Main » February 2005
February 28, 2005
Why would I be scared to go to the doctor?
Hospital Charts
Actual writings on hospital charts:
1. she has no rigors or shaking chills, but her husband
states she was very hot in bed last night.
2. Patient has chest pain if she lies on her left side for
over a year.
3. On the second day the knee was better, and on the third
day it disappeared.
4. The patient is tearful and crying constantly. She also
appears to be depressed.
5. The patient has been depressed since she began seeing me
in 1993.
6. Discharge status: Alive but without my permission.
7. Healthy appearing decrepit 69 years old male, mentally
alert but forgetful.
8. The patient refused autopsy.
9. The patient has no previous history of suicides.
10. Patient has left white blood cells at another
hospital.
11. Patient's medical history has been remarkably
insignificant with only a 40 pound weight gain in the past
three days.
12. Patient had waffles for breakfast and anorexia for
lunch.
13. She is numb from her toes down.
14. While in ER, she was examined, x-rated and sent home.
15. The skin was moist and dry.
16. Occasional, constant infrequent headaches.
17. Patient was alert and unresponsive.
18. Rectal examination revealed a normal size thyroid.
19. She stated that she had been constipated for most of
her life, until she got a divorce.
20. I saw your patient today, who is still under our car
for physical therapy.
21. Both breasts are equal and reactive to light and
accommodation.
22. Examination of genitalia reveals that he is circus
sized.
23. The lab test indicated abnormal lover function.
24. The patient was to have a bowel resection. However, he
took a job as a stock broker instead.
25. Skin: somewhat pale but present.
26. The pelvic exam will be done later on the floor.
27. Patient was seen in consultation by Dr. Blank, who felt
we should sit on the abdomen and I agree.
28. Large brown stool ambulating in the hall.
29. Patient has two teenage children, but no other
abnormalities.
Posted by Lisa at 3:26 PM | Comments (1)
Auction Auction read all about it
http://TheCelebrityCafe.com/auction This auction s being held in NYC to raise mney and awareness for lupus and lupus research-if you get the chance to be in NYC please attend if not try to forward the information to those you know in that area.
Sometimes the only thing we can do about the illness we are fighting is gather our strangth and fight back. This is one of those oppotunities to do so.
Thank you.
I get to go to the Clevelannd Clinic tommorow and be pricked and prodded some more-oh joy-LOL-I am sure I will update tommorow or the day after as I am not sure how I will be feeling tommorow evening.
Keep smiling :)
Posted by Lisa at 3:20 PM
February 26, 2005
I feel like hell tonite
I hurt everywere still, have ben for a couple of days now, Tuesday I go to the Cleveland Clinic to see what they think and what they want to try with me. I feel like a guinea pig lately. Each doctor wants to try their own thing to "fik" me. Oh well-hugs and kisses to the winner!!
I am going to sign off now as I simply hurt too much not to.
Keep smiling :)
Posted by Lisa at 4:29 PM
February 24, 2005
Sales Pitches, Lies and other Falsehoods
I have lupus, I have psoriatic arthritis, my muscles hurt, my joints ache, my body does not feel like my own and you know what-I WILL keep all of it because I am a good person inside. I have not changed personality wise, sense of humor wise, and being good hearted and kind have always been things I am known for. The reason for this is not to brag about what a great person I am-it is to comment on a comment someone made on this site.
http://www.lupusnewhope.com/ This is an ad basically. This ad is written by a real person not a company and she is basically in my opinion trying to make money off of people who feel they have no hope and feel that it can not hurt to try something else. I am strongly advising anyone out there who reads this SEE YOUR DOCTOR before you try anything you read about or hear about on the web-even someone with good intentions (unlike Pam Murphy) can accidentally cause you more problems than you need.
I listed the meds I am on to give you an idea of what my day is like-I have not advised anyone to take anything-that would be irresponsible of me and I have to remember that anyone reading this is looking for insight and hope and that is a huge responsibility that I try to take very seriously.
I posted this link on a message board that has some very wise, compassionate people on it and got their feedback before addressing it here as I do not want to be the cause of someone elses misery.
