911'd again

[xMenace]

When I rolled over, grabbed my wife by the hair, and started shaking violently she figured I must be hypo and called 911. She was right. I did get up, walk to the bathroom, lean against the sink, and pull myself out of it. If you've done this you know what I mean. It's difficult to explain. I pulled a chair into the front hall and sat calmly waiting for the ambulance and fire department to come. One of the ambulance people seemed like a noob and she was quite concerned. When the fire truck arrived and the captain came in I said "heya Roger!" ha, I always get Roger. He's another hockey dad. He was pretty sleepy and not real happy about being awake. They tested me at 3.0 so I had a piece of toast with pb to make them feel happy. I was 4.4 when they left and 5.9 10 minutes later. I'm in the teens now about 2 hrs later.

On vacation and worked hard yesterday. Had a late big meal and the big bolus overlapped my night time low period. I should have known better! Slap me! That's all I'll get. TG I live here and won't get billed.

This is #6 lifetime, #1 this year. Last was a year ago.

[ant hill]

On vacation and worked hard yesterday. Had a late big meal and the big bolus overlapped my night time low period.

I see the mistake here as normaly you have been comfortable on holidays then you give your body a shock of hard labor!!! :eek:
I am not saying that hard work is not good for you, It's the adjustment to insulin that you have already in you that you have to think about. I'm sorry Jhon, As i see your story that if you're are going to put stress on yourself then you will experiance a low!!! Anyway, I guess that you are ok now and chewing on somthing sweet. :)

[KickStart101]

Geez, don't you hate when they send the
whole brigade? Why send the Cops? No
one has been murdered. Why send the
Firemen? There is No fire. The Ambulance,
Yes. It's embarassing enough with the
Ambulance siren and lights going. :eek: They
must be having a sloooow day.

If I have a low while asleep, I just roll over
and snuggle with Hubby. Believe me, he
knows it's a low. I don't do that while asleep
otherwise. I like my space. :D

Anyways, sorry about your low-nighter and
Glad that you didn't have to make the trip.

I beat you, I've had 3 low-nighters so far
this year but didn't need 911.

[gettingby]

John, what are we gonna do with you???;) LOL. j/k
I'm glad that you are ok now.

[kgm0612]

John.........sorry to read of your low and your 911 call. Hope you're feeling better today!


Karen

[xMenace]

I feel fine, not even depressed ;) More a wife-panic to my rather flagrant reaction.

[belyro]

Oh my, John! Glad to hear you're OK! Stop scaring the wife!

[Alice]

Tell Roger we all said "hello!"!!! (Roger the Paramedic!)
Glad you're ok.

[grace girl]

Glad you're okay! Have you learned the hard work/less insulin thingie now???:D Some of my most stellar lows have occured when we decided to landscape the front yard in a day.....and many, many hours into the night I paid the great price!

[johgn]

I'm glad you and your wife are OK.

[Alice]

Ironically, I get my best lows (at the worst time) when cooking large meals for family events and dinner parties!

I always seem to crash about the time to put the food on the table! Hard labor, no. Hard for me...yes!

[notme]

Wow....scary. I have been low enough that my daughter recognized my odd behavior. I think I was in the low 20's at the time. I have never had the "brigade" called. I think I would die of embarrassment. Isn't that a really odd reaction? I don't know why I am embarrassed by lows, but I am.

Glad you are fine and feeling ok. I really hate lows.

[RobiJo]

I am curious why people call 911 in the first place... are your family members just too scared/nervous/etc. to give you a glucagon? I have never had the "brigade" called for one of my extreme lows. My family has used glucagon on me probably about 10 times for full out low seizures, and many other times they were able to force feed me enough juice, or icing (tastes better than that gluco-gel stuff). I am curious because I've never been 911'd---and they don't seem to be much help when they get there anyways.

[xMenace]

I am curious why people call 911 in the first place... are your family members just too scared/nervous/etc. to give you a glucagon? I have never had the "brigade" called for one of my extreme lows. My family has used glucagon on me probably about 10 times for full out low seizures, and many other times they were able to force feed me enough juice, or icing (tastes better than that gluco-gel stuff). I am curious because I've never been 911'd---and they don't seem to be much help when they get there anyways.

I had it for years and never needed it. Now that I need it I don't even have the stuff in the house, duh. I think I'll get some tomorrow and start her training. Thanks.

