Stormy
10-14-2004, 05:39 AM
I have been lurking for a bit, but felt it was time I joined in.
My story,
I am 43, female, type 2. I delevoped type 2, not long after having my second daughter nearly 14 years ago. I did develope gestional diabetes when I was pregnant with her, and was told that within a few years, I would likely become full blown diabetic. I am not certain when I actually became diabetic, but I am pretty sure it was long before I was actually diagnosed, as I had classic symptoms, but remained in denial about them. I have never had a weight problem, but have always been terrible about eating healthy. A fast pace lifestyle kept me from gaining weight, but didn't keep the diabetic fairy from visiting. I did finally get diagnosed, but only because I was actually going into a coma, and was rushed to the emergency. I had just thought I was coming down with the flu. Imagine my shock when the Doctor asked how long I had been diabetic? He also said, that a year before then, on my medical records from when I had a hysterictomy, it was on there that my blood sugar was quite high. No one ever told me. Don't you just love HMO's? :/
Anyway, I am from Houston, and thru the magic of the internet, met and married a wonderfully supportive Englishman, and am now living in the UK, going on 4 years now.
I have been having alot of trouble managing my bs's, metformin just was the worst thing EVER, the stomach pain was just ridiculous, but for two years the Doctors kept insisting that was the only thing I should use. The problem with using it, would be that I would feel so ill from it, and always had bowel problelms, that I barely ever left the house, and was miserable. Then I would get into a loop of being fed up with what the metformin was doing to me, that I would stop taking it, and then the bs's would rise again. To be honest, while on metformin, my bs's were never down in normal range anyway.
Last November, I started with a different medical team, and they said it was no use to continue on the metformin loop, and they suggested starting on lantus. It really did the trick, and I have had no side effects from it. The only thing is that from time to time, I skip taking it, and develop a little bitty needle phobia. It's not a big one,, and I usually just force myself to get over it. But I may sit with the needle just resting on the skin for ages before I work up to pushing it all the way in.
Now, here's the complicated bit. Being an American, and trying to adjust to a new life in a new country has brought on complications I never expected. From divorcing my first husband of 19 years, having had both my parents pass away within two months of each other, just before I got married, and various other bad things that happened just when I moved over here. It's a nightmare when something emotionally stressful happens and you are so far from home. I have come to realize that I am clinically depressed, and the NHS has started me on anti depressants. I dont' know how effective they are really,, but I take them. I may have been depressed for quite a long time, but it's taken me a while to realize it. Actually when I found myself feeling very suicidal alot, I realized things were getting bad. Alot of it is guilt from my parent's passing away, and missing my teenage daughters. I am supposed to be going into therapy, via the NHS, but it's a very slow process. :/
That's basically me,, I look forward to getting to know all of you better, and hopefully won't feel so alone in this anymore.
hugs,
stormy
My story,
I am 43, female, type 2. I delevoped type 2, not long after having my second daughter nearly 14 years ago. I did develope gestional diabetes when I was pregnant with her, and was told that within a few years, I would likely become full blown diabetic. I am not certain when I actually became diabetic, but I am pretty sure it was long before I was actually diagnosed, as I had classic symptoms, but remained in denial about them. I have never had a weight problem, but have always been terrible about eating healthy. A fast pace lifestyle kept me from gaining weight, but didn't keep the diabetic fairy from visiting. I did finally get diagnosed, but only because I was actually going into a coma, and was rushed to the emergency. I had just thought I was coming down with the flu. Imagine my shock when the Doctor asked how long I had been diabetic? He also said, that a year before then, on my medical records from when I had a hysterictomy, it was on there that my blood sugar was quite high. No one ever told me. Don't you just love HMO's? :/
Anyway, I am from Houston, and thru the magic of the internet, met and married a wonderfully supportive Englishman, and am now living in the UK, going on 4 years now.
I have been having alot of trouble managing my bs's, metformin just was the worst thing EVER, the stomach pain was just ridiculous, but for two years the Doctors kept insisting that was the only thing I should use. The problem with using it, would be that I would feel so ill from it, and always had bowel problelms, that I barely ever left the house, and was miserable. Then I would get into a loop of being fed up with what the metformin was doing to me, that I would stop taking it, and then the bs's would rise again. To be honest, while on metformin, my bs's were never down in normal range anyway.
Last November, I started with a different medical team, and they said it was no use to continue on the metformin loop, and they suggested starting on lantus. It really did the trick, and I have had no side effects from it. The only thing is that from time to time, I skip taking it, and develop a little bitty needle phobia. It's not a big one,, and I usually just force myself to get over it. But I may sit with the needle just resting on the skin for ages before I work up to pushing it all the way in.
Now, here's the complicated bit. Being an American, and trying to adjust to a new life in a new country has brought on complications I never expected. From divorcing my first husband of 19 years, having had both my parents pass away within two months of each other, just before I got married, and various other bad things that happened just when I moved over here. It's a nightmare when something emotionally stressful happens and you are so far from home. I have come to realize that I am clinically depressed, and the NHS has started me on anti depressants. I dont' know how effective they are really,, but I take them. I may have been depressed for quite a long time, but it's taken me a while to realize it. Actually when I found myself feeling very suicidal alot, I realized things were getting bad. Alot of it is guilt from my parent's passing away, and missing my teenage daughters. I am supposed to be going into therapy, via the NHS, but it's a very slow process. :/
That's basically me,, I look forward to getting to know all of you better, and hopefully won't feel so alone in this anymore.
hugs,
stormy