Why wear a ribbon?

"Grand nephew age 7" (Mimi1969)

MDJunction to me

"Before i found MDJ i was in the deepest darkest part of my life after my abduction. I wanted to feel safe. I wanted that sense of being a normal person.Finding MDJ and the people with in it has steered me down the correct path into the light of hope. The feeling of hope that i was not alone,the feeling of hope of understanding,and the feeling of hope to move on. I never give up hope." (1magicman)

more testimonials

That's the way I roll!

I do not wear rose-colored glasses, nor would I consider myself the epitome of optimism. However, I am cautiously optimistic about living with chronic illnesses for which I am told there is no cure.
When I was diagnosed with Graves disease in 1996, I wasn't terribly upset. It was what it was and it was my responsibility to work with my endocrinologist by taking my meds and HRT as instructed and keep my appointments. Check.

In 1999 when I was officially diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, I'll admit that it was a small shock (doctors at the time suspected Multiple Sclerosis), but, again, wasn't falling apart at the seams. My neurologist appeared very knowledgeable (and, in fact, is knowledgeable) regarding MG, ordered the appropriate tests, and taught me much about MG aside from my own "research" on this disease. Again, it was my responsibility to work with my neurologist by taking my meds and keeping my appointments in addition to re-training myself on the daily activities with which I dealt.

In 2001, I was diagnosed with Lupus (SLE) after years of tests and appts with my present rheumatologist and with audio/visual spatial cog. dysfunction by me present neuropsychologist. Okay, this was all beginning to catch up with me. To make matters worse, I was diagnosed with depression.

Inspite of the above, I was determined to not give up hope. My faith had something to do with that, but my outlook on life in general had an equal share in that determination and hope.

To say that "every day is a treasure chest" may sound a bit Polly-Anna to others, but I am far from being a Polly-Anna. My outlook is that each morning I awake to a new day not knowing what positive things I might come across. But I always knew (and still know) that I will discover something that will benefit myself or will give me the opportunity to benefit someone else. I never know when I put my hand into this treasure chest, what small gift I will grasp. This is my gift to relish and/or glean some sort of understanding that I had not otherwise comprehended. This is my gift to give to someone else, should I wish to or know of someone that would benefit from such enlightenment, if you will. These gifts are not monumental in and of themselves, but by the very nature of each day's discovery I may be better able to help improve myself, or enrich someone else's day.

Something as small as a sincere smile...I'm talking a smile that comes right up from my toes and out my eyes...to someone who is having a lousy day or just needs an emotional boost to their self-esteem. Offering to give a cashier fifty-cents so the kid in front of me can enjoy the candybar he could not otherwise afford. Sending my family a brief text message in the morning, telling them I love them.

By enriching others by any means,no matter how seemingly insignificant, I enrich myself.

Whether it's your treasure chest or your oyster bed, remember what is truly important and never...ever...give up.

Peace out!
Lynne

My diagnoses are Myasthenia Gravis, SLE (lupus), Graves' Disease (post-ablative RAI-131 in 1997), other CNS issues, cord compression in cervical, thoracic and sacral spine areas; mod-severe OA; TIA in 2005. Other issues.

I'm here to offer support and share.

Shadows of 2009 and Anticipation of 2010

Jan 01 2010

Wow, I can't believe a year has passed already! I am heading into 2010, running from shadows of last year (knowing full well that some shadows will be a source of contention yet to be dealthwith this year) and looking forward with an optimistic eye at the birth of a new year.

There was so much going on in my life last year, and there is more to be had this year. The difference is that I'm not sitting down and taking "...well, could be this," "...or maybe I forgot it" anymore from medical healthcare professionals who profess that they know all and I know squat (little do they know).

This year, my daughter is dealing with the very real possibility of some type of lymphoma and is scheduled Monday for a consult with a surgeon for biopsy. I ask for divine intervention everyday, but His will is what it will be....period. Her appearance is frightening. I think her P.A. finally concedes that he's way over his head on this case and is referring her out to specialists. (About damn time!)

Other than that, things are pretty much status quo here, with the exception that the MG status is better than it's EVER been post-thymectomy. I'm going to run with that and pretend that the possibility for things to reverse themselves is plausible. How far that will get me I cannot say, but I'm going to take it as far as I can go. Though remission has eluded me thus far, I'm determined to meet up with it somewhere on the horizon. I know it's there, if only I have patience.

The lupus is holding its own. The Graves' disease, on the other hand, is being impetuous. I'm hyper again (tsh .096) and am scheduled to take a Iodine Spot Test after the 1st of the year as my doc feels my body is not metabolizing iodine adequately thus the fluctuations in TSH, T3 and T4 levels. I do have Wilson's T3 Syndrome, so compounds of Iodoral/Iodide Potassium and Thyrocare are added to my Armour regemine.

As fibro is often a subset symptom of lupus or other connective tissue diseases, also being compounded for me is oxytocin (thank heavens for no uterus!) prescribed by my PCP. And guess what? IT WORKS! Oxytocin is a normal hormone we all produce (in the hypothalmus gland), also referred to as "the cuddle hormone". But I was skeptical at first. However, my PCP is working very hard to combat the fatigue of the lupus and side effect of the pharmaceutical (and often more toxic) drugs. So far, I have to give him an A. (I'd give him an A+ but there's always room for improvement.

The depression was pretty bad during the Christmas holiday and slowly lifting. That's what stress gets ya, yesiree! Next year: gift cards!!

But for now, it's time to chill and improve upon things in myself and all around me to make this year less stressful and more enjoyable.

Though I am in denial of being another year older...! ;)

Here's to a less temperate 2010 and stepping out of shadows!

Previous diary posts by LupieToons:

I think I can nearly whistle "Dixie"
The chest tube is OUT! :)
It's not CA, but...
Trying to round a curve in a square maze
What am I doing here at 3:00 A.M.!?!

I am back, but not up to snuff yet.
Sliding in to first base on a gravel ball diamond
Test results are in (saw PCP today)
The lupus is in a slow progression.
There is a lot of death around me at this time...

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