One down

 One more to go.  I got my High Dose Flu shot on Friday morning.  On Monday I will get the Covid booster and then both are crossed off my list for another year!  

My Rheumatologist wants me to try a different medication for my RA and I cannot have any vaccinations while on the medication...so I will get my vaccinations and then wait two weeks and try the new med.  I am so not impressed with my Rheumatologist...he said "Oh your blood work is showing so much inflammation"...yes...go figure...I could have told him that.  He has no explanation why my Ferritin level is still high....nor does he care.  He also said "You have tried so many RA meds and failed them all"  no news to me...as if that statement helps at all.  

I will just keep on keeping on and hope that sooner or later the Clinic in Grand Forks will recruit a Rheumatologist.   My Primary Care Dr says they are trying their best in recruitment. 

I hope that both vaccinations will be smooth going with no major couch time. I could have gotten them both at once...but did not want to press my luck. 

Supper was roast pork, mashed potatoes, gravy and baked carrots.  Comfort food.

Minnesota weather: It was frosty!

Far Side

What a week

 It was a busy week.  

Monday: Injection into my SI joint left side...the usual sting like a bee...hold real still.  About 48 hours after the injection I noticed some relief.  Not  a lot ...but some.   The Dr. there thinks I have multiple problems...SI joint, L4 and L5, RA and PTLDs (Post Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome).  Go figure.  I am on the wait list to see the Neurosurgeon...right now my appointment is on May 30.  Who knows when or if I can have surgery.  Supper was BLTs and peaches.

Tuesday: A day off to catch up with the many things on my desk and a number of things on my mind.  I sewed on buttons, put away some odds and ends properly.  Supper was Pork Chops and Wild Rice.

Wednesday:  I did the grocery shopping after I had a Dexa Scan...from the report it looks like my bones are better than in 2017.  Who knew?  Supper was Moons Over My Hammy ( Over easy eggs on bread topped with sliced ham and cheese and then grilled to perfection).

Thursday: Stopped by the Clinic and had Lab work...all is well there.  Got the car gassed up and went through the car wash, and to the bank while Far Guy had his weekly infusion.  He is finally feeling a bit stronger and is coughing less...he is walking and keeping track of his steps. I spent some time on the phone with some idiots at our Internet/TV provider who changed their billing software which caused a glitch in how I pay their bill. Of course they want me to pay using their system and not bill pay...I told them forget that crap.  I do all the payments through bill pay at our bank. Dumb asses...they also asked me to rate their customer service...ya u betcha.  Supper was salad and Impossible Italian Sausage Pie.

Friday: Far Guy has an appointment with a dietician to see what other high protein things I can feed him to gain back some of the 20 pounds he lost in the last year...10 pounds were lost just in March alone.  I have a Rheumatology virtual appointment on Friday afternoon.  I have little to no confidence in him.  Right now I take Tylenol and THC Gummies for the pain.  Supper will be Apple Pancake.

Not sure what the weekend will bring...other than maybe all the snow will melt in the yard. 

We saw six Robins as we drove into our yard yesterday...I sat outside quite awhile in the evening hoping to hear or see a Robin...no luck...I heard a Crow and a Woodpecker.  I am certain she who sees robins first saw the robins before me again! 

Far Side

Stuff

 Finally I am done with Doctor appointments for a bit.   I have two types of Arthritis...Rheumatoid and Psoriatic, possibly Lyme Arthritis and Chronic Pain Syndrome. 

My Doctor up here in Grand Forks started me on an antidepressant that sometimes helps with joint pain and it seems to be working.  My every other week injections of Humira also seem to be helping finally.  I have kept a pain diary since November 1st.  The past week my pain has been less...I am at a six instead of a nine or ten. I still have severe fatigue...the Doctor hopes that will get better as the pain retreats. 

I have Polyclonal Hypergammaglobulinemia. The Hematologist and the Rheumatologist believe it is from Rheumatoid Arthritis.  Basically my immune system has gone nuts making so many antibodies.   There is nothing that can be done about it.  It won't kill me. Just another by product of arthritis.  The only way to treat it is to get rid of the underlying cause...which is Arthritis. 

 Ya well if I had a magic wand to wave! 

One day at a time.  One foot in front of the other! 

Far Side

It is what it is

 I am a little bummed this week...but it is what it is. 

I have been seeing a few Doctors and having some tests. 

I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and have begun a medication that is supposed to help with the pain in three to twelve weeks.  ( hoping for the three) My Rheumatologist says that it varies from person to person...so far the medication is not great on my stomach....makes it hurt...but what is one more pain to add to a whole bunch. 

I have nodules on my wrists, knuckles, legs, and pain in most of my joints...the worst being my hips and my back and neck feel like they are broken.   I have RA Nodules in my lungs...so the Dr thinks I have had RA undiagnosed for a really long time. 

What helps...warmth and rest...I have the fatigue to go along with it all. 

