(no subject)

[labellementeuse]

Still not dead! And have successfully survived another exam period, which is why I've been a little quiet lately. However! I now have a whole... week and a half... with absolutely nothing whatsoever I have to do. Plans!

-Superman Returns this Friday with ladylarla, sixth_light and her honey
-Pick challenge and start writing for myriadwords
-write letter for g-w.org
-translate a recipe from the French cookbook Clara gave me and try it out
-clean room and set up desk (I have a desk! Revolution!)
-get house ready for a visit from rewihendrix, about which I am ridiculously excited. XD
-burn DVDs for keymash
-figure out who my academic advisor is and get an interview to see about my next semester's courses
-sleeeeeeeep
-work for $$!


On the health front, a spleenectomy looks progressively more likely; I went back onto 40mg of pred after a relapse a few weeks ago and while I am (finally...) back down to 15mg, I probably won't be able to maintain a high count off the steroids. *sigh* the other option is to pretty much leave it, and go back on and off pred as my count falls and rises. Given the frankly unpleasant side-effects of prednisone, I am really reluctant to do that. On the other hand, with a splenectomy I need vaccinations to be renewed every five years, a medical alert bracelet, basically have to go to the emergency room with a fever and the GP with a cough; some countries put you on full-time antibiotics, but even if I didn't go on them (which I'd prefer not to) I'd have to take long-range antibiotics every time I travelled away from a hospital. And I'd be recommended not to travel in undeveloped countries. *glum*

To top it all off, I may be developing diabetes. Anyone who knows me and my sweet tooth knows that this is pretty much the worst thing that could ever happen to me, ever. It's not a sure thing- just one blood test with unusually high blood sugar, a couple points above normal - and some people do develop temporary diabetes on prednisone and then lose it when they go off it (it has to do with the metabolism thing and how much pred makes you EAT, omg, like a fucking horse) but my mother's parents both have diabetes in their line (my grandfather & uncle are diabetic and my grandmother has relations who have died of it). So um, yeah, kind of panicking about that and attempting a full-scale diet change, which is, well, fun.


On the plus side, I had my last exam this afternoon, and can watch Lost and Prison Break in perfect contentment!

Comments

[mandor700.livejournal.com]

Have you actually ever experienced these side effects? I've been on and off it all my life and I've never had any problems.

[labellementeuse.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I was on 40mg for three weeks and during that time I could barely sleep, I had huge difficulty concentrating, I was very fatigued and listless; obviously, I put on a lot of weight (and I'd be hugely surprised if you haven't at least done that?); acne; occasionally blurred vision; and a couple of times some pretty painful joint pain when bending/sitting, etc. :-/ I dunno, I guess they all sound like things that could be unrelated and pretty non-traumatic at that,, but since I went down to 15 I've been sleeping much better and eating less, feeling more on to it, and so on. And I really was miserable on it. You're lucky that you've never experienced any side-effects; I think basically some people do and some people don't, and I didn't have too many problems last time I was on 40 (but I was only on that for a week rather than three weeks...) so I was optimistic for this time but...

[cabaiste84.livejournal.com]

A spleenectomy?!! Yikes!! I totally pray it doesn't come down to that, cos all the side effects you mentioned (permanent antibiotics, vaccinations, no travel to underdeveloped countries) sound slightly crap-tastic. I

[labellementeuse.livejournal.com]

Well, yeah, it's not something I'm looking forward to with joy and excitement, exactly. :P On the other hand, it would probably mean that the whole thing is over, and that is... so tempting now. Really.

Ooops...

[cabaiste84.livejournal.com]

Ack, someone pressed the "post button" by mistake...

Anyway yeah, it sounds pretty extreme. I hope you have a really awesome and trustworthy GP who can talk you through the whole process and give you good advice.

Can fully sympathise with the diabetes factor. It's something I worry about quite a bit myself...I, like you, also have a massive sweet tooth, along with crappy genes that have got me piling on the kgs before you can say "Chocolate fudge mocha sundae to go". :p I've struggled with my weight since I was 11...and I know it's something I've gotta get sorted out when I'm still young, otherwise it'll lead to a few issues when I'm older. I know I'm an over-eater...food is like a drug for me, and sometimes it freaks me out. And, I know I've gotta be careful, cos there's a bit of a history of eating disorders in my family...but that's a whole different issue, and one I won't bore you with just for the minute.

But yeah, I do know how you feel. If you ever need someone to vent to about this whole thing, then my journal and my cyber-shoulder are always here. :) I seriously need a hard-core diet change as well, so maybe we should try and do it together. :P I need to start but V out of my diet altogether...I swear that stuff's worse than cigarettes. Well, not that I've really any idea, but y'know. :P

I do really think you're coping pretty brilliantly, considering how serious this condition of yours is! I know we've not spent any time together since you were diagnosed, but from what I've been reading on your lj, it sounds like you're doing a pretty swell job of holding it together, and getting on with your life. Heck, I just about self-destruct if I so much as come down with the flu, so honestly, girl, you're doing pretty bloody well! :)

Once again, I'm here if you need to talk. *hugs* Chin up, chickie! *hugs*

Re: Ooops...

[labellementeuse.livejournal.com]

*hugs you* Aw, thanks for the kind words! I do insist that it's really not serious, though... my flatmate's partner is currently dealing with a serious condition that really brings home to me how lucky I am. The treatment's practically worse than the illness, really. ;)

[sennical.livejournal.com]

Ugh. That sounds... not fun. At all. I hope you get through everything with the least amount of pain and stress possible.

You can look forward to Friday, though. Superman Returns is completely awesome. I saw a sneak preview at 10:00 last night.

[labellementeuse.livejournal.com]

*hugs* thanks. :)

I have heard only good things about it, so, yeah, I am looking forward to it!

[sixth-light.livejournal.com]

Question: which honey is coming with us to Superman? Because my honey has a prior date to see Click (yeah, I know, I was asked if I wanted to come and...ah) apparently because I told him he was OMGNOTALLOWEDTOCOMECOSGIRLSNIGHTOUT to Superman. And our dear Tas's honey is enjoying another luxurious stay in the five-star accomodation that is Christchurch Hospital. So I'm thinking lack of honies. That's okay; there will be pretty on screen.