So I had my first doctor appointment today. BP way too high, as expected. (The nurse looked at the BP read out and said something like ‘you’re lucky you haven’t had a stroke with that number’ and I piped right back ‘oh, but if I had I’d have gone to the hospital and they would have had to help me. I’m not here getting meds cuz I suddenly realized I need them. I’m here cuz I suddenly got insurance; a memo on the receptionist’s bulletin board instructs her to collect a minimum $125 from the uninsured before allowing them to see a doc.) Got a scrip for Atenolol, the same BP med I used to take. Told him about my history of diabetes and that I have been off meds for 2+ years and unable to afford to eat right and predicted my blood sugar would be 300+ (which is was when I was first diagnosed a few years back). Went down to the lab for blood draw, then back to exam room. Doc came in a few mins later and told us it was 113. Shock. No diabetes meds for now. Tomorrow I am to go back for fasting glucose and other ‘fasting’ tests. They did give me a meter but said to just prick finger once a day. Not quite believing this damn near normal result I pricked my finger soon after I got home. 109. Guess it’s not time to worry about having to go on insulin 
Disappointingly he would not give me any anti-depressants or even my Trazadone to help me sleep (I have had a Lot of bad insomnia of late) but wants me to see a shrink first. I was quite upset about this, feeling that he was not taking my concerns seriously, but Ron (who of course heard All of what he said and not just a little of it– he is very soft-spoken and my hearing aids were way less than co-operative) finally managed to convince me that he was taking me very seriously and felt my problem was out of his league, though not until after I had pitched a Major Fit (some of you know how I get when I get the way I get). Will have to call the shrink’s office for an appy tomorrow. (Also need to get some flowers for Ron who was a real angel when I was in such a bad way; I feel so blessed to have him in my life.)
Bummed that I am still at least another week away from getting back on my happy pills, but pleased my diabetes seems ok-ish. No book reviews, no links and no graphics today. In honor of my great blood sugar numbers I think I am going to drag my ass over to Safeway and buy the makings of a steak salad and eat like I wanna keep these numbers tonight.
on 
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August 30th, 2007 at 2:22 pm
Congratulations, Otter! I had to take atenelol for years, starting right after my heart attack in ‘89. But they took me off it after my quad-bypass 3 years ago.
I’m up to my eyeballs in diabetes meds but, fortunately, not insulin (I take Metformin and shoot myself up 2x a day with Gila Monster venom under the trade name of “Byetta”)
I’M JUST GLAD YOU’VE GOT COVERAGE AND ARE SEEING A DOC!
Love & hugs and stuff…
-Ron
(p.s. all of us Rons are saints)
August 30th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
well I just got an e-mail that new tests results were available. logged in and find that my AC-1 test is 7.1%, which according to Ron means they will put me back on glucophage, which doesn’t sound quite as scary as gila monster potion (thinking you’d be a hit at a godzilla convention)
and yes, I know that rons are saints
August 30th, 2007 at 8:59 pm
Awww, glucophage ain’t nothing. A couple of pills in the morning and evening, I’d guess. Your A1C is so good that I don’t think they’ll give you a huge dose, 6.0 is the dividing line, and I had a reading of 13.2 when I was diagnosed.
The gila monster spit ain’t so bad. It comes in a reusable pen (you just change the sharp). I still haven’t figured out what it’s supposed to DO, though.
(smooch)