Question

October 23, 2004

Jan, I don't know if this will count for what you're looking for but, the last I have gone to either my foot and ankle doctor was in March, 2004 and the last time I went to my pain management doctor was in February, 2004. I stopped going because neither one is very knowledgable on RSD. I am currently on no meds because neither one will prescibe any for me. I am also currently searching for new doctors. I have been searching for about 6 months now and so far I have been unable to find anyone who is knowledgabe on this decease who is also close enough for me to travel to on my own. I have to drive myself to daytime appointments because I have no one to drive me during those times. Everyone works and can't afford to be taking off work all the time. As I said earlier, I don't know if this is the type of information that you are looking for, but this is what's going on with me right now. I hope that it helps. Gentle Hugs, FaithDear Group: > >I would like to find out, how many members have been discharged from there doctors because there doctors have been either frustrated with RSD and Treatments, or they just dont want to put up with what goes on with us with these disease. > >I would like to take this Poll, so we can send this to someone in Government that a lot of people with Chronic pain are being dumped by there doctors to fend for ourselves without medical treatment. > >Hugs >Jan

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October 25, 2004

Hi All:

Just wanted to reply. I've had RSD for almost a year and have to say I only have one regular Doc, and his Dad is my pain manangement Doc. I see my regular Doc more than his Dad. I have RSD in both my arms and in one leg. I take 3600 mg of Neurontin, verampimil, vidodin, elavil, valium, effxor, a B-12 shot every couple of weeks, and calicum. I have good days and bad days. The one thing I have to say is I told my doc that I was sick and tired of everyone telling me that I would get hooked on the Valium and Vicodin. I told him I know I will have this disease forever and if I get hooked than so be it. I've seen quite a few people using morphine pumps and having the implants in thier backs. I feel that one day that may be me but for now I'll take the meds like I'm suppose to. He asked me so your not going to be a hard head anymore? Can you imagine! Me a hard head. I don't know where he got that

Idea! I also asked him if I could come off the Neurontin because of the weight gain but he said only if I start the Ganglion Nerve Blocks again. I had 18 of them and that's all I could take. So I'm staying on the meds for now. Anyway, I'm blessed to have the doc that I do. He's very caring. My doc knew about RSD because he did a pain fellowship. Thanks!

Ginny Barrientos wrote:

Jan,

I have a group of 6 wonderful drs...no one has ever dumped me over any of my illnesses and are very supportive witht dx of RSD and trying to put all their heads together to try to help me with this. I have an internist, GI, neurologist, rhumatologist, neurosurgeon and orthopedic dr. They all cunsult with each other and if 1 doesn't know the answer they call the others for opinions and find out the answer. I am sorry you have had such trouble with your dr...it is a shame that drs like mine aren't the norm....Ginny"Mr. Jan G. Loeb" wrote:

Dear Group:

I would like to find out, how many members have been discharged from there doctors because there doctors have been either frustrated with RSD and Treatments, or they just dont want to put up with what goes on with us with these disease.

I would like to take this Poll, so we can send this to someone in Government that a lot of people with Chronic pain are being dumped by there doctors to fend for ourselves without medical treatment.

Hugs

Jan

October 25, 2004

Hi All:

Just wanted to reply. I've had RSD for almost a year and have to say I only have one regular Doc, and his Dad is my pain manangement Doc. I see my regular Doc more than his Dad. I have RSD in both my arms and in one leg. I take 3600 mg of Neurontin, verampimil, vidodin, elavil, valium, effxor, a B-12 shot every couple of weeks, and calicum. I have good days and bad days. The one thing I have to say is I told my doc that I was sick and tired of everyone telling me that I would get hooked on the Valium and Vicodin. I told him I know I will have this disease forever and if I get hooked than so be it. I've seen quite a few people using morphine pumps and having the implants in thier backs. I feel that one day that may be me but for now I'll take the meds like I'm suppose to. He asked me so your not going to be a hard head anymore? Can you imagine! Me a hard head. I don't know where he got that

Idea! I also asked him if I could come off the Neurontin because of the weight gain but he said only if I start the Ganglion Nerve Blocks again. I had 18 of them and that's all I could take. So I'm staying on the meds for now. Anyway, I'm blessed to have the doc that I do. He's very caring. My doc knew about RSD because he did a pain fellowship. Thanks!

