Confusion and Concerns - any suggestions?

We were planning a trip to Washington DC in October. But I have lots of concerns due to both of us and our health issues. I really need that pain pump done before the 1st of the year, due to my insurance situation. I may have to change insurance at the 1st of the year, and don't know how that might effect me. My pain, plus the Lupus etc is a huge concern for a trip of 10 days, and thousands of miles. But, I also feel he needs to get his stomach checked out. He has been having severe issues with nausea & even sometimes vomiting blood. He gets sick trying to eat. He does not have insurance so we need to get him into the clinic that can take care of this on a sliding fee scale. He has been there before, but he needs to redo paperwork, and it takes awhile to get an appt. & get the tests etc. He also has very bad pain that requires strong pain medication due to his lower back problem. We are worn out when we just take a day or overnight trip to Bossier or the casino in OK. He complains enough that I have to do some of the driving. And that is only a 2 or 3 hour trip & then back. I just don't see us driving 1300 miles one way, and not having major health issues. Plus, we have both of our dogs, that are so used to us, they get upset when we are gone a few hours. When I go into the hospital they lay around and won't eat or drink for days sometimes. We need to take them with us, but my Pug is very prone to motion sickness, and she hates riding. If we leave them, I fear our neighbor kid, even though they are good neighbors may not come in & take care of them, just due to the fact they get all hyped when any one comes in other than us. They jump, bark and just get nuts, because of being used to just him and I, and not really having much company. The little one is very protective & he nips sometimes until he is used to you. I fear the boy might not come around due to all of that & I would never forgive myself if something happened to either him or our puppies. Any one knows when you have a chronic illness or pain, there is lots to consider when taking an extended vacation of any kind. I just feel we should postpone the trip until spring. Save up more money, so we can rent a small motor home, take the dogs, and then we can have more room, I can get my pain pump installed, he can get his stomach looked into... and the trip would be much more pleasant. But, I knew if I even mentioned it, he would get upset. Well, I tried to say something yesterday, and sure enough, he got upset before I could even explain all of my concerns. Now, we are just "being civil" but not really talking. Which is not like us. I don't know what to say or do anymore. There is too much as stake with our health, our home, our lives, our animals etc. We need to have tires put on our car, and get the transmission checked. I just feel I should at least be able to voice my concerns. I realize he is looking forward to showing my DC an seeing his step-Mom, and she is all hyped up also. But, I feel my concerns are legitimate and postponing the trip would be better, and then we won't have such worries on our plate in a few months. I don't know what to do honestly.

The Virtual March Begins - American Pain Foundation

http://www.painfoundation.org/take-action/action-network/10000-voices.html

Please join me in lending your voice for the September Pain Awareness Month, and the virtual march. The URL above gives you all of the information you need. I thank you in advance for all of your support.

xoxoxo Rhia

A Positive Light for a Change in a rather darkened world right now...

It seems everywhere we turn something bad is going on. Whether it be more bad news about the war, its casualties, the economy, foreclosures, Wall Street, job losses, Mother's Natures Wrath, and a million other terrible catastrophes, from our local news to the internet, the bad stuff is all around. I like watching Brian Williams on the Nightly News, because they always end the program with something or someone "Making a Difference" for the good.

I was in Care 2 this morning and found this site. The gentleman is doing something out of the kindness of his heart for the good. I joined the site and thought you may like to also. The link is below:


http://itstartswith.us/about/index.html


The good things start with us. Once voice, one good deed, and it can snow ball quickly into something terrific.


I was happy when I saw the site, and rather than posting about something lousy again, I decided to share something spectacular!

Rhia

National Pain Awareness Month - September

The American Pain Foundation is sponoring National Pain Awareness Month for September. Along with that they have a pain awareness "virtual march" on Washington DC you can participate in. There are many ways t help out in this critical area of much needed research, funding, awareness, clinical trials, and much more.

If you are a pain patient, a caretaker, friend, neighbor, family member, or someone who just wants to help joint the fight against chronic pain, and be a positive voice please visit the American Pain Foundations Website. I have enclosed their URL.

Chronic Pain is a life altering illness that effect millions of us every year, and that rate continues to grow. There is still so much that is a mystery when it comes to many chronic illnesses and chronic pain. We lose many hours from work, we suffer horribly, we sometimes lose our jobs, families suffer, spouses suffer, and life itself has many limitation due to chronic pain. I hope you will join me in advocacy, awareness, and doing what you can to help solve the mystery of chronic pain.

http://www.painfoundation.org/take-action/action-network/virtual-march-2010.html

Invisible Illness Week Outreach Described on Video By Founder

http://invisibleillnessweek.com/2010/08/10/invisible-illness-week-outreach-described-on-video-by-founder/

This is just an incredible idea! Being a chronic Illness and pain patient, I know how difficult it is when someone that just does not under says things like "but you don't look sick". The majority of us suffering from things like Chronic Pain, Migraines, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and so many others may not "appear" to look ill all of the time, not like we do when we have a bad cold, the flu, pneumonia, or other acute types of illness, but that surely does not mean we don't feel it. People with chronic Illnesses learn coping methods, so we may have our hair looking good, nails painted, makeup on, and be dressed when we go to the market, or shopping, but that does not mean we are not in pain, or that we feel great. We just get tired of looking sick and tired, plus for some, getting dressed, doing your pain, putting on makeup, getting your nails done, and so forth makes us feel a little better. I realize that people from afar, strangers, may not get it. And for me, it got to the place, that sometimes I go out, looking like heck, because I don't want to deal with the comments, that I look fine. Thus, you don't put makeup on, etc. Those days are usually when I am feeling like death warmed over, thus I probably look it.

I found out we will have this National Awareness week about Invisible Illnesses. What a wonderful idea, and one we can share with others so they may understand better, what being chronically ill or in pain means for us. It can happen to anyone, anytime. You may have not had a headache, body ache, joint issue, all your life, and one day you wake up to horrible pain, severe fatigue, bad headaches, and many other symptoms. No one is immune from chronic Illness and/or chronic pain. I would not wish Lupus, and my other health issues on anyone. But, I would like to help educate others about just how life altering Chronic Invisible Illness and Pain is to all of the people it encompasses... from those who have it, to family, friends, spouses, and caretakers....

Incredible News about the Lupus Medication Benlysta! FDA makes priority review

Human Genome Sciences, Inc. (Nasdaq: HGSI) and GlaxoSmithKline PLC (GSK) today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted a priority review designation to BENLYSTA® (belimumab) as a potential treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A priority review designation is granted to drugs that, if approved, offer major advances in treatment or provide a treatment where no adequate therapy exists. The FDA has assigned belimumab a Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) target date of December 9, 2010.


http://www.hgsi.com/latest/human-genome-sciences-and-glaxosmithkline-announce-fda-priority-review-designation-for-benlysta-belimumab-as-a-potential-treatment-for-systemic-lupus-erythema.html


I will be first in line as soon as the FDA gives the thumbs up! I have been awaiting this now for well over 2 years, watching all of the clinical trials, and the positive results. I am so elated.... Rhia