Sunday, February 28, 2010

First Day at My New Job

I worked for the first time at my new job today. I got into the swing of things pretty quickly, so that was nice. The only thing is that I spent 8 hours, pretty much straight, on my feet. They hurt a lot now. I'm laying in bed and have very little intention of leaving it right now.

I have two oral tests tomorrow, one is Spanish and one in psychology. My partner for Spanish and I are working out our script via email. I am so happy she agreed to this as I really don't think I could get out to the library or any other place tonight. It hurts to even sit in my chair.

I am concerned about feeling this was as this is something I have to go every week. Next week I will be trained to work the cash register so hopefully I can work on that during my shifts so I can sit down.

I get my blood test results soon and I also see the doctor on Tuesday for this continued bleeding. Hopefully I can sort everything out.

Friday, February 26, 2010

It Was Nice While It Lasted...

Started bleeding again last night and today it's pretty intense. I called the doctor, but the doctor I saw for this last time doesn't have any available appoinments until March 23 (!!) so I am seeing another doctor. The next available open appointment in on Tuesday, but that makes me a little nervous too. I have to go get my blood tests done so I might see if I can stop in and talk with my rheumatologist. Since I started the lower dose of Imuran, I don't know if it is connected and they did tell me to call with any problems.

It was a nice break. This is really annoying as it should not be happening at all. And I could definitely go without the cramps. But I am on hold at the rheumie's office.

It is snowing again today but no snow day. The weather has been pretty ugly the last few days. We had the snowstorm on Wednesday, we had an intense rain and wind storm yesterday and snow again today. I am looking forward to better weather as I am tired of the current weather.

I also had two tests today and I am really tired. I set up my payroll at the new job this morning, so everything is all set for that. I just need to show up bright and early Sunday morning.

I hope everything goes smoothly with that and I do not get too tired or too achy from being on my feet all day. The doctor is calling me back in a few minutes, so hopefully I will have some answers as to what is going on there.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Making Myself Crazy

We had another snow day today (but this time with a lot of snow...) so I have had a lot of time to sit around and do some research. I have been worried about my Imuran for a while, most specifically the increased risk of cancer. I have rare blood cancers on both sides of my family, so I think about that anyway. I have reduced my Imuran dose to 200 mg because of hair loss, but I understand that it still a pretty high dose. I am really scared about this medicine, and in general all the medicine to treat lupus.

I have been exhausted today. I slept until about 8:30 when I found out that school was cancelled for the day. I couldn't get back to sleep so I got about 7.5 hours of sleep for the night. Not great, but not bad either. I took a 2.5 hour nap in the middle of the day, and I am now exhausted. Not fun. I also have been achy today. It is probably too soon for the reduced dose of Imuran to be having an impact, but of course I am wondering what will happen if my symptoms do get worse. Will I increase the Imuran and risk losing more hair? Or will I try a new treatment and have to adjust to new side effects? I've been sitting around thinking about this all day and it's making me a little crazy.

It's already almost 10 pm, so I think I might just make a nice cup of hot apple cider, take a Tylenol PM for my joints and call it a night.

Monday, February 22, 2010

It Had to Be Done...

Just a quick update because I have two exams in Plagues and Media Programming tomorrow and have not really studied very much for either. I took another job today because money is ridiculously tight. I am going to be working at one of the eateries on campus. One of my roommates got the job for me and I am so thankful to her for that. It is only one day a week, Sunday, from 8 am-4 pm. Unfortunately it makes going home harder, but I think I can manage.

I also was told today that I could reduce my Imuran dosage from 250 mg to 200 mg today to see if it my hair stops falling out. I am under strict orders to call them if I feel any symptoms indicative of a problem. Hopefully that won't happen because I like my hair and I am nervous to try any other kind of medication.

That's it for now! I hope everyone has a good week!

Friday, February 19, 2010

Sore Throats Are Not Fun

Went to the walk-in clinic today because I have had a sore throat for a few days. I got my blood tests back and my neutrophil count was the lowest it has ever been, so I scared myself into going. Everything looks fine with my throat but they did let me know I should be careful about a flu going around campus.

I am so happy it is the weekend. Everything has stressed me out this week: work, school, health, money. I'm almost considering quitting my job because it is unnescessarily stressful. But I need the money and it does relate to what I want to do. Also, I don't want to consider myself a "quitter". I can do the job. It's just one of the girls I work with is horrible, disrespectful, condescending and way too uptight. She makes working there miserable.

My migraines and joint pain have been pretty terrible lately also. Part of the reason is probably because I have had to run all over campus this week for work. I need to talk to them about that because I can't keep doing that. On Wedensday my back and knees and ankles hurt so badly I couldn't get out of bed after work. Just putting my feet on the floor hurt. I considered staying home on Thursday because they still hurt really bad.

