the steroid injections two days ago have made a big difference.
The pain and lack of mobility have largely gone away.
How long it will last is another question entirely. With luck, through my surgery date June 18.
A side effect for me, however, is blood sugar spikes.
Since I’m diabetic, I have to watch my blood sugar pretty regularly. Steroid injections are known agravants to blood sugar levels, and it’s true for me.
Yesterday morning, my blood sugar peaked at 284 — among the highest reading I’ve ever seen. I’m taking more readings and exercising the Novolog (quick acting insulin pen) more frequently. In the afternoon, it was down to 240 — still pretty danged high.
More Novolog.
Finally, after dinner, it was down to 156. Still high for that time, but not out of range (post-meal target by my endocrinologist is 180).
That was yesterday. This morning’s fasting reading was back up to 195 — something in my metabolism increases the fasting sometimes.
But, still under 200, which isn’t the end of the world.
Hopefully, over the next day or so, things will return to normal.
What About “Normal” People
In my mind, the steroid induced spike is likely a more common occurrence than one would suspect. Diabetics are more conscious of them because we’re constantly monitoring blood sugar levels.
“Normal” — people aren’t monitoring them, so they don’t know when they’re inducing a spike.
I suspect it’s happening — but, of course, their body is handling it, naturally.
This brings to the fore a developing thesis on my part: spikes aren’t the end of the world, although if you talk to endocrinologists or fastidious diabetics, they talk as if they’re impending disaster and you’re going to succumb to diabetically induced coma or worse, immediately.
The body handles chemical spikes all the time. Think of drinking an alcoholic beverage: a cocktail or shot of tequila induces huge spikes in the body’s chemistry to handle the alcohol. But people who engage in an occasional drink aren’t in mortal danger of succumbing to immediate alcohol poisoning.
Even a cup of coffee induces a chemical spike — something billions of people endure every day without succumbing to caffeinated poisoning.
A whole host of other conditions/activities induce chemical spikes: pregnancy, sun exposure, physical and mental exhaustion, fight or flight response.
Our bodies handle them all in the normal course of our lives, but we aren’t constantly measuring them for “out-of-spec” levels (unless, of course, we have some form of disease or abnormality that brings them to the fore.)
I think the focus on spikes is an outcome of our ability to measure them — we didn’t pay attention until we could do that and, while yes, people did die from diabetic complications, that didn’t apply to the population as a whole who likely experienced blood sugar spikes in their lives.
Now that we can measure them, we’re drawing inordinate attention to them.
More entries in this series:
Latest visit with osteo surgeon indicates hips are deteriorating more rapidly. I get steroid injections into the hip joints to alleviate the pain until surgery.
Hips Update - Steroid injections —> (This entry)
The steroid injections are successful - vast improvement. Diabetes issues with the steroid, though.
After months of waiting, the day finally approaches.
The day is approaching, I'm starting to get things ready for the surgery and the convalescence at home. A hiccup from the hospital.
And, we're here. Today is the day. I perform some required prep, starve for the day, and reflect on the risk of infection.
Surgery done, I've been in the hospital for two days. Some convalescence, but overall not too bad. I have a couple of nice scars on my thighs.
I can't believe it's only been four days. Feels more like a month. Update, medication, exercise, etc.
Five days out and the pain has increased stupendously. Didn't think it would be like this...
Sixth day, trying the Hydrocodone. Lots less pain, but it messes with my digestive tract. Dropping it.
And here we are at 7 days/1 week out. The pain is reducing somewhat, and I'm doing ok on the Tylenol. More 'monkey walks'.
This morning seemed tougher than usual, a sore on my right heel needs attention, PT visit.
Morning stiffness, knee involvement(!), Vrooming about mid-day.
Back to the slog - tough mornings, better mid-days.
Back to the slog - tough mornings, better mid-days.
When I came out of surgery, I had an open sore on the back of my right heel. That and the fact that the foot is slightly swollen and painful is an interesting side note.
Visit with PA, today. Staples out, X-rays of hips and foot. No breaks in the foot or the ankle - we're calling it a sprain. Not untypical, apparently.
Getting more confident in walks. I went outside today with a pair of hiking sticks and walked about 100 feet or so. Feels better walking than not walking. Fluid build-up in my right hip, again.
Really starting to feel better, walk better. Feet still hurt like hell in the mornings, but quickly subside. More fluid buildup.
Week 3 has come, seems like it should be some sort of landmark. The seroma (fluid under the right incision) is returning. I've scaled back my activities to try to not aggravate it, but that has its own consequences.
Mornings are still a bear, but I'm walking more and better. Reducing the Tylenol a bit - giving my liver a break. The Seroma (fluid buildup under the right incision) is still with me. Best to leave it alone, according to the PA.
Just passed the four week mark, doing reasonably well but still a ways to go.
Just past six weeks and I'm confident enough to ride the scooter. Can mainly dress myself except for socks...
One day shy of seven weeks. Visiting with the surgeon, new X-Rays. Essentially all well, but still recovering.
12 week mark - I'm on the slow part of the healing curve, now. Still issues, especially with my right hip. Left hip is (mostly) great.
After 12 weeks, I feel like I can synopsize the experience