Hi party people! I am a 30 something mom of two with lots of health problems. I've got a lupus-like autoimmune disorder, fibromyalgia, endometriosis, veinous reflux, and I always catch every sickness that goes around. Oh and I'm mental. Okay okay, I'm not really mental. Sometimes I just feel like I'm going crazy. Wouldn't you too if you always felt like crap? So, what can I do about it? I've decided to take a more proactive approach to my health. I figure if I write the stuff down that is going on with my body I might be able to figure out (or remember at least) what works best for me. I'm supposed to be keeping track of changes/improvements with my health anyways for my rheumatologist. I've been writing down a few things here and there on paper but when it comes time to go back to my doc I've lost it. I don't remember jack so it can be a problem and alot can happen in the three months between visits. Now I'll be able to scroll back on this blog the night before my appointment and see what's been happening.
Beware: If you read this blog you may be in store for some whining, complaining, what-the-heck's going on comments. Hey everyone needs to vent once in awhile right? It's good for the soul. I feel like I'm going to explode if I don't vent. My mom or husband Eric are usually the ones who have to endure my pity parties although I try not to do it very often. When I'm overally grumpy Eric asks me if I'm in pain. Yep, he can tell when I'm having a bad day. Let's face it, I have been more grumpy lately. It's just that my condition seems to be getting worse instead of better. Plus I'm just getting over the stomache flu. I've never felt so horrible in my life! Puking, stomache cramps, dehydration...yuck. I still feel a little nauseous but I feel a whole lot better. Thankfully my body pain miraculously receded while I was down sick. I don't think I could have handled both. But, now that the stomache is getting better my pain creeped back in. Darn the luck! I was hoping it would stay away for awhile. Oh well. Such is life.
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I always find myself feeling upside down, backwards, or flat on my back. I never feel "normal" nor do I know what that is. This blog is to keep track of my ups and downs with my health in an effort to find out what works best for me!
Purpose of this blog:
This blog is to keep track of my symptoms so my rheumatologist and I can figure out what's going on with me and what will work best. It's also therapy for me to vent and forget!
Lupus/Fibromyalgia Awareness
What are the symptoms of lupus?
- Achy or swollen joints
- Anemia
- Arthritis (pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints)
- Blood Clots
- Depression or difficulty concentrating
- Excessive protein in the urine
- Eye inflammation
- Hair loss
- Kidney problems, particularly painless protein or blood in the urine
- Low white or red blood cell count
- Neurologic (brain) problems, including seizures and mental problems
- Pain in the chest on deep breathing
- Persistent fever over 100 degrees
- Presence of specific autoantibodies measured in the blood
- Prolonged, extreme fatigue
- Rash across cheeks and bridge of nose (butterfly rash). Scaly, disk-shaped rash on face, neck, ears, scalp and/or chest.
- Raynaud's phenomenon: a condition in which the fingers, toes, nose and/or ears may become unusually sensitive to cold and may turn white or blue when exposed to the cold.
- Sensitivity to sun or ultraviolet light such as severe rashes or becoming ill from sun exposure.
- Sjogren's syndrome, a chronic condition that causes dryness of the eyes and mouth. Women may experience vaginal dryness.
- Skin rashes
- Sores on the tongue, inside the mouth and/or nose that are sometimes painless.
- Strokes
- Swollen lymph nodes
- The presence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA), the most commonly seen autoantibody in SLE
- Weakness
- Weight Loss, loss of appetite
Fibromyalgia Symptoms
The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has established the criteria listed below for diagnosing fibromyalgia.
Presence of widespread pain for at least 3 months, and all of the following:
Pain on the right and left sides of the body.
Pain above and below the waist.
Pain in the axial skeleton.
Pain on palpation in at least 11 of 18 tender points.
Presence of widespread pain for at least 3 months, and all of the following:
Pain on the right and left sides of the body.
Pain above and below the waist.
Pain in the axial skeleton.
Pain on palpation in at least 11 of 18 tender points.
Systemic Lupus
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) attacks multiple systems in the body which may include: the skin, joints, lungs, blood, blood vessels, heart, kidneys, liver, brain and the nervous system.
About Me
A Day in the Life of my Symptoms:
- abdominal pain
- arthritis-like pain
- chest pain
- dizziness
- endometriosis
- exhaustion
- fatigue
- forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating
- general malaise
- joint pain
- lack of motivation
- low white cell count
- muscle pain, soreness
- nausea
- poor immunity
- presence of ANA in body
- rashes from sun exposure
- Raynaud's phenomenon
- sensitivity to sunlight
- Sjogren's syndrome
- swollen lymph nodes
- weakness
Lupus Related Links
Other Kami Creations:
Label Mania
- Carlee (1)
- fatigue (2)
- feeling bad (1)
- feeling good (1)
- hiking (1)
- housework (1)
- humor (3)
- intense pain (1)
- Introductory Blog (1)
- meds (2)
- nausea (1)
- pain (2)
- rash (1)
- sleep (1)
- stairways (1)
- stomach problems (2)
- sun reaction (1)
- vein surgery (6)
- warm weather (1)
- weather (1)
- weird symptoms (1)
3 comments:
Kami,
I had no idea that any of this was going on with you. You hide it well. Not that I am around you all that much. So are you able to take anything for the symptoms? I read up on lupus the other day, thinking maybe Clare had it and that I possibly passed it onto her. I think what I had was a serious case of paranoia/hypochondria. Okay I don't think that but my husband Paul is fully convinced of it. So do you get enough down time to rest? If not, feel free to leave the kids with us sometime. I am serious. My mom had all kinds of funky things go on with her body as well and it seemed/seems as though for her the only quick fix was/is lots of sleeping. I wish you well. I love that we all kind of live near each other now.
I wish I could get some time to rest! I have alot of sleeping problems too so I never fully get any rest. I'm always soooo tired! You are so sweet to offer to take the kids. I'll be okay. I'm just trying to live through it. At least when I vent I feel better! I'm just hoping to find a med combo that works. We're still working on it. We'll have to get together sometime and let the kids play. Until then post lots of pics because I love seeing them!
As your mom, do you know how much it hurts me to see you in such pain and agony?!! I wish so much that these kinds of diseases were't passed down to your children! I would do anything to take it back from you! You are such a couragous person and you are handling it with such bravery and poise. I love you so much and I hope you know that I will always be there for you to help with whatever you need!
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