Online medical support groups

**pkellyc** · 12-27-2008, 02:18 PM

I have been sick this year. So I decided to join an online medical support group for diabetes. I didn't like it at all. The people were somewhat informative but after just one posted question it became such a huge battle that I never posted again. I am looking for a group that will help with recipes, meal planning, general support, keeping track of our bmi, exercise, meds, and medical costs. Anyone here know of such a site with friendly people?

**dcompton** · 12-28-2008, 01:01 PM

I don't. I have diabetes too, and take a too much relaxed an attitude toward it, probably partly because I live alone and have no one nagging me to see to it! A number of FVers have mentioned having diabetes. We should start our own. We KNOW we're all nice people. A support group would help.

**pkellyc** · 12-28-2008, 08:59 PM

I definitely would be in. I was being tested for type 1 diabetes and asked if anyone else had been misdiagnosed at some point. Well a lot of answers but they started to argue on who was sicker than who. It started to become rather ugly.
If you ask me anyone with diabetes needs to take care of it and sometimes it just feels like a full time job to me.
As it turns out I was not misdiagnosed and have always been a type 2.

I was hospitalized in July with a really bad UTI and a kidney infection.
I had keytone acetosis and spent a a lovely week in ICU. I lost fat and muscle and was down to 108 lbs.. It has taken me 6 months to gain 12 lbs. back and I am still feeling a little tired. I am not exercising nearly enough and meal planning is getting to be quite the chore. I love to eat and I have been really bad at keeping track of everything. So if anyone else would like to join in, I would love to hear how your managing.

**dcompton** · 12-28-2008, 10:30 PM

I agree. It's a full time job and I already have a full time job. I start doing the real menu planning, balancing everything like you're supposed to which is complicated, and then begin to feel like it's all I do. I think three weeks was about the longest I ever persevered. It would also help if I lost weight, but two things are against me. One of the meds I'm on I've read has weight gain as a potential side effect, and since I've been on it, I have indeed gained. Also exercise is basically a non-starter because of my arthritis. Moving is just flat out painful. Even at work the student workers have started doing some of the things for me that I used to be able to do. When I think of how much it hurts even to walk to the car or raise my arm to get a pot out of a cabinet, a brisk walk around the block or any kind of workout just isn't going to be on the agenda.

It's just really hard to stay motivated. Or even to get motivated. Fortunately, mine is well controlled and I have never had the complications you have. What a nightmare for you. But there just don't seem to be enough hours in the day to manage it the way it should be. And I absolutely hate being held hostage to a disease.

I had ovarian cancer and chemo a couple of years ago. It was a walk in the park compared to this.

**pkellyc** · 12-29-2008, 01:08 PM

Starting a nutrition classes in January and dragging my DH along. He seems to think a 1/2 lb. hamburger and fries is ok for me to eat. As far as my meds I am taking Metformin twice a day along with Glipizide also twice daily. Which is just wonderful. I was until about 3 weeks ago taking 4 shots of insulin a day and testing my sugar also 4 times daily. All this from the infection, I had been up until July diet controlled/on and off the pill diabetic for about 13 years. How quickly things can change.
I had never been so tired as I was last spring. I was walking around with a 105 temp and infections without knowing it. We had a large wedding for my oldest DD in June and with the stress, showers and planning it was just crazy. I also have a grown DD her DH and their at the time 1 child living here. She was pregnant with her second child, which is something that makes you want to scream all by it's self. They are still here by the way. What was supposed to be six months has turned into year and a half. I love them all but I am more than willing to be an empty nester any time now.

Donna, I can't imagine living alone with meal planning. I would more than likely eat a lot of quick grab junk. I confess I eat what ever is handy for breakfast and lunch quite often. I also can't imagine trying to exercise with arthritis. I too have been quite heavy over the years which is something I am worried about with the meds. I know they can actually cause weight gain. I try to convey this to my doctors but they seem to brush my concerns off because of what my weight is now. So for now I am doing what needs to be done and if slide sometimes I am trying my best to stay motivated. Just thinking about a lifetime is just overwhelming sometimes.

**Paquita** · 12-29-2008, 08:58 PM

I would like to be a part of this support group if spouses are allowed. My DH is Type I, diagnosed at age 11, now 54. He wears an insulin pump and it gives him much better control than the shots did. He does not follow a strict diet, just watches his carbs. He also has arthritis and does not really exercise. Do y'all see an endocrinologist or just your regular doctor? A good doctor makes a difference!

