Okay, so I've been on the Omega-3 pills for two whole days so far, and I have to say that so far, it's not working. I'm sure it takes more time, but I'll keep the world updated of my progress.
Getting up in the morning has been rather difficult the past few days. When I'm lying in bed, I'm okay, but those first few steps in the morning are so painful. One thing that's been helping is a product called Mineral Ice. When I get up and head to the bathroom in the morning, I determine the parts that are hurting, and I apply Mineral Ice on them, and then I'm able to get around and do my exercises.
I guess we'll call that LupieKat's tip for the day!
Have a lupie day.
Katerina
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Monday, October 8, 2007
Is Omega-3 Good for Lupies?
I just finished reading an article that discusses a study using Omega-3 as part of lupus patients' diets to see if it helped improve lupus symptoms. It appears that significant improvement was shown in those who were using fish oils.
There has often been talk that Omega-3 is good for people with lupus for quite a few years, so if I see something labeled Omega-3, I'll pick it up. I actually just packed a snack of walnuts because they were labeled with "Omega-3". My soy milk is also an Omega-3 soy milk.
I have to say that so far, it's not working because I ache like you wouldn't believe this morning. The study did say that improvement was shown in those who used fish oils. Also, there seems to be a minimum dosage requirement.
I think I may try to catch up with Omega-3 fish oil supplements and see how they work. The article said the results spanned 24 weeks. I wonder if it will take a while to notice changes? I'll let you know.
If you're interested in that article, here you go:
Have a great day living lupie!
Lupie Kat
There has often been talk that Omega-3 is good for people with lupus for quite a few years, so if I see something labeled Omega-3, I'll pick it up. I actually just packed a snack of walnuts because they were labeled with "Omega-3". My soy milk is also an Omega-3 soy milk.
I have to say that so far, it's not working because I ache like you wouldn't believe this morning. The study did say that improvement was shown in those who used fish oils. Also, there seems to be a minimum dosage requirement.
I think I may try to catch up with Omega-3 fish oil supplements and see how they work. The article said the results spanned 24 weeks. I wonder if it will take a while to notice changes? I'll let you know.
If you're interested in that article, here you go:
Have a great day living lupie!
Lupie Kat
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
I Want to Stay in Bed Today
I'm very tired and achy today. I want to stay in bed. I think Geoff wants to stay in bed more since he's actually asleep, and I'm not! I'm in that "I'm tired, but it hurts too much to sleep" stage right now. I won't stay in bed because I need to go to work, so I'll drag my butt out of bed as soon as I'm done writing.
I'm getting great e-mail from readers. Some share great news. Some share their struggles. A lot feel isolated. I feel isolated sometimes too. That's why I go to work. One of the reasons I go. Even sometimes at work, I feel isolated. I've been there for over a year, and at this point, I have a nice set of people I can talk to. I think it pretty much took me a year to find people I feel comfortable with. It's very hard for me to reach out and make conversation.
There's this one guy at work that no matter what I say to him, I feel like I'm an idiot when I'm done. The odd thing about it is that he's the one who tries to make conversation with me. He'll say, "How's your day today?" and I'll reply with something completely idiotic and nonsensical like, "I think the sky is blue today." and he'll respond. "Yeah" and walk away. He'll come back again in a few days and say something else and give me another opportunity to look silly. When Geoff's with me, I tend not to talk like an idiot. When Geoff's around, I don't feel nervous, and it's easier for me to express myself. Without Geoff, talking to people is very challenging.
I keep trying though because it's easy for me to feel isolated if I don't. When I feel isolated, I get very depressed, and I want to give up. Sometimes to the verge of feeling suicidal.
My advice for the day. Don't let yourself feel isolated. Reach out and talk to someone. If you can't reach anyone by phone. Send an e-mail. If you're at a loss for who to e-mail, e-mail me. I always write back. Sometimes it may take me a while, but unless your e-mail accidentally went into the spam folder, you'll hear from me.
Take care and keep living lupie!
Katerina
I'm getting great e-mail from readers. Some share great news. Some share their struggles. A lot feel isolated. I feel isolated sometimes too. That's why I go to work. One of the reasons I go. Even sometimes at work, I feel isolated. I've been there for over a year, and at this point, I have a nice set of people I can talk to. I think it pretty much took me a year to find people I feel comfortable with. It's very hard for me to reach out and make conversation.
