My Diabetic Heart

Living with Congestive Heart Failure and Type 2 Diabetes

WELCOME TO My Diabetic Heart!

Type 2 Diabetes and Congestive Heart Failure are two common conditions that people are diagnosed with every day. Living with one of these conditions at any age is hard enough; imagine living with both at the age of 28. That's what this blog is all about. It's about my life with Type 2 Diabetes and CHF, and about showing that you can live a fulfilling life with each.

17
Jan

As I Expected

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So here we are, one week after my visit with my primary care doctor, and I’m just now getting around to writing about how it went.  Better late than never, or some bovine fecal matter like that.

This was a follow up appointment, and I was to receive the results of my latest A1C.  And I went into it expecting to hear bad news.  And, as I expected, that’s what I got.

The result was 7.1 this time around.  And despite how prepared I thought I was for hearing that my A1c was back above 7.0, it still came as a shock.  Considering where I started out at two years ago though, at 9.6, that 7.1 is still looking pretty good.  And that’s how I’m trying to look at it. POSITIVELY!   I have my good friends in the D-OC to thank for helping me out with that.

Thankfully, my doctor was rather understanding about the situation, and I didn’t receive the posterior chewing that I was expecting.  When she asked what had happened, my reply was simply “life with diabetes happened”.  I explained the situations that I’ve been dealing with over the last few months, and left it at that.

We agreed that it would be best to switch my medications, and I’m now taking Janumet 50-500 twice a day to see if that will work better than metformin and januvia did separately.  And thankfully, just in a weeks time, I’m seeing a big difference in my blood glucose readings.

We also discussed anti-depression and anti-anxiety medications as well.  More on that later.

And finally, the sinus infection I’ve been battling was addressed.  My prescription from the last SI I had was refilled, and fortunately, it’s finally working.  Feeling much better today than I have the last week.  Still a few sniffles though.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must go catch my nose before it runs off.

  1. on January 17th at 11:28 pm
    Jess said:

    Glad the doc was understanding, and glad that the drugs are helping (infection and bs). Yay for drugs! ;)

  2. on January 18th at 12:01 pm
    Michael Hoskins said:

    No worries, Mike! We all have been there and will likely be again. Seems like many of us see those increases toward the end of the year. All you can do is what you’re doing: understanding, knowing where to address it, and moving forward. Always count on the DOC to offer some support, and don’t worry – it’ll come down soon enough now that a new year has begun!

  3. on January 18th at 02:03 pm
    Sarah said:

    It seems that most of the DOC’s A1c’s went up. I wouldn’t get too upset about it. It seems that Diabetes happened to a lot of us. ;-) You’re doing great, Mike. ((HUGS))

  4. on January 18th at 02:30 pm
    Tina said:

    How awesome!! Sure it’s higher than you want but it’s not bad at all. I am glad the doctor was not an ass about it. I hope the new meds bring you where you want to be and get rid of that SI. I suspect I have one too but have no energy to deal with it (stupid, I know). Feel better Mike!

  5. on January 18th at 03:37 pm
    Jacquie said:

    7.1 is a pretty kick-ass number, and you can’t convince me otherwise! (My last A1c came out at a similar number.)

    Glad to hear the Dr. was nice, and that you’re feeling better. Keep on keeping on!

  6. on January 18th at 07:54 pm
    Cherise said:

    Mike-

    Big hugs! You are doing a great job! I am glad your doc is understanding, gave you some med’s for you sinus infection and also taking care of the other things you need. Don’t beat yourself up! You are Dfab my friend.

  7. on January 19th at 11:54 am
    FatCatAnna said:

    Mike – I’m the same as you – with my A1C being up from what it normally is. Mine is due to change of life, depression, you know – other stuff that buggers up our diabetes – such a mixed bag of things just doesn’t make D-life easy. Main thing is – we’re both doing better then before (and you’ve got a great doctor BTW) – that’s all that counts. Now, I’m going to try to stick to my resolution – do at least 30 mins of exercise. Now that I’ve written it here for you to read – I’ll hopefully do it. I really don’t like forced exercise, but with latest blood results, I’d better do it or suffer consequences later with clogged arteries!



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An Appointment Worth the Wait
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After nearly two months of waiting for the appointment, I finally got to see the cardiologist on Friday to review the results of the cardiac MRI, blood work, and 30 day heart monitor that I had to endure in an effort to determine why there had been a decline in the function of my heart and if I would need a defibrillator.

I woke up late and had to scramble to get ready and head out to the medical center on the other side of town.  Normally if I’m in a rush and stressed like that it shows up when the nurses check my blood pressure, etc.., but not this visit.  My BP was normal and by the time the doctor came in to see me, I was oddly peaceful.

