Infusion day

I had my visit to the rheumatologist. My results were back from my ultrasound. Every thing looked fine there. So that's good news. The results from my urinalysis showed blood in my urine again, so I did another test to see if that has cleared up. If it shows blood again she wants me to see a urologist about it. It seemed like it took longer than usual for the infusion. I got there at 10:30 and didn't get out of there until 2:45. I can usually fall asleep while I'm there. Mostly because there are nice comfy recliners for us. No sleep today. Maybe that's why it seemed to take so long! I really need to get a recliner at home. It sure would help me get some sleep on nights when my shoulders or hips are hurting...

Overall, I felt pretty good today. Some pain in my shoulders and hands. So I decided to go grocery shopping after the doctor's visit. The price of everything is going up. It's really getting ridiculous.

Well I forgot to make copies of all of the paperwork for Disability. I need to copy all the information so that I'll have a copy for myself. I really hope it doesn't take as long as some people say to hear something back from Disability. I've heard stories that it takes a year or two...

Monotony

One day intertwines with the next. I have become a hermit and rarely leave the confines of my home, sometimes not leaving my bedroom. I try to get out every once in a while or I might go crazy.

I have been filling out endless paperwork for SSI and Disability. Damn! They want to know everything about me. Asking what makes me upset, what I do when I am criticized... They also want to know financial and personal information about anyone I live with. Well, I don't know all of the financial information and such about G. So they are out of luck. Maybe I'll be out of luck too...

I just need some money for personal items and pay a bill or two. Also for food. Looks like I'm going into rice and beans and Ramen noodles mode. I thought those days were over years ago. I forgot rice is in short supply of late.

Tomorrow I need to make some copies and mail off all of this paperwork. I need to hear something soon. Shit, where's the local food bank around here?

I'm supposed to get a Remicade treatment on Wednesday, that is if my insurance hasn't been cancelled. I'm worried about getting another treatment. What if the Remicade is just making me worse? I sure had a bad episode after the last treatment. I am so confused about everything anymore. I'm just going to crawl under the covers and hide. Maybe no one will notice I'm gone.

Dreary Saturday

Well, I awoke to the sound of crashing thunder early this morning. I absolutely love thunderstorms. The power of nature is amazing. I listened to the storm until the sound of the thunder gradually faded. I then dozed off until around 8:00am.

My stomach was rumbling and gurgling. This has been going on since about Tuesday of this week. I've been having annoying issues with my stomach or digestive system. Serious bloating, fullness, cramping, you name it. If nothing shows on my ultrasound, I'm going to make an appointment with a gastroenterologist. It sucks when you are hungry and can only eat a couple of bites and feel full. If I eat more, it comes back up... At least maybe I'll lose some weight...

It's supposed to be a rainy weekend. I'm not sure if I'll be doing anything exciting. I do want to go see Krystal's bundle of joy on Sunday. Maybe do a cookout with the family.

My RA pain is not so bad right now. I guess maybe the Solumedrol infusion I got this week has helped. I felt pretty good the other day, so I decided to clean up and rake the front yard. Bad idea! The next day I felt horrid. Pain in my shoulders, hands, and hips. I so want to do things, but my body makes me pay for it later. So what am I supposed to do? Sit around and watch life going on around me? I'm still going to do some physical things on occasion. If I have to pay for it the next day, so be it. Today I have some pain in my wrists and elbows. It's not as severe as last week, which is a blessing.

I want to have a garage sale next weekend. I'm strapped for cash and need to pay for my insurance and a few other things. I'm dreading it... A garage sale can be a royal pain in the ass! But we have so much stuff in our garage, not to mention the junk (er, I mean treasure) in our closets. This house is packed with way too much stuff. Time to clean it out! I almost forgot that I have quite a few things at my dad's house too...

That's all for now.

In Limbo

I saw my rheumatologist today. Told her everything that has been going on lately. I told her I haven't had a good day since my last infusion. I asked her about a possiblity that I might have another autoimmune disorder, but she didn't think so. She said she had one other patient that had similar syptoms after getting Remicade and it turned out she had a reaction to Remicade. So she ordered some kind of "antinuclear"(?) blood test. She said I could have had an infection when I got my last treatment and it could have exasterbated from there. So today, I got a Solumedrol infusion, blood work, another urine test, and some specialty blood work that has to be sent out for testing. My ultrasound results weren't in, so I'll find out about that next week. My next Remicade infusion has been moved up to next week on Wednesday the 30th. At this point, I don't know if I want another one! Basically I left the doctor's office more confused than ever and getting no definitive answers. On top of that they missed my vein trying to get the IV going. She went at it again and it hurt like hell, almost like it hit a nerve. EEEEOOOOWWW! I've never had one hurt like that before. That's going to leave a mark! Soooooo..... I don't know a damn thing about what is going on with me. At least yesterday things went well at the Social Security office. Got in and out of there smoothly. I had all the information needed and the lady was nice and helpful. I have enough work credits to apply for disability. I also qualify for SSI. I just have to wait to see if I'm approved. Sherry had to drive me because my right wrist, my knee and my neck was hurting. It was a good thing I was having a bad day since I was applying for disability... I didn't make it to the Crawfish festival. We're going to try again this weekend. (the last weekend for it) I did make it over to visit my Dad on Sunday. I had a nice visit. It was good to see the family. My niece and nephew are getting so big. Megan looks just like her mom but lighter hair and John looks just like my brother when he was little. They're both so cute. Krystal is ready to have the baby. Actually she should have it today! Aliyah is getting big too. Such a pretty little girl. Well, I need to check and see how Krystal is doing. That's about it for now. Except, I miss my friends and miss working!

Rheumatoids????

"Red alert! Red alert! All joints to your battle stations! We have been infiltrated by the inflamed Rheumatoids! This is a full scale attack!"

Resistance is futile...

What the frack?

Yes, this seems to be a full-blown flare... I swear this came on strong last night. The swelling went down in my hand and I could move it pretty well, then bam! My shoulders started getting that piercing pain. This is both shoulders this time. My hips are getting that stabbing feeling if I move them just a little, shooting pains into my groin. (yes that is "groin" he-he!) My left elbow is throbbing too. Walking is barely possible. And again I have to keep my arms pinned to my sides and can only move them from the elbows down. As Angel well knows, I look like I have flippers instead of arms!

If this weren’t so fracking funny, I’d lose it!

These $4,000 Remicade treatments are working wonders! Woo hoo! (that’s sarcasm)

So I will be in bed most of the day. With an occasional trip to the loo. You know where to find me! I might bug the hell out of all of you with annoying bulletins...

Beam me up Scotty!

P.S. Maybe it should be Rheumatoidians. Rheumatoids sounds a lot like hemorrhoids!