Today I got an email from the school nurse telling me that Maddison is angry with her meter lately. All I could think was "OH NO...HERE WE GO AGAIN." Last year Maddison had this same issue. Often. She goes in to the nurse for feeling low and isn't. Then she bangs her meter on the counter telling it how "stupid" and "wrong" it is. The she insists on using the control solution. It comes back fine. Then she insists on re-checking her sugar, only to see about the same number. She is just trying to take care of herself...but somehow I think the nurse feels Maddison is "faking a low" feeling to get out of class. First of all....Maddison is a very shy, passive and quiet child at school. If she is upset with her meter enough to lash out....she is REALLY frustrated. I cant say I blame her. Diabetes is frustrating. When you feel one way and your meter says another.....it leaves you with ALOT of different feelings and questions....
I better re-check that number, that can't be right! Am I dropping? Is the meter really wrong? Should I recheck in 15 minutes? Am I going higher? What is wrong with me? Why do I feel low if I'm not!!?? FRUSTRATING. Also in this email today the nurse stated.....
"I hope this doesn't become a habit"
To which, I wanted to SCREAM in response....What the HELL do you mean by THAT?!!
This year is supposed to be different. Maddison is HAPPY to go to school each morning. She is confident. She enjoys her teacher and her peers. I know last year she struggled with the school angries.....I think sometimes she DID go in for an extra finger poke just to get out of class. (because her teacher was a crazy chick!)Maybe not. I know sometimes at home Maddison feels low in the 200-220 range. Funny thing, I do too. Often I feel low and see a 208ish number. Why does that range feel like a low?
I'm a bit offended by the nurse saying this today. She probably didnt mean it the way it sounded...I know......I'm frustrated for Maddison's sake. Otherwise, we have been doing GREAT. Lets hope this shall pass.
Moving my blog again
14 years ago
5 comments:
What she is feeling is real. It happened to my B frequently last year. He was 100% sure that he was going low. He PROMISED he didn't feel right. He would continually recheck and and the number was always fine. The answer? When he felt that way we would give him a snack and bolus for 1/2 the carbs. Once he ate something, (even if it was just a few crackers,) he would always feel better. She knows her body better than anyone, and if she feels something is off maybe she should eat. It absolutely worked for B. It was a big problem, now solved. GOOD LUCK!
Ehum...let's hope that insensitive comments from an otherwise wonderful nurse don't become a habit...
You guys are awesome! I agree with Meri -- Maddison knows what she's feeling better than anyone else!!!!!
I have to agree with Madison too she knows her body and what she is feeling better than anyone else . I have found over the yrs that some school nurses want to sit on their butt and not have to do anything but clean a clinic and the rest of the day is hers . Not saying all school nurses , just the ones I have run into . I would have blown up at that school nurse and let her have it with both barrells but then again I am an italian mom and we go off sometimes LOL !!!
DN will feel a quickly dropping low before she is actually low. So meter can read 120 when she is actually dropping fast. Dexcom has enlightened us how quickly they can drop. Other day 130 two arrows going down and 2 units IOB. Ran up to get sliced fruit to cover the two units (20 grams). Five minutes later, low on the cgms meter. Checked on glucometer before eating and she was 36! So quick drop equals "low" feeling. In addition, if she is quite high, she feels hungry, which is one of the symptoms of a low. She will say "But I feel low" and she is high. Body is sending Madison a signal, Madison is responding to signal. That's the best she can do; feel and respond to the signal. After all, she is not psychic! I would have a nice long talk with the nurse. Personally, even if a child is faking sometimes, I would rather have the child pay attention to her body's signals and test IN CASE she has to treat. I would not want the nurse sending a child the message that they are trying to get attention; faking; or doing anything to discourage a child from listening to her own body. Let Madison know that she is doing the RIGHT thing by identifying her feelings and testing. And if she has to test fifteen minutes later because she still feels low, to go ahead. This is not an exact science, she is doing a wonderful job. She could either be ahead of the meter, high, or gotten an incorrect signal. Tell the nurse to be encouraging WHENEVER Madison comes in. Not to analyze her. Not to openly doubt her. Personally, I would not be mad at the meter; I would be mad at the nurse. The Nurse is the one making Madison doubt herself by her reactions when the BS test does not match the physical symptoms of a low. Not okay!
Oh wow... I hope that the nurse learns to trust Maddison & not just look at 'the number'... geez! Makes me frustrated to read & Zurik OFTEN feels low when he's not.. Maddison knows her body & I hope that the nurse doesn't make her not want to trust her instinct... yikes... so sorry she has to deal w/ that kind of frustration along w/ the ups & downs of type 1.
(((hugs)))
~Tammy, Proud Mom to:
Zoe (Forever 5), Zurik 4 1/2 dx'd w/ type 1 at 21 months old, Pumping Animas since 4/07, and Payge 1 1/2
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