My doctors are literally back at square one after disappointing medical procedures that had no success in treating the diabetes or the cirrhosis of my liver. My visit to a hematologist following the bust of the stomach tap last week to draw fluids building in my abdomen, was most unfortunate because during my visit I came only seconds from slipping into a diabetic coma.

I had already visited with the hematologist, Dr. Van Strothers, and we were about to start an iron infusion that would increase the iron levels in my system in hopes of eliminating the shortness of breath and restoring energy. The procedure was to last about 20 minutes. 

However, coming from a bathroom prior to the procedure, I felt a sudden need to sleep while at the same time my throat went dry and I panicked because I had nothing moist nearby to put in my mouth. I was confused and could only lean on the door jamb until a nurse quickly brought a wheelchair and moved me to a lounge chair.

I recall being talked to but could not understand what they wanted and I turned my head away from them to shut out the noise. I only mumbled something in reply but now do not know what it was I said. I must have been turning my head in several directions because by now two nurses were responding to me and both seemed to be talking and snapping their fingers in my face. 

I remember going slowly into a deep, deep lull and I believe I said, “I’m afraid I’m leaving you now.”

My sugar level had dropped quickly to 51 probably because I did not eat enough breakfast before making this office visit. Orange juice was put into my hand and I gulped it eagerly. One nurse opened a bag of small chocolate chip cookies which I devoured.  Ice chips were brought.

Slowly the sugars rose in my system and with it my comprehension of where I was and what was happening. Carol had been in the outer waiting room and was quickly brought back to where I was being administered to and told by the nurses they were having trouble arousing me. 

It was my first experience with near diabetic coma but from research I knew that such a trauma can be serious because it leads to a deep coma that patients do not respond to.

When I was fully recovered, Dr. Strothers administered the iron drip but has pretty much ruled out any hope that this is now the total solution I need.  He cites "many issues" at work and the low anemia he is treating is only one. But he has set up weekly infusions until my anemic levels increase to a normal level. 

Equally non-commited  is Dr. Carron who I met with this morning. His thinking now is to review my heart history of the past several years including a heart attack I had in 1995, to determine if breathing problems and loss of energy may be heart related. He conferred with Dr. Boscheck, my primary doctor, during our appointment, requesting  a full review of records that may offer some hint as to what is going on.

For the first time, Dr. Carron today used the term “rare” to describe other factors that may be in play—such as Alpha-1 (antitrypsin deficiency) where proteins normally produced through the liver into the lungs do not get where they belong, due to the damaged liver.  This results in a condition similar to advanced emphysema. 

I have most of the symptoms of Alpha-1, but it is a generic condition found only in offspring of carriers with the same medical conditions—and that is rare indeed.