Just me

Hi.

Diabetic Humour

I've been more active in my Facebook diabetic groups lately.  My two favorite (and most active) groups are Insulin and Living With Diabetes.  Today the Living with Diabetes group had a post with some great diabetic humour.  The original post was from a diabetic blogger, Victoria Cumbow, and the post generated some great additions to her list of things to know about diabetics and even more to go with her list of sayings from diabetics, "you know you're a diabetic when...".  Copied from Victoria's blog,here are those lists:

Ten things you should know about diabetics:
1. Yes, it hurts. It’s a needle going into my flesh. What do you think it feels like?
2. No, it won’t go away.
3. No, I do not need a Coke to fix my high blood sugar or insulin to fix my low.
4. It doesn’t matter what my blood pressure is.
5. I did not eat too much sugar to get diabetes.
6. No, you can’t catch it.
7. I do NOT have the same thing your 400-pound cousin has.
8. No, that is not a pager on my hip.
9. No one still calls it “The Sugar.” Well, except maybe your  97-year-old great-grandmother
10. Yes, I am diabetic and yes, I can eat that.

You know you’re a diabetic when:
You tell your boyfriend you’re high in the middle of the frozen food aisle and get a funny look from the woman standing next to you.
You walk into a party and your friend says, “I bought sugar-free mixers and carb-friendly snacks.”
You join friends for dinner and the first thing their 5-year-old says is, “The rolls are 14 carbs.”
You try on clothes to see if your pump is hidable, not to see if they fit.
Co-workers hit you up for food because you have the best snack drawer in the office.
You purposefully say things like “I have to shoot up now” in order to get an odd look from the table next to yours.
You buy purses based on their ability to carry all your meds and snacks.
You can’t balance your checkbook, but you can divide anything by 15. (Thanks carb-ratios).
You become slightly annoyed when you see someone eating a banana by itself.
Everytime you go to the Cheesecake Factory, you happen to be “low.”
You know who Wilford Brimley is and he drives you nuts.

I'd like to keep a print copy of the first list to show people as needed, and it would be needed often.  It is especially helpful for the diabetic police in your life.  

For instance, when I had dinner at a friend's and he passed the dinner rolls around me.  It really wasn't up to him to decide if I could eat one, and I could have.  The rest of the dinner had few carbs and those rolls looked good.  The only reason I didn't make a fuss at the time is because his family and friends were eating with us and I didn't want to flip out in front of all of them.  I did give him a one-on-one lecture later though.  Most of his ideas about diabetes are based on his grandmother's type 2 diabetes many years ago and his mother's current pre-diabetic (again, type 2) condition.  That's my biggest pet peeve about diabetes-that way too many people only know about type 2 and most of what they know about type 2 is incorrect also. Many people assume I am type 2 since I am overweight and was diagnosed at age 33.   (Interesting side note: Mary Tyler Moore was diagnosed type 1 diabetic when she was 33)  Of course I did not develop diabetes in the "conventional" way, I had chronic pancreatitis for 5 years and my cranky pancreas simply quit making insulin.  I am considered type 1 because I am insulin-dependent, meaning if I did not take insulin I would die.  Not tomorrow, but if I quit taking insulin I'd eventually go into diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and if left untreated would go into a coma and die.  Not trying to be morbid here, just the facts.  Some people truly don't understand the severity of diabetes.
So I have a couple things to add to you know you're diabetic when...
You can test glucose while driving.  (tho I don't recommend it)
You have your endocrinologist on speed-dial.
You get excited that Wal-Mart now has watermelon-flavored glucose tablets!
You ask your friend to let you test her blood sugar after she goes to the bathroom 3 times in 2 hours.  Then you realize its normal since she drinks lot of water.

I always like to add humor to any part of life, and especially the things in my life like diabetes and pancreatitis.  If I just spent all my time complaining and worrying about my illness, not only would I never get anything done, I'd just become more depressed.  Its also great to share the humor with others who understand diabetes and pancreatitis...some people don't find it so funny to say "I'm high" loudly in a restaurant.  Also, some friends don't appreciate you giving a shot in front of them when you know they are needle-phobic.  

