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Saw the request and I'm only too happy to start another thread for you lizards. I'm still grinding away at work, trying to turn my failing business around, so I will be scarce on the blog, but I want you all to know I hope you are staying strong and healthy.
Ciao!
The Lizard formerly known as Grand
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By the way, thanks Amazinggrace for the donation. Those of us, who really need it, are truly thankful. My stylist and I discussed a "whodunit" type situation that left a trace of hair. DNA wouldn't work because one "system" is made up of hair from several people. So thanks again for your contribution.
Do you think maybe the Grand Lizard is hunting in his boat again? It is hunting season once again. Geee, we really miss him. Hellloooo, are you there Sir Grand?
Jersey, you must have really worked him over the last time - it is taking him a whole lot longer to recuperate. Maybe next time, just one cuff and lighter on the whip.
Dennis, we are happy you have safely returned. We missed your input.
My brother lived in the UK for almost 20 years. We visited every couple of years. I must say, we were never disappointed - it rained every time. He lived just outside of Surrey. He first transferred from Texas to Paris. Didn't care for it( Paris) at all then. Now, he visits every few months because he is now in the Wine Import Business. So, he gets to travel France tasting wine and finding a new winery here and there. Life is tuff.
Say a few prayers for my 4 year old granddaughter. Wednesday night she was "twirling around" in her sock feet and fell and hit her mouth on the tile floor. Thankfully, she missed her teeth. But it took off all --all of the gum above her teeth - to the bone.Her mom is a RN and she looked and could see white all across the top of her mouth. Her poor little lip was 10 times the regular size. She couldn't talk or eat. Talking is her thing - it was hard on her. They took her to the dentist on Thursday morning. No broken bones or teeth and they think her permanent teeth will be fine. It will take time for the gum tissue to grow back. Poor little thing. It's pretty sad.
Nite all, Gran-Gran
This is really nice, a new place! So sorry to hear about your granddaughter but happily no permanent damage.
Well, I'm finally starting to feel a little better AND, A Big AND, my blood sugar was 185 this morning so its starting to come down. I have lost 8 pounds since starting a month and a half ago so this Byetta might be the answer!!!!!
Lyn from Seattle
Was told yesterday I can walk with a walking cast on my foot for the first time in three months. Boy, I really feel independent again.
I will be going back on the byetta after surgery but now have concerns about the pancreas. Is there anymore information about that out there?
Ok, got to go, everyone take care.
Diabetes Drug Byetta: Pancreas Risk?
FDA Notes 30 Cases of Acute Pancreatitis in Patients Taking Byetta; Cause Unclear
By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Medical NewsReviewed by Louise Chang, MDOct. 16, 2007 -- The FDA today announced that is has gotten 30 reports of a potentially deadly pancreas problem in patients taking the type 2 diabetes drug Byetta.
Those patients developed acute pancreatitis, which is inflammation of the pancreas. Twenty-one of the patients were hospitalized. None died.
The FDA has this advice for patients taking Byetta: Seek medical care promptly if you experience unexplained severe abdominal pain with or without nausea and vomiting.
Doctors should discontinue Byetta in patients suspected to have acute pancreatitis and not restart the patients on Byetta unless they find another cause for the patients' acute pancreatitis, according to the FDA.
It's not clear if Byetta caused the 30 reported cases of acute pancreatitis.
Most of those patients -- 27 out of 30 -- had other risk factors for acute pancreatitis, including gallstones, alcohol use, and severe hypertriglyceridemia (extremely high levels of triglycerides)
Twenty-two of the patients improved after discontinuing Byetta. Symptoms of acute pancreatitis returned when three of the patients started using Byetta again, according to the FDA.
The FDA says that Byetta's maker, Amylin Pharmaceuticals, has agreed to include information on acute pancreatitis in the "precautions" section of the drug's label.
A spokeswoman for Amylin Pharmaceuticals, which makes Byetta, was not immediately available for comment.
The news about pancreatitis is quite a shock, although as far as I am aware it is not something that has affected any of our contributors. At least we know that it may be a risk so can be on the lookout for symptoms. If you want or need to know more here is a link to a very thorough explanation of it
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/chronicpancreatitis.htm
A warning though - it doesn't make pleasant reading.
