so on Monday night after going to bed. Tom fell asleep in an instant-normal for him. but while I am reading, his cgm starts beeping. i know that is the one indicating low sugar. after going downstairs t get him juice, he drank it and fell back to sleep. but it kept beeping and he started thrashing around. his body was so hot, I could hardly touch him.
I have been here before but not in a long time. so even though it is midnight and I know he will not like it, I called 911. fortunately for us the new fire station which is five miles from our home opened recently. while it felt like a long time, they arrived very quickly.
when they tested his blood, the reading was 33! This time I stayed calm, after 30 years I finally learned that panic doesn't help. but that doesn't mean it wasn't stressful. Once the EMTs left, we had to change the sheets, blanket, and the mattress cover since everything was so wet from his sweat.
Afterwards, he fell asleep in a second but it took an hour for me to fall asleep. he felt great the next day, and I dragged myself around until I went to sleep early.
He thanked me for "helping" him. but won't talk about why it happened. and he won't call the doc, saying he will tell her the next time he sees her - in 3 months!
Sigh, its just the way it is.
Wednesday, December 21, 2016
Friday, December 9, 2016
I'm ok leave me alone!
Go away, leave me alone!
When I finally looked, his glucose was 38!
so I gave him a small glass of juice and now I wait.
He keeps trying to read his monitor, hoping it will change, I guess.
Now he is zoning out again.
I guess if he actually passes out, I can call the EMTs and then he will be angry on top of everything else. and, that is such a time suck.
I'm hoping the juice was enough to at least jump start him!
sigh, another day in paradise.
When I finally looked, his glucose was 38!
so I gave him a small glass of juice and now I wait.
He keeps trying to read his monitor, hoping it will change, I guess.
Now he is zoning out again.
I guess if he actually passes out, I can call the EMTs and then he will be angry on top of everything else. and, that is such a time suck.
I'm hoping the juice was enough to at least jump start him!
sigh, another day in paradise.
Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Sigh.
I am sitting here watching Tom go through a very low sugar count. I don't know how low it really is because he won't cooperate, but i would guess its around 50. I forced him to drink a big glass of juice so I am hoping he will come out of it quickly. But the waiting is hard.
When he tries to talk he was totally slurring his words. He can't keep his eyes open and his legs are jumping all over the place.
He won't eat dinner because he is "not hungry". its 7:30 pm and he probably hasn't eaten since noon. But he is in great control, right?
Of course, I can't eat until this is resolved. I don't want to call the Rescue Squad, but if this continues I may need to.
....
Ah, now he picked up his dinner plate. it is just roasted chicken, so no additional carbs yet. He'll refuse to eat it, so its a waste of food.
I'm sure this will pass but it is so frustrating!
When he tries to talk he was totally slurring his words. He can't keep his eyes open and his legs are jumping all over the place.
He won't eat dinner because he is "not hungry". its 7:30 pm and he probably hasn't eaten since noon. But he is in great control, right?
Of course, I can't eat until this is resolved. I don't want to call the Rescue Squad, but if this continues I may need to.
....
Ah, now he picked up his dinner plate. it is just roasted chicken, so no additional carbs yet. He'll refuse to eat it, so its a waste of food.
I'm sure this will pass but it is so frustrating!
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
Prepping for Surgery
I am feeling down -- shoulder surgery will occur on Thursday. Because the pain I have now, I can't do very much. the doc says it will take 6 weeks just to get 25% mobility back in my shoulder. A full year to get to 100% (assuming I get there) many patients never get beyond 90 or 95% back.
So, I am feeling sorry for myself. Last week I went shopping for clothes that I will be able to wear the rest of the summer. I went as cheap as I could and got big sizes so the Women's Shelter will be getting a bunch of stuff once I am recovered. I also cooked some stuff and put it in the freezer so it will be easy for Tom when I am unable to prep meals.
And as for Tom, He will take me to and from surgery and will work from home the rest of Thursday and Friday. But its almost like I am asking him to do a huge favor. Physically he will be there but he will continue to be focused on work and then on the weekend he will play tennis and work in the yard. No change from his schedule. Okay, I am being harsh but I need sensitivity now, not being ignored. Geez, considering all I do all the time for him and his diabetes!
