Table of Contents
Wednesday, March 2, 2011 at 9:44pm EST
If you would not mind, can you tell me how you were diagnosed with lupus?
What symptoms did you have when diagnosed? How long from your first symptom until diagnosis?
What symptoms do you currently have? And how you manage the symptoms? Sorry for these questions.
After a major antibiotic resistant infection in 2003, I developed flares where my body systemically attacks my tendons. One of the medications I WAS on for my diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis is Remicade.
In hind site one of the known side effects is elevated dsDNA. Well, I began getting weird symptoms on the medication, and the local rheumatologist increased the medication with no blood test. I continued to get worse.
About a year after this, I switched rheumatologists and had my dsDNA checked. Elevated, along with some other values consistent for lupus. I have been off Remicade for three years now.
My values have came back into the normal range, and so far have stayed there.. I have no more weird symptoms.
My tendons still become regularly inflamed. This inflammation was the reason for starting Remicade in the first place. I have neck and back pain from a congenital reason unrelated to the rest of this post for most of my life.
Random Chronic Pain Thoughts
March 2nd, 2011 at 10:36am
I am the author of the following:
Regardless of the cause of chronic pain, certain themes emerge. Chronic pain affects the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of ones life. Chronic unrelieved pain causes impaired activities of daily living, changes in mood, decreased involvement in social activities, impairs function, leads to depression, anxiety, causes feelings of hopelessness and despair, and can result in suicidal behavior.
You learn who are your true friends. Many people are supportive in the beginning. As time goes on, most of those people reject you. Only true friends last.
Chronic unrelieved pain steals your future, your ability to hold a job, and your health insurance (if tied to your job.)
People that have not experienced severe unrelenting pain for months or years expect you to suck it up and continue your normal daily activities.
Chronic pain makes you feel alone. Like no one understands how much pain you are in.
[Sadly prophetic about suicide. – Hubby 
]
March 10, 2011 at 5:04pm EST
From reading your wall, you are a very positive person. How do you stay so positive in your situation? I struggle with staying positive.
Lung Issues Start
Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at 9:59am EDT
I had the flu in February with much dry coughing. It appeared to be getting better than got worse mid-last month. I went to the doctor and was given an anti-biotic. My head cleared up and the cough lessened. The cough is increasing in frequency again. My chest was clear at the rheumatologist yesterday. He gave me an injection of Kenalog thinking maybe their is some inflammation in my head causing the cough. If I cannot get this dry cough that is resistant to cough medicine to go away, I will need to have my lungs checked. My Mom has advanced pulmonary fibrosis (scarring of the lungs) which ultimately causes death. One of the early symptoms of a dry cough resistant to cough medicine.
Nick goes to Rainbow Bridge
[It is at times like this I miss Karen the most. I had no memory of us having a cat in the house. Karen would have remembered the exact details.
Nick had hip dysplasia, so Karen got him a treadmill to keep him exercised (we did not get one when I wanted one years earlier, go figure). At times Nick would ask to get on the treadmill. We thought we'd burn off some of his high energy levels. We discovered we were building up his endurance!]
Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at 3:42am EDT
With the vets help, Nick [our Australian Shepherd we raised from a puppy. He was a very strong dog, required a strong leash, this becomes significant at the end] passed away last night. He had a really bad day yesterday. I cried all night last night and yesterday. The next step was subcutaneous fluids, which with his temperament, age and arthritis, was not a viable option. He had kidney disease.
Thursday, May 19, 2011 at 10:41am EDT
Thank you for your support. Right now, all I can think of is what he looked like. We kept his weight around 40-45 pounds. Although I do not know his weight on Tuesday, it was less, much less. He lost a lot of weight toward the end. His shiny, smooth, pretty merle coat turned unkempt. It didn't matter whether I bathed or furminated him. He was very subdued at the car and vets office, and not his normal, happy, excited self. We stayed home on Tuesday. We spent all day doing activities with him that he enjoyed when he did not need a rest. On Tuesday, Bob was supposed to be in Cleveland for a seminar, and I had plans. It was more important that he did not spend his last day at home alone. Garth spent most of the evening last night looking for his buddy.. How do I tell another dog that his friend will not be back? My spirit died with him. [How do I tell Garth 'Mommy' will not be back? Ten months later he is still looking for her. ]
Rainbow Bridge
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.
When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable. All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together….
Author unknown…
Can't walk due to Tendonitis
Saturday, June 11, 2011 at 9:54pm EDT
I developed another tendonitis in my ankle, so I will be dealing with this most of the summer. I get tendonitis in multiple sites.
[She spent a year crawling around the house on a skate board link thing so she would keep the wight off her tendons so they would heal.]
Friday, June 17, 2011 at 9:09am EDT
I wish there was a machine they could hook us up to, that showed the amount of pain we have. Then maybe pain would be adequately treated!!!!!! [Why can't we figure out how to do this? There is no objective test that will show that you are hungry.]
Thursday, November 24, 2011 at 8:29pm EST
My ankles had flared a bit again last week. They seem to be calming down again. I am considering getting a scooter and lift for my van. My physical therapist thinks this is a good idea for my condition. Do you have a scooter? If you did, maybe next year we could go for a *walk* on the bike trail together.
Thursday, December 29, 2011 at 6:36pm EST
You will mourn you dog for a very long time. He was a member of your family that was suddenly taken from you. Eight years ago this past November Diamond [our first Australian Shepherd] passed away. I still cry if I think of her much. Nick past away this past spring. I have been feeling very depressed lately. Going out and about among people makes me feel better. I need to do that more often, but I do not know where to go or what to do because of my physical limitations. I get to the Y 2-3 times a week, get groceries, go to my doctors appointments, and a few other places on a regular basis. The long hours of being alone at home are what depress me. How do you deal with not being able to get out often?
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