Health Update

It's been a while since I last posted. So long that I feel like it's been ages. I'm doing good. God has been very good to me. I'm focused on getting well. So focused that I've joined a health club. It's just a 10-day program I'm trying out. I'm really excited because when they weighed me, my weight for my height is within the normal range. Something I wouldn't have imagined a few months back.  What made me even more excited was my metabolic age as compared to my calendar age. I'm almost 10 years younger! Five days into the program, I had my routine tests done just to be sure. Praise God! My crea went down, CBC are all normal, urine test is very good except for that nasty UTI that keeps coming back. The protein in the urine is just a trace from a +2 before. For some of you, these may sound like something from Mars, but for people who are not too well (to put it lightly), these results are excellent!  I'm so excited to get my health back! I'm going to try a new medicine which of course was prescribed by my doctor. We're just waiting for the shipment to arrive. Based on my personal research, this medicine does wonder to people suffering from autoimmune diseases. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that's why I'm excited.

Science can only do so much. I make sure I do my part. God is my ultimate healer. When He allowed me to get out of the hospital alive last 2012, I know in my heart that healing is mine.

Fab at 40

Dear God,

Thank you, Lord, for adding another year to my colorful life. Inspite of the ups and downs I'm experiencing every now and then, You never left me.  You've been very patient with me.  I still have a long list of  prayer requests, but I know that you hold all of those on the palm of your hands.  Every single one of them is important to you as they are to me. 

Lord, thank you for blessing me with a good life, for healing me by helping me get better everyday. Thank you for continuously providing for me with overflowing. Thank you for the hope, joy and peace I have in my heart. Thank you for everything that you're about to do in my life.  I receive your blessings, favor, love and healing in all aspects of my life with praise and thanksgiving.  

All glory to you, Lord! 

In Jesus' name, amen!

A Quick Update

Finally!  Our August Champ is over.  Whew!  Now I have some free time to post and update my blog. How's everybody doing?  Hope y'all are fine.

Nothing much has happened except that I was busy with work.  I feel like I've been saying that all the time, but that's the truth.  Okay... Alright, alright!  I've also been a bit lazy.  There.  I said it!  But for now I'm back so I'm going to make the most out of it.

Aside from my regular check up, which by the way, I'm grateful to God for the good results, I was also actively posting on my cat's blog.  I just find it very cute and relieves me of stress.  It was my cat's first birthday yesterday.  Here are some photos.

Me & Sushi

Here's something really cute.

Tada!

I will again be very busy WITH work by October and that will also be my birthday month.  Christmas is getting closer and closer.  I'm excited! Wow! Can you believe that 2013 is almost over?   Sigh... I miss Dad.

Well, this is it for now. Have a great weekend y'all!

Reunions

It's been a while since I last posted.  I miss blogging, but I had other priorities I needed to attend to first.  Other stuff had to take a backseat, including blogging. I do miss my bloggy friends though.

All is well.  When people ask me how my health is doing, I'd always say thank God, I'm getting better everyday.  I still do have my regular check up.  It was every week, then it became every two weeks and now it's every month.

Let me share a few random photos during my MIA mode. =)

My cousin, Resi, from the US came home after decades of living there with her family. What better reason to hold a family gathering, right?  So family gathering it was last July 7. These were just few of my relatives from the side of my mom. Trust me, when we gather together, all of us, it'll be a riot!

Lunch at Texas Roadhouse Grill. Dinner with cousins at Army Navy.

Mom celebrated her birthday at Makan Makan Asian Food Village last July 14.

Mom with my sister and her youngest child, Robyn Denise

Finally, last August 15, I met up with my college friend Joan, after years of staying in Russia with her family.  It was really nice to see her again. We had a quick lunch at Kaya, Rockwell.

Though I was MIA in the blogging world for a little more than a month, it was a season of reunions with family and friends.  It was fun!  

Would You Like to Have a Glass of Milk?

It's raining outside. Yey! Finally, some cool breeze is coming inside the house. I guess summer is almost over.

