Sometimes I feel like I have a problem asking for help. I've been called "fiercely independent" more than once, and while this has some positives, I think it has some negatives.
When do you tell someone that you're having a problem that may (or may not) become serious? I pretty much never do, not until *after* said potential-emergency has definitely started. Sometimes I think I should mention it, just to be safe, but I also hate worrying people. I also think telling them about every potential problem I have might desensitize them when the real thing comes along. But sometimes I think that when the real thing comes along I'll wait too long and be incapacitated before I can say anything.
A few weeks ago I had an allergic reaction (intensely itchy lips/mouth/throat and face, and hives on the back of my neck) that I just took a Benadryl for without telling anyone until hours later, even though I'd been worried it might get worse. Tonight, I felt a bit low on the train home from work and tested at 3.3 (59 mg/dl). I thought it was odd that I'd felt low at such a "high" level, because usually I don't. I ate two glucose tablets. About 20 minutes later I was in a store with my friend when I started to feel really bad—hearing was muffled, skin felt tingly, I couldn't move without feeling like I might topple over. I tested and was 2.1 (38 mg/dl), so ate five more glucose tablets. I debated telling her since I felt so bad and was worried I was still dropping, but ended up not saying anything. At one point she asked if I was okay because I was just stopped with my eyes closed trying to will myself to feel better.
I'm just wondering if anyone here mentioned stuff like this to friend. "Hey, I'm experiencing X that isn't an emergency but could become one, just wanted you to know." And if so, how you do this without feeling like you're bringing stuff up *all the time*.
Hm… That’s tricky. I usually mention possible disasters when I have that “ooh noo” moment. In the case above, if I test at an unexpected 38 I mention it if for nothing else than explaining any weird things I may do (like stuffing my far with anything sugary or walking with my eyes unfocused…). Basically, if it’s enough to make me think about it longer than the time it takes to eat 2 glucose tabs I mention it, otherwise I keep going without saying anything.
I'd tell somebody if I was closing my eyes in a store. I usually just say I'm low. I have carbohydrates up my sleeve like 98% of the time, maybe more, so I generally just eat some and if I run into decision making issues, I'll just explain them away as "I'm low". The rest of the time when I have decision making issues, I blame it on being a Libra...
I generally bring it up, not so much because I want or need help, but because I just have always told people what I'm feeling. The other day I was hiking with a friend and started to feel low; I knew we were close to the end of the trail and decided I was ok to finish the walk and then test and treat at the car. I said I was moving a bit slower due to being low. My friend is a pretty calm person but asked nicely if we needed to stop for a couple minutes. This sort of made me wish I hadn't said anything because I'd already made my decision. When we got to the car I tested and was 61. It had felt lower because I was hiking. I took two glucose tablets and explained if I'd been really low I would have asked her to wait a bit or else to be the one to drive (I'd forgotten I had to drive to the other end of the trailhead where she left her car).
I live alone and am generally used to dealing with things myself, so I guess I'm "fiercely independent" too, but I like to share what's going on with me so that balances it if anyone is actually around. My quirk is that I can't ever imagine calling 911 unless I was having a heart attack or someone was trying to kill me or something; I don't want to bother them unless it's a five alarm emergency. Of course by then it could be too late. Go figure.
I don't tend to express how I'm feeling that much, probably because I'm pretty introverted and just tend to sit and listen I also have parents, especially, who will check in with me incessantly if I say I'm not feeling well, which gets annoying. I guess I'm nervous that friends would be the same way.
I'm like you with 911. I had a severe allergic reaction about six months ago where I was alone in my apartment and I really *should* have called but didn't. I've sworn to myself that the next time I'm in a situation like that I'm going to call, or at least call a friend who can call on my behalf. But at the time I didn't want to worry anyone or cause a scene, even though it really was bad enough that no one would have said I was over-reacting to call.
This is why I think I have a problem asking for help sometimes!
I'm like you an independent person, I really hate troubling others with my problems. But if it's during the day and I feel like I'm having a low or some kind of emergency I have no problem letting others know what problem I'm having. My problem is in the middle of the night when my blood sugar gets low and everyone's sleeping, I'm normally hard headed and deal with it myself. My husband is a hard sleeper, and works a lot so I feel bad waking him up just to tell him it's low and ask him to go get me something to fix it. SO normally I'll adventure to the kitchen alone and do what I have to do.
