1 of My Poems, That Was BIRTH out of This Journey 2 Diagnosis!!!

Purple Wings 

Beyond my wings,

Stands an extension,

That is BEYOND MY WINGS,

Yet,

I will SOAR,

As if,

No extension,

Ever EXISTED,

Beyond my PURPLE wings...

© 2013 Erica M. Corley

I know, I got some EXPLAINING to do... So, Here It IS!

I know, already.. 9 months miss..?! But, I'M BACK. For good this time ;)

Here's a quick recap........

****does the rewind sound****

Well, November of 2012, I was told by the NEW Rhumetalogist who I was seeing at the time, that I did NOT have lupus. But, in fact, my symptoms were ALL explained by JUST fibromyalgia. So, he took me off of the Plaquenil (which is used for mild cases of lupus, or in mix with other meds to help manage symptoms of other autoimmune disease), and that was it. Even though, I was on Plaquenil for going on 7 months, with some relief. He was so SOLD ON, the butterfly rash as being the DEFINITE symptom for diagnosing lupus, that he disregarded my other symptoms, as well as labs. He even ENROLLED me into one of his fibromyalgia studies, but when examined, I was found to have little of the fibro, and more of SOMETHING else. Let's just say, I haven't been back to him, SINCE!

Fast Forwarding to December.

Mid December, I started to have MAJOR GASTRO ISSUES. I mean my digestive system was REJECTING foods, which I normally ate.. Like... Tomatoes, Dairy, Certain Sauces, Beef and the list went on... Every time, I would consume any of those mentioned, I would get SEVERE CRAMPING and BLOATING. Now... that AIN'T RIGHT! Bcuz, I used to spend QUALITY TIME with all of em'! With, that being said.. My primary doctor referred me to a gastrologist. 

The gastrologist ordered some test, including: endoscopy, colonoscopy & breath test. (No, not the test one takes to measure alcohol levels, but to measure the bad bacteria in your stomach, that may cause all above symptoms.) The colonoscopy results were normal. Some irritation was found on my endoscopy results (possible IBS). And, my breath test came back BORDERLINE, which would indicate the diagnosis of IBS. The results from that test, is still up in the air.. Along, with the "lactose free" diet I'm suppose to be on... Hey, I'm still a work in progress here. Sigh..... (thinks about chocolate ice cream)

Oh.. New Symptom, NEW SYMPTOM!! Early May, I started to get BAD breakouts on my face, neck, and forearms. Red blotches with pimple like friends that itch something AWFUL! Like, poison ivy itch. It started driving me CRAZY. So, I decided to go to the ER. I was later diagnosed with "malculopapular rash", and referred to see a dermatologist. I had a bunch of pics, which I took to show the doctor of my rashes. Bcuz, everytime I went for an appt, my face was half-way cleared up (due to the steroid cream I was prescribed from the doc at the ER) with just some redness. So, the doctor had me do a test. He told me to put sunblock on one side of my face and arms, stand outside in the sun, for as long as I could stand it, and if I got a reaction just on the side without the sunblock, then that just meant, that I have to wear sunscreen all over. But, if I got a reaction on both sides, along with systemic symptoms, then it meant possible lupus. 

Well, I past on both sides of my face and forearms, with the fatigue from sun bathing in the sun. After my physical results through pics, the doctor was FOR SURE, that I have lupus! I was referred to schedule a "skin patch test", which I have schedule in August. Whew, that was months in a nutshell! But, there is still ANOTHER SYMPTOM that puts the ICING on this tier leveled cake called "Journey 2 Diagnosis". Are you licking the bowl yet?!

*oh symptoms*

8 months later.............

