Chronically Speaking

Next on the menu

chronicallyspeaking — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 02:45:23 +0000

Right let me tick them all off..Enbrel, check. Humira, check. Methotrexate, check. Plaquenil, check. Prednisone, check. Gold, check.

Next on the menu we have Orencia infusions.

I wonder what lovely adventures are in store for me with this little bit of medical magic.

So far I have had very little improvement with any of the about medications, except for an initial improvement with the Humira which unfortunately waned after a few short months.

I am keen to get started on this latest cocktail hopefully relief is just a few short doses away.

Coping with the pain

chronicallyspeaking — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 10:55:43 +0000

Pain seems to be the one constant when you live with chronic illness. Everything else like blood tests and scans and x-rays seem to ebb and flow at different times, but for me pain seems to be a constant companion.

With my pain the only thing that changes is the intensity of it. Some days I can use distraction as a coping mechanism and others I need to bring out the chemical big guns. Night times are the worst, hour after hour with unremitting pain and only the radio for company.

Who ever it was that said, “It is always darkest before the dawn”, must have suffered a chronic illness I reckon.

This is me.

chronicallyspeaking — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 02:15:58 +0000

I have Rheumatoid Arthritis.

I have Lupus.

I am frumpy, fat, forty and fed-up.

I am finding life a bit of a battle and hope by sharing my thoughts here I will find better ways to cope.