Negative Negative Negative

Maddison's Celiac biopsy just came back NEGATIVE. Enough said! Lactose intolerance results take about another week, so for now we just hope that the group of symptoms Maddi has been having disappears....

Perhaps in the future if symptoms persist or again worsen I will consider doing a gluten challenge for Maddison, or allergy testing. But for now, its SPRING BREAK!!

Initial result/6 years!!

Maddison's Endoscopy went perfectly well. The initial pictures taken do not show any abnormalities, (A GREAT SIGN!) but of course the biopsy result will tell. We will hear back from her GI doctor next week. I'm thinking (hoping)that we just might be in the clear since the pictures were just fine......

Tomorrow marks my 6 year diagnosis date! Looking back now I remember that my A1c at the time of my diagnosis was 13.2% (340 average) but down to 6.8% within 4 weeks. Hallelujah for insulin! For the first 4 years of Diabetes my A1c stayed in the 6.0 to 6.5 range, thanks to following a very strict workout routine and watching everything I ate. Im disgusted with myself to say that 6 years in has brought a lazy me. I eat whatever, whenever. I dont prebolus. I dont work out. Ive gained weight and somewhere just decided that I would rather do the minimal than go the extra mile.

I hate this. I swore I would NEVER get to this point in life, but HERE I AM.

Im still stuck in a rut since my surgery in August. All I can do is blame my hormones (or lack of) because I am just simply not myself. Weight gain isnt helping my attitude either, and I know I am myself partly to blame because I have yet to kick my ass back into gear with my good old healthy ways. I sound like a broken record, I know. My last A1c came back (again) at 7.2 which is pretty good considering thats absolutely no effort on my part. -Sigh- Diabetes has totally taken the back seat for me. 6 years in is NOT the time to get lazy and careless with Diabetes, so today Im slapping on the CGM and going back to injections. Ive developed a horrible habit of eating too much and eating too much crap. I think going back to injections is a good way for me to get over this laziness. Who wants to take a chance of stacking insulin just because you want to eat more? Who wants to drag out the needle everytime you eat? Exactly.

One MAJOR issue with the insulin pump is that you can get in the bad habit of eating more just with the push of a button. Its again time for injections.....Wish me luck!

Here we go again

Since Maddison’s T1 dx 6 years ago I’ve questioned her persistent tummy aches. They come and go. No rhyme or reason. Most of the time they aren’t debilitating, just a dull nagging pain. Maddi may go weeks without any pain at all, then suddenly she has them daily, maybe even all day. Stress? Lactose intolerance? Fluctuating blood sugars? High blood sugars? Constipation? Stomach pain could be a bazillion different things! Sadly, tummy aches have over the years just become “normal” for Maddi.

But, recently we have seen an increase in headaches. Truth is, Maddison is having some issues in school both educationally and socially. Its been tough starting a new school this year, and 5th grade seems to be the time that the tween stage takes over in so many ways. I’d like to blame all these things for the headaches that Maddison is experiencing, but I know better than to do so when the headaches are also combined with other new symptoms. Persistent nausea. Increased severity of the tummy pain itself, joint pain and numbness and tingling in her hands and feet. All a classic group of symptoms related to Celiac Disease.

Maddison had her yearly labs drawn in December which included the complete Celiac panel, all negative. Yet, there is that TINY 3% chance that Maddison could still have Celiac that isn’t suggested by blood work alone. So an Endoscopy it will be, Thursday at 8am. This time I CAN'T cancel.

Ive put this off for too long, believing that Madi just couldn’t be that 3%. Maddison IS among the 3% that doesn’t have antibodies for Diabetes...so why would this be any different? –Sigh- If this scope actually comes back positive for Celiac I may just hate myself FOREVER because I've debated for SO long and always listened to everyone else, not myself. UGH.

The good news is that instead of being irritated with my concern like years past, Maddison agrees that she likely has something weird going on and she is tired of dealing with all this. She is even EXCITED to have the procedure done!!!! Yes, I said EXCITED. Maddison has asked question after question. She repeatedly assures me the procedure is perfectly safe “because they do this all the time” and she even packed a bag already!!! Is this kid silly or what!!?? Maddi says she can’t wait to see what anesthesia is like, probably because she was with me (and allowed into both pre-op and recovery!) when her Grandma had outpatient surgery last week. (It also helps that Maddi knows they use numbing cream for kids that get IV’s) And, she knows the procedure is QUICK. Im sure as Thursday nears Maddison will go through the emotions and worries, but we talked about all that too and I think we are good to go....as long as blood sugars cooperate of course! Wish us luck and BELIEVE this will be negative!

BELIEVE

I am not an outwardly religious person(is that the word I'm looking for??? "Outwardly"?). I don't strike up conversation about it. I won't debate you or compare your beliefs to mine. I believe in God; though I may have questioned his "reason" more than I like to admit.

But over the last few days I have witnessed the power of prayer. FELT the power of it. All because of my dear friend, Meri, and her sweet husband, Ryan. Most people who stop by my blog already know Meri (who's 3 of 4 boys have T1 Diabetes) and what she is facing... but just in case, you can read the story here.

Today, Sunday, March 4th, 2012, has been set aside as a day of prayer and fasting, all are invited to join the family in support, people of all denominations... everywhere! With this in mind, we invite you to post prayers and reflections of hope on your personal blogs and websites. There will be a thread started on the Shuhmacher Family's Miracle Face book page, where links can be shared. If you do not have a blog/website, and would like to share your prayers, please feel free to add your thoughts to this thread as well. By keeping them in one place, the family will easily be able to access your words of encouragement in the days, weeks, and months to come. Please spread the word to anyone, and invite others to join this massive prayer effort as well.

They need your help
They need your prayers
They need a miracle

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. ~Isaiah 41:10

We all know how costly medical expenses can be. Friends of the Shuhmacher's have started a fundraiser to help offset some of the expense they will endure. No amount is too small and would be appreciated. CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK to make a donation now.

From the bottom of my heart, and with every ounce of my being I BELIEVE in the Shuhmacher Family miracle.