GranGran, the county of Surrey is where I live, around 30 miles south west of London.
Jersey, how very fitting that the Queen Lizard should be the first to contribute to our new site.
I feel so bad for your grandaughter. It is painful, but at least her teeth are ok. THe little ones are so resilient.When my 4 yr old grandaughter was 2, she fell off a park bench. We rushed her to the ER. A cocky resident felt he could cast her on his own without the help of the 6 nurses who were out at the nurse's station doing nothing. The punk was trimming off the gauze sticking out from the bottom of Emily's cast and he started cutting her pointer finger, thinking it was gauze. My daughter was holding her and noticed what he was doing and started screaming. Blood squirted all over the room and screams were heard all over the hospital. THe resident started to vomit when he saw what he had done. The nurses screamed at him for "acting Macho" and not asking for help. He had cut 3/4 way through her tiny finger and in the process cut the tendons and they shot up to her elbow. Due to the fact that he cut through her finger and tendons with a dirty gauze scissors, she had to be subjected to several bags of antibiotic IV fluids and had to undergo a 5 hour microsurgery on her tiny hand. It still hurts her and the snow and cold causes pain. Her right pointer finger is 1/2 half the size of the other one, but she just says that it is her "boo-boo finger".
To all you that think I did something to Grand. THe last time I saw him he was asleep wearing my Teddy. He seemed happy and fulfilled. I hope I didn't hurt him.
Sometimes, my stomach still hurts. No gallstones - had that removed in 1974 at age 21. Don't drink alcohol, and triglycerides are in the "low normal" range. When I would begin to get sick - after my shots, I would have a strange pain high in my stomach like next to the diaphragm. Hmmmmm, I better make an appointment. Apparently, a lot of doctors are not familiar with this information.
Hey, Jersey, I'll send you a "system" if your hair gets too bad. I'm cool with my "condition" as alot of people call it. I began wearing wigs after my mother told me I was an embarrassment to my family and the kids I taught in my 3/4 grade(s) classes. Gee, I thought I'd look like Demi Moore. (or Britney Spears, today) But I have no qualms sharing or talking about it. No one really knows I wear one unless I tell them. Not even stylists
Thanks for the prayers for my granddaughter. She got upset with a little boy at daycare (yesterday) and he popped her in the mouth, which of course, began bleeding profusely. No holds barred with that little girl. She's really girly, but tough.
Nite all, Gran-Gran
Ciao!
Greg the Pancreas Guy
I don't know if I will be able to stay off of the two Novolog shots or not. It is strange, but my sugar shoots way up after lunch, and that is the one meal that I take Novolog with. It also shoots up three hours after dinner. I only take byetta then. After I take my Lantus shot it will go back down, and my FBS is around 90 to 100. I hate this disease. Just when you think things are so much better something new starts happening.
Ciao!
Greg the Pancreas Guy
Gran-Gran
Ciao!
Greg the Pancreas Guy
Ciao!
Greg the Pancreas Guy.
I understand your stress and hope that good fortune smiles on you soon! I'll keep you in my thoughts and prayers, as well as all the others who are on this blog.
Ciao!
Greg the Pancreas Guy
I am on byetta...10 mg twice a day.
Jayne
Thanks Gregg for the new home! We really did out grow the other one.
I deserve the "BYETTA STUPID AWARD" I just took the pen out of the fridge, took the needle tip out of the container and sat down at the kitchen table. Turned the dial to 10 and put the needle into my thigh, counted to 10 and removed the pen from my leg only to see that there was no needle attached. There the needle sat on the table still with the wrapper on
5 mg. pen Saturday morning. This is a sample pen my doctor gave me but it says it is a full month's supply of 60 doses. My insurance company denied my prescription the doc wrote me, but she (the doc) is appealing it. So in the meantime she gave me this sample pen. OK, so I started on the pen Saturday (10/13) morning and things have been going well. Really haven't experienced any nausea. Diarrhea a few times but not bad. Here is my question: I don't see the level of liquid going down in the pen at all. It has been 5 full days now and the pen still appears to be full. I know the liquid is in there because I did the new pen set up and I did see the liquid come out of the needle. Also, a couple of times I did get a drop coming back out of my stomach after I pulled the pen out. And when I dial the pen to the 5, sometimes I see a drop appear on the end of the needle. I am reusing the needles because there are only 6 sample needles in the kit. I have a prescription for them, but am waiting for the appeal to hopefully go through. Shouldn't I be seeing the level of the liquid going down in the pen after 5 days? I look forward to joining the group!
