Re: Intro

[Guest guest]

-

Welcome! Great Introduction!!!!

Where abouts in the world are you??

I have to children: a girl, Jacqui, age 6 - HFA / a boy, Jeff, age 19 - the

cause for the knots in my neck.

You're going to fit in juuuuust fine here.

Another insane Mom,

Penny :-)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/1/2002 1:34:45 PM Eastern Standard Time,

bedells@... writes:

> Nicky - 28 mo.: Dx autism.

B

Sounds like you have a full crew there! I am also so I will now go as

G to prevent confusion. I'm 's mom she is Nicky's age. She will

be two in July. She was diagnoised in November and is an only child. My

husband has after 6 months of therapy admited that she had a problem and is

doing much better now. She's also one of those climbers. If you want to

chat we're here for you. What state are you in? We're in PA and after her

diagnoise everyone was pretty much falling overthemselves to help us. Have

you applied for Medicaid? It will cover some things that insurance doesn't

(ie. some therapies). There is a " loophole " that's what they call it here

that will qualify you since he's got a diagnois. Have you done that? I've

just finished all the paperwork recently... it took about 3 months.

Best of luck

G. Mom of

2 1/2 autism

[Guest guest]

> No, I'm not as nuts as I look. It's my world that is nuts, and I am just

> trying to keep a grip on it.

>

Girl, are you ever in the right place!!!

Jacquie

[Guest guest]

Welcome!

My name is Jacquie H(so not to be confused with Jacquie). I am

married to Jeff and have 2 boys Greggory 6 this moth and autistic and

Alec 4 yrs and autistic and bp. You will love this group. I do! I am

not posting alot lately as I have been very sick off and on since

November. Glad you decided to join us.

Jacquie H

[Guest guest]

>>>No, I'm not as nuts as I look. It's my world that

is nuts, and I am just trying to keep a grip on it.

Bedell<<<<

Hello B!

I'm Tuna, married to Doug and SAHM to (7, ASD)

and (3, NT). Welcome to our world, you'll fit

right in!

Tuna

=====

" Reality is nothing but a collective hunch. "

Lily Tomlin

______________________________________________________________________

Web-hosting solutions for home and business! http://website.yahoo.ca

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the group. It sounds like you will fit in

nicely here!

=====

Ginger, wife to Jeff

14 ADD

9 Autistic

7 NT

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

, glad to have you. So, where do you live? Your synopsis in

many respects sounds like my life, especially the part about you.

But then, there are a few of us here that sound like that. The good

news is that if you need to vent, or even just need to say PHEW, What

A Day! We will understand because we live that life too.

, SAHM, Married 15yrs

, dh, d usually means dear although he is afflicted with

occasional lapses

, 14, best non dx is AS, offically dx'd with ADHD, OCD, TS,

hyperlexic, NVLD

Gail, 12, officially nonspectrum...., officially ADHD, OCD, Anxiety

with Panic attacks, Written Language LD

9, Autism, TS, Cyclothymia (cyclical mood disorder but not BP)

, 4, supposedly NT, SID and social/behavioral attributable to

the sensory stuff

19mo, Developmental Delay - Speech

[Guest guest]

Hi Mimi,

I grew up in Long Island also. Just moved upstate in March.

Helaina

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Welcome..you'll fit right in! I'm Mimi, married to

for almost 9 years, former legal secretary (in a

distant past life..LOL) and now a sahm to

Hannah, 7 1/2 (NT) and , 5 1/2, PDD. We

live in New York on Long Island.

has a significant speech delay and attends a

special eds kindergarten where he is doing very well.

He gets ABA, OT, speech therapy every day, and is

using and mastering the PECS system of

communication...he is finally starting to say more

words and even simple sentences.

And, his nickname is The Terminator..he loves to

climb, jump, hop, etc..we have to keep our car outside

of the fence because he will climb to the top of

it..and it's a minivan.

I look forward to getting to know you. You sound like

you have your hands full!

Mimi

--- Roland and Bedell

wrote:

> Hello, I am new to this group, so I thought I would

> introduce myself et al.

