Prayer as part of the Healing Process

For many of us who have had experienced a chronic disease, we know how important it is to follow our treatment.

As our body gets used to the ongoing treatments, we even experience physical sensations of withdrawal and different reactions  once the treatment is not present.

Besides our main treatments we also try to look for alternate treatments to improve our quality of life.

Prayer is an effective alternative treatment method. Some people tend to do yoga or meditation, however in my experience, prayer has a special and unique quality.

To pray is simply to speak to God. It os like getting in contact with the person knows you best.

Prayer brings a positive aspect into the lives of those who opt to do it. It certainly helps to start a treatment with a positive outlook. Many doctors concurr that there's no risk in a person exploring and incorporating  spiritual aspects to their treatment. Prayer keeps the person in an optimistic mood and attitude towards a  situation are key  to the outcome.

Prayer helps us understand the perfect will of God which is to provide an ideal outcome even against the most unsurmountable odds.

Humanly speaking connecting to God will always provide the peace that is beyond human understanding.

So let's include prayer in our daily tasks be it  alone with God, through meditation or along with friends in fellowship. Let's place our  illness and all our worries in His hands and wait upon Him.

Other benefits of prayer include:

*To open ourselves in knowledge and  spirit to the idea of God's healing power.

*Stress relief

*Being able to face adversity

*Straighten our life priorities

*And the very best thing, give God some of our time and create a personal bond with Him

Mathew 7:7

 "Ask and you shall receive. Because he who asks, shall be answered,he who looks shall finds and ge who calls shall receive an answer."

Psalm 23 : " ...and you will be with me..."

The 23rd Psalm is amongst the most widely read specially for children. I memorized it as a girl and still I keep it close to me. It is quite a popular Scripture because it represents complete belief. It illustrates different scenarios in a persons life and how God acts in everyone of them.

David introduces in the first three verses the idea that he feels protected by God in all the aspects of his life is as if he were fearless. He sees God as his provider as the source of his strength; as He who will deliver him justice. Whenever we are afraid or angry the circumstances in life or people who judge us, God is the one who grants us that justice and guides us, even when we do not understand the circumstances.

Verses four and five talk about serious situations like the fears we comfront when facing life. Not everything is perfect and sometimes we find ourselves walking into valleys of shadow of death. This is especially true for those of us who suffer chronic diseases. One of our greatest fears is early death and the effects of medications in the long run. Sometimes the valleys seem unsurmountable, however; towards the end of the verse it reads "I shall shall fear no evil because you will be with me " and that affirmation is the one that sustains us through terrible times.

In the end, the Psalmist takes some time to remember to remind himself about the love of God and His mercy and how these two will follow him and embrace him all through his life; and how his destiny is to be delighted forever in the Lord. This particular affirmation is the guide of my life.

He will always be with us no matter how deep the valley, how hidden the fear, He will give us the strength to carry on and bring us to rest, Until we finally meet the purpose of our lives, which with or without Lupus, should be a good one

The use of Prednisone in Lupus Patients

Prednisone is one of those first lines of treatment administered to Lupus patients as they are initially diagnosed. Usually doctors opt to use prednisone in combination with immunosupressant.

Prednisone is one of those medications that no one likes due to side effects, which include and are not limited to weight gain, bloating in the abdominal area, propensity towards diabetes and palpitations, amongst other things.

For a lupus patient, prednisone is an easy solution that might drag in further consequences as it might develop cardiac problems and develop a propensity towards cancer in the most drastic cases. However, let's keep in mind that our doctors won't use this drug without a purpose. The main driver behind prednisone treatment is to offer immediate relief while the immunosuppressant does it job. As progress is recorded, the amount of prednisone can be decreased gradually under medical supervision.