I've been crazy busy with work the past weeks. Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, busy is good. I've also started distributing farm fresh cow's milk. It's so yummy! I've tried it myself and even checked out the farm where the cows were. If you're a Philippine resident and want to know more about Holly's milk products, send me a message.

The farm

Anyway, my blood test results weren't all that good, but my doctor said, it's not alarming. Yes, it's frustrating, but she said it will eventually stabilize. And I'm praising God for that.  I feel fine and that's what matters to me now. God is still good.  I still believe that healing is mine.  I still believe that His promises to me, ALL OF THEM, will come to pass.  That I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

So... Would you like to have a glass of milk? =)

Yada Yada

I've been sitting here for hours wanting to write something, but couldn't think of anything to write.  Nothing's happening really except for my weekly check ups which will just bore you if I start talking about it.  But I'm good and I thank God for that.

Regarding my work... I'm still doing client calls, closing sales (Thank God!) and meeting my quota... most of the time.  I wish I could say all the time.  =) I'm still waiting for that BIG break though.  I know it'll come.

I'm still taking care of my fur baby, Sushi.  She's such a cutie. She's now 8 months. There's this event called BlogPaws Conference 2013. Wish I was able to attend though.  Oh yeah, one thing new I guess is how I became a pet lover. I especially love cats.

My family is doing good.  Thank God! Mom is quite happy with her new place. I think I already told you that before.  

Financially, well,  it's always been a challenge with the price tags of my meds and supplements, but God has been faithful. He does provide.  For those who know lupus, you know that that does not come in cheap.  Probably in other countries, people are well informed what lupus is about and maybe they have programs to support people with lupus.  Well, not from where I am.  

Anyway, I will have to start ordering my supplements online.  Will have to check if I can get them cheaper that way or buy them from my doctor.  

Well, I guess that's it for now.  Have a happy weekend! 

Yey!

I had my check up again yesterday with my three doctors. Showed them my latest blood test results and they were quite happy with them.  My nephrologist said lupus is under control.  That's music to my ears.  Praise God!  But as you all know, I'm not just believing God to make lupus under control but to make it disappear forever in my life.  Translation: completely healed!

Photo credit: loadedwithexcuses.com

I think the lupus was "under control" mainly because of my diet.  I eat what most would qualify as "boring".  I'll eat a banana and a glass of green smoothie for
breakfast. Okay, I have somebody who supplies me with that that's good for 3 days a liter. I'll have veggies and fish or chicken for lunch and dinner.  I'll have green salad in between meals. I'll have either avocado, pineapple or papaya for dessert. I'm not perfect and sometimes I still succumb to some of my guilty pleasures like ice cream, chocolate cookies, brownies and cheese quesadilla.

Believe me, with that kind of diet, my weight is still like a roller coaster.  I'd gain some, I'd lose some then I'd gain them back again.  I asked my doctor about this and she said it's mostly water retention and for as long as I'm taking steroids, I'll have that problem.  Good news is, my doctor started tapering my steroids. Yey!

I'm praising God for this!

Hello Summer!

It's officially summer!

I don't particularly like the summer season because it's too humid here, but what I do like are the get-togethers and the outings. Oh, and the food too!  Haha!

I did go to two outings this summer.  I have to limit it to two because of my condition.  Nonetheless, those two spelled F-U-N.  I thank God that I wasn't in pain during those times I was out of town. In fact, I feel much better now.  I hope and pray that there would be less no more flares now and in the future. Lupus be gone!

Last April 8, my Sun Life family went to Anvaya Cove again.  Well, I wasn't able to do much outdoors, but I did enjoy the get together.  My bosses were very protective of me.  I'm so blessed to have them around.

In case you're wondering where I am in this photo, I'm in front, left side.  The one seated next to the guy in white. Hehe... I understand.  I gained a lot of weight. 

I also went out of town to Bay, Laguna with my NTC (National Telecommunications Commission) family last April 12-14. We stayed at the rest house of one of our senators.

