A few days ago I went to see my doctor about the chest pains I've been having and he suspects that I'm having problem with GERD again and he doubled the dosage of Nexium. I pointed out to him that my insurance doesn't pay for Nexium. He didn't seem to care. Pretty much said that was beside the point and I needed it. That prescription change has likely upped my monthly Nexium bill to $500, unless I get some deal for buying in bulk. The things is that my doctor is right. I do need my Nexium. Four years ago, I was in pretty serious shape, and the Nexium helped me get back in order. I've tried going without it, and I just relapse. I really don't want to risk going without it again.
This means that I will suck it up and pay the extra money. I feel lucky that I'm able to work, and I can afford to pay for my medical care. I know that there are people with lupus who constantly struggle with ways to make ends meet to not only feed their families but to pay for much needed medical care as well. I remember those days. I had long, poor stretches during my childhood into my early adulthood. I spent many days in County hospitals and free clinics.
Thinking about those times today made me want to put together a list of places that provided no-cost and low cost medical care across the country. As I was working on this list I came across a site that had a far more comprehensive list than I can ever hope to put together, so I'll just link you up with that.
Saturday, August 4, 2007
Friday, August 3, 2007
Inspiring Lupie
Yesterday I read an article online about Salimah Mussani. She is a woman with lupus who just won the 2007 Canadian PGA Women's Championship. Isn't that the coolest thing? Normally, people with lupus are told that they can't participate in activities that expose them to sun and heat, but Salimah Mussani wasn't going to stop playing golf for that. According to the report, she plays under an umbrella and carries a lot of water with her.
It got me to thinking about all the things I don't do because of lupus. I've been wondering about how I'm going to finish my degree and maybe go on to get a second degree. I had come to accept that maybe it isn't possible the way things are now, but then I read about a 94 year old woman who just earned her Master's Degree.
Reading about these two women made me realize that nothing is impossible as long as you're still above ground and trying.
It got me to thinking about all the things I don't do because of lupus. I've been wondering about how I'm going to finish my degree and maybe go on to get a second degree. I had come to accept that maybe it isn't possible the way things are now, but then I read about a 94 year old woman who just earned her Master's Degree.
Reading about these two women made me realize that nothing is impossible as long as you're still above ground and trying.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Time to Solve the Mystery
Last week, I went into the emergency room with chest pains. This is not unusual for me. I have chest pains all the time, but I'm told to go into the emergency room if the pain is unbearable or if it lasts for a long period of time. I decided to go in because I was having two types of chest pains running concurrently. I had a crushing feeling in the middle of my chest accompanied by a stabbing pain on the left side. I've had both pains individually, but never together, so I decided to go in.
I was really embarassed because the doctor in the emergency room was really cute, and when he came in, he touched my hand, and I completely forgot why I was there. I'm sure if a black woman, born in Los Angeles had the ability to get the vapors, I would have gotten them then and there. Then I came to my senses and thought, "Oh yeah. Chest pains. Husband in waiting room. That's why I'm here." I felt like such a twelve year old.
Anyway, he tested me, said he didn't see anything emergent and told me to follow up with my doctor. My doctor thinks that it's my reflux acting up again, and he doubled my Nexium. That's the Nexium that my insurance company isn't paying for, by the way. He also has me going in for an echocardiogram tomorrow morning. Fun times!
With lupus, chest pains can mean an assortment of things. My doctor is performing the echocardiogram to cancel out pericarditis. One condition that's common among people with lupus is plueritis. That's when you get inflammation in the lining of the lungs. It's always good to check with a doctor when you're having chest pains. You just never know.
I was really embarassed because the doctor in the emergency room was really cute, and when he came in, he touched my hand, and I completely forgot why I was there. I'm sure if a black woman, born in Los Angeles had the ability to get the vapors, I would have gotten them then and there. Then I came to my senses and thought, "Oh yeah. Chest pains. Husband in waiting room. That's why I'm here." I felt like such a twelve year old.
