Thank you very much GeoSteve, you are a wiseman. Always thought of you as a good generous person.

Sorry to hear about you wife.

Will never forget your wise word of wisdom. Jesse.

"PEACE AND LOVE TO YOU AND YOUR BELOVED WIFE." :)

[ August 30, 2006, 07:16: Message edited by: Jesse -Joe ]

Thank you JJ - that is most gracious. I felt very tenuous writing that tome to you, but I thought someone owed you the dignity of listening to things as a man would prefer to hear them - straight-up.

And, I think from your reaction here, I think I was , as John our friend would say: "spot-on" ? Thanks for your kind words Jessie -
g steve

Steve, please give Merry my best wishes, and let her know a bunch of people in the Corfid community are thinking of her. Tell her not to give up hope, and to fight her problems with all her might. As you and I both know, the right outlook can make all the difference in the world.

Thank you Cathy; will do. I'll tell her, and I appreciate your kind thoughts.
- steve

You know what... aging really sucks!
Today I got a call from my doctor with the results of my last blood test. She thinks I have type 2 diabetes, which happens quite often with a brain injury. I guess there will be no more brownies, ice cream, cake, and all that other stuff that tastes so good for me.
I just hope I don't have to give myself injections. I'm scared to death of needles!

She "thinks" you have type II diabetes? Are you maybe borderline? I had gestational diabetes with my firstborn (but not #2, oddly enough) and had to watch what I ate - would have killed for a brownie by the time of delivery.

On the plus side there are a lot of sugar-free foods out there (Jello brand fat-free, sugar free pudding is great.) Watch the fruit juices - they may be all natural but they're high in sugar.

Start small and remember there are wonderful foods that taste good and are good for you (my personal favorites are roast chicken and turkey, the real thing that make the house smell so good, not deli cuts that tend to be high in sodium.

But first, confirm the diagnosis. Then contact a nutritionist who can help plan meals. You don't have to entirely give up the sweets, just cut back, eat sparingly, and watch your blood sugar levels.

And they make insulin in nasal sprays these days.

She "thinks" you have type II diabetes? Are you maybe borderline? I had gestational diabetes with my firstborn (but not #2, oddly enough) and had to watch what I ate - would have killed for a brownie by the time of delivery.

On the plus side there are a lot of sugar-free foods out there (Jello brand fat-free, sugar free pudding is great.) Watch the fruit juices - they may be all natural but they're high in sugar.

Start small and remember there are wonderful foods that taste good and are good for you (my personal favorites are roast chicken and turkey, the real thing that make the house smell so good, not deli cuts that tend to be high in sodium.

But first, confirm the diagnosis. Then contact a nutritionist who can help plan meals. You don't have to entirely give up the sweets, just cut back, eat sparingly, and watch your blood sugar levels.

And they make insulin in nasal sprays these days.

I was diagnosed last winter Cathy, right before Thanksgiving, my birthday, Christmas, and all those great feasting holidays. It isn't as hard as you might think to stay away from the sweet stuff, once you get it in your mind just how awful it is if you eat it, and what can happen. The hard part is the other carbs. Bread, potatos, and my beloved popcorn! It's just amazing how much stuff has carbs and sugars. So far I've been able to get by with just diet and exercise and got my sugar levels down, although just slightly. It's not just how high your blood sugar is, it's also your insulin production that will determine whether or not you will have to start the meds.

This getting older stuff is darn annoying sometimes!
Jenney

I was diagnosed last winter Cathy, right before Thanksgiving, my birthday, Christmas, and all those great feasting holidays. It isn't as hard as you might think to stay away from the sweet stuff, once you get it in your mind just how awful it is if you eat it, and what can happen. The hard part is the other carbs. Bread, potatos, and my beloved popcorn! It's just amazing how much stuff has carbs and sugars. So far I've been able to get by with just diet and exercise and got my sugar levels down, although just slightly. It's not just how high your blood sugar is, it's also your insulin production that will determine whether or not you will have to start the meds.

This getting older stuff is darn annoying sometimes!
Jenney

Actress Bette Davis had a great remark about aging. "This getting older ain't for sissies!"

Timetraveler -

Thank you for your thoughtful observations. I am wrapping my head around the situation better in so far as my wife I love so and worry about right now. I re-read my entries in this page you read as well, and am concerned I made too much mention of these troubles.

Right after offering my own sustaining thoughts to Jessie-Joe, I then left you with the impression I must be a falling apart wreck ! LOL I am sorry to engage so much of your energy into writing the kind things you did about how I can get along better, which I immensely appreciate.

I can reassure you on your question of the power of prayer. Pure and simple my wife and I are Christian. Make no bones about it. We just are quiet about it as a courtesy, until something like this comes up, and then I am very greatful for the very many kind friends who have contacted me off-line and offered there prayers discretely.

Generally it is rare I mention prayer and religion in corfid, as a courtesy, given the diverse constituency and the principle of not transcending religious discourse in this Lightfoot forum as a rule of thumb; but Merry's needs go beyond these simple courtesies.

I'll add your prayers as offered I believe to my list I find so much comfort in, and tuck the issue away as far as corfid is concerned. PM's are an exception to that as fiends are so compelled out of the open forum.

I find your paradigm for emtional survival and metaphorical fable you recounted, as well as the journal writing you do to be very serendipitous. You and I are on the same wavelength in this regard it is quite a coincidence !

