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Funnygrl
05-31-2007, 07:03 AM
I've been having severe abdominal pain and lotsa vomiting for about a week now. Yesterday I started getting really dizzy and crying from the pain. I decided it was time to go into the ER for some rehydration, but no one was around to take me. So I went by myself.

I got there and even though the waiting room was full of people, I got moved to a really nice room in the ER right away. It was one of those hospital rooms decorated nicely, and I had my own TV and bathroom. Not bad. And good thing too, cause I was gonna be there for awhile. This was 4:30pm.

They started me on IV fluids and test my blood sugar. I clock in a 68 (3.Cool. I suspend my pump and they give me half an amp of IV dextrose. They give me IV Zofran and IV Toradol too. A half hour later my bs is up to 97(5.4) and my labs are back. White count high, everything else normal.

My blood sugar drops again about 10 minutes are the 97. The other half of the amp of dextrose goes in. Urineanalysis comes back- I have a UTI. Good times.

My blood sugar drops again. And again. Another half amp and half amp. And my pump is suspended.

I go for ultrasound and vomiting some more. I get IV Reglan, Pepcid, and this drink called the "GI Cocktail" which was malox, lidocaine, and some other drug. It was green and minty and made my whole GI tract numb. Kinda weird.

Time to test my bs again (I was on blood sugar checks every half hour). Back to the 60s. Wow. Just wow. I get the whole amp of IV dextrose this time, and they change my IV drip to 5% glucose. I ask to try and eat some crackers and they bring me graham crackers and diet ginger al. Doctor saw the diet and was not happy with aid lady that brought it. He went and got me regular.

Next bs check finally had me in the 160s (8.9-9.4) and it stayed put pretty much from then on. I asked doctor if I could put my pump back on and he said, "No, lows bad, highs good." Okee.

I got some Protonix. I got IV Compazine.

Then the test came. I had to keep down a glass of water or else I was being admitted. I puked it up everywhere.

I agreed to let them admit me, then thought about how miserable my last ER experience was, how I didn't have my glasses, anything to take my contacts out with, a clean toothbrush, my drugs the hospitals don't stock (namely Prevacid and birth control). I didn't want to get my period at the hospital. I called home (even though it was 2am) and asked dad if he would call off work tomorrow if I got admitted and he said no. I got panicked. I wanted to sleep well, not be brought breakfast at 7 and have labs drawn at 6am. I knew the admission wouldn't be over till 3am. I needed more than 3 hours of sleep, and the thought of even getting those 3 hrs with IVs hanging out everywhere was unbearable. So I told them I wasn't going. And they made me sign out AMA (against medical advice). And I did, and drove home. I got to bed at 3am. I still feel like I can't eat, and know there's a good possibility I'll go back to the hospital and let them admit me. But I'm bringing a bag with my stuff this time Wink

They ruled out every cause except my reflux disease. It's not pancreatitis, or a gall attack, or anything but reflux disease and gastroparesis. So feh.

JediSkipdogg
05-31-2007, 07:17 AM
I was wondering where you were yesterday. Stay out of the hospital darlin. Unless of course you are working, lol.

I hope you get better and don't have to go back, but if you do, I'll be thinking of you in there with all those docs pokin and proddin at you. Your dad's a....not nice person....I would have taken off work for you. If you need anything, let me know. I'm only 7 hours away, so I could be there by the time they let you out, lol.

GrammyByer
05-31-2007, 07:31 AM
So sorry to hear of your terrible ordeal. i hope that all is getting back to normal now and that you can avoid a hospital stay. I think you need a better support system than your dad who dosen't seem to be very supportive.

Injecto
05-31-2007, 07:42 AM
Sorry to hear about this, sound awful. Wishing you well.

kgm0612
05-31-2007, 07:53 AM
(((HUG))) Wishing you a speedy recovery!

Karen

Funnygrl
05-31-2007, 08:35 AM
Going back....I'm taking my laptop. Some say I might be able to get online. We'll see.

JediSkipdogg
05-31-2007, 08:38 AM
Going back....I'm taking my laptop. Some say I might be able to get online. We'll see.

Good luck and let us know how it goes. I'll be thinkin about you.

shockme
05-31-2007, 08:40 AM
funnygirl-i'm so sorry to hear you're sick!i hope you have a bag packed just in case you need to go back...i hope you feel better soon!take care,trish

Keezheekoni
05-31-2007, 10:20 AM
I hope everything goes well and you get better soon!

Take care!

notme
05-31-2007, 10:46 AM
Take care. What an awful ordeal for you. Hope you feel a bit better this afternoon. HUGS

Gary_W
05-31-2007, 12:34 PM
Really sorry to hear you're not well. I hope you get well soon, and get out of that there hospital really quick!

Gary

BriOnH
05-31-2007, 04:20 PM
Sorry to read that fg. Hope you get better fast. I'd ask for some good drugs :) [if I was admitted I would].

HelenM
05-31-2007, 04:36 PM
Good luck, hope things get sorted and you're back to normal quickly.

jerryn
05-31-2007, 05:21 PM
I wish you the best funny girl! Get well soon!

ladytaz
05-31-2007, 10:45 PM
Get better soon FG!! Thinkin of ya and prayin for ya! *hugz*

June91
06-01-2007, 01:46 AM
I would trust your judgment over any medical advice, FG and am sure you did the right thing. I hope your problems are already gone.

lilituc
06-01-2007, 11:35 PM
Hope you feel better soon!

