Feeling a bit down & fed up

Hello, haven’t posted on here in a long time, but I just need a little vent/rant.

I was supposed to have my consultant appointment in pump clinic on the 7th, a letter was sent again at the start of this week stating that my appointment had been changed to a telephone appointment, this would be fine but I dropped my phone last week and the speaker on it has broke, so I wouldn’t be able to hear what was being said to me. On the letter was a list of DSN mobile numbers, so I text mine asking if it was possible to change my appointment to email, she just told me to ring the diabetes centre (which again I informed her I couldn’t do, and obviously with the lockdown, I can’t go and get it repaired etc, as money is tight as it is) and she also told me that all DSN would be unavailable after Tuesday (just gone) as they would all be working on the wards, which is fair enough. So I dug out a letter from my last consultant appointment and emailed his secretary, to receive the reply “no diabetes reviews are happening until further notice, unless you are having hypos” I have been having the odd hypo but my issue is hypers! I have been on a pump holiday for 6 months due to the omnipod giving me chronic hives. The 6 months are now up and was meant to be going back onto a pump. I hate pens, I can’t get any decent control no matter what I do, I’m on 42 units of levemir twice a day and if I increase it anymore I hypo, however I didn’t have this problem on the pump. I am so miserable,I have horrible bruises from injecting and I’m pretty sure my hba1c has gone up!
I know there’s not much that can be done during this covid19 but why are people with vulnerable health conditions being pushed aside? Why are only hypos important and not hypers? I’m already on 3 monthly digital surveillance for retinopathy, so really want to get under control and I just can’t do this whilst on pens, which is why I was put on the pump In 2013. When I read the email I just cried because I’m so fed up.

Sorry for the rant, just needed to let off some steam

Juicyj said:

Sorry to hear that @ohitsnicola big virtual hug..

Can I just cross check with your hives, was it a reaction to the adhesive ? and could you go back onto it ? Using Cavlon spray as a skin barrier spray would limit the skins exposure as well as anti histamine tablets ?

Just playing with thoughts on this one, as your transition back to injections is not helping you, it may well be that Levemir isn't right for you and in that case Tresiba would work much better if you were to stay on injections.

Current situation is difficult but it's outside anyone's control, we just need to sit tight and hope it improves and when it does you will be able to get the support you need, in the meantime it's a case of surviving with whatever means are possible, keep calm and look after yourself, I know your high levels will be both the cause and effect of running high, so vicious circle scenario, ideal to tweak where you can and ride the storm.

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I was using cavilon too but it got to a point where I was changing every other day because of how much insulin I was on. Hopefully going to go back to Medtronic.
I feel bad for moaning now, because I know everyone is frustrated, I just needed to get it off of my chest.

NicoleC1971 said:

This too shall pass! I think we are all paused in our daily routines and also that the cost of the current lockdown in terms of our mental and physical health are not being taken into account. I am just glad I am not an over 70 who is self isolating.
So it is real and totally understandable to have these frustrations. Its very bad timing with regards to your pump but if you have any email contact with a pump nurse could be perhaps do some research on your options under your local ccg? It is not nice having hypers and it can have an effect on your sanity plus is physically draining too so give yourself a break whilst doing whatever you can to adjust food/doses.

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I do have an email contact but she never responds, I will just have to wait it out x

VashtiB said:

Your poor thing- one thing after another!

I am so sorry that you are n to getting the support you need- this virus thing had made some people's burdens so much more than usual.

I'm a type 2 so no real help but happy to give a virtual hug and a virtual cup of tea and to listen to you. I'm sure some
type 1s around will be able to understand exactly how hard this is for you at the moment.

Good luck and feel free to vent some more.

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I hope so too. I requested new needles from my GP and usually they just do it online but they’ve arranged for a telephone consult 8am Monday, hope that will be straight forward - as the bruising that I’m getting from a 4mm are ridiculous, another reason to hate being back on pens.
Another thing that baffles me though is why are only hypos important and not hypers? As surely with everything going on having hypers and a high hba1c puts you more at risk? And my last a1c was 75 and it’s no doubt higher! I doubt GP would change my background insulin though?