Friday's addn of my Daily Newspaper, Health, RA, Lupus, Chronic Pain and more!

Friday's addn of my Daily Newspaper, Health, RA, Lupus, Chronic Pain and more!

http://news.autoimmunearthriticsystemiclife.com/#/signin

Wed. Addn of my Newspaper- Notice one on Turmeric &

https://www.wellnessglobal.xyz/2020/01/drink-1-cup-of-turmeric-water-in.html

Infection in Left Knuckles Infected & on another round of antibiotics Still with me, along with more issues, now the city and my road a mess they have made!

SO! I STILL HAVE AN INFECTED "HAND" joints, whatever! I have been through hell this past 10 days or more. Between this hand, worrying about having to postpone the pacemaker AGAIN! (no way they will do a pacemaker when I have an infection still going), then the city had FRIGED UP MY ROAD! I found out THEY SCREWED UP, HAVE HAD US HALF WAY BLOCKED IN AND WE NEVER KNOW IF WE WILL BE ABLE TO GET IN AND OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAYS -

they did this AND NEVER WARNED ANY OF US! I talked to neighbors yesterday and found out they did NOT get the materials in they needed so now they are "stalling". They keep putting truck loads of gravel type almost a sandy rock mess and if it were not bad enough, rolling that down, and then if it is not wet from rain they come along and wet it. So, either it is WET AND MUDDY! OR it's dry and the dust flies everywhere!!! No one "SEES" that they are driving and kicking up mud, dust, rocks everywhere driving over it. I blame the city for that also, they should have SIGNS UP WARNING THESE IDIOTS NOT TO DRIVE FAST OVER IT.

Then they have "built up" the road so high (my property already has water that runs on it if it rains very much, because they have the other side of the road high enough, so all of the water runs to my side and into our ditches and under my carport, and my back yard looks like a landslide has happened. I know they can't help the rain BUT they dug out "some ditches" but like mine is full of water it needs to be dug out and the culvert is so old, it's bent down and won't allow water to run thru so now it's standing in water, causing mosquito's (but they gripe at us) for letting water stand if we have anything ti can stand in....

and now they are running I guess mice into my laundry room... and (suddenly I had the bars out just disappear 3 times now since this began) and then something (which could be a possum etc or a stray cat we have and so forth) run under my house and die! For the 3rd time in 2 weeks I woke up now to my laundry room with a stench worse than anything else you can imagine! I have every hole blocked, but they can weasel their way under anything if they are desperate! I am in the process of trying to type an email (I can barely type my left hand hurts so bad).. to the guy over this mess of a road they have made, and give him a piece of my mind... who is going to fix this mess, details our cars covered in dust and grime? Who is going to get that water out of those ditches... I hate to sound prejudice but I "live on the wrong side of town"... if I had a 500,000 dollar home, I bet it would be concreted, with a walkway, and they would have the water properly running out and away from the homes.... I am just so fed up. I pay MY TAXES ON TIME! Believe me if I didn't they would FINE ME 10 or 20%!!!! I should tell the city each day this is a mess they owe us on this road back a portion of the taxes we pay! Anyway, so keep me in your prayers... I NEED this hand well, so I can get this pacemaker in and go about my life... why is it that it is ALWAYS SOMETHING WITH ME?????"

I have to wonder if the pain in my hips that I still have after the injections, is not also something to do with this infection. both hips especially the right one still hurt. I was at the market on Monday, and when I was trying to finish up and get checked out, my right hip and side started to hurt. It scared the hell out of me. I came home with a LOAD of groceries, since they had my road so messed up I could NOT get out of my driveway all week last week! So, my groceries were in about 7 bags (the reusable ones) plus 4 gallons of water. I did not think I would ever make it in with it all, and get it put up.... but I managed.

I worry my RA and Lupus could be getting worse, or something else is going on, and they have not found it yet. My labs they did a couple of weeks ago when they found the infection, were really all messed up. My white blood cell count was at 15. But, there were other labs that were also really "off" that usually were not that bad, so I have to wonder.

