Hoping today is less of a flare up day than the past two. Trying not to take extra prednisone but seriously not sure another day like yesterday is tolerable. Thinking about what brings on such acute flares. More activity than normal in the recent past? But I've been off all extra work all week. Not enough sleep? Too much sleep? The variables are everywhere and while some people see a correlation between what they do and the disease, it isn't always so clear. I try to stick to a normal routine and most of the time it is ok. When it gets bad, it is kind of like out of the blue, does its thing, and moves on. The biologic medication and pred seems to control things the best (when the biologics work - which does not seem to be lately.)
Another variable is diet, with people citing their own experiences as gospel. If I were to take in all the advice, I would not be ingesting meat of any kind, sugar, flour, corn, tomatoes and nightshade veggies, processed foods, milk and cheese, eggs, salt, wheat, soy, fruit, rice, potatoes, caffeine, soda, and more. I've tried eliminating these things at different times over the last thirteen years and have not seen any patterns in my own health. I keep out processed foods just because I think it is gross to eat them. But I still flare up. Sigh. Horrible disease, and frustrating as people probably see me as a sow moving lump gimping around the school building like a stuck pig, not knowing there is a raging storm inside. At least that is what I feel like on flare days. Boo. Onward.
Today's art link is to one of the most thorough online demonstrations I've seen. The amazing Caryl Bryer Fallert-Gentry has created a detailed account of her process online here. She goes through the entire quiltmaking process and shows how she uses CorelDraw to create fabric for the smallest parts of her design that can not be pieced. Novices and experienced quilters alike will pick up tips, here. I want her studio! The clean, non-Toby's floors, uniform furniture, and clear walls are inspiring to say the least. So much different than where I create. Sigh. But, it isn't the where, it's the what. I do wish I had a more open space to work in and might undertake a studio overhaul over vacation, maybe even painting the walls a soft green. Condensing fabric so it isn't such a mess in there. Sigh. If this flare ever ends!
Happy Thursday!