Entry 21: A bad night

Well this has been one to forget. It's approaching 2 am and I'm still awake in part because of my diabetes.

It began like any other Wednesday. Did piano practice, some vague stuff in the afternoon, and then had dinner before going to teach a piano lesson and accompany a choir. I had something slightly different for dinner. Saw some mussels and thought I'd have me some of that. Had dinner, walked to pupils as usual. Taught pupils as usual, then went to choir as usual. Sat down and started to play, then felt really sick. Apologised to the conductor and went to the loo where I saw my dinner again. I have to assume that the mussels did not agree with me.

It came on so quick. One minute I'm fine and working along through John Rutter, the next I feel the roughest I have in years. One of the choir then took me home. On the way, I realised that I had no liquid sugary substances in the house. I didn't fancy my chances eating something solid, but some normal Coke might give me a chance. Having a hypo while ill was not on my to do list. My friend jumped out of her car and dashed into a supermarket for me, promptly returning with Pepsi Max. Great in normal circumstances but not when you need to replenish lost glucose.

My friend got the hardcore sugary Coke and we were on our way. I then got overwhelmed with the need to be sick again. I held off just long enough to get the door open and thankfully, there were some bushes that I could use. That done, I just about made it home without more issues.

I live with my wife. Living with someone is good when you are ill, and don't want to have a hypo due to involuntary loss of food. My wife was visiting her parents over the weekend and beginning of the week, coming back today. Only she had not made it back. The train line was flooded and she was staying away an extra night. So I'm home alone, a heavy sleeper, with compromised blood sugars. I called NHS Direct, and they suggested going to A and E just in case. Why wife enthusiastically concurred via phone.

Another friend from choir selflessly drove across town to pick me up and take me to A and E. I got in there, and realised how skilled the staff were. My symptoms as good as bloody vanished. As quick as they had come, they just dissipated. I pondered this for the two hours I spent sitting in the waiting room. I had been mildly hypo before leaving, 3.9. My blood sugars then bounced the other way, shooting up to 8.4. I risked a unit of Lispro while I was waiting to be seen. When the doctor spoke to me two hours later, they were 6.7. After a quick chat and some diagnostics, he said that if I was happy, he could send me home. I agreed as I felt fine (and still do).

My plan is now to test again, go to sleep and then set a complex system of alarms to wake me up at 3.30 when I will test again. I will then take action as necessary and hopefully get some form of sleep.

There's never a good time for random illness, but this seems to be testing me particularly now. I have a concert every weekend for the next three weeks. The one on Saturday is a competition for the choir I am accompanying. I also have a Sunday service at a church to accompany.

Anyway, that is the thrilling tale of what I've been up to tonight! Fingers crossed that the next few hours swing in my favour. Over and out.