I have kept a personal journal at work and at home (both) for over 25 years, and it indeed has the cathartic qualities you mention. I also would add especially in the work journal that it has saved my a** on several occassions when a boss or co-worker said "I never said to do that, or that I would!" - and I flip to book 12 section 7 day 12 9:45 a.m. and by that point they usually are gone already !LOL


No, in the vein you kindly mention, the journal is of far more sustaining value than logistic record as you have found too; it is a Godsend for me, especially in times goneby of my own medical exploits I won't trouble you with. I will say the record of my voice echoing off the mountainsides in the Rockies when my mettle was tested waqs indeed both painful to write about but curative as well. And then I later lie in recovery writing about it at doctor's orders too !

You are very kind to write what you did and I can assure you the principles and thoughts you have mentioned are valued by me very much; and your comments serve to further strengthen my resolve. When we we hear others speak of things we ourselves hold of value, it just makes our confidence in them, and the power of friends and well-wishing, and prayers too, all that much more stronger. You are very kind T-T Thanks,
geo Steve

[ September 01, 2006, 07:19: Message edited by: geodeticman ]

Cathy - I hope you don't have type II diabetes. Since Merry was diagnosed at Christmas last; she has overcome her fear of needles, too ! Interesting you mention the corrolation with brain inury.

While Merry's was tied most likely to a medication now banned by the FDA that has been proven to cause diabetes, as hers came out of nowhere, I too like you was admonished to watch and test for it after my brain injury. So far so good for me, but I'll keep you in our prayers !

I have told Merry of you additional well-wishes for her and from corfid friends as a whole that have kindly spoken of her and in their thoughts - your additional message about this is very appreciated. Thanks again !
Steve

Cathy - you don't have to give up goodies, just make smarter choices. There are plenty of healthy treats on the market now-a-days that actually taste good, you just have to experiment a little. Personally I love the sugar free, fat free fudgsicles (only 35 calories each!!) and Lean Cuisine/Healthy Choice has come out with some tasty meals and desserts too.

I will keep my fingers crossed that you do not test + for diabetes of any kind.

Good luck!

[ September 02, 2006, 08:15: Message edited by: Jennifer ]

I was diagnosed last winter Cathy, right before Thanksgiving, my birthday, Christmas, and all those great feasting holidays. It isn't as hard as you might think to stay away from the sweet stuff, once you get it in your mind just how awful it is if you eat it, and what can happen. The hard part is the other carbs. Bread, potatos, and my beloved popcorn! It's just amazing how much stuff has carbs and sugars. So far I've been able to get by with just diet and exercise and got my sugar levels down, although just slightly. It's not just how high your blood sugar is, it's also your insulin production that will determine whether or not you will have to start the meds.

This getting older stuff is darn annoying sometimes!
Jenney [/QUOTE]I have an appointment on September 8th, with more blood work. But I'm pretty sure I have it. She did the first round of blood work because I was complaining of my feet feeling dry and tingly. They're not dry at all, but the tingling feeling didn't start going away until I started following the diet she sent me. I think it started subsiding on Thursday.
So far I'm not having a problem following the diet. I bought a cookbook for diabetics, just to get some ideas and variations. My doctor said it's not so much about cutting foods out completely. It's about eating the right balance.

Hey, I've lost 3 lbs since I found out. Maybe it's a blessing in disquise.

To tell you the truth Steve, after all I've gone through this last year, type 2 diabetes seems like a small hurdle for me.
The thing about brain injuries, depending where it happened in the brain, the injury often messes up the body's metabolism. For instance, about 6 months ago, the docs told me I had a very sluggish thyroid, but since have determined it was caused by the aneurysm. Last check, my thyroid had gotten more active. So who knows. Maybe this is just a temporary thing. Somehow, I don't think so. I've always battled weight gain, slight dizziness and tiredness at times. There's a possibility I've had type 2 diabetes for a good many years.

"There's a possibility I've had type 2 diabetes for a good many years."

Yep, it's sneaky that way. That's why every year I turn up at our local hospital's annual health fair where they offer free blood sugar and cholesterol testing (and mini bagels and juices afterwards, since they're 12 hour fasting tests) blood pressure and lung function. I get the results mailed to my home in a couple of weeks and can track my sugar (upper 80s to mid 90s for the last 10 years) and cholesterol levels: HDL, LDL, VLDL, total, and ratio - seems to me there was another lipid measurement too but I can't remember what. Anyway, the printout tells you if the numbers are in normal range or not, what normal is, and if very off to see your doctor. I always bring a copy to my doctor for my annual checkup and she adds it to my records. It's really a great community service.

"There's a possibility I've had type 2 diabetes for a good many years."

Yep, it's sneaky that way. That's why every year I turn up at our local hospital's annual health fair where they offer free blood sugar and cholesterol testing (and mini bagels and juices afterwards, since they're 12 hour fasting tests) blood pressure and lung function. I get the results mailed to my home in a couple of weeks and can track my sugar (upper 80s to mid 90s for the last 10 years) and cholesterol levels: HDL, LDL, VLDL, total, and ratio - seems to me there was another lipid measurement too but I can't remember what. Anyway, the printout tells you if the numbers are in normal range or not, what normal is, and if very off to see your doctor. I always bring a copy to my doctor for my annual checkup and she adds it to my records. It's really a great community service.