>

> List of characters:

>

> Nicky - 28 mo.: Dx autism. He's the one standing

> on top of the shelving

> unit, which he has climbed again, trying to do a

> happy dance while he leans

> over to hoot and squeal at the T.V. on the shelf

> below him. He is almost

> completely nonverbal, but he loves to cuddle and

> kiss. Nicky is on the

> gf/cf diet, doing ABA therapy for 1 hour a week

> (that's all we can afford

> and neither our insurance nor the early intervention

> program in our area

> will cover the cost), and will be doing speech and

> OT as soon as there are

> openings in the programs.

>

> Roland Jr. (aka Puck) - 3 1/2 yrs: Playing

> basketball in the sun porch. He

> has been a Jordan and basketball fan since

> Xmas, when we refound

> our old copy of " Space Jam " . He is a happy,

> outgoing three year old.

>

> Robby - 11 years: Very bright young materialist.

> He will probably grow up

> to be one of those self made millionaires. Right

> now he has to make do with

> what we can afford, and he isn't particularly happy

> about it, but is willing

> to make the best of what he can get.

>

> A.G. - 13 years: Also very bright and very verbal,

> but with extremely poor

> social skills and a little bit clumsy. He is also

> very impulsive and tends

> to get in alot of trouble quite often because he

> never thinks about the

> consequences of his actions or words. I wonder

> sometimes if he might not

> have Asperger's, but there is no one in the area who

> could diagnose it, and

> I might just be paranoid, having read too much about

> autism in general in

> the last few months (since Nicky's dx).

>

> Roland Sr. - My dh. Is very angry that Nicky has

> been " labeled " i.e.

> diagnosed. Would like to convince himself that

> Nicky is just a " late

> talker " . Refuses to deal with A.G.'s behavior

> problems because he feels he

> has run out of ideas and patience. Is very stressed

> out and worried that we

> won't have enough money to get what is needed, so

> works lots of overtime and

> is completely exhausted by the time he gets home.

>

> Me! (aka Mom) - I used to be a SuperMom, but my cape

> is still at the

> cleaners because I can't afford to get it out right

> now. Besides, they

> couldn't get the stains out, the rips are beyond

> patching, and it strangles

> me every time Nicky uses it as a ladder to sit on my

> head. Please excuse

> the mess; I will get to it eventually, but it will

> have to wait in line

> behind the other messes that were there first. Just

> a second while I get

> the child off the shelves and aim his brother at the

> hoop instead of the

> window. Dinner will be late due to the fact that I

> haven't gotten a chance

> to get anything out of the freezer yet; I was at

> another drs. appt for

> Nicky, where he was being evaluated for the waiting

> list for another type of

> therapy. EIP called today to say that they think

> ABA is unnecessary, even

> though he is making good progress in it, while none

> of their therapies have

> even started; they are too backed up. Oh, and by the

> way, the middle school

> called to say that they are treating A.G. for minor

> bruises and abrasions

> again. It looks like someone beat him up again, but

> he won't say so.

>

> No, I'm not as nuts as I look. It's my world that

> is nuts, and I am just

> trying to keep a grip on it.

>

> Bedell

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

welcome, wendy b! i LOVED your intro, very funny

there is a mom who used to be on this list who also lives in ft. myers. she

asked me to give you her email address- tindak@...

" Help! Jane! Stop this crazy thing! " - Jetson

[Guest guest]

Welcome to the group, B. I am a SAHM to Ebony

and . Step-mom to Nikki and Josh. Wife to Terry.

Ebony is four years old. She has autism, ADHD, and is

possibly bi-polar. It's good to meet you!

Tamara

--- Roland and Bedell

wrote:

> Hello, I am new to this group, so I thought I would

> introduce myself et al.

>

> List of characters:

>

> Nicky - 28 mo.: Dx autism. He's the one standing

> on top of the shelving

> unit, which he has climbed again, trying to do a

> happy dance while he leans

> over to hoot and squeal at the T.V. on the shelf

> below him. He is almost

> completely nonverbal, but he loves to cuddle and

> kiss. Nicky is on the

> gf/cf diet, doing ABA therapy for 1 hour a week

> (that's all we can afford

> and neither our insurance nor the early intervention

> program in our area

> will cover the cost), and will be doing speech and

> OT as soon as there are

> openings in the programs.