Happy Father's Day TO Each if you - Dad's, Grandad's, step-dad's those who raise you like they are your Dad & More!

TO ALL of the INCREDIBLE DAD'S, FATHER'S, SONS WHO WILL SOMEDAY BE DAD'S, GRANDFATHERS, & the list goes on.. no matter how old we are "Our Dad will always be"  Our Dad and "Bestest Fishin' Friend!" Happy FAther's Day! And Dad even after this much time has gone by, I STILL miss you! I seem to "still use some of your sayings" almost everyday of my life! LOL!

Okay, here it is in a "short version"... I was scheduled for the pacemaker this coming Monday morning in Dallas. The week before Memorial Day my left hand around my knuckles "started in my thumb" began to "look odd, kind of swollen, and reddish"..I thought I just over used it doing something. By the next morning, the knuckles next to it did the same, and so on, so forth. I STILL felt it was a Lupus/RA flare BUT I HAD NEVER HAD THIS TYPE OF ISSUE WITH MY LEFT HAND AND KNUCKLES..I researched, asked 2 pharmacists, and decided it maybe "gout arthritis", and I would need a special med called "Colchicine" (it helps to dissolve the uric acid crystals in the fluid around the joints).

So finally I went to Urgent Care, I believe it was about a week ago LAST Wednesday, so almost 2 weeks ago. They felt the same either gout, OR possibly some type of "infection arthritis" in the knuckles. Well, I went into panic mode. I KNEW NO PACEMAKER IF I SHOW ANY TYPE OF INFECTION! I was now on one antibiotic, higher dose of prednisone, & they did lab work to find out if they could see what was causing the problem. I DID NOT GET to even know until Thursday (so over a week or more)

Infectious arthritis? Has anyone ever been diagnosed with this????

THIS IS IMPORTANT!!!!

HAS ANYONE EVER BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH INFECTIOUS ARTHRITIS IN ANY JOINT ON THE BODY OR JOINTS????

Wednesday’s Addition of My Daily Newspaper “ Autoimmune Arthritic Systemic Life”

Wednesday’s Addition of My Daily Newspaper “ Autoimmune Arthritic Systemic Life”

http://news.autoimmunearthriticsystemiclife.com/#/

One of the Featured Stories 

https://pres5.com/women-and-arthritis/

Women and Arthritis  

 

Arthritis affects people of all ages. Diagnosis of most forms of arthritis occurs between the ages of 40 and 60 years old. The rates of arthritis are three times higher in women than in men.

The disease is characterized by chronic joint inflammation. Stiff joints with limited mobility and pain are common symptoms of the disease.

Over 100 forms of arthritis are recognized with three of them being the most common: rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and psoriatic arthritis... (see URL for rest of article)...  

Happy 1st Day of Spring & Hope Nice Weather Brings Less Pain, Less Flares & Feeling More Energy!

WISHING YOU AN AWESOME 1ST DAY OF SPRING! MAY WE HAVE WARMER WEATHER, LESS FLARES, MORE ENERGY, AND MAY WE FIND "SPRING" IN OUR STEP AND A SONG IN OUR HEARTS!

Wishing us all better days ahead. I .along with many of us have had a rough time this past winter from all of the rains, snow, ice, cold, bitter cold, and then from "warmer" to "cooler" over a day's time.

I found it interesting that this winter I spoke with many people who had never had a "joint" problem, or pain, stiffness and bad issues with joints. Yet, everywhere I went there seemed to be those that never experienced symptoms of arthritis, & other joint issues that have really suffered over the past several months...

It seems more people are beginning to suffer than ever before. I know I've pondered the reasons why may, that never had problems are now limping, stiff, in pain, and having major joint problems... weather? age? temperature? our polluted air water and land?, all of the "preservatives" in our food??? Makes you wonder for sure...

Now the Government wants to "have our "Social Media" used to determine if we are Disabled??????

https://themighty.com/2019/03/social-security-disability-benefits-monitoring-social-media/?utm_source=newsletter_disability&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_disability_2019-03-15

Talk about a crock! They will do anything to try and take away our benefits many of us worked for years and earned SS and Medicare, when after 25 years or more we become too ill to work and need our disability!