I was very angry that someone is trying to profit off of someone elses misery, and I can not chalk it up to human nature as I believe most humans are kinder and more caring than that-I will not let one bad apple take away my fundamental belief in my fellow mankind but I will always make it known that that kind of somment is not welcome here-those types of liks are not welcome here and if you decide to act irresponsibly with your own health it is your choice-I HOPE you do not.
At first I thought that in my typical way I was over reacting however having been reassured by several fellow lupies that I am not overreacting, I do feel a sense of obligation to comment on it on my blog. It is a shame that a health blog would be the target of a con artist trying to make a few bucks off someone who already feels lousy and unless independently wealthy prior-is financially struggling under the strain of this illness but the truth is a friend of mine called it needing to be more cyber-wise (apparently this is similiar to street wise according to her) and I am not at this point very cyber wise-so I am trying to back track and undo any damage that may have been done.
Thank you for your time and remember-keep smiling :)
Posted by Lisa at 8:41 AM | Comments (10)
February 23, 2005
True Definitions
ADULT: A person who has stopped growing at both ends and now grows in the middle.
BEAUTY PARLOUR: A place where women curl up and dye.
CANNIBAL: Someone who is fed up with people.
CHICKENS: The only creatures you eat before they are born and after they are dead.
COMMITTEE: A body that keeps minutes and wastes hours.
DUST: Mud with the juice squeezed out.
EGOTIST: Someone who is usually me-deep in conversation.
GOSSIP: A person who will never tell a lie if the truth will do more damage.
HANDKERCHIEF: Cold Storage.
INFLATION: Cutting money in half without damaging the paper.
MOSQUITO: An insect that makes you like flies better.
RAISIN: Grape with a sunburn.
SECRET: Something you tell to one person at a time.
TOOTHACHE: The pain that drives you to extraction.
TOMORROW: One of the greatest labour saving devices of today.
YAWN: An honest opinion openly expressed.
WRINKLES: Something other people have. You have character lines.
Posted by Lisa at 11:24 AM | Comments (1)
Working from home
My boss and dad who are one and the same person came up with the idea of letting me do some work from home so I still have an income since our company offers no short term disability pay. I worked 4 hours yesterday and am up to 5 today but I think I am quitting around 3 as I am tired and I want to take a nap. I am trying to get laundry done, work, and rest all at the same time. I really do not remember how I used to do it and why it never seemed so hard before?
I can remember working from 8-5 coming home going to cheerleading practice and doing that from 6-8, coming home doing laundry and housework going to bed at 11 and doing it again the next day and on weekends I ran from early saturday until late sunday with pee wee football games and getting everything ready. I can not imagine having to do that now-it wears me out thinking about everything I used to do-LOL.
May or amy not update later hope to finish the sheet I am working on for work then rest for awhile.
Keep smiling :)
Posted by Lisa at 10:33 AM
February 22, 2005
I LUV THE EIGHTIES
You're an 80's child if...
You had a crush on one of the New Kids on the Block members.
You wanted to be on Star Search. (Come on, we all did)
You can remember what Michael Jackson looked like before his nose fell off.
You wore a banana clip or one of those slap on wrist bands at some point during your youth.
You wore French rolls on the bottom of your splatter painted jeans.
You had slouch socks, and puff painted your own shirt at least once.
You owned a doll with 'Xavier Roberts' signed on it's butt.
You know the profound meaning of ''Wax on, Wax off.''
You can name at least half of the members of the elite ''Brat Pack.''
You can remember watching Full House and Saved by the Bell for endless hours!!!!!!
You have seen at least 10 episodes of Fraggle Rock.
You know that another name for a keyboard is a ''Synthesizer.''
You hold a special place in your heart for ''Back to the Future.''
You know where to go if you ''Wanna go where everybody knows your name.''
You thought Molly Ringwald was REALLY cool. (Was there an 80's movie she WASN'T in?)
You know what ''Sike'' means.
