Residence Inn Tyler -- Tyler, TX USA ; Hotel Rates and Reservation Information Available at Marriott.com
This is where we will stay while in Tyler.
Friday, July 23, 2004
Thursday, July 22, 2004
OK, now I'll answer the question "Why have you been out of work for a year?". Well, it's a long an ongoing saga. I had major surgery in 2001 that went bad, real bad. Ended up with really bad internal infections. really sick and yukky.
After 'recovering' from all of that, after about 6 months, I started having a funny ache in my chest and a nagging cough. Went to the Dr. and he said don't worry your pretty little head about it, blah blah. But it never went away. Then a few months later I started having fatigue. Not just regular fatigue like "I just mowed the lawn and I'm tired" fatige... This is like KILLER fatigue.
It went from bad to worse. For the next 18 months I was either in bed asleep or at work. Nothing else. No Life. Then in July 2003 the Doctors finally found "something wrong" (I think you have to be half dead before they can find anything). Enlarged lymph nodes throughout my body. They said it is Lymphoma or Sarcoidosis and did a biopsy. The biopsy proved it was Sarcoidosis (don't worry, no one else has ever heard of that either). The doctor said "You are so lucky! All you have to do is take steroids and you'll be all better in a week". HA HA HA HA HA.
It didn't work that way. Yes, I took the steroids, but no, I didn't get better. Then in December 2003 I awoke one morning with "telephone pole legs". Thats what I call them. Suddenly I didn't have knees or ankles. Just big appendages that HURT LIKE HECK. Ok, so now off to another specialist. Diagnosis: Inflammatory Arthritis (better known as Rheumitoid Arthritis). So I had to go back on Steroids PLUS the chemotherapy drug Methotrexate. That was in January 2004.
In May 2004 I spent a wonderful week in "Spa Crawford Long" Hospital with Pneumonia, and while the docs were running their tests, they found MAC (don't worry, no one else knows what that is either). MAC is non-contageous TB. Yep, that's right TB. So now I'm 6 months into autoimmune SUPPRESSING therapy and find that I have some nasty bugs in my lungs (and possibly elsewhere) that need to be SUPPRESSED.
It seems that the best treatment for MAC is in Tyler, TX. There is a doc there that is world renowned for treating it. I met a gal who has been under his treatment for 9 months and IS GETTING BETTER. So I made the appointment and can't wait to get there. My parents and I will travel there during the last week of August.
Meanwhile I've developed some major pain right below my ribs. So off to another specialist who is in the middle of her tests. Her hypothesis is that the Methotrexate is causing swelling in my Pancreas. I did some research and found the MTX can also cause cirrosis of the liver - I found a gal that had been on MTX for 2 years and now is waiting for a LIVER TRANSPLANT! So what's a girl gonna do? The cure maybe worse than the disease(s).
Well, thats my story and thats why I've been out of work for a year. I'm hopeful that the MAC is the key to unravelling this whole mess and to getting my life back.
After 'recovering' from all of that, after about 6 months, I started having a funny ache in my chest and a nagging cough. Went to the Dr. and he said don't worry your pretty little head about it, blah blah. But it never went away. Then a few months later I started having fatigue. Not just regular fatigue like "I just mowed the lawn and I'm tired" fatige... This is like KILLER fatigue.
It went from bad to worse. For the next 18 months I was either in bed asleep or at work. Nothing else. No Life. Then in July 2003 the Doctors finally found "something wrong" (I think you have to be half dead before they can find anything). Enlarged lymph nodes throughout my body. They said it is Lymphoma or Sarcoidosis and did a biopsy. The biopsy proved it was Sarcoidosis (don't worry, no one else has ever heard of that either). The doctor said "You are so lucky! All you have to do is take steroids and you'll be all better in a week". HA HA HA HA HA.
It didn't work that way. Yes, I took the steroids, but no, I didn't get better. Then in December 2003 I awoke one morning with "telephone pole legs". Thats what I call them. Suddenly I didn't have knees or ankles. Just big appendages that HURT LIKE HECK. Ok, so now off to another specialist. Diagnosis: Inflammatory Arthritis (better known as Rheumitoid Arthritis). So I had to go back on Steroids PLUS the chemotherapy drug Methotrexate. That was in January 2004.
In May 2004 I spent a wonderful week in "Spa Crawford Long" Hospital with Pneumonia, and while the docs were running their tests, they found MAC (don't worry, no one else knows what that is either). MAC is non-contageous TB. Yep, that's right TB. So now I'm 6 months into autoimmune SUPPRESSING therapy and find that I have some nasty bugs in my lungs (and possibly elsewhere) that need to be SUPPRESSED.
It seems that the best treatment for MAC is in Tyler, TX. There is a doc there that is world renowned for treating it. I met a gal who has been under his treatment for 9 months and IS GETTING BETTER. So I made the appointment and can't wait to get there. My parents and I will travel there during the last week of August.
Meanwhile I've developed some major pain right below my ribs. So off to another specialist who is in the middle of her tests. Her hypothesis is that the Methotrexate is causing swelling in my Pancreas. I did some research and found the MTX can also cause cirrosis of the liver - I found a gal that had been on MTX for 2 years and now is waiting for a LIVER TRANSPLANT! So what's a girl gonna do? The cure maybe worse than the disease(s).
Well, thats my story and thats why I've been out of work for a year. I'm hopeful that the MAC is the key to unravelling this whole mess and to getting my life back.
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
My Dear Father-in-law, Bill Allen, has inspired me to visit my now 1 year old BLOG. I was just goofing around one day and started a BLOG but never added anything to it. Now I think I might do as Bill is doing, and post my thoughts to it periodically. Today's highlights have been a phone call from pastor Mike, a visit from Shellie, and a check in the mail from State Farm. Not too bad for a day and it's only 5:05. My hubby will soon be home, maybe I can get him to go to DQ and get me one of those Coffee Moo Latte's... those things are addictive!
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