And then there are our mothers. His mother (4 hours away). is 90 and in constant pain, having a difficult time walking. She was playing tennis 2 years ago and now can't walk at all. I pity her, of course, but Tom is naturally worried about it -- and then complains when I remind him to call her because "I just started this TV show and don't feel like talking now, you should have reminded me earlier." Yes, that is what he said last night.
On the other hand, my 85-year old mother had not been to a doctor for more than 50 years, yes I said 50! At Christmas last year she got very sick and went to urgent care. She was coughing uncontrollably This started a frustrating series of encounters with the medical profession. She was given an antibiotic, then followed up with a doctor the next day. my sister's doc, who my mom likes. She was given antibiotic and on and on -- she developed a rash over her entire body and saw a dermatologist who gave her different meds. then a pulmonologist who gave her different drugs again. Last week her coughing got to the point where she was having trouble breathing. her primary doc gave her asthma meds and recommended seeing an asthma doc. but he didn't know any who had not retired. So I think I found someone who may meet her needs. we will see.
I know, and I am complaining about a little surgery. Tom and both of our moms have so much bigger problems!
Just another day in paradise...
So, I am feeling sorry for myself. Last week I went shopping for clothes that I will be able to wear the rest of the summer. I went as cheap as I could and got big sizes so the Women's Shelter will be getting a bunch of stuff once I am recovered. I also cooked some stuff and put it in the freezer so it will be easy for Tom when I am unable to prep meals.
And as for Tom, He will take me to and from surgery and will work from home the rest of Thursday and Friday. But its almost like I am asking him to do a huge favor. Physically he will be there but he will continue to be focused on work and then on the weekend he will play tennis and work in the yard. No change from his schedule. Okay, I am being harsh but I need sensitivity now, not being ignored. Geez, considering all I do all the time for him and his diabetes!
And then there are our mothers. His mother (4 hours away). is 90 and in constant pain, having a difficult time walking. She was playing tennis 2 years ago and now can't walk at all. I pity her, of course, but Tom is naturally worried about it -- and then complains when I remind him to call her because "I just started this TV show and don't feel like talking now, you should have reminded me earlier." Yes, that is what he said last night.
On the other hand, my 85-year old mother had not been to a doctor for more than 50 years, yes I said 50! At Christmas last year she got very sick and went to urgent care. She was coughing uncontrollably This started a frustrating series of encounters with the medical profession. She was given an antibiotic, then followed up with a doctor the next day. my sister's doc, who my mom likes. She was given antibiotic and on and on -- she developed a rash over her entire body and saw a dermatologist who gave her different meds. then a pulmonologist who gave her different drugs again. Last week her coughing got to the point where she was having trouble breathing. her primary doc gave her asthma meds and recommended seeing an asthma doc. but he didn't know any who had not retired. So I think I found someone who may meet her needs. we will see.
I know, and I am complaining about a little surgery. Tom and both of our moms have so much bigger problems!
Just another day in paradise...
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
Surgery Again!
I turned 60 last month and have another reminder of my age. Now I need shoulder surgery. it is so dis-heartening. i am grateful that it is not cancer. and yet having so many surgeries in just a few years can get anyone down. I try to be active because its fun and I want to be fit.
We just had a wonderful vacation to Israel, our first trip and probably our last, but it was magnificent. Tom only had one severe sugar drop. he was so concerned of what others might think that he refused any help but mine and barely that. of course that failed since he could barely hold himself upright. of course everyone in the group was concerned.
Everything ended well, but Tom drove me crazy. Nothing could ruin the trip so all was well. Sigh,
Now its time for another surgery and i am not happy. and yet I am feeling rsolute that this too will be okay.
On to new adventures soon.
We just had a wonderful vacation to Israel, our first trip and probably our last, but it was magnificent. Tom only had one severe sugar drop. he was so concerned of what others might think that he refused any help but mine and barely that. of course that failed since he could barely hold himself upright. of course everyone in the group was concerned.
Everything ended well, but Tom drove me crazy. Nothing could ruin the trip so all was well. Sigh,
Now its time for another surgery and i am not happy. and yet I am feeling rsolute that this too will be okay.
On to new adventures soon.
