My Health...Or rather, lack of

A continuation of my introduction, because having this in that blog post made it way too long! I will also write about this whole "why I'm blogging" in a separate post, but a lot of it is centered around trying to improve my health and reduce my pain. Here's the nitty gritty of what I'm dealing with health-wise. I know there are some things I just can't change - I have type 1 diabetes, which isn't going anywhere. I can, however, eat better to improve my glucose levels, which will reduce short and long term complications from the disease. I figure the easiest way is to just tell you about each 'issue', so here goes:

Hip Dysplasia:
So I think the first thing to mention is my hip. It sucks. I need a new one. Since I have already spent a considerable amount of time writing about it (albeit some time ago, it's all still relevant) just take a moment to go here: http://breshiplife.blogspot.com/2012/01/my-hip-story.html. I'll wait. Back? Great. So after all that mess of surgery I'm still in a bunch of pain, and on a bunch of drugs. It's not fun, and I'd really appreciate it if one of these days I could say the opposite. I do want to draw attention to the "I moved to Washington. I needed to see a very specific specialist. He wound up being only an hour away from my new home". Again, amazing blessing from God. Just wanted to makes sure I pointed that out- things suck, but God is good all the time. I have tried physical therapy, and have had additional tests (including TWO more of those ucky, painful Arthrograms), and they really aren't quite sure what's going on. Technically the surgery was a success, and my right hip is "nearly normal" from a physiological standpoint. I actually have better range of motion than my left hip now. But the pain is still there. I'm back up to the highest Butrans patch, I take narcotic pain medicine, and I also use Gabapentin for bedtime - and I'm still in enough pain on a daily basis that it interferes with my life. I recently had a numbing shot to see if that would help (hint: it actually made it worse, naturally!), and go back to the doctor in two weeks (I'm now back to the arthroscopic surgeon) to discuss options, which include additional arthroscopic surgery to remove scar tissue and some exploratory stuff, or a total hip replacement. So, there's that.

Xrays of my hip after the third surgery, there are 6 screws in there

Back Pain:
While recovering from the hip surgery I was on crutches for 2 months and then used a cane for another 6 or so months. I began to have pretty severe back pain, mostly between my shoulder blades, despite my pain meds. Physical therapy has significantly helped with that, but it still flares up from time to time, particularly after a day at work. Sitting in a chair without a back is nearly impossible for me, and driving for long distances (anything over 45 minutes or so) gets pretty painful. I guess I'll mention now that I'm horrible at doing my exercises, and will try to focus on that some more, too.

Type 1 Diabetes:
I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when I was 17, just before Thanksgiving of my senior year in high school, in 2000. Until recently I was a very, very "bad" diabetic. Not in the sense that my disease was really severe - more in the sense that I have been irresponsible with it and pretty much pretended I didn't really have the disease. We'll go ahead and give credit to God and good timing again- but about a year ago I hurt my neck. My normal doctor was out and I saw a different one, and in reviewing my chart she noted I was diabetic. She referred me to the Diabetes Care Center at University of Washington, and I have been going there since. It is a wonderful clinic that only does diabetes (unlike most endocrinologists that treat multiple diseases), and has a wide range of specialties among their staff. They also treat you like humans...they expect you to try your best, but don't look down on you for failing (or just being lazy at times). That's pretty rare in my experience when dealing with doctors and diabetes. I have been on an insulin pump now for about 3 months, and have seen a huge improvement in my blood sugars since then. I still have a long way to go, but my average numbers went from 280 to 190 in just 3 months...which is amazing for me.

My Insulin pump and CGM transmitter...
and a glimpse of my surgery scar on my hip 18 months post-op

Gastroparesis:
With the diabetes comes my newest diagnosis - Gastroparesis. It's still pretty new to me, but from what I understand of it, my stomach digests slower than most, likely due to nerve damage from the diabetes. The good news is that it might be temporary- both pain medicine and high blood sugar levels can cause temporary gastroparesis, so we are waiting to do an official test until those aspects have been eliminated. I started some medication, but it's not helping. Basically I get painfully bloated after eating, I call it my six-months pregnant effect. I typically eat pretty slowly, and have been getting full very quickly as well, though I'm not sure if it's related. This one I'm really hoping can be controlled/eliminated with diet changes - and have been told that reducing/eliminating fiber and high fats can help. Fingers crossed!

