My 17th Surgerical Procedure.........

It's almost 1am on Friday and I've been awake since Tuesday evening. What for do you ask? Because I'm nervous about what this kidney biopsy will bring. I remember when I was put on Cellcept when I first went into the early stages of kidney failure. I was totally against it. Now that I'm on the max dose of 3,000mg and my kidney's aren't making the progress that my rheumatologist and nephrologist wants, so at their urgency I'm getting another kidney biospy and start chemo therapy ASAP.

As I have reflected over this period in my life, I've realized that I've had 16 surgeries and procedures in my lifetime with the majority of them happening after my initial diagnosis in 2006. I'm a little scared and relieved to "really find out" what is going on with my body. Lupus patients can go through periods of remission and just like that they are flaring again. I hope and pray this is what is causing my extreme flares lately. I would rather know now so we can come up with a plan of attack with my 15 speciality doctors.

I better get a few hours of sleep before surgery......

Down2earthlupie

My World....

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