This week was quite interesting. I learned that my gastroenterologist wants to do two procedures ASAP in addition to my kidney biopsy. A colonoscopy, my 3rd one within a 10-month period, my 5th one in 5 years and an endoscopy. I guess it might have something to do with a 10lb weight loss within 9 days, vomiting four times in one day and an increase in bowel movements.
I better enjoy my 4th of July girl’s weekend to Vegas since I will be under anesthesia three times next week between Tuesday and Friday. My girlfriend from a Czech Air Force Public Affairs Officer asked during our course “What is this that I hear about the Chippendales?” And now I’m on my way to Vegas for the 4th time this year. So need to have a little bit of fun before the surgeries, procedures and chemo.
Lupus can cause extreme swelling of the joints and the organs. Some people get both whereas others have one or none. I’m the lucky one, I got both. I’ve got a plural effusion, swelling around my kidney, heart, lung and liver. I’m seeing a pulmonologist for the constant shooting pain in my lung when I breathe, cough, yawn, sneeze of laugh. She did give me some good news that she had a patient that had chemo treatment five year ago and the lupus is at bay and they are on minimal lupus medication. She said all the swelling, inflammation and other lupus symptoms should go away with the chemo therapy. I start my first round after I return from my trip to Germany. I’ll keep you posted.
Down2earthlupie
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Toni -
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read how your treatment goes upon your return. My good friend recently determined that the health problems she'd had for much of her life were due to lupus (they attempted to identify it as many other things first). I certainly can't begin to understand what it's like to be in your shoes, but your courage and openness gives others hope!
EG,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments. Has your friend found a local Lupus Support Group? If not she needs to. I've been a member for awhile, but with the military I am always gone. But sometime you must make time for yourself and being able to relate to others with the same illness is great. During my last meeting I got the names of two highly respective specialists and a pain doctor all by word of mouth at a meeting. You should attend with her. There are always parents, spouses and friends in attendance. My mom is in town and we are going before she flies home and I to Germany.