That's Amore! Just Out Of My Grasp

08/28/2014
Good morning!  I’ve decided to use my blog not only to writing, music, and other facets of entertainment, but, also to share my journey. I’ve had significant health problems for almost two years. Initially, my rheumatologist diagnosed me with systemic lupus (SLE) on June 19, 2013. However, the medication wasn’t working and I kept getting worse and developing new symptoms. So, after second, third, and fourth opinions, my neurologist believes instead I have fibromyalgia. 
In April 2014 I visited yet another rheumatologist who I hoped would be familiar with autoimmune disorders. Following an extensive intake during my initial appointment, I found a place where the doctor also listened to me. Based upon my blood work, the doctor believes I have Sjogren’s Syndrome. She also made the diagnosis of Fibromyalgia and pre-lupus. I’ve never heard of pre-lupus, but, hopefully it stays in the “pre” category.
Thank you for listening, each week I will have a new installment chronicling my journey- Which is now more frustrating than ever. I test positive for ANAs in my blood, but, the lupus tests are negative. There are several varieties of autoimmune disorders, with different caveats and health variations. Learning to live with the unknown has become my routine.
LOVE…YEAH, I SAID IT
Let me go back to last week. The visit to the urologist was inconsequential. Apparently, this little oddity occurring in my kidney is a fairly routine occurrence. So, with that, the entire system there is good.
Carry on.
Results from the oncologist are in the works. My appointment there was Tuesday, the 26th. Absolutely amazing doctor, Dr. Trillo at Texas Oncology. I had 15 tubes of blood drawn, scheduled for another CT scan, probable endoscopy and referral to GI doc. Keeping my mind off the blahs, let’s talk about something fun, you know, warm and fuzzy.
How many times do you say, “I love you”, in one day?
I average about ten times.
Yup.
Ten, on a slow day.
My family has been big on amore since forever. Grown men, including my sons, brother, and brother in law routinely tell each other, and the rest of us- their heartfelt replies several times in one visit.
I told my daughter about 3 times this morning as she was getting out of the car, she rounded the car and was walking into the high school gym. Actually, those 3 times were a reply to her initiated “I love you, mom”.
It isn’t uncommon for us to say I love you 3 times in one telephone conversation. Even more by text, and probably even more still in a Facebook post.
Do we mean it?
Hell ya!
Life is too long to let a day go by without telling someone you love them. I would venture a guess that you have at least one person to remind on a daily basis just where they rank on the emotional cardio scale.
It will make you feel better.
I challenge you for the next week. Keep a stroke tally every day of how many times you say “I  love you” in one day. I want to know your number for the week.
If I get enough replies, I might be encouraged for some type of giveaway.
I love you guys, take care of each other.