This is just absolutely ridiculous! I feel like they prefer we pass on, rather than try and live what life we have with our family, friends, spouses, and enjoy the days that are often few that are good.

Thursday's Newest Paper about Pain, Autoimmune Illnesses and more...

Be sure to stop by DAILY and check out my Daily NewspaperLife Chronic Pain & Autoimmune Systemic Diseases & Dementia®

http://news.autoimmunearthriticsystemiclife.com/#/

It comes out new each day with all kinds of articles, news, blogs, information on the latest medications from Dementia Chronic Pain... Autoimmune Illnesses and more...

You Can sign up to receive a copy daily right to your email on the front page of the paper!

Saturday's Copy of My News Paper! "Life Chronic Pain & Autoimmune Systemic Diseases & Dementia®"

http://news.autoimmunearthriticsystemiclife.com/#/

"Life Chronic Pain & Autoimmune Systemic Diseases & Dementia®"

All aspects of autoimmune/chronic pain illnesses, fighting to survive & grow past them, as I now stand alone to disallow these to get me down.

The latest in health news from pain, RA, Lupus, Heart disease, and all types of other Autoimmune Illnesses... along with other diseases, syndrome's and more. Sign UP on the link to get your copy online daily!

COLD COLD and REALLY COLD! Joints, Arthritic Illnesses & such DO NOT like the COLD! Holter monitors, endoscopies & run, run, run...

HOW THE BODY "FIGHTS BACK" WITH Chronic Illnesses, against cold weather, too many errands and on the go too much, feeling lousy, sinus infection, too many "doctor's appts" and life with RA, Lupus, Sjogren's and all the others that follow....


Too much this week again and it's only Wednesday! TWO doctor's appts yesterday, labs, market, the post office (by the way stamps are going up I don't recall when she said but I think to 57 cents a piece).... then to the pharmacy... found out I have a darned sinus infection... so I went to get other meds HOPING that after several hours antibiotics would be ready and they were NOT... so now I have to go out into the COLDER WEATHER TODAY, and pick those up.....

then my cardiologist thinks that since I am having issues over the past couple of months of feeling"blah"... just not wanting to do things and having to "force" myself to cook and clean etc... and it's not like me to not be LOOKING for something to do, BUT this COLD weather, I cannot handle it, it just makes me want to hibernate like our friendly friends Mr. and Mrs. Bear....

so after I "finish" with catch up on two more doctors appts then we will do the 24 holter monitor... my heart rate was 48 BPM in the morning and only 50BPM when I saw her at 4:00 yesterday, so she is now concerned that the lower heart rate "could be" contributing to me feeling just "lousy".... anyway, I have to now reschedule the appt to see the general surgeon to do the endoscopy and talk to him about trying the new "Colo Guard test" and see what it says.

And then I see my Rheumy on Feb 6th, which I think I posted yesterday.... and I was in a hurry so of course I did not recall and get a couple of things on my list... so I have to get out today and get those antibiotics anyway... so I may try to run by the market and pick up the couple of things I forgot... later in the day when it it a "balmy 48 degrees",,, LOL and I STILL am trying to decide about the shower partial clog... actually both were better yesterday, so if I keep on with the dish soap, baking soda and vinegar.. I "MAY" get 'er done myself!"

THIS WAS MY FORECAST YESTERDAY!!! I am giving my "weather forecast" for the next 5 days or so... COLD, RAINING, COLD, COLDER, RAINING AND MORE COLD!!!! OR at LEAST THAT IS WHAT MANY OF MY JOINTS, ESPECIALLY MY HIP THAT WAS FRACTURED IS TELLING ME!

From RA, Chronic Pain, Lupus, to "PTH" labs "off" and more new specialists like an Endocrinologist (HAPPY HALLOWEEN)

"Chronic Illness and Pain - NEVER TAKE A HOLIDAY! Yet, I hope your Halloween is filled with "good spooks", wonderful costumes, party with friends, "candy but not too much".... and that your Autoimmune Illnesses will give you a reprieve for an evening...
Alas, then we can say "TRICK OR TREAT"!!!!!

