Illustration of frog in hot water by Jan Hurst. Most people have heard the analogy of the frog in the hot water. If you put a frog in boiling water it jumps out. But if you put a frog in room temperature water and slowly bring it up to boiling it stays in. That’s what… Read More
As I switched to my third rheumatologist (“Dr. C”) last month, I stopped taking the prednisone that the second one (“Dr. B”) had prescribed for me. Why would I stop taking it when I know that it’s going to cause my symptoms to worsen? Because I don’t want to cover things up. Prednisone is not… Read More
I’ve been posting a lot about lately about dealing with doctors – time to switch it up a little! 🙂 In the summer of 2012 my husband, kids and I went on a vacation to Florida. After visiting with my grandpa and aunt for a night, we went to Cocoa Beach for a day and… Read More
I went to the neurologist today for an EMG (electromyography) and NCS (nerve conduction study). The purpose of these procedures was to test for, and document, neuropathy (that I wrote about previously). The nurse conducted the NCS first. They stick various sensors on to you and zap you in places with electricity to measure how… Read More
My “thing” has always been that I’m smart. I was never really athletic. I danced, but once college was over, other than the occasional taking classes for recreation, I stopped dancing and performing. I’m mildly creative, but not in a way that is as much a part of “who I am” like my “smarts.” I’m… Read More
I’m pretty sure everyone has a strange hair some place on them that grows longer than it should – at least I’d like to think everyone does because I don’t want to be the only weirdo out there! Mine is on my right wrist. It’s right in the middle of that round bone that sticks… Read More
As I’ve stated many times already, I’m a mess. I have mental blocks that cause me to do or not do things that I know, intellectually, are silly. Yet it doesn’t stop them from affecting my behaviors. One of these mental blocks is seeking a second opinion. Here’s an example of a time that a… Read More
I began noticing symptoms in early 2008. I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in March 2011. That’s three years of wondering “what is wrong with me?” That’s hard on a person. You doubt yourself – are you really feeling these things or is it some kind of personal flaw? Are you really fatigued or are… Read More
My last post talked about the pre-diagnosis years – 2008 to 2011. That’s when I was having symptoms but hadn’t yet been diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. It was March 2011 when my doctor called and told me that I had Rheumatoid Arthritis. The Friday before that call was when the nurse had informed me… Read More
It’s been a very long, and meandering, path to diagnosis…and it still may not be done. Although I have one firm diagnosis (Sjogren’s syndrome – which I talked about here), we’re not sure yet if that’s the only autoimmune disease I have or if there are others overlapping. This first “path to diagnosis” post will… Read More