>

> Roland Jr. (aka Puck) - 3 1/2 yrs: Playing

> basketball in the sun porch. He

> has been a Jordan and basketball fan since

> Xmas, when we refound

> our old copy of " Space Jam " . He is a happy,

> outgoing three year old.

>

> Robby - 11 years: Very bright young materialist.

> He will probably grow up

> to be one of those self made millionaires. Right

> now he has to make do with

> what we can afford, and he isn't particularly happy

> about it, but is willing

> to make the best of what he can get.

>

> A.G. - 13 years: Also very bright and very verbal,

> but with extremely poor

> social skills and a little bit clumsy. He is also

> very impulsive and tends

> to get in alot of trouble quite often because he

> never thinks about the

> consequences of his actions or words. I wonder

> sometimes if he might not

> have Asperger's, but there is no one in the area who

> could diagnose it, and

> I might just be paranoid, having read too much about

> autism in general in

> the last few months (since Nicky's dx).

>

> Roland Sr. - My dh. Is very angry that Nicky has

> been " labeled " i.e.

> diagnosed. Would like to convince himself that

> Nicky is just a " late

> talker " . Refuses to deal with A.G.'s behavior

> problems because he feels he

> has run out of ideas and patience. Is very stressed

> out and worried that we

> won't have enough money to get what is needed, so

> works lots of overtime and

> is completely exhausted by the time he gets home.

>

> Me! (aka Mom) - I used to be a SuperMom, but my cape

> is still at the

> cleaners because I can't afford to get it out right

> now. Besides, they

> couldn't get the stains out, the rips are beyond

> patching, and it strangles

> me every time Nicky uses it as a ladder to sit on my

> head. Please excuse

> the mess; I will get to it eventually, but it will

> have to wait in line

> behind the other messes that were there first. Just

> a second while I get

> the child off the shelves and aim his brother at the

> hoop instead of the

> window. Dinner will be late due to the fact that I

> haven't gotten a chance

> to get anything out of the freezer yet; I was at

> another drs. appt for

> Nicky, where he was being evaluated for the waiting

> list for another type of

> therapy. EIP called today to say that they think

> ABA is unnecessary, even

> though he is making good progress in it, while none

> of their therapies have

> even started; they are too backed up. Oh, and by the

> way, the middle school

> called to say that they are treating A.G. for minor

> bruises and abrasions

> again. It looks like someone beat him up again, but

> he won't say so.

>

> No, I'm not as nuts as I look. It's my world that

> is nuts, and I am just

> trying to keep a grip on it.

>

> Bedell

>

>

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

> welcome, wendy b! i LOVED your intro, very funny

there is a mom who used to be on this list who also lives in ft. myers. she

asked me to give you her email address- tindak@... <

oops, forgot to attach this...

gina, 30, ny, single crazy mom to...

kailey, 7.8, autistic and then some

trevor, 2.0, speech delay

" Help! Jane! Stop this crazy thing! " - Jetson

[Guest guest]

Hi B.

Welcome to the group.

Lori

intro

Hello, I am new to this group, so I thought I would introduce myself et al.

List of characters:

Nicky - 28 mo.: Dx autism. He's the one standing on top of the shelving

unit, which he has climbed again, trying to do a happy dance while he leans

over to hoot and squeal at the T.V. on the shelf below him. He is almost

completely nonverbal, but he loves to cuddle and kiss. Nicky is on the

gf/cf diet, doing ABA therapy for 1 hour a week (that's all we can afford

and neither our insurance nor the early intervention program in our area

will cover the cost), and will be doing speech and OT as soon as there are

openings in the programs.

Roland Jr. (aka Puck) - 3 1/2 yrs: Playing basketball in the sun porch. He

has been a Jordan and basketball fan since Xmas, when we refound

our old copy of " Space Jam " . He is a happy, outgoing three year old.

Robby - 11 years: Very bright young materialist. He will probably grow up

to be one of those self made millionaires. Right now he has to make do with

what we can afford, and he isn't particularly happy about it, but is willing

to make the best of what he can get.

A.G. - 13 years: Also very bright and very verbal, but with extremely poor

social skills and a little bit clumsy. He is also very impulsive and tends

to get in alot of trouble quite often because he never thinks about the

consequences of his actions or words. I wonder sometimes if he might not

have Asperger's, but there is no one in the area who could diagnose it, and

I might just be paranoid, having read too much about autism in general in

the last few months (since Nicky's dx).

