Update: Alprazolam, Prednisone, and a Mild Stroke

Entry 24:Wednesday

Time for an update, to say the least since I haven't posted for about two months. Lot's has happened since my last post but I'll try to capsulize on it. First, for my health update, I had a good run of no serious bouts after having been on the prednisone for two months. Just a few episodes here and there. The combination of prednisone and alprazolam seemed to be working out for me until I ran out of alprazolam without a prescription for a refill and no insurance. I went 4 days without it and was sick as a dog.

Aprazolam is one of the medications you HAVE to taper off of. I didn't realize that I was running out of predinisone as fast as I was so I cut the dosage in half, not knowing if I would be able to pay for the office visit and exam I knew I would have to have in order to get my prescriptions. Big mistake. I basically put my body through a very dangerous process while my system was trying to adjust to the change in the dosage. I ended up in emergency with a mild stroke. Prednisone affects the adrenaline gland and I was informed that I could have suffered adrenaline shock which is a very serious problem. Thank God I went in when I did.

The combination of going cold turkey off of Alprazolam (Zanax) and reducing the Prednisone without seeing a doctor and gradualy being taken off under the care of a physician could have more disastrous. The ER doctor tapered me off the Prednisone and gave me a prescription for Asacol, and refilled the Alprazolam because it seemed to help me with stress and anxiety, which in turn helps with my colon problems. I am in the process of tapering off the Alprazolam however, because I just don't want to take anything that could make you feel that bad if you run out.

I'm down to maybe one bout of diahrrea in a week and the cramping is not as bad, no vomiting and very few bouts of the Phantom Pain. I still have very little energy but I'm pushing past my symptoms and working more. My appetite varies, I gained a few pounds from the prednisone, and I'm just trying to keep a positive state of mind about all of it, thanking God daily for the healing that is taking place in my body. I believe I'm well on my way to remission. I'll continue the update in my next post and include some links to other important information I recieved about how prednisone works in the body. I didn't know that it can weaken the immune system, which is already a problem for UC sufferers, but the advantages of how the medication works against inflamation outweighs the effect on the immune system, and it also depends on the state of your immune system. That's it for now. I'm working today so I'll finish the update later.

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Irwindale Speedway Demolition Derby August 4th: Watch My Neighbor Go!

I know you're wondering what in the world is she posting this for? Well, this is my neighbor Richard driving in the Irwindale Speedway Demolition Derby. He's driving car #91. Richard and Mel are my neighbors that are always looking out for me. THESE ARE NOT THE NEIGHBORS WITH THE BARKING DOG!! They are two of the kindest people I've met in a very long time. Mel is always checking to see if I need some ginger ale to settle my stomach for instance, and I love the days when we would sit outside and talk and she'd just let me vent or make me laugh or offer me a glass of merlot to relax me... Richard is the same way and very funny. He's also like "The Protector" of us ladies here when the "Colon In The Hood" episodes were taking place. So take a minute and watch Richard in the demolition derby, he put that BMW together right out in back and of course me and my creative side is just amazed!

BTW, the neighbors with the barking dog have moved.

PATIENCE

Update

Entry Twenty Two: Sunday

My update for this past week has been slow coming because one of my nephews passed away. R.I.P. Damien. He was a very special young man which was also evident by the number of young adults that were present for his memorial as well as representatives from the staff at his school in Culver City CA that paid tribute to the impact he had on both students and faculty and his participation in sports and other school and community related activities.

It seems inappropriate to go into a lot of detail about my symptoms over the past week because I'm just thankful for the time that I have with my family and friends and the opportunity to try to make something I do in each day count. Death
is always stressful and would affect a healthy individual physically, and I had some painful days but overall, I'm doing better than I was when I started this blog.

I found a site that is fairly informative on UC without you having to click from link to link... a very "reader friendly" site, not to complicated in terminology, and covers just about everything. It's called UP TO DATE PATIENT INFORMATION: ULCERATIVE COLITIS. If you need info on specific symptoms, this is a good resource.

The writings of Matthew McDonald have also been especially inspirational for me. He has a blog called "My Thought For Today " and I recommend it highly as a daily inspirational reading to promote health and healing.

If you like music and it helps you to relax, Last.FM is a good site to check out. My music contribution for this week is the Last.FM Widget that is an open source music gadget that plays your favorite genres of music based on your preferences and what you listen to most on your computer.

These are the widgets:

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Feeling Better And Booking Sy Smith

Entry Twenty One: Sunday



Here's a quick post with a cute widget I found where I can list bookings for Sy Smith dates. You can grab this widget and post it if you are a Sy Smith fan. If you're a performer you can get your own widget for posting your performances and calendar. So this is my techy contribution for this month for music lovers. By the way, besides the steroid based meds I'm taking, the addition of Alprazolam has helped with stress and I'm sleeping better, and I haven't had any attacks in 7 days! Blessings and Peace.

