Health part 5
Whoops, before I leave the fibro discussion let me also tell you of another issue that goes with fibro…it is called fibro fog. You are in that fog when you can't remember what you are saying, what you just did, you can think straight, concentrate, focus on anything and just find yourself staring into space. Those fogs can go on for days.
There is one other thing and I really don't know if it is related to the fibro or some meds but there is the, "I can't find the right word" problems. I will be talking, knowing what I want to say but it comes out all wrong. My words just don't make senses a lot of times. Like there is a block there, or a fog maybe!
Since I am not yet finished with the fibro let me throw in there also that in 2010 I had a spot come up on my cheek, no matter how I treated it, it just would not get better. Off to the dermo doc to discover that I have skin lupus. Now, like I said, that is a host of things that go hand in hand with these issues. Skin Lupus was not brought on by the sleep but it is a issue that goes hand in hand with FIBRO!
It is really amazing the things I was not told about sleep apnea. It's like you have to take control of your own health and study up on everything to know what to expect. I studied and learned so much, but like I said, my sleep is under control, the damage had been started so long ago that there was not correcting what was to come.
I started on Cymbalta 30 mg in March of 2011 in hopes of feeling great come May for my flight to California for my son's wedding. I did…matter of fact I could tell a small difference within a day or so. Over a few appointments, we noticed an increase in the blood pressure. Not a high increase but a steady rise of what was always a perfect readying. So at the same time I went on Cymbalta I went on BP meds for being border line. I thought that maybe, just maybe it was cause I was getting older, it happens you know. I don't think so, I think the sleep probably played a big part in it. So I have gone from being on stomach meds for acid to Cymbalta and BP meds. Still not that bad for 51 yrs old….I don't guess.
The cholesterol went up. I don’t think that can be blamed on the sleep or the fibro but it was not good, so, I am on meds for that.
Over the last couple of yrs my doc has been watching my sugar level also. It was staying under the diabetes range but she would to the AC1 blood test to keep an eye on it. Have you know, that AC1 range has changed and in February I was tested and yes, guess what? One point over! So, for 1 point I was then considered a diabetic. Another pill, actually 2, 500 mg twice a day.
At the same time that the doc was watching the sugar level she was also watching the heart rate that appeared to read high. This I was not aware of. But do to having this issue and it reading pretty high in Feb. at my physical, and me having some issues with pain in the upper chest area, I was asked to do a treadmill test and an ultrasound on the heart. It just keeps getting better and better. Did you know that sleep apnea affects the heart also?
From the treadmill test it was determined that my heart is weaker than it was over 2 yrs ago when I took the test. My nephew was told he had Cardiomyopathy in his late 20's. This is an issue that runs in my family, from my dad's side. There was this fear that I might also have it. But…all went well after the first test, the second showed changes. The ultra sound showed me that there was no Cardiomyopathy there and all looked fine. But apparently the stress test showed something that made my doc decide to send me the a heart doc. Plus she felt better allowing him to treat the heart rate which was well above what it should be.
The rate runs in the high 80's to 90's now, at the time I saw him it was hitting 120. Can you guess, yes, another drug. Not so sure what all these drugs in my system are doing when they mix up inside me, helping one thing but hurting something else? According to him from the stress test, the heart rate, and the EKG, there might be a small blockage. Not anything to worry with but to watch. The only way to tell for sure would be a nuke stress test where they shot this stuff in you and the camera takes pics all around while you lay there after you walk on a treadmill. I elected to not do that right now, to just watch things.
So where does this all leave me? Walking around with a possible small blockage in my heart, trying to learn to eat right for the diabetes (which I might add, is not going well at all), living with fibro but since upping the meds last summer to 60mg, I have not had any major flare ups of pain. Dealing with fingers that get cold, turn blue and hurt so bad. Treating my blood pressure, sleeping on a machine and dealing with whatever happens on a daily basis.
Went back to the doc a few weeks ago for a check to see how diabetic meds were working and of course blood was drawn. Gotta stop having that done because I found out that my magnesium and B12 was running low. LOL…..more pills! I now take 8 prescribed pills while also taking 8 other things, from magnesium to Glucosamine.
Please keep in mind, if you have or think you have sleep apnea, be checked. Stay on top of it, read on it, study it and the effects it can have on you. If your child snores a lot, have them checked. Don't let this go and let the damage be done until they are an adult and effects of it start showing up, it will be to late then. Be aware of your partner, while they sleep, see if they stop breathing. If so alert them. Have it checked.