Monday, May 9, 2016
It just doesn't end!!
we are getting ready for the vacation of our lives, going to Israel for 10 days. Tom is leving so much to me while he works. but he still comes every night with frighteningly low blood sugar.
of course i am worried about what will happen when we are so far from home. we will be on a tour most of the time so I won't be alone, but I am still concerned.
Just when I was hoping things would be getting better....
of course i am worried about what will happen when we are so far from home. we will be on a tour most of the time so I won't be alone, but I am still concerned.
Just when I was hoping things would be getting better....
Thursday, March 3, 2016
You would think I could accept it by now
there is just no talking to Tom.
EVERY DAY, he comes home and by the time he sits down with me, his glucose count is near 50!!!
I want to deal with it better, but it upsets me so much.
last week when everything was calm and he was in the normal range, i tried to talk to him.
reminding him of the daily occurrence, of the fact thay his doc instructed him to eat a snack (a real one, not candy) he just pretends to be helpless.
of course that angered me
he simply won't address this.
I should go take a walk, i should accept his choices.
but it is so distressing.
ok, i feel better.
on to my own activities for the evening
EVERY DAY, he comes home and by the time he sits down with me, his glucose count is near 50!!!
I want to deal with it better, but it upsets me so much.
last week when everything was calm and he was in the normal range, i tried to talk to him.
reminding him of the daily occurrence, of the fact thay his doc instructed him to eat a snack (a real one, not candy) he just pretends to be helpless.
of course that angered me
he simply won't address this.
I should go take a walk, i should accept his choices.
but it is so distressing.
ok, i feel better.
on to my own activities for the evening
Monday, February 22, 2016
This feels familiar
dinner time, Tom's feet are "dancing" a sure sign that his sugar is low. he is doing nothing wrong, but my stress level just jumped 200%
sigh
sigh
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
January Blues
Its February and I have been sick (some virus cold or flu) for almost a month. I have been to a doctor three times and while I am better, I am not great. Still sleeping a lot -- 12 hours a night! and while my cough is better, it is not gone. Sigh, I am tired of this. I got a flu shot and exercise and eat well and I don't hang out with kids.
Tom is doing the same, good most of the time but going low in the early evening. He just got a new pump and CGM -- there are some adjustments and he gets grumpy about the ones that he doesn't like, but it will be fine once he gets used to it.
Other than that exactly nothing is going on in my life except the normal. I am working on having a better outlook and thinking healthy thoughts.
Tom is doing the same, good most of the time but going low in the early evening. He just got a new pump and CGM -- there are some adjustments and he gets grumpy about the ones that he doesn't like, but it will be fine once he gets used to it.
Other than that exactly nothing is going on in my life except the normal. I am working on having a better outlook and thinking healthy thoughts.
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
Happy New Year and all the stress that comes with it
The holidays are over and now that its back to real life, its looking to be a bad year for me.
Tom continues his daily low blood sugar time right before dinner and sometimes later again. how does he manage at work?
My 86-year old uncle in Denver is not likely to live through the end of the year. My family is VERY close, and my cousins and I talk often. So that will be very sad.
My brother in law (66 years old) has cancer and is not doing well; back in the hospital. No sure how long he has.
Then there is my 90 year old mother-in-law who has breathing and walking problems. Not sure how much longer she will be able to stay in her home. Fortunately she pre-paid for next-level care and she is in North Carolina, so I don't have to participate directly in her care. whew!
AND, my mom who is 86 years old. She asked my sister and I to take her to urgent care and a doctor last week and this one. She has not seen a doctor in 50-years so it was shocking to all of us. she must be really sick. she was diagnosed with bronchitis and given meds. but she doesn't like taking them so she stopped before she was supposed to. the doctor understood her desire to take fewer meds and gave her some new ones to try. If she still feels badly next week, she should fill a new rx for an antibiotic - she doesn't need to see him again unless she wants to.
At first, I was unhappy about this approach, but now I get it. She is 86 and doesn't want to change her life too much. she gets to do that. we have no doubt that she is perfectly sane -- so that is not an issue. we just need to support her as best that we can.
I also have a potentially lucrative business opportunity which takes my time and attention and stress.
The weather is cold and we have many days of grey skies. I need to be careful with my own health. Depression is always just a step away. and of course I really don't want to get the flu or a cold! Sigh. At least i am still takng my deep water running class twice a week.
