[Gary_W]

Evening all. Just thought I'd share my experience of yesterday with you all.

Woke up after a really, really horrible nights sleep. We have two daughters, the youngest of which has had a really unpleasant stomach bug. We were up with her every hour or two through the night. I have a cold. Well, I have Manflu big style. Worst cold I've had in a lot of years and feel dire. And I'm on antibiotics for an infected finger (yuk!)

I had a work appointment that I really could not miss. I'm a salesman and I sell to hospitals. This is our busiest quarter and I had to go. I didn't have to be there until just after lunchtime, and this place is about a 1 1/2 hour drive. I set off, looking like something out of a zombie movie.

Got there. Blood tested, came back as 4.2 (76) (which is very good considering the cold). Thought I'd eat before injecting as I was quite low. Ate a pretty big sandwich (all the canteen had left that looked edible) and went to inject 7u to cover. No insulin pens in the pocket. Phoned my wife who confirmed that I had left them on the kitchen table.

As I was in a hospital, I went along to the diabetes unit and asked if I could have some insulin. Believe it or not they didn't have any And they had no doctors on who could write me a script. They told me to go to accident and emergency. They sorted me out, but only had Actrapid. Haven't had that stuff for years and soon found out why.

It did very little for my BG through the afternoon, but decided it would kick in during the evening. Spent half the evening feeding a fairly extended hypo.

That'll teach me to go to work when I'm absolutely bushed. But, as anyone with children will tell you, this just happens sometimes....

Gary

[Jan B]

Let's just say you will get some sweet payback in the future for caring more for others than for yourself! Hopefully you won't do yourself in, in the meantime!

[ant hill]

Originally Posted by Gary_W

They told me to go to accident and emergency. They sorted me out, but only had Actrapid. Haven't had that stuff for years and soon found out why.

You should have that but just remember Actrapid is a slow insulin as the onset is 2 hours!!! and lasts for 10 hours!! This is a old insulin and I can remember mixing it with another insulin but it's OK by it's self.

[nono87]

hehehe i've done that before had a dodgy night the day before - in my mind i had "dropped" my NovoRapid pen in my handbag so following morning i just picked up my bag and walked out of the house....got to work looked for my pen....AND IT WASN'T THERE!!! AHHHHH called my mom up who was still in the house asked her if i had left my pen and she said yes the blue one...(mind you my Levimir is in a blue pen and my NovoRapid in a silver pen that is kept in a blue pouch) so i thot she was talking about my Levimir...an argument ensued over which pen she was looking at....i was in denial that i had left my pen at home the good bit was i had not eaten anything! D

[Subby]

You don't need children to forget or misplace your insulin... I am testament to that over the years.

You know, your story is strange because it echoes the last time I was not packing insulin, a few months ago. I was in hospital, a sleep over for a brain-damaged client who was a patient at the hospital (I'm a carer for ABI sufferers).

I set myself up to fudge through with the skerrick of insulin I had left, and wasn't looking forward to having to ask the nurses for insulin at 2am... for a start I think our hospital policy would require me being admitted in some way before they could help in any way. Luckily - my BG held.

[TenderVittleS]

I feel bad for you. I think every diabetic has had a few of those days and probably will have some in the future. I hope your kids feel better soon and you get over your cold. Vitamin C helps me alot!!

[russ621]

Hey mate, we're all human. Its amazing all the hospital could offer you is actrapid though. Having done a similar thing myself, it does make me check I've got my insulin with me, when I go out these days ! Take care of that finger and stay warm
Russell

[Gary_W]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I'm certainly feeling a lot more human than I have done all week. The main reason for this is that the children are a lot better. Our eldest still has a bit of a temperature and is a bit off colour but she's not too bad. Our little one perked up a whole lot as of yesterday, and today she's been running around the place shouting and throwing things on the floor (including herself in a massive tantrum) so she's 100% better. And they both slept

Last antibiotic for the finger tonight, which (apart from the nail looking like it's been in the wars) is completely better. Big glass of wine tomorrow night. I'm a bit too used to a glass or two of an evening and I must say I've missed it.

The cold is on its way, and I must say it's been a belter. I did miss the flu shot this year (couldn't make it at any time when the doc could see me). I am well aware that they are not supposed to make any difference to the common cold, and it can't have been flu (I've been pretty rough but not as rough as the real flu thing!). But the only other time I missed a flu shot I got a real stinker of a cold as well. I can't call it science, but I'm going to make sure I get one next year as protection against colds (even though all the docs say it doesn't work )

Gary

[Alice]

I've been taking morning insulin for 42 years...and drove off for a meeting yesterday morning without taking my Lantus...so after a quick U-turn...I was back on track for the day.

I'm a creature of habit and had just changed my morning "routine" for some reason...doesn't happen often, but it happens!

In my younger days, I could just stop a drugstore, buy insulin and a 10-pack of needles and continue on with my day...even if far from home. In those day, most pharmacies didn't require a script for diabetic meds and supplies...that has changed almost everywhere...

Now, with mail-order insurance, I don't have that pharmacy prescription floating around...so not so easy.

[HollyB]

I seem to leave my brain behind frequently, can totally relate. I also remember all too well the zombie-on-mars feeling of trying to keep functioning when the entire family is sick.

But what is with a hospital not having insulin, not even the diabetes clinic? That's freaky.

[FatCatAnna]

I had something similar - not to do with a foggy brain tho' - tho' maybe it was. Last year had to take my hubby to ER - I remembered my blood meter / pen needle - but no needle tips - urrrhhh. You would think of all places - in a hospital - that I could obtain at least a needle - but no - they couldn't supply me with a needle. I didn't have the energy to become an ER case (and the ER room was pretty full) which I think may have enabled me to get a needle to inject with (the ER couldn't really offer me much advise - the lady at the desk just looked at me like I was a bother to her). So I slid back to my husbands side after doing a quick search for any spare needles lying around (unused of course). Luckily 10 hours later after leaving home - I was back home - hubby fine - and injecting to my hearts content. Have never done that again - leaving home without spare pen needle bits!!!

[Alice]

I've used a "clean" pen needle for a lancet in a jam...works like a charm!

[Stuboy]

I've done that a few times... we'll go to the cinema or something, really looking forward to some ice cream and .... ooooooo i've forgotten my insulin AND meter! DOH!

I've also remembered my pen's before but forgotten needles, so i'll eat something, then go to inject and realise i've not got a needle to use on the pen!! that's annoying... luckily i live 2miles from work so it's not too bad to go home and get one!

I guess that's one plus for a pump... never forget that! lol

[ant hill]

I was at the funeral and only had the fast acting with me and so I thought I was to just have dinner and I'll be at home for my basel, Whell that was not the case when I arrived at dad's house. Ho sure we had dinner and out came the bar and some wines and I cannot drive with enough alcohol to get a elephant tipsy, So yeah I was wasted ERRUM.... Drunk!! *Hic*
So with no basel to take I just had 10U of rapid at 12AM and 2AM 4U at 4AM and test at each shot so I had a busy night.
I managed to have 4.5 / 81 at 6AM Next time I will take the Lantus with me DOH!!

[trailrunner]

I have forgotten my brain at home so many times. I think I should put in my purse right next to my husbands balls. hehehe!