I am sitting here in my hotel room in Arizona recovering from my cross-country flights and pondering what I should say about phase 3 of my journey. I started out taking medical leave more than a year ago. That's the process. After being out for something like a month, I was able to go on short-term disability. I requested a referral to the Joslin Diabetes Center in Winston-Salem, NC. I had already exhausted my resources in my surrounding area. Hy husband and I had been doing a lot of research about what might help with my health problems. Only 2 place in the country had done actual studies on how to help people with hypoglycemia to this extreme that occurred after gastric bypass. Joslin was one of those places. The center in Winston-Salem was not the center that had actually done the study, but they would have connections with the center that had. Last summer I started seeing a doctor there. She had me meet with a nutritionist in the weight-loss center at Wake Forrest Baptist Health (Joslin is connected with them). We tried more dietary changes, more medications. One medication was helping my hypoglycemia but gave me severe side effects. She put me on the 2 separate times, but I could not handle it. While she was on maternity leave, another doctor had me do a test there to determine if I met the qualifications for the Whipple's Triad. I didn't eat all day. I was in their office walking laps. Nothing. My blood sugar didn't drop even a little. I did not meet the qualifications. Since I didn't eat, my pancreas didn't get the jump start. That doctor wouldn't do anything else for me. I had to wait for the other doctor to get back from maternity leave. She did some research and consulted with other doctors, then had me go in for a mixed foods test. I went in with a cream-filled donut and a chocolate chip muffin from Dunkin Donuts. I ate a bit of each. I walked a bit. Then BINGO! I dropped to 41. That put me in the running for some more elaborate medication. This time I had to give myself an injection 2 or 3 times a day. After just a couple of doses my blood sugar was dropping into the 40s and 50s all day. I was eating and eating, and it just wouldn't get high enough or stay higher. I went to the ER that evening because I was so scared of what would happen when I went to sleep. They kept me there all night to make sure I was stable. I stayed in the 80s the entire time. The doctor at Joslin told me not to take any more, and that there was nothing else she could do for me. Yet another doctor stumped. She then referred me to the Mayo Clinic. I chose the Arizona site so I would be closer to my parents and sister.
My blood sugar never did fully recover from that last medication. My fasting blood sugar is in the low 80s instead of in the 90s like it had been up until then. I drop at random times even if I am just sitting on the couch. Any amount of physical activity make it drop. It is the worst it has ever been.
We had thought it would take a couple of months before I got in to the Mayo Clinic. NOT! I got the call 2 weeks ago. I told them I would need at least 2 weeks to get everything that they needed and to make travel arrangements. Those 2 weeks I worked so hard to get all of my medical recorders ready for them as well as everything else that goes along with a trip like this. Yesterday afternoon I boarded the plane. That brings everyone up to Stage 4. The Mayo Clinic. I will be posting updates as I see doctors and have tests done. Stay tuned for more about my journey!
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