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 →
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.
In September of 2022, I had pneumonia. I didn’t know that at the time and went to a local CVS to get a COVID test. While I was in the treatment room, I collapsed, and an ambulance was called to take me to the hospital. A year later, I got a bill from the ambulance... 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 →
Wow, my fingers feel rusty. It's been a hot minute since I've blogged. I took what I haven't allowed myself to take in a long time.....a break (sort of). My health has been horrible over the past three years. In addition to my autoimmune arthritis, I've had to deal with grief, depression, pneumonia, multiple bouts... Continue Reading →
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 →
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 →
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 →