Bama's Mom 1
Terrier Terror
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| 04/23/2007 8:14 PM |
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| John is a diabetic--has been for several years now, but he doesn't always take care of himself like he should. He got a call the other day from his doctor's office telling him the doc had ordered some lab work for him. He went in and got that done, and then the doc calls back and says he MUST make an appointment. So, he went in this afternoon, and essentially, his doctor said that if he doesn't get his blood sugar and weight in control, he's gonna die. He MUST strictly follow the Sugarbusters diet, lose weight, and check his sugar 5 times a day (wow--I do believe that I've often said once in the morning isn't enough, but I'm not a doctor so he didn't believe me.) He has a family history of heart disease and stroke. Both maternal grandparents suffered massive strokes and required 24/7 care for months, and his dad died from a massive stroke. I've have fussed, begged, and cried trying to get him to do a better job of taking care of himself. Maybe now he will since the doc put it so bluntly to him. |
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Trina, mom to Ali & Bama
" ... work can wait another 30 minutes. There are more important things to do. Like throwing sticks."
www.trina4ua.blogspot.com |
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BonitaKaz
Bratty Ratty
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| 04/23/2007 8:17 PM |
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| Hopefully he finally takes that seriously. My grandmother had diabetes and didn't take care of herself. She was home alone one night and the way she died is a way that I would never wish on another person! You need to make sure that he takes care of himself! I'd hate to see someone hurting so much when there can be so many what ifs to make his life healthier! |
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*Bonita* Mom to Nibbler & Laika! |
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smoore
Ratastic
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| 04/23/2007 8:28 PM |
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| I work at a dialysis clinic as a RN (where a lot of people end up who dont take care of there diabetes and or high blood pressure). I had a patient tell me one day "if someone would have walked me through a dialysis clinic and tell me that I would have to spend 12 + hrs a week of my life on a machine, just to stay alive, I would have taken care of myself". A lot of people think if they cant "feel" the damage happening to your body, that it isn't happening. It is a silent killer. |
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-Sara
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Bama's Mom 1
Terrier Terror
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| 04/23/2007 8:36 PM |
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| One thing that drives me crazy is that John works in the medical field. He is the manager of the radiology dept. at a small hospital, and he's worked as an x-ray tech since for right at 30 years. You'd think that he'd have seen enough stuff to make him do a better job. One more thing he has to do is to go to a class for diabetics. He hope they put everything so bluntly that it scares the crap out of him! I DO NOT want to be a widow! |
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Trina, mom to Ali & Bama
" ... work can wait another 30 minutes. There are more important things to do. Like throwing sticks."
www.trina4ua.blogspot.com |
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NavyDvrWife
Rat-A-Tat-Tat
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| 04/23/2007 8:37 PM |
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I just think they don't WANT to take it seriously. They don't WANT to be sick or weak...so they go about life acting like they're not. I'm glad his Dr. got serious with him - it's a serious disease and needs to be taken seriously.
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~ Errica, Batman, Blondie and Brock's Mommy
Trinity Ratbone has gone to her forever home!
Foster Parent & Happy Tails Crew
Ratbone Rescues |
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BonitaKaz
Bratty Ratty
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| 04/23/2007 8:41 PM |
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| Yeah I remember hearing a rumor about how doctors make penises smaller lol |
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*Bonita* Mom to Nibbler & Laika! |
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SkittlesMOM
Ratastic
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| 04/24/2007 8:04 AM |
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My husband is at least 75 lbs over weight - both parents and a 30 yo brother have diabetes and he still doesn't watch his weight.
