KarmaGirl

Reply to Living with Lupus part 2 in Life, the Universe and Everything Stardock Forums

Sorry, not dead! Just haven't been online much. Thanks for checking on on me, though!

Bad Christmas Music in Music JoeUser Forums

As you may or may not know, I love ugly Christmas sweaters and really bad Christmas music. You might even say that I am a purveyor of bad Christmas music. Each year, I end up with a "TOP 10" list of bad Christmas music. It changes since iTunes allows me access to an amazing amount of crap. Since I can't keep all this joy to myself, I decided to share this year's Top 10. So, for your enjoyment, here is my TOP 10 Bad Christmas Songs for 2013: 10)

Reply to Happy Birthday Spencer! in Community WinCustomize Forums

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!

Reply to Happy Birthday Yarlen! in Community WinCustomize Forums

Happy Birthday! Hope you have a great one!

Reply to Happy Birthday Snowman and KarmaGirl! in WinCustomize Talk WinCustomize Forums

Thanks for all the Birthday wishes! It's been a great day so far!

Reply to The Ironman 3 thread in Movies & TV & Books WinCustomize Forums

I plan on going. Probably not until next week since we're not going during work ;)

Reply to Living with Lupus part 2 in Life, the Universe and Everything Stardock Forums

There are a few pain meds that they do through patches. Nicotine is actually one of them (they apply it post op). The big on is Morphine. However, she is most likely using Fentanyl. It is absorbed into the fat under where it is placed and then slowly releases into the blood stream.

Reply to Living with Lupus part 2 in Life, the Universe and Everything Stardock Forums

Oh, I forgot to mention my favorite lotion for chillin' out my skin rashes: Dermarest Eczema Medicated Lotion. You can get it at a lot of places, or on Amazon for about $12. It's not super heavy like a lot of them, but it works really well and you can apply it a couple times a day without feeling greasy.

Reply to Living with Lupus part 2 in Life, the Universe and Everything Stardock Forums

Starkers, bummer about the Tramadol. That is one of the few pain meds that work for me without making me feel sick (liver doesn't like many drugs). Stupid that they won't cover it. Will they cover levorphanol? It acts much the same, but you would have to take a higher dose.

Reply to Living with Lupus part 2 in Life, the Universe and Everything Stardock Forums

Being on it is fine- it's just getting off it that makes you want to peel your skin off.

Reply to Living with Lupus part 2 in Life, the Universe and Everything Stardock Forums

I went cold turkey with Cymbalta. I don't recommend it. I think I was talking to Elvis for a couple days.

Reply to Living with Lupus part 2 in Life, the Universe and Everything Stardock Forums

Yeah, Cymbalta is not ready to get off. It has terrible withdrawal symptoms. BTW, vitamin D is something that anyone with bone pain should get checked regularly since a deficiency can increase bone pain.

Reply to Living with Lupus part 2 in Life, the Universe and Everything Stardock Forums

Have any of you guys tried Cymbalta for pain management? Effexor XR works the same way. It seems to help you cope with pain more than actually get rid of it. The only downsides are that it takes about 2 weeks for it to start working and it's a real bitch to get off from.

Reply to Living with Lupus part 2 in Life, the Universe and Everything Stardock Forums

Po, sorry to hear about all the pain you have. Not everyone is as fortunate as I am to have a job that they can keep working at. If I has to be on my feet, I wouldn't be able to do it. Grocery shopping makes me fatigued and sore, so there is no way I could work on my feet. Oh, another tip I have for pain management is getting a memory foam bed. I have horrible pressure points from fibromyalsia, and the memory foam bed has made a world of difference. Right

Reply to Living with Lupus part 2 in Life, the Universe and Everything Stardock Forums

Coconut milk is only good for making ice cream, LOL I like Almond Milk for cereal and sweetener soy for most everything. Very vanilla soy milk is awesome in coffee. Almond milk retains its almond taste, so it is kick-ass is baked goods, like muffins.

Reply to Living with Lupus part 2 in Life, the Universe and Everything Stardock Forums

My quote button doesn't work...... Yeah, eCigs are the same technology. Now, I didn't say that tobacco doesn't cause cancer, just Nicotine, LOL. I prefer either fruit flavored nicotine or crisp cola (which tastes like vaporized cola candy).

Reply to Living with Lupus part 2 in Life, the Universe and Everything Stardock Forums

Sydny, there are plenty of plants (veggies) that have iron and calcium in them. I've never been deficient in either. I have had a vitaminD issue, but that is parathyroid related. I have a CPAP machine, but I take it off in my sleep without knowing it, so I'm not sure how long it stays on my face. I'm either an insomniac or I sleep the sleep of the dead. I have mixed feelings about medical marijuana. I'm not against it, but I'm not sure I would want it

Reply to Living with Lupus in Life, the Universe and Everything Stardock Forums

http://karmagirl.joeuser.com/article/440773/Living_with_Lupus_part_2

Reply to Living with Lupus part 2 in Life, the Universe and Everything Stardock Forums

Crap- I forgot to mention alcohol in this. I guess it's simple- don't drink any. It's poison that your liver has to deal with. So, stop it!

Reply to Living with Lupus in Life, the Universe and Everything Stardock Forums

Ok, I wrote the other article- have fun reading the book. For me, I much rather change my diet than to take other medications or have kidney and liver issues. Giving up meat is the #1 thing that can take stress off your liver and Kidneys. I know many people with liver and kidney issues that gave up meat and saw huge improvements within a month.

Living with Lupus part 2 in Life, the Universe and Everything JoeUser Forums

My previous article was a bit of a glimpse into what it is like to live day by day with Lupus. It was just a slice of my daily life, but I didn't talk about things that I do to try and help myself stay healthy and active. There is a balance that has to be found in life. With me, my biggest struggle is finding a way to manage pain enough to stay active, but to not take so many medications that I'm stressing my liver. You can't live without your liver, and

Reply to Living with Lupus in Life, the Universe and Everything Stardock Forums

I think I feel more sorry for my husband than myself- he has to put up with me! Haha. He knew that I had arthritis and thyroid problems before he married me, but Lupus was diagnosed after I had our daughter. I went completely bald and was quite sick, so they finally figured out why all the weird things happened to me over the years. Poor guy has to deal with a lot. As much as I hate him telling me I'm doing something I shouldn't (like drinking 2 Starbucks in one

Reply to Living with Lupus in Life, the Universe and Everything Stardock Forums

Starkers, a sense of humor is a must, though it isn't always easy. I have had total breakdowns that required my hubby to talk me back to my senses. He keeps reminding me that this is the only body I have, so even though I'm far from perfect, all I can do is make the best of it.

Reply to Living with Lupus in Life, the Universe and Everything Stardock Forums

Yikes, Redneckdude!

Reply to Living with Lupus in Life, the Universe and Everything Stardock Forums

Diet can really can do a lot. I'm a vegetarian mainly due to health. I think my liver would be shot by now otherwise. I also don't drink, even though I really want to some days. Coffee is something that they will have to pry out of my hands....or maybe just bury me with it. I hear about people dying suddenly from lupus, so I try to live for the day. Enjoy the small things and don't sweat what you can't change.