Finally a diagnosis

[lunabee34]

1. Dylan has been diagnosed with lupus and given medication. When we got done with the appointment, I sat in the car and cried. It's been so long with no one helping us that I had started to despair that it would ever happen. I'm scared, of course; I don't want my child to have lupus. But this means they can now take medicine to make them feel better, and they can get accommodations at school if they need to because they have a formal diagnosis.

I am also incandescently angry at the first rheumatologist we saw. Dylan's labs are essentially THE SAME as when we saw that doc; she just didn't think Dylan was SICK ENOUGH to do anything about. They could have been getting help all this time.

In the same vein, I've got a routine appointment with my PCP later this summer; I'm going to have her run the same labs she did on Dylan that led to the referral, and if my labs are at similar levels, I'm going to get a referral to the same rheumatologist. I have always firmly believed that Dylan and I have the same issue, just that they started on the path much earlier and much more severely. I couldn't get that awful rheumatologist to take me seriously, but clearly this one will.

I haven't said anything to my parents yet. I guess I will next time we talk, but I don't want to initiate contact with them. I know mom's going to be hurt and sad that I didn't immediately tell her, but I don't want to talk to them.

2.

We finished Dragon Prince. I thought the ending was rushed and should have been spread over at least two episodes. I like what happened as far as the ending goes; I just think the pacing was off.

I love that Sir Sparkle Puff rose from the dead to distract Aravos long enough for the arch dragons to kill him. I do think it was a tremendous waste for all the arch dragons to die killing him when he's only going to be gone for 7 years. I was a little unclear on why the Nova Blade wasn't going to work to kill him; I got that it was a trick of Aravos's somehow to get Ezran to use it, but everything we'd heard up to that point was that the blade could kill him. I was confused by the sudden pivot to using it would be bad.

I thought that what was going to happen is that Leola's star was going to come into alignment, and she was going to reappear and be all OMG, Dad, what are you doing? and stop his rampage. The show is so adamant that star-touched elves can't be killed, yet she was killed just fine. So that's a plot hole for me.

I love Karim getting squished. What an idiot. I knew as soon as he approached Aravos that he was a goner, but I thought Aravos was going to eat him. Ha! Dylan thinks I'm deranged.

Who is actually deranged is Claudia. Her insistence that she's still nice, that she's still herself, is next levels of delusional.

As far as pairings go, I think Ezran and Anya should grow up and get married. I am totally gone for Soren/Corvus. That moment in the finale where Corvus tells Soren, "I got you," and Soren says back so softly, "I know"--OMG IT IS LIKE THE CATNIP TO ME. I also think Amaya and Janai should have babies!!

Finally, the reveal that the king and the bird got switched is amazing. I love that this means that Runan didn't really kill their dad and will make forgiving him easier for Ezran. I kinda want to go back and watch all those beginning episodes with the bird to look for clues, but I'm sure someone has compiled something on the internet.

All in all, deeply enjoyable and highly recommended.

Comments

[rydra_wong]

So glad Dylan finally has a diagnosis (and so sorry it's had to take so long)!

[lunabee34]

Thank you so much. This is going to make things so much easier if they have a flare up again in the fall.

[sheafrotherdon]

Ooof, I am so sorry that this has been such a long and frustrating road to get the diagnosis! But I am so glad alongside you that Dylan knows what the issue is and can now actually have things to help. I hope it helps a LOT. (And I hope your tests help diagnose you too!) ♥

[lunabee34]

Thank you so much. We started trying to figure this out when they were sixteen years old. Which is just . . . way too long. :(

It scares me that they've gotten sick so young, but hopefully being medicated will help control the disease progression.

*hugs*

[sweettartheart]

So, so, so, so very glad you got a diagnosis for Dylan. <3

[lunabee34]

Thank you so much. I am still all weepy about it.

[author_by_night]

*Hugs* I'm sorry they have that diagnosis, but I'm glad you both have answers and that they can get what they need.

[lunabee34]

*hugs*

Me, too. I hope that this medication will help slow disease progression.

[anagrrl]

re: 1 - I'm glad you have a diagnosis. Health care providers can be so terrible when it comes to autoimmune things, and this is just beyond frustrating. The diagnosis is tough, it's good that it means treatment plans can be made and it's to good to have answers. But so annoying that it took this long. Hugs hugs hugs to you all.

[lunabee34]

Thank you so much.

I am still all weepy about it.

I'm so glad that Dylan will now be able to get accommodations more easily if they have another flare up in the fall.

*hugs*

[ursula]

Oh, what a relief!

[lunabee34]

*hugs*

I'm still all weepy about it.

[conuly]

I have not been able to finish Dragon Prince yet, but I also don't care about spoilers, so let me just say this:

Finally, the reveal that the king and the bird got switched is amazing.

Fucking called it!

[lunabee34]

Heee. I have to admit that I did not see it coming at all.

[conuly]

Also, screw that first rheumatologist. Like, ugh. Can you report her to somebody?

[lunabee34]

Possibly, but I don't think anything would come of it, unfortunately. :(

[kass]

I am so glad Dylan has a diagnosis. God, I hate doctors who act like we're making things up or "not sick enough" to merit care. I'm really glad there's a rheumatologist you trust.

