A Little about Lupus

Well folks, a lot of people ask me about Lupus BUT first, I want to make sure that I'm clear, I have not been diagnosed with Lupus, just tested positive. Essentially that means that I have many of the symptoms but not quite enough to be diagnosed. So here you go!

Definition:
-autoimmune disorder (immune system is overactive)
-chronic inflammatory disease
-immune system attacks own tissue & organs
-can affect many body systems: joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart, and lungs

Symptoms:
-fatigue*                             -general pain*                 -shortness of breath*
-fever                               -sun sensitivity               -chest pain*
-muscle pain*                     -dry eyes                       -joint pain/swelling/stiffness*
-anemia                            -headaches*                    -nerve pain*
-confusion/memory loss*    -feeling sad*                    -nose/mouth/throat sores
-poor circulation in fingers/toes*                               -skin lesions (worsen with sun)
-butterfly shaped rash on face (over nose & cheeks)-hair loss
-enlarged lymph nodes      -cold/stressful situations: fingers/toes turn blue*

Complications:
-Kidneys: kidney damage & failure (leading cause of death w/Lupus)
-Brain: headaches, dizziness, behavior changes, strokes & seizures, memory loss & trouble expressing thoughts
-Blood & Vessels: anemia, increased risk of bleeding & clotting, inflammation of blood vessels (vasculitis)
-Lungs*: inflammation of chest cavity (pleurisy)-makes breathing difficult
-Heart*: inflammation of heart muscle, arteries, or heart membrane (pericarditis). Increased risk of cardiovascular disease
-Infection*: weak immune system-more vulnerable to infection
-Cancer: increased risk of cancer
-Bone Tissue Death (avascular necrosis): blood supply to bone diminishes>leads to bone breking & collapsing (most common-hip)
-Pregnancy: increased risk of miscarriage. Increased blood pressure during pregnancy & preterm birth

General*:
-Lupus can flare & subside at anytime, for any length of time
-Lupus can be at different intensities for each individual


*These are symptoms/complications I am currently dealing with

Information for this post was gathered from many medical sites including: WebMD, Mayo Clinic, Lupus Foundation of America, and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.


Cydnee Haws

Bucket List Summer 2014

Hello World!

At the beginning of the summer I made a Bucket List of the things I wanted to do, to ensure that an exciting summer. With the summer not quite over, I can say it has been event! I've had new health updates, I've become a certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR), quit my job with AgReserves and started a new job with Utah Medical Products, Inc., traveled to new places and revisited other places I've already seen, moved apartments, created new life-long friendships and tried to keep alive old friendships. The list goes on and on! Here's a small sneak peak of my summer adventures:

Things without Pictures:
Go to a Waterpark
Eat a Snowcone
Dance in the Rain
Volunteer
Read a New Book

Bee's Game with Ty, Farah, Aubri, and a few people from my ward.

Liberty  Park, Picnic, Frisbee, Playing in Water
with Kyle, Daniel, Farah, Erika, and Aubri

Two of my paintings

Farmer's Market and Willow Park with Jessi

Deer Valley Resort, Park City(1):
Utah Symphony Disney Concert with Nick

Deer Valley Resort, Park City (2):
Neil Diamond Tribute Band with Kyle

Deer Valley Resort, Park City(3):
Ben Folds concert with Aubri and had Fresh Squeezed Lemonade

Fireworks!! 3rd of July and 23rd of July

Star/Moon Gazing: This is the "Super Moon" it is the brightest
the moon is each year

Cache Valley Fair and Rodeo with Ali and Mary. I'm loving the hats!

Woke up at 4:30 am to watch the sun rise in Mendon, UT
w/Jessi

Wicked! Capitol Theater, SLC
w/my mother

Go to a Museum/Travel Outside of Utah:
Houston's National Science Museum with Jessi and Clayton

Feed the Ducks:
First Dam, Logan with Family and Rajogopals

Go to the Zoo:
Houston's Zoo with Jessi and Clayton
Jelly Fish!!!!

Visit 6 Temples:
Provo Temple

Visit 6 Different Temples:
South Jordan, UT

Visit 6 Different Temples:
Houston, TX with Clayton

Visit 6 Different Temples:
Orlando, FL

Visit 6 Different Temples:
SLC, UT
Yes, I know I live here...but it still counts!

Travel Outside of Utah:
Dallas-Texas Rangers Major League Baseball Game

I still have a few more to conquer, I gave myself through the end of September to accomplish my Bucket List. I will keep you posted on my amazingly fun "bucket-listing"!

A few updates that people are usually interested in:

Health Update:
In May, I went to the ER because of some heart problems. We found out that my heart is swollen and heart cells were dying. My heart is very reactive to what is going on around me. When the nurse would walk into my room, my heart rate would nearly double. That was a really scary time. I had to keep myself calm and try not to be around things that were active and loud.

In the ER for my heart (May)

The pain didn't really go away and I had more pain in the nerves throughout my body. I was recommended to a doctor by a previous co-worker. I decided it couldn't hurt. This doctor turned out to be AMAZING! She started doing tests that I thought other doctors should have done a year ago. We got results back and here was the diagnosis (at least the parts that are important):

-My system doesn't absorb iron

-My system doesn't absorb B12

-I tested positive for Lupus

Flowers from friends while in the ER

These aren't the answers I wanted but they are answers. I'm happy to know what I am dealing with instead of just wondering what is happening to my body. I will do a blog post on Lupus in the near future (a lot of people ask me about the details). I know that I can deal with this trial because I wouldn't have it if I couldn't. I live by faith and try to be positive as much as possible! This too shall pass.



Life Update:
February-May I was studying for a professional certification in Human Resources. I took a 4 hour class each week, studied with a group, studied on my own, didn't have a social life...but it was all worth it. On May 15, 2014 I took a three hour exam on everything in HR and I passed! I am now, Cydnee Rae Haws, PHR. It feels pretty good to have that acronym after my name. People now know that I actually know what I'm talking about in my profession! It also paid off because....

I quit my job at AgReserves at the end of June and started a new job with Utah Medical Products in July. My job title is HR Specialist but I'm pretty much the Director of HR. I am the only Human Resources person in the entire company. We have about 185 employees here in Midvale, UT and then we have operations in Australia, Ireland, and the UK. It has been pretty overwhelming but I keep telling myself the best way to learn and grow is by being challenged. I am going to be super smart and will have grown A LOT...this is really challenging!! :)

Goals Update:
I have decided to do a MS of Communications. I will be applying to the University of Utah for sure. I'm still researching to see if there are other schools I'd like to apply to as well. I will be studying for the GRE in the next little while as well. Once I have actually applied, I'll give an update on where I've decided.

Have a great week!
Cydnee