[Diabetes] General Chat and Support Thread

wiz569 · 23-04-2021 7:26pm

iamwhoiam wrote: »

Thank you . Glad she is getting it sorted . A family member attends there but is in Group 7

She would have classed herself as Group 7 but her last HbA1C was bang on 58mmol/mol so they put her forward.

lucernarian · 23-04-2021 7:29pm

No word in my family yet from St. James about an appointment. For a Type 1.

CramCycle · 23-04-2021 9:41pm

lucernarian wrote: »

No word in my family yet from St. James about an appointment. For a Type 1.

By the sounds of it they are only rolling it out this week to St. James patients, so possibly just getting through the list, they only have X amount per day as well so it might be a case they have to a lot what they have and then wait for the next allotment to be signed off. Obviously I don't know your surname or you mine but alphabetically I am pretty early on, maybe they are just down the list a bit.

CramCycle · 26-04-2021 8:44am

Positive notes, first dose down and relatively quick and simple to get done. Loved every minute of it

Negative notes, my mother in laws centre had music playing and everyone in super buzzing mood, this was not the case here. It was nice and well run but I was clearly the most excited person within the place. If I hadn't been wearing my cycling shoes I would have been doing cartwheels through the place.

robinph wrote: »

The reports from family and friends on Moderna have been just dodgy arms the next day, one friend being a vet in the middle of an operation when their arm went a bit weird. But more symptoms from the second dose, which sounded similar to what I had from Astra Zeneca from my first dose.

Arm is a tiny bit sore but about the same as any other vaccine I have gotten, my nurse was good, didn't even feel it going in.

AhHaor wrote: »

Phonecall last night vaccine for sunday at James. Delighted

Hope it went well.

Xofpod · 26-04-2021 9:01am

CramCycle wrote: »

By the sounds of it they are only rolling it out this week to St. James patients, so possibly just getting through the list, they only have X amount per day as well so it might be a case they have to a lot what they have and then wait for the next allotment to be signed off. Obviously I don't know your surname or you mine but alphabetically I am pretty early on, maybe they are just down the list a bit.

I have an appointment for the vaccine through James for tomorrow. Hopefully they'll get through the list fairly fast. It'll be Moderna (the edgy, hipster vaccine of choice...)
I've heard a couple of reports of people having dead arms after the first dose but nothing serious. Follow up dose in 4 weeks. Can't wait.

CramCycle · 26-04-2021 9:09am

Xofpod wrote: »

I have an appointment for the vaccine through James for tomorrow. Hopefully they'll get through the list fairly fast. It'll be Moderna (the edgy, hipster vaccine of choice...)
I've heard a couple of reports of people having dead arms after the first dose but nothing serious. Follow up dose in 4 weeks. Can't wait.

Mine was Moderna, arm is a tiny bit sore but no worse than the annual flu vaccine which sometimes has the same effect, sometimes not. Bloods seem to be OK so far, nothing out of the ordainary.

Wanton · 27-04-2021 10:59am

I got a text to register for my my first shot on Friday, not through my endo thought (Mater) but through my GP.

Apparently it will be the Pfizer shot.

More excited than I thought I would or should be!

Johann. · 27-04-2021 1:01pm

Still waiting for word on mine, however my parents received notification of theirs - so happy days. My mam said I could take her place - as nice a gesture I’m not sure that’s how it works.

Xofpod · 28-04-2021 9:57am

CramCycle wrote: »

Mine was Moderna, arm is a tiny bit sore but no worse than the annual flu vaccine which sometimes has the same effect, sometimes not. Bloods seem to be OK so far, nothing out of the ordainary.

Same here. Slight pain in the arm today but nothing to write home about. No noticeable effect on bloods.

have to say I was very impressed with the HSE vaccination operation. Efficient, professional, good spacing, constant disinfection of all areas. The HSE get enough grief but (in my experience here in any case) they're doing a great job with this.

ebbsy · 28-04-2021 10:15am

I am thinking of getting one of those circulation machines that you put your feet and legs into.