Animal Pain Awareness Month! Our Pets have Pain too!

 Our Animals and their Pain is REAL ALSO!

We even as pet owners, don't "think" that one of our fur-babies" might be in pain. In fact my little terrier Peanut, "suddenly" started holding a back foot up, and he can't stand to put it to the ground. I was in the shower, and before I got in he was fine. But, when I came out int the living room, I noticed he was having a hard time getting up.... 

I went to him and asked him if his foot or leg hurt, but I believe it's a nail he probably hung while I was in the shower, and him and Bella were playing and he probably pulled a nail to the quick... They will NOT behave for me, if I try myself to cut them, and Bella keeps her front ones "groomed herself.. but taking them to the Vet is also a pain, they are just nuts in the car, and they are like two bulls in a china closet to get them out, in the car, out at the Vet, inside, and then to the car again, and home... But. when I saw this article in my newspaper today, it dawned on me, pets show :pain" in different ways"....

 I can tell which one of mine maybe hurting or not feeling well, but the other acts completely different. Anyway, a reminder to keep an eye out for a limp, or licking a paw, or Bells "whines" and mopes .... He is better today... I am glad. I thought I may have to take him to the doctor, and I FINALLY JUST GOT TO GET THE LAB WORK DONE YESTERDAY!!! Just 2 or 3 weeks LATE! I have felt like heck, this weather is really effecting my joints etc badly

https://ivapm.org/animal-pain-awareness-month/

Nominated for Best in Blog Award for WEGO"s Health Awards!!! Please help me by showing your support!!!

https://awards.wegohealth.com/nominees/1998

PLEASE BE SURE TO STOP IN AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR ME IN WEGO'S 2018 HEALTH AWARDS! I'VE BEEN NOMINATED FOR BEST IN BLOG AWARD!!!!! 

Keith Urban Lyrics, and trying to hold myself together after... 2 years today since Mom passed away, and the loneliness of the loss of her, Dad, Tazzy, Bub's and my love..

Yes, today and yesterday have been difficult for me. Yesterday, things, several things really hit me, right in the gut, literally. By the time I got home from Wally World, I was physically sick to my stomach, and felt horrid all day long. It was so bad, I never ate anything for dinner at all. I fed the pups, and they "knew" "Mommie" was not feeling well. 

They cuddled up with me on the sofa, and would not leave my side. of course today is the 2 year anniversary of my Mom passing away. In my mind, I've played over and over what our doctor we saw, usually had our appts on the same day, used to tell her. He would say that she was going to "outlive" him and I... not that he meant that "badly"... because of course with my health issues, he knew that it was a true statement, but he wanted my Mom to pull herself out of where she would "think she was too old for this, that or the other, so it was his way of telling her at the time "health wise" Mom was much more "healthy" than many of us. Yet, although she was, never did he even believe how quickly she went downhill when the Lewy Body Dementia hit.

 I had seen signs for a while, before she really got so bad. Here and there, being forgetful, losing things, not recalling events, yet of course at 80 years old, heck at 40, 50 and 60 years old many of us are "forgetful"... I blame the "world" we live in for the stress and strain, the toll our minds and bodies take these past 25 years or so... things used to be so much simpler, it seemed the "burdens" we have now, were not as they were back then. 

From the selfish ways many of us have abused our water, land and air, to technology that in ways is wonderful, yet in ways, it has caused families to not spend "time" together... kids and parents on their phones, the computers, playing games, you name it, we tend to "have something else more, better, important, than a family meal together, or a quiet night without a TV, phone, or computer. I realize that NOT everyone has given up what family time is, and it seems that some have tended to "go back" to that time... when everyone was at the dinner table, no TV, no phones, just dinner, and asking one another how their days were. I had those all my younger life... and until my kids were well into being teenagers, for the most part we also spent nights together, around the dinner table, talking to each other, and caring. I know that has carried on to my daughter and her family. Of course we are "busy" but for the most part, her children, husband and her spend their dinner time together, sharing in one another's lives. There is so much that I think about when i think of my Mom... 

