Bionic Woman

[estherchaya]

So, I'm not quite the six million dollar man.  And I can't say I have much in common with Lindsay Wagner (of the original "Bionic Woman"), but I'm beginning to feel like I ought to have a fancy name like that anyway.  I currently have a PICC line, two infusion pumps (one that runs through the PICC line and one that is run subcutaneously), IV Fluids

Comments

[yeishlitikvah]

Super Mommy? or does the title need to be cooler.

Stupid question.... why are they giving you oral medication, why don't they have you administer insulin, either from an insulin pen or a syringe.

Also why do you have to go to an endocronolgist, can't the perinatologist handle that and your overall dosage?

I know with my gd, my ob made it clear any and all questions regarding the medications were to be directed to the perinatologist.

[estherchaya]

oral medication is the least invasive option. If I *can* keep it down and it works, that's the best possible solution. This is a first step that many OBs turn to. If this doesn't work, they'll move to an insulin pump. Injecting individual doses of insulin is less effective in general, but also in my case it would be hard to know when I should use the insulin - I can't time it around meals, because I don't eat meals. An infusion pump has the advantage of giving very small amounts constantly over time, which leads to more consistent levels, vs. the injectable insulin where you'll get peaks and valleys in the levels

[yeishlitikvah]

I just meant that as you had said, you need to see ANOTHER DOCTOR.

iyh the glyburide works, and you can keep it down.

I think I know you're NOT EATING, but at times forget that doesn't mean you're nibbling and noshing, but rather YOU'RE NOT KEEPING ANYTHING DOWN!!

[estherchaya]

I don't plan to jump straight to an endocrinologist if it comes to that - I'll first as my perinatologist if he can handle it. But if he'd rather jump out of it since this is such an unusual case, I'll go to the endocrinologist. Hey, at least doctor's appointments get me out of the house... :)

so far haven't kept the glyburide down, but I've only tried once.

I do occasionally nosh or nibble when I'm hungry. Usually on something bland (but unfortunately, that often means carbolicious, like toast or rice). But I nearly never keep it down. Even if I did keep it down, the number of calories I'd be consuming is still probably less than 600-800 per day (including the IV Fluids which make up as much as 600 calories per day if I get 3 Liters in per day). The reality is that I don't keep much of anything down, so it's probably closer to 600 on a good day. Not enough to warrant changing my "diet".

[atimesif]

I wonder if they'll write up your pregnancy in medical textbooks!
If you ever write your memoirs I'll buy it! When you commented about living in Italy that sure sounded cool!
I hope Purim was nice and the kids enjoyed!

[estherchaya]

I'm guessing I'm not going into any medical textbooks - I am, as they say, not a textbook patient. ;)

When I was a kid - maybe 10-12ish?- I got written up in an ophthalmology paper (a case report, maybe?) that was written by someone at NIH and presented at Bethesda Naval Hospital. That's really all I remember about it - I remember going to the hospital when the paper was being presented and having a lot of doctors poking me. (Okay, they weren't poking me, but they were observing something or other with my eyes. Who knows what... I can't remember. (My mom would know)

[childlight]

I was on Glyburide. I started it once a day and it still didn't help lower my numbers which were in the 200's. So they had me go to twice a day which seemed to help at first and then it was helping too much as I ended up with numbers in the 40's-70's We never did get my numbers where we wanted them they were bouncing back and forth. And I was following a very strict diet like I was suppose to.
Alex was born with slightly low blood sugar so they gave him a bottle immediately. It took about 12 hours for his levels to get where they wanted it. But his levels have been fine ever since.
I am still shocked you have GD. You have to get a break soon.

[estherchaya]

I've got two very important breaks in this pregnancy: 1. my cervix isn't budging (yet?) and 2. the baby is growing just fine. If I get to the end of this pregnancy with a healthy baby, that's the only break that matters.

[childlight]

That is true.

[mrn613]

Hmmm I definitely think you should consult with an endocrinologist before you start the pump. I would be really really suprised if you need a pump for six weeks of therapy. The benefit of a pump is that it is dyanamic so as your blood sugar level changes the insulin dose can adjust. However you are on almost constant IV feeds with no meals. Why can't you use a long-acting injectible like Lantus (spelling?) I am not an expert on GD but your husband probably is and can explain the different types of insulin and when they are used to you.

[estherchaya]

I'm really not going to argue about it. whatever they say to do is what I'll do. Honestly a daily long-acting injectible is as much (if not more) trouble than having a continuous infusion pump. Pumps have more than one benefit - the continuous low-dose infusion ensures a more constant level of medication and since my glucose levels seem to be pretty random, a constant level is not a bad deal. Not all insulin pumps automatically adjust to changes in blood sugar levels - but the ability to administer a demand dose as needed - without an additional injection.

Hopefully it will be a non-issue and I'll be able to take the glyburide and it will be effective enough. I also hopefully have more than 6 weeks left in this pregnancy.

[yermie]

Someday I'm going to write my memoir and no one will buy it because they'll say "this chick made up every word of this! It's too preposterous to be fact!"

Nah.

As someone famous once said, Truth is stranger than fiction, because fiction has to make sense.

So, the sheer incredulity of your tale will help lend authenticity to the story.