slice and dice, diabetes in the hospital...

Howdy from GA,

My apologies for dropping off the face of the earth. A lot and a little have been going on. I guess last time I was about to go in for surgery, or get some test done to see if it was needed, and it was. So I go into the hospital, explain to the anesthesiologist (no idea how to spell) about FreeStyle Navigator, and he agreed to use that to monitor my blood sugar during the surgery. At first he told me we were gonna do it his way, then came back apologizing, and thought the thing was awesome. So they give me an epidural, and knock me out for this bad boy. I wake up, and am itching pretty bad. Get some Benadryl, and fall asleep. In and out all day, itching the entire time... I am told that I will be on Regular (prehistoric) insulin for my stay in the hospital, and they will give me a shot every 4 hours, which I scoffed at.
I said I wanted to use Lantus and Apidra as my basal/bolus, and they said no. I got my endo, Bruce Bode on the phone, and he told me just to do it my way. So I fought, and fought (still all doped up) and finally was able to sign a consent form saying that I would be responsible if I died from hypo in the hospital, but that I could manage my own blood sugars. Happy to sign. My mom helped me big time here, and even went to sleep on a hospital chair to look out for me through the night. My blood sugar ran in the 150-200 range most of that day, and I was conservative with insulin cause I couldn't eat, and didn't want to go hypo.
But, I did want the itching to stop!!! So at 9pm it got bad, and if I had nails I am pretty sure I would have bled to death. At 12am, I was taken off pain killers to see if I was reacting to them. 12am- Benadryl- to "stop itching and put me to sleep"
1am- wide awake about to have a nervous breakdown from the itching- doc give me more Benadryl
2am- had a nervous breakdown- doc recommends Benadryl again. I say "it didn't work the 1st or the 2nd time, and I don't think it is gonna work the 3rd..." he gets pissed, and give me more anyway
3am- still wide awake, still itching, and I am really getting on everyones nerves. I was trying to explain that it felt like I had both chicken pox and poison ivy at the same time, and nothing I could do about it.- I get some other drug to "stop itching"
4am- no sleep still get another drug, and finally at 4:30 after watching sportscenter for the 20th time I crash
6am- woken up by doc to check pulse- and itching is back
this went on until high noon

The surgery however was a success. This was a problem caused by cycling, not diabetes. Kenneth Cherry is supposed to be the best in the nation for it. I had been having my left leg go numb for about 1.5yrs, and racing with 1 leg is not an option. So we did test and I had stenosis in both the iliac and femoral arteries, so they sliced me open, diced the arteries, and the put patches on them both. It was been 2 weeks off the bike, and 4 more before I can start light riding again. When I come back, and achieve good form again (September???)I should be faster than ever.

My mom had good friends in Charlottesville who opened their home to us, the Eichelberger's.

Last few weeks have been hanging out, getting used to walking again, and beating people with my cane...ha

Thanks for letting me vent. And if you are ever in the hospital I would recommend
1) take my mom with you
2) fight like hell to control your own blood sugars as opposed to someone who has no idea what diabetes is.

Have a great day!
Phil
www.teamtype1.org