Share or not to share

[PorPorMe]

ccperf721p,
You have made mention a couple of times that your father was not doing well.
I thought I would throw this up for you to share some of that and how it's affecting you.
I, for one, would like to hear what the situation is as it caused a little friction between us.
This is a small offering if you can use it.
Michael

[ccperf721p]

The situation is my father has been diabetic for quite some time, he managed it well, but last year he blew up his left knee. Short version of that is his health started to deteriate due to lack of movement so we were unable to find to a doctor that would operate on his knee to get him back up on his feet. We are self employed so health insurance was not really an option and he is on a county health plan. Not the ideal soltution but he had seemed to be making some progress until a couple of months ago. It's been doctor visit after doctor visit since then. We have seen many "specialists" including heart and kidney. This is his third trip back to the hospital in 45 days. I took him to a diifferent hospital this time around. Through proper testing and diagnosis they had found the problem within 2 hours, his kidneys are only operating at 10%, which sent me for a loop because we had just seen the other kidney specialist 4 days prior to this and he said everything looked good and would see him in 30 days.

For me outside of the obvious watching my father suffer day in and day out, we are partners in a business and he relies on that business to support his household, he can't work and disability doesn't even come close to what he needs so I cover the rest along with my household and the expenses of having a business. Add on missed days of work, not much sleep, my mental health issues, along with incompetent doctors and I'm pretty much right on the edge most times of the day.

[PorPorMe]

Man, that is heavy. Heavy on more than one level too. Do you have any kind of help for any of this? If you are going through this alone it must seem unbearable at times. Is there someone there for you? Do you get any time off? From work, from your father. A few hours just for yourself to enjoy? You need it. Takig care of yourself is a big part of helping you take care of the other problems.

[cloasters]

That's a heavy load of care and responsibility, I commend your sense of duty to your family. When I was young I thought that diabetes was a joke, dunno why. It's a very serious illness, my best friend is dealing with it. It's very difficult to handle, and it doesn't get better with time. My heart goes out to you, you're in a very tough spot.

[PorPorMe]

Originally Posted by cloasters

That's a heavy load of care and responsibility, I commend your sense of duty to your family. When I was young I thought that diabetes was a joke, dunno why. It's a very serious illness, my best friend is dealing with it. It's very difficult to handle, and it doesn't get better with time. My heart goes out to you, you're in a very tough spot.

I've been thinking about this for the last couple of hours and I have to admit I have not taken diabetes seriously either. I was diagnosed about a year ago. Borderline-no meds and I haven't done anything about it. I don't worry about diabetes. I have hep-c. You can guess where that came from. Bottom Line is that I've accepted that one day-tomorrow, 10 years-it will blow and that is when there are no more choices. Having diabetes just didn't seem important. Maybe I need to reevaluate that kind of thinking.

[Strongwolf]

I'm also a diabetic and also not taking it too serious. I mean, sometimes I ate like pig. I take my meds like I'm suppose to and have it under control (HgbAC1=6.0).
Sorry to hear such bad news CC and hope your father get better.

Hint: Chk in the labs (blood work??) for BUN and Creatine levels and compare them with the accepted range. Also chk for the glycosilated hemoglobin (HgbAc1). That would give you an idea of what's going on with your father Kidneys and diabetes. I tell you this so you are not in the dark. Hope it helps.

[ccperf721p]

@PorPor, take your diabetes seriously. I had hepC from 1991 to 2007, I never had to be hospitalized for complications due to hepC, my Dad was diagnosed with diabetes 4 years ago and has been a day away from death on 3 occasions.

Also, treatment for HepC has come a long way, peginterferon alpha plus ribavirin is what has allowed me to be able to push this hard, without treatment I wouldn't be here much longer, and more than likely neither would my dad.

I have been learning as much as I can about diabetes, but I didn't start soon enough. Now it is to the point where as I learn about a complication a new one arises. It seems I am always on the losing end of this fight, but I've been in worse fights and will overcome this one as well.

[ccperf721p]

Originally Posted by PorPorMe

Man, that is heavy. Heavy on more than one level too. Do you have any kind of help for any of this? If you are going through this alone it must seem unbearable at times. Is there someone there for you? Do you get any time off? From work, from your father. A few hours just for yourself to enjoy? You need it. Takig care of yourself is a big part of helping you take care of the other problems.

