• Privacy Policy
  • Thrift Store Finds
  • Fresh From The Farm
  • Craft Projects
    • Pinterest Party
    • Aprons
    • Quilting
    • Fabric
    • Sewing
    • Tutorials
    • Beads
    • Crafts
    • Jewelry
  • Shop & Support Me!
    • Shop Gluten Free on Amazon.com
    • Shop Omaha Steaks
    • Schwan’s Home Delivery on Amazon.com
    • Maryland Crabs
  • Book Shelf
    • Adult Fiction
    • Children’s Books
    • Cookbooks
    • Craft & Sewing
    • Gardening
    • Non Fiction
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Good food, good company, good advice from Grandma

  • Home
  • Contact
    • About
      • About My Header
    • Hi, PR. What can I do for you?
    • Disclosure
    • Giveaway Rules: Please Read Them
    • Privacy Policy
    • Follow Me! Social Media Links
    • Recognition & Awards
    • FabGrandchildren
  • Gluten Free
  • The House
    • Getting Pre-Approved
    • Finding The One
    • The Loan Application
    • Closing The Loan
    • Fixing It Up
    • Thrift Store Finds
    • The Yard & Garden
  • Local
  • Travel
    • Campground Reviews
    • Hotel & Motel Reviews
    • Places I Want To Go
    • Alabama
    • Arizona
      • Colorado river
      • Grand Canyon
      • North Rim
    • Arkansas
    • California
    • Colorado
    • Florida
      • Amelia Island
      • Destin
    • Georgia
      • Atlanta
      • Helen
      • Marietta
      • Savannah
      • The Golden Isles
    • Louisana
    • Maryland
    • Mexico
    • Mississippi
      • Tunica
    • Missouri
    • Nevada
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • North Carolina
    • Oklahoma
    • Pennsylvania
    • Tennessee
    • Texas
    • Utah
    • Virginia
      • Richmond
  • Health
    • Atherosclerosis
    • Chronic Pain
    • COPD
    • Fibromyalgia
    • Ostomy Life
    • PTSD
    • Rosacea
    • Skin Cancer
    • Sleep Apnea
    • Type II Diabetes
  • Recipes
    • Re-Create The Recipe
  • Gift Guides
    • 2016 Holiday Gift Guide
      • 2016 Holiday Gift Guide Sponsors
    • 2015 Holiday Gift Guide
      • 2015 Holiday Gift Guide Sponsors
    • 2014 Gift Guide
    • 2013 Holiday Table Gift Guide
      • Sponsors For Our 2013 Holiday Table Gift Guide
    • 2013 Family Gift Guide
      • 2013 Family Gift Guide Sponsors
    • 2012 Grandma’s Gift Guide
  • Fashion
  • Show Search
Hide Search

Health Update

Karen · 2 Comments

Share2
Tweet1
Pin
Share
3 Shares
My health update

Fabgrandpa and I went to our endocrinologist on January 2. My visit was less than stellar. I have gained 14 pounds since my last visit in October and gone up one whole point on my A1C to 8.4. I can no longer ignore the fact that I need to lose weight. Just figuring out how I’m going to do it is what is holding me back. (Yeah, I know, excuses.) Tomorrow I am going for a session with a nutritionist at the endocronologist’s office. I went to one about 17 years ago when I was first diagnosed with diabetes, but over the years I have forgotten, or just failed to think about, what she told me. A refresher is always a good thing, right? 

A couple of days after I went to the endo, I had an appointment with my pain management doctor. I have been having good results with the treatment she has been giving me. I am off of the percocet that I was on for over five years, and now take 600 mg of gabapenten three times a day. She also gives me a prescription for hydrocodone to take twice a day if needed, and baclofen, which is a muscle relaxer. I take the baclofen at night. I don’t take the hydrocodone every day. If I have an  especially busy day, like going grocery shopping, I get worn out and then things start to hurt, so that is when I take that.  This time she gave me a shot in my left hip because it was hurting so badly. I also went to the chiropractor the next day. My hip has been giving me so much trouble I can barely walk. I guess the next step is to see an orthopedic doctor. 

