Prior to my last 2-hour chemo session, I met with my oncologist ‘Dr. Ch’ I had to admit to her that I was doing that good. Constantly out of breath, climbing stairs were a killer for me, at my ‘lady loves’ condo the are a dozen or so stairs leading from the parking garage, I could hardly make it to the top. On top of this, I had an insatiable thirst, I just couldn’t get enough fluids in me.
Trips to the bathroom so frequent at times I thought it best for me to just spend the night there instead of constantly waking Divina. There were several times when I would get up in the middle of the night and sneak Cherry Gelato out of the freezer just to satisfy my need for sugar. If you are diabetic you will probably understand these symptoms, I’m not so it was a mystery to me, but like everything I thought it would pass – it didn’t
Back to the oncologist – seems she and her team knew what could be going on. First was a pinprick to test my glucose level – I was a staggering 27 mmol/L which is off the charts apparently, a ‘safe’ level is supposed to be around 4.4 to 6.1 mmol/L. They continued with the chemo treatment and referred my case to the diabetic division at Sunnybrook informing me that I would get a call from them.
Friday I get the call from them, so concerned about me being untreated over the (Canadian) Thanksgiving weekend they suggested I come in for a battery of tests and solutions.
Bottom line I have Steroid-Induced Diabetes a not uncommon condition with cancer patients. I met with Doctors and specialized nurses and left with a big bag (literally) of supplies, a blood test meter, needles, insulin pens and medications.
I have spent most of the weekend feeling like crap forgoing Thanksgiving with my daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter, feeling unsafe to drive. I’ve been testing and recording my sugar levels. Today Monday I’m actually feeling better, no cravings, thirst is under control and no lightheadedness.
Update: My sugar levels are down to 9.4 – in need of fresh air I took a trip to Shoppers Drug, I had the roof down and the windows open and what remaining hair I have after chemo was blowing in the wind.
So good to feel almost normal after feeling like crap
Peter & (t)
A special shoutout to ‘St’ for reaching out to me all the way from a cruise ship in the Mediterranean by video
PS: Edited on the fly as usual
