Monday, November 30, 2009

Sydney Update...

Well I've been procrastinating writing this post...not because it's so awful that I can't bear to write/talk about it--nothing like that--just because sometimes it's nice to push diabetes to the back of my mind and just not talk about it--if that makes any sense. It gets a little exhausting. But it's high time I update so here I go.

A few weeks ago Syd started having consistently high numbers---like scary highs in the 3, 4, and 500 range consistently and we couldn't get them to come down. We would give her insulin with her pump and they wouldn't really budge. Then we started seeing ketones like the pics below. They were very high. Then she started getting the personality changes that come from high blood sugars and high ketones. It was a little nerve racking because the insulin wasn't bringing down her sugar. We had changed to a new bottle of insulin. Changed site locations twice. Finally, our CDE told us to give her an injection of insulin to see what would happen. So we got a rx called in for syringes and picked them up. What do ya know...the injection brought her numbers down great. (Which I was pleased about because if it hadn't, next stop was the ER.)

The next day we did the pump thing again and had the same high numbers. So our CDE and Syd's pedi told us to take her off the pump and go a few weeks with injections. So, with many tears on Syd's part, we disconnected Daisy and got a rx of Lantus called in so we could go back to the 5 or 6 shots a day. Since then her numbers haven't been great but they haven't been consistently high either. Last night for dinner she was 268. She received 5 units of insulin with 54 carbs. Bedtime was 98. Then she jumped up to the 300s w/in a few hours and stayed there all night. I checked her 3 times. She was 306. 310. and then 307. At 3 in the morning...with the 307 reading...I decided she wasn't gonna come down so I gave her 1 unit of insulin. W/in 2 hours she was low with a reading of 56. Then today for lunch she was 63 and was 374 at dinner. It's been very frustrating for me.

She just seems to be very volatile at the moment and we can't figure out what's going on. I personally think it is just the time of year. Last year she was the same and actually got put back in the hospital a few days before Christmas. Click HERE to read that post. So we have been doing the shot thing until this evening. I hooked Daisy (that's what she named her pump) back up. We shall see what her numbers do. She was 374 with dinner and 212 at bedtime. I'm hoping it isn't a pump malfunction because I bet that's annoying to try and use the warranty to get a new pump. Time will tell...

So, once again diabetes is taking us on a wild ride. We are just hanging on and we shall see what happens next! I'll keep you all posted. Thanks to those of you who checked up on her. Means a lot. :)

~Syd got pretty good at giving herself and injection all by herself!
~She is very happy to have Daisy back. Even though she got to be an old pro at injections again...she wasn't crazy about it. :D

19 comments:

Erin said...

I truly love you and your family. As always your in my heart, thoughts, and prayers. Lets get together. We need to set a date and do it. :) Dinner maybe. Evenings are best for me. Jonathan starts his season on wednesday so let me know what is good for you and we'll schedule it.

Hallie Addington said...

Hoping, hoping, hoping that Daisy starts working for you again and her numbers steady. That just sucks. Holiday stress AND D stress??? No, thanks! Keep us posted! Cute pics- what a trooper!

Joanne said...

Yikes... those ketone pictures are scary! I hope you get it figured out soon. And Syd is a superstar for doing the shot all by herself... way to go!

Meri said...

First I want to tell ya that I have turned in many malfunctioning pumps in my day, and it is so painless and easy...it's almost scary. I called the number on the back of the pump, they overnighted a new one, I mailed back the old one in the box from the new one they sent...done and done. No paperwork, it is really that easy no matter what insurance you have :) If you have a mini med there is an option on your menu to have the pump do a "self check" to check for any malfunctions. Also, minimed sets were recalled and they could have serious problems. Animas may have it too a self check too.


I'm praying for her pump to work miracles...life without it is so hard. She is amazing...good luck! I'm literally THROWING good thoughts your way!

Lora said...

Wow~ I wish I could get Justin to do his own injections.

I hope everything gets better for you all soon... we will be thinking about you guys.

phonelady said...

it is called the roller coaster effect at least that is what I call it . It raises its head every now and then . It goes away it does but comes back every so often. My dr told me it is nothing to worry about it happens . But just keep an eye on it . The ketones are the major thing and yes those will go away too . I have been through this so many times with me and my son !!! many hugs to you and your little trooper there giving herself her own shot yahooo !!!!

Tara said...

Poor Syd, Poor you!! Hope things get better soon..and her numbers get all straightened out. Thinking about ya! Hang in there...you are one tough mama! :)

Tara

KLTTX said...

I hope Diasy behaves and gets her numbers under control. BTW, what is considered "just right"?

Amy said...

Syd---YOUR a ROCKSTAR! Doing her own injections.... how cool is that?? She must have a good mama! :)
I really hope things get back to normal VERY soon for you so that you can enjoy the holidays---hang in there...your doing great!

Wendy said...

Man...I hate this disease.

When Addy's fluctuate like that, it usually means we need to make some basal changes. If the basal change doesn't work, then we move to a ratio change. If the corrections are bringing her down, we change those too.

We're constantly tweaking something. CON.STANT.LY. Managing this disease in a growing child with changing insulin needs.

Blech.

Megann said...

Sydney is so brave. I forget how "easy" the pump is until you don't have one. Lainey's been high too...I wonder if it is the time of year.

Wortham Family said...

good luck with everything, what a brave little girl! she is so cute! You guys are amazing!

The Lane Family said...

What a difficult disease. When I read post's like this my heart hurts for you guys because I know as a mom myself it is not easy watching are children struggle with something we can not always control.

I am praying her pump starts working right and her numbers get back under control.

By the way Syd...you rock...giving yourself your own shots is awesome. There are adults who could not do that!!

Rachel said...

I hope the pump will work now. Hopefully her blood sugar will come back into range.

We had a similar issue with Tristan last week :( He was high 300's 400's and 500's. I was thinking of you and hoping that it wasn't his pump!!! But Tristan didn't have any ketones. We did a temp. basal adjustment of 120% over 2 hours.... we had to do it a few time over the Thanksgiving holiday. Sometimes it worked, sometimes not. On Monday we did a bunch of basal adjustments... for far, it seems better.

But I feel for both of you!

Jessica said...

What a rollercoaster! We are thinking about you all. Miss yoU!

Meri said...

Thinking of you today...hope all is going well!

The Herrigs said...

Oh man, so glad you posted...you need to hear from your T1 support group that you are doing the right things and you will get this worked out. It is such a frustrating disease...even with all the technology there are still so many unknowns. I will be thinking and praying for you all:)

Wendy said...

I hate the roller coaster highs and lows! What a brave little girl giving herself shots. She really is just the cutest little thing.. I hope everything calms down and her #s get back on track.

Jen said...

That sounds so frustrating Shamae! There is nothing worse than that extreme ping pong-ing between lows and highs..well except for constant lows or constant highs..Argh!!
What a bummer for Syd and for you. I hope that things are getting back on track. Diabetes really and truly does stink but you are doing an amazing job! Take Care..you and Syd are in my thoughts.