You fell victim to 80's fashion: big hair, crimped, combed over to the side, and you wore spandex pants
You wanted to be a Goonie - (hey u guyz!!)
You owned an extensive collection of Cabbage Patch Kids and trolls.
You actually saw Ted Danson as the MacDaddy he played ''Sam'' to be.
You ever wore fluorescent -neon if you will clothing...(or nail polish)
You could break dance, or wished you could. (I said hip hop....)
You remember when ATARI was a state of the art video game system. (Remember Pong)
You know all the words to ''Ice Ice Baby''.
You remember MC hammer well.
You can still sing the rap to "Fresh Prince of Bel Air"
You own any cassettes.
You were led to believe that in the year 2000 we'd all be living on the moon.
You remember and/or own any of the CareBear Glass collection from PizzaHut.
Poltergeist freaked you out.
You carried your lunch to school in a Gremlins or an ET lunchbox.
You have ever pondered why Smurfette was the ONLY female smurf.
You wanted to communicate with some being named Cinergy.
You wanted to have an alien like Alf living in your house.
You wore biker shorts underneath a short skirt and felt stylish.
You wore tights under shorts and felt stylish.
You ever had a Swatch Watch.
You actually spent countless hours trying to perfect the care-bear stare.
You remember when Saturday Night Live was funny.
You had Wonder Woman or Superman underwear.
You wanted to be The Hulk for Halloween.
You Believed that ''By the power of Greyskull, you HAD the power''
You thought that Transformers were more than meets the eye.
Partying ''like it's 1999'' seemed SO far away!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you can identify with at least half of this list then you, my friend, are a ''Child of the 80's.''
Posted by Lisa at 6:36 PM
One Step Forward
I am into day six of my three month work restriction and what am I doing? I have signed up with every get paid to do surveys at home service there is out there. Not sure if I will make any money at it but I will feel like I am trying to earn an income and I can do it at my own pace. Saturday and Sunday I hardly got out of bed-I hurt so bad all over-we had alot of rain and I have been paying for it ever since. Then I caught a cold-well not just any cold-it has decided to find out what is in my chest so it has came home to roost there.
My parents want me to call my doctor about it but I think she gets so tired of hearing from me that she could just scream. It is not my habit to bother anyone never has been, and now it seems as if I am imposing on everyone. My kids, my husband, my boss, my doctor. I am sure they have had alot of adjusting to do also.
I just hope the Cleveland Clinic can figure out what is wrong with me and put me on the right track. Every time I think things are getting better-I have a setback. It is like that old saying-one step forward and two steps backwards. That is how I feel right now.
I did get all of my housework done-I did it in small stages and took alot of breaks but after all was said and done-it looked like my house again!! That in itself makes you feel better I think.
My husband has to do turn arounds all week that means he will not be home until Thursday. I am hoping to get alot of rest wit the kids at school and him at work
Right now the only one loving me being home all the time is my dog. He has not whined, chewed on anyting or anything-he has been so good-he is a total mommas boy and when I leave he flips out. I think I will call the vet and ask him what to do about that. Everyone else can leave and he is fine bt if I leave he lays by the door and whines the entire time I am gone except he gets up long enough to chew up the last thing I touched before I left. When I was in the hospital my husband said no one could sleep because he paced back and forth in front of the door and howled. (he is a husky) So they were all doubly relieved when I got to come home-lol.
May update later if I decide to call the doc about the chest cold that is turning into bronchitis.
Keep smiling :)
Posted by Lisa at 2:42 AM | Comments (2)
February 19, 2005
Pet Lovers-this will sound too familiar-LOL
Some self-evident truths about pets...
Buy a dog a toy and it will play with it forever. Buy a cat a present and it will play with the wrapper for 10 minutes.
Although cats are rather delicate creatures, and they are subject to a good many ailments, I never heard of one who suffered from insomnia.
Dogs and cats instinctively know the exact moment their owners will wake up. Then they wake them 10 minutes sooner.
Dog's have owners. Cat's have staff.
Dogs shed, cats shred.
I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult?
No one appreciates the very special genius of your conversation as the dog does.
