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.
When Is Enough, Enough? This past year has challenged me in ways I never could have anticipated—physically, mentally, and emotionally. Since May, I've worked incredibly hard to find some semblance of balance. I've been trying to heal, adjust, and figure out how to live well despite the challenges my body keeps throwing my way. Some... Continue Reading →
Pacing has always been difficult for me. For years, my preferred method of energy management was simple: throw every ounce of energy I had into accomplishing something and then collapse when it was finished. Was this pacing? No. Was it effective? Mostly no. But I got things done. Then I paid the price with a... 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 →
Perspective with chronic illness is…let’s just say, flexible in all the wrong ways. Last week? Absolute chaos. A flare so aggressive it felt like my body woke up and chose violence. Enter: steroids—the overachieving frenemy. They did their job and calmed things down, but at the small cost of sleep, sanity, and any hope of... Continue Reading →
Every morning I wake up and think, today is going to be the day I feel better.Today will be the day I can function like a normal human being.Today is the day I will feel great. Then I get out of bed and realize the pain, fatigue, and general malaise are still there. It’s hard not to feel... 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 →
In my final installment of honoring both Autoimmune Disease Awareness and Women's History month, some people I consider the rock stars of advocacy. First up: MarlaJan Wexler-Gormley from Luck Fupas. I met MarlaJan at a Wego Health conference in which she was the Conference Host and featured speaker. Her health issues are quite overwhelming ranging... Continue Reading →
March is both Autoimmune Disease Awareness and Women's History month. To honor both, I'm highlighting female advocates who have inspired me, motivated me, and befriended me. In this third issues, I've decided to feature three women that make me want to be a better advocate. First up is Kerry Wong from Float like a Butterfly.... Continue Reading →
I hate the month of March. Why? As an educator, it's the longest month of the school year that typically has no holidays (other than Easter from time to time) and lots of lousy weather. In the Northeast of the United States, the skies are gray, the weather is cold and damp, and my disease... Continue Reading →
I was scrolling through facebook today and saw a post for "walk 50 miles with your dog this month" for XYZ charity. I looked at my dog and said, "When this new medication makes me feel better, we can do this." A friend asked me to go to a large mall in the area, and... Continue Reading →