I really feel for you, living with this problem. I think the hair loss is probably due to not getting enough food or not getting certain vitamins and minerals. Supplements are a great idea. I have heard that fish oil can help with hair and nails but I the capsules might be hard to digest. Have you had blood tests to check for vitamin and mineral deficiencies? I doubt you are getting enough iron from your diet.
If a gastric pacemaker and an insulin pump would help you, it might be worth fighting for them by writing to the specialists, or getting your GP to write to them. If they say no because of costs, maybe you could get your MP involved or go to the media?
I take my hat off to you for being positive in the face of these issues, especially when you will be tired and low on energy because of them. Hugs.
I really feel for you, living with this problem. I think the hair loss is probably due to not getting enough food or not getting certain vitamins and minerals. Supplements are a great idea. I have heard that fish oil can help with hair and nails but I the capsules might be hard to digest. Have you had blood tests to check for vitamin and mineral deficiencies? I doubt you are getting enough iron from your diet.
If a gastric pacemaker and an insulin pump would help you, it might be worth fighting for them by writing to the specialists, or getting your GP to write to them. If they say no because of costs, maybe you could get your MP involved or go to the media?
I take my hat off to you for being positive in the face of these issues, especially when you will be tired and low on energy because of them. Hugs.
Yes! you're absolutely right!!In my case, SCT started decades before diabetes, so it can't be a complication of it in my case. Other family members have it too. We are used to talking amongst ourselves about our bowels, lol. It's not something most people like doing, understandably.
I know a young woman with an eating disorder whose hair started coming out in handfuls because of her poor diet. So that would be the first thing I would look at. Your doctor should be able to help figure out what is causing the hair loss and what can be done about it, I would think?
I wouldn't rule out vitamin/mineral deficiency until I'd had blood tests, and also asked the doctor specifically about hair loss causes. The vitamins you take might not be high enough in dosage of certain things, or your body might not be able to absorb some of them very well. For example, there is a condition some people have where they cannot absorb B12, and need to get it by injection. There is a blood test for this condition.Gosh.. I take vitamin extras.. My step sis sent over vit tablets from spain for me as well cos they helped her during all her cancer treatment for her hair. I know my levels for D
Is top level. I know I eat incredibly good, fresh all inclusive vits each day as I check the foods I eat are totally balanced for vits n minerals. Guess it may be genes in my case!!
Interesting again though that Catlady SCT started before diabetes- that gives me a little bit of comfort that I can still say complication free.... I too have a mom that talks bowels lol!! Even hubby does now!!
I wouldn't rule out vitamin/mineral deficiency until I'd had blood tests, and also asked the doctor specifically about hair loss causes. The vitamins you take might not be high enough in dosage of certain things, or your body might not be able to absorb some of them very well. For example, there is a condition some people have where they cannot absorb B12, and need to get it by injection. There is a blood test for this condition.
Good to hear.I have B12 taken every 6 months. It was a third higher than the highest level should be 11 months ago and was giving concern. My vit D again is at highest recordable level.
All the rest like folate, iron etc are all normal. I was dianoses with Pernicious Anemia and having injections 15 years ago. These were stoped about 5 years ago but levels jumped way out of target range last year and now are slowly going down again.
I am ultra careful with minerals and vitamins. My food is very balanced too.
I have the same issue with the restroom. I can go 12 days without using it . A lot of people can't understand that laxatives won't work because they just sit in your stomach and cause cramping and bloating and nothing else and enemas don't help because that is not where the problem for us is. Even my other medications I am taking I have a difficult time taking because everything takes so long to digest . A lot of people , even doctors don't understand this complication very well . My GI dr told me if I can travel outside of USA for treatment he would recommend it . I have been to turkey and they have some excellent medical facilities as well as the gastric pacemaker . I am still considering getting one there but need to see who in the states can follow up with me . I am tired of liquids , feeding tubes , vomiting and weakness. It is the one issue that causes me the most misery and the most issues with blood sugar controlYes! you're absolutely right!!
I have B12 taken every 6 months. It was a third higher than the highest level should be 11 months ago and was giving concern. My vit D again is at highest recordable level.
All the rest like folate, iron etc are all normal. I was dianoses with Pernicious Anemia and having injections 15 years ago. These were stoped about 5 years ago but levels jumped way out of target range last year and now are slowly going down again.
I am ultra careful with minerals and vitamins. My food is very balanced too.
