Re: my story

That is a very interesting observation. So, even though I lost weight and
was still moderately overweight for the last three years, my condition my be
T2? So high blood sugar and foot problems (nueropathy/wound healing) are
likely a result of long term T2? Even though this would indicate it is more
"my fault" I might have a better chance of controlling the condition with
diet, medicine and exercise? I guess time will tell, as my situation
progresses and my doctor evaluates my condition to what degree I am T1 or T2
and how to best treat it.
Dave

> On a side note, I must state, that I highly doubt you
> are a "T1" -- most likely a T2 who is out of insulin in the
> body... a T1 is a autoimmune disease and only takes usually
> less then 6 months to come on. And 9/10 there are NO
> complications such as you had. T1's also aren't usually
> heavy at all, such as you stated.
>
> you're description goes right in line with someone who
> had been a T2 for the normal 7-10yrs that they are before
> diagnosis.
>
> best of luck to you though in the coming years.
>
> Reisa
> who IS an autoimmune T1.
> "Dave" <daveunserNO@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
> news:SEsJe.5238$vD.3045@xxxxxxxxxxx
> |
> |
> | This is my story. I hope that sharing it will prevent anyone who is not
> | treating diabetes, or is not aware they have it will get professional
> help.
> | I am a 35 year old white male. I had never been at a hospital for more
> than
> | stitches. I hadn't had a physical or a checkup for over five years.
> |
> |
> |
> | This journal is my attempt to cope with life as it was, is and will be.
> |
> |
> |
> | Most importantly, through all of this I am most solemnly thankful and
> | appreciative of the help, support, kindness, compassion and love of my
> | friends, family, and most of all my wife, soul mate and best friend
> Lori.
> | She is my best reason for fighting this battle.
> |
> |
> |
> | (First entry: third week of June 2005, after returning home from two
> weeks
> | in the hospital)
> |
> |
> |
> | I am told that it is not my fault. My blood sugar levels have apparently
> | been high for some time. I had shed over 90 lbs in the last few years
> from
> | my heaviest at 310 lbs. I now weigh about 205. My diet has not been the
> most
> | favorable. I ask if this is what caused my condition? I am told that my
> | condition is type 1 diabetes. My body does not produce enough insulin.
> There
> | may be a degree of insulin resistance (type 2) as associated with
> obesity,
> | but that my condition is basically genetic and possibly not something
> that
> | could have been prevented. They tell me that this is something that can
> come
> | on gradually, insidiously. Eating sugar does not cause type 1 diabetes.
> In
> | fact, my food consumption and consequent high blood sugar is a result of
> the
> | body attempting to fuel itself with energy it cannot absorb. I
> understand
> | now that without insulin, the body's cells cannot use the sugar produced
> by
> | food. I am aware now that this disease has been with me for some time,
> my
> | body fighting with it, the effects of high blood sugar gathering and
> | damaging me. Fatigue dismissed with a hectic day, diminished sensation
> in
> my
> | feet, just from rough skin? Other unfelt symptoms have been lurking and
> | wearing on my cardiovascular and other systems. High blood sugar causes
> slow
> | wound healing and vulnerability to infection.
> |
> |
> |
> | I developed walking blisters on my feet while on vacation in mid April.
> I
> | have had blisters, cuts, scrapes and injuries many times in my life, and
> | they all healed fine. But this time the injuries lingered. At first the
> skin
> | seemed to be healing. I cleaned the wounds and changed dressings often.
> As
> | the weeks went by I became concerned. The week before Memorial Day I
> felt
> | very tired and my appetite had decreased. I made an appointment with a
> | family practice doctor's office. The appointment was for Tuesday after
> | Memorial Day. I began feeling more ill over the weekend. I thought I was
> | sick with a stomach virus or something, and was glad I had made a doctor
> | appointment, as this could be checked as well as my wounds. I would
> later
> | learn that the sickness I felt was a result of an infection my body was
> | fighting, and a battle I was starting to lose. Over the holiday weekend
> my
> | condition worsened. On Sunday and Monday I was unable to keep down food
> and
> | water and was vomiting regularly. I was either in bed or on the couch
> most
> | of the time. Unaware of what was going on, I considered going to the
> | hospital emergency room. But I thought I was "tough" and could wait it
> until
> | my Tuesday morning appointment. Even with all the information I now know
> | about what was going on, I do not know if that would have actually made
> a
> | difference. On Tuesday morning I felt as bad as I can ever recall in my
> | life. With great difficulty I checked my wounds. My right foot had
> become
> | very swollen overnight. I was scared. With Lori's assistance I hobbled
> to
> | the car with a vomit bucket that I am glad we took along. At the
> doctor's
> | office time went very slowly as I waited in misery to be seen. It was
> | determined that I needed to be admitted to the hospital immediately.
