One week of Life, amplified!

I have had an adventuresome week. I have had my nephew, Alex over and my Mom from Oak Ridge. Also, my wife's little adopted baby son has had issues. Bjorn has spina bifida and has had a rough little life in his 10 months. He has a shunt which had a failure. As a result, he's been swollen and very uncomfortable. Our pediatrician had him checked out by a pediatric neurosurgeon and they told us he needed the shunt repaired. Ingrid, my wife and Bjorn spent 4 days in Children's Hospital in Knoxville. He's doing great now. I have had issues of my own. Mainly my One Touch UltraSmart reading too low. I am using my backup Freestyle Freedom while I am awaiting a replacement meter. I have also had to adjust my Insulin/Carbohydrate ratios and Insulin Sensitivity Factor and learn how to do my own adjustments. So a lot of studying and testing BG. Erik is doing great and no problems. Ingrid is a rock and superb. I have PT ongoing. Working out like a dog. Running lots of Temporary Basals and snacks keeping the blood sugars fine.

December came and almost left!

Over the last month, much has been done. I have seen my Rehab Doctor for a checkup. My endocrinologist has switched clinics and no longer takes my insurance. I have dealt with the Christmas rush and have survived without going postal. I have also kept weight steady with all the extra treats foisted on all this holiday season. My blood sugars have been quite good. (120 average). I have also had lots of broadcast and studio equipment to repair and maintain over all of this and my ladyfriend and her little one. Erik has had it rough. He had an ankle which got rammed by a little friend's power chair when it went haywire. Shattered his ankle in 24 places. He also had an artificial hip get an infection and both hips need replacement. And having to deal with his Type 1 diabetes on top of that. He's home and doing better and got the casts off. I have had really high levels of spasticity on top of that. I have been advised to get another Baclofen Pump surgically implanted. (I had one from 2001-2003). I see the neurosurgeon next Monday about this. I also will be referred to another endocrinologist, Dr. David Huffman soon in Chattanooga. I am also in the process of considering a continuous glucose monitor. Will likely get a Dexcom 7. Stay tuned for future additions to the state of the engineer.

Another Day In Pump Paradise or The Pump Went South!

Today has been unusual in nature. I got up early to drive out to the mechanic and get that hood release latch replacement on my Nissan Sentra (a 1996 model built in Smyrna, TN). I spent 3 hours there and he got it repaired. The grille and bumper cover had to be removed to gain access to the hood. I got my hair cut and ran some errands and shopped for some groceries. I had several instances of hypoglycemic episodes with no sensation of lows. I am dealing with autonomic neuropathy and the spina bifida and cerebral palsy with it. Not fun.

I put the pump in temp basal mode and only saw half the screen. I couldn't cancel the temp basal on top of that. Another call to Animas and letting the support nurse know about my issues with the screen and being unable to cancel the temporary basal. She is sending me a replacement pump tomorrow. I am on injections until then. This is my 11th IR 1250 in 14 months of pumping. Another day in paradise. I have lots of experiences with my backup regime of injections. I like my Animas pump even with the issues I have had. The technical support and the trainers have been superb too. I would have had trouble with other makes of pump as much or even more in my opinion. I am getting ready to drive to Lenoir City and pick up mom. A day on the go and in the life of a fool.