He complains every morning about his heel hurting when he walks....and I keep telling him "You have to actually call the doctor - they don't call you when something is wrong." Much easier to complain day after day after day than to call a doctor and get it taken care of! NOT |
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Patty |
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swatson6
Attention Starved
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| 04/24/2007 8:16 AM |
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| Oh I hope he takes it seriously. Men think that if they can't see it its not there, but diabetes is sooo bad if it's not taken care of. I think he should be able to see a dialysis unit or even a GU floor in a hospital that is usually full of people with issues that were not addressed early enough...maybe then reality would sink in. Hopefully the doctor gets through to him......... |
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Sarah
Mom to Jack, Jeter and foster mom to Teagan
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Jeff
Bratty Ratty
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| 04/24/2007 8:50 AM |
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I've been diabetic since i was 4,i don't even check my BS daily.I know the doctor would have a heart attack if he stayed with me for 1 day and seen how i take care of myself!  .Honestly though,i don't need to check mine.people don't believe me but i can tell if mine is high or low just by the way i feel.if mine's high,my muscles tense up and i want to sleep but if it's low,i get weak and shakey and it will actually wake me up if mine gets low while i'm asleep.i'm supposed to take 4 shots a day but i cut myself down to 2 a day because 4 is just too much! but last time i seen the doc,he said i'm still in great health 
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Being a smarta** is better than being a dumba**
http://www.bonusbuy.biz
myspace.com/Jeffery26
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10043207@N02/
http://www.perfspot.com/Jeffery7505 |
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rattytatty
Newbie
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| 04/24/2007 9:00 AM |
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| Trina.... went thru this with my hubby about 3 months ago. He also comes from a family burdened with a history of heart disease, diabetes, vascular issues. His blood sugar was "borderline" diabetic. I bought the Sugar Busters book and he lived by it for 3 months (and continues to do so)... has lost 20 lbs and when his blood sugar was checked last week, it was normal and he was told to continue doing whatever it is he is doing. He is the ONLY one of five children who is NOT diabetic. So... changing your eating habits before it's too late does help! Hubby is living proof of it! I hope your husband does the same. Sometimes we can't see the handwriting on the wall until someone else writes it for us! |
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Pamiknows
Rat-A-Tat-Tat
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ludovico
Rattie
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| 04/24/2007 9:11 AM |
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So far, I have lost 4 family members to diabetes. But not before they lost their feet, their legs, their eyesight. When my cousin died at the age of 27 he had no legs from the knees down and was completely blind.
ALL BECAUSE HE DIDN"T TAKE CARE OF HIMSELF. 
I asked him once why he was willing to let himself die. He told me that dying from diabetes was easier than living with it. He also said that when he was younger (14 or 15), the doctor told him that diabetes would kill him and it was only a matter of time. After that, he said he felt like he was fighting a loosing battle.
I have talked to my dad about this who was dignosed as diabetic 3 years ago at age 60. He had never taken great care of himself, but when the doctor told him about the diebetes, it was like he was hit by lightning. He tests his blood sugar 4 times a day and has lost close to 40 pounds. He now walks 4 miles a day.
He was pretty candid and said that before he went to the doctor and was diagnosed, he "knew" something was wrong. But if he ignored it, then it wasn't real and everyone would still see him as the strong provider he had always been.
Once he was diagnosed (which the doctor said was none too soon) he wanted to prove to his family that they were still the most important thing in the world to him and the best way to do that was to make sure he would be around and healthy for as long as possible.
In my opinion, most men ignore personal health issues because when you are ill, you don't "feel" well or strong or happy. And most men are brought thinking that any weakness, even uncontrollable or perceived weakness due to illness makes them less of a man.
My father did the strongest, most manly thing he could with his illness - he fought it. For me and my brother and my mom.
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"I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive." - Gilda Radner
"The average dog is a nicer person than the average person." - Andrew A. Rooney |
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rattytatty
Newbie
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| 04/24/2007 9:14 AM |
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| Well said, Pami ... I agree wholeheartedly. Hubby's aunt had one leg amputated. His grandfather had both legs amputated. He had another aunt who had a hand amputated. Unless you've lived through seeing people you love go through these situations, it doesn't really hit home with you. Please do as Pami says and follow your doctor's instructions! |
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Pamiknows
Rat-A-Tat-Tat
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| 04/24/2007 9:17 AM |
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"My father did the strongest, most manly thing he could with his illness "
AMEN!! I am diabetic myself and know how hard it is to not feel "normal" and not eat whatever I want, whenever I want. It is NOT the most pleasant diagnosis or disease to have but it's not the worst either. It can be managed and controlled if you put an effort into it. I have a harder time some days than others but overall, even with an occasional cheat, I keep my hemoglobin A1C 6 or under. ITS NOT EASY, but its very worth it. |
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/pamiknows/
Somedays it's just not worth chewing thru the restraints.
