New Flu Treatment Approved, RA Doctors how many have you seen?

FDA approves new drug to treat influenza

https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-new-drug-treat-influenza

On the "average" how many Rheumatologists have you seen before you found one that was "okay" as far as treatment, diagnosis and so forth?

I FINALLY did get to the RA's Office on Friday. Of course I rarely see him & have to see his NP or PA (actually I am not sure which one she is). I believe she is in school to finish up the PA License. Anyway, I had to go over the entire story starting from about the end of May or so, till the pacemaker finally. Actually I had filled all of that out & more earlier that week before going to the office SOnI would NOT have to spend 45 minutes telling it again. Alas, if it had been my DOCTOR, he would have read it all, and knew exactly what had been happening with me. He always is on top of everything when I can see him. I told herI already had labs done (including everything there is I think) about 8 weeks ago for the pacemaker. I also told her from now on send my "lab request with me, I will have them done here at my PCP Office. At SW in Dallas, they CHARGE separately for labs & last time they did not tell me they changed that so it cost me the co-pay and then another 70.00 for "my part of the labs).. when I asked why it changed the lady on the phone said the doctors "lease" the offices, so that is separate now from the clinic! BULL! My RA Physician TEACHES, DOES CLINICAL ROTATION, DOES RESEARCH, & SEES VERY FEW PATIENTS..So, I have to believe whomever doing the billing for the labs is not billing correctly.. She put me back on the exact same meds I had been on that honestly I don't think work. She was shocked how much worse the RA was, especially when my left hand, wrists ,fingers, thumb was so bad. I am not sure if they are right on their diagnosis. Those fingers on the left hand are continuing to "turn"n& the middle finger is laying on top of my ring finger. Frankly after the last time I took 8 or 9 weeks of antibiotics, & they never did know if I had "reactive infectious arthritis" or the RA was getting worse or what. I came home Friday in rush hour traffic from Dallas & was just disgusted with it all. I FEAR the Enbrel now since it's an injection weekly & I seem to not stay free from infections then add the Enbrel & that can cause them to be worse. Plus here is the flu season. Sounds like we are in for a huge problem with people being extremely ill even in the hospital with the flu this season. So, be sure to GET YOUR FLU SHOT, get the kids to understand to wash hands, not drink or eat from others & if anyone has the slightest sign of flu, go immediately & get the new shot. It won't _cure_ it but it will keep you far less ill, & get you well within a few days rather than like some and take a month or get pneumonia. (Xofluza, which can be taken via a single oral dose to help patients recover more quickly from the flu.)

New Charity founded by Lady Gaga & her Mom called "Born This Way" Foundation

      New Foundation by Lady Gaga & her Mom the
"The Born this Way" Foundation

She also has Lupus. I believe she found out fairly recently. After seeing how much kindness she shows to especially youth, the younger kids, teens, and early 20's.... she touched my heart.

https://www.facebook.com/donate/790666221393294/10218229270018026/

#GIVINGTUESDAY Crucial things that need our assistance in giving in some way...

As we celebrated Thanksgiving and now rush around for items under the tree remember there are extremely crucial people, non-profits and more to give your help to...If all you can do is "Spread the Word" about your favorite Charity - That is also Giving of Yourself...

                     #GIVINGTUESDAY  HERE IS JUST 1 EXAMPLE OF MANY!

https://www.givingtuesday.org

When a Doctor Dismisses My & Others Symptoms

https://themighty.com/2019/10/doctor-dismissed-symptoms/?utm_source=newsletter_rare_disease&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_rare_disease_2019-11-07&$deep_link=true

"The Mighty"

I am totally Hooked on these!!!! "Pan-De-Muerto"

https://www.mexicoinmykitchen.com/pan-de-muerto-mexican-bread-of-dead/

I found these last week in my local market! And now I can't get enough of these awesome "Bread of the Dead" Celebration treats

Have a Wicked, SAFE, and Spooky Candy filled Halloween (tomorrow it's back to the Splenda)!!!

Have A Safe and Fun Filled Halloween! Be Kind, No Bullying, there is plenty of sugar to go around!!!

Bullying - "Kids bullied" at school since they are turned away at lunch time due to not have money to pay...

Bullying - "Kids bullied" at school since they are turned away at lunch time due to not have money to pay...