Nice to be here in the new home.
Pink, 5 mcg is a teeny tiny dose, try scratching a mark on the barrel of the syringe with a needle. It will make a fine enough line you may then be able to watch the plunger progress. Also, remember to twist, pull and twist the pen the its full extent of travel before injecting.
Jersey Girl what a roaring sense of humor you have and naughty too!!
Greg, I own my own business and know just how deep the breath is you take when the train runs off the track. Right now I am at MAX stress with my business too. Here in Mich. things are going from poor to really bad. We have had some of our largest customers go out of business, move out of state, or worse yet, source everything from China. I see just 3 areas in the country which are progressing economically.
I had "through the needle" back surgery on the 8th of this month. The Doc went in with two needles. One had the camera to see what he was doing and the other had the spiral cutting tool to trim the bulging disc. I have been encumbered with this ailment for several months most of which were spent with the Doc telling me to get the surgery. WOW, I walked out of the hospital about 2 hours after the first poke and was cured. No more pain. My recovery is progressing and the Doc has OK'ed me to begin raisng my activity level back up to normal over the next 3 weeks.
I still am doing very well with the spit, another 6 lbs lost in the past 2 weeks with diet and EASY walking being my regieme.
The Byetta/ pancreas news is quite concerning, I will stay tuned into any new gut aches or other symptoms.
I am starting to feel more at ease with this blogging stuff, and thanks to all of you for making me feel welcome.
The information and supprot we share with each other will enable all of us to achieve the goals we set for ourselves. Just use each other for support and inspiration.
jim in michigan
Watch out for that Jersey Girl, don't let her get you into any compromising positions.
Ciao!
Greg with the irritated pancreas
Ciao!
Greg
Greg and Jim, I really feel for you guys. Like you I have my own business but am fortunate that my skills are in demand and, even at 61, have no difficulty finding new clients. In fact my age has sometimes given me an advantage because with it comes greater experience which clients, in my line at least, are often willing to pay a high premium for. I wish I could offer some practical help, but all I can give you is a motto to work by (in dog-Latin) Nil Carborundium Illegitimo (don't let the bastards grind you down).
Jersey, Your little story had me smiling all afternoon.
Take care all.
Pink Welcom aboard! DO NOT reuse the needles. If your insurance doesn't pay for the they are not that expensive.
Jersey- I get the runner-up Byetta stupid award. This morning I put my contact in my eye, but I forgot to take off my glasses! The contact stuck to the front of the lense like a suction cup. I could not get it off. I had to put a new pair in and let the one on my glasses just dry up so I could get off! And I am not a blonde, just a redhead.
Marty- I am surely resting up. When I go back on Sunday I will be mostly helping out with my 2yo granddaughter. These babies are the love of my life. My poor husband thought that we were playing a trick and the baby was really a boy! Had to come down and check for himself. But he loves her just the same.
April-My appetite has diminished just as quickly as it increased. I even managed to lose 2 lbs last week. Eight more to go!! That is cause to be happy. Just that sometimes I get so tired of jabbing my belly.
I'm going to get off and quit griping, and just celebrate my victories.
In Cape Cod last week we found this great little chocolate shop in Chatham called the Candy Manor. Not only do they make all their own chocolate on-site but they also do a a range of Belgian-style sugar free chocolates that are just fantastic. I am eating one while I type this. Usually diabetic chocolate tastes terrible but this is chocolate heaven!!!
Pink, You cannot reuse needles, which you know by now. I think that there is a possibility that you were not getting adequate doses. Good luck.
Jim, I was looking all over Michigan for you. I am happy to hear that "your back is feeling better and amazed that you have lost all the weight that you have with having the problem that you did and being forced to be so inactive.
