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Why am I like this?

FrancescaN

FrancescaN

Member
Messages
9
Location
CARDIFF, WALES
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi everyone, I'm a newbie; I was diagnosed with T2 on 5th April this year and my feelings and emotions are all over the place. First off, I'm PEG fed as I have Lymphangiectasia (my body doesn't absorb nutrients) with protein losing enteropathy ( don't ask ). I had a nightmare of a stay in hospital and came home with all these leaflets and handouts plus my Insulin equipment. I was in shock for days until my district nurses helped me. They were brilliant. Some days I feel I've got a handle on my diabetes- BG testing & Insulin jabs etc. But last week I had a grim appointment with my diabetes nurse at my doctors surgery- she was quite off with me saying I have put on weight ( my dietician says I haven't, I'm weighed by both) and I have to read up about T2. I was crying through out the appointment. My feelings are all over the place, I'm a bag of nerves most days because I was just getting used to my PEG and I get Diabetes thrown into the mix. Is it normal to have bad days with the odd good one now and again? I'm sorry if I sound melancholy ( today is a bad day), I used to be the life and soul of the party. I just want to be happy again. Thank you for reading this. Any feedback will be gratefully accepted.
 
Dear FrancescaN,

I'm very sorry to hear that you have diabetes on top of your other health problems. It is not surprising that you are feeling overwhelmed with it all and it is good that you are learning to deal with your diabetes. I don't know what it is with diabetes nurses, I have a friend who has a harridan as well and she regularly ends up in tears. Whereas mine is fine.

I think you will find that as you go through this site, read more of the information and make contact with more people, things will become more positive for you again, as there are lots of people to help and support you through the difficult time you are having.
 
You have had a lot of change to deal with in a short space of time. Of course that will have an impact on your mood. If you have a sympathetic GP I would go and see them and have a chat about how you are feeling. You could be going through what's called circumstantial depression and that may need intervention from a counsellor or maybe medication, if they can find one to work with whatever else you are taking.

The other suggestion I have for you is there is a board for people wanting to talk about how there diabetes affects their mood. I'm sure someone can point you in the right direction. Feel free to sound off how you feel about it all there and you will find many like minded people to talk to.

Or there is the Scream thread when days are really getting you down. Always someone to reply.

The people here are really friendly and non-judgemental so they will talk to you about everything and anything. You're not alone in this
 
Wow, thank you so much for your lovely comments and advice. I feel like I have found a safe haven and I will be sure to come onto this forum much more in the future. In other words, I don't feel alone and that has made me so much happier. Have a great evening folks, and once again, thank you
 
I can't really add to what's already been said, but hang in there. Things will improve and you will get your diabetes under control. I'm not going to pretend that it won't be tough sometimes, but when you get one of those days, come on here and sound off, both for a sympathetic ear and for some sound advice.
 
Sure some days are good and some days are not I think its normal. When you wake up smile in a mirror and see if you end up with a good day everyday or at least looking at things differently, this helps me.
 
Hi @FrancescaN

FrancescaN said:
Hi everyone, I'm a newbie; I was diagnosed with T2 on 5th April this year and my feelings and emotions are all over the place. First off, I'm PEG fed as I have Lymphangiectasia (my body doesn't absorb nutrients) with protein losing enteropathy ( don't ask ). I had a nightmare of a stay in hospital and came home with all these leaflets and handouts plus my Insulin equipment. I was in shock for days until my district nurses helped me. They were brilliant. Some days I feel I've got a handle on my diabetes- BG testing & Insulin jabs etc. But last week I had a grim appointment with my diabetes nurse at my doctors surgery- she was quite off with me saying I have put on weight ( my dietician says I haven't, I'm weighed by both) and I have to read up about T2. I was crying through out the appointment. My feelings are all over the place, I'm a bag of nerves most days because I was just getting used to my PEG and I get Diabetes thrown into the mix. Is it normal to have bad days with the odd good one now and again? I'm sorry if I sound melancholy ( today is a bad day), I used to be the life and soul of the party. I just want to be happy again. Thank you for reading this. Any feedback will be gratefully accepted.
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Good golly, that's a huge steaming pile to get dumped on you! PEG isn't a picnic (literally) at the best of times, and it sounds like you've really been through the wringer recently. You're exhausted - emotionally, physically, mentally. And you have every right to feel low - you're still coming to terms with so much in such a short space of time.

Firstly, is there any kind of counselling service in your area, NHS or otherwise? There's often self-referral services if you know where to look. If you're not having a lot of luck, try contacting MIND. I'm not saying you're going bonkers or have anything diagnosable or whatever, but it sounds like talking to someone might help you untangle all the things in your mind and get a little perspective and time to catch your breath. Also (in my experience) it's much easier to acknowledge my feelings when I'm talking to a complete stranger than to my friends.

And, yes, T2 is a learning curve and a steep one at that, but it's taken years to get to this point, and taking some time to get the hang of it all isn't going to change very much. You're doing your best, and there's a lot to take in. It's going to require time and a little bit of concentration - and that's going to be something you have to work on for a bit; nothing comes instantly.

Given the complications of your PEG and existing medical "stuff", would your dietician be a better source of advice? It sounds like you have quite a specific and specialised medical situation which your DN might not be brilliantly versed in.

You will be happy again. You will regain a sense of control and normality. Until that happens, though, you've found us (hoorah!) and you are welcome to rant, rave, share good days and bad (I find blogging daily really helps me settle my mind - why people read it is beyond me, but I definitely recommend it as a way of sorting my head out), ask questions, get angry, celebrate small steps and big ones... basically do whatever you need to get through this. People here are incredibly patient, unbelievably informative and endlessly kind.

Much love to you (though not luck - you don't need that. You've got this),

Sock x
 
Double post: Apologies.

Incidentally, if you get to that point (and only if and there are a MILLION different ways to skin the Low-Carb Cat) where you're thinking about low-carb with your T2, know that there are options available. A lot of post-cancer patients believe in starving cancer of sugars (including carbs) and there are products available if this is an avenue you wish to try.

But - and I stress this again - that's for when and if you get to that point. I mention it only because a lot of T2's talk about low-carb diets and their benefits (there are other options) and I didn't want you to feel it was a pointless avenue for you to consider.

There are always choices. Take your time making yours <3
 
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