Sally wrote:
> Helen, you are very lucky to be blessed with a normal, healthy, fully-
> functional pancreas. Unfortunately, if I, hypoglemic that I am, ate a
> jelly donut and a cup of real coffee, within 5 minutes I would be
> sitting in the bathroom (if possible) begging G-d to kill me, or to
> get the poison out of my body, whichever came first. Low blood sugar
> has to be experienced to be believed--it is a horrible feeling.
> Feeling weak and shaky in the case of hypoglycemia is like saying a
> volcano is equivalent to milk boiling over. People have been known to
> pass out while driving if they're hypoglycemic and nibbling on
> candies. It's not a minor condition. It's not cancer, but it's
> potentially dangerous, if it leads to fainting at the wrong time, like
> while you're driving or during a stressful crisis like taking a math
> test. (My high school's trigonometry Regent's exam was the only one I
> failed, and I didn't care one whit. Stress is to be avoided by
> hypoglycemics.)
>
> In any event, something about walking a mile in another's mocassins
> comes to mind. A bit of experience is all it takes. Cherish your
> normal reaction to metabolizing sugar. You're very, very lucky you've
> never had your head between your knees staring at a bathroom tile
> looking for comfort. I, for better or worse, have. Now, on the subject
> of espresso coffee...
My mother's sister has pancreatitis. A couple of weeks ago, she saw a
specialist. He told her that at this point, her pancreas is 'essentially
dead.' It's so bad he's recommending she get a permanent feeding tube.
As an alternative, he says there is a certain shot that she can take,
monthly, for the rest of her life, but it's just for pain management.
It's a tough situation for her.
Brady
|