To my relief, the doctor confirmed that the cardiac MRI  indicated that my ejection fraction is at 47%. That is in stark contrast to the 35% that previous tests had indicated. And since defibrillators generally aren’t prescribed for patients with ejection fractions over 36%, that means I will not need one.  The doctor stated that a normal ejection fraction is around 55%, and since mine is 47%, he considers the weakness of my heart muscle to be mild.  Since I’m already taking the best medications for treating congestive heart failure and improving heart strength, the doctor wants to continue with the regimen that I’m on now and see how things progress.

The results of the blood work done to check my potassium, iron, thyroid, etc… all came back within the normal ranges.  While I’m thankful that those results were good, they are also frustrating because we were hoping to find a treatable cause for the decline, like an iron overload or something like that.  Alas, there’s no evidence of that, and I’m really not going to spend much time dwelling on it.

There were a few points of interest on tapes from the heart monitor I wore for a month, but the doctor said they seemed to indicate normal elevations in heart rate that anyone can expect from time to time.  Nothing to really worry about.

I can’t begin to explain how glad I am to finally have some of the answers that I needed, and how thankful I am that the results from the tests were worth the grief I endured going through them.  And as frustrating as the wait has been, it’s been worth it.

As for that odd peaceful feeling I was feeling on Friday?  It’s still with me as I write this.  I’m more at peace with things now than I have been in a long time.  And, along with the improvement in how I’m feeling mentally, I’m also feeling better and stronger physically.  And that, my friends, is saying something.

And speaking of friends, I can’t begin to say how much I appreciate the love, support, good thoughts and prayers that I’ve received from everyone in the Diabetes Online Community over the last few months.  If there were any doubts in my mind as to whether I’m loved or not, they are long gone.  To all of you:  Thank You, and Lots of Love, my friends!

 

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It’s OK to Need Help
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In previous blog posts and conversations over the last two years, I’ve made no bones about the fact that I’ve battled with bouts of depression and anxiety since I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and type 2 diabetes.

The daily routines of medications, blood sugar testing, meal planning, and other related bullshit, combined with the constant worry of trying to figure out how to pay for all of those medications and testing supplies, are simply overwhelming at times.

Add to that all of the typical stuff that goes along with every day life, you know… work, bills, chores, relationships, etc… and you’ve got yourself a great big barrel of fun.

Then top that off with dealing with a loved one being diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and going through all of the activities and emotions that go along with that, and being forced to put a near 9 year relationship on hold while your best friend becomes the primary caregiver for that loved one, and that great big barrel of fun transforms into the biggest clusterf*#K you’ve ever seen.

It’s all enough to destroy someone mentally. And the extreme mental hurt quickly manifests into extreme physical hurt. And you eventually reach a point where you just can’t take it anymore, and feel like throwing the towel in.

As difficult as it is for me to admit, I reached that point in the early part of February.

And the hard part is that I know it didn’t have to happen. I had a little bottle of “happy” pills in my possession that my doctor had given me the month before. I just wasn’t able to take them immediately, because I was starting a new blood sugar medication and had to get through the side effects of it before starting the other medicine.

And then when it was time to start the Celexa, I kept putting it off and putting it off, because of the fear that I’d have the same problems with it that I had with similar drugs years before. When you’ve had a bad experience with medications, or anything for that matter, you tend to shy away from them. It’s perfectly normal to have those feelings.

Things finally reached a point in early February where I knew I needed help, and knew that I had to take the plunge into the world of anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medications again. And so, on the 21st of last month, I broke the seal on the prescription bottle, cut the little pill in half as the doctor had instructed, and jumped.

Tomorrow, March 21st, will mark a month since I started the medication, and I can honestly say that I’m glad I did. I’m not nearly as edgy as I had been, and feel quite mellow most of the time. And mellow is a good thing.

The moral of this story is this: It’s OK to need help; You just have to ask for it!

Recent Comments

Mike Hoskins

Thanks for being awesome, Mike! Not only was it very cool you let me borrow the pin, but it was great sitting and talking for a bit before getting back on the road. And Riley loved seeing you again! The pin on my collar did spark some conversation, too - so thanks, my friend!!

Kate

Yay Mike! Thanks for these links. Heading over to both blogs now!

Ashley

When I decided to keep blogging, I never thought I'd end up being able to help my favorite Jedi Master get on the lizard spit wagon but I'm so glad I was able to help. Love ya buddy.

Mike Hoskins

Thanks for the links to two such awesome people, Mike! Loved hearing all the cool diverse stories of how we got into the DOC, and seeing the wonderful personalities up close and personal whenever that chance arises! Great post, my friend.