Not Quite Done Yet...
Sep. 1st, 2003 06:23 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bookofmirrorsRemember when I said I was done posting for the day?
I'm a lying bitch.
:)
This one is a medical update. Turns out I have bursitisin my right knee. (Thanks,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
technomom!) It really sucks. Painful as FUCK. I mean, literally screaming painful, at least on Thursday. I went to the doctor on Friday, and he gave me some Celebrex samples and a prescription, and the Celebrex works really well. He said it would be about a week before it was better, and I didn't realize until later that he'd written me a note for work to be off for a week. Of course, I can't afford to be off work that long, and had called off work Friday for the doctor's appointment (and the pain, although it turned out to be not as bad as on Thursday). So, when I called work, there was some issue about me coming in. Apparently, if I have a doctor's note that says I'm not supposed to be there for a week, letting me work during that time makes them liable if something bad happens while I'm there. And I get that and all, but I just got back from a week off, and I don't have any more paid time off to spare, and I just can't afford to be out that long. So, work and I compromised. I worked as desk nurse only on Saturday and Sunday. I thought I was going to be able to do that for all 16 hours, but apparently, I was only supposed to work day shift both days. I actually stayed closer to 12 hours both days, just finishing stuff up (had a 3:00pm admission Sunday, so of course I had to stay over and finish that), so hopefully that won't be so bad. I'm thinking after Tuesday, if it feels better, I can pick up some more hours. They're always needing overtime. Plus, I've got the other job.
However, I got some bad news while I was at the doctor's office. I finally remembered to ask him about removing my skin tags. He said that, of course, they could be removed (he recommended a dermatologist for that), but that they'd just grow back. He also said something else. He said that the presence of those, combined with the dark mark on the back of my neck, were sure indications of diabetes later in life (unspecified time frame) if I don't lose weight. So, I'm dealing with that. Anyone else who has those, be warned.
As far as the knee goes, it's hurting today. I ran out of the samples, and haven't gone to get the prescription filled yet (bad me). I took a percocet we had lying around, but it hasn't kicked in yet. I find narcotics annoying. Frankly, the NSAIDs work better, and for some reason, I don't get the happyfun effects of narcotics that other people get, so it's not even fun for me. So, yeah, need to get the 'script filled.
I'm a lying bitch.
:)
This one is a medical update. Turns out I have bursitisin my right knee. (Thanks,
technomom!) It really sucks. Painful as FUCK. I mean, literally screaming painful, at least on Thursday. I went to the doctor on Friday, and he gave me some Celebrex samples and a prescription, and the Celebrex works really well. He said it would be about a week before it was better, and I didn't realize until later that he'd written me a note for work to be off for a week. Of course, I can't afford to be off work that long, and had called off work Friday for the doctor's appointment (and the pain, although it turned out to be not as bad as on Thursday). So, when I called work, there was some issue about me coming in. Apparently, if I have a doctor's note that says I'm not supposed to be there for a week, letting me work during that time makes them liable if something bad happens while I'm there. And I get that and all, but I just got back from a week off, and I don't have any more paid time off to spare, and I just can't afford to be out that long. So, work and I compromised. I worked as desk nurse only on Saturday and Sunday. I thought I was going to be able to do that for all 16 hours, but apparently, I was only supposed to work day shift both days. I actually stayed closer to 12 hours both days, just finishing stuff up (had a 3:00pm admission Sunday, so of course I had to stay over and finish that), so hopefully that won't be so bad. I'm thinking after Tuesday, if it feels better, I can pick up some more hours. They're always needing overtime. Plus, I've got the other job.However, I got some bad news while I was at the doctor's office. I finally remembered to ask him about removing my skin tags. He said that, of course, they could be removed (he recommended a dermatologist for that), but that they'd just grow back. He also said something else. He said that the presence of those, combined with the dark mark on the back of my neck, were sure indications of diabetes later in life (unspecified time frame) if I don't lose weight. So, I'm dealing with that. Anyone else who has those, be warned.
As far as the knee goes, it's hurting today. I ran out of the samples, and haven't gone to get the prescription filled yet (bad me). I took a percocet we had lying around, but it hasn't kicked in yet. I find narcotics annoying. Frankly, the NSAIDs work better, and for some reason, I don't get the happyfun effects of narcotics that other people get, so it's not even fun for me. So, yeah, need to get the 'script filled.
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no subject
Date: 2003-09-02 12:09 am (UTC)Sam has lots of skin tags, and when he asked his doctor about them last year he was told that they're just a cosmetic thing. Nothing about diabetes at all. I'll have to do some research, since that is worrisome.