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swatson6
Attention Starved
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| 04/24/2007 9:18 AM |
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Posted By Jeff on 04/24/2007 8:50 AM I've been diabetic since i was 4,i don't even check my BS daily.I know the doctor would have a heart attack if he stayed with me for 1 day and seen how i take care of myself! .Honestly though,i don't need to check mine.people don't believe me but i can tell if mine is high or low just by the way i feel.if mine's high,my muscles tense up and i want to sleep but if it's low,i get weak and shakey and it will actually wake me up if mine gets low while i'm asleep.i'm supposed to take 4 shots a day but i cut myself down to 2 a day because 4 is just too much! but last time i seen the doc,he said i'm still in great health
Oh Jeff, I know your young, but you can't think that way!! By the time you are older you will have done so much irreversible damage you will wish you had listened. If you can "tell" that your BS is too low or too high then you are already causing damage...to your heart, your kidneys, your eyes....EVERYTHING. The point of testing and insulin shots is to not get to high or low and prevent that damage. Please listen to your doctor!! ou ma feel okay or think nothing is going on but you can't imagine the damage your doing that is going to show up in the future....near future if you keep it up
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Sarah
Mom to Jack, Jeter and foster mom to Teagan
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swatson6
Attention Starved
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| 04/24/2007 9:19 AM |
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Posted By Pamiknows on 04/24/2007 9:17 AM
"My father did the strongest, most manly thing he could with his illness "
AMEN!! I am diabetic myself and know how hard it is to not feel "normal" and not eat whatever I want, whenever I want. It is NOT the most pleasant diagnosis or disease to have but it's not the worst either. It can be managed and controlled if you put an effort into it. I have a harder time some days than others but overall, even with an occasional cheat, I keep my hemoglobin A1C 6 or under. ITS NOT EASY, but its very worth it.
Good for you Pami!!
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Sarah
Mom to Jack, Jeter and foster mom to Teagan
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Pamiknows
Rat-A-Tat-Tat
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| 04/24/2007 9:22 AM |
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| Ok, apparently I am on my soap box about this today.... My doctors are diabetic foot specialists and we see the most horrible things here... and I see people so upset wishing they had taken better care of themselves before it was too late.... Once a person just continues to ignore this disease, or take it lightly, it reaches a point its too late to change the damage it has been slowly but surely causing thru out the years. And even tho they suddenly realize what they have done and now keep their blood sugar in very very good control, the damage keeps on occuring. Its so SO sad to see people in their 60's and 70's and even 80's have to have amputations because they just didn't think it could or would happen to them. It can..... and it will. Sheesssh... I have scared myself straight again. |
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/pamiknows/
Somedays it's just not worth chewing thru the restraints.
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swatson6
Attention Starved
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| 04/24/2007 9:24 AM |
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Yeah, or even younger cause the never took care of themselves.........Can lead to "male" problems too if you know what I mean |
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Sarah
Mom to Jack, Jeter and foster mom to Teagan
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Jeff
Bratty Ratty
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| 04/24/2007 9:26 AM |
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Posted By swatson6 on 04/24/2007 9:24 AM Yeah, or even younger cause the never took care of themselves.........Can lead to "male" problems too if you know what I mean
not here....LOL
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Being a smarta** is better than being a dumba**
http://www.bonusbuy.biz
myspace.com/Jeffery26
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10043207@N02/
http://www.perfspot.com/Jeffery7505 |
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swatson6
Attention Starved
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| 04/24/2007 9:26 AM |
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You mean, not yet....  |
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Sarah
Mom to Jack, Jeter and foster mom to Teagan
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ludovico
Rattie
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| 04/24/2007 9:40 AM |
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Posted By Pamiknows on 04/24/2007 9:22 AM
Ok, apparently I am on my soap box about this today
Well - then I'm on a soap box too...
My grandmother had a saying: "Not doing something right is the same as doing something wrong."
Taking care of yourself the correct way is hard - no one doubts that. But leaving family and friends behind to deal with grief from a completely preventable death is selfish.
Am I being overly dramatic - maybe.
Am I butting in to the life of a person i don't know - probably.
Am I doing it because I care truly - definitely
But, I've been through this and it SUCKS!
