Hello all

[Guest guest]

,

That is soo sweet that your husband came to your side. I hope that the wolf will stay at bay till you get home. Take care.

Angie

Weston wrote: Hello all,I sent this e-mail to , but decided to send it the group, also.I haven't been participating lately because life has> > been so crazy. It has been good crazy until Thursday. I have been healthier than in months. I've been traveling a lot with my job. I'm home two weeks and then gone two weeks. I finally got to see the new rheumy I've been trying to get into since Oct. It takes forever to get a new patient appt with her and then I had to reschedule twice due to my business trips. Anyway, she isawesome! Her name is Dr. Altz- and she is in Birmingham, AL. I had been feeling so well that I really expected her to tell me that I don't havelupus and that my last rheumy was wrong about the diagnosis. Boy, was Ishocked when she told me that I definitely do have lupus and that she thinksmany of the odd medical things (including acute pancreatitis) I've had in the past may very well be caused by lupus. She was concerned over labs I had done in Apr that showed elevated liver levels and low platelets. She did a ton of lab work (some of which she said should have been done years ago by the other rheumy). I don't have the results yet. She was glad to hear that I have an appt with a kidney doc in August to follow up on the 60% stenosis of the right renal artery that was discovered two years ago. I really wasn't the least bit worried about her concern but it was nice to know someone was paying attention.Unfortunately, thursday morning I was hit with severe abdominal pain. When it didn't let up, I went to the ER. I am currently in VA on a business trip so I had to interrupt the meeting I was in to have someone drive me to the ER. Boy, was I ever shocked when the ER doc told me I had to stay because I was having a pretty serious attack of acute pancreatitis. My pancreatic enzymes were dangerously high. Within 24 hours of no food and water, pancreatic enzymeswere back to normal. However, the liver enzyme, GGT, remains elevated. Also my total protein and BUN are low. A couple of other things were out of whack, too but can't remember what. The internist that treated me in the hospital said he thinks the pancreatitis and other abnormal blood work is most likely related to my lupus. So much for thinking that I am now perfectly healthy and probably don't even have lupus! They sent me home (well actually back to the hotel in VA) today. I feel okay, just mostly tired and weak. I am to follow up with my rheumy and GI when I get back to Alabama.My sweet hubby insisted on flying out here even though I told him it was notnecessary. He got here Friday morning and will fly home Monday. Unless I get worse again, I will be here til Friday.So, anyway, that's what up with me. I guess the wolf decided to prove to methat he's still there even when he's hiding in the background!Hope this finds everyone doing well. You are all in my thoughts and prayerseven when I can't check the board."The LUPIES Store" Come check out our store...http://www.cafepress.com/thelupies"The LUPIES Web Page"http://www.itzarion.com/lupusgroup.html"The LUPIES online photo albums!" Check out what your fellow Lupies look like...http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?username=lupies

[Guest guest]

, I'm so sorry you had such a time, and in a strange place. Must have

been more

than a bit scary for you, and your hubby. Glad you are better, and I hope

you keep up

the good work, and get well soon. Loving hugs, MM

[Guest guest]

Angie,

thanks. Yeah, he is a keeper.

----- Re: hello all

> ,

> That is soo sweet that your husband came to your side. I

> hope that the wolf will stay at bay till you get home. Take care.

> Angie Weston wrote: Hello all, I

> sent this e-mail to , but decided to send it the group, also.

>

> I haven't been participating lately because life has

> > > been so crazy. It has been good crazy until Thursday. I have been

> healthier than in months. I've been traveling a lot with my job. I'm

> home two weeks and then gone two weeks. I finally got to see the new

> rheumy I've been trying to get into since Oct. It takes forever to

> get a new patient appt with her and then I had to reschedule twice due

> to my business trips. Anyway, she is awesome! Her name is Dr.

