Archive for the ‘Medications’ Category
4
Jan
Written by Mike on January 4th, 2012
So, yesterday’s visit with with my primary care doctor was quite revealing. Given the fact that she called me directly and said we needed to discuss a letter she received from my cardiologist, I knew it would be an interesting visit going in.
As I mentioned in a previous post, the results from a recent round of testing performed by the cardiologist indicated that the strength of my heart has deteriorated again, and my ejection fraction is back down to 35%. I knew that going into the appointment yesterday. And I knew that the cardiologist had ordered a more intensive test to confirm that result. What I didn’t know was what he was planning to do if the results were confirmed.
His plan, should the test I’m having next week confirm the ejection fraction is indeed less than 36%, is to arrange for a defibrillator type device that would, hopefully, protect me from sudden cardiac death. In the event that I should go into cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation, the device would shock my heart and restore a normal rhythm. Which in turn should give me a fighting chance to get to the hospital.
Now, that could mean a couple of different things. Worst case: I have to undergo surgery to implant a defibrillator. An operation that, while routine, is fraught with the potential for disaster. Best case: I have to be fitted with a wearable external defibrillator, involving no surgery, etc. If I must have something like that, I’d much prefer the non-invasive option.
At this point, either option is on the table. And what happens next will be determined after the test next Friday. And while I truly hope the results are better, and that the results of the last test were just wrong, the pain in my chest is telling me otherwise.
My primary doctor and I both agreed that obtaining a second opinion from an independent cardiologist was a good idea, so between now and next Friday, I’ll be meeting with a new doctor to have them review my case. Again, I’m trying to be optimistic that fresh thinking on this will result in something good, but as I said, I’m struggling with that.
Until then, it’s a wait and see what happens game. And I’m not good with these games. I can’t begin to describe what all of this is doing to me mentally.
But there was one bit of good news that came of that office visit. My A1C was 7.0, down from 7.4 in September. And given everything that I’m dealing with right now, that’s a damn respectable number.
And at a time when things are quite dark and miserable, it’s nice to see that something I’m doing is still working.
6
Oct
Written by Mike on October 6th, 2011
When I went to see my doctor Monday morning for a routine checkup, I went with the expectation that I would be receiving a lecture about my blood glucose numbers being higher than she would like and about my A1c rising to 7.4. I had intentionally called for the result last week just so I would know what to expect from the doctor when I saw her. Paranoid much? No, I just know my doctor. And my expectations of receiving a lecture would have been met had I not prepared one of my own. And it went something like this:
“I been battling with type 2 diabetes and congestive heart failure for nearly three years, all the while trying to balance my care with working a crazy night shift 50+ hours a week, the stresses of trying to figure out how the hell to pay all of my bills, pay the co-pays for doctor visits & more than 10 prescriptions, and still have money for food. And by the way, the last year has been spent dealing with April’s mother being diagnosed with stage 4 uterine cancer and all of the hell that goes along with such a diagnosis. YOU try living with all of that and see how well you do with maintaining good diabetes management all the time. Then come talk to me!”
Yes, I had something of an emotional fit in the doctor’s office and it ended with my telling the doctor in no uncertainly terms that “I’m doing the best that I can considering the hell that I’m going through right now, but I’m beyond tired of all of it. I’m f**king Burnt Out!”
Would you believe that I felt much better after getting all that off my chest? Sometimes, you just have to let the frustration out.
After my rant was over, and the doctor stopped looking at me in shock, she suggested we adjust increase the dosage on my Byetta to the full 10mcg dose, which should have been done a couple of months ago, and she also thought it necessary to increase the dosage on my blood pressure medication. Gee, I wonder why. And, of course, before I left the office, I got the usual ‘try and take care of yourself and we’ll see how things are in a few months” talk.
And that’s what I’ll do. I’ll keep taking my medications, trying to eat well, and doing the best I can to care for myself. And everything else!
29
May
Written by Mike on May 29th, 2011
After publishing the post, Excited for Nothing, on May 16th, I put in a call to my doctor’s office about the medication issues that I had been experiencing. I explained to the nurse that while the stomach issues I had been dealing with while on Janumet had subsided, the Glipizide was doing nothing to help lower my blood glucose levels. They had, in fact, shot up. Something needed to be done about it, and fast.
