Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Yesterday I went to see my GI doctor. I am more embarrassed to see him than my other doctors and physicians. I see him because of my GERD, of course. We are trying different medication to get the food I eat to stay down and to allow me to eat more. For over a year I have not been able to eat much because of Scleroderma and the GERD. The GERD causes the acid in the stomach to increase, causing more heartburn and acid reflux. It burns too, from the middle of the stomach all the way to the mouth. All in the throat and lungs. Combined with the problem that sometimes food would just sit in my throat because nothing would move. Now people with Scleroderma, our bodies don't function the same, things are moving. In Scleroderma patients, our esophagus do not move down constantly as in people with no issues to their esophagus. This non-movement causes the acid to increase and build up faster and move at a faster rate before it can settle down. Because of this, medication is a must - and holistic is not covered by insurance. The only problem with GI medicine is the side effects. Some of the side effects are diarrhea, constipation and in worse cases could be a muscle tic or even fatal. One medicine my GI wants me to take is Reglan, Ive been refusing that for moths. The reason why is because the day my doctor wanted me to take reglan, a commercial aired on TV (real talk) and said, "HAVE YOU TAKEN REGLAN - CALL OUR OFFICES...." I was like man, hell naw. He cut the TV off, and since then, I refused. This medicine can cause Tardive dyskinesias, and its incurable. i don't need two incurable conditions and many other ones you can try to treat. So he told me just take it only for a few weeks, versus months. I say no. So we tried something else, and he says if this doesn't work, then we have to do reglan, its the only thing left. I say well id rather eat bread and suffer eating other food then walk down the street looking like a dope fiend from side effects. I am already tall and skinny. Plus I'm too young for loose stool. We will stay on this new medicine, but only take it once a month for a week, but if i can stretch it out to where i take it less often, maybe once every few months, that would be better. That helps with less risk for side effects and so my body wont become immune to the medicine. I forgot the name of the medicine, but ill get it to you later.

Now, I have to go to the wound clinic once or twice a week because of the skin pulling on the finger tips and knuckles, and a big one on my elbow. shit hurts, i tell you. Once i get my car back, Ill be straight, but man, i hope this doesnt become a major issue because people dont realize how much the epidermis saves us from pain. So i have to keep them wrapped. So nasty because I cant overwash my hands, and yall know how i am about germs. Now I use latex gloves for everything such as cleaning dishes, my body and eating food with sanitizers. In anycase, hopefully these will clear up within the next few months. The benefit is that I am working with vocational rehabilitation (a service for disabled people), and because of my disability and other Issues, whenever i get to a job, they help pay for accommodation's such as a speak-to-type program. that program allows you to speak to the computer. now I just have to take a English or speech class for annunciation, and I will be straight. Tomorrow, and Friday, a doctor and dentist appt. Such a busy week, I will need a new car.

Scleroderma National Conference

I got a call early this week, that I was awarded a scholarship to the 2010 National Patient Education Conference from July 30–Aug. 1. This scholarship covers flight, hotel and registration, meals, transportation from aiport to hotel, and hotel to conference. I was estatic when I recieved the call. There are a few workshops I would like to attend, plus roam around Boston with my Los Angeles Lakers 2010 Championship Hat. Also, there was a message left on my cell phone that a news paper wanted to interview a few patients of scleroderma. The Scleroderma Organization chose me as one of the people they want to have interviewed, because of what I wrote on my reasons why I needed help and would like to attend the conference. That would be cool too. I also met with Senator Jeff Merkley in March to pass a bill that would fund Scleroderma research, that went well, so anything to help. Scleroderma is still considered a rare disease but is chronic crippling disease and in some cases, fatal.

I started a fund raising page for a July 1o, 2010 "Stepping Out to Cure Scleroderma" Walk. It is to raise money for the Oregon Chapter of Scleroderma, the money does not go to me and I know times are rough for everyone, but pass it along anyways. The website for my page is http://www.firstgiving.com/erionmoore2 . The link is also on my facebook page if that does not work.

Lastly, A guy I know from Foothill College is looking to help me raise money for the hospital bills I got caught with in California before I knew how serious my condition of Scleroderma was. He drew the picture and put it on t-shirts to sell. The t-shirt or sweater is my profile picture on my blog page. It is black with white letters. It is me in my prime, when i was a fit athelete with that beautiful natural (afro as some people call them). I think they would have sold when I played ball, but if you or anyone you know would like one, maybe even in different colors let me know. I am looking to post on a website where I can sell that or anything else people would like to help out and that would allow people to purchase through there. Let me know the cheapest website to sell stuff through, or another way to sell stuff. I could even get the money order than send the shirt back to the buyer, which might be easier and cheaper.

I have at least one appointment at my doctors and specialists next week, along with a vocational rehab counselor, keep yall updated.

Scleroderma - about me

I lied, i will have three blogs, thanks to miss karma's advice. this one will be about my life, health and the other two blogs are for sports and other issues...good lookin miss karma, you hella smart