Wow! It has been nearly 8 months, since I last post. And, THAT AIN'T RIGHT!!! Sigh... It has been a bumpy, loop filled, back of neck jerking type of ride. I have let emotions, and feelings, and symptoms hold back my posting. And, WHERE WE DO THT AT??!!! I know. Evidently, (here). All of a sudden, I'm allowing this diagnosis to hault me on all corners. Wait. Oh, yeah. I haven't posted since February. Well............................. Since Febryary, I have been diagnosed with lupus and fibromyalgia. May was Lupus, (go figure, it being lupus awareness month), and July was Fibromyalgia. Yes, two fun ones. Both have no cure, but that does not make it a death sentence for me. I have a mild case of lupus. I don't get the famous butterfly rash accross the nose and cheeks. Nor, do I get the organ involvement. But, I do get the fatigue, joint pain, digestive problems, cognitive problems (fog and problem concentrating), vertigo, and weakness in extremeties (arms and legs), PLUS some numbness and tingling. And, no.. Not that good tingling that you get, when the person you like touches your arm or finally NOTICES YOU. Naw, ahhh ah! That, oh my gosh, I think my arm is going numb, geesh, I may be having a stroke or heart attack tingling. Fun, right?! And, with fibromyalgia, the same symptoms occur. The only difference, is my tendons all over my body are tender and painful to the touch. Can, you say: double the symptoms...?! Streamers and ballons, over here. Ha! As, you can see, I have learned to joke, with the two. You have to, or you will go CRAZY, straight LOONEY TOONES, with Myra chasing you into the big W, along with the other characters o_0. Bcuz, of the health thing, I no longer work. And, if I do go back, it will be part time. These symptoms strike at any given time they feel like it. Selfish, right?!! Tell me about it (makes cute digusted face)!@#!!

Sleep, The Foreign Language..

11:51pm on this Saturday night, and I'm eyes wide open! No heaviness of the lids or yawns. Feel like an imaginary being has my eyes hostage. Last night, I didn't fall asleep until the wee hours of morning around 3:30. Then woke up at 6:45am. This restlessness has been consisted for about 3 straight days. A company that's wearing out its welcome. In addition to sleepless nights, comes sleep during the day. This occurs, even if I get 7 or more hours. I'm still in recovery, since my recent surgery. Meaning, no set time to wake up in the morning, or go to sleep during the night. Despite, the sleepless nights, I'm coming along.
*coming along*

Not So Fast Missie.... We Got Some Surgery For You!

Last Wednesday (2/2/12), was consistent with stomach discomfort, and pain that overpowered sleep and focus. Like, waves of pain , crashing violently againgst the walls of my abdomen. It lasted for two days. Then on Friday, after work, I decided (with the persuasion of my mother) to go the ER. As I walked in the ER, on a Friday afternoon.... There was no one there. It was empty; which is rare. But, when God orchestrats a thing, all that is unusual, becomes into EXISTENCE!! The pain was getting more and more uneasy, as I sat and waited for doctors to figure out my new extended symptom. I figured it was something I ate, mixed with stubborn constipation. Blood work was done. Then a sonogram. The sonogram revealed a shadow. So, then another sonogram was performed. One PA student suggested a CT Scan. And I thank God for her! The CT Scan showed an inflammed appendix. I waited. By this time, it was 5 something in the am of Saturday. The surgeon comes in, and states that removal of my appendix, is mandatory. I pause. He jumps in, and states that surgery is needed NOW. I couldn't swallow it all. My surgery was in an hour in a half. Still stuck... I went into prayer. Because, that's all I knew to do. God granted PEACE. The surgery was a success. To God be the GLORY!!! I have never had a problem with my appendix, until now...
Another symptom to go in the bag.
Diagnosis, here I come!

Sunday Evening continues.... Into Monday Morning

So.. The heating pad worked, for when it was there. It relieved little thrombing, but not much. Took me awhile before I rested. Kept tossing, turning and switching from fetal to supine. Woke up with that same ache. It decided to go to work with me and get ALLLL in the way. But I managed through it, like I "always do". It's 9:12pm and it still remains in its achiness. It gets worst, before the better comes.
Closer to my diagnosis...... Just have to ENDURE. And I shall.

Sunday Evening..

Pain in upper left back, below the shoulder blade. Kind of behind the breast bone.. Dull and achey. Constant for 5 hours. Accompanied with shortness of breath. A pressure-like feeling radiating without relief. Pain meds don't seem to be kicking it. Will try heating pad to relief some sort of discomfort. Was feeling fine doing the earlier parts of the day.