Guest guest Posted September 21, 2004 Report Share Posted September 21, 2004 Hey, , welcome to you and your wife Syble Jean. Sounds like you've been through a bit of a mill for a very long time, with some new and (naturally) frightening symptoms. All of us on this either are, or had been, waiting for the other shoe to fall. IN THE MEANTIME, without out having the slightest medical expertise (but a congenital dubiousness of all authority -- including, and especially, physicians) I'd suggest a second, third or even fourth consult with other heart specialists. That means some work on your part, teasing out who and where those people are (there's really great info in the files in this listserv.) Really question the physicians you've been seeing, and then check out what they say. You need to take some control since things appear to be spinning out of control. Waiting for the other shoe to fall is to hand over control over to others. Baaaaddd! You (and your wife) should be the decision makers here. Action is far better than laying around like a lox, waiting for someone to take a slice. Lew Koch At 02:59 AM 9/21/2004 +0000, you wrote: >Hello, >My name is and my wife Syble and I just discovered your >group. I have been diagnosed with a-fib on three seperate occasions >and cardioverted electrically three times. In my case each episode >was predicated by a related cardiac event. I was born with a >bicuspid aortic valve (the valve is supposed to have three flaps; >mine only had two). It lasted until I was 49, at which time I went >into congestive heart failure. As a result, my defective valve was >discovered and replaced with a bovine tissue valve. I was told at >that time that my heart was enlarged from all of the years pumping >through a stenotic aortic valve. > >All went well for the next 7 or 8 years. Suddenly one evening, while >sitting on the couch, I had a stroke. I was lucky, in that I was >hospitalized and the clot causing the stroke dissolved before any >damage was done. At that time, I was diagnosed with a-fib for the >first time as the root cause of the stroke. No one could tell me why >I suddenly went into a-fib. After three months of blood thinners, I >was successfully electrically cardioverted for the first time. > >All went well for the next twelve months. Suddenly, five weeks ago, >I had another cardiac episode, this one mimicing a heart attack. >Again, the ER diagnosed me with a-fib and hospitalized me until they >could verify that there were no other cardiac problems. Three days >later I was electrically cardioverted for the second time and >released. > >Two weeks later, while on a business trip, out of state, I went into >congestive heart failure in my hotel room. The local hospital got >the CHF under control and once again, diagnosed me with a-fib. When >I got back home, my cardiologist electrically cardioverted me for the >third time. That was a week ago tomorrow. I am now waiting for the >other shoe to drop. My hope is that by joining this group, I will >get some insight from other people's experiences. > > > > > > > >Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.com >List owner: AFIBsupport-owner >For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email, >send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help > >Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or should >be acted upon without consultation with one's physician. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 21, 2004 Report Share Posted September 21, 2004 Hey, , welcome to you and your wife Syble Jean. Sounds like you've been through a bit of a mill for a very long time, with some new and (naturally) frightening symptoms. All of us on this either are, or had been, waiting for the other shoe to fall. IN THE MEANTIME, without out having the slightest medical expertise (but a congenital dubiousness of all authority -- including, and especially, physicians) I'd suggest a second, third or even fourth consult with other heart specialists. That means some work on your part, teasing out who and where those people are (there's really great info in the files in this listserv.) Really question the physicians you've been seeing, and then check out what they say. You need to take some control since things appear to be spinning out of control. Waiting for the other shoe to fall is to hand over control over to others. Baaaaddd! You (and your wife) should be the decision makers here. Action is far better than laying around like a lox, waiting for someone to take a slice. Lew Koch At 02:59 AM 9/21/2004 +0000, you wrote: >Hello, >My name is and my wife Syble and I just discovered your >group. I have been diagnosed with a-fib on three seperate occasions >and cardioverted electrically three times. In my case each episode >was predicated by a related cardiac event. I was born with a >bicuspid aortic valve (the valve is supposed to have three flaps; >mine only had two). It lasted until I was 49, at which time I went >into congestive heart failure. As a result, my defective valve was >discovered and replaced with