Sunday, July 20, 2008

One hell of a year thus far

Well here I am again. It has been one hell of a year healthwise. I can remember feeling pretty good in January/February and then it all went pearshaped.

Have spent the last two weeks on holidays and sick. It culminated with me getting out of the car last Friday and suddenly finding the world shifting focus and becoming very light headed. Soldiered on as I know we all do but when I got up the next morning I was lucky to make it out of the shower. Rang doctor and got an appointment and since I couldnt really drive thought I would try walking. As I waited to leave I got progressively worse and then a miracle occurred - my beautiful telepathetic daughter rang home from softball, realised how sick I was, drove straight home, made me some toast, took me to doctors, went and got prescription and then took me home and tucked me into bed. Spent another day in bed and today I have been a bit better.

What did the GP put it down to - rheumotologist had increased RA medication yet again and I had a severe reaction. Looked it up when we got home and yep, I had all the symptons - dizziness, nausea, fatigue, gastro and guess what, it also can cause depression. F*** a duck, I'd rather have the RA which really, when I think about it, just keeps chugging along medication or not.

Am supposed to be going to a conference tomorrow but will have to wait and see how I feel in the morning. Of course I stopped taking the salazopyrin and the GP suggested I start again on Monday when I have flushed it out of my system. I dont think so. So here we go again - another battle with the rheumatologist about medication. This would be the third medication I have had a bad reaction to.

I must be starting to feel better because I am starting to get feisty or else it is just old age.

Anyway, since I am also anaemic and my haemoglobin count is down (excuse spelling), my ankle at times resembles an elephants ankle and I have virtually done no exercise for a long long time to speak of I have decided that I am not going to worry about my diet anymore. That doesnt mean that I am going to go completely off the rails but I am not going to become anal about it anymore. Good food in hopefully the right quantities. Drastically reduce alcohol consumption due to the fact that it reacts with medication quite badly.

But I am not going to make any promises either about anything. It is all too hard and I am sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. I am going to try and take care of myself by eating good food and when the pain subsides a bit, exercise gently.

So ends this latest........ I was going to put whinge but I dont think that is the right word.

5 comments:

  1. Gosh Julie, how scary! For the record, you are definately not whinging. Your symptoms sound awful, and more than a little dangerous. Have you ever sought a second opinion? I know it sounds like a no-brainer, but still.

    Work on getting yourself as well and as comfortable as you can be and take it one thing at a time.

    I'm not sure if you're up for theatre or the like, but if/when you are and you feel like going together you only need to give me a yell.

    Take care.

    Catherine.

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  2. Your post title sums it up for you. How scary, also frustrating it must be for you. I hope you can find a suitbale medication that will help. Take care:-)

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  3. mmmmm not good darl and very scary. Just concentrate on you, your health and well-being and one day at a time....
    Take care...and heyyyy you are definetly not whinging!!!
    Thinking of you,

    Jen

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  4. Poor Julie. I know how bad RA can make you feel. Mine is finally under control with[finally!] a rheumatologist who knows his stuff. Before that, a few quacks who didn't, made things worse! Do any of these sound familiar?---Plaquenil? methotrexate? enbrel? A few years ago I could hardly walk without limping. Now if I feel like dancing, I can! I can also play a decent game of tennis again,hike for hours, AND walk without limping. If you ever need to moan, I'm here. I've been there and I know it's not whinging, it's serious. Hugs from Molly.

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  5. So sorry to hear what a a terrible time you're having - and you still manage to put on a positive front but I'm sure sometimes you're just crumbling inside. Take care Z xx

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