Photo from WebMD “Colostomy Stoma”

This week we had an ice and snow storm here in Georgia (well, all over the southeast). There was ice on the roads, covered by about two inches of snow. During that snow storm, I went to the bathroom to empty my colostomy bag. It was full of bright red blood. I freaked out! That has never happened before, and it scared me to death. I called the gastroenterologist on call at the hospital, and he said for me to go to the emergency room. I don’t know about you, but I have never driven on ice and snow, and I was certainly not going to start when I was freaked out due to a health problem. I live 30 miles from the hospital. So, I called 911 and asked for an ambulance. 

In just a few minutes, there were three firemen in my living room. Of course, Rosie The Boy Cat and Morti ran and hid under the bed, but little Frank was right there in the middle of them, so curious. He was stretching his neck, trying to see every little thing these new humans were doing to his lady. It made me laugh!  Soon after the firemen got there, the ambulance arrived.  They parked on the road, because of the snow in the driveway I suppose. The firemen helped me get out the door and off the porch. The EMT’s started an IV, took my vital signs, and strapped me onto the gurney before they took off. 

I looked a fright. wearing a blue print LuLaRoe Carly dress, pastel green leggings, my red plaid house slippers with the fake fur collar around my ankle, and my olive green parka with fake fur around the hood. I had hap-hazardly thrown some things in my tote bag to take with me in case they admitted me to the hospital–underwear, a robe, a clean dress, socks, my phone charger, and some extra colostomy supplies in case they wanted me to take my bag off. There is no telling what all else was in that bag. 

It took us over an hour to get to the hospital, but when I got there they took me right into an exam room. They had me empty my bag into a bedpan, and did a test to see if there was blood in the stool. They also drew blood, and gave me something for nausea. Then, I went down the hall for a CT scan. All of this showed no reason for the bleeding. They finally sent me home with a referral to a gastroenterologist, to see them next week. My appointment with Dr. Sharma is on Wednesday. I saw him before, back in 2014, when I was trying to get my colostomy reversed. He is the one who referred me to Dr. Galloway at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta. I guess it was about time to see a gastroenterologist again anyway.

One of my friends, someone I used to work with at BellSouth, has had a colostomy for about twelve years. She said she has had this happen before, and her doctor said it was caused by arterial vein malformation in intestines. She had a colonoscopy through the stoma, and they found three polyps or AVM’s. So, that is probably what will happen with me, which is not so bad. The worst part of it is the prep for the colonoscopy. Yuck!

Share2
Tweet1
Pin
Share
3 Shares

Filed Under: Chronic Pain, Living With Colostomy, Medical Issues, Type II Diabetes

Reader Interactions

Creative Fabrica

Comments

  1. MommyJenna says

    January 22, 2018 at 10:25 pm

    You scared me when I saw your Facebook post! I’m glad it’s as “OK” as can be considering!

    Reply
  2. Pam in Louisiana says

    January 31, 2018 at 8:32 pm

    Just found this post and I am so sorry to hear about your ER visit during the ice and snow. It never fails that when you think you look your worst it’s when something like that happens! Luckily it doesn’t matter what we look like during those times. I must have missed your Facebook post about this, but I’m hoping your recovery will be a quick one. As my moma used to say, getting old ain’t for sissies. I’ve had several long years practice working on that sissy part so far! God bless you, and you’ll be in my prayers.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Food Advertising by logo

Become A Fab Follower: Sign Up To Follow Me By Email

Subscribe to my e-mail list

* indicates required

…

Amazon Gift Cards

Target
Food Advertising by logo

Fabgrandma Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy

My Most Popular Posts

Search Fabgrandma

Get Inexpensive Bi-focals! Mine were under $50!

Amazon Deals!

My Wish List--Buy Me Something, You Know You Want To!

Read All My Old Posts!

Chat Line Numbers - Find someone interesting to chat with.
AffordablePapers.com
- get your essay written for cheap.
logo
Food Advertisements by
260258f54a44218e36dc47a6aa4da483-332

© 2021 · FAB GRANDMA · ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Find Your Influence
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Reject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.