Money Cannot Buy You Love, Can It?

Since I have been dealing with the lupus I have struggled to figure out what is the point of sickness. I think the biggest thing it has given me is the ability to appreciate the small things in life. Every day I see my daughter smile there is no amount of money that could take the place of her smile every morning. Her love is like the rivers it over flows to me and my family. It is not many times when a teenager is so beautiful both inside and out. Plus shows everyone she touches such love.

2 Cleanings a Year Keeps the Extraction Away

Last week, I had a tooth pulled which has been in the works for the last couple of months. I was supposed to have the tooth pulled back in November, but I was sick with an upper respiratory infection. The last thing someone with lupus needs to do is have a tooth pulled out when their immune system is low anyways. So I had to cancel the appointment the day before. It took a lot of nerve for me to go to a dentist at all. It took me over 15 years (yes, you read it right.) to get the guts to have the tooth pulled. Back when I was pregnant with my daughter I had a filling done and the filling did not stay. If I knew then that I had a vitamin D deficiency it would have explained to me why my teeth kept on chipping and I was drinking at least a gallon of milk while I was pregnant with my daughter. Really, it should have been a light bulb moment for my doctor, but he probably figured it was just another crazy pregnancy craving. I could not get enough milk throughout my pregnancy, but I could not drink any juice at all. If I could go back I would have gone back to the dentist to get the tooth filled again or pulled earlier. If you have had a molar pulled you know what I mean. I thought I was going to lose my mind while the dentist was trying to yank this tooth out of my mouth. On top of that I started feeling the pain from the actual scalpel (not sure if that is what a dentist uses to cut around a tooth.) cutting into my gums. She would have numbed it again, but I was afraid I would chicken out when she returned. It took all I could to finish the extraction. I held onto the side of my pants and the chair to refocus my mind. I was told to try to refocus my mind on the music playing, but who can hear any music over the suction machine. I was concerned about having an excessive amount of bleeding because I have a platelet deficiency. So I had good reason to be concerned. In my next post I’ll share ways to find dental service less expensive. I need to have some fillings done next time I see the dentist. I am hoping she will do them all at the same time. I need to buy a splint for my TMJ, but I am not sure if I will be able to afford to buy a new one. I have to have an exam from a new dentist, fitted with the splint, and purchase a new splint. My mouth is beginning to feel better now, but my TMJ is still in an uproar.

Hit the Road Muscle Aches

I’ve learned to be creative finding ways to reduce my pain level and it’s not been easy. I have a rice pack that I warm up numerous days during the day. Sure I could use a heating pad, but the rice pack offers moist heat which seems to sooth my muscles at least temporarily. If you’ve lived with chronic pain for any length of time you’ll do just about anything to get some relief from the pain, especially during a flare if you’ve been ‘blessed’ with lupus or fibromyalgia. I use to visit our local YMCA, but I quit going because of the price and the water was too cold. I would come of the water with deep cold in my muscles. I don’t tolerate cold at all, but I live in a state with snow so I cannot win. I’d love to buy a portable hot tub if I had the money. I think it would be great to sooth and relax my joints and muscles. It might help me be more productive because I would know the hot tub is there to help me get my second wind. I think I’d start out my day in the hot tub and end my day in the hot tub and on bad days you’d be lucky to get me out. I like the idea that a hot tub has warm water that stays warm rather then turn into cold weather.

Life Can Be a Royal Pain in the Moon

It’s been a rollercoaster of a week for me. The computers have been a royal pain between the Linksys not working and the cable modem lights turning off and on. I think I have that issue fixed. Some days computers are more of a pain than they’re worth. Our cables been a royal pain for the last few weeks, but the last week has been really bad. The channels turn totally back then tell you to please stand by. The insanity with the cable is a really annoying at times. I have an area on my middle back that hurts pretty bad and well it’s also been a royal pain in the moon. I was supposed to have a tooth extracted and I had to cancel the appointment because of the upper respiratory infection, it’s taken me a few years just to get the guts to have the thing pulled. On top of that I have TMJ and I need a new splint, but I’m not sure where I’m going to find the money for one. I clinch my teeth at night and I wake up with the joints being a royal pain. I’m hoping to reschedule the appointment next week, if they don’t have a waiting list. Where I’m going to have the tooth extracted doesn’t do the splints so I have to go through the whole process of a new patient again. I hate being a New Patient.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, is it H1N1 After All?