Roland Sr. - My dh. Is very angry that Nicky has been " labeled " i.e.

diagnosed. Would like to convince himself that Nicky is just a " late

talker " . Refuses to deal with A.G.'s behavior problems because he feels he

has run out of ideas and patience. Is very stressed out and worried that we

won't have enough money to get what is needed, so works lots of overtime and

is completely exhausted by the time he gets home.

Me! (aka Mom) - I used to be a SuperMom, but my cape is still at the

cleaners because I can't afford to get it out right now. Besides, they

couldn't get the stains out, the rips are beyond patching, and it strangles

me every time Nicky uses it as a ladder to sit on my head. Please excuse

the mess; I will get to it eventually, but it will have to wait in line

behind the other messes that were there first. Just a second while I get

the child off the shelves and aim his brother at the hoop instead of the

window. Dinner will be late due to the fact that I haven't gotten a chance

to get anything out of the freezer yet; I was at another drs. appt for

Nicky, where he was being evaluated for the waiting list for another type of

therapy. EIP called today to say that they think ABA is unnecessary, even

though he is making good progress in it, while none of their therapies have

even started; they are too backed up. Oh, and by the way, the middle school

called to say that they are treating A.G. for minor bruises and abrasions

again. It looks like someone beat him up again, but he won't say so.

No, I'm not as nuts as I look. It's my world that is nuts, and I am just

trying to keep a grip on it.

Bedell

[Guest guest]

nice to meet you. It sounds like you have a lot on your plat, something

we all can identify with. It will take a while for your DH to accept the dx. I

think in some ways it is harder for men to come to terms with the reality. Not

that it is easy for us mothers. You will find that you are not alone now that

you are here.

CHRIS

and

Parents of:

Sully 10-94 (AS)

Chenoa 6-96 (NT Mild Speech Delay)

Trevayne 3-98 (PDDNOS, Significant Speech Delay)

and

set 12-99 (Significant Speech Delay)

intro

Hello, I am new to this group, so I thought I would introduce myself et al.

List of characters:

Nicky - 28 mo.: Dx autism. He's the one standing on top of the shelving

unit, which he has climbed again, trying to do a happy dance while he leans

over to hoot and squeal at the T.V. on the shelf below him. He is almost

completely nonverbal, but he loves to cuddle and kiss. Nicky is on the

gf/cf diet, doing ABA therapy for 1 hour a week (that's all we can afford

and neither our insurance nor the early intervention program in our area

will cover the cost), and will be doing speech and OT as soon as there are

openings in the programs.

Roland Jr. (aka Puck) - 3 1/2 yrs: Playing basketball in the sun porch. He

has been a Jordan and basketball fan since Xmas, when we refound

our old copy of " Space Jam " . He is a happy, outgoing three year old.

Robby - 11 years: Very bright young materialist. He will probably grow up

to be one of those self made millionaires. Right now he has to make do with

what we can afford, and he isn't particularly happy about it, but is willing

to make the best of what he can get.

A.G. - 13 years: Also very bright and very verbal, but with extremely poor

social skills and a little bit clumsy. He is also very impulsive and tends

to get in alot of trouble quite often because he never thinks about the

consequences of his actions or words. I wonder sometimes if he might not

have Asperger's, but there is no one in the area who could diagnose it, and

I might just be paranoid, having read too much about autism in general in

the last few months (since Nicky's dx).

Roland Sr. - My dh. Is very angry that Nicky has been " labeled " i.e.

diagnosed. Would like to convince himself that Nicky is just a " late

talker " . Refuses to deal with A.G.'s behavior problems because he feels he

has run out of ideas and patience. Is very stressed out and worried that we

won't have enough money to get what is needed, so works lots of overtime and

is completely exhausted by the time he gets home.

