Assunta Follow Up...warning...this is a VERY long post...

16 Feb 08

I had to rescheduled my appointment to this day (initially was 21 Feb 08) for Dr. Thye because the insurance had queries about the charges for the stupid eye doctor, who is only in the clinic on mondays 2-4pm ...@#$%^&*()

Anyway...back to the story...( i'm still cursing the stupid eye doctor!!! @#$%^&*(*&^%$#$%^&*)

About 2 weeks to 1 month before my appointment...i started noticing a few things about me

1) I'm having very bad headaches...mostly constant throughout the whole day
2) Had my blood pressure checked 2 times...about 2 weeks before the appointment...and i was registering low BP (99/65 & 108/67)
3) My hands and feet are super cold...even in the room with just the fan on...worse when its in a/c room...to the extend of it getting painful
4) My hands are no longer as red as last time...sometimes looks quite pale
5) I'm still going botak (losing a lot of hair)
6) My shoulders and neck is stiff like don't know what...

After asking around the forum (www.diabetesdaily.com - i'm so addicted to it now ^_^) and doing my own research...the only thing that popped up was...thyroid problems...to be more precise...hypothyroid... (means the thyroid not producing enough hormones for the body)

So took time off work...ask dad to send me to hospital...go get my blood drawn (2 full vials; 1 for HbA1C and another for TSH and Free T4 [thyroid function] test)...go get whatever stupid insurance letter done while waiting for the 1 hour to get out the lab results...call bro to see where he is since he's supposed to accompany me see Dr. Thye (on his birthday somemore...hahaha)...wait somemore...nurse telling me only my A1c results are out..then finally at 3pm...masuk see Dr. Thye (although it was my turn way long ago...as my file was lined up since 1.30pm...but because no lab results...go in also no use)

When i entered the room...Dr. Thye was on the phone...so while i was rummaging my handbag (yes people...i have a handbag...my one and only one...) for my notes and taking my time to sit down...Dr. Thye got off the phone and the first thing she said to me (will be doing convo style for the whole visit):

Hannah (H): As usual...my kiasu chart and log *gives Dr. Thye my notes*

Dr. Thye (DR): Hannah, hannah, hannah...so good la...

H: huh?? what so good??

DR: your HbA1c...i think your level is now better than your brother!!

H: huh?? what's my A1c??

Bro (B): I think so too!!

DR: *rumages through a pile of paper...and finally comes out with my HbA1c lab report* your thyroid results not in yet...

H: *takes a peak at the A1c result* WAHHHH!!!!! 4.4% SO LOW AH???

B: does she still has diabetes ah???

DR: of course... *looks at my notes and kiasu graphs* (Remember this please...good results doesn't mean no more diabetes...cannot take away like Datukship one...lifetime qualification ~_^)

H: I'm having some spiking problems...like that day i ate oat bran for breakfast...i check one hour later...it was 8.3!! from 4.4...

DR: What kind of oat bran??

H: not the instant type...the need to cook type

DR: you ate a lot is it?? oat bran shouldn't make you spike since its low GI

H: no ah...ok la...about 2 tablespoons...unless maid change it...but definitely less than my parents portion

DR: *laughs at me saying i'm eating less than mom and dad*

H: What about my thyroids?? I think i'm having hypothyroid...that's why i ask for the test...having a lot of the symptoms... *produces another piece of paper that contains the symptoms and my own kiasu notes*

DR: Hypothyroid??? stretch your hands...and open your fingers...*me stretches me hands with fingers wide open*... no problems la...if you have thyroid problems then your hands will be shaking!! what about your menses?? got palpitation meh?? (whatever the spelling...something to do with irregular heartbeat punya) *checks my heartbeat* ...ok ah...no palpitation

H: But my hands and feet are super cold even in just fan room..now a/c room at work even worse!!! My shoulder and neck are stiff!! I registered low BP 2 weeks ago...about 108/65 and 99/63...been having constant headaches and my Hair is losing like crazy!!!

DR: yalah...all those are symptoms of HYPO...not hypothyroid...but HYPOGLYCEMIC!!! (means blood sugar low)...see your A1c so low...of course you get all these symptoms...*checks my blood pressure*...where got low BP?? 130/70...still ok la...you must be very excited now...so excited to see me??? (cute la this doctor...hehehe)

H: must be too excited to see the A1c result...hehehe...then how you explain the hair loss??? I'm going to be botak soon d la!!!

DR: hmmm...that's odd...can't be januvia (medicine name) causing it... *checks her meds book...super thick...*... januvia doesn't cause hair loss ... *looks at me* ... you lost weight ah??? (she remembers me!!! i mean on face...not after looking at my medical records)

H: er...yeah...

