What's New on January 7, 1999

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JANUARY 7, 1999


It's been almost a year since my last diagnosis and almost two years since the last autoimmune disease.  So, I figured that would soon change... and it did.

Somewhere around four or five months ago, I went through another change.  The first thing I noticed was a decrease in stamina.  I just could not get through a day any more.  It was like the past was creeping up on me.  I ended up quitting my nursing position due to that very reason.  I was missing more and more days and going home early.

I also noticed a cognitive change.  It was a struggle to think of words... simple words.  Office became that square room you spend your work day in.  Broom became stuff shover.

I was also doing things I should have instinctively known not to, like attempting to touch a hot burner.  I heard no bells or alarms telling me not to touch a red burner but the heat I felt when I got close stopped me luckily.

Besides loss of stamina and cognitive function, I was suffering from the following symptoms as well.
    • Headaches
    • Getting lost in familiar places
    • Unable to convey my thoughts
    • Forgetfulness
    • Difficulty concentrating
    • Stutter occasionally
    • Eyes crossing
    • Blurred vision
    • Momentary loss of vision
    • Ringing in my ears
    • Smelling things that aren't there
    • Voice becomes raspy and then stops
    • Dry blisters on fingers that itch
    • Itch all the time
    • Red spots on upper torso
    • Red rash on chest
    • Tingling fingers and toes
    • Skin on fingers feel tight
    • Small non-painful sores in mouth
    • Sweating around neck and hands
    • Palpitations
    • Irregular pulse
    • Chest pain
    • Wheezing
    • Shortness of breath
    • Difficulty breathing
    • Bloating
    • Frequent burping
    • Nausea
    • Shoulders become to heavy to lift arms
    • Can't move my arms momentarily
    • Arms feel heavy and hard to move
    • Neck becomes too tired to hold head up
    • Fatigue
    • Muscle aches
    • Bone pain
    • Skip period for months
    • Periods scanty
    • Periods heavy after not having them
    • Painful menstruation
    • Unexplained 60 pound weight gain in 18 months
With such a vast array of symptoms, I decided it was time to see a rheumatologist.  I knew I could be having some of these symptoms from some of the diagnoses I already have or from some of my medications or from something that had yet to be diagnosed. Whatever it was though, it was time to get checked out again.

So, armed with my history and current symptoms, I went to see my first rheumatologist.  My husband and I liked him and he seemed to be quite thorough.  After going through my history, symptoms and doing the assessment, this is what I was told.

I have Costochondritis [read the diagnosis page for more info on Costochondritis] and for this I was given Indocin SR 75mg to take every 12 hours.

The muscles around my neck and shoulders were extremely tight and were having spasms, which I wasn't even aware of, and for this he gave me Skelaxin 800mg which I was to take every 8 hours.

Then he told me what I already knew.  It was hard to ascertain whether I was having these symptoms from a preexisting condition or from something new.

It would take blood work to determine the cause.  He ordered a CBC, Liver Function Panel, Creatinine, C-Reactive Profile, and Electrolytes.  He wanted to do the entire ANA panel but explained it was well over $1500.  Since I do not have insurance due to being uninsurable, we opted to do the CTD panel.  This would either rule out or diagnose Lupus.

So, once the lab was drawn, my return appointment was scheduled for February 4th to find out the results.
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You are listening to Memories from the musical Cats, written by
Andrew Lloyd Webber and T.S. Eliot.  I felt this song was a perfect selection
for this site because of the affiliation I feel with Grizabella.  Although for her,
it was age and not health issues that changed her, neither of us are who we
were before, on the outside, and it can affect how we feel on the inside.

Disclaimer:
The author of this page does not promote, support, or recommend any
particular treatment or medication for any medical condition. The opinions
expressed in stories or links are the responsibility of their authors.
No treatment should be undertaken without the supervision of a physician.

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© 1998 - 2007 Jo Trackler
All Rights Reserved

This site may be freely linked to but not duplicated in any fashion without my consent.



Since December 19, 2003