Blog

  • Traveling with Medication

    I like to portion out my medication in the 7day strips — I do the same for the dogs and that way I know if I have taken (or given) the meds for the day.  On trips, I like to use the pouches from EzDose.  The strips come open in your luggage, at least mine do, and taping them is a pain.  However, that is not exactly legal, you’re supposed to have the original labels.

     

    On the other hand, I don’t want to carry the 90 day bottles. 

     

    I wish Medco would just send out extra labels like Caremark did when we used them, but no going.

     

    So here’s my compromise.  Medco sent me extra 90 bottles for most of my meds.  The ones they didn’t send, I already had two bottles of, so just dumped the meds out of one bottle into another.  Yeah, lots are mixed now, but shouldn’t be a huge deal.

     

    However, that’s a lot of bottles to carry but I’ve got the pouches in a 1 guart ziploc bag, and then the 90 bottles and that bag in a 1 gallon ziploc bag.  It fits in the large outside pocket of my carryon fine.

     

    I also realized I hadn’t packed pen needles, so added a box to my checked baggage back.  It’s easier to deal with the unopened box, then it is with partial.  I still have two vials to use on the Symlin so am not thinking pen needles.  I also need to toss in a couple of bags of syringes for just in case, though I have a feeling in a true emeregency they would have some.

     

    So far I have the following packed:

    • Pill medication (liquids will go in last)
    • Formal wear, including bag, shoes and hair stuff
    • Exercise shoes (bought new)
    • Nightwear and brushes (bought new for the trip)
    • Extra pump batteries (in carry on)

     

    My next on the list is exercise wear.  I want to take two sets of exercise wear.  I also want to put in a laundry bag to put my used clothing in.  I believe I have a collapsible one (or two), that will fit in my checked luggage.

     

    So my plan is to have in my carryon: medication, one complete full outfit, which I will wear on the way back, extra pump, extra pump supplies in bag, and CPAP machine.  I’ll have my travel papers and regular medications in my "purse".

     

    Everything else will go in the checked bag.

     

    And I have less than two weeks to go on the trip. In fact, two weeks from today I’ll be in Mexico.

  • Cruise

    My luggage and packing cubes have arrived.  I’ve started packing.

     

    I’ve put my medicatoin in packets and am trying to get some documentation for it. I am going to ask my doctor today (Have an appointment in a few minutes) and might go by the local pharmacy to get some help.

     

    I’ve got my formal clothing, shoes, and bag packed — won’t need that until the cruise.  Also have a new pair of walking shoes, same as the ones I own, ready.  Also have spares of all my medical stuff ready to go.  That’s going to go in the checked bag.

     

    I’m planning that the medication, one outfit, nightgown, CPAP and spare pump goes in the carry on.  That’s another thing — I’ve got a loaner pump coming.

  • Sensor almost 2 weeks

    My last sensor lasted almost two weeks. I put it in two weeks ago last Thursday and it finally came out yesterday evening.    Only one problem — it wasn’t as accurate as others.  Trend was okay, but not great.

     

    I’ve got about two weeks until my trip, so I might not put another sensor in until the Tuesday before I go.  Can’t decide, but I do think giving my skin and body a rest is a good idea and cheaper.

  • It still sucks….

    I had one good run today.  Unforunately still have high blood sugar so still exhausted, can’t see, etc.

     

    However, I got a LOT done.  I’m strating to get ready for my trip.  I have been researching the plane trip and discovered the TSA are now letting us put our CPAP machines in plastic bags, so I stopped by Walmart and got two sizes.  The 2 1/2 gallon size worked well for my Responics, and a 2 gallon might work, but I’m happy with it.  Wrote my name, phone number and address on it, and MEDIzCAL DEVICE.

     

    Got new shoes, love the current treadmill shoes, New Balance is still carrying them so bought a pair.

     

    Hot new skirts.  That’s been a huge problem, as I  didn’t have any winter skirts that fit.  I’m down to two heavy skirts that I am swapping out a lot.  Avenue has really cute cargo style skits with lots of pockets.  I picked up 2 in black, olive and khaki. They are a good weight for the whole year, so I’m good.  I have plenty of summer weight, but just can’t wear them this time of year.