Mom never "gave me crap" about tattoo's, belly rings, tongue rings... she may have not agreed, but, she knew that I had my own personal reasons for all of it, and she was never one to put me down for making those choices. Mom spoke her mind though... anyone that knew her, knew that what came out of her mouth, was her personal thoughts, and she expressed them. Not that it was always "in a proper place" or said in a "proper way" but it was Mom, and you had to accept that part of her. So often, she was overly concerned about my health and me. Sometimes to the point I think she worried herself way too much. 

But, she knew the pain and suffering I endured, mentally, physically and emotionally, and many times she told me, she could never "brave" what I went through daily. Yet, I always told her, that she need not worry, I am a survivor, and what is, what happens, why it happens, I don't know but I do know it serves a purpose. She was so proud of me... when I went to college and worked full time, and took care of my home and family, she was my greatest fan! She urged me to oil paint, and especially all of my poetry and writing. When I published my first two books, she cried tears of joy, for she always knew I had something very special, that gave me the words to write, and how much I touched the hearts of those around me. She was always the one to encourage me, whatever it was, she knew I could do it. LOL, so often she told me I should have went to medical school. I would have been such an asset to many as a doctor, or in research. 

When I got to go to Washington DC with the Arthritis Foundation, that was a moment that she also cherished with me. My walls around my desk are covered in the awards, the recognition, the paper clippings when I had an article in our local paper. The Proclamations for Lupus, for RA, signed by our Mayor and some signed by our Governor. Mom was my best friend, after I was alone, she became the one that stood with me, that talked to me, that helped me carry on, even though I was in such a mess after being separated. She understood, because after Dad passed away, Mom was very frightened of what might happen. Coming back to TX was a ver difficult thing for me, I never wanted to leave Seattle, but she needed me, so I came back here to help her. I miss her every day, and even though Dad passed away n 2005, I still miss him. 

Often thinking to myself, that we would be fishing today if he were here. Or I would be visiting, or we may be going to the casino tomorrow if she were here.... all of the things and many many more that I so miss... from the little things to the small things, after the loss of my parents, losing my Pug Tazzy, and then losing Bub's after I broke my hip.... losses that cut right to my core, and then Jim no longer here... my world on some days seems so upside down..... So, Mom, I hope you know how much I miss you and Dad, and there are days it is s struggle... but I put ne foot in front of the other and try to----- carry on

NEW RA Medication "JAK and JAK-1 Inhibitor for "Oral Use" in Rheumatoid Arthritis

New Clinical Trials and Information from the FDA in regard to a brand new Oral Medication, first of it's kind for RA... on the horizon possibly...

http://www.rheumatologynetwork.com/rheumatoid-arthritis/clinical-update-baricitinib-rheumatoid-arthritis

There is a "supposed" New Rheumatoid Arthritis Drug, (Oral) another JAK and JAK-1 Inhibitor on the horizon BUT there seems to be questions in regard to causing "blood clots" and it is in Clinical Trials at the time. This would be the "1st) of a kind RA medication that would be a ONCE daily oral med. We NOW have another JAK Inhibitor, Xeljanz on the market. You take it twice daily and it is an oral medication. What my Rheumatologist told me it is usually good for those with >mild> RA as a "stand alone" medication BUT for those like myself with "severe" RA,other medications such as my Actemra that I take by injection which is a biologic, along with other medications are needed when the RA is in severe form. I've really been through the mill on these two. I've been on Actemra now for about 9 months or so. But, my hand joints,wrists, fingers and especially my thumbs are really bad! So, he put me on the Xeljanz orally I take twice daily. Well at first I was thrilled then I got to reading and worried about the biologic and the JAK inhibitor together. I spoke with my PCP and see my Rheumatologist next week. What my PCP told me, is that "each person" is individual, and they have to put out the information for "overall" folks, BUT that my Rheumatologist has done is own "testing" as far as how his patients and those in the clinic do overall with the medications. So, he decided for me it was a "good fit"... which of course we all know that because you "read" something online does NOT mean it is so for you also... but this is exciting news for another alternative, or addition to our other RA medications. As well as many possible other autoimmune illnesses.

