I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in the late '90s (1999 I think) and have been doing my best to ignore it ever since. I was on oral medications (when I'd take them) until just recently when things began to change. My toes started tingling (beginning of neuropathy, says my doctor) and I just felt sluggish all the time. Turns out my A1c was still high (10+) even though I'd been on my meds religiously for several months because of an earlier 10+ A1c. It seems my pancreas may be starting to wear out so now, in addition to oral medication, I give myself insulin shots. And I've always hated needles!
Now the shots twice a day were bad enough but, a few weeks ago, as part of a routine physical exam, my doctor saw something in an EKG he didn't like. He scheduled a treadmill stress test (and does it ever stress you!) at a cardiology clinic to see what the anomaly might be. Well, I almost had a heart attack during the test (or at least it felt that way). The people monitoring the test stopped it and wouldn't let me go until I saw a doctor from their office. (I assumed it was a cover-their-butt requirement since, after a few minutes, I started feeling better and the chest pain had let up.) So they stuck me in an exam room and a very nice doctor came in to talk to me. After looking at the results of the test, he said I should schedule a consult with one of the cardiologists. He seemed hesitant to let me go home, but after reassuring him I felt fine after I'd rested a bit and I wouldn't do anything strenuous, he let me leave.
That afternoon, a scheduler from their office did call and said there was a cancellation the next day if I could come in. I'd started to stress over what the doctor had said (as is my nature) and took the appointment. Next day, the same doctor who'd seen me after the stress test talked to my wife and me. "Something's going on in your heart" he said "and the only way to find what it might be is to go in for a look." He told us he'd have a better idea if there was a problem with my heart, or not, by doing the test. But given my symptoms (diabetes, sedentary life style, poor eating habits, not taking my cholesterol medicine like I should and having a history of heart trouble in my family) I could be at risk for a heart attack. He suggested I have it done within the week and I agreed. Oh, and if I needed a stent they'd to it then but if I needed more serious work (by-pass surgery) he'd let me wake up and we'd talk.
It turned out we could schedule the test for the next morning. During the short period of time from the office visit to checking into the hospital, my mind ran rampant with scenarios. None of them with a good ending. By the time I was ready to have the test, I'd pretty much convinced myself I'd probably die. Obviously I didn't, since I'm writing this, but it did give me a wake up call when the doctor reported to my wife the main artery feeding my heart muscle with blood and oxygen (the left anterior descending or LAD - I think it's called) was 99% plugged and another one on the back side of my heart was 75% plugged. The doctor stented both of them and sent me home the following day. A lucky man my PCP told me when I saw him a couple of weeks later. I tell people I was one cheeseburger away from a heart attack.
I've been on the straight and narrow for the last four weeks. Of course there's a few more drugs I have to take because of the stents, but the biggest change has been eating healthier - not only for my heart (trying to avoid saturated fats and cholesterol), but trying to eat better for my diabetes (carb counting). And trying to get some exercise. The eating I'm doing pretty well on but the exercise I need to work at some more.
All that's a long winded way of coming to the reason for this blog. I want to talk out loud about my diabetic life. I believe there's power in speaking words aloud (or writing them for others to read). I makes me feel more accountable for my actions if I feel compelled to tell people what I'm doing for my health - right or wrong - even if it's just the ether of the internet. I also hope I can connect with others that might be able to lend me a hand if I'm struggling - which I will because that's what I do! And probably the biggest reason is to help me keep focused on my health by trying to write something about it daily (or at least a couple of times a week).
0 comments:
Post a Comment