Riverbend and Early Rising

It is the end of Riverbend Festival week in Chattanooga.  The festival lasts 10 days, and attracts tens of thousands to its varied musical performances.  Even in years when I choose to avoid the heat and crowds, I can feel the excitement in the air.  Traffic patterns change, new faces appear in familiar places, television coverage [...]

Pick Up the Phone

Just when I thought my biggest worry today would be the aches and pains from yesterday’s cleaning, there’s more news from the Senate’s health care struggles. 
A majority of Americans support having a public plan available for folks who cannot get health care insurance through their employers and who cannot afford to buy it on the [...]

My Sister Was Here – Hallelujah!

In my April 6 post, I talked about looking for infections.  If I believed strongly in jinxing myself, I would be freaked out, because on April 7 I had to start antibiotics for strep throat.  I have a swollen, red tonsil with a pocket of icky white stuff that isn’t better yet.  I emphasized vigilance [...]

Diva Day, Hopefully to Be Continued

I woke this morning with a lightness, waving my feet in the air, laughing loudly to myself.  There was dancing in every movement, and I smiled to me in the mirror.  The energy today was all about hope and the expectation of good, maybe good beyond anything I deserve or claim. 
Midday, I tried on new [...]

The PNHP Health Care Recommendation

I had planned to post a drive-by this week with the text of Dr. Fein’s presentation to the President’s health care forum.  I am a member of Physicians for a National Health Program, which advocates health care for every American, with an economical, single-payer base.  Having worked in the public and private sectors caring for patients, and looking [...]

The Eyes (Don’t) Have It!!

This will be brief because I’m typing with one eye dilated and I might be missing errors that will land me in jail for slander or salaciousness or worse.  However, I could not wait to tell my news!  My eyes are fine!!!  No bleed, no retinal tear, just normal vitreous jellly breaking loose and making [...]

Another Saturday, Not As Mellow

I’m on the downslope!  This is perhaps my favorite time in the disease cycle of lupus.  I’m over a major flare, my energy is improving daily, and I’m able to increase my activity.  I feel like I’ve been released from prison after several months of false accusations and physical torture.  I have to survey the wreckage and [...]

Answers About Lupus Treatment

I put myself on the hot seat by divulging that I am both patient and physician.  I am not surprised that hard questions result from that.  I don’t mind moving from the exam table to the doc’s stool and answering whatever people ask, as long as it doesn’t constitute giving individual medical advice.  I cannot [...]

Prednisone and Optimism and a Whole Lotta Talk

I’ve been taking a break.  I didn’t plan it.  It started with the rib attack, which is still hanging on a little bit.  I had to double my prednisone, and that produced restlessness.  Instead of being able to sit nicely at my computer and type, I was reduced to knitting frantically, hour after hour, while I [...]

Treating Lupus: A Physician-Patient Perspective

Yesterday I joined a new group:  We Are Lupus, at www.wearelupus.org.  It is made up of a few hundred people, mostly lupus patients, but also patients with some related disorders, and family members and friends of patients.   It promises to be a good forum.  It’s always good to have the company and wisdom of other people [...]