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First, a piece of general health news: I'm off at Ipsos until January 24th while they try to lock down my anti-depressant load. *grimace* This is both frustrating and embarassing. My pysch doc has promised he'll try to pull some strings and slot me back into a repeat of the Dialectical Behavioral Theraphy (DBT) course I took a few years back which had such excellent results. Apparently some people need to repeat the course several times. This manages to make me feel a bit less like a failure.
Yesterday: the diabetic clinic at Health Sciences Center here in Winnipeg.
The good news: the blood glucose meter (a One Touch Ultra, and boy, was I surprised at how small it is) is free. Pricking the fingers isn't that bad -- they have a spring-loaded pen that automatically does it for you.
The bad news: the cost of supplies. Each test strip for the meter (usable only once) is 80 cents to $1 in cost. The needles also run about a dollar each. .0_o
The good news: once I hit my Pharmacare deductable, all medical supplies are completely covered/free. *sings "Oh Canada!" in gratitude*
The bad news: I did my first before/after meal blood sugar measurement. Before a meal of Shepherd's pie, perogies, sour cream, gravy, and Jello with whipped cream: 6.0. Two hours after said meal: 17.5. And 18.0 is considered extremely high blood sugar. That was the moment when it hit me: my body is now, in a way, my enemy. I have to live by the clock (meals every 4 hours, a total of 45-60 g of carbs per meal) and die by the meter. My world is irrevokably changed.
The good and bad news: 150 minutes of exercise per week, half cardio, half resistance, gradually increasing to 240 minutes per week. Son of a BITCH! I'll be healthier. But man, is that a pain in the ass.
Welcome to Diabetesville. Population: myself. And there are no roads, planes, or ATVs to get me the hell out of here.
Then, last night -- By My Uterus Betrayed! Part... oh, man, I've lost count. The wretched thing went on a merry projectile bleeding spree last night, then bled straight through one pad and all over the mattress. I awoke smeared in my own blood. NRG! (On the other hand, George at least was philosophical about it, unlike the husband of a friend of mine who still hasn't gotten used to the fact that women have their monthly courses and the spilling of blood is involved. What did Mister Garrison say on South Park? "Never trust anything that bleeds for five days and doesn't die...")
Yesterday: the diabetic clinic at Health Sciences Center here in Winnipeg.
The good news: the blood glucose meter (a One Touch Ultra, and boy, was I surprised at how small it is) is free. Pricking the fingers isn't that bad -- they have a spring-loaded pen that automatically does it for you.
The bad news: the cost of supplies. Each test strip for the meter (usable only once) is 80 cents to $1 in cost. The needles also run about a dollar each. .0_o
The good news: once I hit my Pharmacare deductable, all medical supplies are completely covered/free. *sings "Oh Canada!" in gratitude*
The bad news: I did my first before/after meal blood sugar measurement. Before a meal of Shepherd's pie, perogies, sour cream, gravy, and Jello with whipped cream: 6.0. Two hours after said meal: 17.5. And 18.0 is considered extremely high blood sugar. That was the moment when it hit me: my body is now, in a way, my enemy. I have to live by the clock (meals every 4 hours, a total of 45-60 g of carbs per meal) and die by the meter. My world is irrevokably changed.
The good and bad news: 150 minutes of exercise per week, half cardio, half resistance, gradually increasing to 240 minutes per week. Son of a BITCH! I'll be healthier. But man, is that a pain in the ass.
Welcome to Diabetesville. Population: myself. And there are no roads, planes, or ATVs to get me the hell out of here.
Then, last night -- By My Uterus Betrayed! Part... oh, man, I've lost count. The wretched thing went on a merry projectile bleeding spree last night, then bled straight through one pad and all over the mattress. I awoke smeared in my own blood. NRG! (On the other hand, George at least was philosophical about it, unlike the husband of a friend of mine who still hasn't gotten used to the fact that women have their monthly courses and the spilling of blood is involved. What did Mister Garrison say on South Park? "Never trust anything that bleeds for five days and doesn't die...")
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As for Diabetesville - there are lots of people there with you! Scary as that is... My gramma has it, Northlight... lots and lots of people live there, you might not know them, but you are so not alone there... *HUGS*
It's evil for diet change, but it's probably healthier for your diet in the end... if it keeps you healthy it is a good thing *super hugs* Talk soon!
Commiseration from Ruby...
11 pm: no symptoms at all! Crawl into bed and go to sleep, sans pad of COURSE.
3 am: wake up looking like I had either a miscarriage, or a minor touch of Ebola.
Hubby: "Whazzgawin'on...?"
Me:
11 pm: no symptoms at all! Crawl into bed and go to sleep, sans pad of COURSE.
3 am: wake up looking like I had either a miscarriage, or a minor touch of Ebola.
Hubby: "Whazzgawin'on...?"
Me: <desperately stuffing knickers and PJ bottoms, wrecked past redemption, into rubbish bin> "NOTHING!! NOTHING! GO BACK TO SLEEP!"
::Sigh:: Sometimes I do feel sorry for our husbands, the poor dears...it must be a little disconcerting to know your wife is gushing blood and not in the ICU. What was it Margaret Cho said? "It's a good thing men don't get periods, or every bachelor apartment would look like a crime scene." ;-)
Ruby T
(no subject)
I remember when my mom had a glucometer (they thought she was diabetic, but she wasn't as it turned out)., my sister and i were placing bets on our blood sugar and playing with it (bear in mind we were far from children..I think i was around 22 LOL) until we discovered how expensive the test strips were. Ahem. Until you reach your pharmacare deductible, just so you know if you speak to your physician or contact the Canadian Diabetes Association, you can often get these at a sliding scale cost or free. I once dated a guy with Type One diabetes who got all his supplies relatively free according to his income.
I learned alot about it as a result, and my mom was once in dietary at a hospital so let me know if you want some pointers :)
As for exercise, Andrea and i are starting a new exercise regimen. You're welcome to join us if you want some support!
As for the "Crimson Wave", boy, do i relate. I have had issues with it my whole life. Now there's still childbearing if that happens at some point and menopause to look forward to..giddy up.
heheh I love Margaret Cho! I remember another quote by Gloria Steinem, where she said if men had periods they would probably brag about it, like "I had a two pad day" and how much they bled, and the would sell "tough" sports pads like "Joe Namath brand pads" hehehe.
My partner i think fell asleep in biology/sex ed class when it comes to that stuff. I had to explain to him how a tampon works :). He seems to find mensturation fascinating and terrifying all at once, like the way you're drawn to look at a car wreck but don't really want to. He has also gotten to know my cycles almost better than I and knows when to stay away heheh. During "that time" I long for a moon lodge, i always wish i could be on my own and left alone.
Once your diabetes and cholesterol and depression meds have stabalized, your periods could experience a positive change too. Maybe you could look into using the Keeper?? (NOT the giant texas hat at the womyn's centre, the other one heheh)
Lots of blessings going out to you!