Re: MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION

[Guest guest]

I had severe gestational diabetes with both my kids. However with my

son who has apraxia and low tone it was diagnosed much later when

they do that liquid test. That was probably in the 22nd week or so.

What all expectant Moms should know is that the urine stick test is

so not accurate as your sugars would have to be totally out there to

show up.

With my daughter who is totally typical I started testing my levels

at about 8 weeks and by 12 weeks was on insulin. The levels also

stayed stable where as with my son with a 99% perfect diet they

continued to rise and I was eventually on bed rest due to unexplained

bleeding at 32 weeks.

Both kids were fine after delivery and were monitored as well in the

NICU. All this leads me to think that the delayed treatment with my

son resulted in his issues. I also have a cousin who had gestational

diabetes as well. Her son is now 2 with global hypotonia. He hasn't

been diagnosed with apraxia just yet, but we expect he will be. She

just started him on Pro-efa and has seen amaxing results in the first

2 weeks with focus and receptive language. All is therapists have

commented on the changes.

I think we all would love to know the cause but more importantly the

treatment and therapy to overcome these obstacles is what is

important.

Mom to 5 and 3 1/2

> Also, any moms with gestational diabetes out there? Mine was

undiagnosed, until the baby was born floppy and had to go to the NICU

for IV therapy for 48 hours. I'm curious if there's a connection

here......

>

> ~Karyn

>

>

[Guest guest]

Michele there is also a test called the hemoglobin A1c test which

averages your blood levels and is pretty accurate. I would also

recommend getting a prescription for a blood test machine so you can

test yourself daily.

> My new OBGYN doctor thinks I had undiagnosed gestational diabetes

too. I had a lot of amniotic fluid, pre-term labor started at 28

weeks, but passed by sugar test at 28 weeks. But my son was always

measuring big, he was born five weeks early and weighed 8 pounds 4

ounces. So this new doctor said they will make me take the 3 hour

test, regardless of the 1 hour test results. That is if I can ever

get pregnant again, seems to be taking a lot longer second time

around.

>

> Michele

[Guest guest]

Karyn wrote:

> et al? Also, any moms with gestational diabetes out there? Mine was

> undiagnosed, until the baby was born floppy and had to go to the NICU

> for IV therapy for 48 hours. I'm curious if there's a connection

> here......

I had undiagnosed GD almost certainly with my second child (11 lbs) and

possible with my first (over 9 lbs). My child with the hypotonia and

speech issues is the first child. The second was born with low blood

sugar and more floppy and has gone on to be (at 4 years) extremely

bright and very advanced in fine and gross motor. Both pregnancies were

very similar with a few UTI's. My first had a long labor and tough c-s

delivery. There are so many possibilities of what happened and I just

try not to dwell on it since it won't fix anything at this point.

[Guest guest]

Karyn:

I was borderline gestational diabetic. I had a 9 lb., 1 oz baby that did not

move around a lot while I was pregnant, but being it was the first time I was

pregnant and I am petite, I just thought she really had no room to move

around. NOW, we know it was because of the hypotonia. Not that this answers

your

MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION, but I have often wondered the same thing???

Kim

[Guest guest]

Whatever the future holds, acceptance and keeping a positive attitude

rather than becoming angry and bitter are keys to having happy,

productive lives. Kathy F.]

Kathy has summed it up quite nicely.

[Guest guest]

Jumping off on 's comments about exercise - It's important NOT

to aggravate our inflamed joints with low or even moderate impact

exercise. The best thing we can do is aquatic exercise. I am now

able to jog in a pool without hurting myself or causing a flare. And

I can use foam dumbbells in water to get some upper body workout

without triggering tendonitis in my elbows. Swimming is great

aerobic exercise!

regards,

sherry z

>

> Hey Blake,

>

> My Name is I joined the group about 2-3 months ago so I would

> have people to talk with that understand what I am going through.

> Kathy is right on the money as always. What works for one will not

> work for another. I have tried everything and the best advise I have

> is stay on the meds. that the doctor prescribes there is no cure. I

> was dumb enough about 1.5 years ago to listen to a well meaning

friend

> who was going down the holistic path. I weaned my self off of my

meds

> against my doctors wishes. Started working out like mad to " keep

> loose " Now I have stiffness and pain everyday the pain killers don't

> touch the pain. Sometimes if I am lucky I will get some relief. Here

> are the things I would have done differently 1 stayed on the meds. 2

> worked out with more caution 3. Admitted to myself that I had to

make

> major changes in my life. This group is great and there is a lot of

> good info on the site.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Blake,

I'm a lurker who, if not 100% back to normal, am pretty close. I was

diagnosed about 7 years ago, took a good 6 months to figure things out

and get on some initial medications that worked. During that 6 months,

I got to the point where I could barely walk, turn my head, and was

basically stiff as a board all the time. The only permanent damage

I've had is " sausage " knuckles on one of my fingers and a few toes.

I've only changed drugs a couple of times. I've been on Methotrexate

and Enbrel for the last 3-4 years and so far they've been working well

together.

I'm now 47 and getting ready to run my first 1/2 marathon in 3 weeks.

I did 10 miles this morning. My feet hurt at times after I run, but

that could be due to age plus this extra 15-20 pounds I seem to like to

carry around my middle. Could be a little of the disease as well since

it does seem to take me a little longer to recover than it probably

should.

So I count myself as one of the lucky ones. I don't know how long it

will last, but so far so good. I hope you're able to get there, too!

Randy

>

>

> >

> > I know I am just getting going on all this and learning as I go,

but I

> > have to ask. Does anyone here have PA AND have found a way to

totally

> > make it feel like it does not exsist? With meds, exercise or

> > whatever? Can you make it not affect you at all? OR, if I have

it,

> am

> > I stuck feeling this way FOREVER? Blake

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Blake,

Almost... I was diagnosed 5 years ago. I've been treating very

successfully with low dose of MTX 12.5 per week.

I have virtually no pain, only when I overdo or do stupid things have

I experienced flares. I have persisent P on my scalp and have the odd

patch show up now and again, but that is hardly a problem.

I think I experienced what you are going through. " I'm so young. Do

I need to take drugs for the rest of my life? What happens when the

drugs stop working? " All I can say, is I am more active now than

prior to my diagnosis and I do some strenuous things now that I did

back when I was in my 20's. (I'm 46). Yes, I might need drugs for

the rest of my life, and I'll deal with the drugs wearing off when

and if that ever happens. Meanwhile, I enjoy my life to the fullest.

PA was the the huge hairy gorilla glaring at me menacingly from the

corner of the room, now it's caged and content as long as it gets fed

MTX. But of course, it lets me know when I am silly enough to poke it

with a stick.

Stay Well,