March 17, 2003
No Luck this Year!
While the new nutritional plan didn’t seem to harm me, it didn’t seem to improve my conditions either. On 3/12, pain in the lower right half of my stomach increased with every meal, until at 6 pm that night, while sitting, felt a pain so horrible I thought my insides were rupturing. I could not lift my right leg, and was screaming. When my husband got home, he laid me on the bed and called for help. I was told to take an additional Famotidine and wait to see if the pain decreased any and see the doctor in the morning. The medicine caused a “movement” of the pain and I waited.
The next day (3/13) I saw Dr. McC- – he sent me to the ER for a scan for appendicitis (I thought it was just constipation). They found no constipation, no stool, just a little fluid in the appendix. The doctor said it was probably just IBS. This procedure took all day, and I had no food, until afterward, when I insisted they take my blood sugar – it was low, they gave me glucose. My husband couldn't be there, so my boss watched over me - sounds odd, but he's kind of like a friend - been there through a lot of things with me. He tried to keep me alert and laughing.
At home a few hours later, I had nausea, then unstoppable diarrhea and vomiting. I became very shriveled up and weak, then went into repeated hypoglycemic shock. My husband attempted treatment with glucose with no success and called 911, when they took me to the hospital again. He accidentally OD'ed me with glucose.
Apparently, the same EMT's came to my rescue - I recognized the voices, but this time I could see them. I told them how I wanted to thank them - but I never meant to meet them again this way! They chuckled.
The same doctor I saw on 2/17 saw me in the emergency room – but this time I was able to speak. He suspected gastritis, and told me I had the option to stay, which I took. This was out of my hands.
I was placed on IV and liquid diet and introduced to bland soft food over time. My blood sugar stayed regularly around 300 (between IV and sweet foods/beverages) - which is a far cry from my usual 90's! On top of this they kept trying to give me syrup and sugar on my meals...someone was not understanding my situation! There was horrible pain as I digested food, especially when sitting. I'll never forget forcing down the milk containers, tears streaming down my eyes, salting my food.
A kind preist annointed and blessed me. I prayed for forgiveness and healing, and hoped to either make it, or die quickly, painlessly - whatever was God's will.
The IV hydration, though it left me looking like a pincushion (it caused an infection in my arm so they had to try, try again), helped me recover and gain back a little weight finally however, and a prescription of Robinul relaxed my stomach so I could eat again.
The doctors and nursing staff concluded it was Norwalk virus (again), complicated by GERD/IBS/Hypoglycemic conditions. They said it was going around, tons of cases.
Ultimately, I was seen by the hospital nutritionist, who I spoke with at length. She was really nice to me. She supplied with several dietary guideline papers, and in short I was to start with low fiber/low residue and work up to a modified Hypoglycemic diet, bearing in mind my digestive sensitivities.
Before I left, a little old lady came by on St. Patrick's day and gave me a hand knitted shamrock. I clung onto that little piece of fabric, and stepped into the first bit of spring-like sunshine, with the help of my hubby and parents.
The next day (3/13) I saw Dr. McC- – he sent me to the ER for a scan for appendicitis (I thought it was just constipation). They found no constipation, no stool, just a little fluid in the appendix. The doctor said it was probably just IBS. This procedure took all day, and I had no food, until afterward, when I insisted they take my blood sugar – it was low, they gave me glucose. My husband couldn't be there, so my boss watched over me - sounds odd, but he's kind of like a friend - been there through a lot of things with me. He tried to keep me alert and laughing.
At home a few hours later, I had nausea, then unstoppable diarrhea and vomiting. I became very shriveled up and weak, then went into repeated hypoglycemic shock. My husband attempted treatment with glucose with no success and called 911, when they took me to the hospital again. He accidentally OD'ed me with glucose.
Apparently, the same EMT's came to my rescue - I recognized the voices, but this time I could see them. I told them how I wanted to thank them - but I never meant to meet them again this way! They chuckled.
The same doctor I saw on 2/17 saw me in the emergency room – but this time I was able to speak. He suspected gastritis, and told me I had the option to stay, which I took. This was out of my hands.
I was placed on IV and liquid diet and introduced to bland soft food over time. My blood sugar stayed regularly around 300 (between IV and sweet foods/beverages) - which is a far cry from my usual 90's! On top of this they kept trying to give me syrup and sugar on my meals...someone was not understanding my situation! There was horrible pain as I digested food, especially when sitting. I'll never forget forcing down the milk containers, tears streaming down my eyes, salting my food.
A kind preist annointed and blessed me. I prayed for forgiveness and healing, and hoped to either make it, or die quickly, painlessly - whatever was God's will.
The IV hydration, though it left me looking like a pincushion (it caused an infection in my arm so they had to try, try again), helped me recover and gain back a little weight finally however, and a prescription of Robinul relaxed my stomach so I could eat again.
The doctors and nursing staff concluded it was Norwalk virus (again), complicated by GERD/IBS/Hypoglycemic conditions. They said it was going around, tons of cases.
