From Swimming To Running; Adjusting to the Pandemic

Type 1 & LADA
441

Latest Update:

Due to way too much confusion in communications, my scheduled steroid injection for yesterday (Oct 13th) was rescheduled for next week on Tuesday.

I have been jumping through hoops to get this procedure, and I am in so much pain. Do doctors lose their compassion when they become popular and over-booked? (this doctor rescheduled me 3 times and then at the last possible moment requested a clearance from my endo over a Holiday weekend no less!)(which I was thankfully able to get)

But this is this doctorā€™s specialty. This is about all she does. And she was very highly recommended. She is the 3rd doctor I have been dealing with since this nightmare began. What does it take to get this girl some relief??? :grimacing: :weary:

Anyway, I will be getting a local anesthetic before the main injection. I will be having to deal with the effects of the steroid and managing my blood sugars. I think I am more intimidated about the blood sugar management than I am with the fear and pain of the procedure! Hopefully I will manage well and have some modicum of success. I am anticipating between 72 hours and one full week of inconvenience.

I must add one important detail to all of this which is kind of like Kismet:

I have been sick all this past week with some kind of seasonal virus (no fever) and on elevated TBs and ICR and ISF changes. Perhaps it is for the best health wise that I am recouping from my bug before going to this type of procedure. So I am trying to be more optimistic than frusterated.

(always trying to look at the glass as Half Full)

Persevering and will continue to keep you all posted.

signing off,

DM

4 Likes
442

Oh, gosh, I was wondering whether your appt would get postponed again. Iā€™m sorry! But, yes, at least you have time now to recover from whatever virus you currently have. I know it is difficult to get Dr appts right now with new Drs. Iā€™m having the same problem, though nothing serious like you. Thanks for keeping us posted!

3 Likes
443

Bummer! I sure hope you are able to find relief sooner than later!

This statement scares me because every time Iā€™ve gone to the doctor since Covid Iā€™ve been asked if Iā€™ve been sick and about things which can be associated with a seasonal virus (cough, runny nose, sneezing, taste, headachesā€¦), fever or not too. Hereā€™s hoping they donā€™t block you from your appointment because youā€™ve not been feeling well.

Youā€™re in my continued thoughts and prayers!

3 Likes
444

Today was the first day that I am feeling better. I even had to lower all of my basal bk to normal (as well as my ICRs and ISF) Just left with a runny nose due to allergies (high pollen count this season, so no surprise there)

last time I tested my BG it was 60 (right after eating, so Iā€™m certain it will rise a bit in another 1/2 hour or so). Yesterday, by contrast, was a hellish nightmare of ridiculous insulin resistance and endless corrections.

what a difference a day makes! :pray: :+1: (now just praying that my recovery continues on this positive path!

4 Likes
445

This is good to hear!

4 Likes
446

Finally, an overnight and a day of relief from whatever virus I was struggling through. Back down to regular basal, ICR and ISF. All in TR and feeling so much better.

Just in time to battle the side effects of my upcoming steroid injection! :rofl: :+1:

signing out,

DM

5 Likes
447

Fantastic!! Iā€™m so glad you are feeling better! Good omen for next weekā€™s appt! :pray: :crossed_fingers: :heart:

3 Likes
448

Now I know I am no longer sick; I am on 90% TB ! what a difference a few days make. Shocking to me.

I am still scared to death about this injection; and now it is only a few days aways. Egaaad !

And I was able to get out yesterday for a short walk to the diner for a double decker four cheese grilled cheese sandwich; I figured Iā€™ll b going really low-carb during my time after the steroid injection in order to reduce potential BG spikes.

2 Likes
449

Thank goodness!! This will make a huge difference for next weekā€™s challenge!

You deserve it, and beautiful day out yesterday, too! :sunny: :sandwich: Oh, my, you are making me hungry though. I love grilled cheese sandwiches! Love saganaki, Greek cheese w/out the bread, too! Still spikes me though!

2 Likes
450

I use a 2.5 hour extended bolus. I split the dose by 40/60%. It seems to work every time and leaves me with a nice flat line. I donā€™t think I went over 90 the entire evening (and thats 6.5 hours of IOB)

2 Likes
451

I canā€™t distribute insulin with an extended bolus like that on Loop, but I do something similar. I use absorption of 4 or 5 hours, so Loop calculates the amount of insulin given upfront, and then gives boluses as needed for throughout the absorption period.

I donā€™t think I could ever manage to get your results though! I will always go over 90 after dinner/meal, at least for some portion of the 4-6 hours, and often under 60, too, if I do ANY activity, like walking! You really do a fantastic job! Amazing, and no help from an AIDS, automatic insulin delivery system! :slight_smile:

2 Likes
452

Itā€™s been a while, I canā€™t remember, but is there not an extended bolus option if you open the Loop?

@daisymae does not need that.

Because she hasā€¦

DAMN!!!

DaisyMae Achieves Magnificent Notability

3 Likes
453

No, setting a long absorption time is the only way!

YES!!!