So after slacking off on posting for several months I'd forgotten that I ended each post with a tip.  Here's one for today:  add humour to life, especially when you have things that are difficult to deal with.  Its really hard to get depressed when you are laughing.

(For those who don't know, any words in blue are links.  They either have more information about the subject or take you to a webpage when you click on them)

 

Hi there.  I just realized I haven't posted since I got home from the hospital!!  I had computer issues a few times, but really just forgot to update.  The short story is that I'm feeling much better!  The photo was taken about 2 months after surgery.  I'm now on about 1/4 the pain meds, getting out and about more, and after several months recovering I have more energy (well, at least short burst of it).  I still have nausea fairly often, have had several bouts of vomiting and just not feeling like my food is digesting, feels like its just sitting in the top of my abdomen.  BUT the pain is much much better.  

My little (and only sibling) sister, Anna, got married on June 4.  She lives in Maine.  I stayed for a week at her new homestead outside of Portland, ME, with she and Terence, my new brother-in-law and Coco the dog.  Anna and I spent a lot of time on wedding prep and had some fun sister time together.  The wedding day was beautiful, the weather could not have been better-about 75 °, bright and sunny and a small breeze. For 2 days after the wedding I stayed with my Aunts Merry and Holly at a cabin on beautiful Bailey Island, where Anna was married.  It was a beautiful little place and fun exploring the island. One morning I went exploring for a walk on my own and while looking at my damn cell phone for a signal, I tripped on a root.  After a couple calls to the Dr. and when I was home a week later and X-ray confirmed the foot was broken.  It seems like something new is always going wrong!  I spent almost 2 months in a giant black boot.  BUT, at least I waited 'till after the wedding to break my foot!

  If not for the Peustow in January, I never would have been able to make a week and a half trip to Maine, and be the maid of honor in my sister's wedding.  I'm grateful for Dr. Moser.  If you want to see lots of pictures many are on facebook (if you're on) see my page: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1138705927

I will write more details about post-surgery healing and all that's been going on it the last 6 months.

Lara has laptop issues - computer that is!

Last we heard earlier this evening, Lara's laptop was not cooperating. If you need to get her a message until further notice, call or send text or put on Facebook which she can access thru phone.

Thursday update

After a few days at home the parents are back in Pittsburgh for visit/support/perhaps take Lara home!! She is unhooked from the IV tree and on other pain management methods and taking her sustenance in the good old fashioned way of eating food. Today was a solo shower and hair wash that she said was pleasant.
We will probablyknow tomorrow when the release date will be and depending on time of day will stay at least on night in the local Holiday Inn as a transition before the 6+ hour ride home. Baby Cakes told us this morning when we stopped to see to her food, etc, that she was waiting for her mistress to come home.
Al K.

More good progress---

Lara not only sat up in a chair but went for a short walk in the hall. Her Aunt Merry from MD was visiting today. The NG tube Lara had through her nose and down her throat came out this morning so she can talk once again somewhat normally.
Now she has to continue healing and getting stronger.

Up in a chair - few other good milestones

Lara is mending slowly and surely. She is working on keeping her lungs inflated. Because it hurts to breathe she has to apply effort to exercise them often. Her Aunt Robin and Uncle Harry from Cleveland visited today before her Dad and Mom left to go home to Souderton for a couple days. Robin did a dry shampoo that Lara said worked great. Tomorrow, Aunt Merry from Leitersburg will visit as well. Mom and Dad will be back either Wed late or Thursday mid-day.

Lara now in "regular room"

No more Transplant ICU with the most of the other patients having had a transplant of some sort. Very sophisticated techincal equipment and fairly obtrusive security, as expected.
We have an address and that will likely be valid for the next week or more. She was moved late in the day and was ready for a little rest after all the activity.
Her physical address:

Lara Kettell
10 N 73
UPMC Montefiore
200 Lothrop St
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

There is a link on the web page for UPMC Montefiore that leads to the means to send an e-card greeting. The address would be the same.