Outside of a dog, a book is probably man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read.
I hope to be the kind of person my dog thinks I am.
Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful.
People that hate cats will come back as dogs in their next life.
We wonder why the dogs always drink out of our toilets, but look at it from their point of view: Why do humans keep peeing into their water bowls?
Women and cats will do as they please... men and dogs should relax and get used to the idea.
When a man's best friend is his dog, that dog has a problem.
In order to keep a true perspective of one's importance, everyone should have a dog that will worship him and a cat that will ignore him.
Posted by Lisa at 3:43 AM | Comments (1)
Cleveland Clinic here I come!
I finally heard back from the Cleveland Clinic and my appointment is Mach 1st at 1 in the afternoon. I am anticipating it witha mixture of fear and dread.
And a little bit of optimism, maybe they can find out what is wrong with me and get it under control.
I found a great tutorial on lupus for anyone who wants to watch a video about it-it is in plain language that is easy to understand.
Here is the link http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/lupus/htm/lesson.htm
If you get a chance to check it out go for it.
The pain patch works great as long as you remember to use it correctly. I went back on these on tuesday and woke up last night hurting so bad I could not believe it. I got up took a muscle relaxer and tried to go back to sleep. After an hour I thought-you are supposed to change the patch every three days and I had the same one on since tuesday! Five days-no wonder it had stopped working with a vengance. It takes 12-18 hours to get into your system, so I took two lortab also to tide me over while I am waiting and am already feeling better. I marked it on my calendar when it needs changed again this way I save myself the trouble.
My kids are being so helpful again that this is in a huge flare, they have not complained one time about having to help take care of me. A friend of mine said it is because I never complain about doing things for them-they know I enjoy it so they are correct in assuming if I can't it is not by choice. I am going to make this up to them when I am better though.
I asked in a message board forum that I belong to if anyone felt like the weather made their flares worse or not and 100% said it does. Today it is 13 here and I really do blame the cold damp weather for my pain and lack of being able to focus on anything.
I am off for three months so I imagine I will be bored to tears-you guys will probaly be sick of hearing from me-LOL.
Anyway-I am off to find todays joke.
Keep smiling :)
Posted by Lisa at 3:24 AM | Comments (2)
February 18, 2005
Funny-but reality also
My forgetter's getting better,
But my rememberer is broke
To you that may seem funny
But, to me, that is no joke
For when I'm "here" I'm wondering
If I really should be "there"
And, when I try to think it through,
I haven't got a prayer!
Oft times I walk into a room,
Say "what am I here for?"
I wrack my brain, but all in vain!
A zero, is my score.
At times I put something away
Where it is safe, but, Gee!
The person it is safest from
Is, generally, me!
When shopping I may see someone,
Say! "Hi" and have a chat,
Then, when the person walks away
I ask myself, "who was that?"
Yes, my forgetter's getting better
While my rememberer is broke,
And it's driving me plumb crazy
And that isn't any joke.
Posted by Lisa at 5:06 AM
February 17, 2005
So far not as hard as I thought
Maybe it is simply because I need the rest so badly but the first day of the forced disability is going smooth. I was afraid I would be bored but I have slept a good portion of the day away and the pain is finally getting undercontrol.
The pain patches take about 12-18 hours to start working so they are finally doing their job but it is making me very groggy, so hopefully I will adjust to that soon and not feel like a zombie :)
Posted by Lisa at 9:19 AM
Loved this!
Found this on a website and was encouraged to share it so here goe20 Ways To Maintain A Healthy Level of Insanity
1. At Lunch Time, Sit In Your Parked Car With Sunglasses on and Point A Hair Dryer At Passing Cars. See If They Slow Down.
2. Page Yourself Over The Intercom. Don't Disguise Your Voice.
3. Every Time Someone Asks You To Do Something, Ask If They Want Fries With That.
4. Put Your Garbage Can On Your Desk And Label It "In."
5. Put Decaf In The Coffee Maker For 3 Weeks. Once Everyone Has Gotten Over Their Caffeine Addictions, Switch To Espresso.