There is one other thing and I really don't know if it is related to the fibro or some meds but there is the, "I can't find the right word" problems. I will be talking, knowing what I want to say but it comes out all wrong. My words just don't make senses a lot of times. Like there is a block there, or a fog maybe!
Since I am not yet finished with the fibro let me throw in there also that in 2010 I had a spot come up on my cheek, no matter how I treated it, it just would not get better. Off to the dermo doc to discover that I have skin lupus. Now, like I said, that is a host of things that go hand in hand with these issues. Skin Lupus was not brought on by the sleep but it is a issue that goes hand in hand with FIBRO!
It is really amazing the things I was not told about sleep apnea. It's like you have to take control of your own health and study up on everything to know what to expect. I studied and learned so much, but like I said, my sleep is under control, the damage had been started so long ago that there was not correcting what was to come.
I started on Cymbalta 30 mg in March of 2011 in hopes of feeling great come May for my flight to California for my son's wedding. I did…matter of fact I could tell a small difference within a day or so. Over a few appointments, we noticed an increase in the blood pressure. Not a high increase but a steady rise of what was always a perfect readying. So at the same time I went on Cymbalta I went on BP meds for being border line. I thought that maybe, just maybe it was cause I was getting older, it happens you know. I don't think so, I think the sleep probably played a big part in it. So I have gone from being on stomach meds for acid to Cymbalta and BP meds. Still not that bad for 51 yrs old….I don't guess.
The cholesterol went up. I don’t think that can be blamed on the sleep or the fibro but it was not good, so, I am on meds for that.
Over the last couple of yrs my doc has been watching my sugar level also. It was staying under the diabetes range but she would to the AC1 blood test to keep an eye on it. Have you know, that AC1 range has changed and in February I was tested and yes, guess what? One point over! So, for 1 point I was then considered a diabetic. Another pill, actually 2, 500 mg twice a day.
At the same time that the doc was watching the sugar level she was also watching the heart rate that appeared to read high. This I was not aware of. But do to having this issue and it reading pretty high in Feb. at my physical, and me having some issues with pain in the upper chest area, I was asked to do a treadmill test and an ultrasound on the heart. It just keeps getting better and better. Did you know that sleep apnea affects the heart also?
From the treadmill test it was determined that my heart is weaker than it was over 2 yrs ago when I took the test. My nephew was told he had Cardiomyopathy in his late 20's. This is an issue that runs in my family, from my dad's side. There was this fear that I might also have it. But…all went well after the first test, the second showed changes. The ultra sound showed me that there was no Cardiomyopathy there and all looked fine. But apparently the stress test showed something that made my doc decide to send me the a heart doc. Plus she felt better allowing him to treat the heart rate which was well above what it should be.
The rate runs in the high 80's to 90's now, at the time I saw him it was hitting 120. Can you guess, yes, another drug. Not so sure what all these drugs in my system are doing when they mix up inside me, helping one thing but hurting something else? According to him from the stress test, the heart rate, and the EKG, there might be a small blockage. Not anything to worry with but to watch. The only way to tell for sure would be a nuke stress test where they shot this stuff in you and the camera takes pics all around while you lay there after you walk on a treadmill. I elected to not do that right now, to just watch things.
So where does this all leave me? Walking around with a possible small blockage in my heart, trying to learn to eat right for the diabetes (which I might add, is not going well at all), living with fibro but since upping the meds last summer to 60mg, I have not had any major flare ups of pain. Dealing with fingers that get cold, turn blue and hurt so bad. Treating my blood pressure, sleeping on a machine and dealing with whatever happens on a daily basis.
Went back to the doc a few weeks ago for a check to see how diabetic meds were working and of course blood was drawn. Gotta stop having that done because I found out that my magnesium and B12 was running low. LOL…..more pills! I now take 8 prescribed pills while also taking 8 other things, from magnesium to Glucosamine.
Please keep in mind, if you have or think you have sleep apnea, be checked. Stay on top of it, read on it, study it and the effects it can have on you. If your child snores a lot, have them checked. Don't let this go and let the damage be done until they are an adult and effects of it start showing up, it will be to late then. Be aware of your partner, while they sleep, see if they stop breathing. If so alert them. Have it checked.
Comments