As My Joints Turn: my autoimmune soap opera
Autoimmune Arthritis isn't the end of the world, it's just another way of living in the world.
I've been trying to deny it for days, but there's no denying it anymore. I'm in the middle of a nasty autoimmune flare, and my body has made it abundantly clear that it is NOT interested in negotiating. What triggered it? Excellent question. Was it the sudden switch from cool, dry weather to hot, humid... Continue Reading →
For years, I battled with my weight, but in 2020, things escalated beyond my control. I gained an alarming amount of weight, and no matter what I tried, the scale seemed determined to move in the wrong direction. And believe me, I tried EVERYTHING. I enrolled in a medically supervised weight-loss program that consisted of... Continue Reading →
For years, my autoimmune/inflammatory arthritis disease impacted my joints. I lived with pain from inflammed joints life altering exhaustion, but I was able to push through wth the help of medications, therpies, and force of will. Then my disease becme systemic. A CT scan showed my liver, intestines, lungs, colon, and heart lining all showed... Continue Reading →
People keep asking me how things are going since I retired. I usually say, “It’s okay.” The truth is, it’s completely overwhelming. The disability paperwork alone feels like a full-time job—an especially cruel irony when you’re filling it out to prove you’re incapable of working full-time. Every question makes me wonder if I’m answering it... Continue Reading →
Life has been a little... chaotic since starting hospice care for my mom. And by “a little chaotic,” I mean I now live in a sleep-deprivation experiment sponsored by Alexa, arthritis, and appliance failure. Mom has developed a habit of waking me up throughout the night because she can’t work the remote, needs help getting... Continue Reading →
Hospice chaos, caregiver exhaustion, biologic crash, emotional overload, and survival mode—with just enough rest to breathe for a minute.
I’ve had one hell of a month. Like… if there were an Olympic event for emotional whiplash, I’d be standing on the podium with a gold medal and an ice pack. It started with my almost 10-year-old cat, Jaxson. He had a cough. Just a cough. I did what any responsible pet parent does—I took... Continue Reading →
Living with chronic illness for almost 30 years gives one a thick skin. I've met so many people who love to give me free advice. For the most part, it's all good intended suggestions, but I often feel stumped on how to respond. Today someone said, "My friend says those infusions you take are bad,... Continue Reading →
When I was diagnosed with COVID on November, 3, I was prescribed Paxlovid, an antiviral medication. It tasted like Satan's spit, but I was testing negative 5 days later. My symptoms were mild overall with significant fatigue and a REALLY bad cold. After contracting pneumonia in September, I was worried. I knew there was a... Continue Reading →
I haven't blogged in a while. Recovering from pneumonia was difficult, then I caught COVID..... After 2 years and 8 months of avoiding the dreaded virus, I tested positive. I had a mild case. Bad cold without a fever. Due to my immunocompromised status, my doctor prescribed Paxlovid, the antiviral medication. Although my COVID symptoms... Continue Reading →