Back-up...

Living in Southern California means being prepared for earthquakes.  I learned that lesson the hard way when we got hit, big-time, in 1994 with a whopping 6.9 quake that left me more than shaken.  In short, I was not prepared and that was the last time I'll ever let that happen again.

To say I've purchased an abduance of emergency supplies is an understatement.  I have copious amounts of water, *nasty* dehydrated food, clothing, blankets, candles, batteries, blah, blah, blah-- all the usual stuff one would need should you lose power, clean water or god forbid, your home for a short period of time.  It's kept in our garage and in a storage area in the back yard.

Honestly, my family and friends think I'm a bit over the top *borderline hysterical* with my "natural disaster supplies" but I remember vividly in 1994 that ours was the house they all showed up to after that earthquake and my supplies were limited to what I had on hand-- which wasn't much!  So I'm prepared-- for one and all.

By the way, it was the 1994 earthquake that rattled my nerves and health so badly that I had a gigantic flare up and was finally diagnosed with lupus.  It was a scary time and I ended up sick as a dog.

Call me slow, but it just dawned on me to gather an extra stash of meds for an "emergency", because  the ramifications of missing doses in a time of crisis is the last thing I'd want to happen.  I bit the bullet and paid for them myself since insurance wouldn't cover "emergency supplies".  Ouch.

But now, I'm not sure what to do with them.

If we're hit with an emergency of some sort, what happens if I can't get to the bathroom my supply is stored in.  I can't keep them in the car-- Los Angeles heat would surely melt them, and outdoors with heat and mositure isn't a safe place either.  I'm kind of at a loss...

So since all parts of the country have "emergencies", my questions is-- Do you have an back-up medication supply and if so, where do you keep it?

Thanks for your input.  I really appreciate it.

Until next time...

Joanna J. aka Lemon-Aid

Photo Credit: © flucas - Fotolia.com

Helping A Friend

A friend, with RA and recently diagnosed with a complicated muscular autoimmune disorder, called me in a panic yesterday because she was just prescribed Methotrexate.  When the doctor explained the medication to her, all she heard were the words "a chemo therapy drug" and she freaked out.

About 16 years ago when I was first prescribed this somewhat scary medication I freaked out too-- Big time.  I'm not talking a little freaked, I was over the top freaked.  At that time I actually had to sign a 12 page legal disclaimer from my doctor to even get the drug and that scared the daylights out of me! 

That was pre-Internet and researching the medication on my own brought detailed medical explanations with little in layman's terms for me to understand.  So I talked to the folks at Lupus International* who brought me together with patients actually taking the drug.  These kind people talked me through, based on their experience, what I could expect and helped me feel better about my decision to start the treatment.

But that was a long time ago and frankly I can't remember much about my original side effects other than I know, without a doubt, my stress level over the legal disclaimer requirement and what side effects might/could/perhaps/possibly happen, pushed me over the edge.  

In the beginning, each weekly dose of Methotrexate brought me far more stress than was actually necessary.  Call me a drama queen but I imagined the worst possible scenario every time I swallowed my little yellow pills.  The anxiety surrounding my medication day made me literally sick to my stomach even though my body was responding positively to the treatment.   Not smart and eventually I figured that out.

Now I've been on the Methotrexate for so long, probably a combined ten of the last sixteen years or so and I find it to be a very useful drug in managing my lupus.  But I can't really give good advice to my newly diagnosed friend as to what to expect as she ramps up her dosage and starts on this journey.

Do you have any experience with Methotrexate that you would share please?

Thanks for your help.  Until next time...

Joanna J. aka Lemon-Aid

Click here for more on Methotrexate

Photo Credit: © Scanrail - Fotolia.com

*Under a different name at the time