In the last few weeks I have had a Rheumatologist appointment and an eye doctor appointment that I wanted to update on. At my Rheumatologist appointment I talked with my doctor about my joints acting up as my Remicade began to wear off. There were a good 3-4 weeks out of the 8 week treatment schedule that my joints would start acting up. I would begin to have swelling and pain in my hands and feet. It was nothing compared to before but I felt like it was still interfering with my day to day life. She suggested that I up my chemo drug to 20mg. I had expected this and so it wasn't a huge surprise to me. A few weeks have gone by and I am happy to report that it seems to be an effective dosage for me. It has really helped as my Remicade has begun to wear off. My body is still getting used to the new dosage though. I am more fatigued but I think that the next month or so I should be more used to it and will not be so tired all the time.
I had my eye doctor appointment today. It has been years since I have been in and I needed to get a check up because a medication that I take, Plaquenil, can affect your eyes. In rare cases it can cause damage to your retina. It is recommended to see your eye doctor once a year to monitor your eyes. Today at my appointment my doctor noticed some spots near my retina that were some cause for concern. Those spots right now are not affecting my eye sight but he wants to do a few more indepth tests to see for sure what is going on. I will be going back in two weeks for those tests and at that time we will know more. The doctor plans on being in contact with my Rheumatologist through the whole process.
I really feel grateful this afternoon for the care that I have received with each doctor I go to. I know that there are plenty of people out there that have a hard time finding the right doctor that fits their needs. God has seemed to really provide for me in this area.
On a non-medical note, I am beginning to adjust to the life of saying no and not feeling like I need to do everything for everyone all the time. It has been a hard adjustment for me and I still often feel guilty that I am not "doing" more or when I have to say no about something. However, I firmly believe that I am making the right choices for myself and my family. I am thankful for the energy that I have to take care of my family. You would be surprised (or maybe not) at how much energy it takes to raise three kiddos. God seems to give me just enough to make it through the tough days and some days I even have extra for myself. On those days I have extra I have spent time pursuing my new hobby, sewing! These last weeks I have been meditating on this verse and I feel as though our life is a living testament to this promise in Philippians 4:19, "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. " God has provided for Dan and I through out all my health issues and I want to be sure to give all of my praise to Him. It is a comfort to know that I am in His hands and even though times can get rough He will always provide.
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