Awful experience last night.

[ClaireG 06]

As some of you may know from previous threads, i am having a few problems at the moment. I ended up in hospital nearly 2 weeks ago for the night and was found to have very high blood pressure, given anti sickness meds, new bp meds and iv fluids. I am also waiting to see a maxofaciall surgeon as problems with teeth and have lots of outpatient appts because of blood pressure.
Anyway yesterday afternoon i started feeling really bad again. Headache, dizzy, being sick, heavy breathing etc. Bloods were quite high yesterday highest being 25.2 :shock: Phoned NHS Direct and they put me in touch with out of hours Drs who told me to go to local out of hours centre in next town and take a sample with me. I will never, ever go again. They were awful and really quite nasty to me. Told me as a type 2 i need not worry about high bg levels, i shouldn't be testing and i probably have a virus :roll: :evil: :evil: :evil:
Am still not good now although bloods down to 12.6, still too high i know. Have bad headache and still being sick and very dizzy. Took me 40 minutes just to get dressed. Off to GP at 10.40.

 

[catherinecherub]

Poor you. There must be a cluster of HCP's in your area with limited knowledge about Type 2.. Seems there is something badly lacking in diabetes education in your area. Cannot use the old adage, "I blame the parents" but it does make you wonder what the Educators are spouting out in the vicinity that you live.
Hope you get some joy from your G.P. Let us know how you get on.

 

[ClaireG 06]

Thanks Catherine. I was admitted to hospital just before christmas with DKA and Pneumonia and the care and attention etc then was much better. With the symptoms i am having i was worried about DKA again, however last night was only showing low levels of ketones in urine. Was asked last night and whilst in hospital if i really did have DKA :x :? As it's almost unheard of in type 2's. I did tell them both they had said almost not never! and that i was on a sliding scale, iv fluids and pain meds, oxygen etc etc.

 

[ebony321]

Thanks Catherine. I was admitted to hospital just before christmas with DKA and Pneumonia and the care and attention etc then was much better. With the symptoms i am having i was worried about DKA again, however last night was only showing low levels of ketones in urine. Was asked last night and whilst in hospital if i really did have DKA :x :? As it's almost unheard of in type 2's. I did tell them both they had said almost not never! and that i was on a sliding scale, iv fluids and pain meds, oxygen etc etc.

Do you have access to test ketones with blood?

Testing ketones in urine can be quite behind, without worrying you i mean your ketones could be higher than what your urine is showing as it takes a while for urine to go through the body so it's not the most accurate form of testing for ketones.

Rare in T2's or not it IS possible.

I'm sorry to hear that you pretty much got brushed off in that clinic, next time i would go to A&E, given your previous history a few months ago, the fact you are showing slight ketones in urine and are pretty much constantly high BG wise then something really needs to be done.

You've gone about things the right way and received terrible help and advice from that clinic. I'm glad that you know better than to accept that sort of advice! it's worrying to think how many people are told the same and would just go back home and get very poorly

I used to be bad for that, just taking what a DR said as concrete because i though they all know better and i wasn't to question them, but now i double check things and ask if i don't understand instead of leaving looking like this smiley -> :?:

Your in the Dr's now but i hope he/she was helpful and are doing something to help you as youmust be feeling terrible

 

[ClaireG 06]

Thanks Ebony
Thank the lord, i got to see a sensible Dr! He basically said that he doesn't rate Glic that highly and it's usually used in conjunction with other drugs. He asked why i wasn't on Met, i explained that Met made me very ill. He said we can't go on like this it must be making you feel awful and it isn't right. He went and spoke to one of the DSNs based at the practice. She agreed with him that i need an urgent insulin start. I was told to book an appt through reception. They said i could be seen next Friday :shock: At this point i lost a bit and said the DSN and Dr had both said it was urgent and i should be seen Monday. Anyway, i am seeing a different DSN ( my usual one,lets hope she's good this time!) on Tuesday at 7pm.
Have been told to drink lots etc etc in the meantime.

 

[ebony321]

Ah, great!

sounds like your getting somewhere!

How do you feel about starting insulin? It seems logical as you don't get along with other meds.

Glad you got a sensible doc!

 

[ClaireG 06]

If you had asked me about starting Insulin 4-5 months ago, i would have told you i'd do anything to try and avoid it and injecting myself. Now however, having read threads on here and listened to the Dr today and the advice of a friend who was a Dr i am actually wanting to start it! I just want to stop feeling ill etc all the time and get my life back on track.

 

[catherinecherub]

Glad things are being sorted Claire.
Insulin means different things to different people with Type2. Some see it as failure, some expect that they will eventually have to use it and some embrace it as it sorts out their management.
I am sure you will feel so much better once you try this new regime and at last someone is listening to you.

