Procrastination

pro·cras·ti·na·tion
noun
the act or habit of procrastinating, or putting off or delaying, especially something requiring immediate attention: Insert picture of me :0

After much procrastination I finally called and scheduled an appointment with a new GI doctor. Dr. R. comes highly recommended by Dr. L. who I will miss tremendously.
The earliest appointment I could get was April 30th. I have to call and have my records faxed and they will be mailing me an information packet to fill out. I hope she sends the packet right away because with my medical history this paperwork should take about a week to fill out.

At least my Crohns beast has been behaving. I hope that continues up until and long after meeting my new doc.

I hope he will refer me right away to an arthritis doctor. My joints are still hurting so much.

On a better note baseball begins in a few days...I can't wait to go to a game. I can't wait to try out my new camera with its telephoto lens!!!

Love, Laugh, and Always know where the nearest bathroom is

The Week in Review

Monday I went back to the doctors to get the results of my blood work (trying to get to the bottom of all this joint pain and fatigue). I had her give me a copy of my results, something I intend to do from now on so that I can keep track of my health better. The good news is that my RA screen was negative. She had some concerns about my Thyroid level being on the high side based on new standards. Hypothyroid symptoms include muscle and joint pain, fatigue, weight gain is common even though appetite diminishes heavy periods, and mental activity— including concentration and memory—may become slightly impaired. I have experiences all of these except the weight gain; however, I have less appetite but I’m not losing any weight. My B12 was low, which can cause fatigue. I am now taking B12 under the tongue and will be recheck in May. If my B12 has not improved I will switch to the shots. My Vitamin D was deficient. This can cause bone pain and muscle weakness, as well as fatigue. I am now taking 50,000 IU once a week for 4 weeks then Vitamin D3 2000 IU daily. My Triglycerides are also high :( but I’m not really doing much different except the gluten free foods and now that I’m on the gluten free diet I eat less carbs. Maybe its because the food isn’t going through me as fast??? Everything else was good (all two pages of results). I will be having all these retested in May so heres hopping for improvement and MORE ENERGY!!!

A special thank you to everyone who has been praying for my father in law and my family. We are so thankful for your love and support. Please continue to pray. Wednesday was a difficult day. We had to take my father in law to the hospital. He is now in the last stage of lung cancer. My husband and brother in law tried to take care of him at home but it was getting too difficult. In the last few days he had become too weak to walk and started having a lot more pain. The pain meds/disease have been making him so confused, sometimes not knowing where he was or who his sons were, seeing people and things that aren’t there, angry one min. and raising his fist, then so sad and crying the next min. He is settled into a comfortable room and the wonderful nursing staff is regulating his pain meds and trying to keep him as comfortable as possible. The transition to the hospital has really worn him out and he has been sleeping most of the time. It is so hard to watch him go from such a strong independent man to this. I hate cancer. I have lost so many people I love to cancer.

On a happier note…J had his first home game of the season. It felt so nice (normal) to be out in the warm sun watching a baseball game. He is one of the many pitchers on the team and he did not pitch for this game :( so I went off (like I always do) and took some pictures of his friends. (see some pics below) He has a double header tomorrow so hopefully I will get to see him pitch and get some good pics of him. B has three scrimmage games next week (if the weather cooperates and the fields are playable). I am so excited that it is finally baseball season. I just hope I have the energy to get through it…….in the meantime

Love, Laugh, and always know where the nearest bathroom is

To the Doctors…Again!!!

I think I spend more time with doctors then I do with my family. I know that can’t be true but that’s how it feels sometimes. So in case you haven’t guessed I went to the doctor’s office yesterday. This was supposed to be my yearly check up/yearly TB test. The office called me last week to tell me that my doctor was going to be out of town this week so I could either reschedule or see the Nurse Practitioner. I choose to keep my appointment and see the Nurse Practitioner. I had some second thoughts in the morning thinking that I would be wasting my time and that I should just cancel and reschedule with my doctor when he gets back but I went. I went and I’m so glad I did. She was absolutely wonderful. Not that I don’t like my doctor, I like him a lot. He has always been wonderful but she was WOW. I talked to her about everything that has been going on lately, all the Crohns problems, GYN problems, and Cimzia problems. She had a very interesting take on all of it. She does not think it’s the Cimzia at all that is causing all the joint pain and headaches, and fatigue. She believes that it is hormonal, perimenopause to be exact. Now normally I would have been very insulted by such a diagnosis. After all I am still way way way to young for that (stop right there those of you who are tempted to leave a comment with malicious facts when the truth is I have always done things ahead of my time why should this be any different…so there). Okay back to the point, I am not insulted because I’m thankful for any answer that explains the problems and any help that can be received. Joint pain, fatigue, bad headaches can all increase from the hormonal changes. She is also sure that the joint pain is also Rheumatoid Arthritis (not the Cimzia) I also have swollen lymph nodes in my neck but no sign of infection. Apparently this can also be a sign of Rheumatoid Arthritis. My other doctors have been telling me that my B12 levels are fine but she feels that by the new standard my level is too low and I should be getting the shots. She also agrees that my vit D level needs to be checked. I go back Thursday morning for a boat load of blood work. She is going to check everything. When I go back on Thursday I am going to schedule a follow up with her so I can find out exactly what my results were and what I need to do. I think I’m seeing a light at the end of the tunnel………I hope it’s not a train!

Love, Laugh, and always know where the nearest bathroom is