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Hello!

B

BB1969

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6
Good afternoon all,

Thank you for letting me join your group. :o

I would like introduce myself and explain why I have joined the group.

I am 40 year old female, suffering with Grave's disease [toxic/hyper thyroid] for the last nine years, I have refused radio treatment [RAI] and now take numerous meds to reduce my graves and side effects. Part of Grave's is an irregular heart beat and tachycardia and on Monday this week after being refused to be seen by my GP I was admitted to the local cottage hospital. On admission my blood sugar was checked with a hand held prick test machine and it read 16.8 and I was asked to explain when I had last eaten during the day [skipped breakfast as usual then a chicken salad at one] I ate some eight hours previously, although I had two mints in the afternoon along with copious amounts of water at work.

Through out the admission process hubby and I were asked numerous times, if I was diabetic, which we both answered no and I was settled into a room to have my intravenous meds and at 2.30am I was released home, by this time I was starving and exhausted and just returned home and settled for a nights sleep.

In November 2008, I visited my GP and explained to him that I was extremely tired, more than usual, graves makes you tired, that I couldn't concentrate at work, having bouts of fuzzy vision, waking in the night to use the loo, I had cold sores and continual thrush and itching, a swab was taken and I was told that I didn't have thrush, these conditions were part of graves and as I continually refuse radio treatment, I have to put up with the side effects of the graves and stop complaining, I was give a script for antidepressants and rudely sent away.

I didn't even bother with the script for the antidepressants, I was not depressed just fatigued.

Since November I have struggled to manage day to day tasks, work, family, so on and sometime I growl and hiss at people because I am so tired, I'm normally happy go lucky, laid back and I cannot believe the difference in myself. I shock myself.. :oops: .. really I'm not normally like that, hubby and the kids, friends and colleagues are so worried about me.

Anyway hubby decided to buy a hand held prick test machine on Tuesday evening, after the questions about diabetes and the high reading at the hospital. So I have been testing myself late night and early morning; the readings are 17+ just before bed [normally 11ish - after eating at between six and eight pm], and morning readings [8am ish]are 11+.

My mum's been on meds for 10 years + for diabetes - age related, insulin type 2.

So Friday hubby tries to get another appointment to see the GP, whom is too busy, he asked for me to see the nurse, she is too busy too, so eventually we dropped into the community health centre in our nearest town. We saw a N/P there, she was lovely, I explained everything, how worried we both were, about all the above, this lady compassionate and said I needed some blood work and wait on the results. I'm expecting a call Tuesday to go back and see this N/P, she has also offered GP services as she was horrified with the GP refusing to see me and other issues with this GP.

I look so pallid with dark rings around my eyes, my hair is lank and I feel ever so tried.

That's where we are up to now, but I'm scared and worried, is there anyone out there with graves and diabetes or does anyone know the link between the two diseases? Or does anyone have any comments or tips for me, I truly would appreciate your time. I normally skip meals when I'm busy, if I were diabetic is there any risk in this?

Keep safe all.

Thanks for your time and support.

BB. x
 
Welcome to the forum BB.I'm sorry you've been through all this!!Just because you have one major condition unfortunately does not mean that you cannot develop another one!!I would suggest changing your GP or ,once the blood tests come back give him a rocket for missing this!!
You have a family history of diabetes and the Gp should have noticed this!
Have a good read round the forum and you will find a lot of helpful information on here.I hope someone can give you more info on diabetes and Graves.
It is not a good idea to skip meals if you are diabetic as you need to keep your blood sugars on a level keel.
 
I totally agree with Sue that you need to change your GP ASAP. This is totally unacceptable and you should complain both to the Practice Manager and also your local PCT. Do not let this person get away with this behaviour.

Ken.
 
Welcome.

I'm afraid that you can't possibly have 2 conditions at the same time. It simply isn't allowed, so you will have to choose. Of course, this means that the other condition will miraculously get better, so you take you pick :D :roll:

If only... People with a "dual diagnosis" often get a very poor service, whatever the diagnoses they have. Heaven help them if they get another one on top of that :? Then it gets even more complicated if you are on loads of medication and you have side effects...