So I have a lot on my mind at the beginning of this year. But all i can do is take one day at a time.
Tom continues his daily low blood sugar time right before dinner and sometimes later again. how does he manage at work?
My 86-year old uncle in Denver is not likely to live through the end of the year. My family is VERY close, and my cousins and I talk often. So that will be very sad.
My brother in law (66 years old) has cancer and is not doing well; back in the hospital. No sure how long he has.
Then there is my 90 year old mother-in-law who has breathing and walking problems. Not sure how much longer she will be able to stay in her home. Fortunately she pre-paid for next-level care and she is in North Carolina, so I don't have to participate directly in her care. whew!
AND, my mom who is 86 years old. She asked my sister and I to take her to urgent care and a doctor last week and this one. She has not seen a doctor in 50-years so it was shocking to all of us. she must be really sick. she was diagnosed with bronchitis and given meds. but she doesn't like taking them so she stopped before she was supposed to. the doctor understood her desire to take fewer meds and gave her some new ones to try. If she still feels badly next week, she should fill a new rx for an antibiotic - she doesn't need to see him again unless she wants to.
At first, I was unhappy about this approach, but now I get it. She is 86 and doesn't want to change her life too much. she gets to do that. we have no doubt that she is perfectly sane -- so that is not an issue. we just need to support her as best that we can.
I also have a potentially lucrative business opportunity which takes my time and attention and stress.
The weather is cold and we have many days of grey skies. I need to be careful with my own health. Depression is always just a step away. and of course I really don't want to get the flu or a cold! Sigh. At least i am still takng my deep water running class twice a week.
So I have a lot on my mind at the beginning of this year. But all i can do is take one day at a time.
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Happy New Year!
Here is my night on the eve of a new year:
champagne, lobster...
and beep, beep, beep
me: what does that beep mean?
Tom: I'm low
Me: what's your number?
Tom: 50, but I just had some juice,I'll be fine
Me: OK, so I'll get dinner ready
Tom: No, not yet. I'm not hungry.
Me: ok, when do you want to eat?
Tom: I'll let you know when
Me: :-\
champagne, lobster...
and beep, beep, beep
me: what does that beep mean?
Tom: I'm low
Me: what's your number?
Tom: 50, but I just had some juice,I'll be fine
Me: OK, so I'll get dinner ready
Tom: No, not yet. I'm not hungry.
Me: ok, when do you want to eat?
Tom: I'll let you know when
Me: :-\
Sunday, December 13, 2015
Everday Lows and now highs
Is this trend changing or I just notice it more?
In one sense things are better. About 20 years ago, Tom suffered from severe low sugar episodes around 2 am. His reponse was physical and scary.
Now, for the last 5 or 6 years, his lows are not so dramatic -- the continuous glucose monitor notifies him (and me) when his sugar is going low. Se for the most part, they are caught before they get to that extreme.
On the other hand, they occur almost like clockwork when he gets home from work -- 6ish. His doctor, his dietician, and I all tell him that he needs some carbs in the late afternoon. But he complains that he is just not hungry and does not want to eat. (I believe he is also worried about going too high.)
Regardless we handle it differently now -- he is just grumpy and I don't react so strongly either. I simply hand him a glass of juice and start making dinner.
Not good, but manageable.
Now he is experiencing more significant episodes of high sugar. Or is it just that I know about it more often due the cgm -- and Tom lets me in a bit more, telling me what the beeping is telling him.
Last night we had a big family dinner at our house and I heard beeping from his equipment for hours. I don't think anyone else heard it or if they did they didn't know what it was. At one point, someone asked me if the microwave was beeping. It wasn't but I don't whether it was Tom's cgm or his pump -- and he wasn't sharing any information with me. He also didn't seem to be doing anything about it.
None of this is the scary episodes of yesteryear -- but have almost become one of the annoyances of daily living. I know, I know, imagine how much worse it is for him! the difference is that he has control over what to do about it and I don't. I try very hard to separate myself from the need for response and/or arguing about it
This is the life of a "compliant" diabetic's wife. Tom is very skinny now -- while some of us try to fend off the extra pounds that come with eating yummy food, he simply says he is not hungry and doesn't eat. AND he is getting so much fussier about what he eats. Right now I am making two vegetables for dinner one for me and one for him (his is always the same salad every night). I won't be surprised that there will come a day where I make two main dishes one for me and a different one for him. I am not saying that the salads aren't healthy but they are so bland and very boring. AND, they are always cold - sometimes I like hot veggies, especially when it is cold outside.
