Hemey Update

Hemoglobin dropped to 9.0  :(

Hemey said that it could partially be caused by being sick and due to having my period recently.  Whatever the case, he raised my Procrit dosage to 8,000 units weekly (up from 4,000 units).  It is still a relatively low dose, but we are aiming to keep my hemoglobin level as close to 11.0 without going over as possible.

Hemey was about to let me go, but I was being nosy and looking at my lab results and noticed that my WBC count was down to 1.5.  I pointed this out to Hemey, and he concurred that this was very low.  Hemey decided to have me come in again next week to check my blood counts again and warned me that if I get chills or a temperature of 100 degrees or higher, I need to come in.  He said that it is dangerous with a WBC count that low.  If WBC count is still low next week, I'll need to check in with Rheumy as well and will probably need to increase my Prednisone dosage.

Other than my lingering cough, I have been feeling okay.  I'll still try to take it easy this weekend and get lots of rest.

- a little lupie -

A Sick Lupie

I have been fortunate up until now, but I caught my first cold since being diagnosed with lupus.  It started with an itchy throat that developed into a sore throat and nasty, mucousy cough.  I also experienced fatigue and a slight fever and chills.

I debated whether or not to go see the doctor.  I really hated to go in if they were just going to tell me to go home, rest, and drink lots of liquids.  I would normally just wait this kind of thing out, but didn't know if the lupus changed anything.  I felt better in the morning, so I decided not to call the doctor.  Later that night, however, the throat became more sore and the cough became more persistent.  My nose was stuffed, so I had to breathe through my mouth, which exacerbated the sore throat and the cough.

The next day I conceded to calling the doctor to get checked out just in case.  I remembered that my white blood cell count was low and that could lead to prolonged illness.  I'm also on azathioprine, which is an immune suppressing drug.  I figured better to go in then be sorry later.

Doc checked me out and turns out I have a sinus infection and a slight ear infection.  These probably developed from the cold I had since my immune system was low.  I got some nasal spray, antibiotics, and cough syrup to help me through the next few days.  If I don't get better in a week, I'll need to go back and see Doc.

One other thing I'll need to look out for is that this may cause a flare.  My body will be trying to fight off the infection, but this increase in immune activity may cause my body to start attacking the "good" cells as well.  Let's cross our fingers that my body decides to stick with just fighting the bad guys...

- a little lupie -

Another Celebrity Lupie

 Nick Cannon (actor, rapper, host of America's Got Talent, Mariah Carey's husband, and general celebrity) just announced that his recent health problems are a result of Lupus Nephritis, which means that the lupus is attacking his kidneys.  The doctors initially diagnosed him with kidney disease but later classified it as an autoimmune disorder.  He was hospitalized twice since January, once for kidney problems and once for blood clots in his lungs -- both of which have been linked to Lupus.

The doctors have advised him to get a lot of rest (at least 6 hours of sleep) and to eat a healthy diet (no McDonalds!), which is good advice for all of us.  Nick has also stepped down from his job as a radio host in order to focus on his health.

Fox8 News Article | Yahoo Article

Nick, thank you for opening up and helping to increase lupus awareness...I wish you the best!

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Other celebrities who have been reported to have lupus are:
Toni Braxton (singer)
Seal (singer) - the scars on his face are from discoid lupus
Lady Gaga (singer) - tested "borderline positive for lupus antibodies"
Ferdinand Marcos (former president of the Phillipines) - died of lupus in 1989
Portia de Rossi (actor; Ellen DeGeneres' wife)
Louisa May Alcott (author)
Barbara Bush (former First Lady)
Millie Bush (dog of George and Barbara Bush) - yes, dogs can get lupus too!
Michael Jackson (singer) - rumored, but unconfirmed
More

- a little lupie -