Lupus..what is that?
Posted on May 10, 2008 - Filed Under Health
I have Lupus. I was diagnosed about 19 years ago and have since gone on to develop Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia.
Any time I tell people about my health problems I always seem to get the same response…“What is Lupus?”. Most people seem to know a little about both RA and Fibro but not many people seem to know what Lupus really is.
Today is World Lupus Day and I have written an article over at my second home All For Women explaining just what Lupus is, please go and check it out as spreading the word and raising awareness of Lupus can only be a positive step towards finding a cure for this debilitating disease.
Chronically Speaking.
Posted on May 4, 2008 - Filed Under Health
Just having Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia is exhausting, but it is the constant and unremitting pain that I find most difficult to deal with.
During the day I find it is easier to cope if I use distraction techniques, like housework, animal care, reading, music and of course the computer.
Night times…ahhh now they are a different creature altogether. At night I am stalked by a different beast. Night time the pain is all encompassing and completely envelops me in a blanket of despair. Hot and cold packs, massage, TENS machine and a delightful selection of narcotics all do a little to help but deep in the darkness the battle begins and it is one that I never seem to win. I spend most nights waking hourly whimpering in pain and it the sheer constancy of this that wears me down. TETB’s sleep must surely be being compromised too but of course he is just too lovely to say so.
This week I visited my rheumatologist and he provided me with a brand new drug that he hoped would “help me make it through the night!” The last two nights have been nothing short of a miracle. Yes, I still had pain, but it was managed enough by my medications to allow me to have a proper refreshing night’s sleep!
Last night I went to bed hoping that the night before had not just been a once off miracle but was again rewarded with a blissful night. The difference in me after a full night’s sleep is incredible. Yesterday for the first time in as long as I can remember, I actually felt motivated to do things and it was a fantastic feeling.
Of course this solution isn’t an easy one. This is ME we are talking about and nothing with ME is ever simple LOL! This miracle drug is VERY expensive and not available on the government’s pharmaceutical benefits scheme, so the specialist is doing his best to find a way to provide it for me at an affordable rate. So fingers crossed.
Who knew that a few night’s sleep could make me feel like a new woman?
Help please..I can’t move…
Posted on April 23, 2008 - Filed Under General
I am just too comfortable.
But..I am a little cold and would appreciate it if you could go and get me my rug, I have had to curl up under this cushion to try and get warm but my rug would be much nicer please.
Thanks for that…mmmm now back to dreaming about wabbits!
*Disaster zone*
Posted on April 20, 2008 - Filed Under General
Ok it is now official.
Our bedroom has now been declared a disaster zone!
After yesterday morning’s little glitter pen incident, I must now report on the afternoon’s adventures.
Now I am not sure if any of you remember, but last year when I was on one of many of my re-decorating the whole bedroom schemes, I bought a lovely blue patterned vase/jar. TETB took an instant dislike to it and informed me, “that it looks like something you would keep your Grandma’s ashes in” Of course this went down really well with me and made me even more insistent that it was staying!
So I have kept it ever since, lovingly polishing and dusting it and moving it around the room to different surfaces as the whim takes me.
This week it just happened to be sitting at the back of TETB’s bedside table.
I think you can guess what happened next……
Yes, that’s right…he heaves the mattress from the base of the bed and as he is trying to juggle it to maneuverer it to flip it over ..CRASH goes my blue jar!
I went rushing around to his side of the bed hoping that it could be salvaged and (this next part you just won’t believe!) here is TETB picking up the shattered pieces and then reaching behind him to pick up something and then handing it to me all very -pleased-with-himself-like and saying ” Oh look at least I didn’t break the lid!”
See..I told you….DISASTER AREA!!!!
Caught in the act!
Posted on April 19, 2008 - Filed Under Dogs
Anyone want a little, white, fluffy dog who looks as innocent as they come?
Toto must have overheard me complaining to TETB that I wanted (yet another) new doona cover for our bed. So he very conveniently helped himself to a bright, sparklie gel pen from the office and took it into our bedroom and deposited most of the ink all over my very light colored bed cover!
To say I was not impressed would be understating the whole situation!
Only trouble is…Who could stay angry very long at a face like this?
A weight off his mind.
Posted on April 18, 2008 - Filed Under General
The other day TETB and I watch a program about overweight dogs. Now these pooches were real jelly-bellies, they were huge and really did have obvious problems. Luckily a vet and animal behavourist gave the owners some sound advice and set them on the right track and all the dogs were well on the way to better health by the time the program ended.
A little later I noticed TETB giving our hounds a very thorough going over with his eyes. He then proceeded to prod and poke each of them around their belly feeling just how porky they were. Now none of our pampered pooches are what you could call “skinny” but then nor are any of them in the need for a “Jenny Craig for Canines” any time soon. I was sitting back watching quietly with a smirk on my face and finding the whole thing very amusing, little did I know that the fun was only just beginning.
TETB went into the bathroom and was hopping on and off the digital scales to see how much he weighed. Now this is something I have never seen him do before as he does not have an ounce of fat on his body. Satisfied that he knew how much he weighed, he then picked up each dog in turn and re-weighed both himself and the dog.
He started with Toto who is a Tibetan Spaniel, he weighed in at almost 8kgs which is apparently at the high (read pudgy) end of acceptable for a dog of his breed. Toto has a mind of his own and was appeared to be most indignant when told by TETB, “that he was bordering on having a weight problem!”
Next it was Millie’s turn to face the daunting task of being weighed. Luckily it hadn’t been very long since she had had a haircut and had masses (kilos at least LOL) of hair removed. Alas this didn’t help her all that much as she weighed in at 15 kg’s again just scrapping in to the acceptable range. Poor Princess Millie seemed most put out when her owner announced her too to be, “heading for trouble”.
I really should have been more prepared and had the camera at the ready for the next weigh-in. TETB staggered into the bathroom under the weight of Cassie, who is a Labrador x Rhodesian Ridgeback.
Apparently my beloved Cassie weighed in at a quite hefty 38kg’s which might actually be a kilo or two over what is recommended..but then she is a cross between the two breeds so I am sure she should be allowed a little leeway (says her overweight owner!)
After giving the three of them a long and loud lecture about there eating and exercise habits TETB announced that he was both starving and exhausted and plopped himself down in front of the telly armed with a plate containing crackers, olives, a chunk of spicy salami and a block of cheese with the aroma of a dead rat and proceeded to feed his face and those of the three overweight hounds!
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