Me! (aka Mom) - I used to be a SuperMom, but my cape is still at the

cleaners because I can't afford to get it out right now. Besides, they

couldn't get the stains out, the rips are beyond patching, and it strangles

me every time Nicky uses it as a ladder to sit on my head. Please excuse

the mess; I will get to it eventually, but it will have to wait in line

behind the other messes that were there first. Just a second while I get

the child off the shelves and aim his brother at the hoop instead of the

window. Dinner will be late due to the fact that I haven't gotten a chance

to get anything out of the freezer yet; I was at another drs. appt for

Nicky, where he was being evaluated for the waiting list for another type of

therapy. EIP called today to say that they think ABA is unnecessary, even

though he is making good progress in it, while none of their therapies have

even started; they are too backed up. Oh, and by the way, the middle school

called to say that they are treating A.G. for minor bruises and abrasions

again. It looks like someone beat him up again, but he won't say so.

No, I'm not as nuts as I look. It's my world that is nuts, and I am just

trying to keep a grip on it.

Bedell

[Guest guest]

Hi !

I seem to have not received your intro, but luckily it was still attached to

a response I read. I love your sense of humor! It sure helps one maintain

sanity, doesn't it?

I think you might be right in suspecting A.G.'s issues. Although they do

say it's not unusual to have others in the family with characteristics if

one child has autism. A lot of us have now become suspect of our husbands!

Anyway, my brother's son is Aspergers, his daughter is LD, my two son's are

both autistic but high functioning and very verbal (creates it's own set of

problems though). By the way, my oldest was non verbal until around 3 to 3

1/2, and by 5 had an accelerated vocabulary.

Welcome aboard. I think you'll fit right in!

Sue in Michigan,

Mom to , 11, HFA, ADD

, 8, HFA, ADD

AIM ID: smg5862

----------------------------------------------------

Sign Up for NetZero Platinum Today

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[Guest guest]

Welcome ,

I am mom to three year old twin boys Mark and . Both are on the

spectrum.

Look forward to getting to know you.

Cori

P.S. My grandmother lives in Fort Meyers

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the warm welcome, everyone. This community already feels,

umm...right. Like it fits.

B

[Guest guest]

, could you tell me her name?

B

> > welcome, wendy b! i LOVED your intro, very funny

> there is a mom who used to be on this list who also lives in ft.

myers. she asked me to give you her email address- tindak@a... <

>

>

> oops, forgot to attach this...

>

> gina, 30, ny, single crazy mom to...

> kailey, 7.8, autistic and then some

> trevor, 2.0, speech delay

>

> " Help! Jane! Stop this crazy thing! " - Jetson

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

:

Wow! Great introduction. Your family has some similarities to mine. I

have five kids: Enrique, 15, AS; , 12; Sophia, 8; Putter, 6 on

February 13, moderately autistic; and Robbie, 3.

My oldest did not get a dx until he was fourteen although, like you, I kept

suspecting things, but he functioned. Gradually, starting around twelve, he

began a slow decline that has left him almost unable to leave the house,

filled with phobias and OCD. If there is anyone knowledgeable about AS in

your area, I'd be tempted to look into your hunch. I wish I had sooner

because my son no longer functions and adolescence is hard on AS kids.

But of course your husband is having trouble dealing with Nicky's dx so

getting another one would not exactly contribute to marital harmony...

My husband, from whom I am separated, is probably as AS as Enrique. You'll

hear more about him.

Salli

[Guest guest]

Hi Salli!

I know we have just met, but I wanted to thank you and Putter

especially for saving my sanity a few months ago. Confused? I'll

explain.

Nicky isn't the first autistic child in my family. When I was

growning up I had a cousin named Pat who was autistic. We only saw

him on holidays, but I was terrified of him. He was much larger than

I was, and the only times I saw him were when he was in complete

meltdown, so what I saw was the equivalent of dropping a fullgrown

terrified gorrilla into the room with me. I don't mean any offence

to anyone, least of all my cousin, but no one explained autism to me

at the time. I'm sure the truth was that he was as scared as I was,

but a five year old has trouble understanding that on their own.

Anyway, skip ahead about 32 years.....Nicky was regressing fast when

I happened to see a documentary about autistic kids. My first

thought was that I recognized the gesturing, the facial expressions,

and other things I just couldn't put my finger on. They looked like

Pat; until the next day when I realized that they looked even more

like Nicky. I pushed him through the peds office, demanding a

referral, got one to the EIP, who referred him to a place called Eden

Center for Autism.

I must have been blue from holding my breath through the CARS eval.

When it was done, he had scored a 41.5, which they told me was severe.

