, but since I’m in the middle of doing weight loss surgery, I can’t do it right now, but maybe when I’m at a plateau this would be a good plan.

    I’m definately keeping them in mind.

  • Psych Evaluation Done!

    Just got back from the psychratist office. The pysch evaluation is done which is a major step towards surgeryIt is okay. They should have the results by the end of the week..

  • Spring Break

    My idea of the perfect spring break is to do absolutely nothing.  Rarely happens, I usually have doctor’s appointments or other things to do.

    This year, my husband decided he wanted to go on trip (notice I said nothing about having a husband around).  Frankly, the last thing I want to do spring break is to spend time sitting in a car.  He wanted to go on the gulf coast and every place I suggested, he had a reason we couldn’t go that way.

    I decided I wouldn’t mind flying to New Orleans for a couple of days, so researched it.  Have come up a decent hotel to stay at and a decent plan.  Then I remember I had a $100 voucher from American Airlines.

    So far, Rich has been to Baton Rouge and three casinos on the first day and is now in Biloxi.  He’s going to meet me at the airport on Tuesday and then I’m going to fly home on Thursday.  We’ve got someone taking care of the dogs while I am out.

    Best yet, when I come back, the yard will be taken care of and the house cleaned — our regular cleaning is due Thursday.

    So not bad of a deal though have spent most of the break’s energy so far, getting ready to go.