Saturday, August 20, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
At the Eye Doctor
No retinopathy. Excellent.
No new technology. Dilation still stings, and it still sucks, and it still is unsafe to drvie afterward, and I still do anyway.
I did request a prescription for Latisse. I want sexy eyelashes, baby. I got one, (a prescription, not a sexy eyelash) and was told to call around to various pharmacies and see which one would be cheapest, since insurance doesn't cover this particular drug. (Answer: Target).
"Any other questions for me?"
"Nope. Just about my vanity and long eyelashes."
Then her voice got all comforting and soothing-like, "oh honey, you're not being vain."
Um, hello? I don't know if we have separate definitions of vanity, but I'm pretty sure wanting Latisse falls squarely under that umbrella. I'm OK with my vanity. I probably think this song is about me, too.
I use mascara. Other than cost, I don't really see the difference. "LOOK AT MY EYELASHES" is pretty much the message.
Then the technician pulled me aside and showed me her gorgeous eyelashes (and they were gorgeous) and told me to be careful with my mascara once I got the Latisse because excessive mascara use can break the newly long, lush lashes. I asked her which pharmacy she used, and she admitted that she gets her Latisse from Mexico. Hmmm....maybe I should take a drive....but Mexican pharmacies scare me, in a total I've-never-been-to-one kind of way.
And now, if you will excuse me, I will now go about the rest of my day, with "You're so vain" stuck in my head. My poor children.
No new technology. Dilation still stings, and it still sucks, and it still is unsafe to drvie afterward, and I still do anyway.
I did request a prescription for Latisse. I want sexy eyelashes, baby. I got one, (a prescription, not a sexy eyelash) and was told to call around to various pharmacies and see which one would be cheapest, since insurance doesn't cover this particular drug. (Answer: Target).
"Any other questions for me?"
"Nope. Just about my vanity and long eyelashes."
Then her voice got all comforting and soothing-like, "oh honey, you're not being vain."
Um, hello? I don't know if we have separate definitions of vanity, but I'm pretty sure wanting Latisse falls squarely under that umbrella. I'm OK with my vanity. I probably think this song is about me, too.
I use mascara. Other than cost, I don't really see the difference. "LOOK AT MY EYELASHES" is pretty much the message.
Then the technician pulled me aside and showed me her gorgeous eyelashes (and they were gorgeous) and told me to be careful with my mascara once I got the Latisse because excessive mascara use can break the newly long, lush lashes. I asked her which pharmacy she used, and she admitted that she gets her Latisse from Mexico. Hmmm....maybe I should take a drive....but Mexican pharmacies scare me, in a total I've-never-been-to-one kind of way.
And now, if you will excuse me, I will now go about the rest of my day, with "You're so vain" stuck in my head. My poor children.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Fictional PWD
I read a book recently. It wasn't a good book, per se, (it happens when you pick up random stuff at the library) and I was about to put it down when it was revealed that one of the main characters was a T1 diabetic.
I was immediately riveted.
It was more accurate than other fictional diabetes stories, I mean, the terminology was there - she used Humalog and Lantus - but it seemed she was on a "four hour" system, and she shot up every 4 hours with Humalog. I don't work that way. I mean, I probably eat close to every 4 hours when I can, so maybe that's how she did it, but it seemed different. I think in terms of "meals" and "exercise", not specifically "time" although that certainly enters into things. (How long until I eat again? Can I go here without a snack first, yada yada) But a strict four hour shot schedule? Has anyone else ever heard of something like this?
(Every time she checked, she was over 200, so I don't know how well it was working for her, but you know, fiction and all. And at least the author knew what was high and what wasn't.)
She told NOBODY she was diabetic, it was like she was ashamed of it or something, even though she said she considered it like having blue eyes, brown hair, and a non-working pancreas. (Her fiancee knew, but they never talked about it.)
She almost went into DKA on her wedding day, and was concerned about ketones in her urine, and her bg reading of 400, and what it was doing to her unborn child, all of which is very accurate. And her description of feeling fuzzy, needing some water and to lie down, certainly describes feeling high.
Her mantra was: Control it, or it controls you. And boy, do I get that.
It just made me wonder how the author did her research, did she read about it, talk to people with it? I mean, it was a pretty good description of diabetes (except what's with the fierce secrecy? You can tell people without being a victim).
Fictional diabetics always fascinate me now. And when the writers are completely WRONG, it drives me nutso. How many people did that inaccurate info have to go through to get to the page/tv/movie? After all, this is where a lot of people get their picture of diabetics.
Maybe all the REAL PWD should get together and produce a TV show or two, write some books, and end up with a major hit blockbuster movie. Possibly with vampires. That would be sweet.
I was immediately riveted.
It was more accurate than other fictional diabetes stories, I mean, the terminology was there - she used Humalog and Lantus - but it seemed she was on a "four hour" system, and she shot up every 4 hours with Humalog. I don't work that way. I mean, I probably eat close to every 4 hours when I can, so maybe that's how she did it, but it seemed different. I think in terms of "meals" and "exercise", not specifically "time" although that certainly enters into things. (How long until I eat again? Can I go here without a snack first, yada yada) But a strict four hour shot schedule? Has anyone else ever heard of something like this?
(Every time she checked, she was over 200, so I don't know how well it was working for her, but you know, fiction and all. And at least the author knew what was high and what wasn't.)
She told NOBODY she was diabetic, it was like she was ashamed of it or something, even though she said she considered it like having blue eyes, brown hair, and a non-working pancreas. (Her fiancee knew, but they never talked about it.)
