I hope the spikes ease up and the cortisone begins to work its magic and heal your painful areas! It is a full time job now just to manage this but I’m praying it will all be worth it soon!!
I certainly is! I am waking up every 2 hours in the middle of the night just to fingerstick, take IM injections and go back to sleep. I am astounded at how much insulin I am having to take. (but I havent been shy about it and I havent risen over 200 since the procedure )
As I have said to you many times - it is easier to stop a drop than to remove a high!
You might have to dig around for some chocolate in your house.
I’ve never needed to take steroids myself, but it could be useful if you were to keep track of your TDD per day for say the week before your injection, and then post injection until it returns to normal. Should be easy to keep track of, assuming you record all your injections as well as pump usage.
Yeah, the TDD number is one of the most useful records on my pump!
Why? I know I am taking a ton of insulin, and I know what I usually take for my TDD, but why would knowing this info be helpful to me now?
What @jag1 is saying, what is your normal TDD before? Now, what is your new TDD when on steroids?
For example, if your TDD goes from 25 units to 35 units - that is a 40% increase! So you get an idea of how much the steroids are affecting your requirements.
So the next meal, you might do a 40% increase on your bolus compared to normal.
It just helps you figure out the difference. Instead of looking at each meal and trying to figure out changes, look at your TDD and get an idea of how much more you have needed. And then next time, you have an idea of where to start.
Same thing if you are sick
( I know your numbers might not be 40%, that’s just an example)
My numbers, currently are almost 200% (180%TB) and twice as much for ICRs and ISF (usually 60, now 30+)
my usual TDD is around 20U. Now I am clocking in around 40+ (and thats with hardly ANY carbs)
I’ve just made the adjustments in my pump’s WIZARD feature. Makes it rather simple.
Do you know how long this increase in insulin will last from the cortisone? I know how careful you are, but make sure you take notice when your insulin needs start to return to normal!
So your TDD matches your ICR and ISF, so that is a good thing to know, 200% for most everything.
Exactly. Makes things easier, even though none of this is particularly easy. (and since last night, my insulin resistance has become worse, and I have had to increase my dosages.)
I wish I knew the answer to this. Different doctors (including my endo) have made different guesses on this. Some say 72-84 hours, some say 2 weeks. But, as you already knew, I am very diligent and on top of things. When I begin to go low, I will gradually work backwards, decreasing my insulin. (I am actually dreading this, but am fully stocked with yummy edibles like the pounds of chocolate that Eric sent me ! )
A VERY DANGEROUS LOW:
well in all of my years of being D, I have never gone as low as I did last night. my BG went down to 21. Fortunately, we were well equipped with gallons of apple juice, Transcend gels, and Gvoke Glucogon Injections! Although I couldn’t see, I was shaking violently and sweating and incapable of normal thought, I was still conscious and my husband knew enough to jump into action. He poured glasses of AJ down my throat ASAP and, what I believe, essentially saved my life.
Clearly, this was the sign that the insulin resistance from my steroid injection had passed, and I returned my pump to all its regular settings. Today, I have even gone a little low a few times, but instead of trying to correct my BG into a tight TR, I have shot for a little higher. Last night scared me to death.
SO, to be clear, it took exactly 4 days POST injection for the side effects of the steroid to pass my system. I post this in the hopes that I will help another one of us if this situation arises. (but, of course, YDMV).
I am still in considerable pain. I am still limping about the house. And although we were able to get out for another gentle walk outside today, I am truly limiting my activity. I have 5 more days to go before I should feel relief. If I don’t feel better by that 10th day, I may need another injection. At least if that becomes necessary, I will have an idea of how my body reacts to the steroid (How much basal, ICR,and ISF I will need and for how long). I hope that it doesn’t come to that, ( ) but if it does, I will be going into it with more information than I did this time.
signing out,
DM
I’m hoping that you get some relief soon!
Me, too, praying you get some relief soon.
And thank goodness your husand took quick action. I’m glad you were able to get out today for a walk, too!
FINALLY BEGINNING TO FEEL BETTER:
Just wanted to keep everyone posted that I am finally beginning to feel better. I have been able to discontinue the Percocet for 3 days now, and although I am still taking Ibuprofen, I am able to walk about without limping and have no more need for icepacks. I am so excited. I hope the healing continues. after I feel stronger, I can resume PT, and then hopefully get bk into exercising. Yahoo!!
signing out,
DM
PS: thank you for all of your prayers and support during this trying time.
Yay!!
Yay! I am so glad to hear you are feeling better
!! Thank goodness! I’m looking forward to following your exercise regimens again!! You’re amazing!!
So sorry to read everything that’s been going on DM!! But you are so incredibly strong for dealing with all the pain as well as the general hassle of jumping through hoops with the health care system. So glad to hear you’re on the mend. You’ll be in my thoughts!!
THE NEXT STEP:
so I had the cortisone injection, and for a brief period my pain level decreased. However that was unfortunately short lived. I am back in excruciating pain.
I had a visit with my specialist today, and I am set for another MRI next week, this time to look at my lower spine to see if there is any impingement or slipped disk. I am scheduling an appointment with a hip surgeon who will be most likely performing arthroscopic surgery to shave off the bone spurs and repair the labral tear.
I am trying to keep my spirits up, but I am feeling rather defeated. I have tried so hard to adjust my life and to be patient. But, I am tired and weary.
just keeping you up to date.
signing off,
DM
Damn @daisymae, that is truly unfortunate news. And you have done so well at persevering in the face of pain. Kind thoughts headed your way, and hope that you get back to your fun activities soon.