‘Birthday Dash’ highlights

Posted on March 22, 2010 by mydiabeticheart

Well folks, the weekend trip that I have been referring to as “Birthday Dash” has come and gone.  And what a fun, yet exhausting weekend it was.

April and I, and our dog, Wesley, drove to Louisville, KY on Friday morning to see my sister, and celebrate her 21st birthday, and then turned around and drove back to Fort Wayne late Saturday evening.  We got back around 12:00 a.m. or so.

The birthday celebration festivities included me treating my sister, grandmother, April, and myself, to dinner at Tumbleweed.  It’s an awesome southwestern, Tex-Mex kind of place.  Great food.

And then there was the Dairy Queen ice cream cake that my grandmother got for my sister.  I know I really should not have indulged in that yummy goodness, but my baby sister is only going to turn 21 once, and there was no way I was going to disappoint her by not having a piece of her cake.  😉

All of that was followed up by a shopping trip Friday night, and more shopping on Saturday before April, Wesley, and I drove back to Fort Wayne.

Overall, it was a pretty good trip. I’m still dealing with the exhaustion factor, but it was worth it. I’d do it again in a heart beat. In fact, I will be making that trip again this coming weekend, as I travel back to Louisville for a week during my 9 day vacation.  I can’t wait.

Photo highlights from the ‘Birthday Dash’. Enjoy!
Mexican Food

Mexican food from Tumbleweed
Ice Cream Cake

Dairy Queen Ice Cream Cake
Wesley sleeping after the drive home

Wesley sleeping after the drive home
Posted in Life | 2 Comments

D.i.a.b.e.t.e.s.

Posted on March 18, 2010 by mydiabeticheart

So I got to thinking about what we, as diabetes bloggers, are really doing by way of the things we chose to share.  It’s a simple idea, yet one that leaves a lasting impression.  It all in the way you look at and interpret the word Diabetes.

As I interpret it, we, as diabetes bloggers, are:

Directly
Influencing
Awareness
By
Educating others
Through
Experience
Sharing.

Of course, that’s just my interpretation of it.  What do you think?  Drop a comment and share your thoughts.

Posted in Diabetes, Inspiration, Life | 2 Comments

My Little Sister’s 21st Birthday

Posted on March 18, 2010 by mydiabeticheart

Today is my little sister’s 21st birthday.  It’s so hard to believe that she is 21, considering she looks like she’s 12.

She may look like a little kid, but, like her big brother, she’s a badass.  While I’ve been battling with my heart problems and diabetes over the last year, she’s been battling with injuries from a nasty bike accident.  To say she’s lucky to be alive would an understatement.  The same can be said for me.

So, today I’m celebrating the fact that she’s lived to enjoy the experience of turning 21, and I’m celebrating the fact that I’ve lived to see the occasion. 🙂

And while I can’t be with her today, I will be going to Louisville to celebrate with her tomorrow.  It’s going to be a quick trip, down one day and back late the next; I’m calling it the “Birthday Dash”.  I’m really looking forward to it.

So, with that, here’s to my sister.  Happy 21st Birthday!

Posted in Life, Shout outs | 7 Comments

Monkey Business on St. Patty’s Day!

Posted on March 17, 2010 by mydiabeticheart

Good day lads and lasses.  Happy St. Patty’s Day to you!

In honor of St. Patty’s Day, I thought I’d share a wee bit of monkey business.  Enjoy!

Oh, and if you’re planning to partake in any monkey business (Drinking, Partying, etc…) to celebrate St. Patty’s Day, please do so responsibly. You’ll be thanking your lucky charms you did.

Posted in Humor | Leave a comment

Another 6.0

Posted on March 10, 2010 by mydiabeticheart

More good news on the A1c front today.  I called for the results of the test that I had done last week, and was informed that for the second time in a row my A1c was a 6.0.  That just made my day.  You might even say I’m seeing the bright side today. haha.

Now the question is: Can I make it 3 in a row? Well, I guess we’ll have to wait another 3 months to see.  Stay tuned.

And before I go, I want to give a shout out to some of my DOC friends and thank them for all the love they showed on twitter after I tweeted about the A1c.  So, CALpumper, StaceyDivone, LissaLynch, MHoskins2179, Sugabetic, talesofrachel, and JDRFQUEEN, thank you all.