Cheers, Al Kettell

Day two

Lara continues to improve. When we first went to the hospital today she was having her trach tube removed. After that she was able to speak in reduced tones.
As we visited on and off today, she had her pain meds adjusted to provide better relief and by the end of the day she was feeling more comfortable.
The doctors had stopped by and provided the opinion that everything inside was "OK". There is a lot of healing to do and there seems to be a wealth of good resources to allow that at UPMC.
I will do another update tomorrow night and with luck Lara will resume her own blog in a day or two.
Cheers, Al K

Surgery complete

This is Lara's dad adding a late update. She started surgery at 7:30 AM and we were notified at approx 5:30 PM that she was now in TICU. The surgeon spoke with us about 6:30 and we finally got in to see her at about 9PM. She had a fairly rough time of it and was not too awake but knew we were there. She can reveal detail that she chooses when she feels up to it but the surgeon said she will have a good chance of being much better.

Round Two

This is pretty damn last minute, but its finally time for surgery.  Very soon headed over to the hospital for super early check-in then surgery scheduled for 7:30am  Had an exciting dinner out at the Pittsburgh Hofbrauhaus German restaurant last night.  They have a huge dining area and band with 2 accordians, a trumpet, tuba, and much more.  It was a great distraction from my worries.  Right now quite anxious but know will be under pre-op care soon, and will relax once people are taking care of me. 
My dad will be updating sometime tonight, and let everyone know how things went.  I will be in ICU the first few days, with an NG tube that will make it hard to talk.  After that I'll be ready for phone calls and e-mails.
Thanks so much to everyone for your support, prayers and good thoughts!

cancelled (postoned, really)

I just got a call from my surgeon with the worst possible news-he's come down with the flu, vomiting and diarrhea and cannot do surgery tomorrow.  He said he's very sorry but just not humanly possible to do an 8 hour surgery in the morning.  I do understand but at the moment am just freaking the hell out and don't know how I'll possibly get thru this.  My folks drove all the way out here, booked a hotel for the week, changed ALL the holiday plans and now we have to turn around and go home tomorrow.  I can't stop crying.  I called my parents room (we're in a hotel tonight) and my dad came over and was very calm and tried to help me calm down.  It really will be better later, and the surgeon will be there the whole time instead of his partner caring for me like was planned for this week.  Its just SO incredibly frustrating and I'm completely overwhelmed.
  

Now it's Thrusday and have had a few days to digest all of this craziness.  When I got that call from Dr. Moser (the pancreatic surgeon) I was in shock and said something like "Soooo,  I just go home then?" He was so sick he had to end the conversation to run to the bathroom.  I suppose I'm lucky he didn't come down with the flu 12 hrs. later, at 9:30am, 2 hours into a 9 hr. surgery.  (actually that was my mom's worry, but I  agreed with and wondered about that one myself) I was just crying and rocking back and forth sitting on the bed.  I just felt helpless and scared.  My father really did try to help me calm down immediately after the phone call, and his usual calm demeanor helped me a bit.  I realized I was more worried about how the postponement would affect my parents, people set up to feed the cat and others.  My parents assured me that it was not a problem for them, tho it was not pleasant for anyone, it was just a freak occurrence.  It was obviously not my fault and beyond my control.   We will figure everything out and just do it all over again.  I have to wait till Moser's PA/assistant, Jennifer, comes back to work on Monday to re-schedule it.,   I'm now glad surgery will be in 2011.  As long as everything goes as planned for the surgery I will be feeling better for the year 2011, I have high hopes for this upcoming year...                                                           

Lara's dad test of posting to her blog.

Hi all,
This is a test to be sure I can post to this blog to provide info to all Lara's friends on a timely basis. I'm sure in the upcoming days there will be times she will not be up to doing her own posting.

