I have some answers. Woo Hoo!
Discoid Lupus (aka skin lupus or cutaneous lupus). Of all the possible diagnosis available under the "collagen vascular" umbrella, this one was the best. The rheumotologist asked me a lot of questions, checked my joints, looked at what is left of my rash (it is barely there now) and said there wasn't a lot he could do for me. I don't have pain. My rash is almost gone. My joints and/or lymph nodes are not swollen. He said to keep using the cream (pretty significant chance the rash will return in the same or another place) and let him know if anything changes.
I am not positive why my regular doctor could not tell me all of that, except maybe it was to ensure a spot with this guy, in case things get worse. They could. But, then again, they may not. So there is no need to borrow trouble.
I am working on getting the entire family back on an eating plan that is healthier for us, including lean meats, more fresh fruits and vegetables and less pre-packaged crap. :-) Less sodium and less MSG. I am also trying to up the amount of exercise I am getting, but it is difficult to spend much time outside when the heat index has been in triple digits for the past week and the one time I took Lola for a walk after dark something bit me, four times.
But this has been an eye opening experience and I do realize that I need to take better care of myself.
I'm not 18 anymore.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
7 comments:
congrats on finding out what the problem was.
I, too, have begun eating better -- 5 small meals per day, vegetables with every meal, fruit a couple of times per day, much less prepared food. have been at it for 3 weeks and have even lost a few pounds. who woulda thunk?
and, I'd been eating free-range eggs for a few years -- and just learned that they're lower in cholesterol than battery cage eggs. that makes sense -- hens with lower stress would be healthier and produce healthier eggs, right?
So glad the news was as good as it could be.
Ugh, the heat is awful here, too.
Thanks for posting the button... I really appreciate it!
I was wondering if you were completely able to dismiss the insect life as the cause of your concerns. Here in the foothills of the Blue Ridge, where I would think there are far fewer of the tiny and invisible and unnoticed creatures than there are in Florida, both the ones that can fly and the ones that don't, our first suspicions when it comes to skin events are always of those beings, and usually they are the culprits.
two crows, it has been proven that people with lower stress levels are healthier and produce healthier (at least originally) children. Why not hens?
skyewriter, i think the only place it isn't HOT HOT HOT is in NY. I think that is where it has rained every.single.day.this.month.
Carl, not insects, although we did look into it. I've never had an insect bite that last for 2 months and never once itched. I'm pretty sure the yellow flies got me last Friday. HUGE SWOLLEN BITES. but they itched.
I've had to do the exercise thing in an attempt to not end up like I did last year. (sick for most of the time.) Since I get heat sickness pretty easily, I did the gym approach. If you're able to do so, I highly suggest it. Also, I've cut out a lot of junk by staying on the outer ring of the grocery store (except for tp, cleaners, and cat stuff.) The stuff on the outside is the fresh, unprocessed food... also a bit more expensive. However, it's cheaper than doctor's visits in the end.
D, excellant advice! My problem is that I HATE planning meals. It makes me insane. I don't mind cooking or cleaning up, just tell me what you want to eat.
So I use ediets.com. For less than $20 a month, I can plan weekly menus (breakfast, lunch, dinner and a snack) and print out a grocery list with everything I will need for those dinners. Now this is for one person, so I have to modify for the family, but it makes my life so much easier.
Glad to hear it!
Good eating = good living...to true to discount
Post a Comment