Anyway, he tested me, said he didn't see anything emergent and told me to follow up with my doctor. My doctor thinks that it's my reflux acting up again, and he doubled my Nexium. That's the Nexium that my insurance company isn't paying for, by the way. He also has me going in for an echocardiogram tomorrow morning. Fun times!
With lupus, chest pains can mean an assortment of things. My doctor is performing the echocardiogram to cancel out pericarditis. One condition that's common among people with lupus is plueritis. That's when you get inflammation in the lining of the lungs. It's always good to check with a doctor when you're having chest pains. You just never know.
Lupie Poop
For the past week, I've felt really obsessed with my own poop. It's because I'm going to my rheumatologist today, and I know one of his questions is going to be, "How are your stools?" And I want to be ready for the answer. Before lupus, I paid very little attention to what came out of me, and that was pretty much by choice, but my doctor at this point has reinforced that it's important to look at my poop.
Because of the ulcers I'm prone to get and the meds I'm taking, my poop is supposed to be a good indicator of how I'm doing. But because of my years of poop observance, I've been able to come up with this nice poop color scale that I'll happily pass on to you.
Black--bleeding in upper GI tract. Call doctor.
Red--Lower GI bleeding. Call doctor. (I get this sometimes, hemroids.)
Yellow stools -- For me, this means too much Imuran.
For those of you who are truly worried about the poop that comes out of you, here's a site from about.com.
Because of the ulcers I'm prone to get and the meds I'm taking, my poop is supposed to be a good indicator of how I'm doing. But because of my years of poop observance, I've been able to come up with this nice poop color scale that I'll happily pass on to you.
Black--bleeding in upper GI tract. Call doctor.
Red--Lower GI bleeding. Call doctor. (I get this sometimes, hemroids.)
Yellow stools -- For me, this means too much Imuran.
For those of you who are truly worried about the poop that comes out of you, here's a site from about.com.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Lupies Need Friends
When I was first diagnosed with lupus, I was rather depressed, and I became withdrawn. It seemed that the worse my symptoms became the less people I wanted around me. Today, I know that wasn't the healthiest thing for me to do.
I spent years and years virtually shut away from my friends. In the past year, I'm making efforts to reconnect, but it's pretty hard work. In the best of circumstances, I'm a shy person. Now, I have lupus insecurities to add on top of that.
It's a lot of work to open yourself up, but I keep trying. Yesterday, I was in the pool at my apartment complex, and I met a woman who just moved in. It was a tremendous effort to make conversation at first, but I started to feel more comfortable after a while. Hopefully, I'll run into her again, and we can talk some more. The thing is, if you feel lonely, that leads to the depression, and if you're depressed, you likely won't feel better.
I spent years and years virtually shut away from my friends. In the past year, I'm making efforts to reconnect, but it's pretty hard work. In the best of circumstances, I'm a shy person. Now, I have lupus insecurities to add on top of that.
It's a lot of work to open yourself up, but I keep trying. Yesterday, I was in the pool at my apartment complex, and I met a woman who just moved in. It was a tremendous effort to make conversation at first, but I started to feel more comfortable after a while. Hopefully, I'll run into her again, and we can talk some more. The thing is, if you feel lonely, that leads to the depression, and if you're depressed, you likely won't feel better.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
What Makes Me Stay Home From Work?
If I decided to stay home from work whenever I'm in pain, I'd never go to work, so I often have to push myself to get going. There are certain symptoms, however, that will make me stay home.
1. Confusion. Sometimes, I feel so bad that I'm easily confused, and I make mistakes that if I were feeling better I wouldn't make. Like yesterday, my boss was asking me questions, and my answers made absolutely no sense to him or me. When I put Los Angeles on a FedEx envelope I knew was headed for New York, I knew it was time to go home.
