Someone recently asked me if I wrote an "advice blog". The answer is NOPE. As My Joints turn is more of a journal of living with chronic illness and debilitating pain. I share my experience with doctors, medication, treatments, and daily life. I am not a medical professional, so any "advice" I give would be... Continue Reading →
So I did a thing….or two…
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 →
Worst fear…again….
COVID19 was a big part of my 2020. I've documented the death of my dad and uncle due to the virus. Both ended up in the hospital and rehab settings due to falls. That was pre-vaccines. Over the past two years, I've done all that I can to protect not only my immunocompromised self, but... Continue Reading →
April showers
April is always a difficult month for me. It is the anniversary of several event that changed my life forever. Some good, most bad. Regardless, every year, I cringe when April rolls around. My cousin Chris died on 4/20/2011. He was 34. He was the most anti-social social person I ever met. Brilliant man with... Continue Reading →
Rheumy Rounds™, part 2…
IFAA just put out the 2nd part of our first episode of Rheumy Rounds™, a breakout series from our ArthritisVoices360 podcast. In this episode we talk about the doctor/patient relationship. We also touched on what a patient expects to accomplish during visit as opposed to what a rheumatologist expect to accomplish during a visit. It's... Continue Reading →
Fa la la la la lazy…..
Christmas is in 4 days. Are my gifts wrapped? No. Am I packed? No. My decorations are minimal....and so is my Christmas spirit. My 2019 was extra crappy. Here is a little recap.... January: I started the year with a broken foot/non-weight bearing. On January 2, my cat tripped me and I ended up tearing... Continue Reading →
Getting sick, while being sick…
Two weeks ago, I started with a dry cough. After my bout with pneumonia, I watched it closely. By the middle of the week, I felt wrecked. Body aches, stuffy nose, sore throat, ear ache, etc. I called my doctor but they had no appointments until the following day. My goal was to return to... Continue Reading →
Making lemonade…
A year ago, I wrote a book about my dog, Georgia Grace. Georgia is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel who lives with multiple, serious chronic illnesses including the top 3: Syringomyelia, Chronic Valvular Heart Disease, and Diabetes. I was told her life expectancy was three years. Today, she is 10 years, 6 months and... Continue Reading →
Daring to believe…
I just recently started to feel like my new medication is working. It's kind of shocking. My pain level is so much more tolerable. I still have pain, but I can make it all day without taking extra meds. My swelling is also getting better. I still swell when I overdo it, but for the... Continue Reading →
Oh the places we will go…
I've not taken a proper vacation since my dog was diagnosed with diabetes. I refused to leave her for over two years until this past September, when I traveled to Washington DC for 2 nights for a patient advocacy trip. I admit that I was a wreck until I had her back in my arms.... Continue Reading →