A Writer's Life Interrupted #crohns #ibd #diabetes

 I have been so busy working on my brother's case with the military that I haven't blogged for a week or so. You can read my articles by clicking here.  I still haven't heard anything, but I am patiently waiting.  I haven't blogged about my interrupted life for some time, so here goes. 

Diabetes
Research indicates a correlation between Crohn's disease and diabetes. This was a 2 year study by 200 scientists that took samples of DNA from 17,000 people. They found a specific gene relating to type 1 diabetes and Crohn's was implicated in that as well as type 2. Not only that, but there are DNA links to rheumatoid arthritis, high blood pressure, bipolar disorder, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and numerous other autoimmune diseases as well as metabolic disorder. 

I am finding it more and more difficult to keep track of my myriad health issues. Even on the new meds my mouth and stomach issues are not gone. They are better, I think, but not gone. I still suffer with the cramping--so horrific, but I am lucky that I have developed the ability to distract myself which really helps with pain. Now throw the diabetes on top of it.  I test the blood glucose in the morning and it is always high around 135 or so. I check it before I eat, still high. Check two hours after I eat and it gets below 110 and then stays in range all day. I have no idea what this means so it will have to wait for the next doc visit.  I wonder if my new Crohn's meds are driving my levels up. It is a steroid and steroids are known to push up glucose levels. 

The thyroiditis is always present. Some days are good and some days are not. I can handle everything but the exhaustion. Only someone with thyroid problems understands that type of exhaustion. It is not fun. Then there's the psoriasis and eczema which I never had before Remicade, but I do now. I should have bought stock in Procter and Gamble with the amount of lotion I use. Just so you know, it really helps. Also, not taking baths and warm water showers instead of hot water showers helps mitigate the itching. 

I spend waaaayyyyyyyy too much time thinking about my health.  I worry when I wake up in the morning and worrying is the last thing I do before falling asleep. Will I feel good enough to play with the gkids? How will work go tomorrow? Will I make it through the day?

Sometimes, I don't know where to start in taking care of myself. Sometimes I go into denial and chuck everything. That does not work well. All it does is make Crohn's worse and drive up my blood sugars. The thyroid I never forget as I have been known to fall asleep in the middle of a conversation. 

I think it's time for a colonoscopy and endoscopy just to figure out where things stand with the old innards. I will have my A1C  checked next month and my thyroid so those are my plans for the next 4 weeks anyway.

Thank God, He gave me an upbeat personality. I don't know what I'd do without it. 

​In the meantime, happy Tuesday!

:) ​