So we can rule out Lupus?!

In less than a month I received a phone call from the Rheumatology Department. This appointment would be exactly one month and a day from when I saw the Doctor. Who said it would take at least two months. April 19, 2013 was my appointment and it was very thorough. The Specialist said, "We can rule out Lupus." My Hubby sat straight up in his seat and said, "So we can rule out Lupus?!". My x-rays looked good, no deterioration, no Rheumatoid Arthritis. I had no swelling in the joints. The Specialist explained that some can test positive for Lupus (ANA positive) but not have Lupus. So what is it? I have Fibromyalgia. They gave me meds for treatment and game me one more blood test to rule out another autoimmune (like Lupus), called Sjogren's. Every Doctor I have seen from the beginning of the journey has been wonderful.

After the storm....

I feel like I told everyone that I needed to tell about "most likely" having Lupus. Its been interesting an and emotional ride, and not just for me. Initially  everyone displays a great sense of concern. Is it just formality? Life is busy, people are busy with their own lives, why should I expect a weekly "how are you?" Maybe, people think, "no news is good news". My parents don't even call me or text me weekly anymore. I get a text from a Brother about once a week. I have one Cousin who calls me about every other day, shes great support. Why? Because she too has Lupus and knows what I am going through. She sends me recipes and encouragement. I so do appreciate her. My BFF use to call me everyday, or at least an email, not so much anymore. Maybe reality is to heavy to face on a daily or weekly basis ... I understand that ... just wish I could avoid reality daily.

Good News....wait for it...

Well, since the 25th of March, I have been maintaining my inflammation. It has its good days and its bad days, but it has not completely ever gone away. I found that Milk helps me with my exhaustion, which I am assuming is because of the vitamin D. I drink a cup of Ginger tea every day, which I believe is helping me with the inflammation. I took myself off the pain killers about 2 weeks ago. I wasn't in any pain, just discomfort. That was a rough couple of nights, sleepless and a bit of anxiety.  I can't imaging how it is for someone who has been on them for a long time. I am still on the naproxen and blood pressure pills. I noticed that when I was off the naproxen for a day, I felt pain, in my writs hands and arms/shoulders. It hasn't been till the last couple of nights, that I have been able to sleep through the night, since this whole thing has started. Also the last couple of days, when I wake and start getting ready for the shower, I feel a rapid heart rate, like if I have walked around the block. By the time I get out of the shower, I have to rest. Every once in a while, when I take a deep breath, its uncomfortable in my back, kinda below my shoulder blade, also, I get a pressure on the left side of my chest.
I don't take exhaustion lightly anymore, if I feel tired, I let my Hubby know, I need to go home early from work (we carpool and he is very flexible), I stay home (which I have really only needed to do once), or I just go lay down when I need to (the family has been really understanding). I've been feeling tired, the last couple of days, even though I have been sleeping through the night, feeling tenderness in my shoulders and yesterday I thought I saw my eyes yellowish, and with the rapid heart rate, I started to worry.
So this morning I took advantage and got a late start to work and rode with my daughter. On the way, I got a call, it was the Rheumatology department, giving me an appt for April 19! FINALLY! That took exactly a month from when I had my first doctor appt. Such good news and such a relief. In a week I will be diagnosed ... with something.