Why are kids being "shamed" for something they can't help? And for the lunch room people to allow those kids to be shamed is just horrid.

What if it was your kid? What if you were not able to give them them lunch or fix a lunch for them. Maybe they go to bed hungry... then have to go to school and have nothing to eat.

I know some think this cannot possibly be happening, but it is, and it's i a pure horrible day in our nation when ANY child goes without ANY meal!

Taxes are paid annually... plus money for many other things, like football, and other sports, or other things for school. Some as nearly as crucial as our kids kids getting fed daily.

Even if they have to just fix the kids a "sack lunch" with a sandwich, milk, jell or pudding, or a piece of fruit... far better than them being shamed, going hungry, and being treated like so badly, Just like you see the elderly ladies buying tuna, for themselves nd their cats. 

It is just a sad day in this nation when that other crap goes on ,fighting and fussing at the Capitol, rather than making our kids are getting fed daily.

1st Follow-Up after Pacemaker Implant

I thought this may be a long drawn out thing on the latest technology when it comes to the heart. Boy, was I wrong. This visit took about a total of 15 minutes, they tech can  a "scan" over the pacemaker much like I can diver my pain pump. But, of course he could read everything my heart was doing, and he showed me the screens of the read outs it was giving him the beats looked on the monitor of my heart compared to i if gets lower than it supposed to then the pacemaker kicks in, and brings it up to speed per se'.

They ordered my own monitor so it will be here next week. It will keep readings and at 3 months I download them to their computer. After this next 3 months  wll go to actually do another reading at the office and see my doctor. The tech said then they may do some "tweaking" since I "felt" a few things that kind of seemed out of character. But he said it takes about 3 months for all of that to get settled in, and begin to give very accurate readings.

For instance when he scanned the information when  got into the office my BPM were only at 40 (which normal is 60). He brought it up to 60, and I "felt" the difference, Which maybe when I am feeling at home after the implant.

I still have questions, but now as I know, I might as well wait until that 3 month mark then see how I am feeing. I am "RELEASED"  to do my own regular things and schedule. He told me if something "hurts", like I believe I am feeling a "pinch" which is scar tissue, then slow down or do less or stop for bit. But, now it's up to me to figure out the entire game.

I think I was "pleased" but kind of shocked that they were not nearly as concerned as I was and am in this being so new.



LOL, I got to Baylor driving just fine, went right to the building. Then when I left to com home I knew right away I turned the wrong way, and then I had to make this long was to turn back and get n the correct highway to come home. I asked about the "sinus node problem". He said it was like having a car, that "has a sluggish time starting at 1st, because of wear and tear"and age... plus I have some damage from the previous heart attacks. BUT, once the pacemaker "kicks" in to start it all up, then my heart does just as it should. He did help in giving me a "look" on what is going on, and explaining my problem, better than I had gotten before.

So, from here we shall see.  am going to live my life day to day, and as he said "listen to your body"

"Post-pacemaker Surgery" & things went very well!

Well here is the Pacemaker that is now helping my heart out... Like my Pain Pump it has a My Care link (this one is a base" that keeps me monitored remotely with the main heart center at Baylor ...

Wanted to let everyone know the doctors just came out and told me everything went well with mom’s surgery. It was much faster than they expected.

 — at Baylor Scott & White Heart and Vascular Hospital – Dallas.

I wanted to come and post but my chest, shoulder are quire sore.. also I appreciate you taking me and be there with me.. I know it was a long day, but having you there plus EVERYONE, nurses, the doctor, the anesthesiologist were wonderful... I was so thrilled with all and the results was even better.. 

I was SO PLEASED WITH MY DOCTOR, THE HEART HOSPITAL AND EVERYONE WHO WAS WITH ME THROUGH THE PROCEDURE!!!! I would HUGHLY recommend them to everyone...


I will write and post more as I feel a bit stronger... but I wanted to let everyone know things so far have gone extremely well...

https://www.baylorhearthospital.com/handler.cfm?event=practice,main

The Azure™ pacemaker is equipped with BlueSync™ technology and is compatible with MyCareLink Heart mobile app(opens new window) –– the latest innovation from Medtronic in remote monitoring.

Do YOU feel SAFE in Your Small Home Town?

How can our kids feel safe when WE as adults don't???? I fear Wal-Mart or just walking across the parking lot at HEB in my small local town!