I've always got something going on in my ageing body. With lupus, you never know from one day to the next, how you're going to feel.
So I think I'm having a mild flare, since I'm running a bit of a fever. Maybe, maybe not. And it may or may not be related to the suspected flare, but I am also shaking a bit.
I'm not taking any prednisone; I usually do feel shaky while I'm taking even the least amount of pred. So I'm wondering if it might be my thyroid?
Years ago, I had the best energy I've ever had.....I was up all night, I lost weight while eating like the proverbial horse, and there was nothing I couldn't do. Until my PCP, during a routine office visit, asked me bluntly, "Are you taking speed?" Of course not. But I was in danger of having a stroke, he said. So he sent me to an endocrinologist, who said my thyroid was overactive and we needed to do a radioactive iodine to dissolve it. Hmmm. The word radioactive gave me a bit of a pause, but what the heck.....if that's going to take care of this situation, I'll go for, I it.
So I drank the Magic Potion, went home and planned for my family trip to Aspen. Lovely place, lots of things to do, great restaurants, and what did I do for two weeks?
I slept. Nearly all the time. Didn't want to eat. And when we got home, I discovered I had gained 10 pounds.
Egads.....So it was time to take a thyroid supplement. Take once each day, and I would be okay. This was, oh, about 20 years ago. Every morning, I take that little pill. Without fail.
Occasionally, my PCP will check my THS level, but it always comes back as good. No adjustments needed.
But it might be the right time to adjust this med. Why else would I shake? But, OTOH, I'm not losing any weight. Darn it.
So when I go see my PCP on Monday about my strange dizziness, nausea and clammy sweating and little pains under my left shoulder blade, maybe I should ask her about my thyroid.
Never a dull moment with lupus, eh?
Friday, March 16, 2012
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Dizzy and sweaty
Available in print and ALL eBook formats:
http://www.vanillaheartbooksandauthors.com/Writings .html
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=marilyn+celeste+morris&x=15&y=18
What the heck happened to me last night? I mean, I was sitting in my recliner, watching television, and all of a sudden, the room starts spinning around. I felt like i was going to faint.
I told my son; he came over from his place on the couch, and felt of my back......It was wet. Like I had been dunked in water. It was a cold, clammy sweat....something I get from time to time when my blood glucose is too low.
I try not to let that happen ever again, since I had kind of "driven drunk" a few years ago. I woke up in Mineral Wells, TX, about 50 miles from home, with no idea how I had got there. State troopers stopped me. Heh. No ticket, they could tell I was more of a diabetic low sugar case than intoxicated.
Anyway, I've always said I'd rather have my blood glucose reading a little high, rather than risk taking another Magical Mystery Tour. I took my reading, when I felt I could get up without falling, and it was in the 300s. Not low.
Took some insulin. Puzzled over why the sweating. Never have I had that when my glucose was high. Only when it's low. So why now?
Some no - nonsense people said the words: Heart attack. Hmmm. Well, I know females have different symptoms from males when they have a heart attack. I didn't have any clutching at my chest in pain; I did, however, looking back at that evening, have a few little "muscle spasms" (I think) in my left side, under the shoulder blade.
I've promised my Lupie friends and others, that if i get this pattern of dizziness, pain and sweating, I'll call 911. Oh, yeah, I called my PCP's office to make an appointment.....she is out of the office this week. So next Monday, I'll be seeing her.....unless something similar happens in the interim....
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
A Blanket Apology
I have been remiss. I have overlooked many comments readers have left for me. Not a good PR thing to do. '
The only excuses I have are that Lupus Fog has been at work, and my technical incompetence makes it worse. So for all of you who have commented and I haven't read until now, I'm sorry. I didn't intend to ignore any of you, but if you have lupus, I'm sure you understand about the brain fog.
In fact, along with the technical incompetence, I told my son yesterday that I had an email in my inbox that I had no idea what to do with. It has to do with marketing my books, 7 in all, and I'm not sure what it says I should do.
Marketing is not my forte, as it is with other writers. I'm doing Indiana Jones style: "I'm making it up as I go along."