I told the nurse that I had previously mentioned to the doctor that I would be willing to give injectable medications a try, but that the doctor hadn’t wanted to put me through that if it wasn’t necessary. I basically told her to tell the doctor that I really didn’t give a shit about having to deal with injections, and that I would try anything if it would help me.
My doctor apparently got the message and took me at my word; I received a call back later that afternoon saying the doctor was putting me on Byetta. Now, I had already done my research on Byetta because it was one of the medications I mentioned to the doctor previously, and was dumbfounded when the nurse said the words “It’s Insulin”. I knew it wasn’t, and couldn’t stop myself from telling her otherwise. Anyone who knows me already knows how well that went over, so there’s no need to go into a rant about a rant. 
So yeah, I’m now taking two (2) 5 mcg injections of Byetta every day and, so far, it really hasn’t been that big of a deal. The most common side effect I’ve heard about is nausea, but I really haven’t experienced much of that. I have noticed that I’m experiencing a bit more heart burn than usual. Acid Stomach is listed as a side effect of Byetta, but considering that I deal with Acid Reflux anyway, it’s really hard to tell whether it’s an old gripe or a new pain in the ass. I guess time will tell.
The biggest benefit so far is that I’m starting to see an improvement in my glucose readings. Hopefully, that trend will continue.
And I must say that I’ve taken to the whole injection thing rather well. For all my preaching, “I’ll try anything”, I was admittedly a bit nervous about the whole thing. But much like the timidness that I felt when I first started poking my fingers to test my blood sugar, the nervousness over the injections has quickly subsided. It’s amazing what you can get used to doing when you have to do it to survive.
I know I’ve said this before, as have many others in the diabetes online community, but it bears repeating again.
There is an enormous stigma, particularly among people with type 2 diabetes, that having to switch to injectable medications, whether it be insulin, Byetta, Victoza, etc…, means that they are a failure in terms of diabetes management. And many people resist the move to such treatment options because of that.
Simply put, that stigma is bullshit and it’s bad for you.
Each person’s diabetes is different and, not surprisingly, what may work for one person in terms of treatment may not work for someone else. Each person living with this disease has to do what is best for them. If using insulin, Byetta, or some other injectable is what’s best, then so be it. No one should be made to feel bad about doing what is best for their own well being.
Each and every day that we survive this disease is a win. And with an opponent like diabetes, you’ve got to win by any means necessary!
Speaking of which, it’s time to shoot up again. Ciao!
16
May
Written by Mike on May 16th, 2011
Today’s Garfield cartoon over at www.garfield.com seems to be the perfect illustration for how I’m feeling about the problems I’ve been having with my blood sugars and medications lately.
My doctor discontinued my use of Janumet because of the nasty stomach side effects that were wreaking havoc on my life. That medication was doing wonderful things for my blood glucose levels, but the side effects were too much to deal with.
When the doctor said she was putting my back on Glipizide, I was excited about the change because I knew the stomach side effects would go away, and that I’d be on a medication that had worked well on my blood glucose control when I was initially diagnosed. I said, I was excited.
Over the last two weeks, that excitement has morphed into a feeling of desperation, as I’ve realized that while the stomach problems are gone, the medication is doing nothing to help my blood glucose levels.
So, much like Garfield, I was out on a limb, an old “friend” appeared to be coming to help, yet ended up taking a leak on the tree and annoying the hell out of me.
So, now instead of being safely and comfortable back on stable ground, I’m still hanging out on the high limb. Only this time, the limb is coated in lots of sugar. And believe me, it’s making me anything but sweet.
I’m trying to do all the right things. I’m eating well, I’m active, and trying to lose more weight, but the medications are failing, and diabetes is doing what it does best: kicking me while I’m down.
So, I’m at a crossroads. Do I try other oral medications or do I try a combination of oral meds and injectibles? Or do I just say screw it, and tell the doctor that I just want to give insulin therapy a try. I know she won’t like that option, but I’m willing to try anything right now. And ultimately, it is my decision. Right?!
Anyway, I know this rough patch will pass. I just have to hold on to this limb for a little while longer, and hope to hell that the next option to pass my way won’t just take a leak on the tree.
20
Mar
Written by Mike on March 20th, 2011
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!
