Monday, April 20, 2009

Go see Dr. Feelgood

Every 4 months, I have an appointment with Dr. Feelgood, in Antwerp. He's my endocrinologist and he's supposed to make me feel good. I started seeing him after my previous endocrinologist gave up on me. She said she had done the best she could for me, but she couldn't help me. After 6 years of having diabetes, she still couldn't figure out the best way for me to get better control. That's when I decided I needed another doctor. A doctor, who didn't think it was all my fault and who could make me feel better about myself and my attempts to reach my goals. Dr. Google suggested Dr. Feelgood, as one of the best in the field. He is specialised in diabetes & obesity, two words on my checklist. My diabetes management has improved since I met him, but it's still not in the range I want it to be. The A1c level of a diabetic - the average blood glucose of the last 6 weeks - is supposed to be lower than 7%. I had an A1c of 12.4 % when I got diagnosed "Type 1 diabetes" on June 12th 2002. The best A1c ever for me, was a pathetic 7.4%. And I'm trying alright! I eat low carb, I prick my fingers 6-8 times a day (nights included), I count carbs in order to adjust the insulin doses I need. Okay, I don't exercise, I admit it. Don't even go there, because it already freaks me out to see it written here...
So Dr. Feelgood LISTENED to me! How important that is, to experience a doctor listening to you. A doctor who doesn't give you that feeling of failure. He treated me like the adult I am. He wanted to help me get better control. He acknowledged that I needed help to get better management. And I accepted his help and advice and years of experience. He has over 300 patients pumping insulin. Since June 2008, I'm one of his group.
Maybe we should be on Mystery Diagnosis, I give him the credits for giving me a total checkup and for letting me know why I can't get better control and why I can't loose weight. There were names for it. He called it PCOS - Poly Cystic Ovary Syndrome - and insulin resistance, slow digestion, slow metabolism and hyperinsulinaemia and high sensitivity to carbohydrates. And on top of that: hereditary high cholesterol (my previous endo never even mentioned this, although I had my blood work done 4 times a year!). Damn...does that mean I'm doomed? No, but it surely won't be a piece of cake to get better A1c levels or lose that excess weight. I felt relieved after his diagnosis, but I also felt sad... For 6 years, I had seen a doctor who didn't believe in me. A doctor who thought I didn't try hard enough. A doctor who said no one else was to blame but me. I'm sad for this doctor, who is so blind sighted and oblivious that she won't believe her patients. I do thank her for figuring out I had diabetes. Because my GP didn't. He said I was just tired... As if! What is that thing with doctors, that they don't take their patients seriously? Like I'm some hypochondria that is on their doorstep for every little pain and ache? Don't think so.

Anyway, I have had a very willing and sympathetic GP for 6 years now and I have Dr. Feelgood. They will fix me up the best they can. Because I intend to lead a long healthy life. Because I have two children to raise. Because I'm pretty attached to all my limbs and organs and they are sacred to me. I do the best I can and I can assure you: it's a full-time job and it's not the easiest job. It needs my attention 24/7. Some people say: you have diabetes, big deal, it's not cancer after all. They are right: it's not cancer, it's diabetes, but it IS a big deal. It's MY deal. It's my LIFE...


4 comments:

Anonymous said...

héél mooi stuk.

www.kokenenhogehakken.blogspot.be said...

het moest er uit...

Debbie said...

I'm glad you found a doctor who will finally listen and help you. I found my Endo by accident but she's great. I got my pump through her. My A1C prior to starting the pump was 8.9 and I had daily hypo's. My last three A1C now have been 5.3, 5.0 and 5.0. Good luck to you.

www.kokenenhogehakken.blogspot.be said...

Hey Debbie!
You know how important it is to find a doctor that listens to you. You really have very good control, I don't think I will ever have A1c's below 7%. That target won't be realistic for me. But I'll keep trying!