[ladytaz]

eW! I'm sorry to hear that, John!! Glad you're ok, though!! I sure hope you give your wifey some extra special lovin too, to make up for yankin on her head!! ;)

Thankfully I don't, or rather, haven't yet, had that kind of reaction. Only been SO scared once, that was a few weeks ago, I ALMOST hollered for hubby, but managed, somehow, by myself.

No low hangover for ya today then? Lucky You!!!

[duck]

I am curious why people call 911 in the first place... are your family members just too scared/nervous/etc. to give you a glucagon? I have never had the "brigade" called for one of my extreme lows. My family has used glucagon on me probably about 10 times for full out low seizures, and many other times they were able to force feed me enough juice, or icing (tastes better than that gluco-gel stuff). I am curious because I've never been 911'd---and they don't seem to be much help when they get there anyways.

The only time I ever ended up in the hospital was because a roommate in college, a trained EMT, called 911 one morning when I wouldn't wake up for class.

Since I had a perfect record of never having been back to the hospital under "emergency" circumstances related to diabetes before that (or since, really), I asked him why he called 911--I wasn't asking like I was mad, but seriously WTF does a trained EMT call 911 for? A trained EMT who was like a brother to me, who knew me and my diabetes very well?

He said he was falling to pieces trying to get me to drink my coke and eat something sweet, he thought I was going to die, so he did the only thing he could think of that he knew would save my life--call in the cavalry.

If in doubt, call 911/Emergency Services.

[notme]

Your so right on this Duck. If there is ever a doubt, it would be nice to know that someone responsible would find the help you may need. We can question "why" someone would call 911, but I would certainly rather have them be safe rather than sorry. I have never been 911'd and honestly, I think my husband is a bit cavalier sometimes. I had a low one night in the low 30's and it exhausted me. I crashed on my bed and my husband said he came upstairs periodically to "check on me". What does that mean? He didn't wake me up, but checked, I guess, to make sure I was breathing. Well heck, you breath in a coma right? :eek:

[cheryl]

So sorry about that John, atleast your ok....

I remember 911 when breast feeding my third son eeek, the torture of seeing a 20 for the first time in my life, as I was sucking down sugar, just not responding fast enough, pounding the fists on the counter trying not to pass out....

Then the only other time was an accidental shot of 36 units of Humalog instead of Lantus, first thank god I was prego, so much more insulin stubborn, tried to get it up on my own, but it was tough, kept eating and eating, as soon as an hour and half hit, there went my blood sugar, the room was spinning everything was off, hubby called 911 but I downed a half of bottle of syrup by that point, it was like my body craved it,.....

By the time they got there I was 120 LOL.....then 500 later later on cause ummm didn't take the lantus duh.....after all.....felt like a truck ran over me....

Anyway, I am glad you are ok.....haven't been 911'd since 2005............don't want to be again for a long long time

Cheryl

[Alice]

Odd thing, I've been Type I since 2nd grade...41+ years. I've never had a doctor (endo or pediatrician) recommend glucagon to me...even my currrent endo. I have never needed, so I never really knew it existed until the internet years ago...I just think that's odd.

I've pulled myself up from the high 20's and low 30's without much trouble...other than a tummy ache from all the sugar I ate/drank. I don't want to say it rarely happens, we all know it could happen next hour...

Is Glucagon prescription only? How does it work. I'm thinking you have to mix it? Where do you inject? This is one area of Type I that I just have never received any info...and haven't seen it written in any newsletters or anything.

The ADA needs to get on the ball.

[duck]

Odd thing, I've been Type I since 2nd grade...41+ years. I've never had a doctor (endo or pediatrician) recommend glucagon to me...even my currrent endo. I have never needed, so I never really knew it existed until the internet years ago...I just think that's odd.

I've pulled myself up from the high 20's and low 30's without much trouble...other than a tummy ache from all the sugar I ate/drank. I don't want to say it rarely happens, we all know it could happen next hour...

Is Glucagon prescription only? How does it work. I'm thinking you have to mix it? Where do you inject? This is one area of Type I that I just have never received any info...and haven't seen it written in any newsletters or anything.

The ADA needs to get on the ball.

I believe if the truth be known, there are probably more issues with glucagon being incorrectly administered than with people being instructed to call for help...

