Sunday, October 31, 2010

Happy Halloween

So, I love Halloween! Over the years I have spent every holiday in the hospital, my birthday, Christmas, New Years Eve, Saint Valentine's Day and Halloween! but never the less I love them! This year I dressed up as a cat! I am really not great at thinking of Halloween costumes so I think this has been about oh I dunno, the 7th time I dressed up as a Cat. Speaking of Halloween and scary things, I have been scared to take the latest medication I have been prescribed. A while ago I blogged about my ordeal with my gallbladder. Well the medication the specialist gave me is called Ursodiol. It's used to break up gallstones without surgery! I was so excited about it but since I've been reading the side effects I haven't have the courage to even take them. Some of the side effects include: nausea, head ache, dizziness, runny nose, sore throat, joint pain and hair loss. Believe it or not I wasn't too scared until I read HAIR LOSS. I know that makes me sound like the most vain person in the world but there are some side effects that really bother me. I am currently working with a natural medicine specialist and she says that she can get rid of my gallstones by taking natural supplements so at the moment i am thinking that is my best bet. On the other hand I do need to get rid of these gallstones as soon as possible. by having them I could have an attack at anytime and although it is very rare an attack can be fatal. Also by keeping them I am horrified at the thought of having to get them surgically removed. Either way, all of my options involve some risk but I guess that is just part of Hemophilia life!

3 comments:

  1. The hair loss may seem vain to some people, but my sister in law had a thick gorgeous head of hair and after she had her first baby, she developed alopecia tolatta. She lost all her hair EVERYWHERE...except her armpits...lol. It took her 6 years to finally grow her hair back and now she's very careful to keep the stress level down. Hair is a big deal for women, you don't realize it until it's gone. I was told 5 1/2 years ago that my gall bladder had stones and sludge in it and needed to come out. When I was pregnant with my 13th in 2008, I had a small stone that "broke loose" and partially blocked the pancreatic duct. Every time I ate food I would get a fever of at least 103F. I went to the Dr and the surgeon. Nobody wanted to touch me because I was pregnant and not septic. I am terrified of another surgery,but our local hospital is prepared and now carries several different factor products. Please let me know what you end up doing, I'm quite apprehensive! HUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  2. Were you prescribed a high dose of Urso (short for Ursodial)? I've been on it off and on for about 6 years. When I'm on it's in HIGH doses. Only complication I've had is nausea and exhaustion, which is why I go off it (trying to raise two boys 7 and 4). I don't have hemophilia BTW, but am waiting on a liver transplant.

    I'd suggest giving it a try, especially if it's a moderate dose. You can always go off and yelled at by your doctor (like me!).

    Stay healthy!

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  3. Thank you Erica! I will certainly keep you posted!! Edd I am perscribed high doses! If it doesn't work I guess I can always go off of it or if the side effects are really bad! Thank you both for your input!

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