a bovine tissue valve. I was told at >that time that my heart was enlarged from all of the years pumping >through a stenotic aortic valve. > >All went well for the next 7 or 8 years. Suddenly one evening, while >sitting on the couch, I had a stroke. I was lucky, in that I was >hospitalized and the clot causing the stroke dissolved before any >damage was done. At that time, I was diagnosed with a-fib for the >first time as the root cause of the stroke. No one could tell me why >I suddenly went into a-fib. After three months of blood thinners, I >was successfully electrically cardioverted for the first time. > >All went well for the next twelve months. Suddenly, five weeks ago, >I had another cardiac episode, this one mimicing a heart attack. >Again, the ER diagnosed me with a-fib and hospitalized me until they >could verify that there were no other cardiac problems. Three days >later I was electrically cardioverted for the second time and >released. > >Two weeks later, while on a business trip, out of state, I went into >congestive heart failure in my hotel room. The local hospital got >the CHF under control and once again, diagnosed me with a-fib. When >I got back home, my cardiologist electrically cardioverted me for the >third time. That was a week ago tomorrow. I am now waiting for the >other shoe to drop. My hope is that by joining this group, I will >get some insight from other people's experiences. > > > > > > > >Web Page - http://www.afibsupport.com >List owner: AFIBsupport-owner >For help on how to use the group, including how to drive it via email, >send a blank email to AFIBsupport-help > >Nothing in this message should be considered as medical advice, or should >be acted upon without consultation with one's physician. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 23, 2005 Report Share Posted February 23, 2005 Actually, Tommie, the only reason to eat the same time every day is if you're taking NPH or regular insulin. With Humalog, (or NovoLog) you take it right before you eat -- whenever that is. Vicki RE: New Member > > > Hi , > > Thank you for the warm welcome :-) When I first started reading this > and saw > the large amts of Humalog, I thought OMGosh! But that is per day > right? I'm > glad that works for you and I know mine will be increased some because > what > I am on isn't near enough. I learned that partially today as I > experimented. > As you have probably seen, I have a journal going and I see my Endo > the 8th > of March in which I will print that and take it to him. I've been > going to > him for almost a year now and I think it's time we really get this > sugar > under control. I'm willing! > > Oh yes and thank you for the link to the form. That will be very > helpful for > me and my doc will be able to read it more readily. Goodness that is > an > early time to eat breakfast. I'm still dreaming at that hour. Lol I > usually > eat between 6:30 and 7 which isn't much later than you :-) I have > learned > through you that I need to take my Lantus the same time each day and > also to > eat at the same times each day. I have never gotten up during the > night and > tested. But I will and see what we have there. > > Thank you for your help , I really appreciate it. All of you at > this > Group are so much help. I'm glad I found you all. > > Tommie > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 23, 2005 Report Share Posted February 23, 2005 Actually, Tommie, the only reason to eat the same time every day is if you're taking NPH or regular insulin. With Humalog, (or NovoLog) you take it right before you eat -- whenever that is. Vicki RE: New Member > > > Hi , > > Thank you for the warm welcome :-) When I first started reading this > and saw > the large amts of Humalog, I thought OMGosh! But that is per day > right? I'm > glad that works for you and I know mine will be increased some because > what > I am on isn't near enough. I learned that partially today as I > experimented. > As you have probably seen, I have a journal going and I see my Endo > the 8th > of March in which I will print that and take it to him. I've been > going to > him for almost a year now and I think it's time we really get this > sugar > under control. I'm willing! > > Oh yes and thank you for the link to the form. That will be very > helpful for > me and my doc will be able to read it more readily. Goodness that is > an > early time to eat breakfast. I'm still dreaming at that hour. Lol I > usually > eat between 6:30 and 7 which isn't much later than you :-) I have > learned > through you that I need to take my Lantus the same time each day and > also to > eat at the same times each day. I have never gotten up during the > night and > tested. But I will and see what we have there. > > Thank you for your help , I really appreciate it. All of you at > this > Group are so much help. I'm glad I found you all. > > Tommie > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 3, 2005 Report Share Posted May 3, 2005 > Hello everyone, my name is Beverley and I live in Western Australia. I > am in my