Ok, that is the end of my tirade.
Regardless of all of that, life is going along nice and smooth. I relish these days when we are boringly quiet.
Best of the season,,
Tom's Wife
In one sense things are better. About 20 years ago, Tom suffered from severe low sugar episodes around 2 am. His reponse was physical and scary.
Now, for the last 5 or 6 years, his lows are not so dramatic -- the continuous glucose monitor notifies him (and me) when his sugar is going low. Se for the most part, they are caught before they get to that extreme.
On the other hand, they occur almost like clockwork when he gets home from work -- 6ish. His doctor, his dietician, and I all tell him that he needs some carbs in the late afternoon. But he complains that he is just not hungry and does not want to eat. (I believe he is also worried about going too high.)
Regardless we handle it differently now -- he is just grumpy and I don't react so strongly either. I simply hand him a glass of juice and start making dinner.
Not good, but manageable.
Now he is experiencing more significant episodes of high sugar. Or is it just that I know about it more often due the cgm -- and Tom lets me in a bit more, telling me what the beeping is telling him.
Last night we had a big family dinner at our house and I heard beeping from his equipment for hours. I don't think anyone else heard it or if they did they didn't know what it was. At one point, someone asked me if the microwave was beeping. It wasn't but I don't whether it was Tom's cgm or his pump -- and he wasn't sharing any information with me. He also didn't seem to be doing anything about it.
None of this is the scary episodes of yesteryear -- but have almost become one of the annoyances of daily living. I know, I know, imagine how much worse it is for him! the difference is that he has control over what to do about it and I don't. I try very hard to separate myself from the need for response and/or arguing about it
This is the life of a "compliant" diabetic's wife. Tom is very skinny now -- while some of us try to fend off the extra pounds that come with eating yummy food, he simply says he is not hungry and doesn't eat. AND he is getting so much fussier about what he eats. Right now I am making two vegetables for dinner one for me and one for him (his is always the same salad every night). I won't be surprised that there will come a day where I make two main dishes one for me and a different one for him. I am not saying that the salads aren't healthy but they are so bland and very boring. AND, they are always cold - sometimes I like hot veggies, especially when it is cold outside.
Ok, that is the end of my tirade.
Regardless of all of that, life is going along nice and smooth. I relish these days when we are boringly quiet.
Best of the season,,
Tom's Wife
Thursday, November 12, 2015
Life - rambling about my schedule
My life these days alternates between crazy busy, supporting someone else's goals (that's ok), working on one of my projects, and times like now. I am alone in the house and it is very nicely quiet. I am having a bit of a struggle getting started.
since its grey and rainy, i would like to get back in bed and read a book. but I do have some driving around to do today. and the list of things around the house that I want to get done, just isn't going anywhere. Most are so big that getting is started is a bit intimidating. I know, one small step at a time, but on days like this where I have the time, i just don't feel like it.
there are no bad consequences of my not getting these things done except for the fact that they are still there and I still want that garage cleaned out and the bedroom I use for projects -- well its just a mess, no projects there until I get it cleaned up.
I really struggle between just being ok with being lazy and wanting to get this stuff started. I worry that this could become a "bad' habit -- this doing nothing stuff.
and then again, I know that its not my personality to stay "hidden" for too long
I am busy with the part-time work I am doing. I don't have much control about when it hits my email -- This week I did no more than answer a few emails and talk on the phone for an hour or two, last week I spent 4 very long days on it. who knows whats up for next week..
The work is good, I am not complaining that I have to do it. AND, I am learning a good lesson about someone else leading and me being all about support. My colleague and I don't agree on everything but its essentially his project so I do my job and walk away at the end of the day. I work from home and pretty much set my own hours.
