Cuts and Moving

Cooking, when I have the energy and minimal amount of pain, is fun. Especially when I can slice vegetables. Last week, I decided it was hamburgers for dinner. I sliced the red onion with as much ease as I could. It was nice to not have to wait until my husband arrived home from work to get the prep work done. 

Next, was the avocado. I love having a couple of slices of it on my burgers. It must be from growing up in California. So, I halve it and try to get the seed out the cool way the chefs do on Food Network. What could possibly go wrong? So, I place the seeded half of the avocado in my left hand, raise the knife and bring it down with force, so that I could sink the blade into the seed. I am guessing chefs use sharper knives, because the knife I used dug slightly into the seed, twisted the seed, went through the avocado and into my hand, just below my fore-finger. Talk about pain. I think I had a guardian angel with me, knowing I could not handle much more on my plate through the end of May, because what started as a REALLY DEEP cut, started healing quickly. I decided to not go to Urgent Care or to the ER because when my husband looked at it, the bleeding had finally stopped, and it is so hard to explain RD & the medications I am on to someone who just doesn't know me or my medical history.

I did, however, see my primary care doc the next day. By then, the incision was slightly open, but no bleeding. She gave me an antibiotic as a precaution. She said I could still do my MTX & Humira, but I forgot about both because of my next subject...

Moving.

I began packing the house last week, as well. Some boxes just needed to be taped because we didn't seal them before moving them across the street from our old house. Others, I decided to go through and get rid of items. I have a garage sale pile, which is growing, thankfully.

Even with my sore hand, I was able to get most of them done. Over the weekend, Hubby helped me move all the boxes into my oldest's recently vacated room. There are still a lot more things to pack & do, but lists help me not feel so overwhelmed.

Then, the closing. We closed on Friday, 19 May 17. We thought everything was going well, and were excited because we should be getting money back from our earnest money. Well, the funding was taking a while, so we went to the house and got our keys. While there, I had to fix about eight pages of the closing documents. So, I fixed them, had our builder fax them back to the title company. So, I thought everything was done, we re-keyed the house. On the drive home, everything began to fall apart. I have yet to hear any news about the status of the loan/closing.

What is the moral of all this?

1. Don't forget your medicines, even if life is going 200 MPH.
2. Stress, mental & physical, are terrible on a person's body, not to mention one that suffers from AI diseases.
3. Lists are perfect.
4. Flares suck

Thanks for reading.

Walk to Cure Arthritis Day - 13 May 17

Today was the Walk to Cure Arthritis even in Plano, TX. I convinced my husband, daughter and youngest son to walk with me. My oldest had to work. The team raised almost 1/2 of my goal of $1000. 

THE WEEK PRIOR

So, The entire week prior to today, was non-stop. I had no less than 8000 steps each day, and for the most part, I was away from the house doing something for the upcoming closing on our house or my daughter's graduation. My joints were not happy and my fatigue was horrible. But I promised myself that I would walk regardless how I felt.

The weather was kind of mean, too. Of course, living in Texas, the pressure can change at the drop of a dime. So, let's just add that crazy pain. 

I was about to give in, then woke up this morning and everything was back to feeling manageable.

THE WALK
We got to the event and signed in and received the vouchers for our shirts. As we walked a bit, we found the fruit and snack table. Thankfully it was there, because all four of us had forgotten to eat or grab anything for breakfast. I remembered the water, and a couple snack items, but nothing that would sustain us.

There was a 1 mile and a 5K course. Everyone lined up at the Start/Finish line. The route began the same for both courses. So, we began walking. About 20 minutes later, after turning a corner, we were wondering when the mile route was going to turn around or cut back through the park. A young man on a bike advised we were supposed to turn around instead of turn right, but because there wasn't a volunteer there to advise us, everyone kept walking. 

This was my view for most of the walk:

I am so thankful they were with me. This was after we made it to the first mile mark of the 5K. And, even though we were in it for the long haul, and my hips began screaming at me, I had a smile on my face:

We did make it back to the park. I think it was a 45 min walk.

We chatted with other walkers. Many walking for Juvenal Arthritis. My heart sinks when I see how young these children are, and knowing what they go through. I watch them walk, and know if they can do it, so can I.