There's this one guy at work that no matter what I say to him, I feel like I'm an idiot when I'm done. The odd thing about it is that he's the one who tries to make conversation with me. He'll say, "How's your day today?" and I'll reply with something completely idiotic and nonsensical like, "I think the sky is blue today." and he'll respond. "Yeah" and walk away. He'll come back again in a few days and say something else and give me another opportunity to look silly. When Geoff's with me, I tend not to talk like an idiot. When Geoff's around, I don't feel nervous, and it's easier for me to express myself. Without Geoff, talking to people is very challenging.
I keep trying though because it's easy for me to feel isolated if I don't. When I feel isolated, I get very depressed, and I want to give up. Sometimes to the verge of feeling suicidal.
My advice for the day. Don't let yourself feel isolated. Reach out and talk to someone. If you can't reach anyone by phone. Send an e-mail. If you're at a loss for who to e-mail, e-mail me. I always write back. Sometimes it may take me a while, but unless your e-mail accidentally went into the spam folder, you'll hear from me.
Take care and keep living lupie!
Katerina
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Close to Journey's End
I just got an e-mail from Geoff Thomas. I've mentioned him a few times on my livinglupie site. He's been riding his bike around the U.S. to raise lupus awareness. Geoff finishes his 9,000 mile lap of the U.S. tomorrow in New York City at Madison Square Garden at 1:00 p.m. Isn't that just amazing? I'm in awe of him. If you happen to live in New York, please go to Madison Square Garden to give Geoff a warm welcome. He deserves it!
Following is an e-mail I received from Geoff:
Dear Katerina,
I'm about to finish my journey in New York Sunday (tomorrow) and just a word of thanks for your support. It is genuinely appreciated.
Over the past five months, my main intention has been to raise awareness and support those who are suffering a whole lot more than myself.
It has been humbling, saddening, enlightening and uplifting.
It’s also somewhat ironic that after 9000 miles, my journey is just about to begin.
I’ve learnt you don’t give up and if I can apply that attitude to helping to find a cure for this terrible disease in any small way, then I’ll do my best to assist.
If there’s an upside to Lupus, and I’ve said this many times, it’s the great people you meet and connect with.
Despite finishing my ride, I'll be keeping the website open to promote our cause and to keep in touch with anyone who has any questions or requires any advice that I may be able to pass on. Over the past 155 days, I sure have learnt a great deal.
Once again, many thanks and take care.
You're doing a wonderful thing!
Kind Regards,
Geoff Thomas
www.bikeusa2007.com
Following is an e-mail I received from Geoff:
Dear Katerina,
I'm about to finish my journey in New York Sunday (tomorrow) and just a word of thanks for your support. It is genuinely appreciated.
Over the past five months, my main intention has been to raise awareness and support those who are suffering a whole lot more than myself.
It has been humbling, saddening, enlightening and uplifting.
It’s also somewhat ironic that after 9000 miles, my journey is just about to begin.
I’ve learnt you don’t give up and if I can apply that attitude to helping to find a cure for this terrible disease in any small way, then I’ll do my best to assist.
If there’s an upside to Lupus, and I’ve said this many times, it’s the great people you meet and connect with.
Despite finishing my ride, I'll be keeping the website open to promote our cause and to keep in touch with anyone who has any questions or requires any advice that I may be able to pass on. Over the past 155 days, I sure have learnt a great deal.
Once again, many thanks and take care.
You're doing a wonderful thing!
Kind Regards,
Geoff Thomas
www.bikeusa2007.com
Friday, September 28, 2007
Crossing Fingers
I'm getting ready to take off to what I'm hoping is my last iron infusion appointment today. I missed Wednesday's appointment because of the pain, but hopefully, that won't matter, and I'll be done.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
The Mind Goes with the Body
I was just reading this month's issue of Redbook Magazine. This issue happens to contain advice from Deepak Chopra. (Doesn't that name just say, you must listen to me about anything holistic?) Anyway, Chopra says, "Your body is a battleground of the wars you wage in your mind." I have to agree with that today because today was a rough one.
I think I mentioned in my last blog that I had a disagreement with my brother. Well, the whole thing has had me upset for days. It caused me to play this negative soundtrack in my head. I started thinking about all the bad things people have said to me, and just all these negative things that have happened. I was in a horrible thinking pattern. Also, my job sometimes involves my having to deal with difficult people. When I'm in a mood like this, dealing with difficult people makes it worse.
