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Hello i am new here

K

Kat girl

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Hello I am a 48 year old female. I just popped in to say hello. I am T2 diagnosed 5 years. All been ok and take 500mg SR Metformin 1 x day. However things have gone crazy - vomiting, dizzy, blurred vision, shakes you name it I have had it. New GP has doubled my metformin given me an anti sickness medication and started me on dapagliflozin so I am hoping things improve. The vomiting is the worse. I have just taken 2 days off sick because of vomiting a total of 4 days in 6 weeks because of the vomiting and the only 4 days since March 2013 however on returning to work I have been referred for occupational health assessment. Prior to this episode I have had a total of 6 days sick since 2009 and having a very low sick record and have been with my employer for 30 years I am very concerned they will try and sack me.
To top it I am now diagnosed menopausal that was not a surprise as I have had the hot flashes for several years on and off but never been tested to confirm the menopause. The GP refused HRT due to my diabetes but has given me anti depressants which are currently not making any difference.
I am hoping the menopause is what is causing my diabetes problems and it will improve.
Anyway thanks for reading I am going to have a mooch around the site as it looks very good and you seem like a friendly knowledgeable bunch of people and I am hoping to find lots of information.
Thanks Kat
 
Welcome to the forum Kat.
 
Oops sorry I don't really understand the differant blood tests my last GP test was 64 I have no idea what that really means. I have got myself a meter and strips as my GP refuses to give me one. I have been having hypos I never realised what they were until I nearly blacked out several times and started feeling better after scoffing a sweetie so then started researching it on the internet
my meter arrived today. I am going to test regularly to try and work out what is happening. Before dinner it read 6.8 2 hours after it was 9.3 I know that is bad so things are going to change
I often black out and go dizz especially when I get up in the morning.I skip meals all the time but things are improving and I am eating more regularly and trying to learn about good and bad diabetic food. I have never had any diabetic training or education as never offered it. My new GP has mentioned it so hopefully that will happen soon
 
I am not on medication so not the best person to advise you, But if you are having hypos something does not seem right.
 
Hi. Sad to hear about your current problems. Metformin doesn't normally cause hypos but there are exceptions. Also Met SR is normally very good but there are a few who just can't tolerate it. I can only suggest with the agreement of the GP you stop it for a week or so to see if it is the culprit
 
Hi Kat

Sorry you have been poorly.

When did you start taking metformin. If it was five years ago when you were first diagnosed, it seems odd that it should start making you sick now. Some issue with the menopause perhaps?

Also you are on the minimum dosage of the SR. Version only 500mg when most are usually on 1500-2000mg daily. So it is difficult to see why you should be suffering extreme lows to the point of blacking out. Metformin is supposed to not give you lows, although skipping meals is one way I managed to get one personally and even then I was on 2550 mg of myformin at the time and my low did not come anywhere near blacking out; it was just a feeling of dizziness, loss of balance and general anxiety.

Getting a meter and testing regularly is definitely a wise move, in the circumstances. Actually in all circumstances if you are diabetic!

I suggest that you keep a diary of your readings as well as your meals to see if you can identify any patterns and to review with your doctor/nurse.

You should specifically discuss these lows with your diabetic team, as they are unusual and also because, if they just look at your Hba1c score, a three month average blood glucose level indicator, they may not be aware of the highs and lows that may be hidden in your score.
 
There’s a lot of information in your post Kat, and I’m not 100% sure of some of it, so I’d like to clarify a couple of points.

Firstly, you have been diagnosed a few years, and taking Metformin SR. What was your last HbA1c whilst taking just the one Metformin, and again, whilst on just the one tablet, what were your day to day bloods running at?

Secondly; You have a new GP who has increased your Metformin, and added dapagliflozin. Were these changes made before or after you complained of sickness, and were the changes made at the same time (as opposed to Metformin for a while, then adding the dapagliflozin)?

I guess in all of that I’m also asking when the sickness started? When it started, or indeed along the way, do you have any other symptoms? And, what are your assumed menopausal symptoms?

Sorry, sorry, but I’m a detail person.

And finally, please don’t worry too much about your referral to Occupational Health. Many large employers (and I’m assuming yours is large; having an OH department) have absence policies with very strict triggers built into them. One most recent that I recall would have been triggered by 2 absences, for the same reason, within 3 months – no matter what duration. If your employer uses a computerised HR system (there are several around), your Line Manager will record all periods of absence in there (and that includes sickness, holidays, time in lieu etc.), and for sickness a reason will also be recorded. That’s normally under a computerised heading (like upset stomach, virus, backache), with notes.

More often than not, the Line manager is just as surprised as you may have been to have a flag appear, on their PC screen, as the automated referral is made.

Your employer has a duty of care to ensure you are fit to work, and that your workplace, or colleagues, or role, is not adversely affecting your health. I would think your first interaction with OH is likely to be a brief meeting where you outline why you have been off and “they” will be trying to ascertain if this is likely to happen again, and importantly, if they should be doing anything to support you. By support, that’s usually thinks like special chairs for those with backache, or screen filters for people with migraines.

Don’t panic. That won’t make anything better.
 
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