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.
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 →
I've completed the last loading dose of my newest bio similar infusion drug, Inflectra. I know most of my family and friends are waiting to know....do I feel better. That is a tricky question to answer. I met with my rheumatologist and had to have an answer to that very question. My answer: Maybe Not... Continue Reading →