Living with Diabetes and Lapband

Rest of the New Orleans Trip

First -- I am home and Second -- I had a good time.

Rich and I went out again after my feet were feeling better.  Took the cable car up and bought tickets for the dinner cruise.

We then went to Margaretiville -- it was loud, it was a bar though they did serve the usual Margartiville stuff.  Yes, I love Jimmy Buffet music, but I"m not a drinker.  Did some shopping by my feet were still bothering me.

We made it back via cable car to the cruise boat stop and did some exploring there, but mostly sat by the river, watched it go by and enjoyed the people.

They played the Callilope while we were waiting, which was very nice. 

The cruise was great but there were a lot of loud people and smokers.

Dinner was good.  Fine New Orleans food for a change instead of the tourist/peasant food we'd been eating.   We made it back to the hotel room but I didn't sleep good.

I woke up aching this morning, between arthitis and the blister starting I could barely move and I was in a nasty mood.  We did have breakfast, and it was good.

We took our time, packed and checked out, as we were both French Quarted out.  Drove around the suburbs, especially in the area where I hung out when I was in college (I dated a guy from there).  Did some shopping (got better socks) and then had husband drop me at the airport. 

Managed to get my luggage out on the first flight, me on the second and was booked for the third.  I was the last boarder on my flight.

It was nice to come home to a clean house and fed dogs.

Husband is in Vicksburg gambling.

Life would be better if I wasn't as heavy as I am now.

New Orleans Lunch Day 2

First, the bad news.  Something wrong with these socks as I feel a blister starting.  We’re back at the hotel room and I’m cooling down my feet.

We ate lunch at the Riverwalk Marketplace.  I had half a Muffalata and Gumbo, Rich had a Cajun special with red beans and rice and other stuff. 

I think we’re going to do a River Boat Dinner and Jazz cruise later on.

Pictures so far:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/kath_weaver/sets/72157615590223300/

End of insulin saga - almost

Got up this morning and called about script and was told it would be ready around noon.

Ate our embassy suites breakfasts and then went out.

We did NOLA things. Got a streetcar pass and went into the French Quarter. Did a mule carriage tour which was really nice.

After noon we took the street car to Walgreens and the insulin was therebut they forgot the story. the.good news is that 9edco agred with me, the doctors nurse and the pharamcy I should get a full m supply for the copay so I have 5 vials in boxes. Rich took them to the room.

Pictures of the day later.

Traveling Disaster

Every time I fly something weird medically happens.

I forgot to do the liquid thing at home.

I grabbed one of the bags at the airport, sat down and put all my liquids in one bag like a good girl.  Then promptly dropped it.  I thought it was only one of the vials since the top nicely broke off.  But no, the bottom came off the other. Fortunately the partial bottle didn’t break.

I almost didn’t go.

But I did.

I’m in New Orleans, at a REALLY nice room at the Embassy Suites.  Husband is sharing my WiFi off my phone.  We’ve running 3G.

We’ve had lunch at Mother’s Restaurant (my MOTHER did insist we eat there), and had a Ferdi’s special.  It was good. 

Then we got the room (by the way, it’s in the Lofts next door instead of there), and an upgraded room.   VERY nice.  I don’t feel bad about the rate with the upgrade.  It is a REAL suite.  Of course Embassy’s are. 

I finally got the courage to see how much insulin I have and I have 50 units in the pump, and another 250 units in cartridges.  That wouldn’t be too bad, but I use 150 units a day right now and am in New Orleans.

I was told there was a Walgreen’s on Canal Street (there is), and as I was calling them, the doctor’s nurse was calling me.  Walgreen’s has all my information (a bit creepy),and the information to fax the doctor (yeah, creepy too),, and since I have to pay a month’s copay, I insisted on a month's supply of insulin.  How I am getting that home will be interesting, but it is medication so should be okay with TSA.

Speaking of TSA.  It was one of the more pleasant experiences.  I set the metal detector off and they hand wanded me and found all the metal on my body.  They also had to hand search the cpap machine (why?).  But they got my stuff together right off, so I am a happy camper.

6th Year Anniversary

Yeah, I've been posting for 6 years. 

Old diabetes blog.

I will say that the frequency of posting tends to reflect my diabetes management. 

I'll also say that going to Typepad really helped me -- it's hard to be both a blogger and a System Administrator.

Hope I can come up with more and high quality words later, but right now, this is all I can do.

Speaking of Pings and Batterys

Just had to replace the batteries in the One Touch Ping Meter.  Not a big deal and it retained all the memory. 

I was right to put AAA batteries in my emergency bag.  I am hoping that Lithium last longer.

Decided

After three months of trying really hard to lose weight and not losing weight but gaining two pounds I have decided that I am definitely going through with weight loss surgery. In fact if the insurance would go through during May I am doing it then as I think it will be easier not to eat at school.  The first week of May will be my 6th month of medically supervised visits.

As I currently get things, I have to go on a mostly liquid diet two weeks prior and then completely liquid for 2 weeks after and slowly add foods. After 5 weeks from the surgery I would be back to eating Diet Gourmet foods.  I can deal with that.

I still have an issue to work over the next few months. Basically when I am exhausted I eat way too much protein. I stick to things like chicked and go with grilled or roasted when I can. or beef brisket, grilled steak etc. in fact few things make happier than a Brazillian BBQ. And let me tell you at the quantites I eat it does affect blood sugar. Not like potato chips would but still.

Right now I have a call out to the case manager to see where I am out since I am half way there and have Spring Break in March to cross ts.

Today's appointments

The only good news of the day are blood pressure and pulse.

The endos office scales said I had lost the pound I gained at Christmas, the dieticians office scale said I had gained another pound.

Plus my dietician ran off to join the circus and I had another dietician to deal with. She was okay but she is a dietician.

One the good news front she gave me some paperwork that helps me to adjust to the lapband and it was a good thing. it does help.

5 Days with the Ping

Basically I like it!  However, there are problems with the user interface that I have to get used to.  My least favor it is when you are due with for a blood sugar test, you can't just throw a strip in and get on with your life.  You have to push a button on the meter first.  So I have wasted a strip or two but gettig there.

It will take a while to learn all the new features and software and I haven't had much time BUT I believe the best thing with a new pump or any other piece of technology is take your time and learn each feature at a time.

Biggest lesson learned is that you can't "set it and forget it". Once you start a bolus you have to keep the meter close or it fails.  I'm bad about wanting to set the meter down and take a few steps to do something else.

All in all good!

New pump coming on Monday

My warranty is up on February 25. I went pump shopping during winter break. Decided to stick "with theo nes that brung me Animas".

Why? In my opinion they have the newest and best technology.

I also like the form factor and the customer service.

I thought hard about the Cosmo but they lost me on the technology and especially the screen hard for this bifocal wearing gal to read.

Medtronic is Medtronic.

Here is the weird part. My warranty is not up until the end of February .

isn't going to cost a dime as long as I return the old pump. not sure why I wouldn't.

Got a black pump. Wish the meter was black but they are all silver.