So, I've been on the plaquenil for a month now. I'm also now on Prednisone. It's hard to say what the Plaquenil is doing, but the Prednisone is some powerful stuff.
I've been living a fairly medication-free life for the past few years, so it's hard for me to deal with taking these serious drugs. The Prednisone makes me all buzzy. I'm short with my husband, and it's so hard with my 14 month old son. I keep a "slow...slow" mantra going through my head to try and calm stuff down.
On the plus side, I'm actually pretty much pain free and getting a lot of stuff done. Having this much energy makes me wonder when my energy went away. Was it during the pregnancy? Before then? 10 years ago?? I really don't know, I feel like I haven't been my peppy self in a really long time.
Regarding my previous post when we were playing "fun with self-diagnosis"...my doctor says that the symptoms I have all fall under the lupus umbrella, so no more self-diagnosing for me!
And concerning my doctors...yes, plural. I was seeing a rheumatologist in Red Bank (from this point on, this doc will be known as "dr. jerk"). I saw him just after I got my initial diagnosis from my GP. He was so cold, unfeeling, and blunt. I saw him twice and each time went home and cried.
The good news is that he is fired! I found a new doctor - Dr. A - about 20 minutes away, and she is so much more positive and hopeful. She tells me that the worst is behind me. We have a diagnosis and now we move forward and manage it. I was so relieved to find someone who did a good thorough exam and provided me with a hopeful caring diagnosis.
I am most likely going to head in to New York City for a full work-up at the NY Hospital for Joint Diseases. My mom has contacted a doctor there and we're working on setting up an appointment just to cover all my basis.
My dear baby is screaming his head off, so I guess that means it's time for bed. Off to comfort...
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