Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Back on the Right Track?

I think that I am finally starting on the road to recovery from my respiratory junk.  Hopefully saying that doesn't jinx me and I back slide!

I ended up being taken in to the emergency room via ambulance from my EMT class a few weeks ago.  I was in really bad shape with my breathing and my body just couldn't take it anymore.  I thankfully didn't get admitted but I was on a lot of medications and antibiotics which knocked me out.  I lost almost a whole week to just staying in bed. 

I missed my 2nd EMT test but was able to make it up and was able to do well on it.  I am so glad that the class is now over 1/2 way done!

I still am tired a lot of the time and would say that I am at about 66% of where I was before my respiratory issues.  I am scheduled to go see the Rheumatologist again on the 9th but I think that I will postpone it as I haven't tried the new medication she gave me yet because of my other illness and medications.

The weatherman says that we are going to get more snow tonight and tomorrow... Oh Spring where are you!!??

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Stumbling Along

This respiratory infection was taking me down in a bad way.  I was feeling horrible and had a wonderful (not) "barking" cough that wasn't allowing me to breathe fully or sleep.  I went to the clinic again so they changed my antibiotic and gave me not one but two prescription cough medications.  One of them is this super concentrated liquid narcotic cough syrup - Let me tell you that stuff will knock you for a loop!  I take it and then stay in bed as much as possible because it makes me stumble around more than usual.  However, it really does help with the "barking" cough.  The other cough medication is non-narcotic and looks like tiny yellow BB's - Not completely sure what is in it because it makes me a little loopy too.  Actually I have learned that if you just take one or the other of the cough medications that they don't work as well as if taken together which means I get a double loop whammy done on me just to get the coughing quieted.

All of this couldn't have happened at a worse time.  I have my second test for my EMT class on Wednesday.  I have been trying to read and go over things in preparation, but I can't remember what I read or typed for that matter 2 seconds ago.  (Writing this blog post has been interesting too to say the least.  So, apologies in advance for it not making a whole lot of sense and grammatical errors.)  So, I am trying to take it easy this weekend and take all of my medications and rest.  Hopefully this works and come Monday I feel a lot better and can lay off the cough medications and begin to study in earnest.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Immunization Update

Could it be true... There actually are health care providers out there that do care?  Did I find the holy grail of health care??

My primary care "doctor" well he isn't a doctor but a physicians assistant decided that since I have a history of reactions to immunizations that he would write me a prescription stating that I shouldn't undergo any further immunizations at this time.  Now to wait and see if the hospital and ambulance board accept this... Always just a little more wait and see isn't there!?

I am so happy that he thought of this because I was really dreading more immunizations.  I hate the reactions and to be honest the reactions just keep getting worse every time I had to get one.  He thinks it is because I have an autoimmune disorder that the immunizations cause me such problems.

Oh and in other news I am back on antibiotics and nebulizer treatments.  :(  It seems I picked up a sinus infection and that it decided that attacking my sinuses wasn't enough and headed for my lungs leading to bronchitis.  Oh the joy of it all.

EMT class seems to be going well though.  We have our second test next week Wednesday already.  Hopefully I don't give myself quite as bad of a panic attack this time!  LOL

Monday, March 1, 2010

Dislocations?

I live my daily life with my joints dislocating quite often.  I have to adjust how I do things in order to help minimize the amount of dislocations I suffer.  I go snap, crackle and pop quite often!  My joint noises shock people quite a bit but to me they are just part of life.  Does it hurt when it happens?  YES!!  But I don't have a choice other than to just try to put it back and keep going.

One of the most difficult things about having Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) isn't the dislocations.  The most difficult part is the constant incredible pain and constant fatigue.  The second most difficult thing is the lack of understanding other people have towards me and my EDS.  People look at me and say that there isn't anything wrong with me because they can't see it.  Well, yes for the most part EDS is an invisible disease.  But just because you can't see it doesn't mean that it isn't there.

I wish that people weren't so cruel and lacking in understanding and compassion.