6. In The Memo Field Of All Your Checks, Write "For Sexual Favors"
7. Finish All Your Sentences With "In Accordance With The Prophecy."
8 Don't Use Any Punctuation
9. As Often As Possible, Skip Rather Than Walk.
10. Ask People What Sex They Are. Laugh Hysterically After They Answer.
11. Specify That Your Drive-through Order Is "To Go."
12. Sing Along At The Opera.
13. Go To A Poetry Recital And Ask Why The Poems Don't Rhyme.
14. Put Mosquito Netting Around Your Work Area And Play Tropical Sounds All Day.
15. Five Days In Advance, Tell Your Friends You Can't Attend Their Party Because You're Not In The Mood.
16. Have Your Co-workers Address You By Your Wrestling Name, "Rock Hard".
17. When The Money Comes Out The ATM, Scream "I Won!, I Won!"
18. When Leaving The Zoo, Start Running Towards The Parking Lot, Yelling "Run For Your Lives, They're Loose!!"
19. Tell Your Children Over Dinner. "Due To The Economy, We Are Going To have To Let One Of You Go."
And The Final Way To Keep A Healthy Level Of Insanity.......
20. Send This E-mail To Someone To Make Them Smile...Its Called Therapy... s, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
Posted by Lisa at 4:36 AM | Comments (1)
February 16, 2005
Three months and nothing to do
Well I no longer have to worry about being in my office alone at work-I have been put on short term disability as of today as well as being referred to the Cleveland Clinic. My spine is deteroriating (forgive spelling) and I am flaring very badly.
Steve however is home from the hospital and doing well so that was incredible news and I am thrilled to announce that.
I will update more tommorow as tonite I am too emotional to think rationally.
Keep smiling :)
Posted by Lisa at 6:43 PM | Comments (1)
February 14, 2005
oh no
I am only going to update for a minute as I am at work and hurting so bad I can not stop crying. I do not know what to do. Temp is 101.2 and I hurt so bad everywhere.
Sorry so short just really miserable today-maybe it will get better as sthe day goes on. It is raining so I know that is part of it.
Posted by Lisa at 7:35 AM | Comments (2)
February 13, 2005
What a weekend
One of my dearest friends had a massive heart attack so that is where I have spent most of my weekend. I am so worried about him, this is his third one and he is not doing well.
If anyone reads this and prays please pray for his safe recovery.
That is all I am going to update for now.
Take care and keep smiling :)
Posted by Lisa at 4:51 PM | Comments (2)
February 12, 2005
Rough Start
Wow-what a rough start to the day I am having. My rashes are so much worse this morning and I hurt so bad everywhere. I have taken three painkillers and two muscle relaxers and am still on the verge of tears. On the inside of my right thigh I have a brand new rash that has never been there before and it looks like a red line of sorts and it hurts alot, I have no idea what that is.
I have been up and down all night could not get comfortable even took a couple tylenol pm nothing is working. I know if I call my doctors office they will tell me to go to the ER for pain control and they will give me fluids and IV narcotics and either admit me for pain depending on sed rate or send me home-I am having my dogs first birthday party today I do not have time to do that, so I am goig to have to deal with this-damn why today-I have plans I have stuff I ave to do today! This disease does not care about birthdays, holidays or anything else.
I am going to stop here as I am simply in too much pain to continue typing.
Keep smiling :)
Posted by Lisa at 4:26 AM
February 11, 2005
TGIF!!
Today is friday!! Today is my short day at work!! Today I am celebrating! I actually am not as cheerful as all of that may sound, I hurt my foot really bad this morning and it is still throbbing-rammed my foot into the wall at home-OUCH-but you will have that.
On tuesday I go back to the rhuematologist and then on wednesday I go to my doctor. My doctor and I agree that this rhuematologist is not good for me but we are going to give him another chance as the only other option is driving far away, so we will try one more time with him. He is not personable at all and it may sound dumb but I need a doctor that I feel is interested in me as a person not as a clinical situation that coupled with the fact that he acted like I do not know my own body and he does after only 15 minutes did not get us off to a great start so hopefully it will go better this time around.