Have you thought of contacting Dr Bernstein's office? I believe he's in NY State or Connecticut. His office may be able to make a recommendation to a physician closer to you.I have the same issue with the restroom. I can go 12 days without using it . A lot of people can't understand that laxatives won't work because they just sit in your stomach and cause cramping and bloating and nothing else and enemas don't help because that is not where the problem for us is. Even my other medications I am taking I have a difficult time taking because everything takes so long to digest . A lot of people , even doctors don't understand this complication very well . My GI dr told me if I can travel outside of USA for treatment he would recommend it . I have been to turkey and they have some excellent medical facilities as well as the gastric pacemaker . I am still considering getting one there but need to see who in the states can follow up with me . I am tired of liquids , feeding tubes , vomiting and weakness. It is the one issue that causes me the most misery and the most issues with blood sugar control
Anaelena donnellysdogs CatLadyNZ I have read this thread from the beginning and I have gone through all the medicines you mentioned (except surgery). I even was on supplement drinks 4 times a day because I couldn't eat solids. I got fed up with them as well, so now I only eat what I can or what my stomach says "ok, I think I can handle this food"... I wake up in the morning I take my pills and inject my insulin then and have my coffee with semi-skimmed milk and that's me until 4 o 5pm when I have another coffee with a bit of bread, but if I still feel like a balloon I just wait until dinner when I can eat a soft, but at least decent meal. I feel very weak, my hair loss never ends (and I'm not surprised), I sleep a lot so I can recover from my low-activity during the day, and senna is the only remedy I have to go to the toilet after 6 or 7 days...
Doctors said that they've done everything they could and told me to wait for surgery until I cannot cope with the situation. I've been into hospital sooo many times and sometimes for a month, and nothing can keep me stable. My blood glucose is never right or if it does it's just for one or two days. Been monitored with a blood glucose sensor three times during 15 days, and every single day I was absorbing my nutrients at different times.
I guess an insulin pump would do me at least some good, but again the cuts and many people waiting for a pump!! I might buy one but they're expensive!!!
Anyway, I just want to thank you for all your support and suggestions and PLEASE take care and don't let your SCT or your SLT get worse!! Severe gastroparesis is really a pain in the neck.
Thank you all...
Excellent idea, @Indy51Have you thought of contacting Dr Bernstein's office? I believe he's in NY State or Connecticut. His office may be able to make a recommendation to a physician closer to you.
Have you thought of contacting Dr Bernstein's office? I believe he's in NY State or Connecticut. His office may be able to make a recommendation to a physician closer to you.
@Anaelena dr Bernstein's contact details are with the very comprehensive list of links already provided by @Indy51.That is a great suggestion !!! I will try to find a way of contacting them , I didn't even consider this . Thank you !!!
Hi there, I'm not sure what is causing that problem. Maybe the cabbage had something to do with the distension, as I know that can cause wind in some people? Sorry I can't be of more help.@CatLadyNZ and @Anaelena
Do either of you have trouble with a full size hot meal? I obviously know that you do if you know what I mean... But did either of you get to a point that hot meals suddenly caused you probs?
I tried having just belly rashers by themselves last week as I love them. They caused horrible distention again and high levels up to 15 hours later.
Last night I had home made meatballs and home made sauce (with courgette) and cabbage and runner beans and exactly the same again. At at 5pm. At 11.30 I was still in 5.0's, then at 1am I woke up eeally sweating.. Stomach so badly distended. Tested and was 11.7!! Then I doubled correction insulin dose. Woke up again exactly same at 5am. Still 11.3.. Same diatention, same pain.
Finally got down to 6.5 by 9am.
I thiught it was courgette, but even when I had belly rashers last week just by themselves I had the same problem.
5 days a week I eat salads and fish or eggs or a bowl of soup. No problems.
I don't want to keep having to go through pain and high levels making myself ill (as it seems intentional!!) but don't know whether I should just avoid full hot meals.
@CatLadyNZ and @Anaelena
Do either of you have trouble with a full size hot meal? I obviously know that you do if you know what I mean... But did either of you get to a point that hot meals suddenly caused you probs?
I tried having just belly rashers by themselves last week as I love them. They caused horrible distention again and high levels up to 15 hours later.
Last night I had home made meatballs and home made sauce (with courgette) and cabbage and runner beans and exactly the same again. At at 5pm. At 11.30 I was still in 5.0's, then at 1am I woke up eeally sweating.. Stomach so badly distended. Tested and was 11.7!! Then I doubled correction insulin dose. Woke up again exactly same at 5am. Still 11.3.. Same diatention, same pain.
Finally got down to 6.5 by 9am.
I thiught it was courgette, but even when I had belly rashers last week just by themselves I had the same problem.
5 days a week I eat salads and fish or eggs or a bowl of soup. No problems.
I don't want to keep having to go through pain and high levels making myself ill (as it seems intentional!!) but don't know whether I should just avoid full hot meals.
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