DR: How much you lost??

H: around 10kg

DR: Wah!! Since when???

H: Since i got this lo...10kg in 5 months

B: ya...but she lost most of it in 3 months...these 2 months stagnant

H: ya...i lost 9kg in 3 months...about 3kg a month...these 2 months a bit stagnant but finally starting to move again

DR: hmm..ok...3kg 1 month is not too bad...what did you do??? plus your sugar levels are good...see your A1c...

H: jaga makan lo...watch my carbs but i still eat carbs...still like my noodles...my pan mee...eat protein and vegs...then exercise lo

DR: wah...so how often do you exercise??? 3x a day???

B & H: Noooooooo lah!!!!

H: last time is exercise daily la...20 mins in the morning...but after start working d...no time to exercise...so now just weekends and when i can exercise lo...20 - 30 mins

DR: oh you start working d la...good good...work where???

H: Volvo as purchaser...buy spare parts...hehehe...so what about my hair loss??

DR: i think it can be due to you losing weight fast...so maybe that's what causing it...or it can be because you jaga makan...you might be experiencing nutrient deficiency...which can cause it also

B: Lost weight also can make hair drop ah???

DR: yeah...btw...want to ask you...where is Jalan Tepi Sungai?? *while looking at my file*

B & H: Tepi the Sungai... (yes...we said this at the same time)

DR: huh???

B: really...to come to my house you have to pass by the Klang river...so its really tepi sungai...are you familiar with Klang??

DR: yeah...my in-laws stays in Klang

B: which part??

DR: Palm Grove area

B: oh...very near...do you know MGS?? *Dr Thye gives blur look...obviously not orang Klang...hehehe* ...you know Teluk Pulai??? *Dr. Thye nods head*...behind teluk pulai there la...that's tepi sungai...

H: btw Dr. Thye...can you write me a letter to say that you refered me to the eye doctor for the insurance again?? cause they are questioning the bill by the eye doctor...

DR: why are they questioning???

H: Too expensive la...check power only rm55...i go my optician free.. not some special procedure also...*shows doc the insurance letter*

B: If i were the insurance also i question the bill...soooo expensive

DR: wah he charge that expensive??? oh.....

H: you write in the letter la...make it sound like i really really needed that referal...if not sure cannot claim

DR: So...for now...i think i stop the januvia la...just go on metformin... 500mg once a day la

H: i still have old 850mg metformin at home...can i use that first???

DR: ok...you use that first...then after that you just switch to the 500mg la

H: but i still have 5 weeks of Janumet at home woh??

DR: bring back to the pharmacy and return

H: can i have your phone number??? in case i need to ask you something???

DR: just call the hospital for my clinic phone...for now i don't have a personal number to give out yet...now ah...want to do decent shopping also cannot

B: aiyo!! just email la!!!

DR: don't email me!!! i hardly check my email...already got complained by a patient that i didn't reply his mail...just call this phone... i will answer if i'm here...*holding my time sheet* ...so what time you want to leave the hospital?? (that time was 3.30pm)

H: er...4pm la *doc writes on the paper*...eh eh now only 3.30...better write 3.45pm la...later i arrive early at workplace then they hairan

D: why so kiasu??? go work a bit late nevermind one la...

B: you already saw her kiasu graphs what...of course she kiasu la...new job somemore...hehehe

D: *doc changes my time to 3.45pm* ...so i'll see you the next time la...you wait for a while i'll write you your letter...keep up the good work

After a while...got my letter from the doc...went back to work...beeming all the way at my super good results...for those who don't know how good it is...i can confidently say...might be better than yours...no i'm serious...i'm in healthy normal people level now...in fact its 0.1% below the ideal reference of 4.5-6.4%...

At home...i took a closer look at the letter that Dr. Thye wrote for me...in typical doctor's handwriting...straining my eyes to get it...and here's what i roughly remember what the letter wrote:

"To whom it may concern

This is to certify that i referred Hannah to an ophthamologist to have her eyes checked as she was having blurred vision. Hannah was diagnosed with diabetes milletus then and retinopathy was possible due to her very poor control of her blood glucose level at that time, and this was possible through the blurred vision she was experiencing.

Thank you."

Walau eh...she's my favorite doctor man...how not to??? I told her to make me look like as if i really really needed the referal for the eye doc...and she really really made me look like i needed it...how leh you ask??? "retinopathy was possible due to her very poor control of her blood glucose level at that time"... although it was true...but wah...she sure knows how to tackle insurance people...hehehe

Btw...mom is so happy...that she's spreading my levels are soo good...just keep saying i'm at 4.4...only prob is...she didn't mention that its the average glucose level...heheheh

The end.

Told you this post is going to be super long...hehehhehehhe