Tom continues to get low just about every evening between 6 and 7 (maybe earlier but that's when he gets home and I see him). He refuses to eat dinner earlier, complains if he has to drink too much juice since that will spoil his appetite, and appears to think its no big deal. But his monitor often says something between 55 and 70. I have seen it lower but not very often. He is getting pickier with what he eats and refuses to eat anything that looks like a carb (bread, pasta, potato, breadcrumbs on a casserole...) I am doing my best not to worry about it because his doctors tell him he is healthy and really, there is nothing I can do about it anyway. and yet, clearly it is on my mind quite often.
so having said all that I think i will read the paper and drink my coffee until I have to leave to pick someone up in a half hour.
It felt good to write all of that out.....
since its grey and rainy, i would like to get back in bed and read a book. but I do have some driving around to do today. and the list of things around the house that I want to get done, just isn't going anywhere. Most are so big that getting is started is a bit intimidating. I know, one small step at a time, but on days like this where I have the time, i just don't feel like it.
there are no bad consequences of my not getting these things done except for the fact that they are still there and I still want that garage cleaned out and the bedroom I use for projects -- well its just a mess, no projects there until I get it cleaned up.
I really struggle between just being ok with being lazy and wanting to get this stuff started. I worry that this could become a "bad' habit -- this doing nothing stuff.
and then again, I know that its not my personality to stay "hidden" for too long
I am busy with the part-time work I am doing. I don't have much control about when it hits my email -- This week I did no more than answer a few emails and talk on the phone for an hour or two, last week I spent 4 very long days on it. who knows whats up for next week..
The work is good, I am not complaining that I have to do it. AND, I am learning a good lesson about someone else leading and me being all about support. My colleague and I don't agree on everything but its essentially his project so I do my job and walk away at the end of the day. I work from home and pretty much set my own hours.
Tom continues to get low just about every evening between 6 and 7 (maybe earlier but that's when he gets home and I see him). He refuses to eat dinner earlier, complains if he has to drink too much juice since that will spoil his appetite, and appears to think its no big deal. But his monitor often says something between 55 and 70. I have seen it lower but not very often. He is getting pickier with what he eats and refuses to eat anything that looks like a carb (bread, pasta, potato, breadcrumbs on a casserole...) I am doing my best not to worry about it because his doctors tell him he is healthy and really, there is nothing I can do about it anyway. and yet, clearly it is on my mind quite often.
so having said all that I think i will read the paper and drink my coffee until I have to leave to pick someone up in a half hour.
It felt good to write all of that out.....
Sunday, November 1, 2015
Its November 2015!
Hi everyone,
Sorry I haven't posted in awhile. All is good here.
After about 6 months of practice retirement, I am working again.
But its different this time and its by choice.
Its not that I didn't LOVE retirement.
But one of those opportunities was offered to me and it was too good to turn down.
This work is part time (on my schedule) and I work from home -- most importantly I don't have to sell anything. I never liked that part of work -- to my boss, to customers, to co workers. you know the drill. I just wanted to do my analyses and put together the meat of a report. Then it was up to others to make the report pretty and convince clients that this was so good that they need more.
AND, the pay is very good. Since I want to do much more travel, its working out well. I set aside almost all of my income (we can live on my husband's salary). We only need my money for larger things like home repairs, :( vacations, taxes, investments.
I guess its a sign of age, but we seem to keep experiencing health issues -- mostly minor, but more frequently than earlier in our lives. For me, just minor things: strep throat, PT for my bad ankle, a scratched cornea -- and I had a sleep study done. They decided that I have apnea (no kidding) and now the insurance company will let me get a dental appliance to help me breath better as I sleep.
Tom on the other hand, has been hospitalized twice this year. The first time he was throwing up and super dizzy. The emergency room doctor thought he had a brain tumor. So frightening It turned out to be a very severe case of vertigo and the neurologist fixed it in three minutes. The hospital treatment was lousy and Tom had to demand to see the neurologist. Otherwise, who knows where he would be today.
His second trip was when I was out of town. Over labor day weekend, he had been doing a bunch of yard work. On Tuesday he woke up with an irritating itchy bump behind his knee. By the time he got home from work, he decided it needed to be checked on because it was much bigger and much redder. He went to urgent care and they took one look at it and sent him to the ER. It took them three days and 4 different IV antibiotics before they would send him home. And then it was with a PIC line so that he could continue to give himself the IV antibiotic for another 5 days. by the way, they never actually diagnosed the case of the infection.
