Dec 19, 2012

Asthma, I'm home


I know Daniel Gibson posted on his FB page on Sunday night asking folks to pray for me since I was on my way to hospital because I couldn't breathe.

Well, I'm home now, got here about 7is tonight. I was hospitalized for 48 hours because of an asthma exacerbation brought on by this virus that is going around. The same bug that I was being treated for!

Please if you have or know someone with asthma take it seriously. By the time I got to hospital, I had hyperventilated so much, trying to breathe, that my hands had cramped into claws, like a birds foot, and my feet were numb. It took at least an hour for my hands to calm down enough to be useful.

The funny thing is, I was doing everything right. When I first got sick on Tuesday I started more frequent checking of my lung function. I was using my meds properly. I even went to the doctor on Friday who put me on steroids to open my lungs as well as antibiotics and a powerful cough med combo to help me have a productive cough and to get my lungs clear.

In fact, on Sunday, even tho we didn't go to church because I was still running a fever and therefore probably still contagious, I felt a lot better. I even went for 2 walks to try to counteract all the havoc the steroids were raising with my blood sugar levels. (It's a fine balancing act).

But for some reason about 7 p.m. On Sunday night my breathing suddenly deteriorated. I did 2 rounds of my nebulizer treatment back to back, called my pulmonologist and headed to the ER.



Let me tell you something. When you pull into the ER and can't breathe you go straight to the head of the line and through the door. I didn't stop to register, the nurse just dug out my license, with my okay, and wheeled me through the door. I didn't stop to get triaged, I was taken straight to a room and within seconds was surrounded by at least 4 people putting my on oxygen, inserting I.V.'s etc. The doctor arrived very quickly and ordered labs, meds etc.



After 2 more round of nebulizer treatments, oxygen, chest x-rays, it was decided that I was still to sick to go home and David left. It was past midnight, the kids were home and worried, and he had to get some sleep so he could go to work. So as soon as my admittance was verified, he took off.



I will tell you this. University Hospital is an excellent facility. The staff are caring and kind. The food is wonderful. I highly recommend choosing them over Northeast Medical Center. (I've had experience with the ER Dept in both in the past 2 months).



Anyway, I'm home and better tho still sick with this bug. I plan on taking it easy the rest of this week and hopefully you will never have to deal with something like this. It is truly frightening.



Love,

Susan
















Dec 16, 2012

Diabetes

I thought I knew a lot about diabetes.  After all, I had gestational diabetes with both kids and was on insulin both times.  I worked with a pharmacist during my first pregnancy who was diabetic and she gave me lots of advice. 


But 16+ years later I realize that I don't know as much as I should.

I'm on insulin now.  It's my fault.  I didn't take it seriously and loose weight or exercise enough or watch my diet close enough...

Now I am reading 2 books and educating myself.  I can't depend on my doctor to do this.
I. Have. To. Do. It.

So today I have already take 2 15-minute walks.  One was in the rain.  I used an umbrella.  I only got damp.

I'm counting my carbohydrate intake.

I'm checking my blood sugar level frequently.

I need to really up my intake of fresh veggies.  Will make a run to Aldi tomorrow.

I created a spreadsheet modeled after one in a book.

On it I log what I eat, my blood pressure, my weight, my exercise, my insulin dose(s), and my blood sugar in both number form and on a chart so I have a visual.

It also has a comments section, for reasons, causes, excuses.

I use one page per day so that I can get a better picture of what is going on with my health.

Here is today's log so far:


400



















300








X
X







250












X





200





x












150



















100



















70



















50



















30




















BS




213

313
321
289





Time 4a.m. 5a.m. 6a.m. 7a.m. 8a.m. 9a.m. 10a.m. 11a.m. noon 1p.m. 2p.m. 3p.m. 4p.m. 5p.m. 6p.m. 7p.m. 8p.m. 9p.m. 10p.m. 11p.m.
Insulin Levemir




60u











































































Exercise









15m, w
15m, w



























Food





BLT-14 carb


nuts, 17C















Tea- 4 carb
































































































Comments: On steroids for lungs/ viral infection, asthma

















































































Weight



















BP 120/70


















Date 12/16/12



















I am determined to get better.

October was a bad month and I really slipped.   I had been walking with David in the evenings almost every night for the previous 7 weeks or so.  Then I had all those issues and felt so bad for so long that I just quite.  And the weight has started to creep back on.  So now I am back to exercise and being strict not as punishment but because it is good for me and I want to be healthy and I want to see my children get married and have families.  I want to be able to be active now for my kids and later to enjoy my grandkids.

Merry Christmas and Good Health to you all,
Love,
 Susan

Dec 14, 2012

Christmas is almost here...

but I'm not really in the "Christmas Spirit".  It's not that I'm depressed or anything, tho I am sick with this upper respiratory bug that's going around.  I'm just not feeling it.

It's not cold, tho I did have a bit of frost on the windshield at 8 this morning.  Currently I have some Christmas music playing on YouTube...

Maybe it's because I've had a rough fall.  October was really bad, then Thanksgiving week David got sick and he is still fighting it.  Last weekend Sarah came down with her version of the crud and is still not feeling well.  I started on Tuesday and my breathing was very quickly compromised and even after using my rescue inhaler 2x I was still in the yellow zone.  Got in to see my pulmonologist this morning and came home with antibiotics, steroids, new rescue inhaler, nebulizer solution and a $50 bottle of cough syrup. 

Daniel has NOT gotten sick yet, tho he did cough so much while I was at the doctor that he lost his breakfast.  He's due any time. LOL

So, even tho I'm not feelin' "it", I am still and always so grateful for the awesome gift that we celebrate this season and hopefully remember all the year.

What Child is This?
 
Were You There?
 
 
Easter Song