Has anyone on here got experience ?

Galbin · 28-04-2021 5:14pm

Does anyone know if increasing your metformin dose can cause incredible fatigue? Have been on 1500 mg for PCOS for a long time, but it was increased to 2000 mg a few days ago. I constantly feel sleepy now despite sleeping longer at night and going to bed earlier.

iamwhoiam · 30-04-2021 9:36am

Has anyone in Cohort 7 been vaccinated from Tallaght hospital clinic yet ?
Are they getting in touch with people or referring them for vaccination ?
A family member ( Type 1) attends Tallaght hospital clinic and had heard nothing at all
She did ring them and they asked about the HbAic which was not over 58

Mumser · 30-04-2021 10:09am

I don’t know anything about the Tallaght clinic but my hospital referred patients to the HSE list for cohort 4(>58 HbA1c just!). In the end I was called to my hospital one weekend as they had spare shots. I had previously queried my GP practice when it wasn’t clear about the roll out. Since then I had 2 calls from them too to get a vaccine.

I ramble on! So I’d suspect the larger hospitals create their cohort 4 & 7 lists and the HSE work through those. Some hospitals are doing their own ones too. However, it may be worth it for your relative to contact their GP too, as it appears that some of them are working through these cohorts too in parallel with the hospitals. In particular if they end up with spare shots to use, which no one wants to waste.

iamwhoiam · 30-04-2021 10:11am

Mumser wrote: »

I don’t know anything about the Tallaght clinic but my hospital referred patients to the HSE list for cohort 4(>58 HbA1c just!). In the end I was called to my hospital one weekend as they had spare shots. I had previously queried my GP practice when it wasn’t clear about the roll out. Since then I had 2 calls from them too to get a vaccine.

I ramble on! So I’d suspect the larger hospitals create their cohort 4 & 7 lists and the HSE work through those. Some hospitals are doing their own ones too. However, it may be worth it for your relative to contact their GP too, as it appears that some of them are working through these cohorts too in parallel with the hospitals. In particular if they end up with spare shots to use, which no one wants to waste.

Thank you ,, great you got sorted .She rang both GP and clinic so hopefully one of them get in touch .

Bikerman2019 · 30-04-2021 10:59am

iamwhoiam wrote: »

Has anyone in Cohort 7 been vaccinated from Tallaght hospital clinic yet ?
Are they getting in touch with people or referring them for vaccination ?
A family member ( Type 1) attends Tallaght hospital clinic and had heard nothing at all
She did ring them and they asked about the HbAic which was not over 58

I am unsure of the bands involved, but I am type 2, and Tallaght hospitals referred me, got a text for moderna in Citywest. Got text on Tuesday last week, jab number 1 on the Friday.

imfml · 30-04-2021 12:56pm

T1D and I've heard nothing since my AZ appointment was canceled on the day it was pulled for under 60s. From reading posts here, I guess the squeaky wheel gets the oil so I will start ringing GP and Consultants hospital to ask. I feel like I'm the last diabetic in Ireland to get offered a vaccine at this stage. May 1st tomorrow and still waiting ðŸ˜¡

uli84 · 30-04-2021 2:49pm

Contact your GPs regarding vaccine

CramCycle · 30-04-2021 3:24pm

uli84 wrote: »

Contact your GPs regarding vaccine

I understood your consultant/clinic should refer you if its for a LTI. Regrettably though there are a lot of diabetics who aren't connected to a clinic based on posts on various social media platforms

uli84 · 30-04-2021 3:42pm

Not sure to be honest, HSE website goes:

People at high risk aged 16 to 59

GPs will vaccinate people aged 59 and under in this group. It will take some time for GPs to identify and invite everyone.

How you will get your vaccine

GPs will contact their patients when it’s their turn to be vaccinated.

In my case the above was true

CramCycle · 30-04-2021 3:53pm

I only thought what I thought because everyone I know came through their clinic and got called in via their clinic referring them. Maybe there is more to it than that, most of the Diabetics I know locally were called into James and the Aviva. Certainly worth calling your team anyway to see can either side push it through to anyone waiting.

