The Mysterious "Lump" in my lower left Abdomen…

I have probably mentioned in posting that I've been dealing with a "lump" on the lower portion of my left abdomen. It was there about 2 months, and it seemed to be a bit larger and kind of "puffy". No pain, and I kind of blew it off at the time. But, not only did it remain, it was definitely getting larger. So, I showed my husband, and make an appointment, with PCP. Well, I saw one of his PA's. She did not seem like she could even find it at all. Even after I told her it "goes away" when I lie down, and it shows when I stand up… well she sent me for a sonogram in that area. The tech that morning I told him about the standing up, and that it I lie down, it may be difficult to find or even see. He aid me down anyway, mashed the hell out of my lower abdomen, and made me sore the next day. Yet they found "nothing"… well no way, it had to be SOMETHING!!! So, I went to my new Gynecologist last week. I asked her about it. She was kind of puzzled but she tried to see if there seemed to be anything that she may feel causing it. She did mention I had a lump, but she bought it could be an ovary that they left when I had the hysterectomy . Well, my understand was back then, they took the LEFT one OUT, and allowed the RIGHT one to remain… but that is 20 years ago and aback at that time I was not keeping my own personal medical records like I do now, thus I can't find anyone that can even remotely tell me where they are and how I would get that operative report. Anyway, still not being satisfied, I asked my heart doctor yesterday. She said she would definitely getting either back to my PCP or for another opinion. So, I called my PCP office, and I got in this morning… and as below… I was RIGHT!!! I said all along for one something is wrong and for number 2, I thought it was a hernia! Anyway, I am exhausted and my back is killing me. So, I will post more on this tomorrow a.m. :)



But, that is for ALL OF US! certainly not just myself… of course as I said partially but at least I am NOT CRAZY! A
after seeing 3 doctors that said they didn't have a clue about this lump on my left lower abdomen, I finally am RIGHT!!! There is something there. I have a damned hernia. Well, I am relieved to find out I'm not insane. But, I am not thrilled that surgery is the only thing to repair this. And get theism I have one of the right side starting. I told my doctor I though I felt a tiny one in the same place in the right, and she told me yes I have a small one that also should be fixed at the same time… so now I am waiting for a call from the surgeon's office, to set up an appt with him for consultation. Damned does it ever get BETTER???!!!!

New Website… Check It Out Lupus People...

Brand new website up for one for the Dallas Chapter of the Lupus Foundation of America!

Here is the url:

http://www.lupus.org/northtexas/home


It looks quite nice. I have not time to go through all of it, but I do like the front page and the "Theme" is cool also...

GREAT NEWS!!! A Monday with good news!!! (what an OXYMORON)

Mondays for many of us suck. There is always something that needs to be done, whether work calls upon you, "house work", errands, the market or whatever it is… For me today I have a visit with my Cardiologist this afternoon. It is just a "routine" follow up, but still it is a doctors visit. In fact I am a little nervous about it, because I need to ask her about a new medication that was suggested to me by my GYN. It is NOT "estrogen" at all, but it does mimic what estrogen does for us women around menopause and its ridiculous things it can cause to happen to our bodies.

Anyway, since I've had two heart attacks, I knew I should ask her about it before actually getting the script and filling it. So, I am anxious to find out what she says. There are other "ways" to handle this, but I am not good at things like creams, and the like. None of us like to mess with those kinds of things… they are messy, difficult to use, or are for me, and I just hope the pill will be okay for me.

Anyway, the GREAT news is that (and I won't give details) yet… but it appears I and my blog will get to be "on" an extremely important site! It is a dream I have wanted to fulfill and never knew quite how. But, patience is a virtue! It was just that I needed to wait until the right place for me and my blog happened. :) I am just so elated! :):) When all of the details are worked out, I will post more about it, and let everyone know where I and my blog will be etc!

I appreciate those who "follow" me…. you are the ones that keep on keeping me on!

Rhia

8 Complications From Lupus...

http://health-tools.health.msn.com/lupus-health-center/8-complications-of-lupus?did=t2_mod2

The sad part of this is many of these "complications" are what cause severe illness, and decline of health almost more so than the Autoimmune Illnesses themselves.

