Trauma And Diagnosis

jakay42 said:

I was talking to friend today who enquired about my recent Gall Bladder op. He asked if I was experiencing any symptoms pre op. I did not think I had any classic symptoms and was fit as a fiddle with regular hard exercise. He seemed to suggest that as the Gall Bladder is close to the Pancreas was there a possibility that during the Op the Pancreas was damaged. The surgeon said that the op went fine so I took as read that everything was fine. Symptoms started a few hours later where I was urinating every five minutes and after two weeks it had eased slightly but wounds were not healing as they should've with the inevitable infection. I thought that the symptoms were as a result of the op and would settle down after a few weeks. 6 weeks after the op and half a stone lighter and looking like death warmed the GP sent me to the hospital and I was diagnosed type 1 at the ripe old age of 56. Its now four or so weeks since I have been diagnosed and looking for answers as to why me!! I was a fit older gent with no history of T1 in the family. I also had an eye examination a few weeks before the op at Specsavers so assuming nothing out of the ordinary. Just feeling a bit sorry for myself and probably know its just one of those things life throws at you when you get too comfy.

jakay

Click to expand...

It's very easy to ask why. I have had Crohn's for 11 years, and back in 2008 I was prescribed a medication called azathioprine to treat both that and a secondary condition called dermatomyositis. By 2011 that medication had helped me reach the culmination of a slow steady decline with my bowel perforating, which caused sepsis, which in turn brought on septic shock. I only learnt afterwards that I also had acute pancreatitis at the same time, which had been caused by that same medication. I had already just had two ops in four days, and almost needed a third within two weeks. All in all, I spent ten weeks in hospital, and had to learn to walk again which took me 18 months because of atrophy.

Last November, I was diagnosed as type 1 because the pancreatitis caused by that foul medication had wrecked my pancreas. I think it was understandable for me to ask "why me"! I have just had to get on with it, however I do have moments where I think here we go again, more injections. I do have a needle phobia brought on while I was in hospital after the ops, the doctors insisted on four blood tests every day without fail for the first seven weeks, and all from one arm as I had a PICC line in the other.

Type one has been something of a challenge for me because of the needles, but in spite of it, I manage it well, don't get hypos and have ploughed on. I haven't enjoyed it, but who would? Having said that, when I was in the hospital being diagnosed, a couple of older people were arguing over who had been diabetic longer and who had the most complications!

No one said we can't complain once in a while, some people whinge over far less!

Type 1 can come on quite slowly in adults. It's very possible that, unknown to you, the islet cells in your pancreas were being destroyed by your immune system. You have to lose around 80% of them before you start showing signs of diabetes.

It's possible the stress of the operation may have tipped you over the line into obvious diabetes. If you're concerned about damage during the op, I'd talk to your GP and/or the hospital.

Why you? Just bad luck, I'm afraid. Type 1 is more environmental than genetic. Sadly we don't know what the trigger is yet.

It does get easier dealing with it. Knowledge is power. Learn as much as you can and then you can control the diabetes and not let it control you