I am going to work today, despite the fact I am in the worst spine/leg flare since 2009. My neuropathy tingling from the waist down was the first sign Monday morning. By the afternoon, the pain was shooting through my lower back. I felt my vertebrae grind against each other and then the pain got really bad. I know I have also pinched a nerve because my left little finger hurts and goes numb periodically.
This is the reality of multiple invisible autoimmune diseases.
However, I have physical and medication tools to work through it. I WILL get better again because I have done it before! I may have to get a prescription for PT and traction if it does not get better after a few weeks but I know who to contact to get this.
No sad emojis - just send some healing positive thoughts and animal pictures.
I have been able to search out health issues and dates I need to apply for Short-Term and Long-Term Disability.
Posting this info here so I will have it for the future.
Dr. Robert Kwon, MD
Hand Microsurgery & Reconstructive Surgery
Address: 3108 Midway Road, Suite 103,
Plano, TX 75093
Phone: (214) 919-5001
Broke Right Thumb in two places and detached ligament 6/7/17.
Surgery 6/30/17.
Occupational therapy started after the cast came off 7/11/19.
Follow-up in-office procedure to help loosen tendon 7/19/18 + more OT.
Finally released 2/7/19. 85% mobility-can function normally.
Luckily, Talon's adventures with Remicade has made me more aware of its attributes, so when my rheumatologist gave it as one of my options, I was able to tell her 'no'. Thanks again, Talon, for your great photojournalist lj entry on what you go through. Understand, the process is not what makes me hesitate. It's the three to four hours it takes for the infusion plus losing a day after the procedure and having the effects start dissipating before the next infusion that concerns me.
So, what option did I choose? I am going to start giving myself Enbrel shots. It's a weekly shot and in my mind, I feel it gives me more control. My rheumatologist told me the preservative makes the shot burn so if I can't take it, I will have to mix up my own.
I am now waiting for the order to come in to their office so I can be trained. I don't think I am going to have problems giving myself shots. I don't know if I will get the autoinjector but that would make life even easier. I look at it this way - what's a little burn compared to pain relief?
This month has been killing me financially when it comes to doctor visits and driving to them. At $30 a visit, plus all the gas I have to use to drive at least 45 minutes to two different specialists, this has hit hard.
On an entirely different health front, the Nazi came into my office early last Friday and said his headache and chest pain was annoying enough he was off to the doctor. I told him to go home and rest after the appointment and it was probably just acid reflux. Well... Monday's email from him let us all know he had been dealing with a mild heart attack. They were going in that day to check things out and probably put a stint in. LOTS of people on campus have stints, so yesterday I joked with his SO (who substituted for him yesterday - yes, she's also a photoshop/multimedia teacher, but out at UT-Dallas) about how he'd be with a lot of good company with his stint - like some of the VPs and other major players on campus. We were all laughing about how the Nazi thinks he is going to be back at work next week - no way! He needs to let go of the stress bunnies and relax and take a few weeks off to recharge. We told his SO to take the laptop away from him so he can rest instead of contacting us and being an administrator. She said he was bored in the hospital, which I can well imagine. I suggested she take him art supplies and she liked that idea. I know I would get a LOT of art and writing done if I was stuck in a hospital. *eyes muses* Don't even think about it...
Well, this morning, the Dean sent us an email and the Nazi's doc has suggested a quadruple bypass. Oops! That wasn't part of the plan! And Nazi is going to go starkers while recovering - how long will he HAVE to stay on his back?
My health has been pretty dreadful lately, which has kept me quiet. I have been in a medium flare. I go to my main doc this morning to see if I need a reset (antibiotics) to get back on-track. My rheum meds have been increased, which may also be causing some problems but I am tackling the problems one at a time. I have been off-kilter for two weeks now and can't seem to shake these seemingly unrelated symptoms. It's probably something like a sinus infection chewing on me. The weather has been warm/cold/hot/cool and wrecking havoc on everyone's heads.
I start some expensive meds on a temporary basis in a few weeks (trying to knock out some arthritis-related crap I've had forever). If I didn't have insurance, a 90-day supply (one shot a week) would cost me a little over $4000. I was able to check the drug out at my mail-in drug website and it's only going to cost me $75 for a 90-day supply. Whew! Yeah, it's still a big chunk of cash but nothing compared to the no insurance price. I have to be healthy again for our San Francisco trip this summer.
I haven't been able to get my curriculum done for my advanced class nor get all my lectures into PowerPoint. Where's my tardis and clone machine?
Thanks: --> to Lia, my sensei, who has inspired me to draw again. I
wouldn't be doing this without your support, Domo Arigato!
--> to Talon, for sending me her fabulous fics, inspiring me with her writing to draw my first
illustration for a story and actually liking what I drew.
--> to Dasia, for her words of encouragement when drawing her original chara.
--> to Joules, a wonderful epic fic writer, for liking my art enough to want to post them with Talon's
and her own stories.
--> to Lutra, the other half of the epic team, for being so supportive.
--> to Jacque' & Becca Raddittzu, we met on eBay as bidder and sellers and now we are face-to-face
friends. You showed us the real DBZ with your fansubs. It's all your fault the house is full of
doujinshi! *LOL*
:: welcome to bakayaro onna's mindless ramblings, rants & raves :: 