     

    I’ve also packed my medication — but that was mostly to make sure I have enough of everything I need — since I do most mail order, it’s at least 1 week before it’s in my possession after i ordered, two if the doctor has to get involved.

  • Diabetes sucks

    My blood sugar hit 352 this evening.  I don’t know why.  I do know how I feel when I’m at 352.

     

    I can’t see.

    I really want the chocolate downstairs but it hurts to much to go downstairs.

    Oh, and everything hurts.

     

    And sadly, I really just want to die.

     

    I know it’s the sugar.  I just don’t know how to fix it. 

     

    The good news, Macy loves me.  I think Marcie does too, not sure about Maggie, but then she’s a mess too.  — oh, those are my beagles.

  • NHLBI – Press Release – ACCORD Study

    To be very blunt, very few of the people who have written about this study so far, are as affected by this study than I am. I’m the closest to the demographic — being Type 2.

     

    Quoted from http://public.nhlbi.nih.gov/newsroom/home/GetPressRelease.aspx?id=2551:

     

    NHLBI – Press Release


    The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health has stopped one treatment within a large, ongoing North American clinical trial of diabetes and cardiovascular disease 18 months early due to safety concerns after review of available data, although the study will continue.

     

    Here’s my take on it.  Right now, my blood sugar is the worst it’s been in ages and it’s been that way for months. I’m about to move up my endo’s appointment if it doesn’t get better soon.

     

    My blood sugar has been bouncing up and down and has been in the 200’s most of the day.  This affects my day to day living:

     

    My vision is blurred. I am very cranky and hard to get along with. I say things I don’t mean, or at least wouldn’t say if I was in my normal state.  I’m exhausted most of the time.  I am not sleeping well.  I am hungry all the time and crave food.

     

    So I’m trying to get back to my normal good control because I am SICK.  Not sick enough to call in sick but certainly not well –and I’ve even said that to students two or three times this week.

     

    So for me, tight control is the right thing.  If it causes a major cardio vascular event, so be it, frankly I’m hoping for the sudden, major event that kills me, since I watched my dad die a slow and often painful death.

     

    Oh, yeah, and I’m depressed too….

  • Today is a bit better

    So far.
    Blood sugar was still in the 150s. Dex is still off but my attitude is better and my vision seems better.
    Oh and I have my pump set to the right basal today.
    I am looking forward to a massage after the dog agility trial as I am very stiff.

  • New One Touch Ultra and The Maids

    Came home to two good things — an new One Touch Ultra — just went the old one started working again, and a clean house.  It really does relieve a lot of stress and does free me up to do other things.  I cam in this afternoon to find a clean house.  All the trash collected and in the garage, beds made, bathrooms and kitchen clean.  Now instead of looking at dirty floors and thinking I should do something about it, I can focus on bigger projects.  Each time they come, the house is more efficient, and I’m happier.

     

    Even the husband seems to like it.  Hopefully we can continue it — if nothing else, we might go to once a month, but right now, every other week is often enough the house stays good, and in the right price range.

  • Didn’t go to agility

    I hate cold, and I am really glad I didn’t go.  It’s still under 40 degrees and almost 10:00.  While I’ve got good clothing for cold conditions, neither the dogs and I are happy with the temperature — okay, Marcie probably is, but Maggie isn’t.

     

    This will give me a day to relax and get some stuff done.  Like the taxes, I have to deal with the STEM money.  They told us it would be tax free when I won it, but then found out this week that it is taxable.

  • One Touch Ultra went bad

    The screen for my One Touch Ultra failed — I can’t read the numbers.  Called the Lifescan toll free number and they said they would send a replacement on Monday.  I’m sure that the Dexcom will still work with it, but I think I’m going to hold off on using my next sensor until it comes.  It’s too late to deal with it now, and I really don’t want to deal with it in the morning — my day was a little full today.