My home phone will be on monday so that is good and my life is finally starting to get settled down to something resembling normal after so long of being messed up.
I was reading an article about living well with lupus and it struck me that the person writing it either has a mild form or does not have lupus and wrote the articfle simply on research alone. Far be it from me to criticize anyone who is trying to help people with this illness, however I think when you advise someone to try relaxtion techniques for debilitating pain-you are off the mark. I tried to tough out the pain in the beginning and realized I could not do it-I do not deserve to be made to feel "less than" because I can not do it without strong narcotics. I have a job, children, pets and a life. The narcotics have done wonders for my quality of life and I do not care anymore what anyone says-if it was not for them I would spend every waking moment in tears-why should anyone live like that when there are other options out there? That is simply my opinion however as someone who suffers from psoriatic arthritis as well as lupus I think I am qualified to give my opinion on pain meds.
Anyway I am sure I will update later-have a great weekend and keep smiling :)
Posted by Lisa at 9:11 AM
February 10, 2005
Now we know the price LOL
The owner of a golf course in Kentucky was confused about paying an invoice, so he decided to ask his secretary for some mathematical help. He called her into his office and said, "You graduated from the University of Kentucky and I need some help. If I were to give you $20,000, minus 14%, how much would you take off?"
The secretary thought a moment, then replied, "Everything but my earrings."
Posted by Lisa at 3:00 PM
TB tests are bad for me?
As you may or may not remember on Tuesday I took my kids for a TB test at the health department-it was a requirement of their new school, anyway, a dear friend who reads this blog emailed me concerned about me being around the children after this test. I called my doctor and she said I could be around them but I could not clean up any blood from them or drink after them or in anyway exchange fluids of any kind. So when my sons bled I gave him a napkin (we were in the car) and I told him to throw it away at the school since we were headed there. At no time did I touch it after handing it to him-this morning I took the kids back for the results which were negative and the nurse asked me about the lupus and if I knew not to be around the kids AT ALL. I advised her what my doctor said and she still proceeded to tell me that I should not have been around my kids at all. I do not know if that is true and I do trust my doctors advice over a nurse but I wanted to put this in here for any who may be reading this. If you have lupus you can not be exposed to any live vaccine from what I am hearing or it can trigger a severe flare, so please use caution and thank you Cathrine for your concern and prompting me to call my doctor as I did not know that.
Keep smiling :)
Posted by Lisa at 9:23 AM
February 9, 2005
I get so lonely I could cry.....
I am so isolated at work being in an office by myself for nine hours a day and I thought that I was getting better, we had a seminar and it was upstairs (nothing but bright fluroscent lights) after about thirty minutes in those my head was hurting my eyes were burning and I was sick to my stomach, so I guess I still have to stay alone :(.
I was really hoping to get moved back to a room with everyone else now that I am feeling somewhat better I no longer want to be so isolated but there is no where for me to go that does not have those damn lights! So I sit in my dark office with only a small lamp and atleast my head does not hurt so badly.
This has really adversely affected my job in many ways. I was definitely next in line for a promotion and I can kiss that good bye now. No one even asks me for help anymore and when they do mention my name it is in whispers and I know they feel sorry for me. I just want my life back the way it was LBL (life before lupus). I have nto done anything wrong-I do not deserve this and it is wrong that I am being punished for my immune system not being able to do its job! There is now no way that I will ever get ahead at my job and I am too old to try and go somewhere else and hope to end up in at least middle management. IT IS NOT FAIR! I did not do anything wrong! Somedays it seems like playing by the rules and doing the right thing are for naught. I want a raise, a promotion and the respect that comes with both but I will never get that now. I am really at a crossroads in trying to decide what direction my life should take now. I just wish sometimes that I had a guardian angel who could point me in the right direction. Tonight I am whining because I will never get ahead at my job and yet I know I am no longer as reliable as I used to be, I know I can not be counted on to always be there and I know the company can not afford to promote based on past performance alone, so realistically I do not blame them, but it hurts so bad. I have always been an overacheiver as far as my life goes and it seems like everthing I have wanted all I have ever had to do is work really hard and I got it-now it is out of my control and I do not know what to do to bring it back.