Ginny Barrientos wrote:

Jan,

I have a group of 6 wonderful drs...no one has ever dumped me over any of my illnesses and are very supportive witht dx of RSD and trying to put all their heads together to try to help me with this. I have an internist, GI, neurologist, rhumatologist, neurosurgeon and orthopedic dr. They all cunsult with each other and if 1 doesn't know the answer they call the others for opinions and find out the answer. I am sorry you have had such trouble with your dr...it is a shame that drs like mine aren't the norm....Ginny"Mr. Jan G. Loeb" wrote:

Dear Group:

I would like to find out, how many members have been discharged from there doctors because there doctors have been either frustrated with RSD and Treatments, or they just dont want to put up with what goes on with us with these disease.

I would like to take this Poll, so we can send this to someone in Government that a lot of people with Chronic pain are being dumped by there doctors to fend for ourselves without medical treatment.

Hugs

Jan

October 25, 2004

Hi All:

Just wanted to reply. I've had RSD for almost a year and have to say I only have one regular Doc, and his Dad is my pain manangement Doc. I see my regular Doc more than his Dad. I have RSD in both my arms and in one leg. I take 3600 mg of Neurontin, verampimil, vidodin, elavil, valium, effxor, a B-12 shot every couple of weeks, and calicum. I have good days and bad days. The one thing I have to say is I told my doc that I was sick and tired of everyone telling me that I would get hooked on the Valium and Vicodin. I told him I know I will have this disease forever and if I get hooked than so be it. I've seen quite a few people using morphine pumps and having the implants in thier backs. I feel that one day that may be me but for now I'll take the meds like I'm suppose to. He asked me so your not going to be a hard head anymore? Can you imagine! Me a hard head. I don't know where he got that

Idea! I also asked him if I could come off the Neurontin because of the weight gain but he said only if I start the Ganglion Nerve Blocks again. I had 18 of them and that's all I could take. So I'm staying on the meds for now. Anyway, I'm blessed to have the doc that I do. He's very caring. My doc knew about RSD because he did a pain fellowship. Thanks!

Ginny Barrientos wrote:

Jan,

I have a group of 6 wonderful drs...no one has ever dumped me over any of my illnesses and are very supportive witht dx of RSD and trying to put all their heads together to try to help me with this. I have an internist, GI, neurologist, rhumatologist, neurosurgeon and orthopedic dr. They all cunsult with each other and if 1 doesn't know the answer they call the others for opinions and find out the answer. I am sorry you have had such trouble with your dr...it is a shame that drs like mine aren't the norm....Ginny"Mr. Jan G. Loeb" wrote:

Dear Group:

I would like to find out, how many members have been discharged from there doctors because there doctors have been either frustrated with RSD and Treatments, or they just dont want to put up with what goes on with us with these disease.

I would like to take this Poll, so we can send this to someone in Government that a lot of people with Chronic pain are being dumped by there doctors to fend for ourselves without medical treatment.

Hugs

Jan

July 25, 2005

Kathy,

> I have a question I hope someone can answer. Having

diabetes does that

> make one more suseptiable to getting Kidney infections.

Having diabetes makes us a little more suceptible to infections

of ALL sorts. My mom definitely has problems with kidney/UT

infections. Yeast infections (both genital and on the surface of

the skin, especially in folds such as under breasts, etc.) are

another one. Bug bites, also, may become infected if scratched

if you have impaired healing times due to higher BG numbers.

we are also considered at 'higher risk' for both pneumonia and

the flu, and it is recommended that we get vaccinated for each

(The pneumonia vaccination is only once every so-many years -

not sure how many.)

> My bgs are off the chart I guess

> partly from not eating and also not being able to take my

Metformin.

Infections of just about any sort will make your BGs go up.