My other cousin was in a coma for three days before he died. He always said he could "just tell" when his sugar was too high or too low, so he stopped testing. Well, one day, bythe time he could "just tell" it was too late and he was dead within the week.
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"I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive." - Gilda Radner
"The average dog is a nicer person than the average person." - Andrew A. Rooney |
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ludovico
Rattie
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| 04/24/2007 9:45 AM |
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Of the 8 members of my family who I have know to be diabetic in my lifetime, 4 have died - all men - all young - all of diabetic related issues.
Of the remaining 4 - 3 are women and one is my dad. |
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"I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive." - Gilda Radner
"The average dog is a nicer person than the average person." - Andrew A. Rooney |
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Jeff
Bratty Ratty
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| 04/24/2007 9:46 AM |
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Btw did anyone hear they have been doing Stem Cell research for Diabetes and some of the patients they have done tests on have been able to go 1-2 months without taking Insulin Shots and others were able to go 3-4 weeks without it??? 
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Being a smarta** is better than being a dumba**
http://www.bonusbuy.biz
myspace.com/Jeffery26
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10043207@N02/
http://www.perfspot.com/Jeffery7505 |
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Pamiknows
Rat-A-Tat-Tat
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| 04/24/2007 9:51 AM |
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| NO! I haven't heard about that. I don't have to do insulin injections...YET... but I do take medication. |
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/pamiknows/
Somedays it's just not worth chewing thru the restraints.
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ludovico
Rattie
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| 04/24/2007 9:53 AM |
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Posted By Jeff on 04/24/2007 9:46 AM Btw did anyone hear they have been doing Stem Cell research for Diabetes and some of the patients they have done tests on have been able to go 1-2 months without taking Insulin Shots and others were able to go 3-4 weeks without it???
I read that inthe Times the other day - here's the link: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article1637528.ece
But until stem cell research / therapy becomes widely accepted and permitted, you still needs to take your meds. 
And vote for the right people (another soap box).
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"I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive." - Gilda Radner
"The average dog is a nicer person than the average person." - Andrew A. Rooney |
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PamWh
Rattitude Problem
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| 04/24/2007 10:08 AM |
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| Jeff, could you get an insulin pump? |
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PamWh
aka Bob's Mom
If your rattie ain't happy, ain't nobody happy! |
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Jeff
Bratty Ratty
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| 04/24/2007 10:26 AM |
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Posted By PamWh on 04/24/2007 10:08 AM
Jeff, could you get an insulin pump?
nope,my doc says my diabetes isn't bad enough for an insulin pump and he says i couldn't afford it if i needed it
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Being a smarta** is better than being a dumba**
http://www.bonusbuy.biz
myspace.com/Jeffery26
http://www.flickr.com/photos/10043207@N02/
http://www.perfspot.com/Jeffery7505 |
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scrappinrattie
Terrier Terror
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| 04/24/2007 10:41 AM |
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| My husband is the same way....the bad thing is he gets mean when he is high....that is usually when we fight...His dad had 43 surgeries by the time he died you would think that would wake him up but no..... |
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~*~Angie~*~
mom to human babie Chelsei-18 Catelyn-16 and Casey (aka bubba)-12....mom to furbabies Molly rt....Daisy black lab
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PamWh
Rattitude Problem
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| 04/24/2007 10:51 AM |
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Posted By scrappinrattie on 04/24/2007 10:41 AM
My husband is the same way....the bad thing is he gets mean when he is high....that is usually when we fight...His dad had 43 surgeries by the time he died you would think that would wake him up but no.....
So when he starts getting gripey and mean, can you ask him if he's tested his blood lately? Does he recognize his mood changes when his sugar level changes?
I get mean from my hormones and I recognize that. Not much I can do about it except wear a sign warning people off.
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PamWh
aka Bob's Mom
If your rattie ain't happy, ain't nobody happy! |
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scrappinrattie
Terrier Terror
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| 04/24/2007 10:54 AM |
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| Yeah I do but he just gripes and says that is not what it is....then when things get back to normal he admits that is probably what it was....just a vicious cycle that probably wont get better till he helps himself |
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~*~Angie~*~
mom to human babie Chelsei-18 Catelyn-16 and Casey (aka bubba)-12....mom to furbabies Molly rt....Daisy black lab
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