What a day (or two)

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-26-2007
What a day (or two)
6
Thu, 08-21-2008 - 2:07am
Man what a day at the office.  Since I left bike patrol and went to the crime scene unit, my schedule has been really crazy.  Today (really yesterday) really screwed me up.  I always pack a cooler with water and snacks but my day ran long and I ran out of everything.  My numbers got all out of whack and I wound up getting really sick from it.  I had to go to a scene right off the bat yesterday as soon as I came on duty.  This was a pretty large scene, I will spare you all the details but I got there at about 3:30pm yesterday (08/19/08) and I got home at about 11:30pm (08/20/08).  Needless to say I didn't have enough healthy snacks for a 32 hour scene.  I started new meds for my headaches about a month ago and it has been affecting my numbers so I keep my meter with me at all times. I had a low in there in the very low 50's (52 to be exact) I felt weak, mt heart was beating like crazy, I was sweating above and beyond what is expected in the Texas heat, and I was nauseated and very sleepy.  I went through all the glucose in my medical bag and still didn't feel right.  I couldn't leave because I hadn't finished processing the scene I had some one get me a real coke but that didn't seem to help either.  It took about an hour and an half before I started feeling "normal" and could get back to work.  It once I got the scene processed and I was back at the station doing the paperwork portion of the job, it hit me again.  luckily I'm getting to spend a little time at home over the next few days but still it was a pretty scary ordeal.
Avatar for cl_coldfingers
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Thu, 08-21-2008 - 6:13am

Wow!


iVillage Member
Registered: 04-13-2008
Thu, 08-21-2008 - 10:36pm

It's good to see a post from you; I think about you often, and wonder how you are doing.

twosweet02

Avatar for cl_coldfingers
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Thu, 08-21-2008 - 11:05pm
You can get the scarf things you soak in water that swell up at Walmart in the sports section.

Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Fri, 08-22-2008 - 1:17am

Do you have your own desk at the precinct or do you share the desk with everyone else? Sounds like you didn't get any real meal breaks either.


When you were so low the real coke was an excellent idea but it had to be followed up with some protein otherwise your blood sugar just went up and down very quickly. I find that when I have one of these episodes that it takes me a while to get over them even though my blood sugar has gotten back to normal. I think this is because the brain cells are so sensitive to blood sugar fluxuation.


Sleep dreprivation and the adenalin rush that you experienced at the crime scene didn't help either as both will affect your blood sugar.


But I am glad that you got some rest today and hopefully this doesn't happen again. My only suggestion would be to keep some power bars or glucerna meal bars in your desk if at all possible.




medsassistance5.gif Medicine Assistance picture by HealthAccount


iVillage Member
Registered: 10-26-2007
Fri, 08-22-2008 - 2:16am

I drink around 2-3 gallons of water a day.

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-05-2007
Fri, 08-22-2008 - 11:43pm
I'm sure you've noticed by now that high heat can make your blood levels drop very quickly. I feel you on the being sick when you get that low, it's not fun, and it isn't something people can understand very well, in my experience anyways. I'm glad you were alright in the end, and didn't end up blacking out (I know, scary!). I can't believe a coke didn't help much! If I drink that, even when I'm low, I get sky high... but it tastes so good! Oh, the forbidden fruits... oops, off on a tangent. Maybe, when in situations like this you could try packing some Slim Fast, as well, and if you get low have your glucose or whatever you have, and the slim fast or whatever to help keep your levels up, or a peanut butter sandwich, something with a lot of staying power.