Two nights in Philly

Just a really quick note tonight because I am exhausted..   I spent the last 2 nights in Jefferson Hospital in Philly and its really impossible to get any decent sleep in the hospital.  I caught the train in Lansdale very early Tuesday morning, thanks to my awesome dad who picked me up at home and drove me there, rode to Market East and walked 3 cold blocks to Jefferson.  I was scheduled for an ERCP to place a stent in my pancreas at 7:30am.  Dr. Moser (surgeon at Pitt) requested Dr. Kowalski place the stent a week before surgery to help open the duct.  An ERCP is an outpatient procedure, normally, but as you know by now, I'm definitely not normal.  The resident doc going over info pre-procedure told me there is a 5% chance of pancreatitis from an ERCP.  I suppose those stats are for those "normal" people, but I and my other cranky panky buddies experience pancreatitis flare-ups around 50% of the time after an ERCP.  So, while optimistic things would go well, I still packed a bag in case they kept me overnight.  Even tho I was given Zofran for nausea and Dilaudid for pain before I even woke up I still came to with horrible pain and nausea, and was vomiting within an hour.  Obviously, I was admitted for the night.  The next morning Dr. Kowalski said I could likely go home, that he knows I'm good at managing my disease at home and smart enough to know when to come back to the hospital if needed.  However, by late afternoon I'd not seen him or other Dr.s, had my nurse page him and he said I really should stay one more night so I could have adequate pain relief and try solid food in the morning.  I woke up in a lot of pain but tried not to ask for Dilaudid since I was determined to go home.  Had a bit of oatmeal for breakfast.  So eating food and not asking for much pain relief got me a ticket home today!  My folks came to the big city to get me, just as it started snowing, which made for a long, slow ride home.  
Now I'm home, had a long, hot shower and I'm sitting in bed with the Babycakes curled up next to me, purring away.  I will be going to sleep soon, which is a rarity for a nite owl like me.  Oh, and I had the best roommate ever in the hospital!  Her name is April, she's about my age and was in for a stricture in her colon.  Since I have a stricture in my pancreas we became "stricture buddies".    We swapped info and will keep in touch.  It was just so nice to have someone to talk to and who understands life with a chronic illness (she has Ulcerative Colitis).   Plus in 6 years in and out of hospitals I've had some wacky roommates here and there, but that's a story for another day.  April and I talked a lot about losing friends to chronic illness.  I know people give up on us after canceling plans many times, not showing up to outings, even not feeling up to talking on the phone, but we still really need friends.  That's my thought for the day, not exactly a tip, but hang on to your friends, no matter how distant they get, that's when they need you the most.  
Thanks so very very much to all of you who still are here for me, I love and appreciate you all!
 

Weird Al Yankovic - Pancreas

Video Day!

Hi, the videos I've been sharing today were intended to go all in one post, but I really couldn't figure that one out right now.  So, sorry for all the separate posts.  They are all about how a pancreas "should" work, so when watching keep in mind that mine does not secrete enzymes or produce insulin.  In the video by Heywood Banks (who I love) is the famous line "may you never have a cranky pancreas!" which the facebook friends with pancreatitis, got our name "cranky pankys".

Video

Heywood Banks Pancreas

crisis day yesterday

My latest crisis: nurse/assistant from my  surgeon's called yesterday at 5pm to tell me he insisted on pushing surgery to the following week, I kinda freaked out and cried then she talked to him and he agreed to keep the surgery on 21st if I agreed to have his Jr. partner watch over me over Christmas. I did of course, we have tooooo many plans set to change anything, I'm coming all the way across the state!  It may not be ideal but i guess it will all work out. I also have to go get a stent placed by ERCP in the next week or so, down at Jefferson in Philly. That's gonna suck but I've been feeling sick most days lately, am so worried about everything and having too many things get in my way.  An ERCP often causes a pancreatitis flare up in folks with CP.  It's caused them for many ERCPs.  

Also, I've been mostly in bed the last 2 days, and woke late yesterday afternoon to discover Babycakes had peed on my dirty laundry in the closet.  Then found the door to her litter box had gotten shut, I probably did it (well, had to, she doesn't shut doors) but don't know when and she was bugging me a lot but I just thought she wanted more (new) food in her already filled bowl, like usual.  I'm really frustrated because its really my fault, I normally scoop out the litter every single day.  She's only peed before when the litter wasn't clean.  Simple solution to just keep the litter clean, right?  I suppose I have to get out of bed every day for that to work.  Anyway, all laundry was washed twice, 2nd time with Clorox 2 and it seems all smell is gone, but I still may just get rid of some older stuff. Also, there is now a big rock (from Belfast, Maine) in the door to her litter box, it can't get shut accidentally anymore.