Sometimes a diabetic can know they are getting sick, have a

kidney/UT infection, etc. before they show any other symptoms

just by seeing an otherwise unexplainable rise in BGs. Of

course, not eating and not being able to take your meds aren't

helping, you're right - but that's only part of the equation.

> This bout is really going to play havoc with my next alc I'm sure

having

> numbers up around 170 when I'm usually no higher than 120.

It might, but the A1c is a value over the past 2-3 months,

weighted towards the most recent weeks. One week, or even

two, during a longer period won't make much of a big blip on

such a wide scale. Just do the best to take care of yourself while

you're sick, and try not to stress. Stress just makes them higher!

(I was reading at 118 the other day - got in a heated discussion

with my boss, checked after I left his office and had jumped up to

159 in a matter of 30 mins! Came right back down, thankfully).

Did get some

> good news regarding my last test he said at the lab he uses a

> non-diabetic would be 6.2 and mine was 6.3 so he classes

me as Excellent

> control. Guess I must be doing somethings right to get it to that

point,

> my one last Oct was 6.5 so I have come down.

Great job!

> Another question am I thinking right if I don't or can't eat I

> shouldn't take the Metformin. I was afraid if I somehow got it

down it

> would lower my bg's so much I'd have a low. Had my first

experience with

> being low just before getting sick and don't ever want to

experience

> that again. Thought I was a goner for sure.

This... I don't know if I can answer. I think Metformin works

mainly by preventing a liver dump, but I get the way which meds

work so confused! If you're not eating, you are likely

liver-dumping. In all honesty *WHILE SICK* 170 isn't

outrageously high - and if taking the metformin when you can't

eat is going to cause you to worry and stress more than seeing

170 for a couple of days... well, if it were me, I'd just suck it up

and see the numbers, but that's just me. If your stomach is

already upset, etc. the metformin could just add to that, and by

the sounds of it there's no guarantee you'll keep it down anyway.

Poor you

> Any answers would be most appreciated. I'm still a baby when

it comes

> to learning about this diabetes so am trying to learn all I can

through

> these lists, so many helpful and knowledgeable people on this

lists.

> Kathy

SulaBlue

July 25, 2005

Kathy,

> I have a question I hope someone can answer. Having

diabetes does that

> make one more suseptiable to getting Kidney infections.

Having diabetes makes us a little more suceptible to infections

of ALL sorts. My mom definitely has problems with kidney/UT

infections. Yeast infections (both genital and on the surface of

the skin, especially in folds such as under breasts, etc.) are

another one. Bug bites, also, may become infected if scratched

if you have impaired healing times due to higher BG numbers.

we are also considered at 'higher risk' for both pneumonia and

the flu, and it is recommended that we get vaccinated for each

(The pneumonia vaccination is only once every so-many years -

not sure how many.)

> My bgs are off the chart I guess

> partly from not eating and also not being able to take my

Metformin.

Infections of just about any sort will make your BGs go up.

Sometimes a diabetic can know they are getting sick, have a

kidney/UT infection, etc. before they show any other symptoms

just by seeing an otherwise unexplainable rise in BGs. Of

course, not eating and not being able to take your meds aren't

helping, you're right - but that's only part of the equation.

> This bout is really going to play havoc with my next alc I'm sure

having

> numbers up around 170 when I'm usually no higher than 120.

It might, but the A1c is a value over the past 2-3 months,

weighted towards the most recent weeks. One week, or even

two, during a longer period won't make much of a big blip on

such a wide scale. Just do the best to take care of yourself while

you're sick, and try not to stress. Stress just makes them higher!

(I was reading at 118 the other day - got in a heated discussion

with my boss, checked after I left his office and had jumped up to

159 in a matter of 30 mins! Came right back down, thankfully).

Did get some

> good news regarding my last test he said at the lab he uses a

> non-diabetic would be 6.2 and mine was 6.3 so he classes

me as Excellent

> control. Guess I must be doing somethings right to get it to that

point,

> my one last Oct was 6.5 so I have come down.

Great job!

