Forgot if I took pills

Hey Sweety:

Welcome! Canada, eh?

That's a pain when you've forgotten if you've taken your medication. I've done it myself as have most other People.

I don't know your general blood sugars or what condition you are in. I prefer not to play Dr. in these situations, since I am not one.

A double dose of Glyburide and Metformin will in most Type 2 Diabetics lower the Person's blood sugar too much. Since this is not your first time forgetting, what did you do the other times and was your decision a successful one? I would definitely be testing more often to watch my sugars, drinking water if they are rising and eating less.

If you don't remember what you did the last times, you should phone your Dr's office, or Pharmacist and ask them. They will have the answer for your situation. If you cannot reach them then perhaps phone your hospital's Emergency. I had to phone ours once for my Daughter when she was younger and they answered my question for me.

Yes, it is a Good idea to write it down in a log or even a piece of paper on the fridge. Also, you can buy a pill container/scheduler at any Pharmacy or online. There are different types. The one I have holds a week's supply of medication. It has the days and different times when the meds are to be taken. That way, I know if I have taken them or not.

I hope that this helps some. Feel free to post back even if it is to update us.

Hey Again:

I'm Glad I'm Canadian also. Where abouts are you located?

Yes, if the bottle says 17, etc. then set it at that number. Whenever you change bottles of strips make sure the bottle number matches your meter. What type of meter are you using?

Holy Cow! What were you doing with an 85 yr. old Doctor? I've never had one near that age. I'm Glad that you got a newer one. (although some of the older ones are sometimes wiser than the younger ones).

Wow! You've done a Marvelous job on getting your FBS's down. Congrats.

That's a darn shame that you weren't dxd. sooner.

OOPPSS sorry..thunderstorm...gotta go. Your Welcome..no prob.

Good Morning Sweety:

I feel ridiculous calling a grown Woman Sweety but you give me no choice. I prefer using names.

I am not saying that you do not have Neuropathy in your feet and I am not saying that you do not have GastroParesis(damage in the stomach)from Diabetes. If you went undiagnosed for 5 years you may have some of one or both problems.

Since you are on Metformin, that could also be causing your stomach problems. The common side-effects of Metformin and symptoms of GastroParesis are stupidly similar. The symptoms of Metformin can last up to 4 months or be Very mild and not be a problem.

It is highly recommended that Diabetics tell your Dr. all the medications that you are taking including over-the-counter(OTC) stuff.

Check the symptoms and side-effects and see what you think.

Metformin

HealthyOntario.com - Consumer health information and health services for Ontario, Canada ?2006 2

Is there any reason why I shouldn?t
take this drug?

You should not use this drug if you are allergic to it.
This drug should not be used and will not work if
you have type-1 diabetes. Tell your doctor if you
have or have ever had:
? Ketoacidosis or Lactic acidosis
? Problems with your kidney or liver
? Heart Failure
? Severe Lung Disease (i.e. emphysema)
? Polycystic ovary disease
? Problems with stomach cramps, diarrhea or pain
Acute problems such as severe burns,
dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, high fever, severe
infection, severe heart failure symptoms or severe
breathing problems can make your body more
sensitive to metformin and increase your risk for
lactic acidosis.

As well, certain medical tests that involve the use of
contrast agents (a dye-like substance used to
"highlight" an organ), or x-rays, may decrease the
amount of urine that you produce which, in turn,
could lead to too-much metformin in your body.
Your doctor may want you to stop taking metformin
for at least 48 hours or until he or she knows for
certain that you have normal kidney function.

What about possible side effects?

The most common side effects to metformin are
mainly related to the stomach and typically occur in
about 30% of patients. They usually occur at the
start of therapy, with higher doses and should go
away with time. Side effects may include:
? Diarrhea, stomach cramps
? Passing of gas and feeling bloated? Not feeling hungry
? Feeling nauseous and vomiting

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about the best
way to take this medicine to lower your risk of side
effects.

Other side effects which occur less often (in fewer
than 10% of patients) are:
? Weight loss (not all side-effects need to be bad!)
? A metallic taste in your mouth (about 3% of
people)
? Low Vitamin B12 levels in the blood (about 6-8%
of people): This may happen when taking
metformin for a long time but it does not
necessarily lead to anemia. Your doctor will likely
check your vitamin levels every 2-3 years if you
need to continue taking this medication.
? Lactic acidosis (where your body has a difficult
time balancing the amount of acid in your
blood): this is an extremely rare side effect
(about 1 in 10,000 people -0.0001%) and is only
a concern when other risk factors are present.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have any
concerns or questions

This is not a complete list of side effects. If you are
concerned about these or other unusual symptoms
while taking this medication, ask your doctor and/or
pharmacist for more information and advice.

What if I am taking other drugs?

Always provide your doctor with a list of all other
drugs you are taking (including over-the-counter
medications and herbal/natural products) as they
may interact and may change the safety or
effectiveness of either drug. Tell your doctor
specifically if you are taking any of these drugs as
he/she may need to make changes or check you
more closely:
? Prednisone, dexamethasone, cortisone, high
dose hydrochlorothiazide (>25mg), albuterol,
pseudoephedrine, olanzapine, risperidone, niacin.
(These drugs may increase your blood sugar and
decrease the effectiveness of metformin.
? Other diabetes medications (glyburide or other
sulfonylureas, insulin, rosiglitazone, pioglitazone,
repaglinide, nateglinide, acarbose)
? Fenugreek, licorice, bitter melon, eucalyptus,
ginseng and some other herbal/natural products
? Atenolol, metoprolol, propranolol and other betablockers.
(May decrease your ability to feel the
symptoms of low blood sugar).
? Cimetidine
This is not a complete list of drug interactions. Ask
your doctor or pharmacist to review your list of
medications.

Gastroparesis:

What are the symptoms of gastroparesis?

Signs and symptoms of gastroparesis are:

heartburn
pain in the upper abdomen
nausea
vomiting of undigested food?sometimes several hours after a meal
early feeling of fullness after only a few bites of food
weight loss due to poor absorption of nutrients or low calorie intake
abdominal bloating
high and low blood glucose levels
lack of appetite
gastroesophageal reflux
spasms in the stomach area
Eating solid foods, high-fiber foods such as raw fruits and vegetables, fatty foods, or drinks high in fat or carbonation may contribute to these symptoms.

The symptoms of gastroparesis may be mild or severe, depending on the person. Symptoms can happen frequently in some people and less often in others. Many people with gastroparesis experience a wide range of symptoms, and sometimes the disorder is difficult for the physician to diagnose.

www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov./ddiseases/pubs/gastroparesis

Sorry this is so long. It only came in pdf from this site. You probably have seen all this already.

Hi There:

Yes, I am in the South Eastern part of Ontario. It was really Nice and warm here but today it has cooled down quite a bit. We've had off and on rain also.

Okay, I wouldn't have thought of a bezoar. A cyst or benign tumor maybe. If it is causing you continual discomfort, I would insist that they do a scan.

I've heard about the digestive enzymes but haven't read up on them. Well, IF they are non-toxic then I suppose it would be okay to use it. Yes, please do post back with any info about the outcome if you do use them.

Normally, I get along Good with my medical team but I can be a Little outspoken/persuasive when it comes to asking my Dr.'s for tests, etc. if I am concerned about something. They know I only bother them with, out of the norm tests/treatments if I have Good cause for it.

I didn't ask Richard if he tried to send you a pm again since his first one didn't go through, which is odd. I'm going to send you a pm to see if it works.

*It went through as you noticed.