Thursday, January 27, 2011

Not Your Average Audience Members


For the record...

I wanted to title this post "Taking It In The Ass At The Arts".

5-4-3-2-1...the glucometer counts down. Looking down at the "Hi Glucose" on the monitor and at the finer print "Blood Glucose is greater than 600", I couldn't help but think of the new record we were setting. Joe's previous "High Record" was 506. That record was set in December of 2006, just over four years ago.

The new "High Record" flashed from the One Touch Ping Remote as we were just getting settled in our seats, rearranging our coats, waiting for Bridget's first band concert to begin. My mother and step-dad were in town. They took us all out to dinner for the event. Joe had just polished off a rather large (for him) sundae. There were M&Ms involved and some marshmallow sauce. Dear God, the marshmallow sauce...Is that where I went wrong in my wild ass carb guesstimate? Perhaps? No matter, I suppose.

As you can imagine...

I ushered the 600+ Joe to the bathroom to urinate. For non-D peeps, high blood sugars make you have to pee (osmotic diuresis), often and alot. Joe also needed to belly up to the drinking fountain to replenish the fluids that the glucose was drawing out of his cells, out of his body. He was conscientious to plan his bathroom visit and drinking fountain visit around Bridget's performance. He also "held it together" amazingly well for a 600+er. He was a little "bouncy", otherwise just fine. He did mention, more than once, that he did not feel well and that all of his muscles hurt. During the ushering of Joe to toilets and water and the worrying, I could not help but chuckle a bit.

You see...

We, Joe and I, experienced the opposite just the day prior at a musical. Well, not a record Low. Unfortunately, we have already had a low so low that the glucometer will not read. We did have the kind of low where you need more than just some glucose tabs crammed into your mouth by your pancreating mother.

See! The title that I wanted to use, the one about taking "D" in the "Ass" at the "Arts", would have been perfect ... and "catchy" too.

Earlier this week I had attended a field trip with Joe and his class. We went to see "Suessical The Musical". The school staff and I corralled the children into the rows of seats. Coats were removed. Hats and mittens were stuffed in arm sleeves. Children were asked to "please stop bouncing" on the chairs. Children were told to "sit down", to "keep their voices down" and blah, blah, blah. After 10 to 15 minutes of the previously mentioned tasks, the lights dim and the play begins....and... a.... "mmMMOOM, I FEEL Loooowww", was whispered in the ascending then descending octaves that we all know that Joe is low...low voice. Ok, luckily it was a well lit part of the musical so I could see my "d" goods in the "Woodchuck" (our Diabetes Supply Bag) without needing to use my phone for illumination. I check Joe's number. Yep, he is 60. I become the life sized Pez Dispenser that we all know and love and I start dispensing those glucose tabs with efficiency and care, ensuring that Joe's fingers do not touch the glucose for the recheck that will need to take place in 15 minutes.

I sit. I watch the musical. I watch Joe in the seat in front of me. He was slumping. He was slouching. He was somewhat glazed. He did not look good. I asked him, "buddy, is your low feeling better?" His answer and his demeanor alerted me that this was not gonna be an "easy" low. He and I left our seats. He then found a place to crumple down on in the lobby. I rechecked his blood glucose and he remained in the 60s. He was pale. I spiked a juice and had him chug it. We then sat...alone...side-by-side in the lobby. Waiting. Waiting ...for the low to go. Waiting for the juice to work. Waiting for a better place. Waiting for the sugar to take. Just waiting... With the low demolished and a more "perky" Joe, we head back into the theatre.

We then head back to the audience, back to living life to the fullest with type 1 in the mix.

A day-in-the-life enjoying the arts with my number 1, type 1 kid, Joe.

21 comments:

Shannon said...

We've had that reading before.....HIGH. it cracks me up because you think... 600 or 900 or what? Doesn't it always seem like the highs and lows come during awkward moments like that? I guess I just notice them more and honestly, I am afraid that one day my son will not treat himself due to peer pressure. I'm glad you are always there for Joe. He is one lucky little boy to have a mom like you.

Amy@Diapeepees said...

