Spiritual Sundays and Reality......

This is the first time I am participating in Spiritual Sundays

I would like to thank the hostess's of this wonderful blog event, Charlotte and Ginger.

A while back, I mentioned that I wanted to keep my blog "real".

So here is a bit of my current Reality........

Many of you know I have had my share of health problems in the past.... 3 surgeries in 3 years. The first one was to have my Gall Bladder removed after several visits to the ER, the second one was to laser a tumor out of my right ureter,avoiding the removal of my right kidney and the 3rd was to repair 4 abdominal hernias.

If you notice on my sidebar, there are logos for the national sites on Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Please click on these to take a peek at the web sites if you are experiencing any S&S that you think might be related to these diseases.

The reason why they are there is because I was tentatively diagnosed with Lupus in the beginning of this year.

It is no surprise since my sister has Discoid Lupus.

My maternal grandmother had severe Rheumatoid Arthrits and was in a wheelchair for 11 years before she passed away at the age of 62 years old from Renal Failure. My sister and I, both being nurses, feel that she most likely had Lupus but 52 years ago, Lupus was not even a recognized disease.

I recently found this picture of my grandparent's and I guess I was shocked to see her in this wheelchair with her hands and feet crippled so. I was 2 years old when she died in 1960, I have no recollection of her.

It has been expected for the past 10 years and I have been checked regularly for Lupus.

A positive ANA titer ( blood work) has pretty much confirmed it.

As for now, my S&S are the joint involvement from R.A. , fatigue ( which really hit me over the winter) and now in the summer, sun sensitivity. I have no major organ involvement as of now.

You can see the swelling that I experience at times in my feet and ankles.
Sorry it is not a pretty sight.


Unfortunately, the arthritis is spreading to different joints and I am developing the nodules on my fingers. I pray I will not lose the use of my hands.
I recently had an xray of a swollen right knee and it reveals more arthritis.


I do have scoliosis, curvature of the spine, and now have arthritis down my entire spinal column.
Because of all of this, I know my days here at my beloved home are limited due to the amount of steps involved. It takes 13 steps to get up to my front porch. I did not think of that when I was a mere 20 years old and bought this house.


I have been told that I will never reach 62 y/o working in my current job and will be out on disability before then. I am a Rehab nurse and I am constantly lifting patients. It has taken a toll on me over the past 29 years that I have worked in this department.

I was recently in the ER and needed to have a CT of the Abdomen. All turned out well with my ER visit but the CT scan confirmed something I had suspected for a few months.
I have another ventral hernia on the repair line of the previous ones.

When I had the first surgery done, my surgeon had told me that if I popped another hernia and he had to go back in and remove the mesh system he had put in, repair the hernia and insert another mesh system, I would be done working as he would not allow to lift more than 20-25 pounds.

I lift people for a living........

I am sure you now realize what this may mean for me.

I have an appt. with my surgeon on August 18th to see what he thinks and how long I can put off a repair.

When all of my medical problems started 8 years ago, I decided that I would place everything in God's hands and what will be, will be.


This may mean that I will not be able to return to work and need to seek disability after having the surgery.

The Health System that I work for did not recognize the first hernia surgery as Workman's Comp and they will not recognize any future surgery as Workman's Comp either. I do have Short and Long Term Disability Insurance.

What is meant to happen, will happen.

I will need to take care of some things first if this is the end case scenario.

I am the major bread winner and I carry excellent Health Care Insurance.

But once again, I am placing everything in God's hands........

So you see, a big Change may be coming..........

Thanks for stopping by today and everyday that you take the time to visit me!!

Hugs,
Debbie