3 Likes
454

Thanks guys! When I want something badly enough, I refuse to give in and live off of rice cakes. A grilled cheese sandwich is an absolute MUST HAVE in my food-intake-arsenal. :yum:

3 Likes
455

WONDERING WHEN I CAN SWIM AGAIN EXPERIMENT #1:

since the Y has re-opened their swimming pool, and considering I am about to get this steroid injection, I am curious to know how soon I will be able to go swimming again.

Currently, at my particular Y, you must make a reservation for the pool, and you are only permitted a 45 minute session. (And I am use to 1.5 hours to 2 hours of laps.) You may use the shower, but in the locker room you must have a mask on the entire time (I am truly wondering how on earth this works!) And since the rest of the Y is open (Treadmills,Yoga classes, weights, rowing machines, etc) I am trying to imagine the crowd in the very narrow locker rooms. How can anyone possibly social distance?

So, I am thinking, I will most likely go back to speed walking. (I was warned rather sternly that running will be out of the question considering my injury.)

Anything seems possible right now, but I am very curious as to how this will all turn out, especially now that we are entering the flu season with an uptick in CoVid and its potential second wave. Things in NYC may be shutting down again (schools, after having been open for only 2 weeks have shut back down again in the city after almost immediate CoVid outbreaks.)

more will be revealed. Meanwhile, my focus is mostly on getting through this steroid injection and my reaction to it.

I have been eating as many carbs as possible knowing that next week I will be doing a no/low carb diet to try and keep my BGs in check (as much as possible). So, I was thinking that another double decker grilled cheese sandwich is in order for tomorrow afternoon :yum:.

signing out,

DM

4 Likes
456

HAD MY STEROID INJECTION EXPERIMENT #1:

So this past Tuesday I finally was able to get in to see the specialist and have my injections (there were 3). I had a lidocaine, a tracer drug, and then the cortisone. it hurt like hell. I cannot even fathom how much more it would have hurt without the lidocaine.

I lay semi-curled on my left side (I got to keep my pump on) propped with pillows and beneath a kind of X-ray machine that allowed the doctor to see everything inside me so that she could properly insert the needle and inject the steroid medication.

she was very pleased at how deeply and thoroughly she was able to achieve her goal (me too). I was told that once the lidocaine wore off that I would be in even more pain than when I had arrived and to not be concerned about that, that it was perfectly normal.

I was also told that after about 2 days, I should begin taking light, limited walks outside to strengthen the muscles which had atrophied since I have been so dormant. (I truly over-did that one today!!! OMG. silly me)

Well, the first evening, my blood sugars were not only well managed with 100% basal and regular ICRs and ISF, but even went low several times. But then BANG, 3am hit, and my BG went from a nice flat 86 up to 192. I gave myself 1.5 units IM and raised my basal to 120% (figuring I would start slowly and raise it if needed) by 8:30am, my BG was still as high, completely unaffected by my corrections; I bumped up my basal to 160% and gave myself 3 units IM (double my normal ISF correction). two hours later, my BG had only come down to 144. Wow, that was a lot of insulin doing not much of anything. I took another 1.5 units IM and waited till noon. Finally, movement. My BG was now back in target at 72. Phew. I more than doubled my bolus insulin (normally 1:12 at lunchtime to 1:5) and I bolused for 34gms. The remainder of my day stayed perfectly in TR. I have been following the same treatment since. Its been a lot of work. Constant finger sticking throughout the night and during the day.

I donā€™t really know how long this side effect will last, so I am just keeping a close watch on it. Iā€™m going through insulin like its going out of style. And I donā€™t mind going low bc my husband has been buying me these gigantic freshly made chocolate chip cookies which are perfect in every way. (I think they are approximately the size of a small Frisbee :rofl:)

Also, one of my biggest fans and well-known gurus, Eric, sent me literally pounds of Lindt Chocolate bars (every flavor imaginable)!!! (isnā€™t he the kindest human being in the world !!!) So I am set. Iā€™ve got months worth of insulin in the fridge and months worth of chocolate.

I am still in pain, and if there is no relief after 10 days, we will review the situation. But Iā€™m just taking it one day at a time.

So far, D life has been manageable. TG for that. I need all the help and prayers I can get!! :pray: :sweat_smile: :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

6 Likes
457

Enjoy the cookies and chocolate! Hoping the pain subsides quickly and you get back to doing what makes you happy.

5 Likes
458

Ditto for what @Chris said!

4 Likes
459

Ditto to what Chris and Tapestry posted!!

Iā€™m glad you are able to manage the rise in insulin needs and I know it isnā€™t easy! You are amazing! :heart:

4 Likes
460

last night my BGs spiked to 150. I had to give myself 3 IM shots (double my usual ISF) and raise my basal to 180% before I could get bk into TR.

Call me crazy, but when my BGs rose up to 115 this morning, I gave myself another IM shot just to bring them bk down as quickly as possible. I REALLY donā€™t want to spike up again. SO frustrating. I am like a Mad Scientist playing around with my insulin in some laboratory.

4 Likes