Back to Blogging II

Recap: Hospital admission, Paracentesis, and Lupus Positive Diagnosis

After I was discharged from the hospital comes a lot of almost bi-monthly visit to the Rheumatology doctor, new other symptoms and other kinds of diseases accompanied my Lupus. Medicines to take care of the symptoms; medicines to take care of the side effect of the main medicine used for my symptoms.

Well, I can't really do anything about it really, just need to swallow the pills, drink my water and move on with life, anticipating the next time I need to drink medicine. Which is usually after 8 or 12 hours.

Life with lupus can be tiresome, devastating to some, but it is definitely life changing to all inflicted by it. It is hard at first, you go through all the stages of grief.

Grief doesn't only imply to the loss of a loved one, in my case, it is a loss of good health. We must recognize that we all are grieving, once recognized, I know we will all be level-headed, and will move on in bettering ourselves. 

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus or SLE is the most common lupus. The type that affects every single organ of the body.

I had the textbook SLE, Lupus, from the very beginning. I had the malar rash or butterfly rash to some. And the accompanying joint pains that is experienced by more than half of the people with lupus. I actually have a tell-tale spot, that when it hurts, it means I need to increase Prednisone just for that one day, or at the minimum, drink a pain reliever. When my right heel hurts, I am about to have a flare. That is my tell-tale spot.

I think people with lupus should listen more to their body, and notice the differences that happen before a flare up. I have one, my right heel pain, maybe you have one too!

I am actually really lucky to have the most common symptoms of Lupus. They were able to diagnose me easy, and not like other people who had to wait and some wait for months or even years just to find out they have lupus and not some other disease their doctor was treating them for before. Even with this, it is still not easy to deal with lupus. The most annoying part with Lupus, in my case, is when one thing is better, another messes up. This is the summation of my 4 years diagnosed with lupus. 

SLE positive diagnosis -- labs are good -- lab found protein in urine -- c4 almost at normal, kidneys not so much -- admitted to hospital for feeling sick -- kidney biopsy -- LUPUS NEPHRITIS 5 -- kidney doing good -- PULMONARY EMBOLISM (1 day before my birthday on 2013) -- Kidney doing better -- managed kidney a lot better -- DIABETES (because of weight gain and being on prednisone for years) 

Awesome right, something positive happens, something bad happens next. It feels that I can't get a break. Seriously!! :(


References:
Definition of SLE: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000435.htm
Definition of Malar rash: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malar_rash
Malar Rash photo: http://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/what-your-looks-say-about-your-health/10/
Definition of Lupus Nephritis: http://www.webmd.com/lupus/lupus-nephritis
Definition of Pulmonary Embolism: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/pulmonary-embolism/basics/definition/con-20022849
Definition of Diabetes: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/basics/definition/con-20031902

Depo - Side Effects

I gave been on Depo Provera as requested by my doctors and will be due for my 3rd shot in a few days. I never actually had a side effect of it until now.

A few days ago I have been bleeding. More like your last days of period. I am not a bit concerned as of the moment it only has been 3 days. This is actually the first time I ever had a "period" since I have been getting the shots. They say it is normal to have your period or spotting when you are on Depo. But since it was my first time having my period again I searched online for better understanding.

What concerns me the most is on some women, they never stop. The semi-kind of bleeding lasted them days and even months. I am praying that I am not one of those. As this will dampen any mood of any person. Imagine thinking all the time that you will have blood stain down your crotch!!! Hideous! Embarrassing! I am thinking that because, if normally, and not on depo, these days will be the actual days I will be having my period. Well I guess I just have to wait for 2 more weeks to be able to talk to my health provider about my concern.

Keep me in your prayers. I need them. This cold weather is not also helping my lupus symptoms.

Which reminds me, need to buy lots and lots of juice with Vitamin C to drink and get rid of this cold I have!

I pray you guys have good health, for you and your family for the rest of 2013! HAPPY NEW YEAR! and advance Happy Birthday to me!!!

I lost count... No steroids and the effects...

I am not sure how long I have not been using Prednisone, but i am quite sure there has been a lot of changes already...

Recently, I have been having hives on my face.. Like it's a row of swollen patch of skin which I do not know the reason. I am allergic to a bunch of stuff, but I have been avoiding them for a long time, it's mostly food so I do not know what happened here.

I also have been having a bunch of pimple on my face. Like little nasty red ones, that has pus on the tip. There are little, so it's not really that nasty, but it's still pimples!!!! Not A pimple, but pimples!!

When I wasn't yet fully diagnosed with Lupus, I usually have this pain on my right foot. Maybe because I walk lazy or my steps are weird, but it's only the right one, on a specific spot. I think I have a tear or two by my middle foot arch, but it's posed no problem until a few months before I had my Lupus. But now it's back. I am not sure if it is because of my lupus, I will tell my doctor on my next appointment.

I have been feeling weird lately, I feel really depressed most of the time. Like depressed. It's a feeling of hopelessness that I have never felt before. I mean I do have my ups and down, but it's not like this. Maybe I am impatient, maybe. I don't know, I think I really need to be checked. Physically and mentally.

Oh well... My life has been a constant struggle. Just wish me luck.