What we can do is, modify certain things in order to avoid possible side effects, while the drug does its intended job. In my case, prednisone might lead to border line diabetes, so I watch what I eat, shutting down on foods rich in flour and sugar. At the same time it counteracts on that gaining weight effect, because it becomes minimal. I have also incorporated the use of Omega 3 oil to help with inflammation and to overcome that feeling of "prednisone withdrawal" when the medicine is regulated.

A prescription of prednisone is not a life sentence. This is one of those medications that, under a physicians supervision can be reduced to minimal dosages an even eliminated from a plan of treatment once it has served its purpose.I wish for all patients using prednisone to reap the benefits of the drug without side effects. Once your DS DNA, Sed Rate or CRP starts showing lower numbers, do not hesitate to ask your doctor about the possibility of decrease in prednisone. Of course last word resides with your physician, but this is one of those questions we tend to forget, especially when our appointments are kind of hurried.

Work along with your Doctor and let's ring on 2013 as the year Prednisone is going down!

The perfect Gift

Isaiah 9:6

“Because a child is born to us, a son is given, and a kingdom will be on his shoulders, and he will be called wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting father and Prince of Peace.”

 

Christmas is upon us and to quote a few is the most wonderful time of the year. We flock to family gatherings and hold fast to friends, looking forward to a good time. Personally, I look forward to eat all those delicious treats I keep away from through the year.

We shop, it is madness, we will buy everything, for everyone, twice!

Anyway it is all in good spirits. In Christmas we celebrate the birth of Jesus (though he was not born on December 25^th , but that’s another story). However sometimes, through the whole dazed and sweetly confused holiday schedule we tend to forget about the one easy, free Christmas gift we can give one and other: a personal relationship with God. The best gift of all.

Once we believe, though Christmas  is still the dearest of holidays, it is but one day in 365 to express our relationship to God and showing His love in a practical way, to be aware of His plan in our lives. Opportunities to spread joy and friendship come around on a daily basis.

For us living in the United States, this Christmas season has been darkened by a national tragedy that turn most of our hurried shopping frenzies and holiday preparations in moments of quiet contemplation. In the midst of a chaotic world, God’s presence guides us and leads us to rest upon Him, even when we face circumstances that defy all understanding. God’s perfect domain has control of everything and His love lifts us to see beyond our tears. If there is something missing, something you can do to help us all heal, follow God’s voice and join in one of many acts of kindness meant to bring us together and cope.

 To all of you who are going through a difficult Christmas, be it because of illness, the loss of a dear, close friend or relative, loneliness, depression, or any other situation; getting close to God will help you to see yourself the way He sees you, as unique, valuable, but most of all, loved.

Let’s give some thought to this, most wonderful gift. Let’s pray for those who are going through a rough road right now. Sure, we all look forward to opening gifts, but let’s also share feelings, edifying words, strength of spirit. Let’s do it in memory of Him, who encompasses perfect love and perfect trust.

 Have a wonderful Christmas and may 2013 bring you beauty and health and the drive to keep on working for the goals we set for ourselves. May all be granted through God’s perfect will.

Thanksgiving

“Be thankful to the Lord, for he is good

And His Love is forever lasting” Psalm 106:01

 

Yay! Thanksgiving is almost here and along with it the beginning of holiday season. A time for family trips and mostly, FOOD!

Thanksgiving is one of my top holidays because it is the one day that I take to be with my extended family and be thankful to God for all my blessings.

 

Sometimes when we are ill, we tend to hold on to the bad experiences the cycle of our illness has brought us, because it is easier to track the bad rather than the good. If anything, take the chance this day brings to do it differently.

 

 If we are in remission, let’s be thankful. If we are going through the process, let’s keep in mind the hurdles we have cleared and be thankful for what is surely to come. After all there’s no better time that in which we are alive.

 

So, bring along the people you love, share your future goals; be thankful for the chance we have at life, for our struggles and our triumphs. Laugh! Try both the pumpkin and pecan pie, and be blessed!

 

 And of course I’m very grateful for all the wonderful people I have met through this blog, the people that keep in touch through Facebook and even my anonymous friends at the boards. God bless you all and know that you have had a great impact in my life.