Fatigue is a very poorly understood symptom (of very many illnesses) and managing it well can be quite a trial. I don't have a dual diagnosis, just T2 and a rather stressful life at the moment. But since I have been getting to grips with my blood sugar, and have reduced it, I feel a whole lot better. I'm nowhere near as tired and seem to have more energy.

Look around here and ask as many questions as you like :D Think about some of the things others have done to reduce their blood sugar. My first step, pre-diagnosis, was simply to stop eating anything with added sugar and increase fresh and raw. That made quite a difference.
 
WElcome
as Spiral says, having one problem doesn't rule out another one. So if you get a diagnosos of diabetes, we'll try to help as much as we can. there may even be someone out there who has Graves disease too and haaas edxperiences hat can help you. I would also complain to the local PALS group of your PCT. I realise that doctors get busy, but he knows you have a long term condition and should not just brush you off.
 
i am in totally agreement with the above posts but would just like to welcome you, i too suffer from a few illnesses and getting them diagnosed wasnt easy as they tend to blame very symptom on what u already have :D
 
Thanks everyone for the very kind and warm welcome.
Will keep you informed, without me knowing hubby has booked an appointment tomorrow evening with the Dr and Practice Manager, let's see what they have to say.

And yes, I know, I am self-fish maybe having two... yes two autoimmune disorders... :lol: :lol:

off to the loo for another pee..... weeeeeeeeeeeee!
 
Only a little bit of info that you may be able to follow up on. If you look up Alyssa and Steve Renouf here in Australia you will find that Alyssa has Grave's disease and Steve has Type 1 diabletes. You will also find that nearly all their kids are T1 diabetic and there could be a possible link between the two of them.

They are lovely people and are really helpful to the diabetic community of Australia.

Jen.
 
Hi all

An update: seen another practice GP and PM, no apology, nothing, GP defended her colleague.. .. .. no mistakes made, hard to pick up on the symptoms of diabetes...

This GP advised 'YOU ARE diabetic' with another high reading at the surgery, however without blood results cannot advise if T1 or T2 or which meds to use, however metformin was discussed, care plan to be put into place, appointment to be booked with diabetes nurse asap... with out blood results? LOL Didn't even have hospital blood results. Cannot have self testing strips or lancets on script, hubby boiling away in silence.

Had call from the health clinic whilst at work, need to go back first thing in the morning, so blood results must be back.

Then BOOOOOM!! Hubby lays into the practice manager, She became rather silent, he didn't shout or scream, 'you lot are a liability', blah blah blah, 'we suspected she had diabetes since November 08 and professionals profess to find it hard to diagnose' .... silence and jaws ajar, couldn't help but to stifle a small smile. 'PCT will be hearing of this, good mind to blah blah blah'. Meeting didn't end that well.. :lol: :lol: :lol:

Have tried to be a good girl, no tates, no cheese, no bread, cooking own curry tonight for the family not out of a tin or bottle, however had a horrid day, first reading at 6.45am is 15.5 then been sickly all day, not eaten yet today, don't think I could manage a curry, but fasting bloods at 13.8 [at least they have dropped a little] Fed up with things already.. LOL

Keep safe all.

Thanks for listening.

BB x
 
BB, keep a food diary for a few days. It is a bit of a pain, but really worth it. It will help you to make sense of the results you are getting. It is a lot to get your head around but things do seem to be moving forwards.

In my experience, trying to right every wrong and ****-up will wear you out. Choose which bttles you fight. Practice counting to 10 a lot and focus on the outcome you want. And smile. And be polite at the same time. That always puts the wind up them if you havn't been happy about something :wink: :twisted:
 
Thanks again for your kind words.

Confirmed this morning with clinic doctor, my fasting blood result was 14.1 so now I am T2 diabetic on metformin. Food diary is in place and appointment again on Thursday to discuss how I am getting on. No offer of test strips or lancets to self test.

Thanks everyone for your support over these very difficult few days. xx

Thanks again.

BB. x
 
hya bb,
glad youve got a diagnosis at last, hopefully now youre on meds u will start to feel better, let us know how u get on and good luck :D
 
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