> |
> |
> |
> | My awareness of the passage of time from this point until my return home
> is
> | very murky. At times it seemed things rushed by, but mostly the minutes
> and
> | hours dragged on. A number of doctors and assistants looked me over and
> | asked me a lot of questions. An intravenous line was inserted in my
> hand.
> It
> | was determined that surgery would be administered that day to remove
> dead
> | tissue and determine the extent of damage and infection on my right
> foot.
> My
> | wife and family were at my side as I was whisked to the operating room
> on
> a
> | gurney. I had never been under general anesthesia before, for that
> matter
> I
> | had never been at a hospital for more than stitches. As I lay on the
> gurney
> | in the O.R. waiting room, hospital workers flurried around me, doctors
> were
> | explaining what was happening, and asking me to sign papers allowing
> them
> to
> | administer treatment. The O.R. was a cold brightly lit place with fast
> paced
> | music playing; I suppose to invigorate the team while they worked. A
> mask
> | was placed over my face. It seemed to be taking a while, and I felt
> fully
> | conscious. I spoke out loud with the mask on my face "I don't think it
> is
> | working?" Suddenly I was in a different room. It seemed instantaneous. I
> | thought that this must be what it is like to go through a Star Trek
> | transporter. My memory is clouded at this point. I know my family was
> with
> | me often, and Lori as much as humanly possible. Lori stayed with me well
> | past visiting hours.
> |
> |
> |
> | The first few nights were very uncomfortable. I still felt nauseous and
> had
> | a great deal of mucus that would build up in my airway. I recall having
> to
> | cough and clear my throat every few minutes in able to breath
> comfortably.
> | Eventually I succumbed to sleep only to be abruptly awakened by a
> feeling
> | that I couldn't breathe followed by a violent coughing spell. I asked
> the
> | nurses if I could have a decongestant, but I was told that it would have
> to
> | be cleared with the doctor in charge of my case and that he will not be
> back
> | until the next day. My turbulent night continued for hours and I pleaded
> | with the nurse for some medicine to help me. All the nurses and
> assistants
> | were very professional, accommodating and compassionate. The night shift
> | nurse was a "serious" nurse, in her presence. She wore the nurse hat and
> | white uniform as opposed to the pretty designed "scrub-like" more casual
> | attire most of the others wore. When I first saw her I thought I must be
> in
> | serious bad shape because they are sending in the serious top notch
> nurse
> | for me. I thought of what wounded soldiers must think when they realize
> what
> | shape they are in. I asked her if anything could be done for my
> discomfort.
> | I was reminded about doctor approval and my spirits sank. But several
> | minutes later she returned with some medicine that was injected into my
> I.V.
> | She said it should have an effect on my congestion and help me sleep. I
> don't
> | know what strings she pulled or what influence she had, and I never
> asked,
> | but I was able to sleep finally, at least until my next vital sign check
> or
> | I.V. antibiotic infusion.
> |
> |
> |
> | The next day I went to "whirl pool therapy". A patient immerses a wound
> in
> a
> | tub of warm clean water in order to flush out bad stuff and promote
> healing.
> | Lori was with me. As the dressings were removed I saw the extent of the
> | wound. I could actually see muscle, fat and tendons that would squirm
> when
> I
> | moved my toes. I was horrified. I wondered how this would ever be
> healed,
> | and what was yet to come. I would soon find out.