With Rizza Fortes, the wife of my former boss, Deputy Commissioner Jaime Fortes, Jr.

We also went to Mr. Francisco Magsaysay's farm where farm fresh cow's milk is being produced. Yum!

L-R: me, Rizza, Muray, Director Vicky, Alice & Carlos

Behind me is Dr. Jake Borja, the one who oversees the entire operation, including the well-being of the cows.

The farm

L-R: Carlos, Atty. Ven Canta, Alice, DC Jaime Fortes, me & Eddie

Before heading home, we stopped by Calamba, Laguna where our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, once lived.

 Clockwise: The main house, kitchen & library

 From top left clockwise: One of the bedrooms, dining area & play house

Dr. Jose Rizal's doodles & handwriting

I learned that this house is a replica of the original house which was destroyed during WWII.

That's about it.  Brought home bottles of farm fresh cow's milk, the only milk I can take for now.  God's timing is really impeccable!

Thankful Thursday

This week I'm grateful for His word to me.  It's an assurance, a promise that I can hold on to.

"No one will be able to resist you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not abandon you or leave you alone." Joshua 1:5

Please click HERE for full details.



What are you thankful for this week?

For more Thankful Thursday, visit Iris over at Grace Alone.

I Got a Miracle

I was so sure that something was wrong because I can still feel a little bit of pain on the mid section of my back where the kidneys are and lower back too.  I had UTI before my blood test yesterday. I knew my test was not going to be good.

I prayed.  I told God my concerns.

Lord, with how I'm feeling right now, I know something is wrong. But I know you can turn this around.  It's clear that I need a miracle to make the results favorable to me.  So Lord, I'm asking for a miracle.  Not my will but Yours be done.  I'm asking all these in Jesus' name.

And this was His word to me:

"No one will be able to resist you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not abandon you or leave you alone." Joshua 1:5

I went to the hospital for my blood test.  Got the results last night.

I couldn't believe my eyes.  My creatinine level was normal.  My urynalysis' protein level which is also an indicator of my kidney function says "trace". That's better than having a positive number next to it. With a positive number, it means my kidneys are leaking protein which shouldn't be the case.

Now that my kidneys are doing much better which I have to maintain, the goal is now to make the lupus go in remission away for good.

God is so good!  He's amazing.  He granted me a miracle.

Thank you, Lord!

Now I Understand

I know I may sound like a broken record when I say that I'm in pain, but that's the sad, awful truth. For somebody like me who's having flares often this season of my life, pain is something I have to live with.  It's hard to explain how painful is painful when I do go through it.  I wish I can, for 5 minutes, to transfer this pain to somebody who's curious or even judgemental on how I feel when pain is there, then I'll take it back just so they will have the "feel" of what it's like to have this chronic illness. But of course I know that wouldn't happen.  They just simply wouldn't understand until they experience it themselves.

Today, I still feel a little bit of pain in my arms, but it's less painful than usual. Days like these I rejoice because I can move without pain getting in the way. This actually makes me appreciate life in a new perspective.  When you're living in pain most days and suddenly you wake up without it or less of it, you'll understand me when I say it's a time for rejoicing.  All I can utter is THANK YOU, LORD!

I wish everyday I will be pain free. I wish everyday I won't feel tiredness or brain fogs. I wish I can be "normal" again.

Looking back when I was barely a teenager, now I understand why I felt the way I did.  Why I had those episodes where no concrete explanation was available. Today, they're all making sense.  Different kinds of autoimmune diseases struck me in the past - Guillen Barre Syndrome, Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome to name a few.  All life threatening, but I survived them all.  I feel like my body is being overhauled now that finally this lupus thing came out, the mother of all these sickening autoimmune diseases I had in the past.  Now that it's identified, I can now deal with it head on.

I don't ask God why me because really, that's one question that I'll tell you you're wasting your time asking.  God has a purpose. He knows what He's doing. He knows me even before I was born.  He already plotted the path I will have to take.  In short, everything I'm going through will not surprise Him because He knew all along. And since I trust Him with all my life, I am assured that the best days are yet to come.