Take a look at how many vital organs can be a part of this… the heart, the lungs, the kidneys, the bones, blood vessel (which I believe are considered an "organ")… and more… all of which those things can be not only life altering, but deadly!

I've had complications with osteoporosis (by the way which is considered SEVERE). I've had the skin issues, petechia, severe bruising, the "wolf Mask" the Mylar mask. I have have the horrible looking very purple rash type skin issue on my neck, and it runs up one side behind my ear of my upper neck, and then on the other side it runs up onto my jawbone, and all the way here lately around my mouth!!! I just noticed it around my mouth about a month ago. I already use sunblock, creams to fade out this mess and so forth. I found another Avon product and decided to try it. I'll be damned if I have not already noticed it fading out some. Thank goodness.

Then of course I've had not one but TWO heart attacks. Which may or not be related to the Lupus. I have a tendency to think somehow they are. I have "Lupus migraines". When I have a Lupus flare usually it begins with that damned horrible Lupus migraine… the ONLY thing to relieve it is a large dose of Solu-Medrol, a corticosteroid. Nothing else will touch it! As much pain medication as my internal pain pump delivers, no pain medication does anything. Only the steroid will take it away. It goes to proves it is an "inflammatory" type of headache. I have to wonder year ago (I had my first migraine at 17) if they had given me steroids then when I had the headaches (migraines) if they would have went away. I spent years fighting doctors for medication, ER visits over the years, losing jobs due to having them so badly, I would miss too much work)…. and so forth. I still believe my "autoimmune illnesses" began back then. I believe by the age of 20, I had many of the signs of them. But, at that time, doctors barely even knew what RA or Lupus was. Much less how to treat it. Anyway…. this is a great article… and should give many of us something to contemplate as we shop at our markets, and eat in the fast food, and also regular restaurants also. They also LOAD the salt up in their foods to make them "taste better"...

Processed Foods, Sodium and Autoimmune Disease? YES! They may just be related!

Autoimmune Arthritic Illness affected by Sodium and Processed Foods?

Great Article!WOW! As much as I stay away from salt, salted foods, fast foods (it is a real treat to get to go to McDonald's once or twice a month) and try and not eat as many processed and refined foods… all of us know with life being as busy as it is, means we sometimes would not eat without some of this. Having a few thing at home, that are "quick" for dinner especially, are almost essential in many households. I am a label watcher. But, I have to admit as MUCH as I watch labels for fat, calories, and carbs… I am not as great about looking at the sodium content as I should be. I have had high blood pressure since the age of about 16! And it was not from my diet and so forth. Mom cooked well, and there were not many processed foods in our home. Back then processed foods were not as prevalent either. People really COOKED! Not frozen fish stick, corn dogs, and frozen fries, or the huge amount of pizzas and TV dinners like now! It always just boggles my mind when I go into the market. Here is an entire isle dedicated to frozen pizzas!!! I can't believe there are even that many. Then the next isle is an entire line of every kind of frozen "entree", dinner… etc… and I can only imagine how much sodium are in the "light" or low fat ones!!! As "we" at my house know, and we all should know, in order for the manufacturers to make "low fat", "fat free", "light" and so on frozen foods, canned foods, processed stuff like packaged bologna" the list just goes on and on… they USE SALT to make it "taste good"!! Chips, an isle full of chips, Ice Cream--- damned what happened to Vanilla, Chocolate, and the mixture of the two with strawberry in it??? My Lord, you can spend hours looking at the ice cream itself.  Of course then there is the cereal isle. Now I must admit I do buy a large amount of cereal. I eat it sometimes just dry as a snack. We try to stick to the ones that are also "more healthy"… yet I am sure the sodium levels are tremendous. Candy… another complete isle and at Wally World, it is two isles of candy! Okay where is the "healthy lower in SALT, fat, carbs and calorie foods in these places???? Good question! And people wonder why we have so much heart disease, diabetes. autoimmune illnesses are running amok in this nation, high blood pressure, strokes, blood clots…. damned our diets you think?  REALLY PEOPLE!!! WE are our own worst enemies and the coming of our own demise! IF we did NOT LIKE all of this junk, they would NOT sell it! So, m who's to blame here????



http://www.trueactivist.com/scientists-officially-link-processed-foods-to-autoimmune-disease/

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