November 20, remember? It was pretty simple and uncomplicated, I guess. Not as profound as I imagined it. I didn’t know what time my appointment was–I mean, I thought it was around 1:00 or 1:30, so I showed up exactly at 1:00 (and stayed until 3:00, which still doesn’t tell me what time I was supposed to be there!) I did call several times and left a message, but never made contact. Like trying to make contact with aliens.
First we talked about our labs (Dr. T was there, too). ‘Progestrone is ovulatory’, so I guess that’s good, FSH, LH and all their friends were doing well (as expected). But the surprising result was my blood sugar.
Now, I’m no expert on this, so bare with me as I attempt to explain it. (I’ve had 3 different people explain it to me). At the time of the test (morning) I was hypoglycemic, low blood sugar. But that was because I was just hyperglycemic and had crashed (how do they know?). And this is because when I eat sugars (chocolate, carbs–you know, the good stuff), my body is smart enough to send out insulin but the sugar is too dumb to know what to do, so it plays hide and seek. And hides in my cells. I don’t want sugar in my cells! Then they will be fat and slow. So I was called an ‘insulin-resistant pre-diabetic’. People shouldn’t call people such mean names!
And if one condition wasn’t enough, this is indicative of PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome). Honestly, I see a physician I am given a new disease or condition. This time it was two! I have so many things to write on a med history, I forget and leave things out! It’s gotten so pathetic I feel like I’m a hypochondriac making this stuff up! Seriously, how can one person have soooo many things wrong with her and still function? (sort-of) Let’s imagine a conversation between me and say a co-worker named Carrie during lunch.
Liz: How’s your lunch?
Carrie: Pasta is really good. Would you like to try some?
Liz: I’d love to, but I can’t I’m gluten-free.
Carrie: Really, you have Celiac?
Liz: No, I’m just an infertile, gluten-free, insulin-resistant, pre-diabetic, borderline hemophiliac, with endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome, who’s allergic to milk, latex, MSG, sulphites, certain wines, grasses and anything green outdoors who occasionally suffers from migraines and/or painful monthly cycles that have the potential of making my pass out and has a family history of varicose veins I have signs of already. And I have a dermatologist on speed dial to keep my face from bursting into a polka dotted pizza. How are you feeling today?
That makes me really cool, eh? And I’m sure I’ve forgotten something, but my brain hurts trying to remember. But it all fits. I read the expression of PCOS and being told I have ‘a touch’ of that fits the puzzle.
What to do? Good question. So far I understand that I have to eliminate or greatly reduce sugar. No problem–bye-bye chocolate bars. I can do that. Balance my carb intake with veggies. Sure, I just have to make a stop at the grocery store. But under no circumstances am I going to give up on Starbucks and the occasional homemade chocolate chip cookie! I’m going to spend some time understanding the diabetic diet and the glucose index. I’m not diabetic and I’m several years from it. But like a lovely lady told me: “Eat like a diabetic so you don’t become one”.
BTW, while at the doctor’s I told them I was gluten-free. They said that being GF will help not only the endo but also the PCOS. How great is that? Bring on the sorghum!
Carrie: So what else did the doctor say?
Liz: I gotta go clean my house. I’ll tell you the rest of the story later. I was there for 2 hours remember? That’s a lot of typing!