Okay, now I was freaking out. The child that looked like a child,

but was really an animal was no longer in my past - my son was

becomeing him (once again, no offence intended; this is simply the

thoughts that ran through a panicked mind.) I was losing my son

right before my eyes. Even though the therapist who had evaluated

him said that he had some really strong things going in his favor,

and that this wasn't an official dx, all I could think was that I was

watching him disappear.

Fortunately for me, one of the things that therapist gave me was a

web address to what she said were stories about " a real autistic

little boy and his mother. " Want to guess who's stories they were?

It took a few days before I came out of my blue funk enough to be

curious about the address she had given me, but I am very glad that I

did. I sat down at the computer at about 10:00 p.m. and read and

reread your Putter stories until about 3:00 a.m.

In them I met an autistic child that, unlike the scenario I had made

out of childhood memories of a relative I saw rarely and at the worst

moments, was still your son. He hadn't eventually disappeared. He

loved, he got frustrated, he laughed...like a little boy. And, I

thought if yours could, mine could too.

In all reality Nicky was never as severe as I remember Pat as being.

Pat probably wasn't as bad as I remember him; the only times I saw

him were at big family gatherings. Most ASD kids don't manage those

very well. I know Nick doesn't.

That doesn't mean that there is no hope for him, however. He's a

beautiful little boy with a marvelous personality, and no one can

take that away from him or me. That's what you and Putter taught me,

and I am very grateful to the both of you. As a matter of fact,

Nicky had a followup CARS eval last week. He scored a 31.

B

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/17/02 11:09:17 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

sarahsong@... writes:

> Thanks for any help you folks can give me, I am.. as I'm sure you've all

> experienced.. a

> little shell shocked right now. He's not even 30 years old.

My best advice is to get some good education, quick... and together. As much

as you want to help, it will be HIS responsibility, ultimately, for his own

health. You can help... but he needs to know what is going on and what is

required for keeping his blood glucose in check. Call your local hospitals

and look in the yellow pages under Diabetic Centers and find one that offers

classes to help you learn about the basics of Diabetes and also they will

help you with recipes.

We can help too... but you need an expert in the field to give you a good

foundation to start with. I went to Joslin Diabetes Center at the hospital

back here and my insurance paid for the whole thing... and it's not a good

insurance at all. They said most insurances will because people usually do

better when they know what they are dealing with and how to treat it.

Know that you aren't alone. We are here for you and will walk with you

through this.

I had lost a little weight before I was diagnosed but went on the food plan

Joslin gave me... but found I had to cut my carbs back some and try to eat as

low-glycemic as I can. By low-glycemic I mean I eat brown rice, not white...

sweet potato, not white... and sprouted grain breads (very high fiber)

instead of white bread that has almost no nutritional value and these are the

foods that our body processes slower so it is not as hard on diabetics...

But that is just me. I drink a LOT of water... which I hate. But I do it

and it helps. And I walk on a treadmill after every meal... which I also

hate, but I do it.

Shock is the first reaction of a lot of people. It was for me. I was told

in October that I may have a problem and to come in for a A1c test... I went

in May. I was in denial for quite a while. Gained a LOT of weight in that

denial period too out of fear that I would never get anything good to eat

again.

Tell your husband that isn't true. You can eat some good things... just in

moderation. You will learn how to do this... and remember this... a lot of

the problems of Diabetes can be reversed by changing how you eat and live...

with diet and exercise. My friend Alice was in the 300s 10 weeks ago and had

trouble even being able to read or focus with her eyes. It had had an effect

on her eyes before she even knew she had it. But in 10 weeks that has

reveresed and she is back at work and doing very well. She has lost weight

and is doing great. By what I understand, the neuropathy is not

reversable... But blood pressure, triglycerides, cholesterol and blood

glucose levels can normalize most of the time if we do what we need to do.

So be encouraged. And my advice is to not put off getting some education.

Shirley

[Guest guest]

,

Show this to your husband.

Diabetes has a very few serious short-term complications but has several

long-term problems that could greatly impact his quality of life and result in

death.

