Kung Flu Fighting
So, what did you do this weekend?
Last Thursday evening Arden said, "I don't feel good" and just like that, we embarked on our second battle with the flu since Arden was diagnosed back in 2006. Two out of eight, that's... not bad, right?!
The timing of her illness (End of week, holiday) allowed Kelly to be the Super Mom that she is, while I got to take a more traditional Dad role - run to pharmacy, clean up, bring blankets and sleep in another room so Kelly and Arden could do their 'sick day lady communing'. I was happy to see Kel get this time with Arden but sad for it to come like this - they were both amazing and incredibly tough over the last few days. Being tired, sick and feverish sucks on a normal day but when you add type I diabetes and a holiday, well, it sucks a lot more. Moms always surprise me with their willingness to lay face-to-face with their kids when they are contagious. #MommyLove
Arden's BGs were more than manageable for the first twenty-four hours, actually they were fantastic - probably because she wasn't eating much. Since Saturday, they have progressively gone back to the normal level of challenging that we've come to expect.
All of this of course reopens the discussion about getting a flu shot - something we don't normally do. No one else in the house has the flu right now or had the flu this past winter, and even though Arden contracted the less aggressive strain (B), it is still difficult not to second-guess our decision. We are not an anti-innoculation family, but we do try to limit unnecessary medications. Actually, some years, the strain contained in the 'flu shot' never materializes in the population, but there is no denying that right now, it is tough not to wonder if we made the right choice.
Arden is doing much better today and may make it back to school as early as tomorrow, she is already begging to play in her softball game tonight. We opted to use Tamiflu to shorten the life of her flu. The Tamiflu doesn't effect BGs and was strongly recommended by the pediatrician because Arden has type I. In all, it was a weird and wacky Easter weekend as Arden fought with this second wave of the flu season, prepared Easter eggs with a fever, and used up most of her adrenaline on Sunday morning trying to outrace Cole to the eggs hidden around our house. I'm not sure if we'll get a flu shot next year but this entire experience has led me to rename Easter to 'Fluster' - (Kelly nominated 'Fleaster' - but was outvoted last evening by our governing board).
Be well, wash your hands and let's hope that this all goes away as soon as possible.
C'mon Spring, get here!
Forgotten Wallet Buys a BG of 25
Perhaps you saw the picture that I posted yesterday of Arden making a play during her weekend long softball tournament? It was accompanied by a caption that read, "Tournament champions! Five games in two days, not one low BG. OmniPod & DexCom perfect together. #diabetes #softball #undefeated".
Tournament champions! Five games in two days, not one low BG. OmniPod & DexCom... perfect together.#diabetes #softball #undefeated
I probably could have written a blog post about the experience but I was still plenty exhausted from the weekend - so I went with a simple photo to not only celebrate, but to let you all know that it can be done. Long hot days, travel, little sleep and a lot of exertion can be managed with a few diabetes tools and a little extra focus.
Do you know what a CGM and insulin pump can't help you with? They are not designed to remind a person that they put their wallet into the glove compartment of their wife's car - if they did, yesterday would have gone much better.
This is the story of a blood glucose reading of 25, that happened in a restaurant - it was an old school low, no working CGM and enough rookie mistakes to fill sharps container. Ready?
As previously mentioned, Arden had a softball tournament that lasted all weekend and required us to stay in a hotel on both Friday and Saturday night. In the fine tradition of baseball/softball lunacy, we scampered from the field Sunday afternoon moments after Arden received her championship trophy, to make the ninety minute drive home... so our son Cole could pitch in a 4:30 pm game (Five innings, no runs btw). Anyway, during that drive I put my wallet into the glove compartment of my wife's car and never removed it. This was no big deal, until I found myself in the parking lot of a restaurant the next day - with no money.
I guess that I felt pretty silly having driven ten minutes to the restaurant with my kids and one of Arden's friends in the car only to find that I didn't have any money. I couldn't believe that I forgot my wallet. Then I recalled that it wasn't just abandoned at home, but was in Kelly's car. I thought for a second, asked my son if he had some cash that I could borrow and we drove home to get it from his room.
Ten minutes to the restaurant, a few minutes sitting in the parking lot figuring out what to do, ten minutes home, a few minutes to gather the cash and ten minutes back - then we got our seats, read the menu and ordered.