A Quantum Principle, Infinity, Now Get A Bible!

Entry Twenty: Monday

I've been missing in action for several reasons. For one, I've had quite a few very painful episodes, and for my UC readers, this particular flare up has been more persistant symptomatically. I've gotten search inquiries about nausea, lack of energy, abdominal pain, vomitting and other common UC symptons. The links I've posted have very helpful information in them and also will lead you to alternative treatments that have proven to be successful, if you have the time to research some of the case studies. I'm still monitoring my meals and I've eliminated any foods rich in dairy, chocolate, and too much roughage.

I understand that the inflamation in the colon lining alone is enough to trigger the symptons, and getting that under control is a key factor. Following the treatment method that works for you is vital, particularly if you can identify other elements such as foods and environment, and perhaps even anything that would cause uneccessary stress in your daily existence. Lowering my stress levels alone over the past few weeks have resulted in noticable improvement for me over the course of a day. I personally have looked to scriptures on peace, health, inner spiritual strength, and the power of saying exactly what I expect and want in the area of my health, believing that God as the creator of my body continues this creative miracle in us daily, when we draw on our ability to seek out all that we can about Him and what He created us for. Ulcerative Colitis is not on the list of what I was created for!

We have different ways of making these affirmations, I choose to go with God on it, and the scriptures in the Bible. I mean, come on... even if you didn't believe in what's written in the Bible, and that's why you don't read it, you should give it the same shot that you give any other book that causes you to rise up above your way of viewing an illness. If nothing else, the information in the Bible has been around a whole lot longer. I'm telling you, it works. One day you're going to come to this blog and read that I am no longer diagnosed with UC. Remember, our doctors and their knowledge and gift to practice medicine are also God's gift to us, for healing in the body, but also try to remember that the disease does not own you. It is an unwelcome invader.

There is a law in quantum physics that states that there is "effect without cause". We're all familiar with "cause and effect". Disease is common everywhere, and we also accept the disease as "our' disease. Mine. My own. When an ememy invades territory that is not rightfully it's own, but with the intent to and instruction to conquer it, and therefore take control of it, that is somewhat how disease takes over in the body. There is infinity, and then there is nothing that can be defined as "beyond" infinity. The keyword here is "nothing". Nothing else. Even infinity exists as an "effect without cause" if you will. It is therefore possible that beyond our human physical reaction to "cause and effect" that result in disease, there is also within each of us that part in which we exist in infinity, where the principle of "effect without cause" is in operation. The term that you will probably relate to the most without me getting into some scientific explantion and lingo is what most of us look at as being something that is "spiritual", or that which is life and existence without being what we deem as being a form of matter that is solid and visual to us, both with our natural eyes and cutting edge technology. Bare with me, I'm painting this picture for a reason in hopes that it will help in your recovery.

Because something is primarily unseen, does not mean it does not exist. There is a passage in the Bible that states that" the things that are seen are made up of things that are unseen". When you "spiritualy" begin to excersise your will, the same as you do daily in choices and decisions you make, in the things you choose, in the things you say "I will do" and you do them, this spritual principal is the same when put into action, or shall I say, when YOU "effect" without any "cause" that you could possibly define or contain in your human mindset, the behavior of a disease. This is the spritual principal of an Infinite Creator Undefinable beyond human understanding, effecting without cause (there is no beginning to Him) the healing or "recreation" taking place in your physical body, as you "will it" spiritually in your ability to choose to do so... demonstrating faith that healing of the disease will take place. Now, this, I choose as my highest spiritual affirmation knowing. I cannot just think it. It is must be as certain as a "knowing".

Now, you might say okay, where is all this coming from now? It's not new for me, you just don't know all the areas in my life where this has been tried and proven, or the fact that I would have died a couple of times, or that I was diagnosed not so long ago with Ovarian Cancer, which I no longer have, and a list of other life experiences I intend to share as I continue to blog and post a plethera of helpful links.

I worked this weekend, by the way. I performed in a show that is a TRIBUTE TO LUTHER VANDROSS

CHUMASH CASINO RESORT



Check out this video: Promo Video



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The show is great by the way and the CHUMASH RESORT is a beautiful great location if you're in Southern CA and need a nice peaceful getaway and only want to travel a scenic short distant up the 101 Frwy. Now, the day before, I couldn't even get out of bed, had terrible abdominal pain, vomitting, and had to cancel an AFTRA/SAG job I had been called to tape for television that day, and in my natural state of thinking I couldn't believe that I could actually make it without canceling, mainly because of the extrememe pain I was in. Then my good friend Olivia McClurkin called me and reminded me what my affirmation should be, what my words should be about how I was feeling, what I know I spiritually have a right too in God in terms of my health, and she reminded me that it was total healing.