I had an interesting conversation with my neighbor about her little boy. She asked, “If my daughter was going trick or treating.” She cannot because she’s been sick. She told me her son had H1N1. She said they didn’t do any test for it. They just went by his symptoms which were the typical sinus infection symptoms. She said, “They are diagnosing anyone with possible H1N1 with H1N1”. The only way they’ll check for H1N1 is if he was going to be hospitalized. I cannot understand how they can definitely diagnosis someone when they’ve not ran the test. It makes me wonder if how many other people are being diagnosed with H1N1 which are similar to your typical upper respiratory infection and the flu. The symptoms of typical seasonal flu and H1N1 are similar. From what I’ve read with H1N1 people have diarrhea and vomiting. It makes me wonder how many people are being diagnosed H1N1 and they’ve got the seasonal flu or a sinus infection.

Are you having the H1N1 flu shot? Why or Why Not????

Blog Hop: In My Daughter’s Shoes

A girl has to have her shoes and my daughter is no different, she loves this style of shoes. She’d buy out the shoe store if I could afford them all, not that I’ll buy them all for her. From seeing so many kids that get everything turn out not to appreciate the small things, I’d never dream of giving her everything.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is October

Just to remind all the women that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Women over 35 should get a mammogram once a year to check for breast cancer. Being a daughter of a breast cancer survivor it’s important to me. For more information on getting a mammogram check the Susan G. Komen Foundation. For those of that money is a factor check with your local social service agencies about free mammograms. In my community there’s an agency that covers the price for mammograms

Hey Spammers

Hey Spammers! Can’t you find something else to do. It’  a shame  you’ve got to spam people just be noticed. I feel sorry for you. It’ a shame you’ve got nothing else to do, but spread a bunch of filth. Most people don’t want to read your garbage. You need to crawl back in your little hole so all the bloggers can send you spam so you won’t feel so insecure.  Happy Blogging Spammers….

See Ya Wouldn’t Want to See Ya, but I’ll be nice RIP…….

Tick… Tock… Waiting…..

Today, were waiting for a chest freezer to arrive and it’s kind of like waiting for a watched pot to boil. The companies give you a 4 hour window for delivery and well it’s now 5 minutes before the 4 hour window ends and it’s still not here. The worst part is I’m really worn out today so I’m fighting just to stay awake. I will be so glad when Mr. Lowe delivery man arrives with my freezer. Tick Tock…. Tick Tock……. So, I’m off to waiting again….

Flu Shot or Not? You be the judge

The CDC is really concerned about the outbreak of the Swine also called H1N1. Most people are wondering if they should get the shot or not. I’m concerned about taking the shot this year because the clinical trial is done over such a short time, but the Lupus Foundation of America is monitoring the situation. The best way to deal with the flu is by taking preventive measures.

Here are some tips to help you stay well:

1.) Wash your hands frequently with soap and water and use a paper towel to turn of the faucet. It defeats the purpose by touching the faucet that you’ve already dirtied with your hands.

2.) Wash your hands when you first come home.

3.) Carry a bottle of hand sanitizer in your purse or car. When your kids get in the car have them use it before they touch anything. I use to send a bottle of hand sanitizer with my daughter to school in her lunch box and one in her backpack. The one in the lunch box so she can wash before she eats as the school didn’t give them the opportunity to wash  hands. They teach kids to wash their hands before eating in preschool then they get in elementary school and they forget it. Never did understand this one.

4.) If your sick stay home.

5.)  Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth.

6.) If you’re sick wear a mask to prevent further spread of the flu and wear one if your immunity is down. It’s better to be safe then sorry.

The Lupus Foundation of America has some good articles on the upcoming flu season.

Swine Flu Advisory for People with Lupus

Immune Responses to Flu Vaccine Diminished in People with Lupus – However Vaccinations Still Recommended

CDC guidelines for Swine Flu

Are you taking the Flu Shot this year?