Lots of confusion, lots of running around - lots of opportunity to forget that I pre-bolused Arden for the meal, when we initially left to go out to eat, you know - almost an hour ago!
My brain snapped back into diabetes mode when Arden said, "Dad, I feel dizzy". I asked her to test. It took a few moments then suddenly the math came to me, Ten minutes + five + ten + five + ten + ten x I bloused for a meal / the CGM is still calibrating = JUST DRINK A JUICE!
I stayed calm not only because we were in a restaurant but because one of Arden's friends and teammates was sitting in the booth right next to her. I prioritized; stop seizure, try not to panic, juice, test, stay focused. Arden's BG was 50 when we tested but I could tell, even without her CGM that she was dropping fast. Not because I knew how long it had been since we bloused, not because a could see it in her face - I could tell because of what she said when I asked her to keep drinking.
Arden took a few sips and then put her head on the table. In my opinion, one of the most frightening and nauseating side-effects of low blood sugar is the inability to care about your own life. "Arden keep drinking, I really need you to keep drinking". She didn't move, I knew she heard me but she could make herself care. Arden understands what will happen if she doesn't drink the juice and she couldn't, because her blood didn't contain enough glucose, make herself care about her own life.
I instructed my son to stand up and then I picked up Arden and moved her to my side of the booth. "Cole, go get apple juice from the waitress, walk right up to her - be fast". I got Arden to finish the juice that we carried and tested again, her BG was now twenty-five. With no CGM arrows to rely on, I just wanted her to keep drinking. Cole returned with the apple juice (Arden doesn't like apple juice) and I had to beg her to drink it - I whispered in her ear, "Arden, please drink this, I think you're about to have a seizure", she responded without hesitation, "I don't care".
Before I knew about diabetes, if you would have told me that a reduction in the amount of sugar in a person's blood would make them cease to care about preserving their own life, I would not have believed you. Continuing to exist is perhaps our most basic and natural instinct, it has kept humans alive and thriving for untold millennia and yet, too much insulin can make you lay down and die without a fight - even when the fight is something as simple as drinking a juice.
I kept talking until she would drink, soon the waitress brought bread and other foods, Arden began to eat and a few minutes later her BG was above fifty. She took a few more minutes to pull herself together and then asked to go back to her original seat, with her friend.
My heart wanted to race but I stopped it from doing so, my eyes wanted to cry but I did not let them. I couldn't breath and I couldn't stop thinking about all of the avenues that I should be considering. Where is more sugar if I need it, when do I let others know how close we are to a real medical emergency, "don't you dare panic", and how the hell did you leave your wallet in Kelly's car? A swirl of thoughts and emotions but they were no longer needed, it was over as fast as it had begun. Now all I had to do was try to put my thoughts all back where they belong. Then the waitress put Arden's meal in front of her and I had to, and this almost seems unthinkable, had to count the carbs that I used to stop the low because I was going to have to bolus again for the meal. Only brave blousing can stop a rebound high. Time to be brave.
I must have looked terrible by this time because my son asked me if I was alright. I only responded, "It sucks being an adult sometimes" - and then we ate lunch.
From Friday night until Monday at noon, I made hundreds of decisions about Arden's diabetes. Some how I was able to manage her through five softball games, swimming, at times - less than healthy food choices, exposure to the hot sun and then I left my wallet in my wife's car - a simple mistake made on Sunday night that took us up to the brink of Arden having a seizure on Monday afternoon. Had Arden not felt dizzy, I don't know what would have happened.
UPDATE: I probably should have included in the original writing that Arden's BG, at the time of the pre-bolus, was 230. It was a restaurant that we frequent, knew what she was going to order and how many carbs it contained.
Interview: Leiberman Live on Howard 101
What is a Wack Pack?
If you've ever found yourself singing "Imran Khan lives with his dad and mom", the Wack Pack needs no introduction but for those of you that are not familiar with the Howard Stern radio show... the "Wack Pack" is a term used for the people who regularly call into the Stern Show who may not be, lets say, so regular. Over-the-top fans, angry drunks and people who appear less than balanced are but a few of the folks who make up this odd yet completely fascinating group.
'Leiberman Live' is a fifteen minute news program that runs daily on Howard's SiriusXM radio channel. The show is a rather unimaginable mixture of real news, Wack Pack reactions to said news, and one outsider who has a unique perspective on the topics of the day.
