tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-344900867722860530.post8475886811698882853..comments2024-03-21T08:05:38.385-04:00Comments on Ask An MD: Growing Up SickDoctor Dhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15967600225173640437noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-344900867722860530.post-18640430605506862602010-11-19T15:59:54.279-05:002010-11-19T15:59:54.279-05:00It so refreshing to see a doctor think about how c...It so refreshing to see a doctor think about how chronic illness affects a family.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-344900867722860530.post-62439092706704383952010-11-15T19:04:34.874-05:002010-11-15T19:04:34.874-05:00I worked as a social worker with teens with perina...I worked as a social worker with teens with perinatally aquired HIV (they were born with it). A lot of them would play around with their meds, and it was heartbreaking, because the virus actually adapts if you miss as little as two doses a week, and then they can't use that class of drugs anymore. So despite all the medical technology more were starting to die. I really loved it though. They were great kids in a bad situation...I mean it's hard thinking your invincible and dealing with death at the same time. Or developmentally almost impossible?<br /><br />As an adult with chronic health conditions I like your post about, and what is normal?<br /><br />MelissaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-344900867722860530.post-40077581027156592052010-11-15T11:00:55.997-05:002010-11-15T11:00:55.997-05:00Dr. D,
i can understand the diabetic teen and...Dr. D, <br /> i can understand the diabetic teen and her weight loss stradegy. It is sad, but understandable.tracyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00121763456161256252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-344900867722860530.post-22618651981301530562010-11-15T10:57:44.072-05:002010-11-15T10:57:44.072-05:00Our son has Asperger's and it has been, to put...Our son has Asperger's and it has been, to put it lightly, a pretty bumpy road up to this point. He is 19 now and about to start college classes. Even though he attended a small private school (ka-ching), he was still very socially akward and had major school anxiety. It was and still is heartbreaking, although he seems to be doing better in social encounters. He says he is looking forward to college and i am hoping it will go well for him.tracyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00121763456161256252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-344900867722860530.post-77836463584323191732010-11-14T22:34:56.026-05:002010-11-14T22:34:56.026-05:00As a teen, I handled one of my body's "tr...As a teen, I handled one of my body's "tricks" by passing out in unlikely and interesting places, i.e. I didn't handle it well. It might have helped to know what I was handling. Too bad no one thought to check my blood sugar. So I learned some lessons the hard way about how, when, and what to eat. Not grape HiC and a brownie for lunch. Not after not eating all day. And also, incidentally, I learned not to have a lot of faith in medical providers who didn't listen to my history. That was unfortunate - it's gotten in the way as an adult.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-344900867722860530.post-18817940102543757622010-11-14T17:42:38.703-05:002010-11-14T17:42:38.703-05:00I totally agree with your post but I had a very di...I totally agree with your post but I had a very different experience.<br /><br />My parents could have cared less, they are not medically oriented in any way and in the late 80s there was still a very strong perception that asthma could be solely psychiatric. In fact my father once asked my ped if I needed to see a psychiatrist and there were kind of shocked at the question.<br /><br />I was on my own. The second I had a license to drive, I handled all my appointments, driving 30 miles to the doc (rural area) in the midst of acute attacks.<br /><br />I was always very motivated to take care of myself because I really wanted to breathe. I was contacting the ALA and National Jewish at the age of 16 asking for help. I don't know if diabetes is a slower slide down to the bottom, but with asthma, if you can't breathe, you can't breathe and you tend to get rather desperate to do something about it.<br /><br />So perhaps the character and nature of the illness also shapes the behavior.<br /><br />MMedical Mojavehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14445140579589340514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-344900867722860530.post-9881107399782921082010-11-14T14:53:03.624-05:002010-11-14T14:53:03.624-05:00I once knew a diabetic teen who actually used DKA ...I once knew a diabetic teen who actually used DKA as a weight loss strategy. She would admit to me that she looked forward to going to the ICU because "pounds come off there."<br /><br />That makes about as much sense as cutting of your foot to fit your shoes, but in the mind of a self-conscious teenage girl DKA weight loss was the best thing about having Diabetes.<br /><br />Doctor D pulled out his hair over that one!Doctor Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15967600225173640437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-344900867722860530.post-60371756147001441282010-11-13T20:40:26.367-05:002010-11-13T20:40:26.367-05:00My blog-friend Jamee shares her insight on the ide...My blog-friend Jamee shares her insight on the idea of "normal" in the midsts of chronic illnesses at anewkindofnormal.com. Reading her insights have helped me try to figure out how to interact with peers who have chronic illnesses.<br /><br /><>< KatieKatie Axelsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09361471654719262744noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-344900867722860530.post-7639180085343025672010-11-13T20:25:28.777-05:002010-11-13T20:25:28.777-05:00I have had type 1 since I was 12 and so has my twi...I have had type 1 since I was 12 and so has my twin sis and while I kept mine in check as good as I could have with all the hormones raging and what not my sister just let it go. In fact she wanted to lose weight to fit into her prom dress and decided to stop taking her insulin to do it. this ended up with her in DKA and she didn't get to go to the prom. I was more or less scared crapless about what could happen if I didn't take care of my diabetes so I tested at least 8 times a day and was very good at counting carbs and also bolusing with my pump. now my sister regrets her actions as a teen she has only one complication so far from it all and I am still doing well besides hypo unawareness but my CGM helps with that. I think it comes down to the child I mean our parents involved us in all of our care from the get go. we were never told we could not have something but instead just ate everything in moderation. We were always told we could do anything and I went one direction with my care and she went the other resulting in my parents taking over her care till she was ready to fully handle the diabetes care.type1medichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13048383983756732838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-344900867722860530.post-91316979099427210002010-11-13T10:03:10.333-05:002010-11-13T10:03:10.333-05:00I volunteered to help run a support group for teen...I volunteered to help run a support group for teens with type 1 diabetes in our community- I think for many of them, it was helpful to meet other kids with the same illness as them- they weren't different in this context. <br />One of the things i'm considering is adolescent medicine- I think that teens are a really interesting age group with unique needs, especially in the medical field.<br />When I was little my asthma was way more severe than it is now, and a lot of the time I'd have to go to the nurse to use my inhaler or nebulizer- it SUCKED being differentiated from my peers. <br />great post!Catehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13635808302306218421noreply@blogger.com