Glucagon is prescription only. It comes with a liquid part and a powder part, once mixed it begins to break down and lose potency, hence the seperation. To use it, you draw up the liquid (as much as you can) into a syringe, inject the liquid into the vial with the powder, mix, then re-draw the mixture out into the syringe. You have to inject into muscle for maximum effect, so most doctors advise shoulders or arms.

And again, reading what I just wrote, I see more problems with the "average joe" trying ANY of that effectively.

[Funnygrl]

I've used glucagon successfully on myself a few times due to extreme lows I couldn't get up with food because of vomiting. It saved me a few ER trips, so I definitely recommend keeping it on that hand. One of the beauties of glucagon for the non-medical person is that it can be given IV/SC/IM so it doesn't really matter where you jab it.

Duck- I'm guessing your room mate called 911 cause he didn't have IV D50 handy?

[Cyborg]

Glad you're ok now. If I had to go to the ER every time my bg dropped to 54 (3.0), I'd be there a couple times a week. Definitely look into picking up some Glucagon to save you from having to make those ER trips. Also, you may want to inquire about anti-seizure meds as it sounds like you may be having seizures. Good luck...

[mg_2204]

Glad you're ok now! I would have been really worried, seeing my spouse shake like that. Take good care!

[duck]

I've used glucagon successfully on myself a few times due to extreme lows I couldn't get up with food because of vomiting. It saved me a few ER trips, so I definitely recommend keeping it on that hand. One of the beauties of glucagon for the non-medical person is that it can be given IV/SC/IM so it doesn't really matter where you jab it.

Duck- I'm guessing your room mate called 911 cause he didn't have IV D50 handy?

I can assure you there was no D50 around. :D He actually told many, many war stories about administering IV D50 to unconscious diabetics--up to that point, all the "scary" diabetes stories I knew generally came from him.

[RobiJo]

I had it for years and never needed it. Now that I need it I don't even have the stuff in the house, duh. I think I'll get some tomorrow and start her training. Thanks.

Good idea. I have so many laying around...one in my purse, one in my weekend bag, one in the nightstand, one of more in the fridge. Many of them are probably past their expiration dates, but they are around and will work in a pinch. Fortunately I haven't needed one since my old NPH/R days. But I have trained my husban (and I quiz him occasionally to be sure he still knows what to do.) He also knows to disconnect my pump and try some juice first.

At any rate, being low to the point of needing another's help is no fun at all. And that low "hangover" is no fun either.

[BriOnH]

Glad you are ok John. These kind of lows are awful :( . I am glad you are ok.

[soso]

Glad you are OK John.. I once grabbed my husbands face as I dreamed I was pulling a mask off him.. then I kicked him in the shins.. and that was BEFORE the diabetes! He hasn't had an easy life....

Someone mentiond being embarrassed when the ambulance came.. that's how I felt yesterday..mortified, can't really say why... I must have been really out of it as apparently Fred told me today there was an ambo a Fire truck a police car and a van.... I only saw the ambo and a police van...
I used to have a epileptic dog and I find seizures very very scary to watch.. hope your wife is recovered too!
ss

[xMenace]

Apparently she's tried to inject me before but couldn't do it. I tend to thrash around a lot and I think she's scared to get to close sometimes.

[xMenace]

And that low "hangover" is no fun either.

The hangover kicked in roughly six hours later. I was pretty useless all day.

[Injecto]

Glad you are O.K. Xman...

Than "hangover" has got to suck bad...

I just hope people around me are ready and willing to call 911 if in doubt. I find that people are more scared to call 911 at all, after all, when I was raised and 911 just came to town, we (all of us kids in school) were told how you'd get punished by the police if you called 911 for no good reason. So now it seems we have a certain portion of the population who are more scared to call them unless there is a physical accident or death.

[belyro]

Glucagon is prescription only.

In Manitoba, Canada, you can get it without a prescription but then it won't be covered by Pharmacare or Insurance (at least not MY insurance.)

I got it through a prescription b/c it's close to $100 - too much for out-of-pocket.

[duck]

In Manitoba, Canada, you can get it without a prescription but then it won't be covered by Pharmacare or Insurance (at least not MY insurance.)

I got it through a prescription b/c it's close to $100 - too much for out-of-pocket.

WOW! That much? I haven't had any since I came off of NPH--Let me tell you 90% of my control issues were because of NPH.