Yesterday, I was that outsider...
The show was incredibly fast-paced, often serious and periodically ridiculous - I had a fantastic time and getting to do the show live at the Sirius studios in New York City was a blast. When I was booked on the show last month the topic was parenting and spanking but the tragic school stabbings that occurred yesterday and the news story about the couple who took their small children on a ill-fated trip across the ocean, were also addressed. The show may not be for everyone, but if you think you may enjoy hearing me give rapid-fire answers to serious parenting questions just moments after men named Bobo and Ira the Weatherman (I don't think he was really a meteorologist) prattle on about, well, I'm not sure about what - I'd check it out.
Me (On left) and Jon Leiberman
Huge thank you to Howard Stern (Who I'm sure doesn't know I exist), Jon Leiberman (Who was a mensch) and Connie (Jon's fabulous producer) for having me on the show - great time, big fan!
My apologies to those who are currently singing "Imran Khan Lives with his dad and mom" - maybe the audio from my segment will help to cleanse your brain pallet...
Arden's Day of Diabetes: #DayofDiabetes
Around a year ago the JDRF did this cool thing where people could sign up for text alerts that were meant to simulate having diabetes - so people could understand better the relentless nature of living with type I. I loved that idea, but how could I not? That's exactly how I started Arden's Day.
Six months ago some wonderful folks did it again on Twitter using the hashtag, #DayofDiabetes and I loved the idea even more (Twitter is perfect for this) and participated in the event. Those same people brought up doing it again today - I'm in.
I'll be tweeting, Facebooking and refreshing this blog post all day whenever diabetes requires interaction. I wonder what kind of day with diabetes this Day of Diabetes will be?
Midnight: My day with diabetes began around midnight when a late evening bolus just would stop. Managed temp basal rates to get Arden's BG to 110.
4 AM: Up again to set more decreased temp basals. Finally gave up around 5 AM and gave Arden some juice (1/4 of a box) . Ended up staying awake because the juice wasn't working. Of course, the juice I added at 6 AM ended up being too much - figures.
7 AM: Up for school and now blousing to stop the BG rise from the second juice sips. CGM now 160, arrow straight up. Juice sips worked too well!
7:50 AM: Replaced juice box in Arden's bag (Used it last night for a low during softball pitching practice), set a timer for 45 minutes on her phone. Going to try and eliminate high BG (190 CGM) before school snack at 9:30 am.
8:28 AM: Blogged about diabetes
9:07 AM: Just texted with Arden, need her to test her BG. She told me to "wait five minutes" apparently they are in the middle of a contest. #DayofDiabetes
9:30 AM: Arden and I texted for her school snack. BG was 190, stubborn this morning. We boluses for 30 carbs. I asked her to test, she wanted to bolus from CGM. She said, "Fine I will but if they match I will poop on you" - I hope she meant the emoticon. They matched BTW.
11:00 AM: Lunch time text.
1:48 PM: Post Gym #CGMnow is 97. Temp basal off for 30 min and a few carbs should hold it there. We’ll see. #DayofDiabetes
2:30 PM: Arden will be home soon. Time to pack a bag with supplies so we can go watch her brother play baseball for the school team. I don't remember what it feels like to run out the door with just my wallet and keys. #DayofDiabetes
3:16 PM: So the one day I try to outsmart an after school drop in BG... diabetes does the opposite. 185 and creeping up. Damn
5:07 PM: Some mini muffins will stop the bg fall. Only bolusing for half. #DayOfDiabetes
6:30 PM: Made a wild guess about dinner carbs on the way to a restaurant. Needed the pre-bolus time to work on a slightly elevated BG. I won't know hoe well I guessed for about 90 minutes.
SiriusXM Listeners: I'll be on Howard 101 Today at 4:45 EST.
I'm today's in-studio guest on 'Leiberman Live'!
"Leiberman Live” on Sirius XM Howard 101 is a daily news show on the Howard Stern channels. Jon Leiberman is a seasoned journalist who appears on the Howard Stern show and on television shows regularly discussing the news issues of the day. This 15 minute show couples expert opinions with the opinions of those from the Howard Stern world. The end result is a mixture of information and entertainment sure to inform and entertain. Catch it all day on Howard 101!
Today's topic: Today's multiple stabbings at a Westmoreland County high school, parenting and more.
Rumored Wack Pack guest: Bobo!