My Great Grandfather on my Mother's side of the family had Rheumatoid Arthritis.  He lived to be 74 years old.  Neither my Grandparents nor parents have Rheumatoid Arthritis.

So far the joints that are real wonky are in my fingers and knuckles and my toes.

The medication I am taking is Arava.  It will totally wipe out my immune system. 

It took forever to get a referral to a Rheumatologist...I waited for an appointment since last January.  I have had Chronic Lymes since 2000/2013...well now they think that it was not Chronic Lymes but RA...or maybe both. 

At least now something is being done that may help...

Far Side

Hello October

 We said Goodbye to September and a week full of medical appointments.   Hope we are done for a bit.  Chronic Lymes is still kicking my butt.

Yesterday after the last medical appointment we went to Menards...had not been there for a long time so I wandered through the solar light aisle and filled up my cart!  Well not quite but I have new solar lights in  the yard now.  Found the cutest fairy lights that are battery operated for the wreath outside the door.   We went out for lunch through the drive through at A & W.   Talk about a big day in town!!

Back at home I painted the garage door...it will need a second coat....Far Guy woodcarved and worked on Tilly.   It was a really nice Fall day 71F or 22 C eh!

After supper ( Ribs and a Baked Potato) I sat outside and watched all the new solar lights come on!  Only one party pooper...and it may just need more solar rays:) 

Far Side

Kitchen Gadget and Update

 We had way too many tomatoes.  Lots of yellow pear and two larger red tomatoes.  So I chopped them up and cooked them, used my antique food mill/strainer and strained off the juice free of seeds and skins. 

This old food mill/strainer hangs in the back room and only comes out when I make vegetable soup...to strain the tomatoes.  

It comes apart for easy cleaning...but that old wire mesh is another story...I have to whack it in the sink many times to get it clean. 

The tomato juice went in the freezer to be taken out when I make vegetable soup this Fall. 

I finally completed 30 plus days of antibiotics and I am beginning to feel like a real person.  I still tire easily and have some aches but for the most part I am greatly improved.  I am happy to put this miserable month of August behind me. 

Far Side

Groceries and stuff

 We are still ordering and picking up groceries.  Since I have been so tired it is easier that way, then I go into one grocery store to pick out fruit.  There is still a Skippy Peanut Butter shortage and sometimes the Lime Outshine Bars are sold out.  Seems like it varies from week to week...oranges are just pathetic this summer.  Sweet corn is being sold and ranges in price from $5 a dozen to $14 a dozen.

I am still very tired but I think I am slowly getting better.  I am tolerating the medication and will be happy when my 30 days is up ( I am on day 15 now).  Most days I am tired and my left leg hurts and my right arm, sometimes my ear hurts and sometimes my neck and my glands are still swollen....all normal with Lymes. It may take up to six months before I feel "normal."  Far Guy is doing okay....he is taking good care of me.  He supervises my nap time ...of course as soon as my head hits the pillow I am out like a light. 

This is the blank that this years woodcarving starts with.   Far Guy carves just about every day. 

Far Side

Onward and forward

 No choice except to soldier on and make the best of everyday. 

Joe Pye Weed along a creek,

The only thing you can do for Lymes is take the antibiotics and rest.  I am doing that.  We live in the woods...ticks happen....deer and other animals spread them around.  We have a new camera system that made us aware of a wild kitty cat and a skunk. 

Far Side  

Double Dose

 I have an active case of Lymes on top of my Chronic Lymes...isn't that just peachy keen. 

The bullseye mark on my thigh made it a positive diagnosis. ( My bullseye is about the size of a silver dollar and perfectly round and can appear 3 -30 days after a tick bite) I have no idea when I sustained a tick bite  and did not see a tick.  I must have scratched it off or my clothing rubbed it off. 

I saw my Doctor on Monday morning she wants me to take between 21 and 30 days of antibiotics.  She said to take it as long as my stomach would handle it.  She said I should feel better after a while. 

I have a terrible ear ache, it is most likely the spot that Lymes decided to attack at the moment. Like my Doctor said " You never know with Lymes what it will do." 

Joe Pye Weed starting to bloom.  Native to Minnesota.

Good thing I have very little planned for the next couple of weeks.   I am headed for a gold star in napping.

Far Side

Residue

a small amount of something that remains after the main part has gone or been taken or used.

I had Lymes from a tick about 22 years ago...untreated.  That left me with residual Lymes.  

Every once in a while it rears its ugly head.   It is miserable.

So I take my medication (doxycycline) until it goes back to where it came from until the next time. 

The symptoms I get are: headache...which I got about two weeks ago and should have known what was coming. Fatigue, chills, swollen lymph nodes, large muscle aches, joint pain and neck stiffness....death would have been welcomed. 

 I am not sure what made the flare surface this time...I was most likely too busy and a bit tired so it got the best of me for a couple of days. 

I am feeling better now, but will take it easy for several more days.  ( I had a five hour "nap" yesterday.)  My Doctor is well aware how a flare effects me and with the medication plan in place I will recover. 

Far Side