And while I'm here, let me promote a great support group for those who have lupus. It's LUPIES@yahoogroups. Best bunch of (mostly) women who love and support each other through this journey. And that's what it's all about, isn't it? That we all have a common enemy and are doing the very best we can, under adverse circumstances.
The only excuses I have are that Lupus Fog has been at work, and my technical incompetence makes it worse. So for all of you who have commented and I haven't read until now, I'm sorry. I didn't intend to ignore any of you, but if you have lupus, I'm sure you understand about the brain fog.
In fact, along with the technical incompetence, I told my son yesterday that I had an email in my inbox that I had no idea what to do with. It has to do with marketing my books, 7 in all, and I'm not sure what it says I should do.
Marketing is not my forte, as it is with other writers. I'm doing Indiana Jones style: "I'm making it up as I go along."
And while I'm here, let me promote a great support group for those who have lupus. It's LUPIES@yahoogroups. Best bunch of (mostly) women who love and support each other through this journey. And that's what it's all about, isn't it? That we all have a common enemy and are doing the very best we can, under adverse circumstances.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Brain Fog....and my body rebels, too....
We all have it. At some point in our Lupus journey, we encounter a stumbling block that challenges our belief systems. I was a great speller, BL. (Before Lupus). Now I find myself typing a simple word and wondering whether it's correct or not. More than likely, it's not.
I received an email this morning that I quite frankly, can't understand. It's probably a simple thing I need to do, to follow the instructions, but somehow my mind can't quite wrap around it. It's not anything that I could be arrested for, lol, but it seems like it to me....or the person I used to be, BL. (Before Lupus -- Oh, yeah, I said that already.)
I've had a small flare recently, and that may have something to do with it, or maybe it's my advanced age -- I'll be 74 in April. I only know it ticks me off that my brain doesn't work like it used to. I was a multi-tasker par excellence. I could carry on a telephone conversation while scanning my emails. I could cook and keep track of what's happening on television. Now, it's "choose one."
And, to make matters even more complicated, I've learned that once I have a flare, or any kind of minor illness that non-Lupies experience, too, like a stomach virus, I don't snap back in a hurry. In fact, it takes several days to recoup my energy and mental faculties.....which went AWOL when I first exhibited the symptoms of the stomach bug. No, now when I am actually over the flu, or bug, or whatever, I don't go back to where I was before.
You would think it would be that way. But with lupus, and/or my age, I find that I don't go back to where I was before....I go back a step BEFORE I had the flare, or the bug, or whatever knocked me flat.
My friends who are my age, tell me it happens to them, too....that they don't snap back to "normal" after being sick with something. So I don't think I can expect anything more.....
But, it's like the old expression: A mind is a terrible thing to waste.
Lupus
I received an email this morning that I quite frankly, can't understand. It's probably a simple thing I need to do, to follow the instructions, but somehow my mind can't quite wrap around it. It's not anything that I could be arrested for, lol, but it seems like it to me....or the person I used to be, BL. (Before Lupus -- Oh, yeah, I said that already.)
I've had a small flare recently, and that may have something to do with it, or maybe it's my advanced age -- I'll be 74 in April. I only know it ticks me off that my brain doesn't work like it used to. I was a multi-tasker par excellence. I could carry on a telephone conversation while scanning my emails. I could cook and keep track of what's happening on television. Now, it's "choose one."
And, to make matters even more complicated, I've learned that once I have a flare, or any kind of minor illness that non-Lupies experience, too, like a stomach virus, I don't snap back in a hurry. In fact, it takes several days to recoup my energy and mental faculties.....which went AWOL when I first exhibited the symptoms of the stomach bug. No, now when I am actually over the flu, or bug, or whatever, I don't go back to where I was before.
You would think it would be that way. But with lupus, and/or my age, I find that I don't go back to where I was before....I go back a step BEFORE I had the flare, or the bug, or whatever knocked me flat.
My friends who are my age, tell me it happens to them, too....that they don't snap back to "normal" after being sick with something. So I don't think I can expect anything more.....
But, it's like the old expression: A mind is a terrible thing to waste.