Xofpod · 30-04-2021 4:13pm

There seems to be a number of different systems in operation and each organisation is setting their own procedure, On the day that I got the call via my clinic for a vaccine appointment, I also got a separate call from my GP offering to put me on a standby list for the next week's GP vaccination clinic.

Best policy I think is be the squeaky wheel - contact both your GP and clinic (if you're affiliated to one) and hopefully one of them will get to you asap

Harry Palmr · 30-04-2021 6:28pm

I just got SMS notification of Pfizer jab for group 4, on a first come first served basis! Got AZ first dose April 4th

Royal Legend · 01-05-2021 1:29pm

Thankfully got my first dose of Pfizer this week, got the phone call from the GP on Monday, sorted on Tuesday. Was advised by the missus to take a couple of panadol before and keep taking every 3-4 hours for the rest of the day, no Pain or Side effects whatsoever. Back in 4 weeks for the second one.
Have to say it is a weight off of my mind, still need to be careful though.

philten · 01-05-2021 3:22pm

I got sick of waiting to be called through hospital clinic so rang my GP on Thursday and got called in on Friday for Pfizer vaccine. They had 3 doses going so was just lucky.

Needless to say was very happy.

lucernarian · 01-05-2021 4:15pm

CramCycle wrote: »

I only thought what I thought because everyone I know came through their clinic and got called in via their clinic referring them. Maybe there is more to it than that, most of the Diabetics I know locally were called into James and the Aviva. Certainly worth calling your team anyway to see can either side push it through to anyone waiting.

Folks here haven't been contacted by St. James yet

CramCycle · 02-05-2021 9:08am

lucernarian wrote: »

Folks here haven't been contacted by St. James yet

Might be worth sending an email into the team there, they have definitely started.

Johann. · 07-05-2021 10:15am

Still waiting to hear from Beaumount, or GP. HSE said to contact GP, GP said to contact Hospital, Hospital said my name was put forward for Cohort 4 and have no control over rollout - and to, wait for it...contact my GP

The Big Easy · 07-05-2021 11:51am

Hi everyone, I have a question I hope you can help me with. I've been using the BD MicroFine 5mm needles for years but sometimes bruise or develop an insulin lump. I've been looking at the HSE approved medications for long-term illness and the 4mm BD MicroFine is not on it, but the Neon Verifine 4mm is.

Does anyone have any experience of the Verifine needles? I also can't find any information on their width, the BD 5mm are .25mm and I don't want to change if they're any thicker than that.

Any further info would be great!

banjobongo · 07-05-2021 12:52pm

hi
I use BD 4mm needles from my local chemist, on the LTI, your local chemist should have them in stock, have you asked them?
(I wouldnt want to go back to using 5mm needles!)

Taeholic · 07-05-2021 4:12pm

The Big Easy wrote: »

Hi everyone, I have a question I hope you can help me with. I've been using the BD MicroFine 5mm needles for years but sometimes bruise or develop an insulin lump. I've been looking at the HSE approved medications for long-term illness and the 4mm BD MicroFine is not on it, but the Neon Verifine 4mm

Any further info would be great!

I get 4mm BD micro fine ultra on my LTI book in several of my local chemists. I was told once before they're not on the list and I asked them to double check because I had gotten them in that same chemist previously. She was mistaken and gave me the 4mm, no issues since. I'd ask them to double check too and say you know people who have LTI books and get 4mm.

The Big Easy · 07-05-2021 6:14pm

banjobongo wrote: »

hi
I use BD 4mm needles from my local chemist, on the LTI, your local chemist should have them in stock, have you asked them?
(I wouldnt want to go back to using 5mm needles!)

Taeholic wrote: »

I get 4mm BD micro fine ultra on my LTI book in several of my local chemists. I was told once before they're not on the list and I asked them to double check because I had gotten them in that same chemist previously. She was mistaken and gave me the 4mm, no issues since. I'd ask them to double check too and say you know people who have LTI books and get 4mm.