[KickStart101]

I am curious why people call 911 in the first place... are your family members just too scared/nervous/etc. to give you a glucagon? I have never had the "brigade" called for one of my extreme lows. My family has used glucagon on me probably about 10 times for full out low seizures, and many other times they were able to force feed me enough juice, or icing (tastes better than that gluco-gel stuff). I am curious because I've never been 911'd---and they don't seem to be much help when they get there anyways.


No, they are not afraid because I have never
purchased Glucagon. They would have been
expired the few times I would have really needed
them when I lived away from home. My choice.
I either look after my own lows mostly or someone
gives me a juice or mixes me one plus a couple
choclate balls(my body breaks them down fast).
Not difficult.

(Now when I was a Kid they would have been Handy
with the 3 of us having seizures left, right and centre.
But they didn't exist in our area).

The times I was "escorted" to the Hospital by Ambulance
after leaving home:

1. I was 4 mths. prego with my Son. I was having
a low. My Endo just happened to call when I was
mixing a juice for myself. She insisted on sending an
Ambulance. (She paid for it). No Fire trucks or Cops.

2. The GP at the Clinic thought I was in pain from
riding the bikes all week-end. (Little did we know
that I was having severe pain from RA since I wasn't
dxd. yet). He had prescribed Entrophen 10(I never
took drugs before). I had taken 12 instead of the
max. of 8. (He said they would work but they were'nt).
I had lost 17 lbs. that mth. because of the undxd. RA.
So I was only 102 lbs. My Endo called that evening.
She noticed I was breathing heavily, could barely talk
or walk. (I thought I was just really tired as usual).
She called the Ambulance and they picked me and my
Son up again. (She paid for it again).

3. I had a low Really Bad and was unconscious on the
couch. A Friend from down the street was banging on
my door so long that I actually woke up, unlocked the
door and collapsed in front of her. She called 911.
They told her to slap me hard a couple times:eek: (I know
she enjoyed that ;) ). I wasn't waking so they sent the
Ambulance, Cops and Firemen for oxigen.

4. One Day I was doing Fine until my Physio and her
trainee practically killed me by way over doing my
exercises, tons of questions by the trainee, etc. I
was soooo tired before they left.(I had agreed to do
it all). I did have a juice and something to eat, then
went to lie down on the couch. Hours later my
Daughter came home, couldn't wake me up so she
called 911. The Cops, Ambulance, Firemen.

5. One evening my Family were downstairs watching a
movie. I had eaten and went to lie down upstairs. They
said an hour later they felt and heard the whole bed
upstairs jumping(I was probably possessed :D )). I was
having a violent seizure. Hubby called 911. Cops,
Ambulance, etc.

(The other times weren't for me. Once for my Daughter.
Once for my Son. And twice for my Hubby).

These are all Perfectly Good reasons since they couldn't
wake me and you are not supposed to give an unconscious
Person anything because of the choking hazard.

Our taxes also pay for the Ambulance service(except for
$25. yrs. ago and now $45. which Hubby's job covers)so
why not call them when necessary? And they do look
after us in the Ambulance and at the Hospital as they
should in those cases, to make sure we are okay.

I'm done. Have a Good Day. ;)

[KickStart101]

Oh and NO I wasn't pregnant with my Son when
I took that accidental overdose(# 2.). He was
already 2 1/2 yrs. old.

[artwoman]

In San Diego, CA the 1st responders are the Fire Dept. They have a shorter response time and have a PM (paramedic) on the rig. Then the Paramedic Ambulance comes. I know it is a drag - I work for SDFD and have type 1. I try real hard not to go to the ER. They always overtreat, and I end up getting too high a bg at the hospital.

[KickStart101]

Mmmm, I didn't think about the Fire Department
being the closest. Okay, Yes I did for a fire.
Since you mentioned it, that's true. At both our
places, their stations were just around the corner.
Plus they have the Paramedic and basic medical
equipment. That's important and Good to know.
Thanks. :)

Ya, I try to stay away from the ER also. Thankfully,
I haven't been there very much for diabetes. About
4-5 yrs. now. But something else manages to come
up. I forgot, the last time the "brigade" escorted me
to the ER was last fall for that stupid blood-infection.
Oh well, I'm Glad that everyone and the ER is there
when we need them. Thanks Again. :)