Tuesday, April 30, 2013

He Tries and Doesn't Give Up

Vince has been trying to get more exercise lately. It is so hard for him though. Either he is in too much pain, or his balance is off, or just the mere thought of knowing the soreness to come afterwards are all obstacles he faces in trying to stay active. Some days its all he can do to just get through the day, let alone exercising. Well, he did it. He joined a few old friends for a game of stick ball. In my head, I was wondering if this was a good idea or not. I even said to him, can you handle it? He said he thought so. I didn't want to tell him he wasn't allowed to go. I didn't want to be THAT wife, so I stayed quiet. I put lots of glucose tabs in his bag and stressed to listen for the low alarm since he has been running on the low side.I went to work and he went to the church parking lot. The same place he played as a kid. Well, he apparently fell 3 times due to balance issues and issues from his leg brace. I asked him why he fell so many times. He said he thought he could do it. He didn't want to give up. And that was a good answer. Although he knows it was dumb to practically throw himself against the pavement, he didn't want to give up. He is a fighter. That is certain. 


Wednesday, April 17, 2013

A Day In The Life Of A Type 1's Spouse

Note to self:

Do not dig into the Diabetes supply bag without looking unless you are ready to get stabbed viciously with a lancet. 4 days later, my poor thumb is still healing.

A few thoughts running through my mind:

I wonder how the A1C is going? I have seen some highs and some lows but I am not good at judging them in the big picture...

Vince is going to be giving a speech to a class of students. I am debating if he should silence his pump/CGM. I will be with him so I am thinking he should...

We have a new budget we are following...Is this next doctor's visit calculated in? Boy, these co pays are adding up...

Why did we get a surprise delivery from Medtronic of a new pump clip? Should I return it? Nah, we could use a spare. I wonder if we will get charged?

Vince recently visited the ER and found out he has a small kidney stone. He was told he should follow up with a urologist to be sure some of his symtoms he was expierencing were not related to something else. We went to the appointment and were pleasantly surprised to find out he was in good shape and was told to come back in 6 months. Good news for once! Whew...

Don't forget to call in that refill!!!!

I know I'm forgetting something that I need to do...

Boy, filling out the social security review paperwork is such a pain in the tush...Must they really be this detailed? This is a bit much...

Thursday, April 11, 2013

What Was It Like Before....

What was it like before Diabetes?

What was it like before complications?

What was it like to NOT see him in pain all the time?

What was it like when I didn't hear cries from the pain from the one person that a simple cringe would break my heart each and every time?

What was it like to grab food without thinking about Vince's bolus even though I was the only one eating?

What was it like before, when I didn't know the first thing about health insurance because I didn't HAVE to?

What was it like when I first met Vince and didn't worry about his disease?

What was it like to go to work and not worry if he was alive and okay where ever he was that day because I really had no idea how dangerous this disease was?

What if you were prescribed a medication but the side effects were life threatening if you didn't take it the exact way you were supposed to, but that way changed every day? Would you take the med? Think about it. That is insulin........

What was it like before I was judged for worrying about Vince, all because people "don't get it"?

What was it like when he was working?

What was it like when he was working and I would have to coax, urge, and beg for him to pull to the side of the road or to the 7-11 to treat a low while he was driving?

What was it like before the CGM? When I was his human CGM "weak-o-meter" as I was called.

What was it like to be so scared about the glucagon needle?

What would it be like if Vince wasn't diabetic?

What would it be like to not worry about Vince if he happened to miss the phone when I called?

What would it be like without the retinopathy, neuropathy, and hypoglycemia unawareness?