There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens..Ecc. 3:1Everything happens for a reason. Everything happens when its supposes to--there are no accidents. Everything happens, in God's timing.
We went to see Colton's new Endocrinologist on Thursday. What a way for Colton to spend his birthday--at the doctor's office. We were there all day. And that is not an exaggeration. His appointment was just after 1pm and we left at 5pm.
They did his height, weight, blood pressure and his A1C(average of his glucose levels over the last 3 months). It was 8.3%. Not the worst number it could have been but certainly not the worst either. Typically, for Colton's age, his A1C needs to be in the 7's. When he was diagnosed, it was 14%. We slowly over the years, got it down--and it was actually in the 7's. However, that short time he was in public school--his average went back up. And it went WAY up--back up to 13. I was NOT a happy mom with those results.
They got us back in room and we waited for what seemed like an eternity. It was a LONG 30 minutes before anyone ever came into the room. Dr. Copeland's assistant(I can't remember her name! Im horrible with names!) came in and started going over Colton's history and asked him several questions. When she started asking him questions about his diabetes, thats when things started 'getting good' in my opinion. The fact that he does not always bolus or check his blood when he's suppose to-----put it this way. For someone we do not even know, for them to look at him and say, "Well why wouldn't you do that? You HAVE to do this stuff...." That was awesome!
Someone who KNOWS what will happen if he doesn't do what he must do. Someone who UNDERSTANDS the consequences if he doesn't do what he must do every single day. Now, thats not to say that his previous doctor didn't know or understand. I guess it was just the way she said it to him--he needed someone OTHER than Kyle and I to get really stern with him.
Finally, Dr. Copeland came in and introduced himself to us, as well as the clinic's dietician, Amy.
They were all very thorough throughout our visit with them. Here's the thing--I really feel like they are the change we have needed for some time now.
Dr. Copeland laid down the law so to speak. And he told us that he wants to work with us and that he wants to do everything he can--but that Colton MUST do his part. He can't expect Kyle and I to do things for him. He must 'man up' and show responsibility and maturity. There is NO reason or excuse for anything that he has been blowing off or trying to ignore. Its not going to go away. No matter how much he wishes it would just disappear...this is his life and he MUST take care of himself.
He has ONE month before we go back. So, thats ONE MONTH to straighten it up and do everything he's suppose to do. Now, when we go back in a month, if he's not doing everything he's suppose to do, Im not sure what will happen. I have an idea...but Im not totally sure it will actually happen.
Changes were made while we were there. This is where my heart just sank as I listened to Dr. Copeland. I have made it no secret that I have felt like things were just blown off so to speak or brushed off the last couple of years when we've gone to his check ups. But to hear the words that came out of Dr. Copeland's mouth at one point...as a mom, its not something I wanted to hear. It broke my heart, it made me angry and it was all I could do to fight back tears.
He told Colton, rather frankly, that he felt like Colton's previous Dr had given up on him. Thats right, given up on him. Colton's basal rates were maxed out--twice what they should have been for a kid his age. The basal rate is the continuous insulin going through his system via his pump--just like a normal working pancreas would produce. That was 1 change that was made. Instead of getting several units in a 24 hour time frame, he will now get a much smaller one. This may result in some higher readings--but that is to make sure he focuses on checking his blood when he's suppose to, instead of going 5 or more hours in between times. He's suppose to check himself before he eats ANYTHING. That means breakfast, lunch, dinner(3) morning snack, afternoon snack, bedtime snack(3). Obviously its NOT hard to do the math--thats 6 times right there from the time he gets out of bed. And obviously, there may be a few other times throughout the day when he will need to test. Sick days--glucose levels are always checked more on sick days. Thats something for a whole other blog though. Getting sick and diabetes are NOT friends at all.
Colton has been on a pump since Tobi was born in April of 2005. Before he got on the pump, he was getting about 6 shots a day. His pump is now his pancreas. Instead of checking himself, and getting a shot, the pump does it for him. That just means that he checks himself, adds up the carbs he's going to be eating and then takes a bolus of insulin with his pump. IF he does NOT bolus, then his blood sugar rises and thats BAD BAD BAD.
Put it this way. If we go to Sonic, he usually gets a diet coke or a diet dr pepper. If they screw up and give him REGULAR soda instead....and this has happened before....his glucose levels will shoot up VERY quickly. And I mean HI. In fact, if he checks himself, HI is what his meter will say and its not saying "Hello" HI on his meter means that his glucose is over 600. That can be lethal.
Any time Colton check's his blood, from now on--anything over 150 will be considered 'high'. His new 'target' range is 80-150. If he tests, and he's 78, thats considered low and he is to have a snack to treat it. Anything over 150 is considered high and he will need to give himself a bolus of insulin to bring the number down.
Infusion sets: This is what he uses with his pump--its how he gets his insulin. Typically, when he was getting shots still, we would give him his shots in his arms, legs, or his booty. When he started pumping, we would put his infusions in his leg or his booty. Then it went to just his booty. NOT ANY MORE! He can NO LONGER use his booty for his infusion sites. Dr. Copeland told him he MUST use his tummy, or his upper thigh. I have asked over and over and over and OVER again in the past about him continually using his butt for his infusions. I've done the research and I've read lots of stuff. You MUST rotate and change where you put your infusions or take your shots or it does NO good--b/c scar tissue develops and the insulin can't get through like it needs to.
We are excited though--he's decided to try a new infusion set, and we will be checking it out this week! Its called a Mio: http://www.minimed.com/products/infusionsets/mio.html
Self Discipline: He HAS to prove and show that he is in control of his diabetes. Not me. Not Kyle. Not my parents. Just Colton. He has to prove he's capable of doing exactly what he's suppose to when he's suppose to. He either has to write down each and every blood sugar in a log book, or he will have to download his meter to the computer and then we'll have to print it up, and take it with us when we go back to the doctor in a month.
I asked Colton earlier this morning when he got up if he checked himself and what he was and as I did, something said "Nope, don't do it. Don't ask him. He's gotta prove that he is capable of doing stuff!!!" So at that moment, I made the choice to not say a word to him. I will NOT ask him if he's checked his bs; what he was, or if he bolused.
Im not sure what they will be, but Im sure there will be consequences when we go back to see Dr Copeland in a month.
So, changes are coming, at least thats what I feel. And its indeed time for changes. If changes are not made, and made for the better, I don't want to think about what the consequences could be.
What I do know, is that it was not an accident, or a 'chance' thing, that we heard Dr. Copeland's name within 2-3 days time. And I was also told by a dear friend, that she had been specifically praying that we would somehow make a change in doctors. You know who you are--thank you for your prayers and your sweet friendship.
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