Hanging in there....

**hollyhill** · 05-06-2009, 02:09 AM

thank-you for everyone's support and the PMs I really appreciate.

My daughter is doing better now and I am adapting.... slowly. She has gained 15 pounds since diagnosis!!!! And it doesn't show, which makes me realize how ill she was... skin and bones...

She was having problems with the injections they always hurt, well no wonder! She had NO MEAT on her!!! Now there is a little bit of flesh that we can pinch and it is getting easier..

I am trying to get back to saving money.... I am now at $14,000. in debt!!! WE had many additional expenses in the last 6 weeks since my daughters diagnosis of diabetes.... So I am trying to get back to frugal basics. I absolutely need to!

I am not as anxious now but I am getting alot of interupted sleep because of my daughters low blood sugars... so some days I feel like I am just coping....

**Momto2Boyz** · 05-06-2009, 08:24 AM

I'm glad to hear that things are beginning to get better! Glad to hear that she has gained weight, it'll definately make getting her shots easier! (I would imagine, anyway...I've never had that problem, always had lots of "meaty places" for that kind of stuff

)

Eventually, you guys will get into a routine and things will get so much easier! It'll just take time to adjust, like with any other big life changes!

But I am so glad to hear that things are starting to get better!

**nodmicks** · 05-06-2009, 09:12 AM

Holly I am glad things are getting better! That is wonderful your DD gained some pounds.
Hang in there!

**savvy_sniper** · 05-06-2009, 09:40 AM

Glad things are getting better!

FYI - If you test her blood sugar (and I am sure you do) and have to buy the test strips, you can buy diabetic test strips on eBay for about HALF what you pay at the store. Just don't wait until you are about to run out. Plan ahead and do regular searches and get the best deals.

I did this for 5+ years when I was caring for my mom and I do it for my MIL now.

Also if you belong to any Freecycle groups, make sure you are set up to get a daily email with all posts. There are often listings in my area for free diabetic testing supplies. Just make sure they fit your particular unit. It is worth the effort because they are free!

It is also worth the effort to research pricing and availability of test strips for various units. Sometimes it is cheaper in the long run to buy a new unit because the test strips are cheaper.

**ShellyB** · 05-06-2009, 09:52 AM

Wow this brings back memories. My son was dx at age 10 w/Type 1 diabetes. He's 28 now and doing fine. He even played football all through school. I remember when he came home from the hospital and the doctor made me send him to school even though he couldn't see very well because his eyes were still adjusting (since his blood sugars were so high for so long). I stayed home from work the first week in case he needed me at school. My legs felt like jello that first week. The sleepness nights, cause I would find him wandering the house a little out of it when his blood sugars were low. Did they explain the "honeymoon" period to you?

You do need to take care of yourself. After about 5 years I ended up with fibromylgia my doctor thinks because I wasn't getting enough sleep. I was too afraid to go into a deep sleep and miss him waking up.

When my son was dx there was a little girl in his class that also had it. When they announced to the class that my son was in the hospital with diabetes, the kids in the class looked at the little girl like he caught it from her. It happened that her mom was a diabetes nurse and also my friend, she went to school and talked to the class.

**IntlMom** · 05-06-2009, 11:00 AM

I sure am glad that things are getting better.

When you get discouraged about being 14,000 in debt, just look at your precious daughter and say "SHE IS SO WORTH IT"

**hollyhill** · 05-06-2009, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by savvy_sniper

Glad things are getting better!

FYI - If you test her blood sugar (and I am sure you do) and have to buy the test strips, you can buy diabetic test strips on eBay for about HALF what you pay at the store. Just don't wait until you are about to run out. Plan ahead and do regular searches and get the best deals.

I did this for 5+ years when I was caring for my mom and I do it for my MIL now.

Also if you belong to any Freecycle groups, make sure you are set up to get a daily email with all posts. There are often listings in my area for free diabetic testing supplies. Just make sure they fit your particular unit. It is worth the effort because they are free!

It is also worth the effort to research pricing and availability of test strips for various units. Sometimes it is cheaper in the long run to buy a new unit because the test strips are cheaper.

Thanks for the tips!
I will check out Ebay and I didn't even think about freecycle!
THose strips are SO expensive!!!! $80 for a 100!!!!

**hollyhill** · 05-06-2009, 11:10 AM

Shelly, Jello describes what I felt like perfectly.... and pure unadulterated fear! I have always been a bit of a worry wart over my children... and so this makes it even worse... and I am still not sleeping well.... last night she woke me up with a low...terrifying. She has such delayed lows after excercise.
That poor little girl in your sons class....!!!

Thank-you everyone for your love and support you don't know what it means to me!

**miss_thrifty** · 05-06-2009, 01:09 PM

Im glad shes feeling better. u take care yourself. U know the saying"
if u take care of yourself first, then u can take care of others and everything will fall into place."

hhugggsss

**momof42003** · 05-06-2009, 04:10 PM

At my sons diabetes camp they have a motto....

"DIABETES IS LIFE, EVERTHING ELSE IS JUST DETAILS..

That has become one of our mottos for our household... Diabetes is what will be forever in your life. Everthing else is minor compared to it....

**RaineyDaye** · 05-06-2009, 05:46 PM

I'm so glad to hear that you are feeling more optimistic, and that your daughter is doing well. Those low blood sugars while she is asleep are scary, but she will probably wake herself up. My daughter still has lows during the night sometimes, but she manages to wake herself up.

**gapeach** · 05-06-2009, 05:56 PM

Glad to hear that your daughter is doing better. Take care of yourself.

**hollyhill** · 05-07-2009, 02:04 AM

Originally Posted by RaineyDaye

I'm so glad to hear that you are feeling more optimistic, and that your daughter is doing well. Those low blood sugars while she is asleep are scary, but she will probably wake herself up. My daughter still has lows during the night sometimes, but she manages to wake herself up.

I have heard they wake themselves up when they are low.... how does that work? How does that happen?

And I don't really like that motto.....diabetes management is important for my daughters life and health but its life's details that make it wonderful.... or so I always thought anyways...

**kabin63** · 05-07-2009, 12:42 PM

Holly, it's been a long time. Sorry to hear of your daughter's diagnosis, but glad things are getting better.
I've been MIA for quite some time on the forum. Seems this year has been a struggle for so many people I know.
Take care