Thank you both, I emailed my prescription to the doctor today and put Neon verifine 4mm down as I could not find the BD MF 4mm on the list. I've changed doctor so this was my chance to pick my own prescription so to speak. I'm regretting not putting down the BD MF 4mm now.

ohnonotgmail · 07-05-2021 6:54pm

The Big Easy wrote: »

Thank you both, I emailed my prescription to the doctor today and put Neon verifine 4mm down as I could not find the BD MF 4mm on the list. I've changed doctor so this was my chance to pick my own prescription so to speak. I'm regretting not putting down the BD MF 4mm now.

Does your prescription need to be so prescriptive, if you pardon the expression? I only use test strips and lancets myself but my prescription just says "Test strips and lancets" and the pharmacist dispenses the ones I ask for.

banie01 · 07-05-2021 7:24pm

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

Does your prescription need to be so prescriptive, if you pardon the expression? I only use test strips and lancets myself but my prescription just says "Test strips and lancets" and the pharmacist dispenses the ones I ask for.

The same here, test strips and lancets and that gives me leeway to change meters and needles.

The Big Easy · 08-05-2021 9:01am

Thanks everyone, I shouldn't have wrote it out so clearly then, just needles 4mm would have done

It's just I'm changing doctor and pharmacy, having moved and the pharmacy are actually being a real pain about everything. I would go somewhere else but they're the only one in a small village, probably why they have the attitude they do!

banjobongo · 08-05-2021 11:16am

The Big Easy wrote: »

Thanks everyone, I shouldn't have wrote it out so clearly then, just needles 4mm would have done

It's just I'm changing doctor and pharmacy, having moved and the pharmacy are actually being a real pain about everything. I would go somewhere else but they're the only one in a small village, probably why they have the attitude they do!

I think that because we the patient dont directly pay for the stuff we get from the Chemist, that maybe we sometimes forget that we are the customer, the chemist gets paid for everything from the state so we are doing the chemist a favour by giving them our business...

The Big Easy · 08-05-2021 11:18am

banjobongo wrote: »

I think that because we the patient dont directly pay for the stuff we get from the Chemist, that maybe we sometimes forget that we are the customer, the chemist gets paid for everything from the state so we are doing the chemist a favour by giving them our business...

Exactly, it seems lost on them sometimes though

imfml · 09-05-2021 10:02am

Sorry to share some unpleasant reading about diabetic Covid patients in India, but I always think it is better to be aware of these things. Case numbers reported in the article seem very low considering the population though.

BBC News - Mucormycosis: The 'black fungus' maiming Covid patients in India
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-57027829

Johann. · 10-05-2021 11:28am

Got the call Saturday morning, Pfizer vaccine booked for Wednesday afternoon.

Aceandstuff · 10-05-2021 11:36pm

I'm getting my first dose of Pfizer on Saturday after so much pointless confusion since early April.

I was initially called for an appointment in another county when inter-county travel wasn't allowed, and I wouldn't have been able to get there and back in a day on the train anyway. I tried a few more times to get a vaccine in Dublin, was told by HSE Live that they were just an information line and could do nothing for me, etc.

Eventually I was called for bloods by my GP practice and asked them about the vaccine. They had no clue when they'd be getting vaccines or be able to arrange appointments. Just over a week later, I went in for the blood tests and the nurse was able to get me an appointment! I got the confirmation text this morning! (Now I'm just waiting for it all to go wrong again.)

banjobongo · 11-05-2021 12:42pm

I have a child living abroad, in Germany and unfortunately it looks like she may have a form of diabetes, she is being checked up at present but she said they told her her blood sugar levels were at 325...I am not familar with this system of counting blood sugar levels, is 325 the same as 32.5 mmol?

ohnonotgmail · 11-05-2021 12:47pm

banjobongo wrote: »

I have a child living abroad, in Germany and unfortunately it looks like she may have a form of diabetes, she is being checked up at present but she said they told her her blood sugar levels were at 325...I am not familar with this system of counting blood sugar levels, is 325 the same as 32.5 mmol?