JediSkipdogg
06-02-2007, 10:10 AM
Oh Christine...where are you? Come home darlin. The forum misses you and wants an update. Or maybe just me ;)

BriOnH
06-02-2007, 11:37 AM
The forum misses you and wants an update.

Totally. I hope you are ok fg. Please let us know.

Cyborg
06-02-2007, 12:42 PM
It's awhile since she's posted... Hope your ok fg. :flowers:

Funnygrl
06-02-2007, 04:43 PM
I ended up going back to the hospital. Things didn't go so hot with being home. They admitted me (again) thursday afternoon, and I just got home. It sucked, but it was really the best thing that I went back. Ihad a private room, and my nurses were nice, so that was all good.

It appears I have gastroparesis quite badly. I don't tolerate Reglan well, and that's basically the only real choice for treatment. Propulsid is available limitedly and Zelnorm was taken off the market. Soo....it's Reglan, a gastric pacemaker, or getting Domperidone from Canada. We're going with the last choice for now. I'm really not happy about having to get Domperidone, and pay out of pocket for it because Reglan is the only choice in the US, but it seems like the best option, and my parents are totally supporting me (financially and emotionally) in that choice. If Domperidone doesn't work, they're referring me to the Cleveland Clinic for a gastric pacemaker.

I'm taking the Reglan for now though, and am finally keeping down food and water.

JediSkipdogg
06-02-2007, 04:49 PM
Glad to hear you are OK....well, alive and back home. I guess my question is do they know if gastroparesis was caused by your diabetes or not? I know there is a huge link between the two, but I always took it you had good control, so that shouldn't have caused it and so newly diagnosed (well, not like 10 years.)

camjen1
06-02-2007, 04:59 PM
Jedi the first line to treating gastroparesis is getting the blood sugars controlled. Controlling blood sugars helps some but doesn't completely cure it for others and they could still need further treatment.

JediSkipdogg
06-02-2007, 05:04 PM
Jedi the first line to treating gastroparesis is getting the blood sugars controlled. Controlling blood sugars helps some but doesn't completely cure it for others and they could still need further treatment.

I was referring to what caused it though. High blood sugar levels can damage the vagus nerve and disrupt it's function, however, heck, I didn't think FG had BGs that high.

And now control will be harder because it affects stomach absortion and emptying. Therefore I would suspect more erratic readings. Poor FG :(

Funnygrl
06-02-2007, 05:09 PM
I was diagnosed with gastroparesis 2 years before I was diagnosed with diabetes, so they think I would have gotten it anyways. Robin (Eri's Mom) has gastroparesis and doesn't have diabetes. They don't think my diabetes caused it, but they do think it caused it to progress quicker, and it does further force me to be more diligent. Even though my blood sugars are typically excellent, they are far from perfect or normal.

JasonJayhawk
06-02-2007, 05:39 PM
Doesn't sound like good times. I'd hate to go through this in your situation... especially when you aren't sure what it could be. I hope your insurance is helping to cover the ER and admit.

It had to really be frustrating during your glucose drop, despite the pump suspension.

Cyborg
06-02-2007, 07:34 PM
Is there a way to handle the gastroparesis with the pump alone, without medications?

Funnygrl
06-02-2007, 08:38 PM
Is there a way to handle the gastroparesis with the pump alone, without medications?
The insulin pump? No, the pump let's me match boluses to meals and my funky emptying, and is pretty much indespensible at this point, but does nothing for the stomach pain and vomiting.

BriOnH
06-02-2007, 08:44 PM
I've never heard of a gastric pacemaker, but it sounds like surgery is involved and having somthing implanted in you. I certainly hope that you do not have to go there. What does a gastric pacemaker do exactly?

Funnygrl
06-02-2007, 09:14 PM
I've never heard of a gastric pacemaker, but it sounds like surgery is involved and having somthing implanted in you. I certainly hope that you do not have to go there. What does a gastric pacemaker do exactly?
No snide remarks about my opinions of minimed, ok?

This explains it best, honestly:

Stomach spasm and Gastroparesis treatment options at Medtronic (http://www.medtronic.com/neuro/enterra/)

It's basically like a cardiac pacemaker, except it causes your stomach to contract. It's implanted laproscopically. The battery gets changed ever 5-10 years. That stinks, cause it means a minimum of 5 surgeries for me if I live to 70. Ah well, if it helps, I'd be thrilled. I doubt I would be qualified though.

Cyborg
06-02-2007, 10:18 PM
The insulin pump? No, the pump let's me match boluses to meals and my funky emptying, and is pretty much indispensable at this point, but does nothing for the stomach pain and vomiting.

Oh... I thought you were sick from the gastroparesis medication.

Funnygrl
06-02-2007, 10:44 PM
Oh... I thought you were sick from the gastroparesis medication.
The Reglan gives me a headache and makes me tired and makes me cry super easily. That's why I'm going to try the domperidone.

statdeac
06-03-2007, 04:14 AM
Holy cow, Christine! I knew you weren't doing so hot, but I had no idea your week was thing tumultuous. :s

Hope you get the relief you need very soon. :)

Goldrun
06-03-2007, 07:02 PM
geez, I hope things look up real soon!