He hates that about me, he's afraid one morning I'm gonna adventure to the kitchen and NOT come back or pass out on the floor because it was to low. SO I've definitely got to work on that.
I tell people if I'm low, whoever I happen to be with and then I treat it. If I'm really low and afraid I may pass out I tell them that, mostly this has been with family. I don't do this when I'm teaching though, I just treat it. Last year I had almost no lows while teaching, but this year has been problematic with one bad on on the first night of a class while reading the course syllabus- fortunately I had some juice with me. I bring juice to class all the time now just in case. I had one really bad low in my car while shopping, it came on suddenly, I had no fast acting insulin for hours so I don't know what caused it and I wasn't really low but I felt pretty bad, heart pounding etc.- I called my father just in case I passed out to let him know where I was. I wasn't going to tell complete strangers and I knew I would get myself back up with glucose drinks, which I did.
Today I told a coworker I was a bit fried. Our boss, who likes us, but seems to think that food is the only kind of recognition to do, took us out to breakfast, I guessed 55G of carbs when I ordered, saw it and figured "eek" and blasted for 20 more, just in case and then was "chasing the dragon..." all morning, not totally gone but kept eating stuff and it kept trickling along lower than I'd like. I was waiting for the sausage to hit and I dunno, it didn't.
What do you teach, meee? At what age level? I teach Community College (Psychology) and at the beginning of the semester I briefly explain that I am a Type 1 diabetic and I may experience low blood sugar during class and they will see me test and push buttons. Also, it is very unlikely but if I experience a disabling low I will call a short break or end class early. (Hasn't happened yet. One time I tested before class and was shocked to see a 306, but I just bolused a correction and went on with class. (highs don't affect me much). One advantage of a pump!
Oh, I'm so much the same way! I never tell people this, but the real reason why I've never used an epi-pen isn't because I'm afraid of them but because I can't imagine calling 911 unless I'm literally dying...and, as Zoe said, by then it would probably be too late, anyway...
I'm fiercely independent, too. In general, I don't tell anyone when I'm high or low or even having an allergic reaction (sometimes). I don't even tell my family that I'm sick until I have to see a doctor--and I live with them!
I only tell people I'm low when I'm worried. I can't remember the last time that happened...
Hi Zoe, I teach fine art. I'm able to leave the class whenever I need to test etc. I just wouldn't feel comfortable testing in front of my students or telling my students that. I'm supposed to be in charge and I don't want to make an announcement that I might pass out or whatever during class, because it would be ridiculous, to me anyway..and I just wouldn't feel comfortable with it. I do discuss with some students that I have D though. And I don't want to have to worry about getting blood on people etc. anyway. Yeah the worst is when you're high and you didn't test in time, I hate thinking I was sitting there for 2 hours or so with high bg when I could have corrected it. Of course if I were really low I would have to tell someone and call a break etc. or whatever. That's good that you have the pump to handle it, much easier I'm sure :)
I generallytreat most lows without fanfare, but even without wearing my CGM, I can feel the "danger level" encroaching. I have no problem telling who ever I am with or around if I feel that weak, confused, tired can barely stand up feeling. Generally around high 40's or or lower.
I picked up a prescription at the CVS, and felt a little shaky, so , not having my purse on me with glucose tabs, just a CVS card and a debit card, I purchased some glucose tabs and a 15 gram juice bottle. I told the cashier that I was running low and that I was going to pen the glucose tab canister and eat one before I paid. She just looked at me and said, OK. After eating three tabs,I fumbled to get the debit card and completed my purchase. I walked to my car sat, down, lockedthe door and tested my blood glucose. Sure enough it was 44. . I ate two more tabs and drank half of the juice drink ( around 23 gramstotal). Waited 30 minutes in the car, listening to Sirrius radio. I was then up to 79 and ready to drive. I was only 3 blocks from my house and felt fine.
I will almost tell anyone if I am out and about when I get the lows, even the milder feelings. It is best to pre-warn for possible ensuing foot in mouthsyndromes.. I am thought of as an eccentric, quirky, garrulous person, which I am, but I do want to let people know it is SOMETIMES ( just sometimes, folks TEE HEE0a medical issue. No problem asking for help or alerting others. Just my personality type.