Friends, thank you for praying.  I also pray for all of you.  I don't need to know who you all are because God knows.  I pray that you be blessed in all aspects of life.

Lupus Struggles

Hi friends.

I guess, my posts will be mostly updates on my health for friends and families overseas.  Forgive me for posting less and less lately.  Honestly, I'd love to post more often, but lately I haven't been feeling too well to do so.  I've been having blood test almost every week to monitor progress or regress/lapses on my current condition.

My doctor was kind enough to get me an eBook about lupus - The Lupus Bible & Norton Protocol.  This will help me understand more on what's happening in my body and how to control flares.

I've been experiencing lupus arthritis every morning for the past three weeks.  It's very painful and would wake me up very early in the morning.  I'm also experiencing muscle stiffness and brain fogs.  I keep forgetting things so I have to list down everything I need to do so I won't miss out on anything as much as possible.  This is very frustrating for somebody like me I tell you.  I also feel very exhausted most of the time to the point of not being able to get up from bed.

Do I like going through all these? NO!

But how would I explain these things to ordinary people who don't even have the slightest idea what lupus is?  I don't look sick, I look like I just gained a lot of weight. Surely, some would think I'm just slacking off, but they don't know the pain I'm going through each day.  How do I explain this to regular people? How will they understand?

Aside from these inconveniences, this illness also gave me lupus nephritis. It affected my kidneys and now I have to constantly watch what I eat and how much I take in.  No fun for somebody who's taking steroids, who's constantly craving for food.

May I ask you to please continue to pray for me.  I really want to get well and yes, I still believe healing is mine.  I'm not doubting that.  I know Jesus will heal me.  When?  Only He knows.

Lord, I humbly submit myself to you.  I know you will give me the grace and the strength to keep going because I know you're not done with me yet.  But should I reach the end of the line, I am most excited to finally meet You.. my Maker, My Lord.

Lord, Thank You for Loving Me

I'm spending this holy week with Mom and Sushi.  I packed our stuff and brought them all to Mom's.

I'm reflecting on how good God has been to me all this time.  He has provided me everything that I need. He has shown me favor beyond expectation. Though my health is still being challenged, I am confident that God is at work and I'm on my way to full recovery.  Honestly, this has been a difficult journey.  It's not easy to be in pain most of the time, but God has been sustaining me because He gives me enough strength to function normally when the need arises.  It's not also easy to be on a high dosage of steroids because I'm gaining the extra pounds and feeling way too heavy for my normal built which makes it difficult for me to move around.  Sometimes all these difficulties would make me want to give up, but God is constantly reminding me that He is not done with me yet... that the best is yet to come.   

God is so good... SO GOOD!

Lord, thank you for loving me.  I love you very much.  

Request for Prayer - Update

***UPDATE***

I received the results of my blood tests.  My creatinine level is now down to 115.90. Normal values are between 53-115.  Praise God!!!  Prayer is very powerful.  Thank you for praying for me! The rest of the tests are okay.  I still have to see my doctor to know what the next step will be.  I will have another round of blood tests after the Holy Week.  God bless you, my dear Prayer Warriors!

*****************************************************************
March 21, 2013

Hi friends.

I will have another round of blood tests tomorrow.  I haven't been feeling well for the past 4 days.  I stay in bed most of the time because I've been feeling very weak. I really hate having all these symptoms because I couldn't do what I need to. I had to cancel meetings because I couldn't get myself to get up because of joint pains.  Please pray for me.  I really want these symptoms to go away.  I haven't been getting enough sleep either.

God, please help me. I need you right now.

I'm Not Giving Up - Another Health Update

Just another update on my check up.

Yesterday I had my 3 doctors' appointments.  I showed them my blood test results and were quite satisfied with the improvement.  They said the results have to improve more until they hit the normal levels which I agree.  I will have another round of blood tests on Friday next week.  The good thing was all my 3 doctors were smiling when they were checking on my test results which was the total opposite of their reactions when I had my check up last March 1.