> Another question am I thinking right if I don't or can't eat I

> shouldn't take the Metformin. I was afraid if I somehow got it

down it

> would lower my bg's so much I'd have a low. Had my first

experience with

> being low just before getting sick and don't ever want to

experience

> that again. Thought I was a goner for sure.

This... I don't know if I can answer. I think Metformin works

mainly by preventing a liver dump, but I get the way which meds

work so confused! If you're not eating, you are likely

liver-dumping. In all honesty *WHILE SICK* 170 isn't

outrageously high - and if taking the metformin when you can't

eat is going to cause you to worry and stress more than seeing

170 for a couple of days... well, if it were me, I'd just suck it up

and see the numbers, but that's just me. If your stomach is

already upset, etc. the metformin could just add to that, and by

the sounds of it there's no guarantee you'll keep it down anyway.

Poor you

> Any answers would be most appreciated. I'm still a baby when

it comes

> to learning about this diabetes so am trying to learn all I can

through

> these lists, so many helpful and knowledgeable people on this

lists.

> Kathy

SulaBlue

September 1, 2005

<snip>>

> I drink tea with semi-skimmed milk, I suppose that would be 2% to US

citizens, is this going to affect my BGs significantly?

>

> The problem is that I drink it at all times of the day not just with

meals.

>

> Rob T2

>

Hi Rob.

The " semi-skimmed " and " 2% " labels refer to fat, not carbohydrates.

The carbs are much the same in most forms of milk - in fact, skim and

fat-reduced milks are often slightly higher - and that's what will

raise your BGs.

I found, in my own case, that I am particularly sensitive to carbs

before mid-day. I found that I could not drink milk in my coffee or

tea before noon. You may be different, but that's one of the reasons I

now infuse cinnamon into black coffee for my first coffee of the day

and I use cream, not milk, for coffee later in the day. I drink my tea

black, with a sweetener.

The best way to find out is to use your meter 40-60 minutes after you

drink; I've found that liquids seem to act more quickly and appear in

my blood as glucose more rapidly than solid foods.

Trust your meter, read this again:

http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/NewlyDiagnosed.htm

Good luck,

Cheers, Alan, T2 d & e, Australia

September 1, 2005

<snip>>

> I drink tea with semi-skimmed milk, I suppose that would be 2% to US

citizens, is this going to affect my BGs significantly?

>

> The problem is that I drink it at all times of the day not just with

meals.

>

> Rob T2

>

Hi Rob.

The " semi-skimmed " and " 2% " labels refer to fat, not carbohydrates.

The carbs are much the same in most forms of milk - in fact, skim and

fat-reduced milks are often slightly higher - and that's what will

raise your BGs.

I found, in my own case, that I am particularly sensitive to carbs

before mid-day. I found that I could not drink milk in my coffee or

tea before noon. You may be different, but that's one of the reasons I

now infuse cinnamon into black coffee for my first coffee of the day

and I use cream, not milk, for coffee later in the day. I drink my tea

black, with a sweetener.

The best way to find out is to use your meter 40-60 minutes after you

drink; I've found that liquids seem to act more quickly and appear in

my blood as glucose more rapidly than solid foods.

Trust your meter, read this again:

http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/NewlyDiagnosed.htm

Good luck,

Cheers, Alan, T2 d & e, Australia

September 1, 2005

At 04:17 AM 9/1/05, Rob Fearnley wrote:

>Being rather new to diabetes I have all sorts of questions that pop into

>my head from time to time.

>

>I drink tea with semi-skimmed milk, I suppose that would be 2% to US

>citizens, is this going to affect my BGs significantly?

I think that you'd just have to do some testing and see. Try a day, if you

can, without using the milk and see what your BG readings are. You could

also consider changing to whole cream. Fewer carbs than milk, and since

it's heavy you'd use less to get the same " whiteness " to the tea. I doubt

the bit of fat would hurt, and actually since fat slows carbs down, it

might actually be a help.

Heavy cream lasts a LONG time in the fridge, too. About a month, if I

remember expiration dates on the cartons I buy.

sky

ERROR 406: file corrupt: Config. earth -- reboot universe? (Y/N)

http://www.skydor.com

http://www.skydancers.com

September 1, 2005

what am I supposed to have for breakfast.