Guys, I realized I joke a lot on here and talk off subject much of the time but you have to realize that I have been on here since April of 2006. I have done wonderfully and lost 30 pounds. I love my new life and cannot praise Byetta and my ordering Doctor enough. I was one of the lucky ones and hardly had any complications, but when I did Greg and the "oldies" most of them gone now (not dead just stopped posting, I hope) helped me and guided me through bad spots. One day I threw "Little Miss Blue Pen" across my yard another time in the garbage. There have been ups and downs, but the bottom line is that it changed my life. I am concerned about the Pancreatic situation, but Jersey has been lucky for her 59 years and seems to dodge the bullet. THe point of this post is to let you all know that I don't take your questions and situations lightly and hope that you guys don't think I am just "plain old silly"
Amazingrace, What is the baby's name? How is she doing? Let's do something that now one on this board has done, accept for me and Greg, of course. Let's get together and meet in person. YOu could come to my house for lunch on a Friday. I would love to meet you. JUst don't laugh at my raccoon hat.
It actually sounds like a lovely idea. I just dont live close enough for it to be a workable plan.
Hey, Greg - is this a business opportunity?
Ciao!
Jersey - The babies name is Kyleigh Susan and is doing great. Her 1st. night home she slept from 12am to 7am, hope she keeps it up. I would like to get together with you lunch would be great. We can set up a Friday after I get back from my daughters. I can't wait. I told my daughter about it and said to watch out that she might be a he and a crazy person!
Pink- Glad to hear your good news about the needles. Did your insurance approve the byetta. I was surprised that mine covered as a preferred brand. Avandia was not and had to pay 40% copay instead of the normal 20%. Go figure!
Last nite for diner I made pasta for hubby, so I figured that I have a small portion of pasta, some salad, and some veggies, by the time I got to the pasta I was so full I couldn't eat it. My bs before I went to bed was 97, and a small snack, well I woke up at 1:30 sweating, and very jittery. When I checked bs it was 41! I have never been so low. Thank God after I ate something it was up to 101 in 15 minutes.
Gosh I mssed you guys! Like Greg and others I have been absorbed in business issues. Some good, some bad. All very demanding. So I have not been on the blog for what seems like forever. Things are starting to calm down for winter which means I will have no cash flow but lots more time. A mixed blessing if ever there was one:-)!
Anyway... hope everyone is doing well. MARTY... I am a Lantus/Novolog user and what you are describing is very much like my experience. Byetta may be "off label" for us but it does work if you can do the math to make it all work. I do very well with Byetta and a couple of units of Novolog before breakfast and dinner but lunch without Byetta would send me over 200 with no trouble. But I used to take 30 or more units of Novolog before a meal and not get anything like this kind of control. No savings on needles but a whole lot less insulin which is a really good thing. Have not been able to reduce my Lantus but I have zero naturally occurring insulin so... who knows!
Pancreatitis is really nasty but, as a group, diabetics have a greater tendency to have this problem than the rest of the world. Seems only logical that Byetta could have this side effect in some percentage of people. I want to remind people, as I have in the past, that this is a very powerful drug we are using. Sometimes we tend to treat it a bit flippantly. Perhaps because it becomes so much a part of our lives that we think of it as just part of the routine. But it is nothing to take for granted. Taking a drug like this is a choice and a decision for every patient. The FDA makes sure we have as much information as possible in order to make that decision. They try very hard to make sure that the drugs we take do not present an obvious or imminent danger but the fact is that any time you put anything foreign into your body for any reason, good or bad, there is a risk. Never forget that. In my opinion, we all need to take responsibility for our health care decisions and educate ourselves about the risks and benefits so that we are as safe as possible. This blog helps us do that.
I'm pretty sure that Byetta could kill me. Hell, aspirin can kill a person! Most medications can kill a person. But if we act responsibly and understand what we are doing the benefits can far outweight the risks. JMHO.
On another thread, for those of you who are interested, we are weaning the baby horses from this past spring! Two little girls are already on their own and together and seem to be adjusting well. The other two get the same surprise on Sunday morning. I am proud of them. They are scared but behaving like big girls. And they seem to think humans are much nicer than they once thought! Now we are the best source of food!
I'm headed home for the evening and hope everyone has a lovely weekend. Love from Vermont where it is wet but amazingly warm for at least another day or so.
