I have not posted on my blog in
a while as I have been sitting in doctor’s offices/ appointments with
Specialists and many, many tests taken, MRIs, CT scans, Echocardiograms,
Breathing Tests in that tiny booth for an hour of breathing tests, X-rays, tons and tons of blood work, etc. Boy, the co- payments for all these were
draining my wallet.
The diagnosis is Rheumatoid
Arthritis with overlapping Scleroderma! I'm currently on Predisone which is a harsh drug and gives you a Moon Face and a hump at the nape of your neck! Ugh! I've been on this drug since February and can't wait to be weened off of it soon. R/A is bad enough but Scleroderma turns your body into stone and can affect all the major internal organs such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, etc.
I complained for 8 long months to my
Primary Care doctor that I was in extreme pain and unable to even dress myself
or raise my hands above my head. My
hands and feet were swollen really bad. I also was experiencing difficulty swallowing. I learned
to continue to speak up until my doctor heard my pain loud and clear! You have to continue to
speak up when you have problems and notice changes in your condition, don't
feel too self-conscious to speak up during your appointment or even call your
doctor or another member of your health care team.
No problem is too small to inquire about, and early
treatment for any problem can make the disease more manageable for you and your
health care team.
It's understandable that a person with a chronic illness
like Rheumatoid Arthritis/Scleroderma would become depressed. I try hard not to accept depression as a
normal consequence of my condition. If
depression makes it hard for you to function well, don't hesitate to ask your
health care team for help.
I think it is a must to learn skills like meditation,
calming exercises, and relaxation techniques may help you cope with emotional
difficulties as well as help relieve pain and fatigue.
If you have problems doing daily activities, from brushing
your hair and teeth to driving your car like I was going thru, consult an
occupational or physical therapist. They have more helpful hints and devices
than you can probably imagine.
Of course, we all resort to our computers to do research
as the doctors will not spend the time with you to explain everything. The clock is ticking in a doctor’s office and
they want the next patient in so they can meet their quota for the day to
fatten up their bank account.
I live in Florida, so exercising in my community pool
turned out to be my best friend, as it hurt too much to continue going to my
Silver Sneakers classes three days a week.
It doesn’t hurt to exercise in the water.
If anyone out there is experiencing leg pain, don't forget to put a bar of soap at the foot of your bed under the fitted sheet. Check it out for yourselves online. It truly does work and if the pain comes back months later, replace the bar of soap and use the old one in your shower to bath with.
What happened to the Oath all doctors took?????? I had to fight tooth and nail to get a
referral to see a Specialist. Well, I’m
on an HMO. If I were on a PPO I would
not need referrals. But PPOs are
expensive.
Since just yesterday before I decided to get back on my
blog and write, I was chatting to two friends, one is a lovely blogger friend
and the other is my Maid of Honor, both going thru serious medical issues. Also, I mentioned a year ago, that my son was
diagnosed with CML which is Leukemia and the news put me in an emotional state
of depression then.
All mothers will agree, we worry constantly about our
children no matter their age.
So, we all need the strength to deal with these chronic
diseases and need tons of prayers not only for ourselves but for the people we
love and care about. I strongly believe
in the power of prayers!