> Altz- and she is in Birmingham, AL. I had been feeling so well

> that I really expected her to tell me that I don't have lupus and that

> my last rheumy was wrong about the diagnosis. Boy, was I shocked when

> she told me that I definitely do have lupus and that she thinks many

> of the odd medical things (including acute pancreatitis) I've had in

> the past may very well be caused by lupus. She was concerned over

> labs I had done in Apr that showed elevated liver levels and low

> platelets. She did a ton of lab work (some of which she said should

> have been done years ago by the other rheumy). I don't have the

> results yet. She was glad to hear that I have an appt with a kidney

> doc in August to follow up on the 60% stenosis of the right renal

> artery that was discovered two years ago. I really wasn't the least

> bit worried about her concern but it was nice to know someone was

> paying attention.

>

> Unfortunately, thursday morning I was hit with severe abdominal pain.

> When it didn't let up, I went to the ER. I am currently in VA on a

> business trip so I had to interrupt the meeting I was in to have

> someone drive me to the ER. Boy, was I ever shocked when the ER doc

> told me I had to stay because I was having a pretty serious attack of

> acute pancreatitis. My pancreatic enzymes were dangerously high.

> Within 24 hours of no food and water, pancreatic enzymes were back to

> normal. However, the liver enzyme, GGT, remains elevated. Also my

> total protein and BUN are low. A couple of other things were out of

> whack, too but can't remember what. The internist that treated me in

> the hospital said he thinks the pancreatitis and other abnormal blood

> work is most likely related to my lupus. So much for thinking that I

> am now perfectly healthy and probably don't even have lupus! They

> sent me home (well actually back to the hotel in VA) today. I feel

> okay, just mostly tired and weak. I am to follow up with my rheumy

> and GI when I get back to Alabama. My sweet hubby insisted on flying

> out here even though I told him it was not necessary. He got here

> Friday morning and will fly home Monday. Unless I get worse again, I

> will be here til Friday.

>

> So, anyway, that's what up with me. I guess the wolf decided to prove

> to me that he's still there even when he's hiding in the background!

>

> Hope this finds everyone doing well. You are all in my thoughts and prayers

> even when I can't check the board.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

MM,

Thanks. Being in a hospital in a strange place was really not scary for me. I

figured they could do the same things for me here as at home. The only thing

they really can do for pancreatitis is to give you IV fluids, meds for pain and

nausea, and nothing by mouth til the pancreas settles down. I hated to worry

my family so much, though. I am still having pain. In fact it woke me up at

6:30 this morning. It's not as severe so I'm trying to just ignore it. The

thing that scares me is being afraid this is the beginning of another period of

bad health. I have so enjoyed feeling healthy and energetic. I really thought

that losing all the weight I've lost (84 lbs - down to 176 and a size 14/some

12s) was the answer. Oh, well, at least the docs can't blame my health

problems on obesity. I am no longer obese. In fact, I'm only about 10 lbs

overweight.

I do feel like I am in good hands with my new rheumy. My GI doc is another

story. He never bothered to return the call to the doc treating me here. That

really pisses me off. Of course, he just told me in May that my pancreas was

perfectly fine and I'd probably never have another panc attack. He said he

didn't know what was causing the pain but it wasn't the panc. Funny, the pain

was the same pain I'd been having. Although, I did have a period from mid-May

to mid-July with no pain.

----- Re: hello all

> , I'm so sorry you had such a time, and in a strange place.

> Must have been more than a bit scary for you, and your hubby. Glad

> you are better, and I hope you keep up the good work, and get well

> soon. Loving hugs, MM

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hello,

I have been gone for a while. We went down to Texas to see our daughter and son-in-law. I am a mixed bag of nervousness. It looks like the company my husband is working for will go bankrupt. It is Energy. He has already lost his 401k and if bankrupt he will lose his company retirement. I go from wanting to cry to being totally angry. I don't know how long we will be on here with AOL. We are thinking of going to a cheaper service. I will let you know as soon as we know what we are going to do. Hope all will have a good day. Take care.

Susie C

[Guest guest]

Susie, Just when I think I am at the end of my rope, and everybody is being

so kind

and praying for my cause...along comes someone with a greater dilemma. I'm

so sorry

things are going badly for you and your hubby. Praying for a happy solution

for you

both. Loving hugs, MM

[Guest guest]

Susie, I'm sorry to hear about your husband's job

situation. I'll be praying for you! Hugs, Cindi

__________________________________________________