Health Update Part 1

As some of you may already know; I have been having some serious health issues these last few months. Some of which has been going on for a lot longer. We kept a lot of it on the down low until we knew just what we were dealing with. So off to the Dr's we went. I thank God that we have good medical insurance as this has not been a cheap enterprise. Even the co-pays are taking a toll.
The initial findings are in from all of the tests I've been having done. At first, they thought maybe we were looking at MS, Lupus or possibly even a brain tumor. CT scan = no brain tumor, MS and Lupus were a little tougher. Off to the rheumotologist I went for more tests, and more tests after those weren't conclusive. Xrays and so much blood. Not MS. Lupus is still an open door at this time. Off to the neurologist. Scheduled an MRI for today and won't have the findings for that right away. ( Looking at some type of nerve impingement, possibly caused by compressed or ruptured discs in the cervical spine. I'll post more on that later when we know something.)
What I DO know
Initial diagnoses are: 
Autoimmune Disease: "Our bodies have an immune system, which is a complex network of special cells and organs that defends the body from germs and other foreign invaders. At the core of the immune system is the ability to tell the difference between self and non-self: what's you and what's foreign. A flaw can make the body unable to tell the difference between self and non-self. When this happens the body makes autoantibodies that attack normal cells by mistake. At the same time special cells called regulatory T cells fail to do their job of keeping the immune system in line. The result is a misguided attack on your own body. This causes the damage we know as autoimmune disease. " (http://www.womenshealth.gov/)


Inflammatory Arthritis: (This appears to be the primary focus of the autoimmune disease as far as we know right now)

"Arthritis literally means "inflammation of a joint." In some forms of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis, the inflammation arises because the smooth covering (articular cartilage) on the ends of bones wears away. In other forms of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, the joint lining becomes inflamed as part of a systemic disease. These diseases are considered the inflammatory arthritides.
The three most common types of inflammatory arthritis that affect the hip are:

• Rheumatoid Arthritis - a systemic disease of the immune system that usually affects multiple joints on both sides of the body at the same time
• Ankylosing Spondylitis - a chronic inflammation of the spine and the sacroiliac joint (the point where the spine meets the pelvic bone) that can also cause inflammation in other joints
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus - an autoimmune disease in which the body harms its own healthy cells and tissues"

(http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00396)

Mine is probably not RA, but it seems that the other 2 options are still open to discussion and observation. Guess I couldn't do anything simple!

X-Rays showed: spurring along the articular margins of the hip joints. Erosive changes in both sacroiliac joints. (Spondyloarthropathy and arthropathy. Impressive, huh?)

Raynaud's Disease

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/raynaud/

Migraines and Ocular Migraines: Probably no explanation necessary...
Bursitis in both hips, back and left shoulder. Received 3 shots of steroid this past week which seems to have helped some. Scheduled for a specialist to inject the SI joints in near future as soon as I can get an appt with him.

So, now after wading through all that gobbly gook, you may be wondering  "What now?"

Going to start out with some dietary changes, adding some more supplements to enhance my immune system, physical therapy 3 x week for 8 weeks, get findings from MRI and deal with those, take pain meds as stomach will tolerate, but most important according to these Drs is Reduce Stress! I already reduced my school load to 6 credits this semester and our plan to simplify and live in the 5th wheel/travel will all help with this.

Not a lot of feel good, uplifting stuff today, but felt the need to share. I thank all our friends and family for the love and support you offer. Your continued positive thoughts and prayers for both of us are always appreciated.


"I wanted a perfect ending. Now I've learned, the hard way, that some poems don't rhyme, and some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next."
Gilda Radner


Heading out to Sidney and Darlyne's tomorrow to camp out in our new 5th wheel for a couple days. 

CARPE DIEM !!!