No, they must be using the mg/Dl scale. Not one I'm used to but 325 on that scale is about 13 on the percentage scale so 18.1 in mmol/L.

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/blood-sugar-converter.html

banie01 · 11-05-2021 12:48pm

banjobongo wrote: »

I have a child living abroad, in Germany and unfortunately it looks like she may have a form of diabetes, she is being checked up at present but she said they told her her blood sugar levels were at 325...I am not familar with this system of counting blood sugar levels, is 325 the same as 32.5 mmol?

It sounds like they are using mg/dl which is "new" standard thats slowly creeping in here too.
325mg/dl equals @18mmol and @13% in the % Hba1c scale.
https://www.hba1cnet.com/hba1c-calculator/

Hope they get on top of the BG quickly and recover well.

banjobongo · 11-05-2021 2:49pm

many thanks to ohnonotgmail and banie01 this is very helpful feedback!

Chris_Heilong · 12-05-2021 2:17am

I got my first Moderna injection 2 weeks back, no side effects what so ever.

B00MSTICK · 13-05-2021 2:11pm

Hi all,

I called my GP regarding vaccine scheduling etc. and apparently I missed the "booking" deadline for cohort 7. I know they haven't completed giving the vaccine to all of cohort 7 yet but they seem to be saying I'll need to wait for the HSE age based cohort now. I feel like the receptionist was just fobbing me off with a "computer says no" type response.

Did anyone else need to book their vaccine appointment or were they just automatically put on a list (which I assumed seeing as the GP knows I am a diabetic!)
I called the Diabetes day centre and they said I was on a list but it doesn't seem like anything is joined up...

Taeholic · 13-05-2021 7:40pm

B00MSTICK wrote: »

Hi all,

Did anyone else need to book their vaccine appointment or were they just automatically put on a list (which I assumed seeing as the GP knows I am a diabetic!)
I called the Diabetes day centre and they said I was on a list but it doesn't seem like anything is joined up...

Thats the first I've heard of a booking deadline for any Cohort. I was part of Cohort 4 and contacted through my diabetes clinic. Maybe call your GP? They might be able to schedule you for a vaccine. I was also offered a vaccine appointment from my GP too. There seems to be lots of wires crossed. Hope this helps

calfmuscle · 13-05-2021 8:30pm

I'm confused about prioritisation , are all diabetics prioritised or just type 1? I don't know which type people are talking about on thread, it might be helpful if people differentiated type 1, 2, insipidus or gestational.

ohnonotgmail · 13-05-2021 8:48pm

calfmuscle wrote: »

I'm confused about prioritisation , are all diabetics prioritised or just type 1? I don't know which type people are talking about on thread, it might be helpful if people differentiated type 1, 2, insipidus or gestational.

I had my first dose of the AZ vaccine about 4 weeks ago and I'm type 2, well controlled, and not an OAP. I'm based in dublin and I think location might have a part to play in when you are called as I dont meet any of the high priority criteria.

Taeholic · 13-05-2021 10:42pm

calfmuscle wrote: »

I'm confused about prioritisation , are all diabetics prioritised or just type 1? I don't know which type people are talking about on thread, it might be helpful if people differentiated type 1, 2, insipidus or gestational.

To my knowledge, the priority for diabetics receiving the vaccine is based on your last HBA1C result regardless of what type of diabetes you have. Your diabetes clinic puts your name forward based on your most recent blood tests. Open to corrections on that but that's my understanding.

ohnonotgmail · 13-05-2021 11:21pm

Taeholic wrote: »

To my knowledge, the priority for diabetics receiving the vaccine is based on your last HBA1C result regardless of what type of diabetes you have. Your diabetes clinic puts your name forward based on your most recent blood tests. Open to corrections on that but that's my understanding.

my last hba1c was 51 which i believe means it is controlled yet I was called quite early. I still location played a part.

[Diabetes] General Chat and Support Thread

Comments