Diabetes means that the amount of sugar in the blood is too high. It could be

too high because the pancreas has stopped working, or that the insulin it

secretes is insufficient to do its job of controlling sugar in the blood, or

that something else (like the liver) is interfering. Diabetes is treated with

testing, logging, diet, exercise, medications, insulin, and sometimes surgery.

Testing is the first step. Your blood test has confirmed the news. Now you'll

be in charge of testing. To test, you'll be taught how to prick your finger to

get a drop of blood and test it in a small meter. It takes less than a minute.

The finger prick is controlled by a mechanical lancet that can be adjusted to

the point where it doesn't hurt or just barely hurts but still gets blood. I

don't feel about half of my finger pricks.

Keeping track of his readings and activities is important. He should keep a

little notebook and write it all down. He'll find this also helps keep his plan

on track.

The good news is that the days of bland foods are over. Your husband will be

surprised to learn that diabetes just forces someone to have a simply " proper "

diet rather than a strange bland one. If your husband already has a proper

diet, there will be little to change. If not, the diabetes will be a great

reason to get one.

In addition to diet is the component of exercise. It's hard to say what to do

first, but I've found controlling my diet is easier on the days that I exercise.

The right amount and type of exercise is up to your husband, as long as it gets

him pumped up for 30 minutes to an hour, 3 to 5 times a week. I started by

walking the dog, now I'm in the gym. I was the typical couch potato, but now I

actually miss it if I don't go.

The diet and exercise often brings about weight loss. In the most common form

of diabetes, weight loss and lower blood sugars can go hand in hand in some

people. Diabetics that were once overweight can now tolerate a meal or two a

week of ANY food and not harm their sugar readings.

Drugs and insulin lower blood sugar. They may be used to supplement a diet and

exercise, many have found them to be temporary, while others take them

permanently. A considerable number of diabetics take no medicine, another

fraction take only pills, and the rest take injected insulin. Unlike the

diabetes of yesteryear, the insulin is frequently mechanically and painlessly

injected.

Too much sugar in the blood damages the body. If your husband doesn't control

his diabetes, there probably won't be an immediate result. But in a few years,

his toes and feet may start to tingle and go numb -- eyesight may fail -- blood

pressure rises -- hands may ache -- he may require dialysis -- he may even need

help digesting your food. Most diabetics have found one of these

diabetes-caused complications before they found out they had diabetes! Because

the feet go numb, he may injure his foot and not know it -- bringing about

terrible complications leading to amputations. The multiple and severe

long-term effects of diabetes result in death.

The good news is that testing has proven that controlling blood sugar stops, and

frequently reverses, this damage. Diabetics with good blood sugar control can

lead an otherwise normal and healthy life.

Diabetes is not a scam to get him to eat healthier and exercise. It's a

disease. Many people with obesity, high blood pressure, or heart disease do not

have diabetes. On the other hand, many completely healthy people do. So even

though it's not his fault, he's the only one that can take responsibility for

his life and take his medicine.

This includes going to the doctor, going to the eye doctor and the foot doctor,

going to a diabetes educator who will teach all of the above over several weeks,

and a nutritionist (unless the diabetes educator does this too). It also means

continuing to live his life to the fullest -- go ahead and reject bland, boring

foods but find the right way to have the foods he likes.

He can call me if he has questions... . Better yet, introduce him

to this group. There are too many freaking wimmen in here anyway. <big fat

grin>

Robb Topolski

http://www.singcerely.com/

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

When I first found out I was diabetic, I was working graveyard shift, then was

transferred to swing shift. It is not easy at all to work strange hours, sleep

strange hours, and maintain this diet. I was told to eat at the same time every

day, and that just made matters worse.

I am just telling you what happened to me, so dont get scared okay?????

Finnally I couldnt take it anymore, I was diabetic, in a job I hated, unable to

control it, and I had a nervous breakdown and now I am considered by the state I

live in to be totally and completely disabled.

Okay, here is my advice. Make sure that your husband feels good emotionally.

It sounds alot like he was like me when I found out. At first I accepted it,

and ate what I was supposed to, thinking this is no big deal. I followed the

" proper " diet for three months, then I just started not caring. For two years

now I have eaten anything I want, have not exercised, and just thought " nothing

is going to happen to me " . Guess what, I was wrong. Without going to much into

it I am having health problems and now am back on the diet, and am struggling

with exercise. The problem is now I am falling into depression again, and all I

want to do is sleep and be alone. This is really hard to accept for some

people, especially when you are so young.

