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

[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*

[sheafrotherdon]

Exactly - heading it off at the pass! And there are so many great strides being made on so many fronts where research is concerned. Hopeful!

[lunabee34]

Plus the relief of having a diagnosis, of being able to put a name to it, and having it acknowledged that you're not crazy or attention-seeking or a hypochondriac or whatever. That means a lot.

[princessofgeeks]

My kids grew up with a girl who was diagnosed with lupus at age 14 and she is doing GREAT now. Just a positive data point.

[lunabee34]

Thank you for sharing that. That means a lot. As an English major, all I can think of is Flannery O'Connor, you know. LOL

[kore]

YES and also, as a chronically ill person who's had several of these problems since birth, it can make a HUGE difference if a chronic problem is caught and treated early enough rather than left to get worse for decades. Dylan is really pretty young in terms of treatment and that can be grounds for hope!

[lunabee34]

*hugs*

That is exactly what I am hoping. Thanks for the encouragement. *hugs*

[executrix]

If you were wondering whether you were in RL or an episode of "House," now you have absolute proof.

[lunabee34]

Just what I've always wanted. LOL