Lupus is not for control freaks that is for sure! You never know what each day is going to bring. The temp is supposed to take a major nosedive tonite so I know I will be hurting in the morning and I am not looking forward to that at all. What can you do? I keep trying to have a positive attitude but some days it is so hard and I get so down about the drastic changes in my life. I can not shoot basketball with my son anymore that breaks my heart.
Posted by Lisa at 6:47 PM | Comments (1)
Coping with Lupus?
Lupus and Quality of Life
Despite the symptoms of lupus and the potential side-effects of treatment, people with lupus can maintain a high quality of life overall. One key to managing lupus is to understand the disease and its impact. Learning to recognize the warning signs of a flare can help the patient take steps to ward it off or reduce its intensity. Many people with lupus experience increased fatigue, pain, a rash, fever, abdominal discomfort, headache, or dizziness just before a flare. Developing strategies to prevent flares can also be helpful, such as learning to recognize your warning signals and maintaining good communication with your doctor.
It is also important for people with lupus to receive regular health care, instead of seeking help only when symptoms worsen. Results from a medical exam and laboratory work on a regular basis allows the doctor to note any changes and to identify and treat flares early. The treatment plan, which is tailored to the individual's specific needs and circumstances, can be adjusted accordingly. If new symptoms are identified early, treatments may be more effective. Other concerns also can be addressed at regular checkups. The doctor can provide guidance about such issues as the use of sunscreens, stress reduction, and the importance of structured exercise and rest, as well as birth control and family planning. Because people with lupus can be more susceptible to infections, the doctor may recommend yearly influenza vaccinations or pneumococcal vaccinations for some patients.
Women with lupus should receive regular preventive health care, such as gynecological and breast examinations. Men with lupus should have the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test. Both men and women need to have their blood pressure and cholesterol checked on a regular basis. If a person is taking corticosteroids or antimalarial medications, an eye exam should be done at least yearly to screen for and treat eye problems.
This is just an idea of what you need to do if you have lupus-it does not affect just your joints but every area of your life and it can make your life very difficult if it is not under control. Take lupus seriously because your life can depend on it. Every one with lupus suffers differently some people do not have very many problems with it and others are very sick so please take it seriously if you have it because what seems minor right now can turn quickly.
Posted by Lisa at 6:40 PM
Cable, phone and action!
My cable will be on today and they can turn my phone on monday so I am practically totally set back up!! Took long enough but thats the breaks.
I am feeling pretty good today-feeling positive and optimistic about everything for the first time in awhile. I think the fact that I am sleeping finally has helped alot. I slept for 9 hours yesterday and 8 last night so I am feeling alot more human finally. It seems like everything is starting to turn around, except that I still have not went more than a couple of days without a fever :( I keep hearing that it should start easing yet the temp still has not. Today my temp is 100.2 and I do not know why it refuses to go away. Oh well, maybe soon. Anyway I will sit down and do a really good update tonite from my home where I will have the privacy as well as the access to some materials I want you all to see and read.
Until then-keep smiling :)
Posted by Lisa at 8:38 AM
February 8, 2005
Tuesday-so far so good
I am feeling pretty good today, this is good for a change since most of the time I am either really tired or really achy or something not as pleasant but today I am doing ok so far.
The kids had to go have a TB test done today since they changed schools and that meant we got to sleep in until 7 this morning so that helped and I woked up at 5:30 and took my medicines so at 7 I was feeling pretty good, with the extra sleep and the medicines working. I am afraid my doctor is going to take away the lortab because she said I am using too much and she is worried about my liver and I do not know what I will do if she does that. It is so hard to move around in the mornings especially and at work I am up and down because I get stiff if I sit for too long so hopefully we will come up with something that works better because I know I am taking too many lortab but they are not very effective because they do not work unless I take 3 every three hours instead of 2 every four to six hours. I know that is too many but it is the only way to keep it under control. It is noon and I have taken six today and this is a good day so imagine what I take on a bad day-ALOT yet they are not very effective. I wish I would not have said the oxycontin were too strong, I should have given it more time because I do need something stronger now. Your body starts to build up a tolerance to any pain medicine after awhile and that is what is happening to me.