Rock on!

Posted in Diabetes, Health, Shout outs | 3 Comments

On the Bright Side

Posted on March 9, 2010 by mydiabeticheart

“Always look on the bright side of life.”

That’s the song Eric Idle sang at the end of Monty Python’s Life of Brian, as they were all hanging on crosses, awaiting death.  It’s hard to imagine being able to see a bright side in that situation.  I mean, to be facing a very slow, painful death on a cross, where would be the bright side in that? What would one be thankful for?

It’s often hard to see the bright side of things when dealing with any health condition. With what I’ve been through over the last year or so, after being diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes and Congestive Heart Failure, among other health problems, I can say that with a great deal of certainty. And to say that I’m really thankful for either of those is questionable at best on some days.

Despite all the difficulties, though, I can honestly say there is a bright side to all of it, and there are many things for which I am thankful.

On the bright side, I’m still Alive! That’s something for which I am definitely thankful.  And despite some evidence to the contrary, I’m actually in a lot better shape now than I was this time last year.  The strength of my heart is up to 42%, from 35%, the A1c I had a few months back was a 6.0, I’ve lost 40 lbs., etc… I could go on forever, but I won’t.

For me, the good results that I’ve seen from my treatment efforts have made it easier to see the bright side of things.  Feeling the strength returning, the pounds shedding, and the numbers lowering, make it so much easier to keep up with the 1,500 calorie diet, the constant blood glucose checks, and the exercise routine. And a spoonful of sweet victories certainly make the 20+ pills that I take everyday go down a lot easier. 🙂

If there is one thing that has made seeing the bright side a little easier over the last year, it’s the friendships that I’ve made with other members of the Diabetic Online Community (DOC).  The love and support that is shared throughout the DOC is something for which I am always thankful.

And last but not least, I have to give a shout out to George Simmons over at Ninjabetic – The B.A.D Blog.  His post titled “Sometimes” was the inspiration for my post today.  So, be sure to check it out.

For your enjoyment, here’s a Youtube video of the song/movie referenced above.

Posted in Inspiration, Life, Shout outs | 2 Comments

I’ll take the Migraines!

Posted on March 2, 2010 by mydiabeticheart

For the last several years, I’ve dealt with Migraine Headaches on a fairly regular basis.  The intensity and duration has varied but they have always left me wiped out and wondering what the hell happened.  And save for some over the counter remedies, the migraines went untreated as far as drugs go, because I’ve never had good enough insurance or enough money on hand to be able to go to the doctor for help.

Well, things have changed a lot in my life, as anyone who reads this blog knows.  I have a little bit of money now, and thankfully have insurance to help cover the medical bills that I’ve had over the last year.  And that knowledge made my decision to finally try to do something about the Migraines all the more easier when I went to see my doctor at the end of January.

After talking to Dr. Cabe about the situation, she prescribed a medication called Topamax. Now, I had heard both good and bad things about this particular drug, but I was willing to give it a try to see if it would help me.  And boy was that ever a mistake.

In my case, I’ve found the side effects of Topamax to be far worse than Migraine Headaches that I’m trying to remedy.  I mean this shit has really messed me up.  Below are excerpts from www.relieve-migraine-headache.com on the side effects of Topamax.  The ones I’ve experienced are in bold.

“Topamax will slow you down, or make you feel like you’re in a fog. This includes slower reflexes, trouble thinking or concentrating, trouble thinking of the right word (and other speech problems), tiredness, poor coordination, and dizziness.

Topiramate may also cause tingling in your hands or feet, shakiness, depression, nausea, memory problems, and visual problems (such as double vision). It has also been known to bring on respiratory infections.

Some of the less common Topamax side effects include: pain (ie chest, leg), mood changes (ie aggression, restlessness), rash, body odour, appetite loss and weight loss, constipation, hearing loss, and menstrual disorders.” – http://www.relieve-migraine-headache.com/topamax-side-effects.html

In short, in just a months time, the side effects of this one medication have seriously impacted every aspect of my life.  I’m not the same person that I was before I started taking the medication, and more than one person has told me so.