I am not sure which school had their volleyball teams cheering for us, but it was so inspirational. It also let me feel what people felt when I cheered them on at their races in the past. When you hear that "you can do it" it recharges you somehow.

At the end of the race, we all grabbed bananas, granola bars, and chips to rejuvenate our bodies before we headed home. Then, we collected our even T-shirts.

All-in-all, it was a wonderful morning. Exhausting, but wonderful. I am so happy that I was able to be part of such an amazing event.

Oh, yeah, our end of walk selfie - in the truck, ready to go home:

Nausea?

10 May 17

Methotrexate (MTX) is a chemotherapy drug. It is classified as a Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drug (DMARD) as well. Rheumatologists use it in small doses to help control Rheumatoid Disease, Psoriatic Arthritis, Crohn's Disease, and/or other autoimmune diseases.

Many people who use Methotrexate, whether orally or by injection, experience nausea or a "hangover" type feeling. Me, I am a lucky one, I do not have any such side effects.

The past two weeks, however, I have had a "pre" side effect. The thought of getting my vial & syringe from my medicine case, and even filling it, have made me nauseated. Last week, I couldn't control it, so I had to skip my weekly dose of MTX. This week, I had to force myself to work through it, because I knew that my Rheum was going to flare if I didn't.

I know this is a psychological issue. And I am sure it stems from depression over the diseases that are wreaking havoc in body, and other life things that are going on in life for me. I have been trying to work through all them. Sharing with those whom I know I can share, and those I can trust.

Even today, typing my recent reaction to a medicine I have take for almost eight years, I had the same nauseating feeling. I don't know how to explain it or know why it is happening.

Then, I get the "fun" side effect, that isn't even listed as a side effect. It became funnier since I realized, as I began typing this paragraph, it is another psychological issue. I get WEIRD dreams. Sometimes I think a SCI/FI writer enters my brain and begins narrating a new story.

I wonder if anyone else experiences these types of reactions.

Anyway. Had to get this out of my head. Have a beautiful day.

3 May 17 -- Thoughts and Venting

Good morning. 

As most of us know, life with Rheumatoid Disease is a roller coaster, to say the least. Sometimes, when my upward climb seems to continue for more days than I am accustomed, I fear the trip downward, a lot. Why? Because I do not know if it is going to be a straight free fall, a loop, a slight down with a spiral, a cork screw, or any other combination. 

So, where am I today?

I think I am somewhere between a long free fall, going into a cork screw. All my joints are begging for some sort of relief, and my muscles feel very weak. The muscular weakness could be from my severe fatigue or from Fibromyalgia, which rears its ugly head when RD flares.

A couple reasons for my recent flare/free fall:

• I didn't do my Methotrexate shot on Monday
• Storms are on the horizons, so the pressure is changing
• Stress
• Not sleeping well

Sleep did not want to visit last night, my nerve endings felt electrified, so I used my doTerra Lavender Touch and rolled the oil down my legs, on my wrist pulse points, on the back of my neck and along my lower back. That helped calm me enough to doze off now and again.

I try to take things in stride. But sometimes, my stride seems to turn into a limp and I succumb to stress. A few things weighing on my mind: Oldest son moved into his first apartment, trying to get a loan approved on a house, daughter high school graduation, and youngest stressed about moving. I am proud of my oldest, I just hope that his roommates keep up their end of the agreement. So far, everything is going well with the loan, but I won't be happy until we are at the title company with my hubby signing papers.

The storms are unavoidable. Especially living in "Tornado Alley." We are expecting some severe ones to the East of use today, but that does not mean the pressure won't change where we are when the cold front moves through the area. When it goes through a large fluctuation, it feel like nails or ice picks jabbing into my joints. 

Methotrexate... I just could not do that this week. The thought if filling the syringe make me nauseated. One time, I almost gagged at the thought. It is really odd for me to have that reaction, because never, since I began taking the medication, have I had those problems with methotrexate. Just weird dreams.

So, today, I rest as much as possible, drink some water, and diffuse some essential oils.

<3 *HUGS*