PORT-A-CATH PLACEMENT REGRETS (11.30.17)

[@thefreylife]

When putting up our Christmas tree, it's totally normal to talk about ports, right? haha. Also, Peter screamed last night and I happened to catch it on camera! What is your favorite Christmas ornament, or little nick knack around the house? Does it have a special memory?

[@Laurana07]

My favorite ornament is candycanes! That's because you can look at them and then eat them! Yum.

[@sheilas1283]

My favourite decoration must be a little Christmas tree my son made from card when he was five. He’s 30 now, married with a toddler, and I still put it up every year!

[@jasongates-]

I don't have a "favorite" ornament, nor does any ornament have a "special memory" attached to it, but if I could decorate a tree for myself in a house of my own, I would put either a Santa Claus, or a Santa head, or an angel, or a star at the top of the tree. Even if that were the only thing on the tree, I would at least want that on the tree, and I would make sure to put it at the very top of the tree.

[@allyneeley206]

my favorite ornament is the nativity scene. I own a number of nativity scenes. I keep one small nativity scene up year round. It's to remind me that we should give all year round and not just at Christmas time.

[@LadyTracyAnne]

The Frey Life My mum and dad have lots of glass baubles from before i was born,probably have had them 35+years. Happy Advent ☺

[@momkrk49]

Ollie helping set up the tree, so funny seeing him under the branches with you two.

[@siobhanbeith5556]

momkrk49 I was just going to say this. The three of them looked so cute huddled under the tree together. And in his cute pyjamas (Ollie, not Peter. Although not that Peters arent cute too, but hopefully you get what I'm saying). A perfect little family.

[@siobhanbeith5556]

I hope The Frey Life family know how many smiles they bring to so so many peoples faces on a daily basis.

[@LymeStealsGodHeals]

"You just lost your gauze." 😂💯That was a perfect Peter voice you did there! Also, thanks for the sweatshirt I got to match my do what you think you can't do tee, today. My husband came home from work carrying a package and said, "You've got mail from Peter and Mary!" 😊💙

[@LymeStealsGodHeals]

I am DYING WITH LAUGHTER at Peter's Christmas tree skirt dancing! You got skillzzzzz!🤣👍🏻

[@monkeystrongmedic4115]

I recently had my port placed after nearly 2 years with a picc line. After 2 years of having tape on me at all times getting a 24 hour break a week is so awesome. Any way I knew to make sure of my port placement because of your videos. Thank you for making my journey through chronic illness easier by sharing your life.

[@ReineDeLaSeine14]

Congrats! I recently had a PICC between ports...I can't imagine a PICC for two years! Enjoy those showers!

[@ElijahCem]

A) Try adding proteins to when you correct. It helps stabilize for a longer period of time and not for a short hot perfects of time like simple sugars. So protein bars along with some grapes could help correct instead of just gummies. Your body might overcorrect for the amount of food you’re putting in because of the amount of sugars in it. Cheese is a good snack to have on had at any time because it is below ten carbs and can help stabilize. B) stress can hold a big role in how much your shivers drop. Since my sister is a diabetic when she had a bad breakup or she had a big test her sugars would do crazy things but when she was on vacation she was fine. Try relaxing and meditation. If you’re too stressed in a single moment take yourself away and go read or relax a bit. Maybe go do yoga or meditation/deep breathing exercises. C?) Exercise is a big deal so if you are going to be working weather it be mental or physical, please eat some long lasting protein and some simple sugars such as grapes or gummies to get you going. It’s important to give your body the fuel it needs to keep you going and your pancreas will be much more happy with protein then sugar. If those tips don’t work for you then I’m sorry but don’t be too hard on yourself. You can only keep trying. I’ll be praying for you and your lungs and your sugars. Thank you.

[@gingerbraidgirl]

Peter's Christmas tree skirt dance made my entire day, haha.

[@anital2680]

Thank you for the laugh peter with the Christmas skirt . I'm home from a three day hospital stay but still unable to do much of anything . My goal is a shower a day and watching KZbin . The doctor said 6-8 weeks till I will be myself and I'm struggling with it being Christmas and unable to setup . I keep saying remind to laugh and do what you think you can't do . So happy to see you smiling Mary .

[@kimmicook1]

I laughed so hard when Ollie was looking at Peter while he was dancing. Also when he went under the tree with you guys. Looking forward to hanging you three on my tree again this year!

[@SweetMariehoneybee0933]

Peter dancing & Ollie yawning, Lol. Ollies pj's are so adorable. We were watching Charlie & the Choclate Factory.

[@robingenova9178]

OMG Ollie was so cute When Mary and Peter were putting up the tree. Look like he wanted to help.

[@fairervnyt]

Peter's dancing in the tree skirt gave me the best laugh I've had all week!

[@ykukv]

I hope you read it sometime maybe in a couple of years or so. Im binge watching your channel for some days now and you gave me the courage to start my own channel because I want to tell my story and let people know how I deal with my illness, even the bad days. And to see you two together and loving and doing it all for each other really gives me hope that someday I will meet someone that will love me with all the "'problems'', and that eve if I smile and laugh that doesn't mean that Im ok and healthy and all is well in the world. So thank you for sharing the good and the bad, and giving me the courage to share my life and that gives me something to do instead of sitting at home alone losing my mind. Btw Im not watching any new videos until im done with the old ones so sorry if its so out of it.

[@Croppermom17]

You guys are hilarious! Thanks for sharing your life everyone. It’s such a treat to see a happy couple dealing with life’s (and blood sugars) ups and downs as beautifully as the two of you do.

[@jewelhaines8842]

I absolutely LOVE Ollie's flannel pj's! the christmas tree looks pretty! I am glad you are home Mary!! ❤❤

[@sbayles]

This year my favorite ornament is the one we bought at Estes Park on vacation this year. I realized that as soon as I started to put it on the tree I was immediately back to when we bought it and the fun feeling of discovering new things on vacation.

[@neicie64]

to help your blood sugar be more level be sure to eat some protein as well as something sweet eg. High protein yogurt with fruit or granola bars.

[@Tazzie1312]

The almond bars that Mary's showed a couple times are good for that. They're sweet, but they have like probably 6 or 7 whole almonds. I buy the same ones, only they're green in canada, oddly.

[@ElijahCem]

I was about to comment that

[@cathyford6385]

You guy's really made me laugh tonight with the gauze thing and Peter dancing with the tree skirt around his waist! Thank you guy's!!!!

[@karendorr1807]

I love to vacuum too! Also mowing the lawn and shoveling snow too! I see the results of my labor! That's probably why you love it too Mary!

[@carriereed2552]

When you go low, correct as normal, but then eat with a hard carb that includes protein to stabilize your blood sugars. Peanut butter granola bars are great. Also look at carb counts of what you're using to correct to make sure you're eating enough carbs to correct for the low. For example, if a packet of gummies is 18 grams of carbs, eat the whole package of gummies.

[@ashkeys1108]

Just want to tell you, yaw make my days better. The stength and the faith yaw have in jesus christ you both are a blessing. Mary you are definitely one of gods chosen one. Keep smilen. Do what ya think you can't do. Love you guys

[@mrscouts07]

you're gonna love the Dyson! Welcome to adulthood, where you get excited about appliances. Ha! Oh, and vacuum lines are MY JAM.

[@judyrotunno730]

I love the Christmas decorations in your house. It reminds me of how we decorate our house. I especially love that little room you decorated. It's sssoooo cute!!!!!! It's like a realistic doll house.

[@jessicah3450]

Vacuuming is my favorite chore, especially with a new vacuum! 🙃

[@KJ-vl7uv]

Haha when you said beach, Ollie was like, what?!?! Beach?!? Lol so cute

[@JoyKris10]

You're correct Mary, ports near the sternum provide better needle stability and ease of access, but clinicians/surgeons have to consider many variables, including the amount of cutaneous tissue over the port. If the port is placed in an area where the skin is too thin this may lead to port erosion. It would be difficult to place a new port on the right in a similar location as your previous one because of the path the tube would have to take (would have to make a sharp U-turn) to enter your superior vena cava. I agree your new port pocket is not in an ideal location (pinch-off syndrome symptoms), but it may have been the only option. If anyone out there is getting a port placed I would strongly encourage you to discuss pocket site location options, risks, benefits and rationale with your surgeon prior to insertion.

[@ServiceDogRosie]

Omg at 10:21 peter doing the hula dance with the xmas tree skirt... i wana get my Christmas tree up now lol Christmas in July!!

