Re: Serum testosterone levels (reply to Ron's reply) re Lopid, etc.(back to Amy)
From: Ron (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Sat, 13 Sep 2003 09:28:56 -0500 (CDT)
Hi Amy,
Actos should prevent blood sugar rises immediately if you are tested for
blood glucose. The effects on hirsuitism etc will take much longer to
recify.
You must find out why you are being flooded with insulin. Fix the
problem,
and the result will take care of itself.
I hope you are always carring a hard candy with you in case you have to
correct for a dangerously low blood sugar.
--
Ron
At Fri, 12 Sep 2003, Amy wrote:
>
>At Thu, 11 Sep 2003, Ron wrote:
>>
>>Hi Amy,
>>
>>I am amazed at your H A1c being so great. I would have guess it was
>>much higher
>>I doubt that the PN is a result of diabetes or insulin resistance.
>>Have you had a test called "C Peptide" to see if your insulin is high or
>>low
>>compared to your Blood sugar readings?
>
>Hello again Ron,
>
>I don't know that I've ever seen any kind of "C Peptide" lab results. My
>blood sugar level goes up accordingly when I had the glucose tolerance
>test (or when I eat), but it doesn't go down as fast as it should
>because the insulin isn't being used appropriately - coincidentally my
>insulin levels are much higher than they should be as my body's way of
>trying to lower my blood sugar. At least this was how the IR was
>explained to me. I understand that the metformin and actos both will
>help with this. I have only been taking Actos for 2mos - they started
>me on it after a second glucose tolerance test showed that things were
>still not working optimally with the metformin alone.
>
>>Do you have any other signs of neuropathy anywhere else, digestive
>>system, vision, head fog?
>>If your triglycerides are high, you are still getting too much carbs.
>>Have you ever tried unrefined grains instead of flour based foods?
>
>I don't know how much of my digestive system problems are related to
>medications I might be taking. I have suspected I have IBS for a few
>years. It seems like my stomach/intestines "hit the floor" in stressful
>situations (and sometimes after meals) and I have to find a bathroom
>quickly. That might sound unpleasant, but that's the only way I can
>think to describe it. My vision? I don't know. I sometimes have blurry
>vision and have told the eye doc about this, but he can't find a
>reasonable explanation for it. Usually it only happens early in the
>morning - within the first few hours after I wake up, or late at night
>(it is not severe). Head fog... hrm. Well, I often feel
>scatterbrained and it is hard to concentrate in my math and economics
>courses that require a large amount of fact-based thinking and
>memorization. I do, however, LOVE the literature and speech courses I
>take which are based more on feelings/interpretation. I haven't had my
>triglycerides re-tested for about 2-3mos now, so I'm not sure where
>they're at. I just *assume* they are still lowering, because the Lopid
>had such a profound effect that first month. I eat only whole wheat
>bread, but as far as unrefined grains I guess I don't understand
>specifically all that encompasses.
>
>>Regardless of whether you are not producing enough insulin or are
>>insensitive to it, your H A1c shoud be higher than 5.1 if neuropathy was
>>a risk factor.
>>How high does your BS go about a half hour after eating? Even short
>>spurts could be harmful... that may why you are taking the met.
>>Try checking the BS after eating WITHOUT taking the met before that meal
>>to see if there is a big rise without it. If there is no difference,
>>you probably don't need the met.
>
>Interesting, I will try testing 30 mins. after a meal.
>
>>Have you ever been tested for Lyme Disease?
>>Have you seen the side effects of LOPID???
>>http://www.medicinenet.com/gemfibrozil/article.htm
>
>I haven't ever been tested for Lyme Disease, but I suspect it would have
>been something I discovered - a 5-6" in diameter rash spot extending
>outward from a tick bite in a bullseye pattern would be hard to miss. I
>understand that happens in 90% of tick bites. I don't think my husband
>or I would have missed seeing that on my body. Oh Lopid. Yes. It's
>alarming. I don't take any other cholesterol lowering medication, so
>that at least is not a concern. I'm also done having children, so that
>is not a concern either. I did get bad stomach aches on it the first
>few months - they would hit me about 30mins. or so after a meal and
>often got bad enough that I had to sit with a heating pad on my stomach.
>I had read on another site (don't remember right now where) that
>appendicitis was a "less common" side-effect. I think, though, that I
>would rather have a stomach ache for a few months and lower
>triglycerides than continue with the high triglycerides. I really would
>like to live past 38.
>
>Thanks again for your reply, Ron
>--Amy
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