2. Fever. If my temperature goes above 99.1, I head home.
3. Diarrhea. This symptom is not pleasant for me or anyone around me, so I stay home if my stomach is having issues.
4. Extraordinary pain. As I said, I'm in pain practically everyday, so I only stay home if the pain is so bad, I can't move. That pain usually involves my neck, back or head.
Once I've made the decision to stay home, I have to remind myself to get rest. That means no t.v., no internet, no reading. Well, none of things in excess anyway. I just have to remind myself not to go overboard. That's often hard for me, but it's the only way to feel better. With lupus, you have to remember to take care of yourself.
1. Confusion. Sometimes, I feel so bad that I'm easily confused, and I make mistakes that if I were feeling better I wouldn't make. Like yesterday, my boss was asking me questions, and my answers made absolutely no sense to him or me. When I put Los Angeles on a FedEx envelope I knew was headed for New York, I knew it was time to go home.
2. Fever. If my temperature goes above 99.1, I head home.
3. Diarrhea. This symptom is not pleasant for me or anyone around me, so I stay home if my stomach is having issues.
4. Extraordinary pain. As I said, I'm in pain practically everyday, so I only stay home if the pain is so bad, I can't move. That pain usually involves my neck, back or head.
Once I've made the decision to stay home, I have to remind myself to get rest. That means no t.v., no internet, no reading. Well, none of things in excess anyway. I just have to remind myself not to go overboard. That's often hard for me, but it's the only way to feel better. With lupus, you have to remember to take care of yourself.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Driving Me Lupie
I've already mentioned how I don't drive much anymore because it hurts to drive, and I don't feel comfortable driving with the meds I'm on. I also don't like riding in a car for extensive periods because the bumping around is painful. I'm six feet tall, and my legs get cramped up sitting for long periods in a small, confined space.
Because of this, sometimes I'll ask my husband to take me to car dealers to see if I can find the perfect, comfortable car. I found it this past Saturday. It was the Audi S8. That has to be the most comfortable car in the world. Plenty of leg room. There was an extender on the seat to give my legs extra support. The seats were very supportive without being too firm. We asked how much, and for the low, low price of $92,000.00, we could have driven off the lot with a brand new, comfortable car. Suffice it to say, the car is still at the Audi dealer.
Ninety-two thousand dollars! Oh my gosh. It amazes me that there are people in this world who can or even would spend $92,000 for a car. For half that money, I can hire two strong college students to carry me around in a recliner for a year. I'd probably need more than two. I'm kind of heavy.
After we left the Audi dealer, we went to the used car dealer to check out the used cars. Just for kicks, we sat in a Mini Cooper. That car was more comfortable than I expected, but not comfortable enough for me. While there, I did find a used Audi All Sport. It was a reasonable price and it was very comfortable. I'm going to think about it and research it. My husband was concerned about gas mileage, but I think if it works out, I'll be driving around in a used Audi.
I'll be living lupie in luxury.
Because of this, sometimes I'll ask my husband to take me to car dealers to see if I can find the perfect, comfortable car. I found it this past Saturday. It was the Audi S8. That has to be the most comfortable car in the world. Plenty of leg room. There was an extender on the seat to give my legs extra support. The seats were very supportive without being too firm. We asked how much, and for the low, low price of $92,000.00, we could have driven off the lot with a brand new, comfortable car. Suffice it to say, the car is still at the Audi dealer.
Ninety-two thousand dollars! Oh my gosh. It amazes me that there are people in this world who can or even would spend $92,000 for a car. For half that money, I can hire two strong college students to carry me around in a recliner for a year. I'd probably need more than two. I'm kind of heavy.
After we left the Audi dealer, we went to the used car dealer to check out the used cars. Just for kicks, we sat in a Mini Cooper. That car was more comfortable than I expected, but not comfortable enough for me. While there, I did find a used Audi All Sport. It was a reasonable price and it was very comfortable. I'm going to think about it and research it. My husband was concerned about gas mileage, but I think if it works out, I'll be driving around in a used Audi.
I'll be living lupie in luxury.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