My dad is visiting my aunt and uncle a couple towns over so I will go over there to visit tomorrow morning. I can't wait to see my dad, even though I saw him last on Monday. I am such a daddy's girl :)

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Now, Seriously...

So my health insurance covered my surgery. But they did not cover the anesthesia. The bill for that is more than I made in all of last year. It's ridiculous. I have no way to pay for it. And I do not think that it is going to get paid anytime soon. My financial situation is bad. My shoes have holes in them and I do not have enough money to replace them. My money normally goes to bills and prescriptions. It does not leave a lot left over. And I hold onto that money because I never know when something will come up. Another prescription might be added and I will need that money for the copay. Or my car, which is the only method I have to getting to my rheumatologist, will have some issue and I need the money to fix it.

I'm really scared about my financial future. I am 21 years old. I have school loans to think about. I am not in debt because I spent too much on credit cards like a lot of people my age, but because I have a chronic illness that has required multiple, expensive interventions. I should not have to worry about this. My biggest concern about graduating is finding a way to pay off this bedt and having health insurance. I would love to go to graduate school. I will have health insurance then, but I will also have more student loans. There really is no way to win.

Speaking of health interventions, I am really sick of being sick right now. I can't seem to catch a break. I've had mouth sores the past few days. Now my throat hurts and I can't tell if it is because I have mouth sores on the back of my tongue or its a real sore throat. One of my apartment-mates is sick with a cough and sore throat. My ears have started to itch and hurt as well.

And then there are the biweekly blood draws that I am really confused about. Some of them are fully covered by my insurance and some are not. I need to figure out why that it. I have paid off one bill, but I can't do anymore. I will need new sneakers soon, and there's that little issue of needing to feed myself.

Oh, and I got a tuition bill. Financial aid said they would help me with it last semester, so I hope that when I go to them they will say the same thing. Even though it is definitely small compared to other people's, I really cannot afford it.

My job is being ridiculously stressful as well. It is a campus work-study job. There is no need for that.

Well, I am just a whiner today. But I' m pretty stressed out and what are blogs for?

Monday, February 15, 2010

Home and Back Again

I went home on Saturday and I just got back to school now. Being home was so wonderful. I hate having to leave.

I'm also really happy that we had today off, even though I spent a good chunk of it criss-crossing the state. My joints are not taking to that too kindly. In fact, they have been pretty painful for a little while now. They have ven managed to wake me up. Hopefully that gets better soon.

I also think I may be starting to bleed again. When will this end? It is so frustrating, I need it to go away. It really makes no sense.

I got in touch with my old pediatrician. She lives in Ghana running a child health clinic. She is coming back to MA in June and I really hope to meet up with her. She was wonderful, and a huge inspiration for me.

I'm REALLY not getting along with a co-worker of mine. Unfortunately, I have to see her tomorrow for the first time since we got into a little fight. And my boss won't be there to keep things calm. I am extremely easy to get along with, but I can't with her. I never yell at people. But I did at her. Hopefully things go alright tomorrow.

I hope everyone enjoys their week!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

SNOW DAY! Without the Snow...

We have a day off today because of the terrible, teriible snowstorm raging outside as I speak (or write...) In actuality, there is a light flurry and no accumulation. I'm not complaining though. I have been really tired and slept in until 10:15. Then I got up and made myself a delicious egg and turkey bacon sandwich.

I have an interesting assignment for my class Writing as Communication. We have to write two public essays about a topic that we feel strongly about. For the first essay, I chose to write about the preexisting condition clause in most health insurance policies. Since I will be graduating in just over a year, this is a significant concern for me because going without health care could potentially be disastrous.

The draft of the paper was supposed to be due today, but since there is a "snowstorm" outside I'm guessing it will be due on Friday. My second public essay is due on Friday, but it has to be on a different subject and I'm not sure what I am going to write about yet.

This class has made me think a lot about this blog. I write pretty informally on here. A lot of the blogs I read, but a lot also take a more professional approach. I'm wondering if I should change, just a little. Maybe proofread sometimes...?

Anyway, I'm going to enjoy my day off thoroughly. I'm probably going to get back into bed soon because I am still a little sleepy.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

I Have to Brag...

I just made a really good dinner. The apartment smelled amazing. I bought some chicken legs and seasoned them with dried thyme, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Then I sliced some onion and put that into the baking pan. I put some minced garlic in there too and covered the bottom of the pan with some chicken broth. I stuck it in the oven at 375 for 55 minutes and out came delicious-ness on a plate. Next time I will add some lemon and season the chicken a little heavier. I accompanied the chicken with spinach with garlic and herb chicken couscous.

I am pleasantly stuffed now.

