Water Deprivation & Glucagon Stimulation Tests

I had started this post at least three times. I had even started writing but then there was a glitch and my iPad shut down. I lost what I had written. Then I couldn’t even access what I had started. Duh…Wordpress updates created new menu layout. Crud talk about not reading what is right infront of my eyes.

So the lowdown is that for me the water deprivation test was easy peasy compared to the glucagon stimulation test. Going without food and water was not an issue. What was an issue for both test was me forgetting my sleeping pills so I was up peeing until 3 each night before I passed out from exhaustion.

I had to do the long haul water depreviation test from 7am until 4:45pm. I had to pee and give blood every hour. I was given a saline solution interveniously around 3pm because I wasn’t dehydrated enough. The weird things throughout this testing process is that my urine didn’t darken and that the amount didn’t decrease. So what did I do all day? Sleep mostly, my vision was acting a little wonky so I really couldn’t read. I played unblock me and look at my pictures maybe for ten minutes each hour. The lights in the room were out for most of the day becausee my head hurt like hell. Chris came for 4:30pm with two smoothies that I had to wait to drink until my last pee and blood sample time. Then I drank  quickly and had to wait to see if I had some sort of reaction. I then had my final blood pressure test 113/75 and was sprung for the night. 

The next day was awesome. I arrived before nine and led to a nice warm room with two unique reclining cushy chairs. I was given warm blankets and heating pads. It was like being at the spa. Then I was set up again to be able to draw blood again. This time it went really quick because we used heating pads to warm up my arms so my wobbly evasive veins cooperated. I felt that this was going to be an easy test like yesterday. I was injected with Glucagon. The nurse warned it would hurt or burn. No didn’t feel that and was positive that all was going well. I dozed off. I felt my arm getting eaves and then of course about  an hour after the injection I had to go pee. In the bathroom I felt a little off. When I got back the nurse took more blood and commented that I didn’t drink that much water. I told her I drink much because I didn’t want to be sick to my stomach.  Then it was like a switch, I felt really sick to my stomach. Chris grabbed a garbage can and the nurse came running with one of those tiny paper containers. Thank goodness there wasn’t much to come up.Then I broke out in a sweat and I got dizzy and really hot. We had to get all the blankets off and my hoodie off with keeping IV in. Then I felt like I had to got the the bathroom. The nurse and Chris tried to stand me up but I couldn’t stand. The stomach cramping started and I started to shiver. The bathroom was not a priority anymore. I curled up in a ball and was covered in blankets again then I passed out. All these sick things didn’t happen over a period of time but instead minutes. I felt like I was hit with a bad stomach flu or food poisoning. 

When I woke up I felt better but tired. The test was almost over so I guess I was out for a couple hours. Then the last blood draw down and was allowed to eat. I ate  what we brought two Apple juices. I really had to go the bathroom but before I could stand I had to get my blood pressure taken again. It was down to 90/50 so I was not allowed to stand. I was offered a bedpan that I declined. So I waited and continued to eat more food. After I ate two packs of cookies my blood pressure was taken again. It had risen enough hat the nurse let me stand but accompanied me to the washroom. I started to get the shakes. When we got back to the room I had to stay a bit more then had my blood pressure again. When she took it again my blood pressure had risen to 110/70 and I was able to leave. Chris had parked down the street and it took a bit of slow walking to get there then we went to a nearby baker to get treats and went back to Medicine Hat.

My stomach felt sore and I had even less of an appetite for almost two weeks after. I couldn’t even stand the smell of meat.  I have not received my test results. One of the tests had to be sent to the Mayo clinic in the US because there is no labe in Canada that does the testing. 

In the meantime my brain injury Doctor prescribed me a short term/acting energy prescription that has been working.  I had the best birthday in four years. I have been on it for two weeks and this morning I needed. A body rest day so I didn’t take any pills.

Here is to hopefully long term positive solutions!

Just call me the Pee Lady

This has been a crazy month…I think most of February was shrouded in viral illnesses by everyone in the household.

Almost everyone is on the mend…let’s hope Wy’s cough doesn’t go any further.

On Feburary 29, I took the 6:30am shuttle to Foothills…got there for 11:30am…appt. noon and shuttle home for 1:15. I was hoping I would have caught my son’s hockey game, but I missed it. At that time I had my Botox shots and we discussed phasing me out of getting Botox at the clinic as they are mandated now to pass off services to local providers because clinic is in high demand. I received a list of two people in Medicine Hat. I phoned the brain injury clinic and told them which Dr. I would like to see.

I will still see my Dr. for brain stuff. Since June last year I have been peeing way more than normal; getting a crazy rash that goes away with prescription paste but only to come back again once I stop using the slimy gunk; I have become really weak and even walking up stairs again makes me get short of breath again. I am always thirsty, but if I drink enough to quench thirst, I am peeing every 15 minutes. So I tend to eat sugar-free mints to help with dry mouth and thirst and deal with dry cracked lips. My hair was still falling out then and had stopped growing and I have been a wreck with cold sensitivities. I am so grateful that we have had a super warm winter so far! My weight has fluctuated from gaining to losing with no diet changes. However I have no appetite and thinking of eating food doesn’t make me feel good. So I have been sharing smoothies with my son in morning and trying to remember to drink vegetable juice.

I have been to my GP about these issues and we had blood tests done. GP was going down the list…blood sugars..excellent, kidneys excellent, no infection…no diabetes then he says liver is okay…mmm not good. Then he left it like that. He gave me a hormone to try…didn’t really do anything. I then got sick and couldn’t follow up so I mentioned what has been going on  to my Brain  Dr.

So we have a plan. More blood tests…check done yesterday. Today I get to to stay at home and drink to hydrate. Then when I have to go pee, I run upstairs and pee in a container; wash hands; Then I go to the little fridge in garage and grab this large orange container and go upstairs and transfer the pee from little container to large container; wash hands again; then bring container to garage; put in fridge and wash hands again. OMG I am not leaving the house with my big jug of pee today. I couldn’t imagine doing this in a public restroom…gives me the wheebie jeebies just thinking about it. Yes I could use the downstairs bathroom…but I don’t. I like my (okay hubby uses it too) bathroom only and that is upstairs. Yes I may be a bit crazy; somewhat of a germaphobe but I am what I am!

The benefits of my little set up is that I get my stair workout done, I will have an arm work out too! I can see this jug getting quite full. The downfall of this 24 hour urine analysis is that last night I had to show and explain the jug to the boys. That yes it is Gatorade orange bottle in the fridge but it will not have Gatorade in it and that they should not put anything in it or drink from it that it will have pee in the container. Their expressions of horror brought joy to my face….ha…ha…ha… evil laugh. I gotta get my kicks from somewhere!

I have really no idea why I am doing this test. I don’t remember the Dr. explaining why. I curse myself for looking up on Google last night too. Why…all the stuff sounded pretty serious. Better to rule out the simple and the weird scary stuff first and pick away at what is left to look at…I guess:)

The next step after is to wait for referral to an Endocrinologist and results of the tests. There could be something quirky with my pituitary or hypothalamus. I guess after a TBI/ABI or non-traumatic brain injury (just found that new terminology and suits my situation better) it is common to have Endocrine issues.  My great TBI/ABI/n0n-traumatic brain injured community on Twitter have been a great support and wealth of information as many have gone through this before. And once it is solved lots have had big changes with medication, vitamins & supplements.

So for today you can just call me the Pee Lady because I will gladly hold that title with my big orange jug in hand.