And then last night, my husband and I got into an argument, and I was upset with him. I was just upset all over. Then this morning, I was heading to work, and I got this sharp headache on the right side of my head. I used to get them years ago before I started the plaquinel, but I rarely get them since. Their awful headaches. It's like someone is taking a piece of my brain and squeezing it. It never lasts for more than 30 seconds, but it does throw me off for a while. Then when I get to work, I start to get this pain on my right side. It was horrible. It didn't feel like my usual lupus arthritis pain that happens in my joints. This pain was set in my bones. My husband had to take me home.
We both figured that it was probably all due to stress, and that I just needed to chill, so I rested for a few hours, and I started to feel better. I feel like I brought this episode on myself. I know that I have to keep my mind in a good place because my lupus reactions are always reflected by my frame of my mind, so for now, it's all happy thoughts!
If you're ever at a lost for finding happy thoughts, check out the comedy channels or comedy radio stations. Today, I went to iTunes and downloaded the ABC Family show "Slacker Cats". It's a sick and twisted show, but funny.
Katerina
I think I mentioned in my last blog that I had a disagreement with my brother. Well, the whole thing has had me upset for days. It caused me to play this negative soundtrack in my head. I started thinking about all the bad things people have said to me, and just all these negative things that have happened. I was in a horrible thinking pattern. Also, my job sometimes involves my having to deal with difficult people. When I'm in a mood like this, dealing with difficult people makes it worse.
And then last night, my husband and I got into an argument, and I was upset with him. I was just upset all over. Then this morning, I was heading to work, and I got this sharp headache on the right side of my head. I used to get them years ago before I started the plaquinel, but I rarely get them since. Their awful headaches. It's like someone is taking a piece of my brain and squeezing it. It never lasts for more than 30 seconds, but it does throw me off for a while. Then when I get to work, I start to get this pain on my right side. It was horrible. It didn't feel like my usual lupus arthritis pain that happens in my joints. This pain was set in my bones. My husband had to take me home.
We both figured that it was probably all due to stress, and that I just needed to chill, so I rested for a few hours, and I started to feel better. I feel like I brought this episode on myself. I know that I have to keep my mind in a good place because my lupus reactions are always reflected by my frame of my mind, so for now, it's all happy thoughts!
If you're ever at a lost for finding happy thoughts, check out the comedy channels or comedy radio stations. Today, I went to iTunes and downloaded the ABC Family show "Slacker Cats". It's a sick and twisted show, but funny.
Katerina
Monday, September 24, 2007
Overall, a good day
I was just reading yesterday's blog post, and I notice that I said I went to the doctor yesterday. I didn't go yesterday. I went last week! We'll just call that a brain fart. I'm sure if I worked hard enough, I could figure out a way to blame it on lupus, but let's not. Let's do like Prince and blame it on the rain.
Today was a good day. I actually exercised. I rode a little bit on the exercise bike and did some ab exercises. I had a bit more energy today. I guess those infusions are starting to kick in. I did wake up in pain, but I was able to deal. It was a one pain pill day. That's actually pretty good!
I've been trying to focus on the fact that I feel better than usual. It's been kind of a challenge because I had a disagreement with one of my brothers over the weekend, and that's sort of bringing me down. I tried to push it out of the way because I get very few days where the pain isn't kicking my tail. When the world starts pulling me down, I try to focus on the good things or the funny things in life.
I better get myself to sleep. It's about forty minutes past my bed time.
Night all and keep living lupie!
Katerina
Today was a good day. I actually exercised. I rode a little bit on the exercise bike and did some ab exercises. I had a bit more energy today. I guess those infusions are starting to kick in. I did wake up in pain, but I was able to deal. It was a one pain pill day. That's actually pretty good!
I've been trying to focus on the fact that I feel better than usual. It's been kind of a challenge because I had a disagreement with one of my brothers over the weekend, and that's sort of bringing me down. I tried to push it out of the way because I get very few days where the pain isn't kicking my tail. When the world starts pulling me down, I try to focus on the good things or the funny things in life.
I better get myself to sleep. It's about forty minutes past my bed time.
Night all and keep living lupie!
Katerina
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