I dont know if you work or not, but if you do not why dont you do what I do? My

husband works very strange hours and I keep the same hours he does. I cook the

proper food and I eat only the portions I am allowed and he eats the rest. The

key is finding good tasting recipes, and believe me there are thousands of

recipes on the internet for whatever diet you choose to be on.

This sounds like it is going to be a challenge for you. I know my poor husband

cant win...if he tells me I cant eat something I get really really really ANGRY,

like " how dare you tell me what I can and cant do " and most of the time he just

lets me do what I want, but I see it in his face that he is worried about me and

what is going to happen. It is a delicate balance, just be there for him!

Good luck,

Susi

D wrote: Hi folks. A couple of weeks ago, my

husband had a full blood panel run.. this is not an

uncommon thing, as he has high blood pressure, and they like to keep an eye on

things.

But then the Doctor called and said he had very high blood sugar.. in a

'diabetic pattern'

(Anyone able to explain that?) and that he wanted my husband to come in and talk

with him.

My husband sort of went into denial.. who can blame him.. decided that since it

took them

three tries to get enough blood, that he was stressed, and that's why the levels

were

high. Well we went and had another test.. and the Doctor called and told me

last night

that my husband has diabetes. I nearly had to force hubs to call and make an

appointment

to talk with the Doctor tonight.

Can any spouses give me advice? And what sort of questions should we ask the

Doc? I'm

terrified that my husband will put his health in serious risk by ignoring this

for too

long.

When we went grocery shopping and I tried to refuse carbs and sugars.. he said

he'd rather

die than eat bland foods forever. Does anyone know where I can find some TASTY

diabetic

safe recipes? I've never cooked and we are both total sugar addicts. Neither of

us

exercise, he sits at a desk job all night and I sit at a desk all day goofing

off.

And does anyone work nights and sleep days? I have no idea how to adjust things

so we can

eat at the same time every day.. he doesn't even sleep at the same time every

day!

Thanks for any help you folks can give me, I am.. as I'm sure you've all

experienced.. a

little shell shocked right now. He's not even 30 years old..

--

~Jadzia D in Littleton, Colorado.

Owned by:

The pooches: da Pug, Tinimir the Pembroke Corgi, And Cari, the " Golden

Corgi "

The kitties: Tikki, black DSH, and Chance, black DSH.

See critter pictures here:

http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery.fcgi?username=sarahsong

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/17/2002 11:58:19 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

megarobb@... writes:

> Show this to your husband

Hi Robb,

This was a great message. Thank you for posting it.

Eunice

[Guest guest]

sjgrace@... wrote:

>

> My best advice is to get some good education, quick... and together. As much

> as you want to help, it will be HIS responsibility, ultimately, for his own

> health. You can help... but he needs to know what is going on and what is

> required for keeping his blood glucose in check. Call your local hospitals

> and look in the yellow pages under Diabetic Centers and find one that offers

> classes to help you learn about the basics of Diabetes and also they will

> help you with recipes.

> So be encouraged. And my advice is to not put off getting some education.

>

> Shirley

>

Okay.. sorry trimmed most of this.. my head is swimming, been a bad week all

around..

We went to the doc.. and his numbers were.. um, 250+ I think, and 13.0.. I guess

his

last blood test was 290+ and 13.2, so a little better for some odd reason this

time.

Doc put him on meds, one 4mg Avandia a day.. anyone have any experience with

this

stuff? Doctor is also going to figure out what our insurance will cover and

find us a

class, or series of classes. Our insurance told us they'd pay for ONE class in

a

LIFETIME. Better hope we don't get anything else that requires education, eh?

I really don't know what we can do right this moment. We're flat broke until

pay day

and the house is still filled with JUNK. I don't cook, he doesn't cook, we're

in deep

trouble. <G>

Thanks for the help everyone!

--

~Jadzia D in Littleton, Colorado.

Owned by:

The pooches: da Pug, Tinimir the Pembroke Corgi, And Cari, the " Golden

Corgi "

The kitties: Tikki, black DSH, and Chance, black DSH.

See critter pictures here:

http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery.fcgi?username=sarahsong