Lupus
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Looking for help with another autoimmune disease
Well, yeah. I also have diabetes, I think type 1, since I have to take insulin. Recently, I've had some insight as to how my diabetes really needs to get under control. Yet, I have only some vague idea about how to do that, since I'm not sure about being a type 1, type 1.5, or even type 2 that has morphed into a type 1.
I'm getting a headache with all this information. A normal person would probably ask her physician. Heh. Whoever said I was "normal?" I've got some info from Lupies in my yahoo group, who tell me one thing, and recently I joined a diabetes yahoo group which tells me another.
All I know is, I had diabetes controlled by meds (type 2) until I went into the hospital in 2004 and darn near died from God knows what (still no diagnosis as to what nearly took my life) and when I came out of Intensive Care, I noticed they were treating me with insulin injections. So I've called myself a Type 1, insulin dependent diabetic.
Lupus is an autoimmune disease, and so is diabetes. My thinking is, two autoimmune diseases, and how do I control my blood glucose when lupus is kicking my butt? And, this last week, I've had to take a Medrol Dosepak, which put my glucose readings waaaay up there.
Stress also increases both my lupus condition and diabetes, so go figure. I try not to get stressed, but when your life is ruled by numbers on a test strip, it's hard not to freak out when I see the numbers that are too darn high.
If anybody has a clue, let me know. Meantime, I'll ask my endocrinologist when I see him next week. I just hate going to get my A1C beforehand.
Lupus
diabetes
I'm getting a headache with all this information. A normal person would probably ask her physician. Heh. Whoever said I was "normal?" I've got some info from Lupies in my yahoo group, who tell me one thing, and recently I joined a diabetes yahoo group which tells me another.
All I know is, I had diabetes controlled by meds (type 2) until I went into the hospital in 2004 and darn near died from God knows what (still no diagnosis as to what nearly took my life) and when I came out of Intensive Care, I noticed they were treating me with insulin injections. So I've called myself a Type 1, insulin dependent diabetic.
Lupus is an autoimmune disease, and so is diabetes. My thinking is, two autoimmune diseases, and how do I control my blood glucose when lupus is kicking my butt? And, this last week, I've had to take a Medrol Dosepak, which put my glucose readings waaaay up there.
Stress also increases both my lupus condition and diabetes, so go figure. I try not to get stressed, but when your life is ruled by numbers on a test strip, it's hard not to freak out when I see the numbers that are too darn high.
If anybody has a clue, let me know. Meantime, I'll ask my endocrinologist when I see him next week. I just hate going to get my A1C beforehand.
Lupus
diabetes
Thursday, January 26, 2012
It's always something....
Recently, I've discovered various lumps, bumps and humps on my poor body...No cracks, now, about my age.....this is not just old age. I found.most glaringly, a cyst on my left hand.
Upshot was, after consulting with my PCP, she recommended I see a hand surgeon. Okay. Hand surgeon (I resisted the somewhat gnarly comment about seeing a "left hand surgeon.") took xray to make sure my bones/joints weren't involved, and then he suggested this could be due to past steroid use. Heh. Of course I've had steroid use in the past. All lupus patients do. So what to treat this cyst with?
Why, more steroids, of course. And a splint so I wouldn't use those fingers as much and give my hand a rest.
Well, the cyst faded away, of course, but .....You just knew there would be a "but" didn't you?
I came up with a cyst on my breastbone. More specifically, right below my breastbone.
Back to my PCP. Just to make sure it was just a cyst. Too close to breast tissue for me to ignore it.
She agreed, after a brief examination: "A cyst. And it's not impinging on breast tissue, so let's just watch it and it might just go away."
I agreed. And it's gone away.
But I'm sure it will pop up again, somewhere.
Come to think of it: A couple of years ago, my PCP found a lump in my left breast. Probably nothing, but she sent me to a breast surgeon. This surgeon sent me for an aspiration of the lump.....I watched as the needle went in and sucked out what was essentially, fluid and "junk." Then the contents were sent for exam. It was recommended I have the cyst removed and biopsied. Everything came out just fine. No malignancy. Just a fluid filled cyst.
And that was the beginning of this little series of events.
Can't wait to see where another one will pop up......