Here is more information and this is by Lilly....

https://investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/lilly-file-baricitinib-resubmission-us-fda-end-january-2018

https://www.incyte.com/what-we-do/develop.aspx

"The Texas Blues" written and sung by me

I don't have the guitar or me playing the song but he is one I wrote back a while ago, and added to it lately... I am a bit off key LOL... plus I've had such a sore throat lately, I have a difficult time trying to sing.. after the last neck surgery, he really did a number on my vocal chords going in through the front of my neck, so I've not yet gotten my voice back as it was and may never get it back all the way....

"The Texas Blues"copyright 2010 Rhia Steele

Young Women from 24 to 32 or so that really NEED HELP TO GET THEIR LIVES ON TRACT... AND wanting a 2nd chance & the difficult time they have. Me, lupus, RA, Sinus infections infections and Life!

Lupus Flares, Pain Pump refill, Young Women & getting another chance to change their lives, LIFE, and Chronic Illnesses with PAIN!

Everyone, it has been MORE THAN AN INSANE WEEK OR MORE FOR ME! Between my own doctors visits, and a friend had a new baby and there were issues, but all is well now, I had to go over to the next town in our county to renew my driver's license, since it's been 12 YEARS LOL since I had gone in and took a new photo etc, I had to physically go in this time to renew it. That took forever; although I must say the system now is better than it used to be. Then I had another friend with problems, and was trying to find some help for her, along with my own other stuff, cutting tree limbs, and I've got to get to the market today, but I have not had time to clean my house like it needs, and then I have to take a shower, and it's so pretty outside, I need about "5 of me cloned" so I can do 20 things at once!!!! I have not felt that great yet either. In fact, I have not started my RA meds yet, since being ill with the sinus infection. For some reason, I was running a fever, low grade, but still a fever Monday. 

I went in for my pain pump to be refilled, and when they checked it, sure enough I had a low grade temp. I came home and checked it myself, and I was still running a bit of one. I didn't run any fever at all with the sinus infection. Plus, I have kind of "stopped" running a low grade temp with the Lupus. Used to I seemed to almost have a low grade one daily with the Lupus. It went back down and as far as I know has been back to normal the past couple of days. But, I was concerned so I still kept off the Actemra and the new Xeljanz, until I could see what the temp was all about. But, I've had a damned headache, and a bad one at times, for the entire week! IT could be "stress" or maybe I have a Lupus flare, that will give me a Lupus Migraine from hell at times. 

So, yesterday I "almost" went BACK for a 4th time since the 1st part of January and had them give me a prednisone injection for the headache. But, I toughed it out yesterday, and it is not so bad so far this morning. So, it could be anything causing it. With everything going on, as I said I could be more "stressed" out than I think and it's causing the headache. Usually I don't have one that bad. 

When they are bad enough I want to scream and cry, usually it's due to a Lupus flare, or I am sick with something. So, I am going to take the Actemra later this evening and then take my 1st Xeljanz tomorrow and see how things go. Please keep me and those couple of people in your prayers, with problems and the young woman with a new little baby girl. She needs lots of prayers, so she can get her life together, and get back on her feet. The very "odd" thing is, lately, I know of about 4 people, that have someone in their lives in the same situation. The nurse that comes to see me weekly from my insurance, is helping a young woman with kids, and her trying to get her "stuff" together, and the young woman I know. Then my daughter also knows a young woman going through about the same situation, and I have another friend that has a daughter who is really trying to get her life on tract, get a job, her own place to live, and put herself back on the right roads.0 

These young women ALL need our prayers. It seems that many of them at about 25 years old, either get involved with the "wrong crowd", have a child or children, either the Dad is not there or does not help out, and they are desperately trying to dig their way into a 2nd chance. But, that is hard to do... it's hard to get any assistance these days, it takes so much time, paperwork, and red tape. Then of course we have some that have "abused" it, so that makes the ones that really WOULD benefit and try to do right unable to get the help they need. So, something about that age group, some between about 24 to even 32 or so, really lots of young women out there with the same problems... and NO PARENTS, that either will help, or are even around to help.... it sucks, and i AM SO PROUD THAT BOTH OF MY ADULT KIDS ARE IN A PRETTY GOOD SPOT, AND HAVE THEIR HEAD ON THEIR SHOULDERS RIGHT! :) For that I am BLESSED AND GRATEFUL FOR SURE!!!! Have a good weekend everyone!