I got up, made the necessary preparations, ended up in Santa Barbara from Friday evening until Sunday night, not only rehearsing and performing the show, but without a single incident of any UC symptons. Now that may not mean much to anyone reading this, but for me, and my reference of the severe pain I've experienced for the last two months, it is a miracle. Now, for the flip side. When i returned home, and allowed myself to stress over some unpleasant news I received, that sent me catapulting back into some depression, doubt, fear, worry, anger, agrevation, general pissed offness, nothing even vaguely resembling anything "positive" or "spiritual" in my relationship with God, I immediately began to experience some pain. I gotta tell you, I got rid of that situation so fast you would have thought that I could blink and make stuff dissapear. I blinked alright. Closed my eyes and said a prayer, connecting with all that I understand about the spiritual principles of God, which are deeper than I can actually post in this one blog right now, and the pain was gone.

I continued with my evening at home, continued to follow my doctors orders and prescriptions because we have to use wisdom until wisdom let's you know you don't need the medication anymore because you don't have the dis-ease anymore!

So next time you're out buying something to read, looking for info on UC, or getting the latest self help book, or popular new "Natural Way Of Healing" reading material, Get a Bible. Read it. It's still the number one selling book of all time. (That is a true statistic... check it out).

Note to the reader: Please feel free to email me for any scriptural references on the subject of health, healing, medicine, or any subject matter posted in my blog that may be of interest to you.

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Whitney Houston - And I Am Telling You Medley

Entry Nineteen: Tuesday

And then of course, there's Whitney Houston. UC or no UC, I did get to see this performance :-)

PATIENCE

And I Am Telling You Again... Lakesha Jones

The other great thing for me personally was the fact that Lakesha, who has a heartfelt respect and admiration for both Ms Holiday and Ms Hudson attended her first BET Awards Show and got to watch them both perform this song live. The newest comer to attempt this song, not too many singers can even go there... Lakesha did a great job!

PATIENCE

And I Am Telling You...

Entry Eighteen: Tuesday

The 2007 BET Awards! This is one of those events that I couldn't attend because of what's going on with my health and UC right now (extremely painful day) ... I was invited to attend and I really wanted to go to this one, for sentimental reasons of my own. Besides, I had heard about Beyonce's performance and that it would be off the chain, and that the Diana Ross Tribute was going to be great, and it was. If there's one thing that makes me forget about how I feel, it's great music and great singing. I know both of these ladies in the video and I gotta tell you, this performance will go down in history as legendary for so many "behind the scenes reasons". Jennifer Holiday and Jennifer Hudson BET 2007 Awards.

PATIENCE

Whitney South Africa: Surviving Tour and Work

Entry Seventeen: Monday
Not going to rant this time. Been working on some business and planning so I can get on track with the business of music. Had a decent day, nothing to painful but the fatigue is difficult to deal with when my mind and my spirit feels like it can do what it's always had the energy or ability to do... my body just wont follow.

I've taken my colon on the road many times throughout my career, to many countries and regions. I wish my family and my friends had been able to fully recognize the sacrifice this took on my part because as glamorous and exciting as it may sound and look to them, It's very different when you're traveling like that and your health problems evolve around food, environment, sensitivity to various climates and foliage, yet your going to places where regionally, the elements you're going to be exposed to are quite different to what your physiology has acclaimated to in the States. "There are some things that one cannot have a reference for in the absence of that precise experience." (PH Balanced Quotes)

"The support of family and friends is key to a persons ability to cope with any Chronic illness. A support system is a necessity and a blessing" I could have just as easily given up and changed my occupation to become a stay home mom, but let's be honest... "giving up" is what it would have come down to, and there were many conversations with my mom where I wanted to do just that. On the other hand, the pay was great while it lasted :-)

From bacterial growths to viral strains, micro organism vary and change as you travel around the globe. I've flown around the world three times, so I'm sure my collection have all had to learn a second language just to co-exist in my body. I wonder if I had any terrorist micro organism? I’m sure I got some suicide bombers down in the Colital region settin’ off methane vapors, causing mass destruction immediately after it’s airborne! The ones I picked up in Italy were the kindest to me. Nothing I ate there made me sick! However, London? Ended up at the hospital, but at least there, you can get medical attention and the royal palace pays for it. Imagine that! Health care for everyone provided by government! Including travelers! I was stunned when they said it was no charge!