[@kimsouders]

Ollie in his jammies...melted! 💕

[@terristhriftyfinds]

My favorite nick knack is the little statue I had given my mom as a present, it's of a mom reading to her daughter, The mom is sitting down with the book open and she has one arm around her daughter as her daughter stands next to her. My mom passed away about 10 years ago. I know have the statue sitting where I can see it every morning in our living room. :)

[@tammygouletschrader8785]

All of this talk about Blood Sugars made me just check mine lol. 108. I'm pre diabetic. I went from being diabetic to pre by working out and eating right. Yea. I have alot of work to do but I'm better than I was before. Mary I'm so glad that your home and out of the hospital. I adore your positive spirit and attitude.

[@littleblondebatw]

I must be quite a nerd also because I got excited for getting steps for my dog to help her get up on my bed.

[@VampiresBulloch]

Loved Peter's reaction to a hidden cat

[@callabeth258]

Mary you should ask about the spiriva respimat... it's the same active as the regular respimat but it's a different dosage device designed so you need less lung power to inhale the full dose... im a pharmacist and when the respimat first came out I was fascinated with it I would just play with the placebo demo inhaler

[@sabreyzimmerman7267]

I’m getting a port placed this morning and am nervous. I had one 12 yrs ago but I was in a coma and was septic and don’t remember it. I’m scared they won’t sedate me enough. I’ve had several feeding tubes like you but have short bowel syndrome. You are one strong woman! You encourage me to go on.

[@lagomaster111]

You guys crack me up and always make me smile no matter how I am doing with my health. I've been on bed rest for a week and who knows how much longer. Is Peter scared of cats or just got startled? Lol! In regards to your port, I don't blame you for not liking your current port. Wish there was something that could be done other than placing a new one. My first port was in my left arm. It wasn't there long because I got a DVT in the port and my arm. It was due to my blood clotting disorder. I have two stimulator batteries in my chest so the only other options I had was my hip or my liver. I picked my hip and definitely prefer it there. It's very easy to access, de-access, and a friendly place to have lines. Have a great weekend and take care! Happy Holidays! Love and hugs to you all!

[@2listening1]

4:04 Mary, you actually looked just like Peter's expressions when you said that! XD

[@amandadeluca2083]

Absolutely agree that the activity will lower the sugar! Also, just being outside of the hospital will do it. I've been a juvenile diabetic for 18 years now. I'm also graduating nursing school in 2 weeks and I know that coming off of the feedings will cause the drop as well. Good luck! Love watching your channel xoxo

[@seansmomma2007]

My favorite part of the day - catching up with you two!

[@thefreylife]

awe!!!!

[@SchizophrenicCathy]

I love it when Mary randomly breaks into song. You're too cute, Mary.

[@oldkingspook]

I love putting up Christmas decorations. I become a fully-fledged Christmas fairy, to the chagrin and amusement of my less enthusiastic friends. My favorite knick-knacks at this time are the traditional glass balls, the fancier the better.

[@jaytee2642]

Do you love taking all the decorations down and packing them up until next year? Man, that's the part I really hate. It makes me want to just leave them up all year. LOL

[@barbiec323]

Yeah......I got my little Ollie dog in the mail today....thank you both so much.

[@extra_nos5081]

This episode reminded me why I like Peter so much, lol. Also, I got my Ollie in the mail today! Yay!

[@BethBoots]

YESSSS your hypoglycemia is definitely being triggered by your increase in activity❣ obviously nobody wants to lay around to keep numbers higher lol. Your already doing your best to eat carbs that take longer to break down to help maintain sugar levels. Love watching you all, God Bless 🎄❄🎄❄🎄

[@blackeyedbutterfly]

You guys are the best! This vlog made me smile a lot. Peter the tree skirt dance was on point!! LoL

[@TheMayonees]

Yay Dyson!! We bought the same exact one! Less allergens and picks up the pet hair so much better!!! Enjoy!!!

[@kimcampisi9449]

I’m right there with you Mary with getting a new vacuum and being so excited. I’m getting a Shark Rocket vacuum for Christmas and it has a detachable motor, so I can make it a hand vacuum. Can’t wait to use it!

