Ever take your temperature multiple times hoping that the triple digit number will become at least two digits? Yeah, that definitely is me today...
I have taken my temperature 12 times within the past 3 minutes desperately hoping that my 100.5 fever will go down into the 90's. Because once it goes down, I know the stiffness in my knees will go down as well.
I've had a lot of people ask me how I feel when I have a flare-up. So, allow me to share with you how I'm currently feeling:
I feel like crap. My knees are stiff, there's pain in both legs, I'm running a fever, I have this stupid rash on my face, I have absolutely no appetite, I'm cold because of my fever, my knees are swollen, I'm exhausted, I have a headache, and...I woke up with a ball of hair on my pillow.
Now, allow me to tell you what all I have accomplished today despite my flare-up.
I have worked a 7 hour shift, I grocery shopped, I went for a walk (not a run, as I have come to the conclusion that wouldn't help me much), and now I'm off to class to take an exam and then play a couple games of ping pong.
I don't like my body at the moment, but I know my limitations. I went for my walk because I honestly think it helps my knees feel better, and it helps me have more energy.
Needless to say, I have this strange feeling that it's going to rain within the next 24 hours. My body is warning me to keep my umbrella with me at all times tomorrow. My body hasn't let me down yet when warning me about the weather, and I doubt it'll start now.
Some flare-up's are worse than others. But I have reached the conclusion that if I were to call in sick to work, or skip class, I have let lupus win.
Some days I feel like I can't handle my lupus, but most days it can't handle me. :-)
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Take that! You...you....autoimmune disease...
I have reached the conclusion that Lupus is one of the most spontaneous companions I have ever met in my life. I've always considered myself to be spontaneous, but I have met my match. I have officially found someone, well...something, that has beaten me at my spontaneity.
It seems that one day I feel perfectly fine, like I'm queen of the world. And then the next I'm lying in bed praying for someone to find a cure to end my misery.
But today I feel like I am Queen of the World. And for that I am extremely grateful.
I ran for the first time today since I've started having problems. *sigh* And I feel...outstanding. I felt the burn in my legs, struggled with my lungs as I fought to keep my breathing even, and I feel like a million bucks.
Today I have won the battle against my Lupus.
It seems that one day I feel perfectly fine, like I'm queen of the world. And then the next I'm lying in bed praying for someone to find a cure to end my misery.
But today I feel like I am Queen of the World. And for that I am extremely grateful.
I ran for the first time today since I've started having problems. *sigh* And I feel...outstanding. I felt the burn in my legs, struggled with my lungs as I fought to keep my breathing even, and I feel like a million bucks.
Today I have won the battle against my Lupus.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
When It Rains, It Pours...
This is the first blog of the rest of my life. I was diagnosed with Lupus five days ago, but for some reason it feels like it's been longer than that. Considering my active life-style, this definitely came as quite the blow. While I've only recently had a name for my chronic fatigue and achy knees, I've been having problems for a while. I kept on researching my symptoms, hoping I'd find the disease that would be perfect. One that would be curable. I wanted to go to the doctor, point at a disease and say "Yo Doc...I want THIS one!". *sigh* But to no avail. I have Lupus.
It isn't as bad as I thought it would be. I mean, I didn't just suddenly wake-up one day and develop Lupus. I've had it for a while. Which means, I've been running, playing tennis, swimming, bike riding, and playing volleyball with Lupus for Lord only knows how long....and I definitely plan to continue to do so.
I, being myself, have researched this "running with Lupus" thing quite in depth. It appears that it is not recommended, BUT it is possible. :-) That translates to: Amanda is gonna run. Not only am I going to run, but I have every intention of proving to my new constant companion that I WILL overcome. I want to run a 10K by this time next year. I WAS...."was" being the operative word...physically capable of doing such, and actually did run a 10K this time last year. And I enjoyed every second of hearing my feet pounding on the ground, of wiping away the sweat on my face, of feeling that burn in my legs when I know that I am pushing myself to the ultimate extreme. I LOVE that feeling. I want it back. And I am now determined to have it back.
I found a few blogs on this issue that I know my friends and family (who are probably worried about my new goal in life) will want to check out. The first one is this lady named Kelly. She's an ultra-runner, meaning her "easy" day consists of running a minimum of 25 miles.
The second one is this lady named Lupe. She's got one of the most positive outlooks I have seen from a person with a chronic disease in a LONG time.
Anyways, it's a pretty day outside and I plan on enjoying it to the fullest extreme. Have fun playing in the sun!
http://ridgrunner.blogspot.com/ (be sure to check out the newspaper article on the lower right-hand side of the screen. You have to scroll down a bit to find it)
http://lulucakes.com/?p=252
It isn't as bad as I thought it would be. I mean, I didn't just suddenly wake-up one day and develop Lupus. I've had it for a while. Which means, I've been running, playing tennis, swimming, bike riding, and playing volleyball with Lupus for Lord only knows how long....and I definitely plan to continue to do so.
I, being myself, have researched this "running with Lupus" thing quite in depth. It appears that it is not recommended, BUT it is possible. :-) That translates to: Amanda is gonna run. Not only am I going to run, but I have every intention of proving to my new constant companion that I WILL overcome. I want to run a 10K by this time next year. I WAS...."was" being the operative word...physically capable of doing such, and actually did run a 10K this time last year. And I enjoyed every second of hearing my feet pounding on the ground, of wiping away the sweat on my face, of feeling that burn in my legs when I know that I am pushing myself to the ultimate extreme. I LOVE that feeling. I want it back. And I am now determined to have it back.
I found a few blogs on this issue that I know my friends and family (who are probably worried about my new goal in life) will want to check out. The first one is this lady named Kelly. She's an ultra-runner, meaning her "easy" day consists of running a minimum of 25 miles.
The second one is this lady named Lupe. She's got one of the most positive outlooks I have seen from a person with a chronic disease in a LONG time.
Anyways, it's a pretty day outside and I plan on enjoying it to the fullest extreme. Have fun playing in the sun!
http://ridgrunner.blogspot.com/ (be sure to check out the newspaper article on the lower right-hand side of the screen. You have to scroll down a bit to find it)
http://lulucakes.com/?p=252
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