I've lost count of how many times I've been to some places, but the craziest thing I saw that just tripped me out was in Paris and I looked at the digital alarm clock and it was exactly 00:00 oclock! It was "no" oclock! Nobody ever told me about No oclock! Then it was No 05! Me and my friend Olivia thought we were in the twilight zone. By the way, you should read Olivia's story about her battle with cancer... amazing and inspiring, a modern day miracle of God. She is the greatest inspiration in my life next to God and my Mom when it comes to faith in my healing. Olivia is a recording artist with "The McClurkin Family and her current solo CD is titled "Olivia McClurkin - The Healing Song. Here's her link:


Olivia McClurkin

Here's some footage of us with Whitney Houston in South Africa for the HBO Special. My colon was part of a history making event... the first de-segregated concert in South Africa after they abolished aparthied. Whitney Houston was an ambassador representing the USA for this historic event, and she did it royally! It was the most amazing thing I've ever seen. There were more government agents, FBI, security, South African security carrying weapons visibly, for fear that a racial riot could occur.

There were 80,000 + people who gathered for this event, whites and Africans who had never been aloud to sit in the same sections, let alone sit or stand side by side together down front near the stage! During one of the sound checks, a light blew out on the set with a loud bang and pop... you talk about people hitting the floor at lightning speed! In a matter of seconds, there were at least 50 soldiers and FBI personnel on the stage rushing us off to a safety area and the whole place was locked down with precision speed. We were held in a room until they had searched the entire park for anyone who should not be there, bombs, anything that could go boomb! My colon lost it's mind and I just had to bear with it and do my job. I couldn't eat very much there, I was sick most of the time, but hey! I was in the mother land and I intended to enjoy every second I could, and did.

When I returned to America, my doctor said I needed to take a year off or I could be really physically ill. It takes about a year for your body to rid itself of bacteria it picks up from other countries from the amount of time I was in Africa, but I couldn't just take off for a year. I was a single parent. I had to work. Oh yeah! We went out into the bush too on safari... me and my colon out in the wild. I'm glad I did it. Wouldn't do anything differently :-)

I chose this video first because it shows the audience and you can see all the different tribes and races partying together... it was a real life mission of peace and love. Background Singers: Olivia McClurkin is on your right, I'm in the center (Pattie Howard), and Alfie Durio is on your left. Alfie Durio and I began singing together as teens. She is also an amazing singer, and you've heard her on so many recordings, I couldn't even list them. She now has her own ministry and travels the world with her testimony and singing. Here's a link to her site:


Alfie Silas Durio

Whitney Houston South Africa Tour - "My Name Is Not Susan"

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Ranting With My UC

Entry Sixteen: Sunday

What's causing me to feel so crappy now? Is it the UC? Is it Irritable Bowel Disease? IBS? Spastic Colon? Is it Arthritis? Epstein Barr? Chronic Fatigue? Chrones? Lyme Disease? Diverticulitis? Hypoglycemia? Shall I go on? This is the short list of things I've been told I have over the last seven - ten years! I'm gettin' pissed! As soon as I think I'm getting out of the bed, another wave of something comes along!

All week long I've been experiencing symptoms that could be blamed on any of the above and then on Friday, the pain, diarrhea and vomiting all at once again. If I wasn't in my right mind, I think I would just go postal! Alright Pattie... just calm down.... take some deep breaths... "No- body knows~~~ da trouble I seen~~~~ Mmmm~~~~ mmmm~~~~mmm~~~ (negro spiritual humming indicating suffering).

By the way, my birth certificate says "Negro". Anybody else out there got "Negro on their certificate? Perhaps this is the problem! And what the heck is my vaccination doing in my left upper thigh? Was I part of a test group for Vaccination experimentation? Why is mine there and the rest of my family's in their left upper arm? Per chance is this the problem? (Give me a minute...) and exactly whose uncle is "Sam" and are his descendants responsible for all the missing health insurance? "Colin Powell" sound like a growth in the intestines. My mother's birth certificate says "Colored". My daughters says "Black". Are there "African American" birth certificates now? Will the next ones say "Race: Neo Soul"? Where's my Uterus? Huh? How do ya shoot JFK and Dr. King and leave Bush runnin' around? By some small degree of possible cause, could this be the reason for my flare up?

Okay. I'm done now. Here's some more UC tips. "I'm gonna go lay down my burdens~~~ down by the riverside~~~~~

James 5:15
And the prayer of faith shall save the sick" James 5:14-16 (in Context) James 5 (Whole Chapter)

Each individuals pattern of symptoms is different, and conscientious doctors treat the symptoms rather than the laboratory or radiological signs.

Diarrhea, pain, and fever - along with fatigue, chills, and possibly vomiting - come and go. Flare-ups can occur seemingly out of the blue, after a viral illness such as a cold, or at times of extreme personal, business, or social stress.

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