Diabetes Living

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I've been wanting to post for a long time over some stuff that's going on with me and Sarah's post has given me the courage. So, I explained awhile ago that I had to have my c6/c7 fused because of a severe herniated disc. Everything is going good there but I ended up with a issue that I would have/could have never thought would have happened. My primary dr. gave me something called Lyrica when I overdid it the 4th of July weekend. I already had the whole pinched nerve down the arm feeling but I had a bad few nights where I started getting muscle pain in the arm too and I was barely getting any sleep. I violated my own cardinal rule about researching drugs before taking them. After surgery, I never weaned off of the meds (never knew you had too and my primary doc never said a word about it) and had all the horrible side effects including insomnia, loss of appetite and anxiety. I wasn't even on it for that long or a big dose. I found out I'm not alone. It's been weeks now and I'm not sure if I still have the "withdrawal" issues or if I ended up getting so wound up that I can't calm down so I saw a psychiatrist yesterday (and am going to see a therapist-8 free visits courtesy of my employer) and started on Zoloft again (and the psychiatrist also shook his head when I told him I had taken Lyrica- he even said it is one messy pill) along with a very small dose of anti-anxiety med too that I had and have been taking small quantities throughout the day to keep calm. I'm also popping Lunesta at night and for the last couple of nights I've slept 5 hours straight before waking up, which beats the 2/3 hours I was getting. Again, it could be my brain "rewiring" itself after taking that poison or it could be be me calming down. And to top it off, I noticed that my bg's were higher back when I joined the gym and the whole neck fiasco started and I worked really hard at losing 20lbs before surgery (I mean I was barely eating anything and couldn't figure out how come it was so hard, turns out the number one complaint of Lyrica is weight gain and swelling, so apparently starving myself is the only reason I wasn't gaining weight) After I stopped the Lyrica I dropped another 10 lbs from complete lack of appetite. So you would think with 30 lbs off in 3 months that my numbers would be better? Doesn't look like it. I don't mean they are super bad but eat more than a few carbs and up they go. I don't like/trust my primary anymore, so I made an appointment with my bil's endo (who also acts as a primary too) However, my appointment isn't until 12/22. I'm definately going to be doing a c-peptide test to see if my pancreas is juiced out and maybe if I'm calmer by then my numbers might be better? It's just a lot of stress to carry around. I get paranoid about even eating and then having to check my levels. I'm just wondering if I do find out that my pancreas is tuckered out, should I try Prandin or Starlix or save what I have left or maybe even a small Lantus dose to act as a base? My numbers seem to go higher without much effort in the am and are more steady around dinner time. I'm now on Janumet and Actos. I just feel out of control again (just like almost 7 years ago when I was first diagnosed) and this will sound dumb, but I like the weight I'm at now. I've always joked that anxiety is the only thing that really revs up my metabolism and I could easily lose another 10 lbs without even trying right now. It's all I can do to get 1000 calories in me because I don't want to see my sugar level's hit over 200 and I can't get up and walk 20 minutes every time I eat. I want to eat real food and be able to enjoy it. I'm just scared of taking insulin injections.

Ok, feel much better just getting this off my chest. I'm lucky that I have the support of my family and friends who feel so bad that this is happening to me. I'm hoping that the Zoloft helps aleve more of the anxiety so that I can stop the other meds and try to sleep on my own again and then figure out what to do with my diabetes.

Thanks for letting me vent.

P.S. if you ever have shingles/fibromyalgia/diabetic neuropathy think long and hard before going on this med.

Pam, really sorry that you have endured this, except for the weight loss, of course.

Please do not be afraid to go on insulin, for one thing you'll have better control and if your beta cells are still producing insulin, it will give the beta cells a rest so they are not overworked. Getting a C- peptide test is a good idea. Sulfonylurea drugs do over work the beta cells by producing more insulin. Be sure to write down your concerns and questions, so when you see this new doctor you can express them.

I wrote back on the other thread that this is about losing control and I also know it's about my relationship with food. When my best friend moved around 2 hours south of me and took my little "hooligans" with her (I've pretty much spent every day with these guys for the last 3 of their 4 years) I felt pretty lost for awhile and can even now admit that I was depressed. I turned to food to help out. Gained probably 20 lbs since I met you a few years ago and wasn't exercising much. That's the reason I joined the gym in May. I worked p/t on Monday and Weds nights and went to water aerobics on Tues/Thurs and Sat am's. It gave me something to do every night. Then I injured my arm and it kind of through everything out of whack. Then I got Lryica and just slept alot. I had to quit my p/t job because of the anxiety and I just don't have the financial means to keep replacing clothes from losing weight so fast. I wanted to do it at my own pace (control issues again) I know weigh almost down to where I was 6 1/2 years ago when I was first diagnosed. I now say little prayers, you know where you tell God if I promise to be good and stay at this weight, will he make my #'s normal again :) And they could be. It's just been 10 weeks of being so out of whack that who knows and that's why I have to calm down, relax and get my body back into a good sleep cycle and eat right and exercise (sleep is still the issue.)

Thanks for letting me talk. I appreciate it.

Okay, I am going to start sounding like some kind back alley vitamin/mineral supplement "dope" dealer, but don't forget good nutritional support. It sounds like your body needs to heal, and supplements can definitely help. When I was looking for my miracle cure for the muscle pain crap I had going on, I kept looking online, and your head will start to spin reading all that stuff. My PCP had just recommended that I try taking a multivitamin, but my chiro recommended specifically high doses of vitamin C (he had me on 1000 mg 3x per day at first, the extended release kind), the magnesium/Valerian combination, and an adult multivitamin. On my own I added a B complex supplement and omega 3 fish oil. No kidding, within 3 weeks I started feeling much better than I had in a couple of years. If you have a chiro or someone who approaches treatment from a more holistic viewpoint, get some guidance about what you need. It sounds like to me that your body could be just zapped from low calorie eating, Lyrica and just all the stress in general.