> |
> |
> |
> | I underwent an MRI scan that would show the extent of hidden tissue and
> bone
> | infection. I had to lay motionless on a platform with my feet inside a
> | chamber for about an hour. The machine was ominous and made loud strange
> and
> | unpredictable noises. After the scan I was returned to my room. It was
> quiet
> | for some time until later a doctor I had not met came briskly into the
> room
> | with Lori. I asked if they brought bad news. Lori looked at me and
> confirmed
> | that the news was bad. The infection had taken hold in the bones of my
> right
> | foot and possibly some in the left. The doctor recommended removal of
> the
> | toes and part of the foot. He said it is important to act quickly to
> prevent
> | the infection from spreading. The doctor said it would be unlikely that
> | prolonged antibiotic treatment would contain and reverse the infection,
> and
> | that delay could result in the infection spreading and require removal
> of
> | more tissue and bone, perhaps the entire ankle below the knee. It felt
> like
> | I was punched in the gut. My head was spinning and I was probably
> trembling.
> | The doctor left the room and Lori stayed with me. I admit that this
> would
> | not be the last time I clenched Lori's hand, shed some tears and cried
> out
> | loud.
> |
> |
> |
> | The vascular surgeon explained his intentions to me. In the next few
> days
> | another procedure would follow to remove more infected tissue, and then
> the
> | removal of the toes and infected bone. The doctor's goal is to preserve
> as
> | much tissue as possible and therefore preserve as much function as
> possible.
> | The strategy would involve leaving an open section for some time until
> the
> | remaining tissue is healthy enough to accept a skin graft. After the
> second
> | operation another trip to the wound care whirl pool revealed to me just
> how
> | much of myself I would probably loose. Lori was with me as I gazed at
> the
> | open chasm where my flesh used to be. I admit that grief overwhelmed me.
> |
> |
> |
> | Another doctor, a podiatric surgeon, has taken charge of my left foot.
> She
> | looked at the ulcers and advised that the bone on the outside edge may
> be
> | infected as suggested by the MRI. She said that tissue removal is her
> last
> | resort, but it may be necessary to remove the small toe and part of the
> | side. This doctor ordered another test, a radiological scan that would
> offer
> | a closer look at the condition of the hidden tissue and bone in my left
> | foot. A wave sickness and sadness came over me as I wondered how much
> worse
> | this would get.
> |
> |
> |
> | I was given some sort of serum in my I.V. and later would lie on another
> | platform of a different machine. This time I had to hold my feet at
> | different positions under a scanner while technicians operated the
> machine
> | and evaluated the display. Despite the calm and compassionate manner of
> the
> | professionals in the room with me, I could see the concern on their
> faces
> as
> | they looked at the display, and of course heard the comments they made
> as
> | they studied the information. "This angle looks like there is infection
> in
> | the bone." Please! I thought, please let there be no bone infection, no
> more
> | surgery! I trembled as I prayed that I would not loose any more of my
> body
> | than that which was already certain. One technician instructed me to
> | position my foot at a different angle. I heard him say that at this
> | perspective bone infection is not positively evident. I was returned to
> my
> | room. I was clinging to hope.
> |
> |
> |
> | Lori and a doctor arrived in the room to discuss the test results.
> Although
> | nothing is definite and only time will tell, it seems that for now my
> | prayers have been answered and I have been given a gift. The scan
> conclusion
> | was that that there is no infection in the bone of the left foot.
> |
> |
> |
> | Another operation was performed on the right foot before my discharge
> from
> | the hospital.
> |
> | That evening the nurses performed a dressing change. I was now to see
> what
> | was lost on my right foot. Lori held my hand as the bandages were
> removed.
> | All toes gone and some tissue behind. A large hole on the top without
> skin
> | across most of the width and angling back from the right front to near
> the
> | ankle on the left side. To be honest, I was surprised at how much the
> | surgeon had saved. I think at this point I had already passed the grief
> | stage. I just felt beat up, bewildered and anxious about what was yet to
> | come. How long until I can walk again? How long will I be out of work?
> What
> | kind of mobility loss will I experience? What kind of rehab will I need?
> | What kind of adaptive equipment and prosthesis will I need? The answers
> were
> | not available. The answers are always that we have to see how it goes,
> there
> | are no definites, everyone responds differently to treatment and
> surgery,
> it
> | depends. I am learning to cope with uncertainty.
> |
> |
> |
> | During my stay at the hospital, my family visited regularly, and stayed
> with
> | me for long periods of time. My mother and Lori would stay with me in
> the
> | room for hours, even as I slept.
