I have Diabetes. I didn't ask for it and don't want it but I'm stuck with it for the rest of my life. At one time I could have done something but now it's to late. I thought I was "Superman" and nothing could touch tough ol' me! Bad things happen to other people and besides, I have things to do and can't be worried about something I can't see.
Sound familiar? Boy, was I ever wrong!!
After 15 years of trying to put Diabetes on the back burner of my life and not accepting it for the killer it was, it almost killed me!
I hadn't been feeling well for several months but still had so much work to do that I kept putting off going to the doctor. Then the last job of the year out of town I really began to feel awful. Even several of my co-workers noticed how bad I looked and urged me to see a doctor when I got home. At this point I agreed with them-I knew I had to find out what was wrong with me.
I went to my endocrinologist who didn't like what he was seeing and sent me on to a cardiologist for some tests. One of those tests was for an angiogram to be done as an outpatient at the hospital. An angiogram is a relative simple procedure (to hear the doctors tell it) where they put a tube with a scope up through your groin to your heart and have a look around. Should take only a couple of hours at the most and home you go!
Well, I have a very supportive family so everyone was there to cheer me on. They're kind of nervous about anything to do with "hearts" because one of my brothers had had a valve replacement just a few months before. So with a hugs and kisses and several "don't worry, everything will be fine" I'm off.
The test is started, a few minutes went by and then everyone put their heads together, started mumbling amongst themselves and pointing at the monitor screen. Then one of the doctors ttold me that they saw something they didn't like and I have to go immediately to surgery for a double bypass.
My first thought is "WHOA!!" I don't know what you're looking at but it can't be anything to do with me! I just came in here today for a simple test and I have plans. I have a whole afternoon of things I have to get done-I can't have an operation. I really can't be having an operation on my heart! I'm Superman, remember?
That's when the doctor told me that he's looking at the two main arteries of my heart and they are almost completely blocked. It's what they call a Widow Maker. I could have a heart attack any minute with little or no chance of recovery. Believe me, this last bit of news has a drastic way of changing your mind about plans for the day!
So with more hugging, kissing, punching on the shoulder (guy stuff, right?) and "I love you's", I left my loved ones crying in the hallway and was on to the operating room. The doctors were right-the two main arteries were almost shut off resulting in a double by-pass. Later I found out that when you're Diabetic, cholesterol can build up faster than a "regular" person and the muscles in the heart can be more weakened. Also that if you've progressed on to neuropathy, the nerves in and around your heart can be damaged as well.
My recovery has been slow. Because of the Diabetes, autonomic neuropathy and resulting low blood pressure, it's taken me a year to get over what would have taken a person without Diabetes 6-8 weeks.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, if you have Diabetes or know someone who has it, please get them help to slow down this destroyer of lives. I wish I had followed the information found through the link here when I was first diagnosed. My life would have been so different today! Don't hesitate! Do something about Diabetes today!
Ron Walby
Ron Walby is a practicing Diabetic who has learned the hard way not to ignore this disease. He's mission now is to help other Diabetics, their families and the general population to learn about this destroyer, how to live with and how to prevent it. He urges you to visit the following sites to learn more about this Silent Killer that is spreading each day.
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