[princessofgeeks]

Hard agree.

[umadoshi]

Such a relief that Dylan has a diagnosis at last! And I'm glad you're going to look into having this rheumatologist assess you too. *hugs tight*

[lunabee34]

I'm all weepy with relief.

*hugs*

[trobadora]

I'm so glad you fouind someone to take things seriously and get Dylan a diagnosis! *hugs*

[lunabee34]

Me too.

*hugs*

<3

[princessofgeeks]

I am so grateful that you found a doctor that will help you.

OMG. HUGE.

And I totally understand not wanting to talk to your parents. Dylan is an adult now and they can tell them if they want! In a way it's something you can hand off -- they can totes maintain their own relationship with their grandparents now. Just an idea.

ALL THE HUGS.

[lunabee34]

*nods nods*

That's how I've been handling it. Dylan can call them if they want to and not if they don't. They aren't here most of the time anyway, so they have to manage that anyway.

Thank you so much for the support and encouragement.

[musesfool]

I'm so glad you found a doctor who is taking you and Dylan seriously and that they finally got a diagnosis! *hugs*

Finally, the reveal that the king and the bird got switched is amazing.

I was waiting and waiting for it since season 1 and then I'd given up on it happening, and then it did! Huzzah! <3

[lunabee34]

I didn't see the switch coming at all! But I love it!

*hugs*

Thanks for the support and encouragement.

[kore]

YAY for actual fucking diagnosis, BURN IT ALL DOWN for the doctors who fucked you guys over so badly.

[lunabee34]

I get so angry and vengeful at those assholes. I know it's not productive, but I always wish they'd get really sick and have no one to help them.

*hugs*

[executrix]

Seconding everybody. Also, lupus is well-known to present in clusters where there is environmental contamination, so there might be some opportunities for finding other people and, if nothing else, getting some doctors interested in getting up to speed on the latest science for treating that group.

[lunabee34]

That's a good point.

*hugs*

Thanks for your constant support and encouragement.

[teaotter]

*hugs*

It's so relieving to meet a decent doctor who will actually help.

[lunabee34]

*hugs*

It sucks that they seem to be so few on the ground.

[musyc]

*huge hugs offered* Yay for diagnosis; boo for it taking so long. But now you have a path to treatment - possibly for both of you.

[lunabee34]

*hugs*

I am all weepy with the relief of it.

[lyr]

I'm so glad Dylan finally got a diagnosis. I hope that really helps their quality of life. I hope this might help you, too. I'm sorry about things with your folks, though.

About the Nova Blade. It was my understanding that banishing a star elf gives the 7 years before they can return, but outright killing one means that they can return immediately. I can't remember which episode I got that from, but it was in that last season somewhere. I still don't know exactly what was up with the daughter, but the best I can guess is that cosmic judgement is the only way star elves can really die for good.

[lunabee34]

*hugs*

I am so hopeful for us both for the first time in a long time.

I think you must be right about Leola; that's the only thing that really makes sense.

[jackandahat]

I'm glad they have a diagnosis - I know it's not going to be an easy one but now you have a name and meds, and can reach out to other people living with it. I hope this helps them. <3

[lunabee34]

Thank you so much. I am still all weepy with relief.

*hugs*

[thistleingrey]

Screw that first rheumatologist--glad Dylan has a dx. As a little kid I knew this person (trying not to bring scraper-bots in), whose dx as a teen seemed kind of unprecedented back then. This year she turns 50. Apt treatment--knowing what to treat--is so important.

[lunabee34]

Oh wow. Thank you for sharing that. I really appreciate your support and encouragement. That helps a lot.

*hugs*

[corvidology]

It's truly amazing the difference a formal diagnosis can make, even if it's not a cure.

Appropriate treatments are crucial and then there's the mental relief of not having some medical clowns professionals not assuming it's all in your head when they don't get the precise indicators they expect to see and/or rule it out for your age group.

It's rare that you get to hear someone has a chronic disease and congratulate them on its diagnosis but here I go! ♥

[lunabee34]

Heeeee.

*hugs*

It is so demoralizing not to have a diagnosis. I think it's hard for people who haven't experienced it to know just how much it sucks.

[cathexys]

All the hugs to you and Dylan!!! Relieved with you that y'all have a diagnosis and sad that it's what it is and angry that the initial doctor didn't help!!!

[lunabee34]

*hugs*

Thank you so much for your support and encouragement. It means so much to me.

[amejisuto]

Oh, dear heart, I feel so bad for you and Dylan. But at the same time, I'm glad because Dylan at least can begin to be treated properly, and if you go to the same doctor, you might get help too! So while this is a blow, it's also the light at the end of the tunnel. So I hope you look at this as a new start. And don't worry about your parents now, they'll be talking to you soon enough.

HUGS!

[independence1776]

I am so glad Dylan got a diagnosis and very much hope this leads to your diagnosis as well.

[chanter1944]

So very glad Dylan finally has a diagnosis. Bless the clearly-excellent rheumatologist who made it. What I might say to the prior one... should not be printed, nor should it be spoken outside the safe harbor.