Get Up and Move Around ...or...

My brother is right now in ICU in Albuquerque in a drug induced coma to keep him from experiencing extreme pain from having blood clots removed from both legs. He did not have circulation to either leg for a period of between 6 and 8 hours. He may have to get his left leg amputated as a result.

He has been driving for about 18 months. I know my brother. If he has a job to do, he will get it done as efficiently and thoroughly as he possibly can. I can see him sitting and driving for an entire shift without stopping. He's a big dude. 6'3" and easily pushing 300 pounds. He's not the healthiest eater on the planet, either.

I will not know until at least tomorrow whether his leg will be saved or he will lose it. If he loses his leg, his driving career will be as good as over. If his extremely high blood sugar doesn't put an end to it first. Right now, his blood sugar is back under control. I don't know if it can be maintained with diet, medication and exercise. His sugar level was an incredible 1700.

So. Between his unhealthy diet, undiagnosed and untreated diabetes, high blood pressure controlled with medication and sitting for very long periods of time, my brother very nearly lost his life. He may well still lose his leg. At the very least, we should all, myself included, learn to stop the truck, get out and move around a little every few hours. I know how dedicated many of us are. But your life is worth far more than any load.

Diabetes seems to sneak up on us rather quickly in this job. I would also make the suggestion to do a finger stick on yourself about once a month just to see what your BGL is running. All of us know somebody who is diabetic. Most diabetics I know are willing to give up a test strip once in a while to help protect those they care about. If you don't know anyone or don't think they will let you use a test strip, go to your local fire department for a quick check. Your tax dollars are paying for their test strips anyway. Point is, check yourself more often than every two years when you go in for your DOT medical card.

And for Gosh sake! Get up and walk around once in a while!


I know this post seems a little disjointed and out of order. I am posting from a cel phone and feel the information is important enough to just get it out there. I'm not looking for sympathy for my brother or for me. Prayers on his behalf are welcome. But take care of yourself! That's the point of this thread.

 

Yep. I was working at Prime when that happened. It was part of the reason for the big health push. At least, that whole thing started shortly after that kid passed away.

 

Mrs. T, feel free to lecture as much as you wish on this. Any of our medical people, for that matter. DVT is a real and serious matter we all need to be aware of. It is almost entirely preventable as well. By pulling the air brake every few hours and getting out of the truck.

Remember what happened to Billy Mays. He died as a result of DVT. Only his lodged in his lung. No telling where the critters want to go. Your brain? Heart? Liver? My brother was lucky his went to his legs. He will survive this.

High BGL? Completely treatable if known about. Finding it is so simple, yet we act like babies because it involves something sharp. Really? Considering the alternative, I think I'll take the pokey thing. I'm kind of addicted to moving air.

RM: I had never heard of a BGL that high in someone still breathing. He must have had molasses running through his veins. I'm sure that really helped with the blood clots. Not!