Never a dull moment with lupus.
Lupus
Upshot was, after consulting with my PCP, she recommended I see a hand surgeon. Okay. Hand surgeon (I resisted the somewhat gnarly comment about seeing a "left hand surgeon.") took xray to make sure my bones/joints weren't involved, and then he suggested this could be due to past steroid use. Heh. Of course I've had steroid use in the past. All lupus patients do. So what to treat this cyst with?
Why, more steroids, of course. And a splint so I wouldn't use those fingers as much and give my hand a rest.
Well, the cyst faded away, of course, but .....You just knew there would be a "but" didn't you?
I came up with a cyst on my breastbone. More specifically, right below my breastbone.
Back to my PCP. Just to make sure it was just a cyst. Too close to breast tissue for me to ignore it.
She agreed, after a brief examination: "A cyst. And it's not impinging on breast tissue, so let's just watch it and it might just go away."
I agreed. And it's gone away.
But I'm sure it will pop up again, somewhere.
Come to think of it: A couple of years ago, my PCP found a lump in my left breast. Probably nothing, but she sent me to a breast surgeon. This surgeon sent me for an aspiration of the lump.....I watched as the needle went in and sucked out what was essentially, fluid and "junk." Then the contents were sent for exam. It was recommended I have the cyst removed and biopsied. Everything came out just fine. No malignancy. Just a fluid filled cyst.
And that was the beginning of this little series of events.
Can't wait to see where another one will pop up......
Never a dull moment with lupus.
Lupus
Friday, October 21, 2011
Flares and stuff....
Lupus. The gift that keeps on giving. Sailing along, feeling fairly decent for a while, I encounter a new symptom......I have vasculitis in my legs.
Not to worry. I'm put on prednisone, once again. Small amounts, this time for just a couple of weeks, and then I taper off.
Okay. That's not too much to put on a lot of weight. And the vasculitis fades.
However, I also encountered a UTI.....which calls for antibiotics.
Not a great combination for me.
So I had a follow-up appointment, everything is back to what I laughingly call "normal."
And I casually mention that my heels hurt. Just my heels.
Doctor takes a look, runs his hand over my heels, then up to my toes. Heels hurt like heck. Rest of the foot is okay.
"Bone spurs. Get some inserts for your shoes. And don't go barefoot."
Whoa, hold on there, pardner. I LOVE going barefoot in the house. Even in the wintertime. I will wear warm socks when it's really cold, but otherwise, I'm shoeless.
I manage to croak out, "Oh, No."
He says it again. So I'm defeated. I don't want to hurt any more, either.
So I stopped by Wal-Mart and got some nice, comfy houseshoes with a good heel support, and some shoe inserts, three pair in a nice package. I put them inside my favorite shoes and went off to another doctor's appt. yesterday.
And I'm amazed at the difference. My heels don't hurt.
At last. Simple.
For a complex problem, a simple solution.
Lupus
Not to worry. I'm put on prednisone, once again. Small amounts, this time for just a couple of weeks, and then I taper off.
Okay. That's not too much to put on a lot of weight. And the vasculitis fades.
However, I also encountered a UTI.....which calls for antibiotics.
Not a great combination for me.
So I had a follow-up appointment, everything is back to what I laughingly call "normal."
And I casually mention that my heels hurt. Just my heels.
Doctor takes a look, runs his hand over my heels, then up to my toes. Heels hurt like heck. Rest of the foot is okay.
"Bone spurs. Get some inserts for your shoes. And don't go barefoot."
Whoa, hold on there, pardner. I LOVE going barefoot in the house. Even in the wintertime. I will wear warm socks when it's really cold, but otherwise, I'm shoeless.
I manage to croak out, "Oh, No."
He says it again. So I'm defeated. I don't want to hurt any more, either.
So I stopped by Wal-Mart and got some nice, comfy houseshoes with a good heel support, and some shoe inserts, three pair in a nice package. I put them inside my favorite shoes and went off to another doctor's appt. yesterday.
And I'm amazed at the difference. My heels don't hurt.
At last. Simple.
For a complex problem, a simple solution.
Lupus
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
