Judy’s blog

I have received several emails asking me why I haven’t been posting anything to my blog recently. There have been a variety of reasons but mostly it has been because of health issues.

I spent several months at the end of this past summer getting use to the fact that my thyroid stop functioning properly, I had high blood pressure that didn’t respond to normal blood pressure medication requiring me to go on an ACE inhibitor, and a potassium deficit in my body that was unexplained. I was placed on a wide variety of prescriptions to control my thyroid, blood pressure, and potassium issues. They are all now under control with these medications.

A few months later, I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. I started taking Placquenil for this. This drug is also used to treat lupus and malaria. The downside is that it can cause deposits on your retina which will lead to blindness or macular degeneration. So, I have to go to my neuro-opthalmalogist peroidically to have my retinas “mapped” so that they can detect any deposits as soon as they start happening and I can stop taking the drug. The other drugs that I could take instead of the Placquenil to help with the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis would cause problems with my liver and kidneys and I would have to have blood tests every month or so to keep an eye on that. So, I’m in a Catch 22 situation with these medications. Any way I go, there may be further complications to deal with down the road.

Right now, I am happy with the relief that I get using Placquenil. My neuro-opthalmalogist has assured me that I will be able to take this medication for probably more than 5 years without any complications. Maybe by then, scientists will have something bigger and better to help us that suffer from this disease. Right now, as long as I take my medication faithfully, I no longer feel like I’m 90 years old, don’t have to hang onto the walls to get around, and can function pretty well in my day to day tasks.

Just before Christmas, I developed a horrible nagging cough. One of the medications I am on lists a cough as its side effect. I ignored the cough and blamed it on the medication. Then, the day after Christmas, I was hit with severe congestion, sinus pressure, and ear aches. I went to Kaiser and was advised that on top of my bronchial cough, I had a sinus infection and both ears were infected. After 10 days on antibiotics, I still felt no better. I went back to the doctor again. Now, I’m being advised that the infection in my right ear has settled in the connecting tube between my sinuses and the back side of my eardrum. If my body doesn’t fight this infection on its own, I might have to consider going in for surgery on my right ear.

Add to all of this the fact that my computer is in my second bedroom — which is colder on most days and evenings then my refrigerator. I have no idea why this room is so frigid. I can’t stand being in there and typing on the computer for any length of time. I tried putting a portable heater in there but kept blowing fuses. Grrrrr… I look forward to the spring and more decent temperatures. Right now, it is 67 degrees outside but I bet my second bedroom is still in the 40’s. It is unbelievable cold in here. My goose bumps have goose bumps!

So, I’ll try to post more often on my good days. I’m hoping that I will not have any more “health issues” to post about any time soon. Thank you for your thoughts and concerns. Remember — if you don’t think you are feeling ‘right’ — go to your doctor for a check up and keep on them until they figure out what is wrong. It took my doctors numerous blood tests, x-rays, and physical exams before they were on the right track. I even was tested for TB and hepititas. I know what I “DON’T” have and I’m glad that what I “DO” have is treatable.

Don’t ignore your health. Be proactive. Have regular physicals. Don’t wait until you are sick. Don’t do like I did…