Now here's the challenge. They added more meds and supplements.  That translates to additional cost. I know God will provide as He always does. Sometimes through friends, through family members and sometimes through people I don't even know.  He makes a way.  Do I have the funds now to get all of the prescribed meds and supplements?  No, I don't, but I know I will.

I attended Victory Weekend, our church's retreat, early this morning to accompany a friend.  My faith was recharged.  And I know without a shadow of a doubt that my God will supply ALL of my needs from His glorious riches which have been given to me in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

This lupus is sometimes driving me nuts because my moods and my thoughts are going faster than I could handle.  They go haywire at times that even if I wanted to stay calm, I become too overwhelmed that I feel like I'm going bonkers.  Trust me, I hate it when that happens.  But again, as God has promised, healing is mine.  And I will continue to claim that promise until I see the manifestation happening before my eyes.

I'm not giving up!

Thankful Thursday - Health Update

I thank the Lord that although my blood test results came out still on the high side, everything went down from the last test I had two weeks ago.  I'm still not sure what my doctors would say tomorrow during my check up, but from the looks of it, it seems that the meds that I've been taking lately are doing their job.

Thank you to all my friends who prayed for me.

Thank you, Lord, for this.  I know I'm still on my way to my healing and recovery. That hasn't changed.  


What are you thankful for this week?

For more Thankful Thursday, visit Laurie over at Women Taking a Stand.

I'm also linking up with Sarah over at Thankful Thursdays @ F4

Needs Prayer

Please pray for me.  I'm going to have another round of blood tests on Thursday.  I hope everything goes well.  I will be seeing all my three doctors on Friday.  Here's hoping and praying for a good report.

Lord, I humbly submit myself to you.

Lupus Update

I had my blood test yesterday.  Got the results today.

Bad news.

Rheumatologist and nephrologist said it seems like the lupus is active again and more aggressive this time. They wanted me confined so they can administer high dosage of steriods via IV, but I asked if there are any other options. They agreed to give me meds for now and repeat blood test on the 14th.

Please pray for me.

God's will be done!

Healing Is Mine

I've been busy with work and doctor appointments for the past weeks.  When I had some free time, I felt like I'd rather take a nap than do anything else... Oh yeah, and snack, too.

My last check up with my rheumy and nephro went okay.  My blood tests were all good except for one - my SGPT went a little bit high this time. My creatinine is steadily going down to normalcy, so that's good news. My RBC, WBC, HGB, HCT and platelet were all good... Praise God! Over all, my doctors were pleased with the results.  Will have another round of blood tests on February 28.  I have one more check up on February 1 with my holistic doctor.

I was informed just recently that I've almost maxed out my health card limit for the year. I will be renewing mine in April. That means on my next lab tests and doctor's appointments, I'd be cashing out already.  I don't like that at all, but God knows what I need and He promised He will provide.  So instead of getting all stressed out because of this, I'm choosing to believe that God will make a way for me.

"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"  Matthew 6:27

I'm finishing a book - The Heart of Healing by Ardy Roberto.  His wife also had lupus and in his book, he shared their journey and how God worked miracles in their lives. I really find it very encouraging.

"For nothing is impossible with God." Luke 1:37

I believe that I am already healed or am in the process of being healed, but one thing is for sure... Healing is mine. To God be all the glory!

Thankful Thursday

Today started just as a regular day, but I made sure I did everything right by waking up early and starting my work early. Then, I had my doctor's appointment at 3 pm. Everything went well except that when I had to get the meds and vitamins prescribed by my doctor, I almost fell off the chair when I got the bill.  And all these will just last me for two weeks. 

Guess what happened next... My friend shouldered the bill. I didn't expect this, but God took care of it.

Lord, thank You for always being there for me and for being always on time. Thank You that You are always mindful of me. Thank You, Lord. I am truly grateful.

With my year off to a great start, I gladly welcome 2013! 

What are you thankful for this week?

For more Thankful Thursday, visit Laurie over at Women Taking a Stand.