I have taken many of the antidepressants on the market. I seemed to have the best luck with celexa and lexapro (very closely chemically related). There were times in my life when they were a real life saver for me.

Don't be afraid of insulin. It seems to me that for type 2s doctors almost present it as a "punishment". (If you don't get those blood sugars down, mister, you're going on INSULIN!!!!) Don't look at it this way.

I don't think you sound like a supplement pusher at all

. I would love to be able to treat my anxiety with "natural" things rather than the "hard stuff". My husband already calls me a druggie because of what I take everyday (levoxyl, metformin, lipitor, aspirin, alpha lipoic acid, biotin, multivitamin, and chromium). Yesterday I bought some st. john's wort and valerian root, and took a calcium/magnesium/zinc that I already had after reading your post. My problem is first that you never know how much to take, every website I read says something different. Also, I don't know which one (if any) is causing stomach upset, or is that just part of the anxiety. I looked online for supplements to take for anxiety. Here is a partial list: st. john's wort, valerian, magnesium, calcium,

5HTP, SAMe, Theanine, vitamin C, GABA, Fish oil, and B complex. ARRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGG! How do you know where do you begin?

Oh well, it is good to see you back on the board. Thanks for sharing what has worked for you.

Thanks Kim and Alisa,

It helps just talking to others and realizing that you are not alone. I think the Zoloft is already helping and I've been able to cut back on Klonopin. I'm going to try the deep breathing exercises Terri recommended tonight. I've got 24 days until I see the endo and then I'm sure all he's going to do initially do is order a lot of blood work and I'm sure I won't hear anything back until after Christmas or the New Year.

Sorry you're having a rough time. I've heard some bad things about Lyrica as well from people who've taken it.

Be sure to read up on St. John's Wort reacting to the drugs you are taking. It put a friend of mine in the hospital. She was on a lot of anti-depressants and other meds and it cause a bad reaction. I take a lot of supplements, too, and can tell you that they really help, esp. the ALA for neuropathy.

Good luck with everything.

I think it was Alisa who's going to try the St. John's wort and valerian. I'm just taking my regular vitamins that I've always taken (including some ALA and extra magnesium) I added some extra B vitamins too. Yup, that Lyrica can really make a mess for some folks. I have to try and get over the fact that I didn't look all these facts up prior to taking it. It can just take the body awhile to readjust.

I appreciate the support.

Sorry to hear what you have been going through. I have no advice on meds or but I agree that insulin shouldn't be feared. I believe it gives your pancreas a break (instead of working it to death with all sorts of oral meds). If you haven't done so already, please read Dr. Bernsteins book..he has some chapters on this very topic. He speaks of why he believes type 2's need to go on insulin sooner..rather then later. Educate yourself and don't follow your doctors (or anyone elses) advice blindly. Keep us posted on you ....

I READ EVERYTHING AND MUST SAY THAT I'M NOT ABLE TO ADVICE YOU HERE. It seems to me that you got some good advice from the others.

What I would say is to be careful that you don't take too many vitamins and drugs. Try to take the minimum that works. If something doesn't show to work drop it. That is what I would do.

The best to you from JOHNBEN. (JB.)

Well, last week got the go ahead from the neurosurgeon that everything looks great 12 weeks post op, so I'm allowed to ride my bike, lift weights, etc. The Zoloft has started to calm me down so I can do this without creating even more anxiety (they say if you are having lots of anxiety, that exercise can make it worse than better.) I'm sleeping a little better. I'm practicing deep breathing and some guided imagery exercises. I know it's the Lyrica that started the nightmare but I'm not sure if I wouldn't have started these attacks had I realized months ago that my numbers had gone high again (I think when I was checking I was only doing fasting not post prandial.) It's me and my need to be in control and my relationship with food. I want what I want and when I want it (oh that's right, everyone wants that too.) My primary did order my c-peptide test for me and I took it Sat am, so I might have those results by tomorrow. 13 more days for the endo visit. I'm just still confused if maybe I should stop the Janumet and go back to my regular Metformin ER (I do like the extended version much better than the regular) with my Actos and then maybe a basal shot of Lantus or Levemir at night.

Thanks again for the support everyone. It really means a lot.

Pam..........I don't know how I missed this thread when you first posted, but I did.

(((HUG))) I'm sorry for all the troubles you're having and hope things get better for you real soon. Good luck with your endo appointment. Hopefully you will have the results of your C-peptide prior to your visit.

Keep us posted and HANG IN THERE!

Hey, and just to clarify, by no means am I against taking antidepressants, there have been points in my life that they were a real life saver for me. In fact, I didn't start taking the supplements specifically for the anxiety part of it, I started taking the supplements for the muscle pain. After I started the magnesium, B complex and fish oil, (and was still taking Lexapro at that point) I noticed that the anxiety had all but gone away, so I weaned myself off the Lexapro.

In regard to Magnesium supplements, I have found that Magnesium Malate works the best for me. It's a little hard to find. The Magnesium Oxide (Mag-Ox) that I had previously purchased was hard for me to choke down, and I didn't take it regularly enough to know if it made any difference...

Important Announcement The MSN Groups service will close in February 2009. You can move your group to Multiply, MSN’s partner for online groups. Learn More
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