So, all that being said, I called Dr. Cabe’s office Monday morning, and told them I was having a major problem with the Topamax, and I needed to stop taking it ASAP!  They were busy, and it took all day for me to hear back from them, but I got the response that I was wanting.  The doctor agreed that I should discontinue the medication, and provided instructions for weaning myself off of the medication.  They were as follows:

  1. Take 1 pill per day for 4 days.
  2. Skip a day, then take 1 pill.
  3. Skip 2 days, then take 1 pill.
  4. Skip 3 days, then take 1 pill,
  5. And then stop!
Apparently, you have to gradually stop taking this medication, because stopping suddenly can cause serious problems.  Fine, what ever it takes to get this shit out of my system is OK with me.  As I told the doctor, and everyone else I’ve talked to about this problem, given the choice between living with the migraines or dealing with the bullshit side effects of the Topamax: I’ll take the Migraines!
Posted in Life, Medications, Rants | 3 Comments

Giving up Soft Drinks

Posted on February 22, 2010 by mydiabeticheart

Over the course of the last month, I’ve been faced with having to give up another one of my vices, Soft Drinks.

Like an old friend, soft drinks have always been a part of my life.  I didn’t drink them all the time, but they were always around. Even after I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, I switched to diet soft drinks so I could at least have one every once in a while.   Well, not any more.

A few weeks ago, I began to notice that the soft drinks that I liked, diet pepsi and coke zero, just didn’t taste good anymore.  I thought maybe the asthma inhaler I used earlier in the day was causing the nasty taste. So, I gave it a few days, and tried the soft drinks again, and I had the same problem.  They just tasted horrible.

So, rather than try to figure out whether it was the inhaler or one of the 4 other new medications that my doctor had started me on that was causing my soft drinks to taste funny, I said goodbye to them

And if sparing myself the nasty taste wasn’t a good enough reason to give up the  soft drinks, there’s always the money saved and the few extra pounds lost. 🙂

Now I just need some healthy alternatives.  Any suggestions? Comment Please.

Posted in Health, Life, Popular | 5 Comments

Eye am good

Posted on February 12, 2010 by mydiabeticheart

My annual visit with the Ophthalmologist went rather well this morning, and the news was all good.

There were no signs of retinopathy at all, and everything looked really good.  My prescription has not changed at all, so I didn’t have to get new glasses either.

And, unless I have any problems, I don’t have to return to see the ophthalmologist until next year.  I thought my heart was going to break when the doctor told me that.  Then I remembered, it’s already broken.  LOL 😀

So, I left the eye doctor feeling pretty good about things.  Nice to know that the efforts that I’m making in controlling my blood sugar and blood pressure are helping keep to my eyes healthy.  And it just confirms once again that:

Eye am Good! 🙂

Posted in Doctor Visits, Health, Humor | 1 Comment

Going the Extra Mile

Posted on February 9, 2010 by mydiabeticheart

There is something quite satisfying about accomplishing a goal that you’ve set for yourself.

Sometimes, you put a lot of hard work and effort into accomplishing a goal, and when you reach the end you feel great about where things stand, and you’re ready to move onto the next goal.  And other times, you’re just not ready to move on.  You know the outcome will be better if you’re just willing to go the extra mile.

Today at the gym, I went the extra mile.

When I got on the treadmill at the gym this afternoon, I had only planned on walking a mile.  I was going to do one 20 minute mile, and then move on to the next part of my workout routine.  Well, things didn’t happen quite as planned.  Imagine that.

I finished the first mile in 20 minutes, and was feeling pretty good at that point, but wasn’t feeling satisfied with that part of my workout yet.  So, I decided to see if I could go an extra mile.  And I made it through it.  YAY ME!

There were a couple of things that did help me through the miles: the awesome tunes on my MP3 player, and a great motivational quote that was on the white board in the gym.  The quote was so great, that I can’t for the life of me remember how it goes now that I want to share it with my readers.  Don’t you love it when that happens?  Oh well, maybe it will still be there the next time I go to the gym.  Who knows.

At this late hour, despite how tired and sore I am from the miles I’ve covered so far today, I think I have the strength and energy for one last mile.

The one I’ll be driving home from work in 3 hours.  🙂

Posted in Exercise | 1 Comment