When I woke up the next day I didn't feel better. I thought I probably just needed a day of rest. So, I stayed home and watched TV.
The next day was the same. That was unacceptable. I went to my primary doctor hoping to get a pill or something that would reduce my heart rate and give me some energy so I could return to work. She said that I could not return to work and that she wanted me to follow up with a cardiologist. I called the cardiologist that I was referred to by the hospital. They wanted me to wear a 30 day heart monitor and then follow up with a stress test and a visit to the cardiologist on February 27th. February 27th! That is a long time to be off work. My primary doctor put me on short term disability until February 17th. I hoped that would be enough time.
I got my heart monitor on January 23rd.
I ended up back in the Emergency Department on Saturday, January 28th. I was feeling really bad. They said I had Lactic Acidosis. They admitted me, took me off of my meds and gave me IV fluids and antibiotics. I had a migraine the whole time I was there but my heart rate went down so low I thought I was dying. They told me that a heart rate of 78 is actually normal. I said I wasn't normal and they disagreed. They put me back on my medications Monday morning and discharged me. I did feel better. I was still tired but better.
I saw my primary doctor the next day to talk to her about it. She still didn't have any answers but added a diabetes medication and did a bunch of blood tests.
On Wednesday the endocrinologists office the hospital had referred me to called to say they had a cancellation and asked if I would like to come in on Thursday, February 2nd.
I took the appointment and saw a nurse practitioner. After talking she took me off of Metformin and Jardiance because they can cause complications that I was already having. She kept my glyburide at 5 mg a day and asked me to check my glucose at least 3 times a day. I was so frustrated. I wanted to get better and go back to work. I was still so tired.
On Friday afternoon, February 3rd, I took my beautiful kitty, Cleo, to the vet so she could go to heaven. It was just too much for me. She was sick, I was sick. I couldn't take care of her. We were together a long time. I miss her.
While we were at the vet my doctor's office called and said that my lactic acid was still high so she wanted me to go to the Emergency Department again. We went to a different one that was closer to home. I had done some research and had learned that Metformin can cause Lactic Acidosis.
They gave me IV fluids and I thought that was the end of it. Maybe I would be able to go back to work on Monday. My heart rate was normal again. I was still tired but I probably just needed rest. I was so tired that night when I got home that I accidentally took my Metformin. I didn't realize it until the next morning. I was so frustrated!!!
I rested waiting to feel better for several days with little improvement. The exhaustion improved but not enough to return to work. I submitted my first partial weeks glucose results and they told me to increase my glyburide to 5mg twice a day.
The nurse that had discharged me from the hospital on January 30th had suggested acupuncture. I was ready to try it. On Friday, February 10th I went in for my initial consultation and my first treatment.
To be continued....
