November 2014 Update

Seeing DW's recent update inspired me to do the same.

My life during the past 14 months has been crazy!

I have experienced so many surgeries in a single year -- all but two unrelated (I had to have a second surgery on my ankle) -- well its enough to challenge anyone.

meanwhile, Tom has been a rock!

of course he has times when his glucose goes low - and to be honest sometimes I get a bit peeved
but as I tell him often, his challenge is so difficult that as long as he doesn't start hurting me or himself, its ok

I am not doing much work -- would like to really be retired but Tom is uncomfortable with the idea. we shall see where that goes....

but at the same time, I am very busy
trying to figure out how I did everything I used to do and work more than full time!
I am taking Spanish lessons, have worked during two elections, serve meals to a women's shelter, and keep up with my many family members.

Thanksgiving will involve my entire family this year -- all 30 of us!
We will gather at my mom's house but are sharing the cooking amongst us

it has started to be cold here and I don't like that so I am trying to plan a trip to Florida in January or February.

Wishing all a happy holiday season,,,

Tom's wife

Sorry!

To everyone who has responded to my posts, i am sorry that I haven't responded sooner.
I have been in the hospital 8 times in 8 months.

Broken wrist, borken ankle, kidney stone, kidney infection, and ovarian cyst.
Tom is the one with a chronic disease and i am the one in the hospital.

Whine, whine.

but, now i am finally doing well.
cross your fingers and hope with me.

i will try to keep up better in the future.

Tom's good -- I'm not

Since I started writing this blog to talk about dealing with my husband's Type 1 diabetes, we have been through some terrible times and some great ones.

At this moment in my life, Tom is doing well and our relationship is good.  However, I have been through a series of health issues that feels catastrophic.

In September (2013), I fell and shattered my wrist. It required surgery and just knocked out my Fall season.

Then in November (2013), I fell again and dislocated my ankle.  This also required surgery and this time I was laid up for two full months -- one of those months moved into my mother's house so she could take care of me.

In January, I had a kidney stone -- which fortunately  passed quickly, but was extremely painful also.

Last week (March 2014), I was back in the emergency room for back pain which turned out to be pneumonia and UTI.  They also found a cyst on my ovary.

I just can't seem to get healthy.  And, yet, it doesn't seem like any of my ailments are related.  Fortunately I have good health insurance and good doctors.

I am also lucky to have a great husband and wonderful family nearby to help me.

But I am feeling very down and just want to feel good -- something I haven't felt in six months.!

Bleah!

can't stay out of the hospital

well, 2014 is not starting well.
last week i was back in the ER with a kidney stone
wow!  i just seem to have so many problems.
really this is not me
i have never had so many health problems in such a short amount of time

and, neither has my family
they don't know how to treat me
they are worried and yet we don't like to say those things out loud.

so i am staying home or going to physical therapy or a doctor
that is all i do
barely have time to work

also its the one year anniversary of my dad's death and everyone is feeling crappy about that

tom is having trouble managing his glucose levels
lots of big swings and he is unhappy about it
so am i
he sees his endo doc tomorrow
hopefully he will tell her the truth and he gets the right type of help

Hope for a Good 2014

Well, goodbye to 2013, and good riddance.
It was a miserable year for me.
The year started with my dad's death
followed quickly by my dog's death
I attended 6 other funerals over the course of the year
TOO MUCH DEATH!!

Then in September I broke ("shattered") my wrist and needed surgery
in November, I broke my ankle and needed surgery for that

All year long, Tom has consistent (like always)
What this means is that many days his glucose goes low around 6 pm
By low, I would say around 55 to 60

If I try to start dinner earlier - he tells me its too early for dinner and he is not hungry
If I try to encourage him to eat a snack - he doesn't know why...
He just doesn't want to address this
its a consistent behavior that he won't address

in the past, I have handed him a beverage and left him to to drink it
but since my accidents, I have been so limited in my ability to do much of anything
that all I can do is verbalize my concern and wait it out

He has been reasonably supportive of me
my mom and sisters much more helpful than him
(who is surprised by that?)

well, I'm looking forward to being healthier in 2014
and then I'll be in a better position to deal (or not) with his issues.

All the best...

Tom's Wife