Also I found cheap ones just by googling the name Owen Mumford. That's my favorite brand, they're silicon coated so they slip in without the slightest bit of pain. Good luck!
Ciao!
Greg
Also, I was from time to time, getting a little drop coming back out of my stomach when I removed the needle, even though I was counting beyond 5 before I took it out. Now I leave it there extra long, like I count to 20, before I take it out. I haven't seen any more drops come back out of my stomach since I've been leaving it in there a bit longer before I pull it out.
I don't know if my insurance approved the pen yet or not, but since they approved the needles, I hope that means they are approving the pen as well. We'll see.
Getting ready for church then off to my daughters for the week. Don't know how much I will get to ge on. Will check back on Friday or Saturday!
Everyone enjoy!
Also, I will become a Grandma for the first time in February!
Absolutely want that hand and wrist strong enough to hold my little darlin'! I plan to do A LOT of babysitting!
My middle daughter flew in from San Antonio Friday. She will be here for a whole week. I am so enjoying her visit, but she wants the good ole Southern cooking that she can't get in San Antonio. Most of that food now makes me a little queasy. I am glad that my appetite hit the skids again. I will be having visitors next month, too. My weight would sky rocket, if I was still feeling hungry all of the time.
I don't guess that I told you people that I located my sister that I had not seen in 46 years a few months ago. My husband and I went to Norfolk, Va. to visit her in August. She and her husband are coming here for Thanksgiving. she is anxious to meet my rather large brood, as she has no children
My bed is calling me, so I'm out'a here.
Question, I don't remember who mentioned the Januvia - but, does it cause the weight gain like Actos? So far, I've gained back like 3 pounds!! I want to cut this off quickly - I'm beginning to think this is the culprit.
Jersey, leaving for NY next week. Sounds like the husband has us booked for something everyday. We will be there the 1st - 6th. Maybe we can meet somewhere. That would be fun. Any suggestions on "must do" list?
Maybe one day we can all do the Carnival Cruise or another one. That would be fun. We could be the Byetta-Users Cruise Group.(or we could be the Byetta's Blog Central - BBC,hey, Dennis) We would have to dis the food bars. Maybe extra swim sessions, Pilates, or just a cardio workout session or two. Got to look good for the Caribbean stops.
Pink, when I inject I make sure the needle is angled downwards. If it goes in straight or angled slightly upwards then I tend to get a small drip on the end of the needle and sometimes a leak from the injection point. I also count to 10 and turn the needle slightly on taking it out and I rarely see any drips.
Lunchlady, I wondered why you do tests one hour and 3 hours after food. The recommendation is immediately before (pre-prandial), when sugars are at their lowest, then two hours after eating (post-prandial) when sugars are at their highest. That way you can also see clearly the effect of what you have eaten on your sugar levels and you can use that information to avoid foods that have the biggest impacts on your sugars. Pretzel sticks are pure carbohydrate and they would probably give you a high reading. One tip I found works for me is when you feel like a mid morning or afternoon snack then eat a couple of plums. They have a lower glycaemic index than most fruits so release their natural suger slowly over a longer period of time. Also they are better for you than anything containing starch (like popcorn).
GranGran, I looked up Januvia. It says it doesn't cause weight gain, but it doesn't mention weight loss. So its neutral I guess.
Jersey, I was in a meeting this afternoon, one of those where you wish you were somewhere else, in fact ANYWHERE else, and my mind started to drift off in other directions. I suddenly had this thought of you doing a needle-less injection and laughed out loud. Nobody said anything (this is England after all) but it must have been very obvious I wasn't paying attention!
To all, we've been back a week now and the last 5 mornings I had to scrape the ice off the car windows! If everyone faces east and blows really hard perhaps you can send some of that unseasonally warm weather over here?
Today we spent the good part of the morning at the hospital for a test on my hubby. Should have been a quick test but the girl doing the test left the room and forgot about him. Finally someone else came along that wanted to use the room and found him there and went in search of her so he could be released.
Wont know for a few days what the results are.
Hope everyone had a good weekend. I spent Saturday with my daughter quilting. It was an enjoyable day.
Whoever it was who experienced twinges in their chest when they started Byetta... glad to hear they disappeared as they should. They may return and cause yu aome discomfort. They are worth checking out. They are often due to a bit of reflux which, if you don't normally experience it, is difficult to recognize but easy to treat. And if it is something more significant you will catch it quick.