All is well now, but both events were a bit scary.
On the other hand, I have had quite a bit of vacation time this year :) Florida two times, the beach in Maryland once, and then the "Mayan Riviera" outside of Cancun, Mexico. All of it was fun (except when I had to leave the beach early because of Tom's 2nd hospital visit) but nothing phenomenal. That will be next year when we go to Israel for 2 weeks. SOOOO excited.
So I think that wraps up my year so far. I will try to do a better job of posting and figure out how to allow for comments from others (thanks DW for letting me know).
Sorry I haven't posted in awhile. All is good here.
After about 6 months of practice retirement, I am working again.
But its different this time and its by choice.
Its not that I didn't LOVE retirement.
But one of those opportunities was offered to me and it was too good to turn down.
This work is part time (on my schedule) and I work from home -- most importantly I don't have to sell anything. I never liked that part of work -- to my boss, to customers, to co workers. you know the drill. I just wanted to do my analyses and put together the meat of a report. Then it was up to others to make the report pretty and convince clients that this was so good that they need more.
AND, the pay is very good. Since I want to do much more travel, its working out well. I set aside almost all of my income (we can live on my husband's salary). We only need my money for larger things like home repairs, :( vacations, taxes, investments.
I guess its a sign of age, but we seem to keep experiencing health issues -- mostly minor, but more frequently than earlier in our lives. For me, just minor things: strep throat, PT for my bad ankle, a scratched cornea -- and I had a sleep study done. They decided that I have apnea (no kidding) and now the insurance company will let me get a dental appliance to help me breath better as I sleep.
Tom on the other hand, has been hospitalized twice this year. The first time he was throwing up and super dizzy. The emergency room doctor thought he had a brain tumor. So frightening It turned out to be a very severe case of vertigo and the neurologist fixed it in three minutes. The hospital treatment was lousy and Tom had to demand to see the neurologist. Otherwise, who knows where he would be today.
His second trip was when I was out of town. Over labor day weekend, he had been doing a bunch of yard work. On Tuesday he woke up with an irritating itchy bump behind his knee. By the time he got home from work, he decided it needed to be checked on because it was much bigger and much redder. He went to urgent care and they took one look at it and sent him to the ER. It took them three days and 4 different IV antibiotics before they would send him home. And then it was with a PIC line so that he could continue to give himself the IV antibiotic for another 5 days. by the way, they never actually diagnosed the case of the infection.
All is well now, but both events were a bit scary.
On the other hand, I have had quite a bit of vacation time this year :) Florida two times, the beach in Maryland once, and then the "Mayan Riviera" outside of Cancun, Mexico. All of it was fun (except when I had to leave the beach early because of Tom's 2nd hospital visit) but nothing phenomenal. That will be next year when we go to Israel for 2 weeks. SOOOO excited.
So I think that wraps up my year so far. I will try to do a better job of posting and figure out how to allow for comments from others (thanks DW for letting me know).
Wednesday, August 19, 2015
History
I have been doing a lot of reminiscing lately. For some reason I remember the times when Tom was out of control with his glucose level.
The first time I observed it and understood what it was, my cousin (male) was at our home and Tom went upstairs and stripped naked and then came downstairs for more "fun".
My cousin left pretty quickly.
But things got so much more ugly later (before blogs) when he went very low (50's) every day and was combative about it. It was always my fault and I was "controlling" and "abusive" to him. He had trouble with work -- he was in IT and with Y2K he was out of work for roughly 3 months at a time.
It was truly horrible and I didn't know whether I could take much longer. But I persevered (like so many of us) and it (he) got better once his jobs were more constant.
Today, I can tell you that he manages his glucose so much better, And even more important he listens to me and tests whenever I asks and responds appropriately. (you know juice etc.) He still tries to sneak eating M&Ms, fairly often. I don't necessarily notice at the time. but when I check the jar, it gets emptier more quickly than I expect. I rarely eat them so I keep them in stock for him. He rarely goes high so its a good thing that he recognizes the need before I need to intervene.
It is amazing to me that life is so much easier and he is truly my best friend in life again. BUT, I will never forget the bad times.