[@maryishimoto8311]

OMG Mary!!!! GOD definitely has your back! I definitely know he's carrying you when you have needed him the most...🤗. I know you have been battling with all the lung informations. He works in ways that amaze me every time. We are so blessed to have such a loving GOD! I'm not glad you had to be hospitalized. But you would not have got your new gizmo to track your shuger levels. I'm sure that there have been times when you went feeling good. And you just chalked it up to you just not feeling good? I'm so happy that you can track your shuger levels...😉. You are around my two Daughters ages and I absolutely love watching you and Peter. You two are so adorable together. I came across your channel around 2 years ago. And at first, I started watching because I have chronic C.O.P.D. Disease and I use some of the same Acquit ment that you use. The vest was a new thing to me around the same time I started watching you two. We use different ways to clear our lungs. But we are both trying to do some of the same thing's. I'm on oxygen for over 6 years and a seapap machine, I started using about the time I started the vest. Anyway sweetheart. I just wanted to say hello. And to let you two know that I'm so happy I came across your channel. I think GOD might have had a little hand in that as well. 😁. There are days that I'm feeling a little down, and I can watch you guys. And you chear me up. Sometimes you guys are so funny, that you make me laugh out loud. I hope that you start feeling better very soon.... Thanks for you guys just being you! Sincerely Mary

[@stefaniekilpatrick2744]

Hey Mary you should use your old vacuum then use your new one and see how much it picks up! :)

[@LolaGeek]

You guys are not nerds, I love vacuuming too 😂 I've had my Dyson for probably 12 years now, I love it!

[@alysparkles13]

Thanks for the Christmas port lesson Mary! I am going for a consult on Monday to figure out about my port of 5 years being removed and a power port being placed! My current port is right where your new one is and has given me so many troubles! It must be that silly spot! I will definitely be talking with my doctor to see if I can have my new one placed more toward the center of my chest!

[@rentechpad]

One thing we have learned about port placement is to ask the surgeon or IR placing it to not make the pocket for it below the line of the incision. What seems to happen, with us and many others we know with ports, is that as the scar tissue forms along the line of the incision because the port was slipped into the area just below it the tissue ends up developing right along the area where the needle has to be inserted for a good localization in the port and going through scar tissue can be difficult, and sometimes cause you to misplace, and it can hurt more then just going through un-scarred tissue. We found that asking them to arrange it so that the incision is below where they place the port as it heals the scar tissue is below any area where you would need to 'poke' and the port itself is supported better. According to the IR doc we work with its common practice to make the pocket for the port below the incision as it makes slipping the port in very easy for the person doing the procedure and often that is more the consideration then what might be a patient comfort thing in the long term. He has said that since that is just the way they are taught its pretty much automatic that they just do it that way and don't adjust the placement unless the patient mentions it. I think that is sad, because a new port patient would not know that they could discuss placement or even ask for specific placement until after they have already had the port done. Then they are often stuck with that placement for many years before having a port changed out and having a say in placement. Often placement is only discussed with a patient in the sense that the doctor tells the patient where it 'usually goes' and then the real consideration for placement is done while the patient is out of it and the procedure is going on. I think that its important that a patient had a serious discussion with the doctor about the impact of placement prior to having a port, not just in the sense of the doctor telling the patient where they ;usually put it' but in the patient telling the doctor about their lifestyle and discussing options that they have heard about from others. And always remember too that sometime anatomy does come into play and doctors can't always go with what the patient wants. We actually asked for placement on the opposite side we ended up with and the doctor tried to go along with what was wanted but once he got into performing the procedure there where physical abnormalities that kept the port from being put in on the side that we had wanted. With BPD long acting bronchial-dilators are pretty much a therapy that is always used but my daughter is one of those that seems to have trouble finding one that really has some effect. Most either seemed to make no difference or if they did help had side effects like oral irritation that made using them an issue. A couple of years ago we were introduce to Alvesco and actually have had amazing results with it, to the point where her use of PRN bronchial-dialators dropped by 50%. Interestingly its not a common formulary so it not only needed special permission from the insurance company but most of the hospitals that she uses do not even have it in their pharmacy. So if she gets admitted they immediately put her on another long term bronchial-dilator for her hospital time since they don't have the Alvesco. This usually results very quickly in an increase in her need for PRN bronchial-dilators and the team thinking she is developing some type of airway issue. We have finally ended up insisting that when she is in the hospital they let her use the Alvesco "home medication" rather then putting her on something we know does not work as well and therefore end up causing them to treat a problem that is not really there. One of the big problems we had when first adjusting to CGM was getting to crazy about every little swing from high to low and back again. No one has a totally steady bs reading and our bs does swing throughout the day and night and is expected to be lower at night during sleep periods then when awake during the day. It takes a while to learn when to treat and when its expected to be lower. What is a treatable low during the day is not necessarily one that your CGM should even alert in the middle of the night and so on. Once you get a better handle on what are real issues and what aren't you will find yourself less disturbed by alerts. Its easy to all of a sudden get caught up with seeing lows and wondering why you are not feeling them and that is because those are probably 'normal' bs swings and are not anything impacting your or needs treating etc - since there are no symptoms - and you would never even know except for CGM. You have to learn your body and what is a low that matters and what is one that does not.

[@sabinagrossman1002]

I get more lows when I’m using my albuterol more often, I wonder if the bronchodilator that you’re on could be affecting yours. So glad that you have the Dexcom now to help you guys stay on top of things ☺️

[@klynch7912]

I love the Olie PJs and Peter dancing in the skirt it made my day. My port is now impacting doing mammograms.

[@artastic_23]

Mary a nurse told me that the best thing you can eat when you have low blood sugar is peanut butter crackers! Carbs and sugar to keep it up and protein to keep it up longer. Protein kinda makes the carbs and sugar last longer. So do yourself a favor a buy some peanut butter crackers! The good thing is they’re not as unhealthy either!

[@rebeccasteward1297]

Anna Faye's Adventurous Life That's exactly what I eat when my blood sugar is low!!!

[@maggieh1361]

ok 1)I am totally turning my old port into a Christmas ornament! 2)I agree about the port placement. My first one used to move around and caused issues but my new one is closer to the center of my chest and I haven't had any issues with it.

[@jasongates-]

When Mary said "beeping and vibrating," that reminded me of Elvis' gyrating hips, and it sounded like she was going to say "beeping and vibrating and gyrating." It's like Ollie was checking the tree from below, with Peter and Mary, while Ollie was stretching. Peter, the screen in your screen door needs repairing. The open hole above the door knob is noticeable. But, I guess you knew that already. It would be cool if you had an assistant, so you could have him change the screen in that door for you. And, I bet the cat was just as spooked of you as you were of the cat. Merry Christmas Peter and Mary Frey.

[@jenniferbowie2773]

Hey just a thought I am a type one diabetic and I know when I have ever been in the hospital the regular I v that just gives you fluids usually has sugar in it or mixed with it. I always have to make sure I dint get it cause my sugar will get to high. Could be why your sugar was stable in the hospital and now it isn’t. Also I have a deacon and if my sugar says it’s going low I have to check it (look at it ) every like 5 min to see how fast it’s going down. There is a bit of a delay but I love mine don’t know how I survived with out it. I love your lity room. Good idea.

[@ashleybrown5883]

You should get tubie pads to replace the gauze you use! Jaquie loves them!

[@annettequinn2471]

Thanks for decorating with us! Love Christmas, favorite holiday 💜

[@emmaroot3885]

Thank you for the port information! I'm getting my first port in a couple weeks and I'm definitely going to check with the doctor on where they place it

[@justn9124]

Omg Peter is killing me with those dance moves 😂😂

[@lilypad2222]

Increased activity will make it go down. When you take in sugar to bring it up you need to follow it up with protein.

[@Tazzie1312]

The brick wall building should decorate itself so the kids (and CF patients like Mary) in those rooms can have something to look at. Today and tomorrow are my town's Christmas festival! So I'm doing that today. Some of my favourite christmas ornanments are handmade ones I got at our local trade show. They're so cute. My mom's is old vintage ornaments.

[@gointothedogs2]

Try mixing honey, peanut butter and cinnamon and put it on graham crackers, also orange juice and potato chips bring blood sugar up quickly....but the honey and cinnamon with the peanut butter keeps the blood sugar stable after the quick carbs bring it up.

[@christinadoherty3212]

That happened with my feeding tube gauze too! Very awkward eye contact with some random man as I picked it up 😂 The reusable pads from etsy with the snaps were a game changer! Although my stoma is so well healed now I don’t have any leakage. Woot woot! Peter dancing in that skirt! 😂

[@rustyshackleford5518]

Why do people use the pads instead of gauze? Isn't the gauze sterile?

[@lottiepretty]

Rusty Shackleford I think it's because the pads can be reused so you dont have to keep buying gauze that you will then throw away, I suppose it might be more eco friendly and cost effective x

[@ninamayer9254]

Rusty Shackleford gauze is an ok solution, but it isn't the most beautiful and comfortable solution. Those pads are reusable, they are colorful and a lot softer as well. With feeding tubes they do not have to be perfectly sterile, so you can just wash the pads and reuse them which is also a bit more of a resource saving way

[@rustyshackleford5518]

Well, it's about getting enough calories to survive, not about looking cute, right? Not sure why color would matter.

[@gingerbraidgirl]

It's not just surviving, it's also about living a better life. And if having a feeding tube pad with a fun pattern brightens that person's day and works at the same time, then it's achieving that goal. :)

[@letsgetrealwithrokio1517]

I love watching you guys!! Your positivity and happiness are contagious! Have a happy and healthy holiday season! ❤️❤️

[@thebaldwinway153]

As someone who is not diabetic, but deals with what is basically chronic hypoglycemia, an increase in activity will definitely bring your blood sugar down. My mom and I always have snacks on us during trips or shopping adventures, because the extra up and at em movement just brings on the lows.

[@mandi2897]

I just started vancomycin as well! Haha med twins?! Hope today is one that full of energy, laughter, and peace!

[@lupuswarriorlivelaughlove4397]

Ollie seems to love his pjs he is soooo sweet... Im happy to see such a grateful happy family of God..you scared the cat hhahahhah

[@sicknote4557]

Your tree looks lovely guys. I have to say I love Ollie boys jammies. I probably won't be putting a tree up this yr as its only me and my 2 furbabies that are in the house all day and my carers wen they come in. So I feel like there's no need (if that makes sense) if I had other ppl staying in the house I would decorate. As always sending you all loads of love and hugs from me and my 2 doggos over in England 💜🇬🇧🐶🐶🐾

[@karenhaffermehl3352]

Mary, if you eat sugar for your lows to bring them up, then you also need to eat something like peanut butter on crackers or bread to maintain it otherwise it will rise quickly and then plummet again

[@LizLaughLove2]

I love these people!! The fry life always brightens my day:) Thank you for sharing your life!

[@blessedbean5467]

I love you guys!! Sweetest couple ever. Mary you are such an inspiration to me. When I’m feeling really sick I love to binge watch your videos, Your positivity is infectious♥️

[@hudsonsailor54]

I need a good laugh and wathing Peter dance made me smile.

[@Tazzie1312]

Peter yelping at a cat made me giggle pretty hard XD

[@AnAspiesPOV]

Oliver in flannel jammies is the best thing ever!

[@juliem6534]

My port is almost in the same place and I agree, don't like where it is. That needle scraping every time the muscle moves. Ugh

[@mbnich0269]

Also. Ollies Jammie's are to die for❣️

[@lynnparker4723s]

Your little room is so cute. You've got to get a mini Ollie.

[@moriganna67ify]

Mary I wanted to add for you. Yes our blood sugar will drop with activities, when we get excited, when we are not feeling well and such. Maybe your blood sugar levels can be affected by the fungus in your lung because your body is fighting hard. Try grapes (they are really high in sugar) raisins, a trail mix of raisins, chocolate, almonds (nuts helps stabilise our blood sugar) I hope this help sweetie. Hahaha Peter is scared of cats??? Funny!

[@PrincessMax360]

Seeing Mary so excited about Christmas and being home is awesome. Hopefully your blood sugar figures itself out soon Mary.

[@sbayles]

PrincessMax360 is

[@ObsidianVormund]

i love your little room, and all your Christmas decorations. 😊❤️

[@Thecarnivorejournals]

Love that I've found you both. Look forward to seeing your clog each day

[@vansa14]

I was going to say this yesterday but is it possible that your blood sugar drops a lot more often than you notice? Now that you can see it continuously you are seeing every time it drops and not just the ones you feel it dropping. I just thought this might be a thought process to take into consideration. There’s nothing that you could change but maybe just to understand it better would be helpful.

[@naomicarrier1733]

Our fam loves your vlogs, hello from Michigan ☃️🎅🏻❄️🎄

[@traceyking3583]

Three days post op and laughing at poor Peter and the cat has cheered me up but now my stitches hurt 😂

[@shekeyra100]

Not sure if have but i think a hepa filter when hoovering is amazing the HEPA filter’s job is to force air through a mesh of fiberglass. Dust, mould spores, pet dander and other microscopic particles are caught in this mesh and can’t escape.

[@wt0416]

The dyson vacuums is the best. I love it

[@carolynlong9148]

Great decorations and making memories.

[@charmedirish1]

You 2 need a holiday tree festive party it's old fashioned but tons of fun and help too !!!!

[@brendabrierebriere9406]

Too funny, I love you guy's, your such a treat to watch, always look forward to it

[@Vale_ea02]

Ollie looks so cute in his pj’s 💕

[@tjjohnson6146]

Have you tried eating something with complex carbs and protein when it drops? My go to is peanut butter crackers or apples with peanut butter.

[@melissacaudell1622]

Will the tree looks great. I am glad you are doing good mary.

[@lesareek812]

To help with your blood sugar, try the drinks Boost or Glucernia they help and are for diabetics lows

[@barbarasummo1170]

Okay! I can't stand it! Ollie jams?! OMG! I JUST LOVE HIM! Okay, I have a GREAT IDEA FOR MERCH! An OLIE OUTFIT CALENDER! You guys are my kind of twisted silly. A port o cath ornament! Love you guys! Barb

[@cathy8760]

I love the big lights from childhood!

[@begleiten.beraten.bewegen.2769]

Hey Mary, I´m so happy for you to be able to see the blue sky again and smell the fresh air! Enjoy! :) Have you ever tried to eat dates stuffed with peanut butter to keep your bloodsuger levels up? I can highly recommend that! With medjool dates it tastes like snickers ;) By the way: my port is on the exact same spot at yours is now and I know the issue with the "dancing" port by moving the pectoralis muscle, too... But hey, some other kind of super power, right?! ;) Have a nice day!

[@MAFord1206]

That’s so funny that you have a port ornament. I have an Christmas ornament that I made out a VP shunt that was in my brain and was removed and I got to keep it.

[@colec6913]

I have type 2 with reactive hypoglycemia. I don't have highs. It's mostly lows. This is because I produce too much insulin. There are several factors for sugar levels to go high/low. I have to stay away from fast acting sugars. Complex carbs keep me stable. And follow the rule of 15/15. Eat 15g of carbs. Test after 15 min. Still low? Simply repeat. My diabetes is rare and difficult to understand. Try staying away from simple sugars and eating complex sugars instead. It's really just trial and error in the beginning. I have a Dexcom and I can't picture life without it.

[@begumsekercanyamak]

I don't want to come of as a know it all or seem rude but I just wanted to tell you about some of the advices my father's doctors gave to him about low blood sugar. I also know that not everybody is same but maybe some of it will work for you too. My father is a type 1 diabetes patient for 31 years and now he is also o dialysis patient due to his diabetes. His team always tell us that in case of a low blood sugar - which sometimes turns into hypoglycemia attack where he looses consciousness - if it's not so low which means around 60's and 50's, instead of eating sugar eating a whole meal is better. I know it might not work for you but some milk and bread in this case with a little bit jam or anything little sweet does wonders and the blood sugar is maintained better. If it's lower than 50, you should definitely try honey and not just eat it but smear it to your gums because through your gums it's absorbed faster. Again, I really just wanted to share, maybe it will work for you too. Love watching you guys every night, loves from Turkey :)

[@debradonley3825]

Exactly!!! I have hypoglycemia and eating sugar caused so many problems. My doctor years ago told me to powerload carbs. My blood sugar levels roller coaster when treated with gummies or sugar substances. With carbs, my levels stay within a healthy range for days at a time.

[@expression3639]

We have been several people to tell her that but she doesn't seem to be reading those comments or heeding those advices because she keeps correcting with fast acting sugars and calling it a day (as far as I can tell anyway). People with CF-related diabetes are told to correct the same way that people with type 1 and 2 have to correct so your advice is on point. I'm not sure that she has received proper education about how to properly correct blood sugar seeing as she corrects with gummies, juices, then calls it a day.

[@expression3639]

Also note how she gets lows after getting highs. Her pancreas is overcompensating, which is something that could be avoided by using insulin. But for some reason her doctors don't think she needs it.

[@ReineDeLaSeine14]

The tricky thing is, with gastroparesis, digestion is so slow it would take hours for a meal to correct BG.

[@gillyana]

ReineDeLaSeine14 I have GP too and I use glucogel which is on script that dissolves fast in my mouth. I also have used Glucagon shots too. For GP though defo some fast acting glucose which can be absorbed in your mouth rather than a sweet etc that in a GP patient can take hours to digest. I also have a NJ which is a helpful tool I have found in the past it would stabilise my BG better. I wonder if Mary has tried to put some glucojuice or sugared water through her J tube. Whilst waiting on hard carbs to digest??? X