Xeljanz Rheumatoid Arthritis, Lupus & the "latest in treatments and medications"... The Horrid Flu Season, & A New Year

I want to wish everyone once again a Happy Beginning to 2018! I cannot fathom that we are already moving into February! It was like yesterday, the holidays were here.

Now, we move on to the "flu season" which has been a nightmare to say the least!

I've spent well over 6 weeks "sick" but not really with the flu. Mine I feel had began as both an RA and a Lupus flare, both severe. I had not been feeling well since before Christmas, but I put off going to my doctor's or to Urgent Care. It was the holidays, it was everyone beginning to be ill with the flu (viruses)... and at that time they were just beginning to see that the "flu" strains which are several, were not all covered by our vaccine.

I had gotten my fly vaccine back in September. I happened to be in my PCP's office for a follow up and they had gotten theirs in, so I went ahead and got mine. Being one of the hundred's of thousands with the screwed up immune system, between the autoimmune illnesses, and the medications that also contribute to our systems being weakened, I've been taking the flu and pneumonia vaccines, when I need them. I had the flu about 10 years ago and was ill for a month. In fact it was just after the Christmas Holiday, at the time I was a manager for a retail women's clothing store. I passed out almost while at work, and my daughter had to drive me to the ER across town. And I had the flu. Of course that was the worst time for me to be ill, due to that job. With all of the after holiday sales, and inventory time, I was sick for a month, and lost the job. Other things beyond my control also did not help, but it really hit me hard.

Then while in Seattle, I had gotten not only double pneumonia, but also the whooping cough at the same time. Again, in fact, it was the 1st day of a brand new job I was headed to, I got so ill in the car, I had to turn around and go back to my apartment. I called in and told them I was so ill, and went to an Urgent Care down the road. They wanted me to be admitted to the hospital. but, at the time, I was supposed to start a new job, was in the process of moving, and going into a whole new "life and career" at the time. The irony to the entire thing is when I had interviewed for the job, both "bosses" were SICK! They had been coughing, sounded terrible, and although I sat WAY on the other side of the table, I honestly think I got sick during the interview, or was exposed.

After 10 days and two trips for shots, cough meds, and antibiotics, and then a lingering cough for a month, I got "better", went to work, moved into my new apartment, and was settling in to the new life style.

So, the "flu" and "pneumonia" are two things I prefer to stay away from if at all possible. Yet, I've had pneumonia a couple of times since, even with the vaccines. So, it can happen.

My RA has been really worse over the past 8 to 10 months. We changed me over to Actemra, from Enbrel. But, after 6 months I am still showing signs of active RA especially in my fingers, wrists, and ankles, and some in my hips.

I felt when they took me off of the Methotrexate, due to infections, that is when I began to have a more severe action of the RA. I had asked if we could try the MTX again, but they just didn't want to chance it. I had mentioned "Xeljanz" before, but at the time we were just beginning the Actemra, so the wanted to wait.

I shall continue this either later today or tomorrow....

Arthritis Foundation and Washington DC March 2018!

It's Time to be United! In the Fight Against this horrific life altering diseases

It is almost here! Another year gone by and time to get to Washington DC with the Arthritis Foundation to get on the bandwagon and get the House of Representatives off their "kiesters" and on up to getting a Cure for RA, Osteoarthritis, and all the many other diseases that an be "packaged" into these... we keep hearing more and more about "pain" and now this "opioid crisis"... 

If there was a "cure" or a way to "regenerate" the damage that so many of this horrid illnesses cause some would NOT NEED pain medications!!!

So, those who get to go, tell them YOUR story, your children's stories, or whomever you are there to represent!