Anyone else have a collection of medical conditions??

I am also a type 2 diabetic (3 x 850mg metformin per day) with the following conditions:-

Asthma (3 x inhalers)
Gastritis (tablet treated)
Severe back, neck and shoulder injuries from a whiplash accident 8 years ago
Anxiety (tablet treated)
Chronic Anaemia (awaiting bone marrow biopsy in 2 weeks)
Possible fibromyalgia (awaiting confirmation)
Fatty Liver
Chronic IBS
Migraines/severe cluster headaches

Maybe they are all side effects of diabetes? lol

Oh yes ....!

I have only just seen your post. I only joined the forum yesterday and posted on the Diabetes Discussions Board part of the forum - please go and have a look at my posts. I suffer with:

Diabetes (pancreas now doesn't work and was damaged by high dose steroids used to treat Ulcerative Colitis)*
Diabetic Neuropathy*
Fatty Liver*
Arthritis (had hip replacement in 2004)
Ulcerative Colitis (resulting in large bowel being removed in April 2006) - a condition very similar to Crohns
Reflux
High cholesterol (but had to stop Statins as liver/kidney function was not very good - it wasn't very good BEFORE the Statins)
Pyoderma Gangrenosum (now healed, related to the Colitis)*
Hypertension
Asthma
Gout
Hope to have surgery early next year to repair two hernias (caused by having a stoma) and removal of my rectum - my ileostomy bad is now going to be permanent)
All of the conditions marked * relate to the Ulcerative Colitis and all started with that and just escalated

Its so nice to know I am not alone! As I said in my post on the Diabetes Discussion Board, the diabetes is the condition that causes me the most problems in terms of how I deal with things emotionally. It has been difficult to control because of various drugs I have had to take which artificially increase your Blood Sugars.

Jackie

I often wonder just how long I was diabetic before I was diagnosed - the diagnosis only turned up when I was admitted to hospital for something completely different.

I had gone for a diabetes test a year prior to this, as I had all the symptoms - but they said I was ok.
So this has left me very confused, as the hospital specialist said I'd been diabetic for a long time.

So I sometimes wonder how many of my medical conditions were caused by undiagnosed diabetes. Obviously some have no connection at all, but others could have.

Paperdos - First of all, I am so sorry for the loss of your Mum.

I lost my mum last December too. I am not brave, just accepting (or not, depending on the day!). I feel for you so badly having Crohns (or symptoms of it) having spent the last year before surgery mapping out routes to wherever I happened to be going by where the public toilets were! It sometimes took me 3 attempts to drive from my house to the station to go to work as I would get in the car, start the engine, and the very movement of the engine would be enough to set me off. And the pain that went with it, and cold sweats, were just terrible.

I often worry that I won't be around for my 14 year old son. Its such a worry isn't it?

After seeing what your mum went through no wonder diagnosis has left you so worried. If you ever want to chat I have sent you a PM.

Kind regards

Jackie

Paperdos said:

Toilet hunting, don't get me started. I must be one of many that actually dread going on holiday or even day trips. I have a radar key for disabled toilets which has proved invaluable at times, I also bought the book to tell me anywhere in the UK where I can find Radar loos. I think I can programme our SatNav to find them too (well I hope!).
I know everyone has an opinion if you're overweight and their suggestion other than diet is exercise. Yeah ok, but when the mere action of walking starts the alarm bells in my head when I get that 'gurgle', uh oh, not again! So, mentioning diet, well, fibre - not good, bowel doesn't like it, vegetables - bowel doesn't like them and exercise, just a walk round the supermarket speeds up the bowel process & halfway round I have to abandon hubby (also my carer) with the shopping in order to get to the loo.
I haven't been able to work since 2004 a year after having my son. With my large list of conditions, each problem associated with them & the meds with side effects all take their toll. I'm sure i've lost a whole bunch of brain cells, my memory is dreadful & I'm only 30!

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Morning. Just a thought ... have you joined the NACC (National Association for Crohns & Colitis)? When you join you get a little card (affectionately known as the "can't wait" card). Some of the larger department stores recognise these cards and will direct you to the employee toilets if the public toilets are broken or there is a queue. Used it once in Debenhams myself. Being a little overweight is, I think, handy with a condition like Crohns or Colitis. I know when I used to have a flare-up I could easily lose at least a stone in the space of 2 weeks. What medication do you take for the Crohns? I tried various different drugs but the only one that made any real difference was Balsalazide which I now take. Although my large bowel has been removed, I still have 11inches of rectum left as the original idea was to "re-plumb" my body after the first surgery. That means, sadly, that I still have Ulcerative Colitis in that 11 inches of plumbing and believe me, it lets me know it! Plan for me is to have it removed completely next year and repair the two hernias. At least that will mean no more UC for me.

I really understand the exercise part of the condition. People who don't know much about Crohns or related diseases think you are lazy but the truth is living with the constant threat of "accidents" while you are out and about completely does your head in. I had two in the month before I had my first surgery - one in Tesco and the other at work.

And trying to juggle a diet is horrendous. Diabetes likes low carbs, roughage etc. whereas your bowel goes into overdrive if you just look at roughage! As I have an ileostomy bag, my diet contains quite a lot of things like mashed potato, pasta and rice, but few vegetables or fruit so my diet tends to be quite high calorie. As I have absorption problems the calories aren't too much of a problem for me but I really have to be careful with Blood sugar levels. I basically have to avoid too much food which takes longer to digest as that can cause blockages. I also have to be very careful with diet drinks as the aspartame and sorbitol that act as sweeteners in those drinks are a laxative which is the last thing I need! :lol:

You were up early this morning .....!

Jackie

Paperdos said:

I did consider joining the NACC but, I don't know, the card says that you have a disease & I suppose people give you funny looks when you say you've got a bowel disease, as if it's contagious. I'll think about it again since you've mentioned it.

Karynn

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Karynn, to answer this first ... the card DOES say you have a disease BUT it also says specifically that is is non-contagious. Do think about it. They send a great magazine out every couple of months and it is full of other people's experiences and up to date research.

Jackie

Paperdos said:

I have to announce a victory I had at my son's school. Last week after yet more torrents of abuse from parents about where my husband parks our car (on the yellow zig-zags with permission from our local bobby!). I decided enough is enough, I was adamant that the school must be breaking the law not providing disabled parking & after a little investigative work online I found I was right. The Disability Discrimination Act states that schools must provide by law a disabled bay for either schoolchildren with a blue badge or parents with a disabled badge (which I have).
Today our local bobby came over to inform me that the school will be getting a disabled bay in by early next week. Success!! One person can make a difference.
I had several reasons why I was desperate to get my point across. More walking = risk of accidents, arthritis in hips & ankles not to mention my asthma, which i've had a virus in my chest so a lot of wheezing and coughing lately.
Well, I did what Jackie suggested & put a posting on about Weetbix / Cereal in general & have been flooded with responses, great. I seem to be doing ok from lunchtime onwards but breakfast is a danger zone for me at the moment.
That's me for now.
Karynn

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You go girl! So glad you managed to sort the school out. I frequently have "discussions" with people at my local Tesco when they use the disabled bays without a badge. Sometimes, as you will know, getting a parking spot near the entrance can be the difference between being able to go shopping or not. I tend to use their wheelchairs, particularly if I am on my own, but I still have to get myself into the shop.

Glad you got so many responses to the weetabix quesstion. I'll go and have a look at them next. Like I said, people are really helpful and friendly on the forum which is lovely.

Jackie

Paperdos said:

Got up this morning feeling like my mouth was drier than the sahara desert, not to mention a certain area with an itch! Yep you guessed it high BG's. Mother-in-law made the Jamie Oliver Spaghetti with Meatballs, which don't get me wrong was lovely. But, you know what i'm going to say, my BG's were 10.8 when i got up this morning, YIKES! I don't want to hurt her feelings though. Not only that because they're so high i'm afraid of eating breakfast because it will more than likely go higher. What to do. No meds to bring it down, i'm so thirsty!
Any suggestions? help

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How are your readings now Karynn? I have only just logged on so didn't see your post before. Yep, spaghetti will do it every time! Have no advice I am afraid as I am an insulin user but I feel for you because when I was on steroids and immunosuppressants my readings were like that all the time despite taking DOUBLE the insulin I am now and you just feel so lethargic and unwell don't you?

I do hope you are feeling a bit better this afternoon. I was really stupid this morning ... For the first time in months I sat and ate my toast and then became distracted as Ben had to go into school early and I forgot to take my insulin ... finally remembered at 10am! I think it is my age. :lol:

Jackie

Paperdos said:

Jackie,
Tut! Tut! forgetting your insulin, lol. My BG's on Friday am (post spaghetti) was 10.8, this morning it was 9.3, i don't really know why it was so high this morning. I didn't eat pasta for dinner this time. Before i forget, i wanted to ask you, i've noticed when my BG's drop under 6 i start to get a headache that doesn't want to go.
You're exactly right I do feel lethargic, drained of all energy, nausea, cracking headaches, irritable (my husband could vouch for that!) and just generally fed up.
Do you follow a low carb diet? Does it work for you? Katharine suggested to me that i follow a restricted carb diet which would help my BG's and lose weight, she also said that I should probably be on Metformin, or if i'm Type 1, insulin.
I think I'll be making a visit to the quacks next week anyway, they've messed up my repeat prescription again, typical!

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Hi Karynn. Sorry, only just read your post. I didn't get to the computer much yesterday. My headache kicks in with any readings below 5. It usually passes once I have eaten.

I don't eat low carb diet, I know it works for a lot of people though. For me, with my diet being so restricted anyway, and being unable to digest many fruit and vegetables, carbs for me, I feel are necessary. Otherwise I end up suffering my equivalent of diarrhoea (as you know, with Crohns, it can leave you badly dehydrated) which, when you have an ileostomy, can happen in the blink of an eye. Carbs like potato, bread, rice etc. help to "bulk up" which helps me retain some fluid in my body. Trying to balance diabetes with any kind of bowel disease or deficiency, is a real minefield. Meat can be very difficult to digest too, eggs cause problems with wind, I can't eat nuts in case of blockages so getting protein is also difficult. I hope you can find a balance as I know it isn't easy.

Make sure you do see your Doctor and explain what you have said here. Sounds to me like Katharine has it spot on to say you need help either in tablet form or insulin. Let us know how you get on.

Jackie

Hi All

I have the following lovely complaints

Type II Diabetes - Glargine & Byetta IV, Glicazide and Metformin
Athsma - 2 Inhalers
Hypertension - Amlodipine, Irbesartin, Ramapril and Doxazocin
******** Legs due to Motorcycles - Remedine, Celecoxib and 2 Ulcers (Right Leg 2 Years, Left Ankle 6 month)
Stomach - Omeprazole - Due to above medication!!! :evil:

Thats All For Now....

Darren

ok heres my problems lol
diabetes type 1
underactive thyroid
ibs...constipation
asthma on two inhalers
sinus problems due to a lodged pellet
at the moment investigations for severe vertigo and tinnitus,either menieres disease or a neuroma of the acoustic nerve
still awaiting for next thing lol