Paquita

**dcompton** · 12-30-2008, 07:56 PM

Paquita - you're very welcome. Now the pair is actually a group! Hooray!

I take Metformin too at night. The doctor has me on ActosPlus (it also has some metformin the formula). That's the one I really suspect of the weight problems. And it is an unholy expense. Even with my insurance prescription med program, it's $1000 a year. On the other hand, it seems to be effective, so I hate to mess with it. It's a sister drug of the one, I forget it's name, that ended up with bad side effects. My doctor said the formula of this one is somewhat different from that one, and didn't have the same bad record. But geez, that's expensive. Especially when the metformin is about $25 a year. I've never been on glipizide. Is that one that can quickly drop glucose levels?

I'm not going to an endocrinologist. My internist is handling it now. If it begins to escalate, I will probably consider going to the specialist. But my doctor is quite knowledgeable, and she is definitely understanding of the daily problems it causes, since she has had gestational diabetes herself. I have a bad record of getting along with doctors, but I really like her, so I want to hang in with her as long as I can.

One thing I have been very bad about is the testing. My health new year's resolution is to better about it. I may need to check in the doctor about this. She has wanted me to do it when I get up, but that doesn't fit the flow of the morning so it usually gets skipped. If I could delay it until after my every morning cup of tea and read (my ME time), I would probably do it. It would still be consistent from day to day. But I'm not sure how that would effect the numbers.

**pkellyc** · 02-05-2009, 02:59 PM

Hi, I started this thread stating I had been sick and was tired, little did I know how sick. I suffered a massive heart attack new years eve, had several complications, and I spent a entire month in the hospital. I am also going on the heart transplant list and have a one week old today defibrillator. For now I am home and so excited to be here!

Love to have you in Paquita. I wish my DH could be a little more supportive. I do see an endocrinologist he can regulate my sugar far better than my primary care doctor.
My diet is so hard for me to stick with. My sugar before my heart attack was in check, I ran about 85 on average before meals. Now it's gone crazy, I have new diet restrictions, and I am down to 108 lbs.. I now am supposed to be watching, are you ready for this awful list? Carbs, sugar, salt, caffeine, and greens. Green leafy vegetables because increasing my intake will mess up my heart meds. How they expect me to gain weight and stick to this diet is beyond me.

So I guess I will start if we would like to keep track of our stuff here.

My sugar was 140 this morning.
Breakfast- I ate a small banana with a cup of cereal.

Snack- fat free yogurt

Forgot to test my sugar for lunch
2 slices of roast beef on rye with light mayo, tomato and lettuce.

As far as exercise I am still trying to take it easy and set my timer for seven minutes while 18 month old grandson and I walked around the house.

It's only 2:43 p.m. here so I am not quite sure what I am doing for dinner. I am thinking of eggs I get to eat 3 a week. Whoopee.

**TigerGirl1226** · 02-05-2009, 03:07 PM

You guys could start a "kith".

Good luck.

**nancycg56** · 02-05-2009, 03:12 PM

I'd love to join in here if i can.

I was diagnosed on October 31. It is SUCH a PITA. I am paranoid to eat anything because right now I am not on any medication. When I eat anything I run to the treadmill and do some time on it. That's no way to live.

Right now I carb count and test my bs about 4 times a day ~ more if I think of it. I have to keep it under 140 and usually it's much better than that but sometimes it goes wacky. I find I have to eat something with carbs before I go to bed or it's ungodly high when I test in the morning.

I know my doc is going to put me on meds when I go for my next blood test. Most days I feel it futile.

**Sara Noel** · 02-05-2009, 03:18 PM

You can start a group here:
http://www.frugalvillage.com/forums/groups/

**craftypam** · 03-02-2009, 06:58 PM

Originally Posted by dcompton

I don't. I have diabetes too, and take a too much relaxed an attitude toward it, probably partly because I live alone and have no one nagging me to see to it! A number of FVers have mentioned having diabetes. We should start our own. We KNOW we're all nice people. A support group would help.

DCompton PLEASE PLEASE take care of yourself. I was on dialysis for 8-1/2 months. The young man next to me was 33 years old and on dialysis because of diabetes