Marty... glad to hear the Byetta/insulin connection is working itself along. I did wonder if you have ever had a C-peptide test to confirm whether you are type 1 or 2? Adult type 1 diabetes means you have no insulin (like me) and need to take insulin. It is usually the result of an autoimmune response that has "destroyed" the insulin production in the pancreas. I was an undiagnosed type 1 for many years and I want to caution everyone to make your doctor confirm the diagnosis if there is any doubt. I went for at least 4 years with my BS in the 3-400 range because doctors "assumed" I was type 2 because I was overweight. I was type 1 and needed insulin but they "assumed" I was fat and irresponsible and not paying attention to their instructions. Actually, I was constantly dieting, exercising and had lost 80 pounds over 10 years. I lost years of my life and have dealt with horrid complications as a result. When I finally got insulin my A1c was 12.9! How about those for numbers!!! What kind of a prize do I get for that:-)? The reason I bring this up is because you seemed to be thinking of dropping insulin. It's a great goal if you are type 2 and have natural insulin. But if you are type 1 it may not be so realistic and it is really important to keep those numbers down to avoid the awful complications I have fought with. Just be sure you know where you stand is all I am saying:-)! Best of luck.
It's great to see everyone being so wonderfully supportive in all phases of life. This is such a great place:-)! Love to all.
Gran-I was extremely glad to get to see my long lost sister. We had tthe same dad, but different moms. I moved in with my dad when I was 18,and he was going to put me through college. My mom decided she needed me back in Memphis, so I caught a bus and went home. I was 18, and Debra (my sister) was 8. Two years later my dad divorced Debra's mom, and two years after that he remarried my mom. He didn't keep in close contact with Debra. He passed away 5 years ago, and my mom passed two years ago. a few months ago I found Debra's address in one of Mother's old address books. I didn't believe that it would still be her address, as it was so old. I told our secretary about it, and she told me to give her a name and a town. She got on computer, and within five minutes she had the phone number for me. I called, and it was the right Debra. She wondered about me, but had no way of tracking me down. She didn't know my married name. When we finally got together in August, it was like we had never been apart. The bond was there, and we plan on always being in contact.
Wow, what a journey! Both birth parents had passed as well as a birth brother. I found my birth sister and met up with her. After a few months of the 'honeymoon' period, she borrowed several hundred dollars from me and I've never heard from her again. But I still don't regret meeting her. At least now I know who she is. She has a lot of problems to say the least. She was given up for adoption too, but she did not have the happy life I had with good role models for parents. I was fortunate to meet my birth brother's ex-wife and she is a real gem, a very lovely woman. She has given me pictures of my birth family, told me the scoop on them and it isn't pretty. What I gained out of all of it was the knowledge that I was far better off being adopted in a wonderful loving family than to have remained with my family of origin. I have come away from it all with a thankful heart. I am glad for those of you who have found your missing siblings and are enjoying wonderful reunions with them. For me it wasn't in the cards, but that's ok. I am happy just to know where I came from and who those people were, even if they weren't so great. At least I know and I don't have to wonder any more!
I don't expect to get to see my sister but once or twice a year, but I feel as if a missing piece has been found.
Dennis, I was taking a blood pressure today and thought of you laughing out loud at the seminar and I started to laugh. THe patient asked if her B/P was ok and I said it was great. Can you imagine how much money we will save on needles, if we don't use them and the Byetta Pen will last for 10 maybe 20 years. hmmmmm, I'm on to something now.
Our youngest son is adopted. We had an open relationship with his birth mother that was rocky, but I'm still glad we opted for it. She passed away when he was 10, and he has good memories of her. He also understands her problems and why she didn't raise him. His birth father has no interest in him, and that has been tough--as an adult some day he will probably try to contact his half-sibs on that side. We have a good relationship with his maternal grandmother--she adores him. From the beginning, we tried to understand things from our son's perspective. Even after 3 biological kids, I was still possessive of his affection, and found it hard to acknowledge that he "belonged" in any way to anyone else. Now that he is a teenager, he seems content with the adoption issue--just would have like to have richer, more indulgent parents.