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Endo in the S-House

Posted on August 7, 2009 at 11:39 AM

I went to see my endocrinologist on July 7, 2009. It was for my three month appointment, but ended up really being six months in between because the office had to reschedule me.

 

(sigh)

 

He is usually very helpful, but I was kind of let down by him. I asked him about other options for short acting insulins (as I've got this resistance thing that keeps lowering my carb: dosage ratio) and he *shrugged his shoulders*.

 

I asked if I had used all of the available brands, and he said that I hadn't used all of them (there are three left) but he didn't offer any more information about them.

 

I had to strangle it out of him.

 

My last A1c was seven months ago- and I found out yesterday that it's a big fat 9.0. Which is TERRIBLE! And scary.

 

But, I KNOW that I've been getting my numbers much closer to their targets and being very careful - I've been taking up to twelve injections of the short acting insulins per day to keep my BG down. So, when I go into the lab on Saturday, I'm SURE my A1c will be down- just by HOW MUCH is what's concerning me.

 

I don't want to have had to go through all of the stress and extra careful-ness without a pay off.

 

Also, the doc kept saying my dosages wrong.

 

I take 44 units of Levemir.

He kept saying "Raise it to 28 units of Lantus".

 

Ummm... Lantus was the medicine that I was on two years ago that kept putting me into comas.

It's right there in my chart.

 

I know that he sees many patients a day and he's probably just mixing it up- *honest mistake!*- but it's my LIFE. I only get ONE. I needed him to be focused.

 

I send him letters about once per month about ideas that I have, things that are going on in my life healthwise- just to keep him up to date and make sure that I don't forget anything on our follow up appointments.

 

Sometimes he’s read these letters and sometimes not. If I’m doing my diligence to make sure that he’s completely up to date on my health issues, shouldn’t he do his diligence to at least have answers to my questions?

 

I dont know. I'm just aggravated.

I felt like I was being graded by a teacher who didn't know the subject.

Categories: Discovery

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2 Comments

Reply Marps
11:36 AM on August 19, 2009
Hi Diana

Thanks for your input.
Unfortunately, I cannot use an insulin pump due to complications. I've had one in the past, but had to come off of it three years ago. I'm doing the best that I can with what I've got.

I guess the frustration comes from placing my trust in the "higher educated" doctor, when it feels like I'm the one who's teaching him most of the time. I inform him of new medicines on the market and I suggest whether or not I should try them.

I guess I should feel empowered, and most of the time I do, but sometimes I just wish the doctor could tell me what to do- could offer a suggestion that I didn't think of myself. Otherwise, what do I need him for?
Reply DiannaInkster
03:47 PM on August 09, 2009
I'm not an endo, a diabetes educator. I'm just a Mom in tennis shoes. I look after my husband who is a type 1 diabetic diagnosed in May, 1978 at 31.5 years of age. He has had no hands since Oct. of 1970. He has hypoglycemic unawareness and hyperglycemic unawareness, too i.e. he can go high or low and less he tests he won't know how high he is until he has a temper tantrum or how low he is until he passes out. We have had an insulin pump for over 7 years and a CGMS for over 2 years. Forget about the endo. Focus on getting an education, an insulin pump and a CGMS (continuous glucose monitoring system). We (I hope) go for our 3 mo A1C tomorrow. I hope it's a good one (under 7.5). Our lowest was .071 %, but that wa a while ago. Read, think and act. Good luck.