If you are experiencing these monumental challenges, I feel for you and want to give you my support. Whether it is low glucose or high, the repercussions are awful.
That's my thoughts for today. As I used to sign off, I wish you a very good night's sleep. My exhaustion certainly added to the problems so I think of sleep as a major balm to my challenges.
Best,
The first time I observed it and understood what it was, my cousin (male) was at our home and Tom went upstairs and stripped naked and then came downstairs for more "fun".
My cousin left pretty quickly.
But things got so much more ugly later (before blogs) when he went very low (50's) every day and was combative about it. It was always my fault and I was "controlling" and "abusive" to him. He had trouble with work -- he was in IT and with Y2K he was out of work for roughly 3 months at a time.
It was truly horrible and I didn't know whether I could take much longer. But I persevered (like so many of us) and it (he) got better once his jobs were more constant.
Today, I can tell you that he manages his glucose so much better, And even more important he listens to me and tests whenever I asks and responds appropriately. (you know juice etc.) He still tries to sneak eating M&Ms, fairly often. I don't necessarily notice at the time. but when I check the jar, it gets emptier more quickly than I expect. I rarely eat them so I keep them in stock for him. He rarely goes high so its a good thing that he recognizes the need before I need to intervene.
It is amazing to me that life is so much easier and he is truly my best friend in life again. BUT, I will never forget the bad times.
If you are experiencing these monumental challenges, I feel for you and want to give you my support. Whether it is low glucose or high, the repercussions are awful.
That's my thoughts for today. As I used to sign off, I wish you a very good night's sleep. My exhaustion certainly added to the problems so I think of sleep as a major balm to my challenges.
Best,
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Back to My Blog
Life is so interesting. I haven't written for a very long time.
I messed up my original blog site and lost everything on it. I couldn't figure out how to start again and then I got busy. But today is a new day.
Most importantly, Tom is doing a better job of managing his diabetes. He still goes low almost every day when he gets home and before dinner. But the good side is that he is drinking more juice when it occurs. Sometimes when he notices and even when I suggest it. He is so much more better at dealing with it. Not that we don't have occasions when its bad -- but we are handling it so much better than before.
I have had a tough few years. In 2013, 4 people in my family died -- including my dad. I had 4 surgeries in 6 months, and it took almost all of 2014 to recover. I was still trying to make my consulting business work -- but I lost interest and closed it.
In January 2015, I officially retired. At first I was unsure but then I really got into it and I am SO HAPPY! I am very busy doing mundane things like grocery shopping and cooking, spending a day with my mom each week, and getting some exercise on a routine basis (finally!).
Currently, Tom is being sued for a traffic accident that occurred in 2012. He didn't see a car in his blind spot, changed lanes and hit a car. Insurance is covering everything but it is still upsetting.
Also, his job has become so stressful that he is burying himself in his work (12-hour days) and getting by one day at a time. He loves the actual work, but the politics are getting to him. Sound familiar?
OK, I think that's enough history for one blog. On to the rest of my day...
I messed up my original blog site and lost everything on it. I couldn't figure out how to start again and then I got busy. But today is a new day.
Most importantly, Tom is doing a better job of managing his diabetes. He still goes low almost every day when he gets home and before dinner. But the good side is that he is drinking more juice when it occurs. Sometimes when he notices and even when I suggest it. He is so much more better at dealing with it. Not that we don't have occasions when its bad -- but we are handling it so much better than before.
I have had a tough few years. In 2013, 4 people in my family died -- including my dad. I had 4 surgeries in 6 months, and it took almost all of 2014 to recover. I was still trying to make my consulting business work -- but I lost interest and closed it.
In January 2015, I officially retired. At first I was unsure but then I really got into it and I am SO HAPPY! I am very busy doing mundane things like grocery shopping and cooking, spending a day with my mom each week, and getting some exercise on a routine basis (finally!).
Currently, Tom is being sued for a traffic accident that occurred in 2012. He didn't see a car in his blind spot, changed lanes and hit a car. Insurance is covering everything but it is still upsetting.
Also, his job has become so stressful that he is burying himself in his work (12-hour days) and getting by one day at a time. He loves the actual work, but the politics are getting to him. Sound familiar?
OK, I think that's enough history for one blog. On to the rest of my day...