If this is the case, the meds can be responsible for severe and fatal gut problems. One of those little, fastly spoken side effects that gets said as people with RA dance happily on beaches as though they are cured. If this is the case, I am in trouble for both this problem and treating the RA, as the med I am on is the last one I haven’t tried to curb the disease. My immune system has learned how to get around the others and adjust to each medication, making it stop working. This new wrinkle also impacts the pain medication I take, as NSAIDS can make the problem worse. Bottom line is this really, really, really sucks. And is very painful in its own right, on top of the arthritis pain. I've accepted the risk of side effects from these really strong chemo meds but this one is unlivable and just to dangerous.
So, that is where I’ve been. It has been days of being really, really sick and not being able to do much at all. Today I am getting back to work with hopes that I can get through the day without too much trouble. I want to focus on good things, like art! So much coming up in the next few months -- workshops, quilt talks, classes, and more art to make than I ever thought I’d have interest in making. Isn’t this always the way life goes? Just when things were looking good, the AutoImmune Anvil falls out of the sky again.
I am a big believer in routine to get through difficulties, although I have to say the routine of caring for the birds was too much to do the day after I got out of the hospital. What usually takes me twenty minutes took me two hours. No joke. It is a reminder that there will come a day when I can’t take care of them well enough any more. I’d hire someone to help, but can’t find anyone who cares for parrots without driving them north to NH. If I get sick like this again, I can’t guarantee I can get them there, again. The stress of being trapped and extremely ill in a hospital knowing the birds aren’t being fed and watered properly is horrible. God love my friends that stepped up to help make sure they had water, pellets, and some seed mix, but it wasn’t enough. This is a problem I have to solve, soon, just in case.
Like any problem, it is good to look at the silver linings, too. I am humbled by the number of people who offered support and help for “my kids” and me. Thank you, thank you, thank you. And, I’ve lost over 10lbs, too - bonus! Unfortunately, I’d take it back if all this would disappear.
Time to get the day going...need to get in early to get things sorted from the past three days of being absent, Ugh! At least I’ll be with fun kids, art, learning, and laughter all day long. Cheers.