Miscellaneous Goodies:
I have been having joint pain in my hands (knuckels) for a little over a year now. I've seen a rheumatologist (joints look good under xray), had my inflamation levels checked (good), and tried different creams and meds (no relief). I have a hard time playing video games or writing for extended periods of time, and have completely given up cross stitch for the time being. Fortunately, I have noticed a lot of improvement in the pain over the last three months...directly corresponding to better glucose levels with my pump. That in itself is encouraging and motivating.
This summer we discovered I now get allergy-induced migraines. I had a severe headache (which I now know to be a migraine) for two weeks before finally seeing a doctor. The good news is that they are few and far between (as long as I take my allergy meds) and the medication they prescribed (though it's CRAZY expensive) helps.
In general I am very tired, lethargic. I used to think it was just my diabetes, but I feel that way even when my sugars are within normal range. It's difficult for me to exercise because my body is very stiff all the time...though I'm not one to contend that perhaps it's stiff because I don't exercise. My joints ache often, my left hip (which has the same congential issues as the right) is starting to be painful after sitting or walking for some time. Just your usual, everyday complaints, but pain nonetheless that I'm hoping can be improved with some dietary changes and a bit more exercise.

So there you have it, me in a nutshell long blog rant! 

Introducing...ME!

Who I Am:
My name is Breanne :) I am 30 years old and live on the Olympic Peninsula (Kitsap County) in Washington State. I was born and raised in Gresham, OR (just outside of Portland) with a brief four-year stint in the Corvallis/Monmouth area while I was attending Western Oregon University. 

Work Background:
 (Okay, so this sounds like a job interview/resume! But I think this is an integral part of who I am and where I come from) I received my degree in Elementary/Middle School Education with an endorsement in Mathematics, and moved back home to Gresham after graduating. I started my working woman career at Portland Habilitation Center (I believe it's now PHC Northwest), where I temped as a receptionist. The woman I temped for never came back from maternity leave, so they hired me on full-time. From there I moved up in the company, working in the HR department as a scan clerk, then as an Intake Specialist, until I found another job at a travel agent and put in my two week notice. Timing happened to be perfect, God was watching over me, and another position opened up in that same company that they asked I take. It happened to be as a contract-employee for the US Government. I worked for 2 1/2 years in the contract position as a Security specialist and Lead Admin Clerk (ie I processed a LOT of paperwork) until the Government hired me on. I went through their 2-year (paid) intern program then graduated to a permanent FTE in my current position as a Lease Administration Manager. During that time I managed to get married, divorced, and then met my current boyfriend. My boyfriend lived in Washington, not far from where the Regional Office is for the agency I work for. After a year of doing the long-distance thing God again smiled down on me, timing worked out, and I was given the opportunity to fill a position up 'here', and in October 2010 I transferred offices and moved to Kitsap County.

Mi Familia:
My family and friends all still live in Gresham, so I try and travel down there as often as possible, but don't get down there nearly enough. My mom and dad are still married, something that is so rare these days and I am very proud of them for that. It sounds so silly, but I have only ever heard my parents fighting once in my entire life, and that was because they thought I was asleep downstairs. They always set a superior example to me as how a loving relationship should be, with respect and support at all costs. I can't tell you how incredibly fortunate I am to have been blessed with the parents I have. My three best friends all live in Gresham as well. My boyfriend tells me I can't technically have three that are best. But I do, and they are equally best! I have known one since I was three years old, and the other two since early grade school. You can do the math on that one. Even though distance and life (they all now have families) doesn't allow us to be as close as I wish, they are all there any time I need them, and a wonderful support system - brutally honest when I make bad decisions, and ecstatically celebratory at the good ones. I also have a 'little' brother, who is really much more of a big brother to me these days. I have a special relationship with him that I couldn't possibly have with anyone else, I love him unconditionally. With him came his two dogs, which are now my two dogs, and pretty much the (other) center of my universe. We have a black and tan miniature dachshund, and a red full size (though on the small and skinny side) dachshund. They are silly and loving and completely obnoxious and yes, I'm one of those people who think my dogs are my kids. 

Her "may I please have some" look

They Love Each Other