Insulin Resistance, Diabetes (Type II) and Skin Tags
Date: 2003-09-02 03:48 pm (UTC)Insulin Resistance and Diabetes (Type II only) are basically the same thing: you body forgets at the cellular level that it needs to pay attention to normal levels of insulin in order to properly control your metabolism. So your normal output of insulin is not enough to lower your blood sugar immediately, and your hypothalamus signals for more insulin to be produced. By the time your cells start paying attention to the insulin in your bloodstream, there is significantly too much, and so your cells go into hyperdrive, pull all of the sugar out of your blood stream, and leave you, in extreme cases, without high enough glucose levels to maintain consciousness.
The difference between Insulin Resistance and Diabetes(Type II) is only a matter of degree. Given a 16 ounce Coke first thing in the morning, an insulin resistant person's blood sugar will jump to about 130-150 (normal is 80-100), then crash about an hour later to about 50-60. In a diabetic person, that same coke will cause the blood sugar reading to jump to a high number, often over 300 if untreated, and will often crash to coma or death levels if additional food is not taken in on time.
Effectively, being insulin resistance means that every time you eat easily processed carbohydrates (sugar, high fructose corn syrup, flour, starches, etc.) you are effectively giving yourself a case of insulin poisioning.
Symptoms of insulin resistance include:
- Skin Tags(note these are not moles, which can be normal, and not a sign of anything)
- dark patches of skin (they can appear on the neck, armpits, groin, or waist)
- Fast weight gain, especially around the stomach or waist area (apple shape)
- Frequent need for urination (getting up 2-3 times per night to go to the restroom)
- Frequent or Strong Thirst that is not easily sated
There are other signs as well, but they are generally the signs of immediate blood glucose distress, and don't necessarily mean you are insulin resistant, unless they continue to occur over time:
- a feeling of dizziness or light-headedness
- extreme fatigue and drowsiness about an hour after eating
- strong headaches that go away after eating
- unexplainable cravings for sugars, starches, and other foods that contain carbohydrates
I have found WebMD to be a little behind the times on this topic, and have found better information at the
Insulin Resistance and Diabetes (Type II only) are basically the same thing: you body forgets at the cellular level that it needs to pay attention to normal levels of insulin in order to properly control your metabolism. So your normal output of insulin is not enough to lower your blood sugar immediately, and your hypothalamus signals for more insulin to be produced. By the time your cells start paying attention to the insulin in your bloodstream, there is significantly too much, and so your cells go into hyperdrive, pull all of the sugar out of your blood stream, and leave you, in extreme cases, without high enough glucose levels to maintain consciousness.
The difference between Insulin Resistance and Diabetes(Type II) is only a matter of degree. Given a 16 ounce Coke first thing in the morning, an insulin resistant person's blood sugar will jump to about 130-150 (normal is 80-100), then crash about an hour later to about 50-60. In a diabetic person, that same coke will cause the blood sugar reading to jump to a high number, often over 300 if untreated, and will often crash to coma or death levels if additional food is not taken in on time.
Effectively, being insulin resistance means that every time you eat easily processed carbohydrates (sugar, high fructose corn syrup, flour, starches, etc.) you are effectively giving yourself a case of insulin poisioning.
Symptoms of insulin resistance include:
- Skin Tags(note these are not moles, which can be normal, and not a sign of anything)
- dark patches of skin (they can appear on the neck, armpits, groin, or waist)
- Fast weight gain, especially around the stomach or waist area (apple shape)
- Frequent need for urination (getting up 2-3 times per night to go to the restroom)
- Frequent or Strong Thirst that is not easily sated
There are other signs as well, but they are generally the signs of immediate blood glucose distress, and don't necessarily mean you are insulin resistant, unless they continue to occur over time:
- a feeling of dizziness or light-headedness
- extreme fatigue and drowsiness about an hour after eating
- strong headaches that go away after eating
- unexplainable cravings for sugars, starches, and other foods that contain carbohydrates
I have found WebMD to be a little behind the times on this topic, and have found better information at the <a href http://www.pcosupport.org>PCOS support website</a>. Since women with PCOS all have insulin resistance to some degree(the insulin resistance causes hormone imbalances which cause the reproductive issues), the information about insulin resistance is more complete and based on personal experience with new therapies, etc.
My doctor tested my fasting insulin levels (12 hour fasting blood test) to determine if I was insulin resistant. My blood sugar showed normal, but my insulin levels were significantly above normal range. She prescribed me metformin (Glucophage) to help with blood sugar stability while I worked at losing my extra weight. 60 pounds lighter, my blood sugar is easily controlled by diet alone, and I am back off the glucophage, and feeling better than ever.
One last thing: The Atkins Institute has looked at insulin resistance and its associated evils, and have tentavely linked High-Fructose Corn Syrup (the most popular commercial sweetener) to insulin resistance, high cholesterol, and several other related ailments. You can check out what they have to say about it <a href http://www.atkins.com/global/search-results.html?search_string=fructose>Here<a/>.
I guess that my main point is that even if you are insulin-resistant, you can easily prevent diabetes by simply losing the extra weight and watching your carbohydrate intake.
Good luck! I'll be happy to offer any help I can. Changing your lifestyle is tough.