Ultimately, I was seen by the hospital nutritionist, who I spoke with at length. She was really nice to me. She supplied with several dietary guideline papers, and in short I was to start with low fiber/low residue and work up to a modified Hypoglycemic diet, bearing in mind my digestive sensitivities.
Before I left, a little old lady came by on St. Patrick's day and gave me a hand knitted shamrock. I clung onto that little piece of fabric, and stepped into the first bit of spring-like sunshine, with the help of my hubby and parents.
March 09, 2003
Beggars Can't be Choosers...
I'm having a lot of seizures and stomach problems now, but no one seems to know what to do for me. I can't stop the weight loss!
Here's what happened at my follow ups from the hospital:
PCP's (Dr. C-S) review:
It turns out that at least 6 other people on my block got ill – apparently there is something wrong with the water. She suggested it was Norwalk virus, as she’s been seeing MANY stomach cases in our area (I could swear she said 900?) – I imagine my system was too fragile to fight the bacteria.
So I began at the beginning, quitting my Atkins altogether, and started on liquids, broth and some Pedialyte (which almost put me into seizures from all the sugar, so I stopped it except when I felt nauseous). Added simple foods from the old BRAT diet, in very small quantites. Only when I began eating my soy/whole wheat/veggie food again and the pain returned in force did it occurred to me that I might have some problems with these foods, even if they are healthy for other people. I stopped, and am now eating low fiber/low residue (white flour based) food, which has reduced the pain/burn significantly (though is not totally gone yet) – essentially how I used to eat in the beginning, minus the candy and fast food. Hypoglycemia of course, is back again.
She wants me to get glucose monitoring supplies, and especially, see a nutritionist right away. I would like to do these things, but I cannot afford them on my own, and my insurance provider (Empire Blue Cross) tells me they will only cover diabetics, as required by NYS law.
Now, consdering my family history and the fact that many doctors consider hypoglycemia a pre-diabetic condition because insulin production is abnormal, why must I wait until I am even more sick or get diabetes to get the care I need? I've contacted the state today to see if they wil help, but I don't think it'll happen.
How can the supposedly greatest country in the world have such bad health care? What happened to preventative care?
Fight the Power!
Gastroenterologist (Dr. L-):
When I saw her I told her my situation and explained these proton-pump inhibitor type medicines were not helping at all. She put me back on Famotidine. I asked if I might have been allergic to anything I was eating – she tested for wheat allergy (celiac), results say no allergy. She also recommended I see a nutritionist and an endocrinologist.
Nutritionist (JL, RD):
Since I didn't have a choice, I paid for a nutritionist out of pocket and saw her on 3/7– she said off the bat that the first thing to do is heal the stomach then worry about the blood sugar second. She also made it a point to make sure that I not worry about counting carbs, or anything else at this point, she felt my body would know what was right. She customized a food plan to my likes and dislikes (which was nice - no living on slop), and I followed it to the letter.
Here's what happened at my follow ups from the hospital:
PCP's (Dr. C-S) review:
It turns out that at least 6 other people on my block got ill – apparently there is something wrong with the water. She suggested it was Norwalk virus, as she’s been seeing MANY stomach cases in our area (I could swear she said 900?) – I imagine my system was too fragile to fight the bacteria.
So I began at the beginning, quitting my Atkins altogether, and started on liquids, broth and some Pedialyte (which almost put me into seizures from all the sugar, so I stopped it except when I felt nauseous). Added simple foods from the old BRAT diet, in very small quantites. Only when I began eating my soy/whole wheat/veggie food again and the pain returned in force did it occurred to me that I might have some problems with these foods, even if they are healthy for other people. I stopped, and am now eating low fiber/low residue (white flour based) food, which has reduced the pain/burn significantly (though is not totally gone yet) – essentially how I used to eat in the beginning, minus the candy and fast food. Hypoglycemia of course, is back again.
She wants me to get glucose monitoring supplies, and especially, see a nutritionist right away. I would like to do these things, but I cannot afford them on my own, and my insurance provider (Empire Blue Cross) tells me they will only cover diabetics, as required by NYS law.
Now, consdering my family history and the fact that many doctors consider hypoglycemia a pre-diabetic condition because insulin production is abnormal, why must I wait until I am even more sick or get diabetes to get the care I need? I've contacted the state today to see if they wil help, but I don't think it'll happen.
How can the supposedly greatest country in the world have such bad health care? What happened to preventative care?
Fight the Power!
Gastroenterologist (Dr. L-):
When I saw her I told her my situation and explained these proton-pump inhibitor type medicines were not helping at all. She put me back on Famotidine. I asked if I might have been allergic to anything I was eating – she tested for wheat allergy (celiac), results say no allergy. She also recommended I see a nutritionist and an endocrinologist.
Nutritionist (JL, RD):
Since I didn't have a choice, I paid for a nutritionist out of pocket and saw her on 3/7– she said off the bat that the first thing to do is heal the stomach then worry about the blood sugar second. She also made it a point to make sure that I not worry about counting carbs, or anything else at this point, she felt my body would know what was right. She customized a food plan to my likes and dislikes (which was nice - no living on slop), and I followed it to the letter.
