Medical Mystery
November 10, 2009
So this blog was supposed to be a day-by-day journal of my life. I wanted to be able to write how I was feeling each day and be able to look back and see how many good days I could have in a week, month, or year. Well as you can see, writing daily has not been going well at all lately. That’s not to say I haven’t had anything going on.
Last I wrote it was the day after my birthday. I had just gotten over “the flu.” My eyes were a little swollen, but I thought it was just from being sick. Turns out I could not have been more wrong.
My eyes started to swell on my birthday, October 18th which was a Sunday. As the week progressed, they got worse and worse to the point that it looked like I was punched in the nose. My eyes were red and all around my eyes were bruised looking and very swollen. I got an appointment with a new doctor in my regular family doctor’s office. I went with my eyes almost swollen closed, yet I had no pain, no congestion, absolutely nothing else was wrong. His medical diagnosis was “I don’t know what’s wrong. Just go home and see if it goes away on its own.” THANKS A LOT!! The picture of me is from this same day too.
Needless to it did not go away on its own. Sunday, October 25th, I went to the ER since my eyes were swelling so much that I could not open my right eye. They told me they felt it was Bilateral PeriOrbital Cellulitis. That means an infection in the cells and tissues around BOTH eyes. They gave me antibiotics and eye drops and told me to follow up with my family doctor in 3 days.
October 28, I have been taking my meds from the hospital and am on my way to see the family doctor. My eyes are still very swollen and not getting better. My family doctor admitted me into the hospital for IV antibiotics. I spent 3 days in the hospital getting IV antibiotics. They sent me home on October 31st, Halloween, with a perscription for more oral antibiotics.
The swelling was still present and I was becoming exteremely frustrated. Thursday, Novemeber 5th, I went to see my rheumetologist. He told me that he feels that it was a flare from my lupus. He increased my steroid dosage up to 20mg. He also sent me to get bloodwork and a urinalysis. Also he wanted me to make an appointment with a dermatologist and the eye doctor, just to make sure nothing more serious was present.
Today, Monday, November 9th, I saw the dermatologist, who agrees that it is a lupus flare, and the eye doctor who thinks its a combo of my.lupus and thyroid condition. The eye doctor made me an appointment with an Endocrinologist to check on my thyroid. The Dermatologist had my results from my lab work faxed over. He came in to let me know that the protien levels from the urinalysis were high. He ordered a new test, just to see if on this one the level is still high.
I have my follow up appointment with the Rheumetologist tomorrow afternoon. I am going to see how he feels about the results. If it is at a level that is too high, it could potentially mean that my kidneys are not functioning properly. That would be bad. Also, it may explain the swelling around my eyes.
So I am a bit on edge right now. I just want an answer finally. Good or bad at least I will finally know what is going on. Wish me luck though and hope for the good.
I plan to update much sooner this time around. I am going to go lay down and try to sleep and not constantly think about what could be wrong. Goodnight!