third year of knowing I have type 2 diabetes. I am not > managing it very well. <snip> Hi Beverley I'm another Aussie on the other side of the continent - near Coolangatta - and just " celebrated " my third year, diagnosed 1 May 2002. While you wait for the other side of the world to wake up, read this: http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/NewlyDiagnosed.htm It helped me gain some control. Good luck, email direct if you want to say g'day. Cheers, Alan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 3, 2005 Report Share Posted May 3, 2005 Hi, Beverley, welcome to the list. I realize you're not a newby but it sounds like you're just starting to get serious about good control, so the below seems appropriate. I have a " standard newby letter " that I pull out every time we have a new person here and I'm going to repost it here, even though it seems like I've done this already 3 or 4 times this week. [The rest of you can just go on to the next post, smile]. Here it is: First of all, let me refer you to two of the best books about diabetes. Read 'em and you'll learn a lot: The first one is called " The First Year, Type Two Diabetes, An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed " by Gretchen Becker. Gretchen is a list member and her book is an excellent guide. It's in paperback and available online from Amazon if your local bookstore doesn't have it. The second book is called " Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solutions " by K. Bernstein, M.D. You can get it from the library but it's such a good reference that you really should have it in your home library. Dr. Bernstein is a longtime type 1 who controls his diabetes using a lowcarb diet as well as insulin.. Many of us - both type 1 and 2 -- on this list have found great success using his plan or a modified version thereof. . And here's the URL to Dr. Bernstein's website, where there's lots of good stuff: http://www.diabetes-normalsugars.com/index.shtml These two books will give you good basic information on the ins and outs of diabetes management. I would further refer you to an excellent informational website titled " " What They Don't Tell You About Diabetes " http://www.geocities.com/lottadata4u/ If it isn't there for some reason, let me know and I can email you the contents -- I have it in my archives now. I would also refer you to Mendosa's website, where there's a wealth of diabetic information and good links. He also has an online diabetes newsletter which is very good. It's also an excellent source for information about the GI index (glycemic index). www.mendosa.com There's one thing that's sure to make BGs rise and that's carbohydrates. Cutting out high GI carbs is an excellent way to control your BGs and the more you cut, the better. Most of us find that the " whites " -- breads, cereals and pastas, in fact anything made with grain - will raise our BGs. Also, rice and potatoes will do the same. And of course, cakes and cookies and sweets of all kinds, including fruits and fruit juices. Watch out for " low calorie " foods; often they're higher in carbs. Learn to read food labels. Dr. Bernstein recommends about 40 carbs a day total. This is really only for the dedictated low carber and IMHO hard to maintain over the long run. However, I've read that the average American eats about 300 carbs a day, so the truth is somewhere in between. The best thing you can do for yourself (if you haven't already) is buy a meter and use it FREQUENTLY. At the beginning you want to learn how different foods affect your BG and to do this you need to eat one food at a time, testing first...then test one and two hours afterwards. Weigh out the amounts and keep good notes. You'll use up a lot of strips in the beginning but the rewards are definitely worth the expense and bother because in the end, you'll know what foods to avoid and which are okay. Diabetes is a very individual disease and we often say YMMV - " your mileage may vary " -- what works for one may not work for another. You want to aim for postprandial (two hours after meal) BG of 120. Keeping your BGs between 70 and 140 are your goals. If you can do this longterm, you can probably avoid the dreaded consequences of longterm poor BG control...and I'm sure I don't have to list those for you. (I will if you want, though). Here's my own list of pretty lowcarb veggies: Spinach Cauliflower Broccoli Summer squash (zucchini, crookneck) Spaghetti squash Mushrooms Asparagus Greenbeans Cabbage Sauerkraut And of course lettuce and avocados which aren't a veggie but a fruit ..but they're definitely lowcarb. I have a large mixed lettuce salad with avocado every night with dinner. You can eat a reasonable portion (4-6 ounces) of meat, chicken, fish without problem; it's all protein, no carbs. Berries are the lowest carb fruit but even so, you should eat them very sparingly. Here's the website of the USDA, which you'll find very helpful. It has carbs, calories, protein, etc. http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/cgi-bin/nut_search.pl It's helpful