Complications-who has them?

KrisinNM · #1 (**permalink**) 12-09-2004, 06:09 AM

Just wondering what complications everyone else has.
I take thyroid meds, have retinopathy (lasar surgery scheduled for next Mon), two years ago got a virus that led to DKA that caused a mild heart attack, and think I have neuropathy in my arms and hands but my endo won't believe it because there is nothing wrong with my feet.

I am surprised that complications isn't a regular topic here.

Anyone else?

karlf · #2 (**permalink**) 12-09-2004, 06:16 AM

I have bilateral chrondramaliac patella which means that I am unable to do exercise, ( I am in constant pain) which means weight loss is a big problem

Littlebit63_99 · #3 (**permalink**) 12-09-2004, 06:26 AM

Kris,

I have/had them all.

1. The worst.....severe gastroperisis and gastric enteropothy (spelling???)
2. Laser surery in both eyes due to retinopothy
3. Trunkal (spelling) neuropothy in back that has caused pain since 1989.
NO ONE can touch the right side of my back.
4. Neuropothy in feet and lower legs and now hands also.
5. Thyroid meds
6. Severe lows without symtoms
7. And this, I get dizzy when I stand up and I always thought it was a side effect from a med. But, while testing at the U of M for transplant, they told me it was another form of nerve damage......don't have the name for that one tho.

Is that all?????????????God, I hope so!!!!!

I'm a mess huh? If there are more out there that I can get.......please don't anyone tell me what they are........I don't want anymore!!! lol

I think the main reason I have these is cuz I gave birth to two beautiful daughters......when I was told not to have any. Wouldn't change a thing!!!!!

mg_2204 · #4 (**permalink**) 12-09-2004, 06:30 AM

... pressure in my eyes which was resolved by laser surgery almost 7 years ago. Since then, no more problems. At one point, and when I had a really hard time keeping BG under control, I had tingling in my fingers. Perhaps neuropathy at a very early stage? It went away, and nothing since. Can high cholesterol be a considered a complication of diabetes? In any case, that I have. Funny because it was fine for years and suddenly went up, along with triglycerides. So far so good. I consider myself very lucky.

KrisinNM · #5 (**permalink**) 12-09-2004, 06:54 AM

Liz, OUCH!
Here's a hug

Littlebit63_99 · #6 (**permalink**) 12-09-2004, 07:27 AM

Kris,
Thanx, I took it all in stride, till the lows......that was THE LAST STRAW. Now I wait and get my transplant. All will be fine..........they aren't sure nerve damage heals much, but, WATCH ME, it will. I am going to use mind over matter and heal some of this garbage!!! And, get active again!!!!!

carrie_hikomi · #7 (**permalink**) 12-09-2004, 08:16 AM

There are pancreas Transplants? Only been a Diabetic for 4 years, must b e missing out on a lot!

Though, for the few years I have been a Diabetic, I've almost went blind from when I discovered I had it, back in the summer of like.. 1999/2000 can't remember which. but it was my Grade 8 year.

Ive just been recently switched to Novarapid, as my sugars have always had an A1c of like. 12 which is horrid. But thats me, irrisponcible! lol! i'm always in the hospital for like sugar levels of 62.

The only other complication I've suffered, is severe pain in the back of my legs when my sugars are shifting, and Iw alk up hills or run up stairs. Doctor doesn't know why it happens, but its like my calf seizes up, and like a charlie horse is in it, it cramps and hurts, and it makes it extremely hard to move my toes. I was just wondering, does anyone else get that problem?

Sincerely,
Kendra-Dawn

lgvincent · #8 (**permalink**) 12-09-2004, 08:30 AM

I have neuropathy in the fingers and toes and it has moved into the legs, too. I have a hard time eating. I get intense pressure if I eat to fast. A doctor told me the diabetes may have done damage to the nerves around the stomach, causing that problem. I also am spilling some protein in the urine, and I get intense insulin reactions.

Kendra, I get a lot of muscle cramps and spasms all over the body.

carrie_hikomi · #9 (**permalink**) 12-09-2004, 08:31 AM

Is there anything you can do about them? I know better control is probably one option.
After you get these muscle spasm thingies, does it like. After its gone away, feel almost like there is a bruise there and hurt to touch?

Littlebit63_99 · #10 (**permalink**) 12-09-2004, 08:45 AM

Kendra, Igvincent, and Carrie, there are meds for the pain. For me, they work very well.......however there can be side effects and some people can't/won't take them cuz of that. Look under "other medications" on the front page of the forum. A separate post was actually made about Gabapentin. Works well for me. Without it......I would have trouble walking. I get VERY sharp pains in my calves and feet.

HeatherP · #11 (**permalink**) 12-09-2004, 08:55 AM

Hi! I'm T1 for 13 years. A1c's are usually in the 6's (once a year I seem to come up in the 7% range).

I have borderline hypo-thyroid, possible celiac. I get an occasional pins and needles sensation in the bottoms of my feet. At this point I'm not aware of anything else.

lgvincent · #12 (**permalink**) 12-09-2004, 08:56 AM

Kendra, sometimes it will hurt but usually it doesn't. Most of the time they are pretty mild. They are annoying but usually nothing more. I'm not sure what to do to get rid of them or get them to occur less frequently.

BeadieJay · #13 (**permalink**) 12-09-2004, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mg_2204

At one point, and when I had a really hard time keeping BG under control, I had tingling in my fingers. Perhaps neuropathy at a very early stage? It went away, and nothing since.

When I was going through my rebelling stage, and not being careful about what I ate, I got a lot of tingling in my feet. I knew what it was - but I still found it hard to get back on track. Now, I occasionally get tingling in my fingers - and it bothers me. My numbers are good, my A1c is going in the right direction, but I guess sometimes I still eat things that I shouldn't.

Is it possible that the tingling in my fingers is a result of my BG going high, even though, if I test 2 hours after a meal, the bsl is good?

I don't think I could bear to lose the use of my hands - I do so many crafts, that would be impossible if my mobility was lost even a little bit. I'm scaring myself now - which is probably a good thing

bac4uw · #14 (**permalink**) 12-09-2004, 09:46 AM

Kris, thanks for posting this topic!! I always wonder about how other people fare and its nice (and sometimes not - though necessary) to hear other people's experiences in this department. I've only been T1 for almost 6 years and became so in my early 20s... I'm can fortunately say that I don't have any problems yet.

Unless of course you count the annual seasonal affective disorder that has hit me since I moved to Seattle three years ago. (three months of eight-hour-long, rainy, sunless days tends to affect one's mood!)

bac4uw · #15 (**permalink**) 12-09-2004, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carrie_hikomi

Doctor doesn't know why it happens, but its like my calf seizes up, and like a charlie horse is in it, it cramps and hurts, and it makes it extremely hard to move my toes. I was just wondering, does anyone else get that problem?

Sincerely,
Kendra-Dawn

Before I was diagnosed (really high BG's), my calves and legs would do exactly what you describe. Nothing like waking up in the middle of the night feeling like your entire calf shrunk up to the size of a baseball!

Bryan