>

> I usually have an oat cereal with semi.

>

Hi Rob. Some people can eat oats for breakfast - I can't. let your

meter guide you once again. Maybe you can.

If you find, like me, that oats are also on the " not in the morning "

list (I eat mine at night:-), see if you can get any ideas from this:

Breakfasts With Minimal Carbs

1. Egg. The humble egg can be cooked in so many ways: poached, fried

(minimal oil in a non-stick pan), normal omelette (beat it lightly

while cooking), fluffy omelette (seperate, whip the white with a

spoonful of water, fold back with filling and yolk), scrambled with a

little milk, frittata (sort of a heavier omelette with filling), and

baked. Use fillings, cheese, fresh herbs if you can, dried if you

can't.

2. Meat. Bacon, Ham, small steak, hamburger patty (watch the fat),

chicken, prosciutto, hot dogs and so on. Can be fried,

grilled/broiled, chopped after cooking and added to omelettes,

frittata or scrambled eggs. For bacon or other fatty meats, drain on

absorbent paper before serving.

3. Fish. Smoked, canned or fresh. Can be poached, fried, as a mornay

(easy on the thickener), mixed in a stir-fry etc. Same for seafood.

4. Mushrooms. Small ones can be sliced and cooked with onions, herbs ,

garlic etc and a little oil and a smidgin of flour for a gravy. Large

ones can be filled with bolognaise or napoli sauce (or whatever you

like), topped with grated cheese and baked in the oven. Also another

good omelette filling.

5. Casseroles and stews - beef, lamb, chicken, mince (ground beef) etc

can be pre-prepared and divided into individual breakfast sized

serves. Put them in small plastic containers in the freezer and zap

one in the microwave for breakfast. Check the carbs in the recipe to

check suitability. Beef bourgignon, Irish Stew (watch the spuds),

chicken fricassee, whatever your favourite is. Always test at 1 hr the

first time with casseroles - thickeners are usually the carb culprits

for high BGs.

6. Leftovers - slices of roast meat, re-heated or cold, re-heated

chops etc

Cheers Alan, T2, Australia.

--

Diet and not enough exercise.

I have no medical qualifications beyond my own experience.

Choose your advisers carefully, because experience can be

an expensive teacher.

Everything in Moderation - Except Laughter

September 1, 2005

Alan

Thanks for that info - I'll keep it for reference and see what I can allow

myself.

Funny thing is I was told to avoid egg yolks in order to lose weight.

Is there no joined up thinking in the medical world?

Rob

September 1, 2005

Alan

Thanks for that info - I'll keep it for reference and see what I can allow

myself.

Funny thing is I was told to avoid egg yolks in order to lose weight.

Is there no joined up thinking in the medical world?

Rob

September 1, 2005

Alan

Thanks for that info - I'll keep it for reference and see what I can allow

myself.

Funny thing is I was told to avoid egg yolks in order to lose weight.

Is there no joined up thinking in the medical world?

Rob

September 1, 2005

Try thinking out of the box. How 'bout leftover meat and / or veggies

made into an omelette? Despite the fact that we've been told that eggs

are bad for our cholesterol, many of us have learned that by eating a

lower carb diet, our cholesterol actually improves, even with eggs. I

have 2 eggs every other day for breakfast.

If you must have toast, read labels - there are lower carb breads but

not available everywhere. I live on the west coast and Oroweat makes

several varieties of bread that have under 12 carbs per slice.

If you can find them, there are a few lower carb cereals out there, too.

One I like is called HiLo.

If you can't find it locally, try the online lowcarb stores.

Vicki

Question

> Still trying to get a handle on this.

>

> Since semi-skimmed milk is not necessarily the best thing what am I

> supposed to have for breakfast.

>

> I usually have an oat cereal with semi.

>

> I can't have toast cos of the carbs.

>

> This diet lark is giving me a headache straight away.