I'm not going through it alone, I've got my Mom, sister and my two bro's that help out quite a bit. I do make sure I get time to play and time for just myself each week.

My mom and sister help out with Dad a ton, my bro's show up at my shop after they get off of work, but by the time they get there the daily grind type work is done and gone and I have moved on to the more specialized work which requires more knowledge and attention to detail than I have been able to teach them so far.

Plus I pop in the office often to check out AOA and make a post or two, which helps out alot.

[PorPorMe]

It sounds like you have enough help that you are not caring the weight alone, maybe the most of it but others help hold you up and that is important.
I haven't been here as long as you, not long at all really, but its the place i like to come to. There is so much to take away from here it's amazing. Reminds me of Cheers without the cold ones! Everyone has something to give-each to their own need. Anyone can take what they need, a little or a lot, mostly depending on how much they are willing to give.
I just had the full battery of blood tests done. Liver enzymes had improved over last testing , approx. 6mos ago, but as you know they fluctuate. Diabetes hadn't changed-right on the borderline. When i was first diagnosed i did testing 3 times a day for 6 weeks and I,m just on the edge. I move back and forth between have it and not having it. In light of this posting, i think I'll have another discution with the Doc.

[cloasters]

Hippyitis? For shame! But truthfully, it's a serious mutha to deal with. I'm sorry that you have to handle this, PP. I had Hep-C, yet vanquished it with the Interferon treatment after having it for fifteen to twenty five years. I'm damn lucky that it's gone!
AFAIK, early stage diabetes can stay in the early column if you follow medical advise and take good care of yourself. If possible, talk to a Nutritionist. Hopefully, you'll get a good one that cares.

[ccperf721p]

The key phrase in that post is find a good one that cares. The previous two hospital visits with my Dad were basically stabilize and send home. Of course when I was talking to the doctor at the time, he assured me this was not the case and that we were headed in a good direction. I could almost accept him lying to my face about me, but to lie to my face about a family member steps over a boundary that I cannot accept. Enough about that..

It's important while you are borderline to take care of yourself. Watch your diet, exercise to the point of actually getting your heart rate up and blood flowing.
If you end up with neuropathy it becomes even more critical to take care of yourself, don't let even the smallest sore go unattended.

[booman]

Hey Cliff, I'm still praying for you and your Father. Let me know if there is anything else I can do to help...

[ccperf721p]

I brought my Dad home last night, he still has a road ahead of him but he's tough and will pull through.

Right smack in the middle of all this I got a call from my real estate agent saying he has found a buyer for my house. Normally this would have been good news as I have been living with most of my stuff in boxes for the past couple of months. Seeing how I haven't time to find a new place to put all of my stuff it wasn't the best news I could get at the time. I guess I'll start looking this afternoon..

[PorPorMe]

That is absolutely great news about your dad. I imagine that there is still some healing that has to take place-few are in the hospital the length of time your father has been there that they need more healing time.
Move faster, big guy! You just got another plate put on a stick to keep spinning and ya gotta move!
It does happen that way some times. Bet it seems like the pressure will never back off. Well, you know it will, so until then, keep those plates a spinning!

[Daniel ~]

How are you, your dad and your house search coming Cliff?

[ccperf721p]

Dad is on the right path, got a long road in front of him but he'll be sticking around awhile yet.

I am actually having a great day, I was in the right place at the right time to make a difference in a life.

I'll find out today whether they accepted my offer on the house.

[Daniel ~]

Things are going well then. This makes me happy.":O}

[robbie]

Sorry for your pains my friend. I do hope you find some releif soon.

[ccperf721p]

Most of the time the struggle is worth it in the end for me, so I just keep my head down and move forward until the dust settles.

I was at work yesterday when I got a phone call from a friend telling me that his wife had locked the baby in the car a couple of blocks away. 911 was called 10 minutes before me and noone had showed up. I was there and had the baby out of the car for a good 5 minutes before the fire dept showed up. I recieved my reward for that today. The low-ball offer I made on the house was accepted. At least I'll have a place to stay besides Mom and Dad's.

[Strongwolf]

That's great news CC, I'm happy for ya!