She almost went into DKA on her wedding day, and was concerned about ketones in her urine, and her bg reading of 400, and what it was doing to her unborn child, all of which is very accurate. And her description of feeling fuzzy, needing some water and to lie down, certainly describes feeling high.
Her mantra was: Control it, or it controls you. And boy, do I get that.
It just made me wonder how the author did her research, did she read about it, talk to people with it? I mean, it was a pretty good description of diabetes (except what's with the fierce secrecy? You can tell people without being a victim).
Fictional diabetics always fascinate me now. And when the writers are completely WRONG, it drives me nutso. How many people did that inaccurate info have to go through to get to the page/tv/movie? After all, this is where a lot of people get their picture of diabetics.
Maybe all the REAL PWD should get together and produce a TV show or two, write some books, and end up with a major hit blockbuster movie. Possibly with vampires. That would be sweet.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Once Upon A Time On Vacation...
"So - if you're a twig, how come you have diabetes?"
Ah, the old 'it's a fat person's disease' come to town. I was happy to explain that he was thinking of Type 2, that there are many other reasons people get Type 2 besides weight issues, and that my disease (Type 1) is an auto-immune one.
"What does auto-immune mean?" Ok then, it means your immune system goes into overdrive and starts attacking things that aren't foreign.
"So, it's like AIDS then?"
Well, that's a new one. No, no it's not like AIDS at all.
Ah, the old 'it's a fat person's disease' come to town. I was happy to explain that he was thinking of Type 2, that there are many other reasons people get Type 2 besides weight issues, and that my disease (Type 1) is an auto-immune one.
"What does auto-immune mean?" Ok then, it means your immune system goes into overdrive and starts attacking things that aren't foreign.
"So, it's like AIDS then?"
Well, that's a new one. No, no it's not like AIDS at all.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Nope. Nothing quite like it.
Nothing like a low blood sugar in the shower to make you think "Boy am I glad I exercised!" There's also nothing quite like it to make you rethink the necessity of leg-shaving and hair-conditioning, and get you to run through the house naked to get to the kitchen for those graham crackers spread with dark chocolate that you bought in a moment of weakness at Costco. Oh, and some milk.
I really love dark chocolate. It goes well with Diet Dr. Pepper.
Went to the dentist yesterday. I decided to pretend I was just a mannequin in a training exercise - "are you OK? Somebody call 911 - are you OK?" since that's basically how I was treated, with that stupid air thing left in my mouth as the hygienists chatted with another. But hey, my teeth are still doing fine. That office can't decide if they do x-rays every 6 months or once a year. They change their minds every time I go in. (No you don't need summer x-rays, OF COURSE you need summer x-rays.) Oh, the places we go because our insurance covers them. I don't feel like they're incompetent, I think it's more of a "right hand doesn't talk to the left hand" kind of thing, and I don't love it there, but hey, who loves the dentist? And seriously, can't beat a five dollar co-pay for these visits.
And on that note, I do believe I will go and finish re-reading Harry Potter 7, and maybe I will bolus for some of that dark chocolate-y graham goodness. Yes, I believe I will.
I really love dark chocolate. It goes well with Diet Dr. Pepper.
Went to the dentist yesterday. I decided to pretend I was just a mannequin in a training exercise - "are you OK? Somebody call 911 - are you OK?" since that's basically how I was treated, with that stupid air thing left in my mouth as the hygienists chatted with another. But hey, my teeth are still doing fine. That office can't decide if they do x-rays every 6 months or once a year. They change their minds every time I go in. (No you don't need summer x-rays, OF COURSE you need summer x-rays.) Oh, the places we go because our insurance covers them. I don't feel like they're incompetent, I think it's more of a "right hand doesn't talk to the left hand" kind of thing, and I don't love it there, but hey, who loves the dentist? And seriously, can't beat a five dollar co-pay for these visits.
And on that note, I do believe I will go and finish re-reading Harry Potter 7, and maybe I will bolus for some of that dark chocolate-y graham goodness. Yes, I believe I will.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
RESULTS! RESULTS!
Ok the results are in and published for the Protege study, the one in which I participated. Conclusions? "Further study is warranted." Okee-dokee then. Good to know.
Link to MacroGenics press release:
http://www.macrogenics.com/press_releases-298.html
Link to the article through the MacroGenics website:
http://www.macrogenics.com/publications-141.html
My guess is that I was placed in N=106, which was a 6 day full dose - even though I went up for 2 full 2 week sessions. The first dose gave me a terrible rash (want to see?) and made my hair curly - I loved it! - and lowered my dosage considerably. The second dose just made me insane, which, let's face it, could be a strong placebo effect. Although, I did get somewhat of a rash then, too, but not nearly as bad.
Here's the first rash - after a few days of healing. Yeah, it hurt.
I can't wait to find out what I got. I wonder how long before I know.
Link to MacroGenics press release:
http://www.macrogenics.com/press_releases-298.html
Link to the article through the MacroGenics website:
http://www.macrogenics.com/publications-141.html
My guess is that I was placed in N=106, which was a 6 day full dose - even though I went up for 2 full 2 week sessions. The first dose gave me a terrible rash (want to see?) and made my hair curly - I loved it! - and lowered my dosage considerably. The second dose just made me insane, which, let's face it, could be a strong placebo effect. Although, I did get somewhat of a rash then, too, but not nearly as bad.
Here's the first rash - after a few days of healing. Yeah, it hurt.
I can't wait to find out what I got. I wonder how long before I know.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Swinging from 55 to 255 - all in a day's work.
Apparently diabetes doesn't want me to travel. It made that abundantly clear.
To which I say: Screw You.
To which I say: Screw You.
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