After most of this calmed down, still running to the laundry room, my friend Paul came over and we went to Zern's, an indoor flea market.  Was good to just get out for a while, even tho I was really over-heated, I often am lately from the narcotics and/or pain,  and there were too many smells there-cooked food, raw food, produce, etc.  Just took a Zofran and kept going.  I'll go back there soon for some produce, its good there and some local and its cheap.  We came back to my place to watch a documentary, one few channels I have on my antenna TV is all documentaries.  It was about the Gerson Institute and therapy which is mostly about healing with nourishment, vitamins and minerals.  It is mainly taught and used to cancer and chronic illnesses, without drugs and mega-doses of vitamins and minerals and raw and  organic food.  It all sounds wonderful if I had the $500 to take the course offered, buy and keep organic foods, and constantly juice and prepare my own food.  They also talked a lot about the health care system and pharmaceutical companies denying or not trying this method because it so easy and inexpensive I but then their workshops, therapy and information is so very expensive and not covered by any insurance. I do take many supplements but they only do so much and I do wish to improve my diet but just have issues with food right now. 

So I'll end on that (as I have a Diet Coke and vitamins for breakfast) and leave with a tip: check out what Gerson therapy is about for yourself, especially if you have a chronic illness or cancer or know someone who does.  They also use this method for extreme weight loss.  I can't recommend their course or therapy (where you go to a treatment center) because I don't know enough about it, and its very expensive.  I believe it makes a lot of sense though, and if you did enough research on your own or with a natural healer you could follow a lot of their ideas. 

 

http://www.gerson.org/

http://www.healingdaily.com/conditions/Gerson-therapy.htm 

Wikipedia article about Dr. Max Gerson 

Its scheduled...

So, I've neglected to write it here but have told most folks already...I'm scheduled for surgery at UPMC on the morning of December 21.   The (at least) 2 week recovery in hospital time means I will be there thru both Christmas and New Years.  I guess most people wouldn't want surgery for Christmas, but I do.  I've wanted to be "fixed" for 6 years now.  From the first episode of pancreatitis I've wanted this to be over.  As long as all goes well, and the surgery does what it should this WILL be the best Christmas present ever.  Of course I'm also a bit bummed about missing the "actual" holidays and scared of the surgery.  Apparently all of my fears and concerns are "normal", according to my therapist yesterday.  Even the brief wishes to just cancel the whole thing and stay home.  I certainly don't feel normal, and this is all scary to me.
I am having a surgery called the Berne procedure and if you care to hear the gory details the basics are here (click on the word here to go to site).  That article is the best explanation I've found on the web (it is rather technical), and personally have gotten most of the info directly from my Dr.   It is very similar to the Berger procedure, which is also on that page.  The reason Dr. Moser chose this particular surgery is to stay out of the way of the portal vein, where the blood clots are.  It will keep the pancreatic duct from continually getting backed up, blocking  food, causing nausea and vomiting and hopefully get rid of the abominable abdominal pain.  (tee-hee, see what I did there? glad I can at least amuse myself while writing)  The surgery will last about 9 hours.  That's the easy part for me, I guess, I'll be blissfully unaware of the difficult work the Dr.s are doing, and the worrying my parents will be doing.  After that, well that's the part that's scaring me.  I will probably be in intensive care for a day or two, and then a long haul of recovery.  Apparently abdominal surgery is one of the toughest and most painful surgeries.  I already favor my upper abdominal area, where most of my pain is, but that will get worse for a while.  There will also be quite a big scar.  
All that's left to get me to December 21st is cleaning my apartment, arranging for people to feed Babycakes, and some pre-op testing.  I know she will be taken care of, but I will really miss and worry about Babycakes.  I also know cats don't have the greatest sense of time and she'll just sleep thru most of the time.  I'm also having a pre-holiday/pre-op party in a week or two, so I can have a bit of Christmas and a chance to hang out with friends before all of this.  
I'll give you more details as I have them.  Thanks for reading.  I don't have a tip today, just keep in touch with me as I go thru all of this!