 

[ebony321]

If you had asked me about starting Insulin 4-5 months ago, i would have told you i'd do anything to try and avoid it and injecting myself. Now however, having read threads on here and listened to the Dr today and the advice of a friend who was a Dr i am actually wanting to start it! I just want to stop feeling ill etc all the time and get my life back on track.

It is quite daunting at first when your told you have to take insulin!

I had the same reaction as you though, because i was so poorly and felt so unbelieveably rubbish i was willing to, if it was to make me feel better for just one day!

You know you can come here for advice about taking insulin, and it sounds like you have good support in that DR you saw too

good luck and let us know how you get on tuesday

 

[ClaireG 06]

Thanks again Catherine and Ebony.
I must admit the thought of injecting myself is a bit daunting but i'd much rather that then feeling awful and/or getting complications. As you say, i know i can always come here for advice etc to

 

[Ka-Mon]

If you had asked me about starting Insulin 4-5 months ago, i would have told you i'd do anything to try and avoid it and injecting myself. Now however, having read threads on here and listened to the Dr today and the advice of a friend who was a Dr i am actually wanting to start it! I just want to stop feeling ill etc all the time and get my life back on track.

I'm not on insulin myself but have net a couple of diabetics who have said that their lives got much better and were able to go back to work again after they started injecting insulin, hope the same for you if you decide to take that route.

 

[ClaireG 06]

Thanks Ka-Mon, it's good to know that people you have met have said they felt much better on insulin.

 

[ClaireG 06]

Not very good again Feel boiling hot, have head and stomach aches and have been sick on and off since about 11.30 last night. On the advice of NHS direct i am off to the walk in centre soon. At least they are better than out of hours! If they send me to A&E i get fast tracked so don't have to wait around for hours on end.

 

[2808myles]

Hi, i think it,s time there were separate departments in A/E with specialists in diabetes as there seems to be all sorts of complications and the NHS24 and junior doctors in A/e dont have a clue about anything,when i was diagnosed it was 3 days down the line maybe four when they said i had diabetes instead of the gallstone they were looking for,it was actually ketones where the pain was coming from and if there had been a specialist in A/E i would have had my life saved a lot quicker.

You should do as i,m going to do refuse to leave the hospital until they get you stable and on the correct medication,
sorry for the rant but i understand the way you feel when no one tells you straight or the truth

hope your appointment sorts you out

Alastair

 

[anna29]

Hiya, have been reading your posts n left wondering how you have gone on today? Please keep in touch n let us know. Thanks, Anna.x

 

[donnellysdogs]

Yep, let us know...think you are due to see the new DSN Tuesday??? Do so hope that you are going to be feeling better soon....x

 

[ClaireG 06]

Well, i went to the walk in centre and they were not really concerned. Told me to try and just take small frequent sips of water and small amounts of bland foods. Came home and sent a text to a friend who used to be a dr and has good knowledge of diabetes care. On her advice i went to A&E. My pulse and blood pressure were up. BP was 175/104. Had usual bloods taken and waited to see Dr. He checked my stomach which was very sore. Looked at all my meds and then decided it maybe my new BP med making me sick even though i was being sick, but not as much, before i started it. Said all bloods were fine although urea was slightly high which i have since found indicates dehydration although he said i wasn't dehydrated :? Not sick in hosp and bg was 11.7. Was told to stop the Amlodapine and increase my Ramapril instead. He also said he thought me going onto insulin would be ott :x and sent me home. Will be very annoyed if the DN doesn't start me on insulin now. Managed to have a sick free night but still have headache, shortness of breath etc. Have just tried eating some oatcakes in the hope they stay put.

 

[ailz]

Poor you, it sounds like you are really going through it at the moment. I hope you get your insulin started as from what I've read it will give you much more control. My doctor told me he would consider it for a type 2 with regular readings over 10, if they felt they wanted it - but it puts weight on you - I think he told me this to put me off, as I was asking lots of questions about different treatments at the time.

Hope you feel better soon

Ailz

 

[ebony321]

You really are running into some medical gems arent you.. NOT.

As Ailz says i hope you do start insulin as it seems it would really benefit you. If you can get your diabetes under control then you will be able to pinpoint where this sickness is coming from.

Only one day til your appointment and i really do hope it goes well. Be firm with your DN of course as well as being polite. Its YOUR diabetes and you should be more than entitled to seek alternative treatment as it's you that takes diabetes home with you!

I don't know much about ramapril and other meds so i've no idea if they can cause sickness or not?

Let us know how it goes tomorrow

 

[ClaireG 06]

Thanks Will report back when seen DN.