Gastroenteritis

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I have the stomach flu. This will be the fourth time since being diagnosed that I’ve had it. Two of those four times, I’ve ended up in the ER, and admitted for 2 days to 2 weeks. I’m freaked out. Started presenting symptoms about 2 days ago (sore back) and then the next morning I was woken by a really upset stomach. I was up until 2am and was hungry so I ate a pretty large salad before bed. At least it wasn’t something bad for me. :confused: But the stomach ache was a wrenching, twisting pain. About 10 mins after I woke up, I started throwing up big time. I threw up until I was throwing up bile. Not pretty.

I stopped throwing up after that, but I was pretty dizzy, and slept for the entire rest of the day, all night, the entire next morning and most of the early afternoon. I slept about 27 hours, save for just enough time last night to get down some soup. Feeling full all the time. The only way to eat something is to cave and forcibly throw up the last thing I ate. After 12 hours, I still had most of the soup in my stomach, but after I got up I started throwing everything up again- even water.

Really bad back pain. The sore back became excrutiating, and save for pain killers, there has been little to do to get comfortable. The only time I’m not dizzy is laying down, and the only time I’m not nauseated is when I’m asleep. I’m going to give up and take some gravol and try eating again.

BG is 13.1mmol. Higher than I want it but I was scared it was a lot higher. I took my insulin even when I couldn’t eat, because I knew it was too high. I was extremely dehydrated. Lips dry and cracking- even the skin on my face is peeling in places, and my eyes hurt. I have been sipping water even when I throw it up. Drinking powerade zero and low-cal (5g carb) gatorade to keep my bg high enough, and replenish my electrolytes.

Fingers and toes are numb and cold. Got the chills. I didn’t ever get the stomach flu before I was diagnosed so I don’t really know what it feels like for a normal person to have it. Every time I get it I start my period, too. Not sure if those are directly related but I assume they are. It always starts within a day of getting sick.

Other news, better news:

My husband and I are going to start trying for a baby in October or November. Sometimes I think its a bad idea, because when I do get sick, I get really sick, and that’s a lot of responsibility to put on him. This spring has been tough. My endo advised me that pregnancy past 30 would be fatal, and that I would have to abort. I know it’s not like a switch goes off and suddenly I can’t have kids. Every year it gets more difficult. I just turned 26. Watching the time pass by is… difficult is putting it mildly. There are so many pregnant women here this summer. I feel like I’m constantly surrounded by this really degrading display of something I haven’t been able to do. Even both of my sisters have been pregnant in the last few months.

Is anyone else excited for the OmniPod in Canada?! I can’t really afford a pump on my own, but I’m hoping to find advocacy to help pay for one.

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You should get to the ER NOW if you are still feeling like this! It sounds like ketoacidosis to me! This is why you are vomiting anything and everything and you are feeling so ill! This is a medical emergency and 27 hours sleep is not at all normal!

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I was really scared I was heading for ketoacidosis, too. I did see the doctor the same day I started throwing up- he told me gastroenteritis. A few people at my work had it so it made sense to me. The first time I had stomach flu after diagnosis, I had it and almost died. Stopped throwing up since this entry and managed to find some kind of appetite. No nausea yet- good sign. They do feel eerily similar, so I get paranoid when I get the stomach flu- it feels exactly like ketoacidosis. Holding down all my food, finally the full feeling is going away after a few hours and I can eat again.

Testing every two hours or so. My BG went down a bit and then rose again. Took more insulin. I can sit up now without dizziness, but I still feel pretty tired. Slept for a few hours, I think I’m going to sleep again soon. Stomach flu always takes it out of me pretty harsh. Doing better on the dehydration front- all the soup and water I’ve been having made the desperate thirst and the pastemouth and the cracking skin go away.

You’re right though. Initially I really should have gone to the hospital. Ever since that hospitalization when I nearly died, I’m terrified of hospitals. Been many times for various things (both diabetes related and not) since then, and when I go I just… don’t care about living anymore. I think things are under control right now. Got my BG down again, a little elevated but just above target, which isn’t unusual when I’m sick. Not forcing the food down but this is a big difference. I feel worse in the mornings, so it depends more on how I feel when I wake up.

Thanks latvianchick - I will let you know how it goes. :slight_smile: