The Stiff Heart Would Probably Be Cardiomyopathy

The stiff heart would probably be cardiomyopathy. Usually associated with a diagnosis of CHF. Congestive heart failure is also common with us diabetics. The stiff heart was probably diagnosed from an echocardiogram and a reduced ejection fraction.

>Hi...My name is Jackie and I have just joined. I was diagnosed TYPE 2 almost 4 years ago now.<

Welcome, Jackie! Thanks for coming by and intro'ing yourself.

>I am fighting high blood pressure and kidney disease and diabetes and a stiff heart,and like I said I was doing very well(doc's words). In the past 2 years I have also been diagnosed with oseteo arthritis through out my body. Right now I am on a year and a half long waiting list for a hip replacement.<

I'm not sure what a stiff heart is, that's a new one to me, but lots of us middle-aged and older diabetics struggle with NBP and kidney problems, for sure, as well as a host of other Bad Stuff. I'm sorry you have such a painful hip; that must make your day very difficult,to say the least. Do you know why you have to wait so long for your hip replacement? I assume you're not in the US?

>In the course of all of this I think I silently fell apart and lost control of me. My numbers are way to high now, I have had to increase the insulin and I am now scheduled for another appointment for the kidney specialist.<

It's easy as the months and years go by to lose focus and get into a mess again, especially if you're not feeling well, in a lot of pain, can't exercise, and even your daily routine is in a jumble.

>To say the least I am scaring myself a lot here, but I cannot seem to grasp the control I once had. I am hoping coming here will help me find some support and maybe a few kicks in the butt might help.<

Start small. You probably can't jump directly into a place of out-of-control- -scared-and- despondent to an ideal situation without several stops along the way.

If I were you, I'd start by stepping up my testing schedule, doing at least 3-4 tests a day around my meals, and making myself face the reality of what the meter shows me. I'd scrupulously keep a log of the results, with small notes about what's going on, how I feel, what I ate, etc (doesn't have to be War and Peace, just a few lines). Slowly, day by day, doing that will help you see what foods (and/or quantities of foods) you are or are not handling well, and that will point you in a good direction for making dietary changes.

Seek out a way you can do exercise from a seated position. There are DVDs you can buy to load into your computer or DVD player on your TV that show vigorous enough routines that you WILL break a sweat; you'll be surprised. And last, I guess I'd say, don't panic. Go to your docs, get tested and consulted with, listen to what they have to say, and just start all over again, from where you are NOW, not where you used to be. Today really is a new day. And again, we're glad you're here. We happily listen to all rants, whining, crying, joyful reports, questions, rambling of kinds, whatever you want to share. Please let us know how you're doing.