to have a food scale. A cup measure isn't nearly so accurate. I use a Salter scale. It weighs in both grams and ounces and cost me somewhere around $35. I got mine at a local gourmet shop but they're available online too. Just do a Google search for " Salter food scales " . The A1C is a test that measures your average BG for a three-month period with slightly more weight given to the latest month. All diabetics should have this test every three months. And you should ask for, and keep, copies of all your lab reports. Good luck. And keep those questions coming. There's a really steep learning curve at the beginning of your diabetes education but hang in there -- it will all make sense eventually. And remember -- the only stupid question is the one you didn't ask. Vicki, diabetic since 1997, A1Cs comsistently under 6 for a long time, no complications, planning on forever no complications, smile. New Member > Hello everyone, my name is Beverley and I live in Western Australia. > I > am in my third year of knowing I have type 2 diabetes. I am not > managing it very well. When I had my las A1c the Dr said it was > good, > so I allowed myself to slip back into denial. Now my levels are in > the > 10 to 13 range, or x18 180 to 234. I take one diaformin tablet in the > morning. I have started taking chromium. Went to my Dr yesterday to > tell her what is happening. She ordered another blood test, which I > did > that day, and I go back tomorrow. At the moment I am just praising > myself to continuing to take my levels and for going to the Dr's. > This is really sinking in how serious this disease is. bye for now > Beverley. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 3, 2005 Report Share Posted May 3, 2005 Gidday Beverley This is a great place to learn about better control of your diabetes. My current GP is quite aggressive about keeping my figures down and recently a knee surgeon told me it was time to change to a younger endo. Maybe that's what you need to do too. It will cost abit more - I was seeing one at the Gold Coast Hospital and the new one is in private practice - but you don't have to go often and how well we control this disease plays a big role in how long and how well we live. Bea - Gold Coast, Queensland Beverley wrote > >Hello everyone, my name is Beverley and I live in Western Australia. I >am in my third year of knowing I have type 2 diabetes. I am not >managing it very well. When I had my las A1c the Dr said it was good, >so I allowed myself to slip back into denial. Now my levels are in the >10 to 13 range, or x18 180 to 234. I take one diaformin tablet in the >morning. I have started taking chromium. Went to my Dr yesterday to >tell her what is happening. She ordered another blood test, which I did >that day, and I go back tomorrow. At the moment I am just praising >myself to continuing to take my levels and for going to the Dr's. >This is really sinking in how serious this disease is. bye for now >Beverley. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 3, 2005 Report Share Posted May 3, 2005 Gidday Beverley This is a great place to learn about better control of your diabetes. My current GP is quite aggressive about keeping my figures down and recently a knee surgeon told me it was time to change to a younger endo. Maybe that's what you need to do too. It will cost abit more - I was seeing one at the Gold Coast Hospital and the new one is in private practice - but you don't have to go often and how well we control this disease plays a big role in how long and how well we live. Bea - Gold Coast, Queensland Beverley wrote > >Hello everyone, my name is Beverley and I live in Western Australia. I >am in my third year of knowing I have type 2 diabetes. I am not >managing it very well. When I had my las A1c the Dr said it was good, >so I allowed myself to slip back into denial. Now my levels are in the >10 to 13 range, or x18 180 to 234. I take one diaformin tablet in the >morning. I have started taking chromium. Went to my Dr yesterday to >tell her what is happening. She ordered another blood test, which I did >that day, and I go back tomorrow. At the moment I am just praising >myself to continuing to take my levels and for going to the Dr's. >This is really sinking in how serious this disease is. bye for now >Beverley. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 3, 2005 Report Share Posted May 3, 2005 Gidday Beverley This is a great place to learn about better control of your diabetes. My current GP is quite aggressive about keeping my figures down and recently a knee surgeon told me it was time to change to a younger endo. Maybe that's what you need to do too. It will cost abit more - I was seeing one at the Gold Coast Hospital and the new one is in private practice - but you don't have to go often and how well we control this disease plays a big role in how long and how well we live. Bea - Gold Coast, Queensland Beverley wrote > >Hello everyone, my name is Beverley and I live in Western Australia. I >am in my third year of knowing I have type 2 diabetes. I am not >managing it very well. When I had my las A1c the Dr said it was good, >so I allowed myself to slip back into denial. Now my levels are in the >10 to 13 range, or x18 180 to 234. I take one diaformin tablet in the >morning. I have started taking chromium. Went to my Dr yesterday to >tell her what is happening. She ordered another blood test, which I did >that day, and I go back tomorrow. At the moment I am just praising >myself to continuing to take my levels and for going to the Dr's. >This is really sinking in how serious this disease is. bye for now >Beverley. > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 4, 2005 Report Share Posted May 4, 2005 > a knee surgeon told me it was time to change to a younger endo. A friend told me she thought maybe she should get a younger doctor and I thought she was being ageist. I asked how old her doctor was. She said 96. I confess, I had to agree with her. Gretchen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 4, 2005 Report Share Posted May 4, 2005 > a knee surgeon told me it was time to change to a younger endo. A friend told me she thought maybe she should get a younger doctor and I thought she was being ageist. I asked how old her doctor was. She said 96. I confess, I had to agree with her. Gretchen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 4, 2005 Report Share Posted May 4, 2005 In a message dated 5/3/2005 10:21:43 PM Eastern Standard Time, beapullar@... writes: > When I had my las A1c the Dr said it was good, so I allowed myself to slip > back into denial > > Welcome Bea. You'll get some good help from this list, but the bottom line is that it's all up you. Here's what you have to do: 1. Learn all that you can about diabetes and what you should do to control it. (that's not too difficult with help from others) 2. Then just do it. (that's the hard part, but you'll get support here). Personally, when the doctor says it's " good " I ask for the numbers. Not everyone has the same idea about what's good. I believe that an A1c in the mid five's is reasonable, but some allow higher and others strive for lower. BTW, I once stayed at Brisbane for a few days. Nice place and friendly people. It was a great trip. Cheers, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 4, 2005 Report Share Posted May 4, 2005 thank you sorry it has taken awhile for me to answer. YOur information is very helpful. Thank you I have been able to follow the link that you sent through, thank you so much for this, bye for now Beverley. ----- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 4, 2005 Report Share Posted May 4, 2005 In a message dated 5/4/2005 4:24:43 PM Eastern Standard Time, whimsy2@... writes: > Bea is a longtime list member. It's Beverley who's the new person to this > list. > Sorry Bea, thanks Vicki, and welcome Beverley. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 4, 2005 Report Share Posted May 4, 2005 Oops, , you missed there...Bea is a longtime list member. It's Beverley who's the new person to this list. Vicki Re: New Member > In a message dated 5/3/2005 10:21:43 PM Eastern Standard Time, > beapullar@... writes: > >> When I had my las A1c the Dr said it was good, so I allowed myself to >> slip >> back into denial >> >> > Welcome Bea. You'll get some good help from this list, but the bottom > line is > that it's all up you. Here's what you have to do: > > 1. Learn all that you can about diabetes and what you should do to > control > it. (that's not too difficult with help from others) > > 2. Then just do it. (that's the hard part, but you'll get support > here). > > Personally, when the doctor says it's " good " I ask for the numbers. > Not > everyone has the same idea about what's good. I believe that an A1c in > the mid > five's is reasonable, but some allow higher and others strive for > lower. > > BTW, I once stayed at Brisbane for a few days. Nice place and friendly > people. It was a great trip. > > Cheers, > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 4, 2005 Report Share Posted May 4, 2005 Thanks but I've been on the list for about two years! You clipped part of a message from Beverley who is new to this list. Bea Re: New Member > In a message dated 5/3/2005 10:21:43 PM Eastern Standard Time, > beapullar@... writes: > > > When I had my las A1c the Dr said it was good, so I allowed myself to slip > > back into denial > > > > > Welcome Bea. You'll get some good help from this list, but the bottom line is > that it's all up you. Here's what you have to do: > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 20, 2006 Report Share Posted September 20, 2006 hello all! I am a new member and just wanted to say hello. I was recently diagnosed with Lichen Sclerosis and have recently started my treatment. During the time between now and the biopsy I have been left in limbo wondering what is next, so I thought I would join a group to see how others deal with it. I am 40, newly married and live in Northern Illinois. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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