[Lupus] The most BORING DAY of ALL TIME

Alright, today is day 8 of my hospitalization and the boredom is kicking in. Nobody came to visit me today, I feel like a loser, but I know I shouldn't because I've had visitors from day one and I did speak to my best friend earlier and my family most of the day. I just think I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired now.

Let me give you some history on what's happening with me. Right now I'm going through a lupus flair, this one is nothing like the crisis situation I had last year, last year's ordeal was way more pressure, organ failure, seizures all sorts of shit. This one is not all that 'better' but it's way less stressful. My symptoms this time was excruciating chest pain, trouble breathing, almost like drowning. Let me tell you that is the scariest feeling of all time. Well,come to find out I had a large amount of fluid in my lungs for real so, I was really drowning. Anyways, to treat this they did a 'lung tap', this is when they take an ultrasound image to locate where the fluid is and then they stick a needle with suction and drain the fluid. It wasn't painful but when I saw how much liquid was in my lungs I was like DAMN!! That was on the 19th, the next day I had some other type of lung biopsy thing where they put me to sleep and thread a tube up my nose and look at my lungs. It's just too much. Now, mind you there is an even bigger problem I have other than my lungs too which is the fact that I have no immune system. My white blood cell count is non existent, and that's what really keeping me here soo long. Without my white blood cells, my already weak immune system cannot fight off infections and that can kill me. They have me in isolation, where anybody that comes in contact with me has to wear gloves and masks.

Anyways, I'm getting tired, I'll talk to ya tomorrow.

photo:chalkboardmanifesto.com

Just UGH!!!

This is how I feel right now.

For the past two weeks I've been having a pain on my left side, I thought it was from working out but I realize it's probably my kidney. I've noticed my face has gotten a little swollen and my trips to the loo have slowed down so that points to my kidneys to me. Thankfully I have an appointment with my kidney doctor on Tuesday so I can get to the bottom of this.
Until then, I'll be at home takin it easy.

[Lupus] It's Official

Two weeks ago I went to BGMC to have a DEXA scan (bone density test). It wasn't too bad, it was like having an x-ray done. My Rheumatologist wanted this done because I have been having major back pain that would come and go. I had taken some back x-rays prior to the DEXA and he also noticed my a disk in my spine was a little smushed. I was like, damn!

Well, on Monday I went to my PCH to deal with this cough and she got the results from the DEXA and it did show osteoperosis, she couldn't tell me to what degree I had it but she said that I do have it. My lupies know this is due to the prednisone and that sucks cuz I have to take it for my health but it's also breaking me down. My PCH was also telling me that because of the other meds I'm on I may not be able to take meds for it, in her opinion. This is not too bad for me becasue I'm on enff. I have to wait and see what my Rheumatologist has to say though.

Right now though all I can really do is take calcium and vitamin D and try not to slip in the shower, lol. I'm not taking it too hard though because I work out regularly and eat healthy so I will be good.

[Lupus] Cures from the Cupboard

With lupus diet is a HUGE HUGE part of your well being. With chronic diseases you have to eat a certain way, HBP, anemia, everything. I pay close attention to my diet and see a nutritionist, having a restricted diet isn't that bad, it actually opens you up to more foods because you are forced to try new things instead of the fried greasy, processed staples. Anyways, even though this post is for my lupies anyone can benefit. Enjoy.

*Be Nuts for Nuts* Wanna lose weight?? Eat NUTS. Yes, nuts are high is fat but people who eat nuts regularly tend to be leaner than those who don't. Cholecystokinin, a hormone that curbs your appetite is increased when you eat nuts. Smokers could use this tip if they wanna quit I think. Try to keep it as natural as possible, no salted or roasted in oil variety and you will be all good.

*Berry Good* I love berries, blueberries, are my favorite and I read that berries are a natural way to reduce inflammation for people with arthritis. So lupies with RA or arthritis eat up.

*Dude, Where's My Beans* Beans beans good for the heart.... We all know the rest, but it's true beans are wonderful for your diet but it is also said to lower blood pressure down to a normal range when eaten. All beans have this benefit but pinto beans are the best. Chocolate lovers rejoice as well, the flavonoids in this perfect food is also shown to lower blood pressure.

Eat Healthy, Be Happy Y'all
Photo: www.wickedberries.com.au

How Does Your Body React To Stress [Lupus]

I've been observing this for a while now and I'm convinced stress triggers lupus flares.

I'll find myself in a stressful situation, *argument, family drama, health concern*, I would go through it and go on my way, then like the next day my body just falls apart. It's crazy, I'll start feeling just all confused in the head, achy, weak and extremely tired as if I'd been kicking boulders up a mountain. This usually lasts about a day or two.

As you know I recently lost my job, and yes this was a SUPER stressful predicament, but I didn't stress about it. I was actually relieved to be gone, I felt stuck there. So to me it was a major blessing, but even with that state of mind, my body had a mind of it's own. The next day I wake up feeling good, birds singing, beautiful morning just chilling in bed, ah freedom. By the time I got up to make breakfast I was still alright, but by about mid afternoon I felt a shift. My mood had gotten very lack luster, I felt sleepy again and I started having body aches. This lasted two days, and just as fast as it started it just went away.

Sometimes, I just feel as if I'm just overly sensitive to situations, because I know with lupus there will be good and bad days but do you believe stress triggers lupus?

photo:We Need To Stop

My Lupus Journey

For the past 9 years I've been living with Lupus. Most people have no clue what Lupus right. Instead of attacking the bad things in me it attacks healthy cells and organs. This is also known as a is, some even think you can catch it and it spreads. Wrong, basically my immune system doesn't work flair, some can last a few days some can last many months. Lupus, also known as The Wolf truly is a bitch and it's unpredictable as hell.

Last year I suffered a crisis flair, it almost killed me. I went into the ER on January 8th and didn't walk out till March 14th. During this time I had:

• 2 Heart Failures
• 3Chest Tubes
• TTP
  
• 3 Cath Surgeries
• Multiple Strokes
• 2 Seizures
• Kidney Failure
• Daily Plasmapheresis
• Hemodialysis (thank God that's over with)
• Chemo Treatments with Cytoxin and Rituxan
• My hair fell out
• Near Death Experience

It's been over a year now since that experience and my life is just now getting back to some kind of normalcy. My hair grew back, I'm losing the weight I gained, I'm getting stronger every day so things are going pretty great right now. I've got more than a few battle scars and on numerous of medications and vitamins but it's my life is blessed so I gotta adjust to it and keep it movin.

Right now though I have a terrible cough I just can't seem to shake. My Rheumatologist told me it was my medications, we will be discussing this further on my next visit cuz this shit is getting tired. Below is a pic of my medicine bag, I have to pop these suckas everyday, but I will be coming off some soon so that's a blessing. My energy level is good these days so I'm doing as much as I can right now. When you have a disease like Lupus you have to deal with real life and a kinda of secret life because it is such a confusing and challenging illness you just never know what can happen day to day.