If you have any suggestions-feel free to comment and let me know-thanks.
Posted by Lisa at 8:49 AM
February 7, 2005
Home
I am finally home after four weeks at my parents house. It is so nice to be home again! There is so much to do and I hurt all over from trying to get it all done, but I am home!! My cable with modem will be on wednesday and then I will be updating more regularly.
Last wednesday I spent the entire day at the ER because my dr was out of town and Rachel (my nurse) told me to go to the ER. They took me straight back because of my history and because I was running a temp again. It seems like I can never get this stuff to settle down for awhile, but hopefully now that I am at home, my life may settle back down a little bit and the flare will settle down. I hope so because right now every part of me hurts and I need a break but I do not know where one is coming from.
Everyone is happy to be home again-the animals, the kids and of course my husband and myself. It was great sleeping in my bed again and wonderful to be able to turn the heat to where I am comfortable-LOL. The things you take for granted. It was hard for me at my dads as far as the tempature goes because my dad keeps his house so cold at night and that caused me to be stiffer than a board. So I was happy that when I woke up saturday, sunday and monday I was warm and it was still hard to get out of bed but it did not make me cry.
I can not believe how much my life keeps changing. I can not open alot of things that I used to be able to open. I can not lift things that I used to be able to. I was hodling something for my husband yesterday and he said "why are you shaking so bad" and I told him-I always do anymore when I try to hold anything regardless of how light it is my hands do not want to work like that.
Right now typing is hurting also and my thumbs are killing me so I am going to wrap this up for now. Just wanted everyone to know-I AM HOME!!
Posted by Lisa at 6:14 AM
February 1, 2005
Todays joke
Top 10 Funny Store Signs
1.Outside a muffler shop: "No appointment necessary, we hear you coming."
2.Outside a hotel: "Help! We need inn-experienced people."
3.On a desk in a reception room: "We shoot every 3rd salesman , and the 2nd one just left."
4.In a veterinarians waiting room: "Be back in 5 minutes, Sit ! Stay!"
5.At the electric company: "We would be de-lighted if you send in your bill. However, if you don't you will be."
6.On the door of a computer store: "Out for a quick byte."
7.In a restaurant window: "Don't stand there and be hungry, come on in and get fed up."
8.Inside a bowling alley: "Please be quiet, we need to hear a pin drop."
9.In the front yard of a funeral home: "Drive carefully, we'll wait."
10.In a counselors office: "Growing old is mandatory, growing wise is optional. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by Lisa at 1:42 PM | Comments (1)
Pity Party-Your all invited!!
Damn it is already feb and I am still not back in my house and I am starting to go back into a full fledged flare and I know if I call my doctor she is going to put me back in the hospital again-in some ways that would not be bad-I would get out of being at my dads but my kids would never forgive me. It is not my dad at all it is just that I want my home back so bad.
So now today I have dedicated todays entry to feel sorry for me!! LOL
Just so you know you are justified in joining me-here is why I am throwing this party today.
1. I am homeless (temporarily still but hard)
2. I am flaring
3. I am married to someone who does not understand at all
4. I have two teenagers complete with the angst but without a room to go to
5. I am in so much pain yet due to financial reasons I have to be at work
6. I had to move by myself at work due to the lights and noise so I am so isolated and lonely some days
7. My hands are swollen and I am crying in order to type this or anything at my job
8. My dog has had to go stay somewhere else and I miss him like crazy.
9. My cat is getting sicker and sicker by the day and I expect her to not be around much longer.
And the final reason I am having this pity party is
10. With the meds I am on I can not drink BEER!!!!!!! LOL
Thanks for coming and please at least RSVP
Keep smiling :)
Posted by Lisa at 6:58 AM