I think my headache has finally broken, but I have not stopped bleeding yet. I took my migraine medicine Midrin last night with 600 mg of ibuprofen. I woke up with my head aching a little, but I might have finally beat this headache. The bleeding has not slowed down as much as I hoped it would. Another double dose of Aygestin. I also need to start taking my weekly superdose of Vitamin D again tonight as my levels are low.

I do not have my first class tomorrow...thank goodness. I'm almost done reading a book that needs to be done by Wednesday and I started making flashcards for the next chapter of Spanish. I'm hoping to get some reading done for Media Programming done also tonight, but I will see if that happens.

Hope everyones upcoming week goes great!

P.S. That weight post is coming!

Saturday, February 6, 2010

Slowly but Surely?

This bleeding thing I hope is beginning to resolve. I think it may have slowed down tonight, but I'm not entirely sure. I will take another double dose of Aygestin tonight. Unfortunately, I have been dealing with a headache since last night and I have been running a fever over 100 today.

In better news, I have made really nice dinners for myself the past couple days. I made chicken fajitas last night and lemon caper chicken tonight. DEE-licious. Tomorrow I will make oatmeal chicken, which is really just a way of making mock fried chicken. I'm really loving this cooking thing.

I really hope I stop bleeding soon. I'm not sure why it is happening, but I really don't want to go through another ultrasound, more tests, etc. I'm sick and tired of doctors. I want to be LEFT ALONE. Every two weeks I am poked, prodded and stuck with needles. I am so tired of it. I hate having to take time out of my life to schedule in a doctors appointment or a lab visit. My rheumatologist mentioned having me see a kidney specialist due to the radiology report I got when I was having my gall bladder removed. Ugh. NO MORE DOCTORS.

I'm heading to bed soon. This headache won't quit and I am supposed to go to the gym in the morning.

Friday, February 5, 2010

The Verdict is Not In

I saw the doctor today after calling early this morning. No answers, but that's kind of the story of my life. They told me to double a medicine I take called Aygestin, which is really just a dose of hormones to replace some hormones my Lupron injections take away. If that is to work then it should in the next few days. So I will go back on Tuesday. If I have not stopped bleeding then they will do an ultrasound to make sure there are no masses. My exam went well, the doctor felt nothing, so I think this is just one of those weird things that happens.

I also got my blood test results today (because at least some of my mail arrived!!!!). Everything was basically normal. My white blood cell count was a little low and my blood protein was high. Not quite sure about that, but the doctor did not seem too concerned.

I'm probably just going to relax this weekend. No crazy parties like last weekend. That was a bit much for me to handle!

Thursday, February 4, 2010

I Think You Get My Drift...

I haven't specified this "bleeding" thing, but I'm sure you can all catch on. It's been 2 weeks. I am going to call the health center tomorrow and try to get an appointment that same day. If I can't walk-in care is always available, but I don't like to go there because they normally are not prepared to deal with someone with my history.

I woke up today with stomach problems. I decided to eat something and that made it better, but I'm still not feeling that great. I'm achy and very tired. I have a Spanish and psych exam tomorrow, but I'm going to get into bed soon. I've done a decent amount of studying so far.

My mail still has not come. Its so frustrating. I want my movies! Especially this weekend because I will probably just lay around my apartment. The Da Vinci Code comes on Saturday at 8, so I will at least have that.

I did a little research about lupus and bleeding and it seems like lupus can be a cause. Maybe that's whats happening. But I can't imagine, even if it is lupus, that it should go on for this long. It's painful and I'm tired.

Hopefully I can get in tomorrow and get some answers.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Black Hole

I kind of feel like thats what going on right now. My mail, for some reason, is not reaching me. It is so bizarre. I have my Netflix movies, my blood test results, and most importantly, money my aunt sent me to pay for study abroad applications. All of them have not arrived.

I went to the office last week and they said they would look into. I also called mail services on campus and they have no idea. I went ans spoke to the apartment managers today and they said they would look into. So far I have not heard back. I really need my mail.

I also have been INCREDIBLY achy the past few days. I went to the gym Saturday, so I thought that was the reason, but I think it might be the lupus causing me pain right now. I also have been having some bleeding problems. I made an appointment with my primary care doctor, but I can't see him until Feb. 11. Hopefully I will have stopped bleeding by then. I'm not supposed to at all, so I'm really confused. It has been going on for just over a week now, or there abouts, and I don't have an explanation. It is not heavy, but it is not letting up. My gums are also bleeding a lot. I called my rheumatologist about my blood tests results and she said everything that has come in so far has been alright.

I guess Tylenol and ibuprofen will be my good friends until I can figure out what is going on in that department.

Also, that post on weight will be coming soon. I just am short on time. 24 hours is not long enough, especially when you have to sleep!