The Change of Seasons

We watch the seasons mark the year round. I love watching colors fade and live again. Color me romantic, but I believe, seasons, as many other things on this Earth are intimately related to our being human. Seasons teach us a lot about change, the inevitability of it, also the wonder within it.

I don’t have a particular Season that is my favorite as I have found that each one is charming in its own way.

Most people live for an eternal spring and that splash of color, others love the chill of winter, the celebrations and of course the delicious, comforting food that comes with it. Summer brings sun and sand, and there’s no denying, for some of us, a lupus flare here and there, but we upgrade the sunblock and brave the day and get the tropical agenda going, because we are compelled to have a little fun. Last, but not least Fall, which we are going through right now; described by many as the most nostalgic of seasons. Our body screams for pumpkin lattes, a good book and those comfy loose sweaters.

In my opinion, I wouldn’t call Fall, nostalgic, lethargic, let alone depressing. I find change of Seasons have a parallel in our lives and there’s an open invitation to make the best of what change brings to our daily activities, even to incorporate the inevitability of change as the wisest of lessons. God compels us to make the best out of our seasons.

There are times in which we feel full of energy and times in which we are guided towards introspection. There are times in which we feel emotionally naked, with our last nerve exposed while we try to hold to our very last “leaf” and yet these moments of vulnerability are pathways to self- and analysis, a chance to review and renew. These little moments help us make the best of a sunny day, as we go out and soak of on life, feeling bright as ever.

What is important is to leave time and change in God’s hands. For His are all our Seasons.

Keep up in good spirit

 "A man's spirit sustains him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?" Proverbs 18:14

More than once I have heard that high spirits and good disposition alone can’t cure an illness. It is true. Sometimes it is frustrating for people who are going through a situation to have to deal with the glass half full club who will come and cheer when they have never gone through a similar situation.

However, when it comes to staying positive and in good spirits, other people’s input is not as important as our own intention and will.

Lots of people see optimism and that need to cheer is something we need to receive from other people- and reject when we are not feeling up to par- but in order for it to work, it has to be borne from ourselves.

The book of Proverbs tells us that in order to overcome; the real strength will have to come from the inside. More than people cheering us on, it is fundamental for us to find that spark within ourselves.

 I’m by no means criticizing peoples who are harbingers of joy. After all, I am all for a network of support when it comes to illness. The worst would be, for us to have a wonderful outlook in life and be surrounded by people who will not support us. However, we will never fully appreciate what other people do for us, until we start working on it by ourselves. Most patients help their prognosis just by showing a positive attitude towards their illness.

If a patient sees things on a positive light, it is a lot easier to battle through what life throws at us.

I know a young woman who was diagnosed with cancer. She was a junior in High School at the time. I will always remember the initial shock and the tears. As much as I remember her pain, I will also be impressed with that relative “elasticity of feeling” that is characteristic to the very young. Once she discovered that crying won’t help but momentarily, she wiped the tears and quickly replaced them with a smile. Even facing the uncertainty of a treatment with a 50% chance of success, she didn’t give it a second thought. She asked for pictures. Yes pictures; of the activities she was missing out on. She had pictures of family and friend carrying on with their daily lives. She would look at them and visualize herself inside them.

Instead of looking at pictures that told her about a past without illness, she took these new ones and gave herself perspective. It kept her up, it made her smile.

 Her journey lasted almost a year and a half, but her attitude and good spirits never failed and were key to her success. She kept her eyes on Christ and today she is enjoying good health and can add cancer free to an ever growing list of personal achievements.

 As far as Lupus, we need to keep thinking that in spite of our chronic condition, we have to be grateful of alternatives of treatment that will allow us to live a normal life. Even those whose Lupus is severe, have found an alternative to improve their quality of life while searching for remission.

 So, let’s keep those spirits up, keep God as our guide and carry on!