Okay, I’m not on here very much and it seems like I’m always here when there’s something wrong. I apologize for that. But you guys are really good for making diabetic things better so here goes:
We took our first trip to the ER post-diagnosis tonight. My 4 year old was dx’d 1 1/2 years ago and has vomited a total of three times since then, all in one day. We had very few problems keeping her blood sugar in line that time. Well, yesterday and today are a totally different story. She’s been throwing up with ketones, not throwing up with ketones, not throwing up without ketones, high blood sugar with ketones, low blood sugar with ketones, and CAN’T KEEP HER BLOOD SUGAR ABOVE 70 with and without ketones. It has been a horrible two days and I just need to know that someone else has been through it.
When we got to the ER, I realized that I had grabbed her meter but the lancet had been left on the couch where she was sitting. They said they’d test her “soon” and I swear I was about to crawl out of my skin. She was 66 before she vomited, wouldn’t eat or drink anything so I threw her in the car like the on-call endo said and took her to the ER. Why wouldn’t that be the first thing they did? Just because she could sleepily tell them her name and act panicked when she saw all the machines? I suppose I know the answer to that: liability and they needed to evaluate her aside from her numbers (cognition, etc). But still. I was a wreck. Thankfully she is up to 180 (an hour ago) and sleeping (which I should be, too, instead of munching snack foods and typing to you all…no offense) but my nerves are frayed and we may well have another day of the same ahead of us tomorrow. They gave her an anti-vomiting med and a prescription for the same so hopefully we can have a day with a little less roller-coastering.
Anywhooo, thanks for reading. Now, with that off my chest, maybe I can get a couple hours of sleep. After testing her and setting my alarm to test her again in a couple of hours…
Cobi,
I really hope your daughter is feeling better today and that you are able to regain some sanity.
Cheryl
Thank you, Cherl. I hope so too. It is compounded by the fact that my husband is out of town most of the week…the perfect crapstorm. LOL. The next couple of days she may be catching up on all the “educational television” she never watches because she’s too busy running around being her silly, gorgeous little self…
awww - hang in there!!! My son was dx’d a year ago and we haven’t gone through this but have heard that it happens. My sisters is a nurse in peds and sees t1 kids with stomach flus needing rehydration, glucose, etc.
But I so get what you mean about wanting to crawl out of your skin. I’m so emotional since t1 entered our lives, and am afraid I may have made a scene if I were in your shoes. Not knowing the blood sugar in a time like that must be so scary. So so scary.
It sounds like you are doing great keeping her hydrated and that she is going to do very well. Hope you got some sleep.
Thanks, Amy. I did get a little sleep and had her sleep in the bed with me so I could tell if anything was wrong more easily. She seems stable so far. A little high b/c I gave her insulin after she finished b-fast since I didn’t know if she’d keep it down. So far so good!
Not that I’ll ever get used to this but I have learned a lot in the past two days…will be a bit more comfortable with the next illness. Maybe. LOL
Hi, Cobi,
I hope your daughter is feeling better by now. We had a tough time this past winter with similar symptoms as your daughter and it was tough. She refused to eat/drink and had High ketones and it was very stressful. I thought we’d have to go to the ER, but we were able to avoid it by telling her if she didn’t drink, she’d have to go to the ER. I heard about a medicine that helps to not vomit, I think it’s Zofran? Also, I heard about a blood ketone meter that you can test for ketones when they won’t urinate. I plan to ask the Endo about that because that was another tough part.
I know what you mean re: your skin crawling over them not checking her BG quick enough. I’ve had that myself too! I also hate the hospital lancets and always fight with the nurses to use our own supplies since they’re less painful and don’t require as much blood. They always insist I do blood on their strip which requires a lot and it’s upsetting to keep squeezing and squeezing and not get enough blood out! All of this to say my heart goes out to you and I pray she is on the mend by now. Feel free to PM if I can help or you need to vent.
You need a super-Mama award for this week! 
Jessica
Thanks, Jessica. They did give us the Zofran last night and it seems to have worked. She is on the mend, it seems. No vomit this morning and, although her bg is too high, no ketones and that’s better than fighting to keep her above 65 like we had to yesterday. Small amounts of food with shots after we see if it stays down seems to be doing the trick so far. keeping my fingers crossed
Cobi,
I hope you you’re daughter is feeling better.
My son, Austin (almost 5) was diagnosed when he was almost three, and we have been to the E.R. two or three times for the exact same reason. Anytime he gets a stomach bug and vomits, he stops eating or drinking, and his numbers go wild. Usually low with ketones, but other situations like you mentioned too. When he is like this, he gets groggy, confused, and refuses to eat or drink anything - even his favorites!
We ended up in the E.R. like this a couple of times.
We have learned to keep Zofran on hand to help nausea - which helps bring back his appetite. We can then feed him enough to get him high enough to bolus and eliminate the keytones. ZOFRAN is our KEY!
This is helpful for me to know re: the Zofran!
And WOW have you had your hands full. Unreal. I am sending you positive thoughts for your July scans for Jackson - and that things stay smooth with your t1 son Austin.
I’ll tell you I learned a LOT about what to do next time. Panicked does not adequately describe how I felt when she dropped to 47 and I could barely keep her at 60. I’m glad to know about the Zofran, too. This will help the next time. Unfortunately, there probably will be a next time because ya’ can’t bubble wrap 'em can you?