Two Years
Came across some photos from two years ago and was kind of shocked at what a big difference between now and then so I took a pic in the same pose. Two years ago this week I had just started chemo. I had gotten out of the hospital after having severe brain seizures (yep, 7 […]
Shingle Bells
Today took an interesting turn in my neverending joke of health. I woke up with a searing pain on my back, reached back and felt bumps. I took a look in the mirror and there were lovely red spots which hadn’t been there the night before. I rushed off to One Medical – thankfully […]
The New Normal – Living with a Chronic Illness
I have to come clean here. I have to admit to the world – and probably more to myself – that I am a person with a chronic disease. Yep. There I said it. I know that most of you know that I have lupus. I mean, come on, it is the subtitle of my […]
A love letter to my white blood cells
Dearest White Blood Cells, Oh you pesky little buggers that keep me alive and free from nasty infections. I never really thought of you much and that was wrong of me. A terrible oversight that makes my heart ache and my mind tense from the thought of what life could be without you. Alas, at […]
I lied. A chemo followup. Hilarity and pain ensue.
So it is Saturday following the chemo that I had on Monday. And my perspective on chemo has changed radically from the afternoon that I wrote that post after having spent 3 days in the hospital following my infusion. I arrived home around 5:30 in the evening and felt completely fine. My lovely friend and […]
What happens at chemo?
I bet some of you are wondering what actually happens at a chemo session. So I figured I’d break it down for you. I am lucky because I only have to do my treatment every 3 weeks. There are people that come in days in a row for weeks or longer. Here is how it […]
Things you probably don’t know about transverse myelitis
Not that I would expect anyone to know a whole lot about transverse myelitis, but here is more information on the spinal inflammation that I have and why I walk with a cane these days. By Kevin Weilacher 1. It is a cousin disorder to Multiple Sclerosis. http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/neurology_neurosurgery/specialty_areas/project_restore/conditions/ 2. Fairly rare disorder, only 2-5 people per million […]
Sun sensitivity in lupus
Leaving my house these days takes almost as much energy as actually going out. It is pretty complicated due to the fact that I have sun sensitivity issues related to the lupus. Until last year I didn’t even know that I had any sun issues. I happily would hang out at the beach and never […]
My routine
I have gotten into a daily routine during recovery. This helps my body know what is going to happen when. 6:00 am Wake up 6:30 am Eat breakfast – usually Cream of Wheat 7:00 am Pee – Since I catheterize, I have to keep track of when I go 8:00 am Take medications 7:00-10:00 am […]
Something like a Raynaud’s Phenomenon
As part of my fun with Lupus series, I wanted to talk about one of the annoying (amongst many) afflictions that I face. Raynaud’s Phenomenon Raynaud’s phenomenon is a condition in which cold temperatures or strong emotions cause blood vessel spasms that block blood flow to the fingers, toes, ears, and nose. Yep. Snow or […]