>

> Rob T2 tabs; exercise and diet - supposedly

>

September 1, 2005

Try thinking out of the box. How 'bout leftover meat and / or veggies

made into an omelette? Despite the fact that we've been told that eggs

are bad for our cholesterol, many of us have learned that by eating a

lower carb diet, our cholesterol actually improves, even with eggs. I

have 2 eggs every other day for breakfast.

If you must have toast, read labels - there are lower carb breads but

not available everywhere. I live on the west coast and Oroweat makes

several varieties of bread that have under 12 carbs per slice.

If you can find them, there are a few lower carb cereals out there, too.

One I like is called HiLo.

If you can't find it locally, try the online lowcarb stores.

Vicki

Question

> Still trying to get a handle on this.

>

> Since semi-skimmed milk is not necessarily the best thing what am I

> supposed to have for breakfast.

>

> I usually have an oat cereal with semi.

>

> I can't have toast cos of the carbs.

>

> This diet lark is giving me a headache straight away.

>

> Rob T2 tabs; exercise and diet - supposedly

>

September 1, 2005

Try thinking out of the box. How 'bout leftover meat and / or veggies

made into an omelette? Despite the fact that we've been told that eggs

are bad for our cholesterol, many of us have learned that by eating a

lower carb diet, our cholesterol actually improves, even with eggs. I

have 2 eggs every other day for breakfast.

If you must have toast, read labels - there are lower carb breads but

not available everywhere. I live on the west coast and Oroweat makes

several varieties of bread that have under 12 carbs per slice.

If you can find them, there are a few lower carb cereals out there, too.

One I like is called HiLo.

If you can't find it locally, try the online lowcarb stores.

Vicki

Question

> Still trying to get a handle on this.

>

> Since semi-skimmed milk is not necessarily the best thing what am I

> supposed to have for breakfast.

>

> I usually have an oat cereal with semi.

>

> I can't have toast cos of the carbs.

>

> This diet lark is giving me a headache straight away.

>

> Rob T2 tabs; exercise and diet - supposedly

>

September 1, 2005

Hi Vicki

I wish I was in the states, except for the fact that I get my meds for free here

in the UK, because the variety of products you have available over there is so

much greater.

I like franks, so baked beans, no added sugar, and franks sounds as though it

could reasonable 1 day and an omelette the next.

Turn and turn about while I investigate other options.

Thank you for your time and help

Rob

September 1, 2005

Heavy cream is the stuff you can whip. It's also called .... I always

want to say clobbered, but that's not right - clabbered??? Sometimes

it's just called Whipping Cream.

CarolR

Rob Fearnley wrote:

> Sky

>

> What do you mean by Heavy Cream?

September 1, 2005

Heavy cream is the stuff you can whip. It's also called .... I always

want to say clobbered, but that's not right - clabbered??? Sometimes

it's just called Whipping Cream.

CarolR

Rob Fearnley wrote:

> Sky

>

> What do you mean by Heavy Cream?

September 1, 2005

Heavy cream is the stuff you can whip. It's also called .... I always

want to say clobbered, but that's not right - clabbered??? Sometimes

it's just called Whipping Cream.

CarolR

Rob Fearnley wrote:

> Sky

>

> What do you mean by Heavy Cream?

September 1, 2005

At 09:11 AM 9/1/05, Rob Fearnley wrote:

>What do you mean by Heavy Cream?

>

>I think the problem may be in the spoken and written English in the

>different countries.

We seem to have two thicknesses of cream. One is just called regular

whipping cream and the other " heavy cream " which pours more like very thin

(crepe?) batter rather than milk. It's not quite as thick as the English

" clotted cream " . I said heavy cream because that's what I normally buy but

the main idea is that it's cream and not milk that you're using.

I'm also one of those who just can't eat carbs in the morning. It would be

so handy to just pour a bowl of cereal or have some toast, but I can't do

that. I'll have eggs or a hard boiled egg and cheese or maybe something

left over from dinner. I'm not always in the mood to do a cooking

extravaganza as Alan, our Aussie friend, does at breakfast. 8-)

sky

Don't ask me, I'm making this up as I go.

http://www.skydancers.com

http://www.skydor.com

September 1, 2005