What's wrong with me lately

Well, I had some kind of flu bug that probably started affecting me on April 18. I don't have flu symptoms any more. Due to being immunosuppressed from lupus treatments, and in particular now being B-cell suppressed from receiving rituxan in a medical study, I am catching infections very easily. I did get a secondary bacterial infection in my lungs, cleared by a Z-pack (antibiotic.)

What's left is a cough and some trouble talking, breathing with any exertion, fatigue. At first I really couldn't talk at all but now that is better. This unfortunately is a typical problem for me, and goes back to April/October of childhood years when the allergies came around. I did see a pulmonologist, was diagnosed with acute bronchitis (no, you can't catch it from me -- but wit the H1N1 stuff happening now I can clear a room fast when I cough!) and seem to be getting better with several medications. Unfortunately one of them is good old prednisone. I had been losing weight at last, but who knows what it will do to my metabolism again. Hopefully I can get back to a low dose soon. I'm already swelling, ugh. And, yes, I do feel the tendency to depression, moodiness, and particularly oversensitivity to criticism. I keep reminding myself it's the med. And, I'm avoiding criticism. I'm ok if I stay quiet and peaceful, which is also what I need to get better.

Swine Flu Info

I really wanted to cut and paste the blog entry I made on another blog to here, but I am so tired I would screw it up! So here is the current info I have. I will be posting more on what the immunosuppressed (like those of us taking immunosuppressants for autoimmune disease) should do when I find out.

Today's Half Awake Words

I am so tired. I fell asleep really late last night and for some reason there were a million phone calls waking me up this am.

I've decided to make this blog my only lupus blog for now. I can't handle more than one lupus blog! It is hard enough to try to keep up on one.

There will be a support group meeting tonight. I lead the group and have to prepare. I want to bring some current swine flu info. I'm sure people are nervous about it.

I have a nasty cough. I did have a flu, gone now, but this is my usual dry wheezing cough that I get after any respiratory infection. It has something to do with the asthma and although I'm hoping to avoid extra steroids it will probably come to that to get rid of it.

My asthma is NOT contagious...

Now this is JUST TOO MUCH

Ok, found the last Maxalt samples (why won't my insurance give me Maxalt?) and the new nausea med; got the migraine to be a bit better by taking the meds and also restricting myself to lying down in a quiet and dimly lit room.

But no rest for the wicked, I mean the sick that is...I'm kind of dizzy so had dburr help me take my blood sugar. 290! Oops.

Now I have to try and walk around the house WITH a migraine and drink a boatload of water. And not much of the pasta dinner for my sick tummy. Got to bring that sugar down. Maybe pickles will help. Not that I feel like having any.

Have some kind of infection, too. Productive cough, although not a really bad one.

This is really too many illnesses at once and I'm getting kind of pissed off.

Got my latest blood work in the mail. Sed rate is good (I do not understand WHY because I have not been doing so well with the arthritis)...but ANA is back up. Not to its highest but 1:1280 is significant. Blah.

Would someone please give lupus the finger for me? I had to stab both of my middle fingers today in the great effort to get blood for testing blood sugar level. I've got Raynaud's. Hands and feet usually cold and lifeless. Doesn't go well with diabetes test kit requirements.

Poor dburr ; he has to be Nurse Dburr again. I can't be fun to live with.

Reminder to Self

Put today in the Headache Diary for my neuro.

At least he cares when I get these nauseating, blinding migraines.

I had so much I was looking forward to doing today and it is just. not. fair.

Sigh!