Too much going on - Uhg!

I need to vent a little bit about all the stuff that's been going on with me.  I feel really overwhelmed with all this medical stuff and appointments.  I had my physical last week with my new pcp (who I really like) and I got some labs done that he wanted done and then a list of labs from my rheumy too.  I got a call this morning from my pcp's office that they want me to come in so I can discuss my labs with the pcp which translates into some of my labs don't look good.  The earliest I can see him is Monday morning, so I need to let go and try not to worry about anything until the appointment.  Hopefully it's something minor. Then I saw the GI doc yesterday and I like him a lot too.  His suspicion is that it's my meds causing some irritable bowel, but he said it could be an inflammatory bowel problem and the only way to tell the difference is to do a colonoscopy, so his office will be calling me soon to schedule that.  He was very reassuring about the proceedure.  Then I also need to schedule a mamogram - blah!!!   I'm so sick of all this stuff. I just want to live my life and not deal with all of this - I know that all of you feel the same way too.  There are so many great things going on with my kids and I just want to be able to focus on them and my husband.  My daughter who is only six has fallen in love with dancing and her dance teacher has told me that she is naturally gifted and is giving her lots of neat opportunities to do some special dances at the spring recital and the dance teacher is also enering her in some dance competitions.  It can be tiring taking her to all her classes, but I love watching her dance and while I watch her, I am able to forget about my medical problems.  Pretty soon my son will start baseball and he needs some extra care and attention because of his arthritis.  I don't know why I am writing all of this - I'm just sick of all of this interfering in my life and my family's life. Thanks for listening to my rant.

Thank you so much Babs. I'm just kind of emotional about it all today, so I'm going to try to keep busy and distract myself some from all of this. In a few hours I'll pick my kids up and then my daughter has dance, so those things will be good distractions. A good thing is that I now have some xanax on hand if I need it. It's nice to know I have it around, especially at night when my thoughts seem to overwhelm me sometimes.

Sometimes being asked to come in to discuss labs is done so that what appears to be a minor problem can be headed off before it becomes major. Also it could just be that your cholestorol was slightly up- they did that to me a few years ago. Just roll with it, as this too shall pass. When it gets really frustrating think of me confined to bed and unable to do ANYTHING until the little one is born. It just sucks, but I knew it was a possibility when I decided to go ahead.

Congrats on your little girl's dance aptitude sounds like a very awesome distraction. As to your son's sports stuff, have you considered asking him if he might be interested in something a little less hard on his joints? I know that if he really wants to try it is best to let him, but kids often stick with something after it becomes less fun (or painful) because they think an adult in their life wants them to. So offer him a chance to say he doesn't want to or doesn't think he can where he knows no one will be hurt or angry. Also check with his doctors because it is possible he shouldn't be playing anyway considering the sun exposure. I know there are other things that might be more comfortable like swimming indoors in a heated pool that he might end up enjoying more. I miss having PT in a 98 degree pool.

Whatever happens remember that at least 2 of the appointments you have are one time or once every year or so. Thus you should not have to worry about them again for some time if ever.

Take it easy and remember naps are a must when tired.

(((((((( Hippie )))))))))

Hippi- I know it is tough, stressing and aggravating for me to try to juggle all the "medical stuff" and I am single with no children. It's got to be so much more frustrating when you are a mom/wife! I really am sorry you're having to deal with lupus poopus! If I could i'd just tell the good Lord to give me your Lupus too since I don't have babies of my own! ((((you)))) I hope things get better real soon! Love ya, Judy

Hey Hippi,
It's such a coinkydink that this issue came up. I got my issue of Lupus now today and there is a book dealing with juggling Lupus while raising children. The name of it is The Monster Under The Bed by Barbara Butler. It is only $4.oo from the Lupus shop @ shop.lupus.org. It may be well worth the read. I know it wont take away the stress of it all but it may offer some good advice. God Bless ya, Judy

P.s. just fyi they changed Lupus awareness month to May for 2008 and every year thereafter!

Thank you for all the kind words and support. I'm not quite as stressed as I was and I'm more calm about my appointment on Monday - all of you helped me with that. I scheduled my colonoscopy and it's not until mid May, so that's good. My daughter's dance recital and competition will be out of the way and summer dance won't start until a few weeks after that. It's far enough away that I'm not stressed about it yet and it also doesn't interfere with any of my family's activities so far. I am going to look into that book tha Judy talked about - it sounds like just what I need.

Hippi,
Just wanted to say we'll be thinking about you tomorrow. Let us know what the doc says. By the way...are you a hippi? or are your children hippies? :) Judy