A low so low it wouldn't read! Now that is scary! Not looking forward to that one. I'd rather have the enigmatic "HIGH."

Penny said...

Please post that other title - I love it! Sorry about the high - I hate carb guessing on things like ice cream sundaes!!! Glad he made it through and you are one wonderful pancreas mama Reyna!

Lorraine of "This is Caleb..." said...

Just plain not fair. Period.

Jen said...

Why is it that lows or highs always seem to hit just after the lights go down?! So unfair! It is a good thing Joe has such an awesome mama pancreas to kick D in the pants when it is misbehaving!

Shannon@ The New Normal Life said...

WOW!! Did you write about the low that was so low I couldnt find the link.. A high so high... and people think this is easy! I love you!!
Hugs

Jessica said...

You are doing an awesome job, and I hope that in a few days, he's going to remember that awesome ice cream sundae that he got to eat and not the high. Diabetes isn't fair, but you are awesome and Joe is awesome too, and you will kick diabetes' collective ass, no doubt.

elaine said...

We haven't seen the Hi alert yet. I can't imagine how yucky 600+ feels. :( Hope today is smooth sailing. You guys deserve it.

Sarah said...

man, what a stinker...I'm sorry things have been so hi and lo for you guys. It seems whenever we have family visiting we also have more extremes...I'm never sure if it's my inability to focus, Isaac's level of excitement or a mad number of other crazy things that influence BG.
Hope today is better.

Renata said...

It's amazing how we manage to live our crazy life in the midst of normality for so many. And we handle it with grace, mostly. That "mostly" was directed at me, mostly.

Amanda said...

The highs and lows of diabetes...literally in a matter of 24 hrs! I knew something was up at The Flynn. Although I knew you had it under control I wish I could have kept you company in the lobby! We had that dreaded HIGH reading not too long ago. A site change went in kinked and didn't get fully noticed until morning and then she threw up for hours and had large keytones...shall I just say "complicated"!!!
XOXO
Martha

Donna said...

I hate highs. I detest lows. But I love you! And Joe. =)
Sounds like you handled both like a pro, Mama.

Deanna said...

HOLY COW! We have yet to experience anything that high or that low. Scary!

What kept you from using the other title? I very much like it! :)

Hallie Addington said...

You know what I'm going to say.... Marshmallows are EVIL!!!! I hate HIGHs. I HATE lows. I feel for you, hon!

Jonah said...

Oh yuck, the highest I've seen was 594 (on retest 588). At that time I was wearing a minimed sensor that malfunctioned and kept telling me I was low (oops?)

How was Joe's Dexcom reading through all this? Or are you guys on a Dex break?

FeltFinland said...

Saturday found me racing the clock in the cinema, in an attempt to check blood sugar, bolus for sweets soon to be consumed and set a temp basal, all before the lights go down. Matters not helped at all by the fact that the tubing was somehow caught under some delicate little boy structures! My carb guesstimate wasn't good either that day. So frustrating.......

Jules said...

You did an amazing job. Joe may not say it much but it must feel so much better for him to know you are there at times like this. I hadn't even thought of what to do if problems hit in a theatre and with the lights down. Need to add a torch to my kit back, pronto.
Big hugs. Much love.

Unknown said...

@ Shannon, no I haven't posted about the "LOW" low...it was a couple of years before I started blogging.

@ Jonah..we have been on a two week Dex break. New receiver just arrived and I am ready to plop in a new sensor today.

And..."delicate boy parts"? at Felt Finland?!!! LOVE IT and that may have to be part of a post someday.

Tracy1918 said...

Oh Reyna! Doesn't diabetes totally suck?

But you know what, you did inspire me (again!) when you wrote about letting Joe have a sundae. We haven't braved that since diagnosis. We have hit a yogurt shop with great success, but....

Love the part about the glucose tab. That powdery residue is evil!!!

Amy said...

I think you nailed it with how you sized the fonts for Joe's 'low' voice. I can hear it now!

Meri said...

I too have seen the high. Often in the unassuming, "Hi" context. I'm sorry he had such a bad low...suessical sounds like SO MUCH FUN! Curse the D that messes with Joe's fun!