> |
> |
> |
> | I went home Monday June 13, thirteen days after being admitted. In
> thinking
> | of this superstitious number, I am reminded of how the astronauts on
> Apollo
> | 13 were subjected to tremendous adversity, but made it home to survive
> and
> | live.
> |
> |
> |
> | I am on a number of medications now, from insulin and blood sugar
> absorption
> | control, blood pressure control, cholesterol control, and oral
> antibiotics.
> | I must infuse with an intravenous antibiotic three times a day, morning,
> | evening, and midnight for thirty days. Lori must fetch all the things I
> | need, as although I feel strong and am capable of hobbling around with a
> | walker, I am instructed to keep weight off my feet as much as possible.
> Lori
> | must prepare my food and perform dressing changes. I am able to do the
> I.V.
> | infusion, blood sugar check and insulin injections as long as I have the
> | supplies near by. We have my old single bed set up in the dining room,
> and
> | for the most part everything we need is on the first floor of the house.
> The
> | first few nights I slept downstairs. However although I am sure the
> doctors
> | and nurses would frown on it, I am now going upstairs to sleep with Lori
> | after my midnight I.V. infusion. Like a toddler before he can walk, I go
> up
> | and down the stairs on my ***.
> |
> |
> |
> | We have many follow up visits with doctors and the wound care center at
> the
> | hospital. It is likely that I will begin a 30 day regimen of hyperbaric
> | oxygen therapy. This treatment has been shown to promote healing. I will
> be
> | placed inside a cylinder of compressed oxygen for two hours a day. This
> did,
> | at first deeply scare me. The thought of being confined and locked in a
> | small area for a definite period of time, without the ability to leave,
> or
> | even sit up, and a decompression period, still gives me the chills. But
> I
> | know this is what is best for the most effective and expedient recovery.
> I
> | will endure it if it helps me heal and cuts down on recovery time,
> easing
> | long term physical, emotional and even financial stress.
> |
> |
> |
> | The following weeks will bring more doctor visits, surgery, tests and
> | treatments.
> |
> |
> |
> | My family has been very helpful in preparing for my return home and
> coping
> | with my limitations. Moving furniture, mowing the lawn, cooking,
> shopping.
> I
> | could not ask for a better nurse than Lori. Mom visits at lunch time
> during
> | the week. Friends have sent cards, called and visited. So far I have
> asked
> | that visits be limited to my close family. I do not prefer that everyone
> see
> | me at my worst. I am consumed by this right now, and do not wish to talk
> | about it with everyone. As I regain strength and spirit, I will surely
> | welcome the company and conversation of others.
> |
> |
> |
> | I do not know how long this situation will confine and control me. I do
> know
> | that I intend to confine and control, and ultimately triumph over it. I
> will
> | have to live with diabetes and my compromised foot for the rest of my
> life.
> | I must focus not on what I have lost, but what I have left. I have the
> use
> | of all of my body. I may have to adapt and walk differently, but I will
> | walk. I have my hands, my senses, my mind and my soul. I have a devoted
> wife
> | and a loving family. I have good friends. I have worked hard in my work
> and
> | in my studies. I will be a productive, contributing member of society.
> Many
> | inspirational messages have been directed to me by those who care about
> me.
> | I have done a lot of soul searching and evaluation of what is important
> in
> | life. Perhaps my life will be richer and more appreciated now than it
> would
> | have been if I had not endured this experience. One of the inspirational
> | quotes that I especially embrace is, "Do not let that which you cannot
> do
> | get in the way of that which you can."
> |
> |
> |
> | (New entry 8-5-05)
> |
> |
> |
> | It has been over two months since my diagnosis. Several surgical
> revisions
> | performed by the original vascular surgeon on my right foot have failed
> to
> | remain closed. I have accepted the recommendation of the podiatric
> surgeon
> | in charge of my left foot for a bone and tissue revision. I am now
> seeing
> | her for wound care and she will be doing the surgery required from this
> | point forward. This doctor has successfully treated the ulcers on my
> left
> | foot and has proclaimed it "healed". I have completed the hyperbaric
> oxygen
> | therapy, and returned to work yesterday.
> |
> |
> |
> |
> |
> |
> |
> |
> |
> |
>
>


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