The Girl With Arthritis

I've had a lovely start to the year, if I do say so myself. One of my best friends came and slept over for New Years, and though we didn't do much of anything aside from watching Youtube videos and listen to music, it was nice to have company. I was pleased when I woke up with less morning stiffness than usual. I spent the first day of the new year doing positively nothing. Well, not nothing. We watched Doctor Who, Youtube videos and just hung out in pyjamas until noon. Hey, that's not a bad way to start off the year if you ask me. I'd like to do more of that, if I ever had the time.

My apologizes for not posting in a while: I haven't truely found the time to. But I'm here now and isn't that what really counts? Earlier in the week I actually fell and landed on my back. A few days after my fall, I went to an amusement park, and yes I went on rollercoasters. I probably shouldn't have, but I'm not very sore and I take it as a good sign. The only thing was I was unable to push my harness over my head because of the strain and pain and I needed a friend to help me. But all in all it wasn't a very painful day. My friends and I took it very slowly with a lot of down time. I did most rides, except upside down rollercoaster: I've never been on one before and I don't like the idea of going upside down. I feel like they'd hurt my back and shoulders a lot. Speaking of pain, Dr. Marc put me on a new medicine called Leflunomide. He said it's the same as methotrexate but less severe and I take it once I day. Two weeks later, so far so good...

I don't know how to say this so people will understand, but I'll go on just incase someone is sitting at home wondering if they are alone in this thought as I feel at the moment. During songs or videos, if I hear a line or lyric that is reassuring or comforting, I will re-play it. I'll put myself in my own world and imagine this line is being said to me. Usually along the lines of "Everything will be okay in the end" or "Don't be afraid." Sometimes when you're going through a whole lot, and knowing it will be on going people don't realise how much a simple "It's alright" helps you. No one has ever told me everything will be alright or that I haven't any need to be afraid, or that it's okay to be afraid. Mostly because they don't think to say anything. People really underestimate the value of it. Even doctors, who tend not to put too much emotion into patient treatments, should learn that saying something so simple c...