Thank you, Elver!! We have just one emoji to select, a heart, but I understand your feelings! Me, too, so relieved she will be ok!
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I wasnāt saying āYay, I liked that her puppy got hurt!ā
It was to convey sympathy and love.
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@Eric I wasnāt throwing shade on your ā#heartā. It just seems an oddly inappropriate emoticon for the subject matter. Sorry if I offended
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No offense taken, I understand your point!
I put a ālikeā on it because I wanted to acknowledge the post and not totally ignore it. 
Unfortunately, the 
is the only thing we have. We donāt have options like 
or 
or 
.
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We have that often . I feel like maybe it is delayed digestion while heās active? A few times Iāve kept track of all the carbs heās consumed and bolused for all of them once he starts rising, which is usually only a while after the exercise. Iām not sure it works super well but itās a good guestimate to start with.
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This sounds brilliant. But, a lot of work. I say this bc I dont wear a CGM, so I would have to keep finger-sticking more than just frequently.
But Koodos to you for finding out a way to make this frustrating situation work.
(btw, today I lowered my basal rates and it kept me from going low all day. My BGs were a little on the high side in the beginning, but came down to the 80s after a couple of hours.)
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I have been skimming through some posts every now and then, and wanted to point some things out from the conversations. I have had 3 spine surgeries over the past 8 years, including L2-L3 laminectomy (bilateral) for a blown disc, L4-L5 for spinal stenosis (had severe pain and difficulty walking), and then C3-C6 laminectomy/fusion/titanium plate. The latter compressed my phrenic nerve, and affected my ability to breathe. Oh, and before that surgery I needed a pacemaker put in, and then the day after surgery I had a DVT to my right lung. So, I ended up in the ICU for 2 weeks. The surgeon said I almost died.
I was just amazed that my BG was so well controlled, and I needed less insulin. But it seemed to take forever for my lows to correct, and I would have highs a couple of hours later. It soaked thhrough my dim brain that the narcotics I was on had slowed down my gut motility, and it continued for a while after stopping the drugs, and my normal motility to start up again. NSAIDs also can affect blood flow to the stomach, having an indirect effect on digestion. Walking also can slow down blood flow to the GI tract. Something to chew on.
Before and after my lumbar surgery I was experiencing pain in my glutes, IT band, and thighs. I also had trouble with balance; I looked like I was drink when I walked. For years I went to physical therapist, and got massages. I would feel great for a few hours, and then when out walking had the crippling pain again. Three-to-five mile walks became 1 mile, and limping home the second half. I then discovered there were people focused on sports rehabilitation body work (massage0, and went to see one. He diagnosed tight hip flexor muscles, and it was like a miracle. I was finally pain free while walking, and I had my balance back. And, as an added benefit the pain in my back muscles stopped. After 10-14 days the pain starts again (greatly reduced) and I go in for a touch up. And, my legs are stronger again.
Just a few thoughts to mull over.
Mike
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Thank you for your post. I found it very enlightening and helpful. I did not, until your post, know that the narcotics slowed down gut mobility. I am truly constipated ( TMI?) and no matter what I take (Senna, Ducolax, Miralax, tons of waterā¦) I cannot move my blowels more than 1-2 times per week. I have lost my apittite bc of this problem. Iām just so backed up that there is no room for my food to get through my system. And, its very uncomfortableā¦
Your surgery sounds exactly like mine in terms of problems and surgical needs. Perhaps just minor differences.
I have neuropathic pain as well as neuropathy in my tushy, left thigh (terrible pain along with the numbness) and a bit on the right thigh. I was taking Lyrica at first, but the side effects were too great, so I was switched to Gabapentin about 2-3 weeks ago. Now I am up to 1,200mg of the Gabapentin and I am (very slowly) getting better. I can tolerate the pain level at least.
I am trying to get out and walk every day. My surgeon said it was the best exercise for my rehabilitation and PT ( I lam also going to have formal) PT twice a week. I have never even heard that walking could slow down anything in the GI tract. thanks for the heads up. This is something for me to take in and consider. (so far, every day I get out and walk, my legs get stronger and I can see the difference in my healing) (much faster)
All of your post has given me a lot to chew on, so thank you very very much!!!
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Hang in there @daisymae , youāre getting closer to the finish line!
FWIW, I had to combine miralax and colace both after my surgeries, but I went into my surgeries with a known slow digestion. The opioids compounded the issue. Also once you get used to it, gabapentin aināt so bad. I canāt get thru the day without it because of neuropathy. Sad that thatās what it takes, but thatās the price of admission to the fun house. Gabapentin is seriously cheap if you donāt have insurance and once you titrate up and get past the initial side effects it works well.
