10 Months Post-Op

Hello Folks,

It's been 10 months since surgery, and I've had quite the recovery and some frustrating results. Settling back in the busy city was exciting. I tested my new strength and enjoyed the absence of pain. Though short lived as it was. In due time, I realized that the effects of having stopped all and any medications soon began to kick in. I began having reoccurrences of some major flare-ups. As my operated leg (my left side) recovered, slowly my right leg began to swell up and ache as painfully as ever. Keeping up with stretches and the hot/cold therapy just wasn't enough. So I knew I had go to back to my rheumatologist and start once again on getting control of my flare-ups.

Now here is something important I've learned about what doctors I chose to see. My previous rheumatologist was a good doctor and had helped me through-out these last few years. We were able to cancel out many treatment methods that did not work for me. Although, we hadn't found a method that did work, he was caring and patient with me. We got along well. However, once I left to Florida and dealt with some of the doctors there, and to account for all the research I did while I was recovering, I realized that my NY rheumatologist and I had come to a sort of short stop with finding a treatment that wasn't trial based. Something that my body would react to in a positive healing way. So upon returning back to NYC, I decided that I would go for a second opinion. And I'm glad I did. Now this is not to say that my original doc wasn't good at what he did. Unfortunately for me, I found that we had just hit a dead end. There wasn't too many more options other than exhausting previously used treatments, and that old saying: "If at first you don't succeed, try try try again". I got tired of trying with no results.

Upon seeing a new doctor, I also realized that I felt more comfortable with an older doctor. He seemed to have a more personal judgement on my case, other than just text book knowledge. And I think that can be essential at times, simply because not all cases are text book cases, and not all treatments work the same for everybody. Also, a more experienced eye might find what a modern eye might miss; solely because they are looking for the modern changes that an illness can currently be noted for, not what the origins of what the sickness can tell. Anyhow, since getting re-evaluated and re-tested, we finally found a name and reason for my miscarriages. I've been given ultimate hope in being able to have a successful pregnancy (when the time comes). And most importantly and excitingly, we have finally found an opening to a treatment that works.

Starting from scratch was the only we could figure a way to get my chronic inflammation under control. I was put back on Plaquenil 200mg, but instead of splitting up the dosage (100mg in the AM, and 100mg in the PM), I take 200mg right before bed now. Though I don't understand why it has seemed to work better that way, I am glad it has taken affect. We also found that I was extremely Vitmain D deficient. So I started a regime of 50,000 IU's once a week for 8 weeks. Thankfully, it was just a little pill that was easy to take. Along side my regular vitamins, which are Iron twice a day, and B12 once a day. Though I must admit I wasn't being very consistant with it as I am now. I was given Naproxen 500mg twice a day for pain. Interestingly enough however, I noticed that Aleve was stronger for my pain that Naproxen, but only when my pain was closer to a 10 (10 being as bad as it could be). As my pain slowly diminshed and it became more of an achiness that pain, Naproxen did the job just fine. Last, and least of all my favorite, I was given an extended period of time on Prednisone. Combined, all these medications and vitamins worked well. As long as I am consistent with it, and following the directions accordingly. I have very little pain now. I am able to bend my limbs much more easier. My energy levels are back up to almost my usual hyper-self. Though my muscles are still weak, and I fear I am a bit too fragile for my liking, I've been feeling great! It's been a long gradual and painstaking journey to where I am now. I still don't consider myself at a 100%, but it'd like to think I am very close to that.


Exercise is a continual thing that is like taking medication. Without it, my body aches more, feels weaker, and falters my energy. Eating habits has the same concept. I've learned to live the active life I love to live,  alongside these critical points. If my body will not produce the necessary elements it needs to maintain itself within it's natural state, then I must provide it from the outside in. So eating right, excising, vitamins and the appropriate medications is vital to my life. It doesn't sound difficult to most, but to some it very well might be. Taking meds, and individual vitamins (outside of a single multi-vitamin) was something I could never imagine having to be "forced" to do for the rest of my life. But then again, I want to be able to see a long lived "rest of my life". So the decision was obvious.... Do what I must to give myself a running chance at having a life I could live to the fullest! And though I'm not a good runner, I've made it back to a place where I can give myself that chance without any hindering pain.

I'm will end with this: Positivity goes a long way, especially when you have something so uncontrollable that can attack you relentlessly. Stay Strong my dear friends!! Because the harder you fight back, the greater the results that will come to be. When it comes to illnesses such as Lupus, where sometimes you never know how you will wake up feeling, it's in all we can do to keep ourselves up, moving, and focused on our day to day lives. Keep a strong support group close by, and be attentive to your well-being.


God Bless & Be Well!

Jennifer