Hope you continue to make huge leaps in your recovery! 
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I already have gastropareses so I have TERRIBLE mobility issues for years now. I take more than several meds for it, one includes the infamous Domperidone from Canada, the others are Motegrity ( $$$$$ UGH), Miralax, and sometimes Xifaxan for stomach bugs( also $$$$$)
This surgery and the opioids are just intensifying the problem. Bummer.
But thanks for your compassion! Hope you feel better. 
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@daisymae Iām counting my blessings alreadyā¦ Sorry you have to deal with that. I have an inkling of what you are going through and to say you are a trooper or a stud, or any other superhero type person just doesnāt seem to sum it up. But ya areā¦ 
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DaisyMae,
Miralax and colace do nothing for me, unless I need my 5 year colonoscopy 
What works best for me is good old fashion prunes or turkish apricots (less sugar). 4-5 works wonders. Walking diverts blood from the GI tract, and slows absorption. Be sure to get enough nutrition or it will slow healing, so drink some Ensure or Glucerna.
I started taking Gabapentin after my cervical surgery, and was able to sleep much better. The mechanism for that is it reduces anxiety. So now I continue to take it to fall asleep and sleep better.
Another piece of experience/advice. My incissions healed very slowly on my back, for a variety of reasons, but the edges were very red. I went to the UNC wound clinic and they recommended a silver disinfectant gel, and that worked well.
Take care,
Mike
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The odd thing is that my incisions are healing very well. The only time I am in any kind of pain from them is when I have to wear my back brace; it pushes right into the incision area and it is so painful. I hate wearing that thing!
Also, the incision bellow my belly button is very tightly sewn and when I move in different directions or positions in bed I swear I want to rip those darn stitches out!!! OMG. theyāre awful.
The incision on my hip I cannot even feel. I didnt notice it was there until someone pointed it out to me 
PS: thanks for all of the topical wound aids!!
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After watching many many surgeries, I would guess that all your stitches are sown pretty similarly, it is just in an area that gets lots of movement that you notice them. I donāt think you would want sloppily tied stitches. Also for many areaās there will be 2 or 3-layers of stitches. It will all take some time to heal properly, and of course none of us want anything to take time.
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I have 5 layers of stitches!!!
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You over achiever!
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I have limited patients
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EXHAUSTION REARS ITS HEAD:
I just thought Iād just pop in with the latest on how I am so slowly healing.
First, from all the walking Iāve been doing, my muscles are strengthening , and Iāve been able to walk around the house a little without the walker. (yay!) But I get all cocky about it and think I can do more than I am strictly supposed to do. Ahh the pain afterwards! I am being overly arrogant (or perhaps wishful) and twisting and reaching, and basically thinking that I can get away with it (all super no-nos).Well, I cannot do it. I am utterly exhausted. In fact, I slept the last 2 days in a row. Couldnāt keep my eyes open. Power naps.
And the repercussions are reaching their Unlovely head. Oh my god do I hurt.
But with 2 days of only moderate walking (one hour each of the past 2 days) (and then back to sleep again 
) I love pushing myself but after a major surgery life is different for me, and I dont think that I have thoroughly processed it yet.
Today i have a plan. I have errands I would like to run: getting more peanut butter (an absolute must) and getting to Starbucks with my health aid. (apparently, she like Starbucks too 
.) This is a good amount of exercise/walking for me.
signing out,
DM
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A LOT OF EXERCISE:
Had a few errands, but nothing major. However I ended up walking for 3 hours. Not certain how many miles that is, but my guess is 4.5 miles based on other times of mileage.Also I was walking at a nice clip. (unfortunately not enough to break a sweat, but pushing that walker around does tire me out especially with all of my D stuff I am carrying in the front basket.)
My BGs were pretty cooperative. I left the house at 1pm (trending down from a late breakfast) and my BG was 130. But within 20 minutes they were 62. I drank a lot of apple cider and moved along. By the time we got to Starbucks, my BG was 52. I drank more juice. waited a little bit (10minutes or so), and when my BG was 89, I took off again. Had some neighborhood errands to run, dry-cleaning, peanut butter stock-up , etc. Finally headed home. I walked in my front door at a little after 4pm. My BG was 90. WOW. Really surprised myself. Nice work, huh?
Tomorrow is another day. Weāll see what happens. Another adventure in Daisy-Land 
signing out,
DM
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Oh, Iādāa splurged on a mocha!! With whip, for staying power, you know. 
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