The Girl With Arthritis

Today's hospital visit was mostly great. I found that any crystals once in my kidneys had flushed so my kidneys are fine. Also I was prescribed Enbrel to treat my psoriatic arthritis, which I am positive about. My rhuematologist and neprhologist (Kidney doctor) have been working very close together to ensure my kidneys will not be damaged with all the medicines. I'm very grateful to have two very caring doctors. However, there were rather unhappy moments. This morning I needed a kideny ultrasound, which seemed to be fine until the technican began to appear uneasy. He left for a moment and came back with two doctors, who were all worried about something not appearing healthy. It's a very scary and vulnerable moment to have several doctors stare at your results, practically ignoring you because whatever is on the screen is scaring them beyond belief. It seemed to be nothing, thankfully. Another rather unhappy time was when my kidney doctor immediately had me seen by anoth...

Tomorrow I shall leave my school and friends. For I am going to the hospital. Again. It's actually a day filled with various appointments, so hopefully I'll bring nothing but very good news. While I'm seeing my usual rheumatologist, I'm also seeing my kidney specialist to determine correct treatments for my current kidney affliction (Calcium Crystals). I'm trying to stay positive that everything will be just fine. Also tomorrow I may be put on Enbrel, an immune surpressant. I'm nervous as some of the side effects don't seem too fun. One risk while taking Enbrel is a higher cancer risk, however this doesn't bother me as much as the higher chance of appendicitis (which requires an emergency operation to remove). I'm not so much worried about actually getting appendicitis and being in a lot of pain. More so, I've been laughing and joking with my friends saying I'll get it while walkiing in a crowded corridor at school and people will have ...

Last night as I talked with some mates through a webcam, I was on this website for people who are 'chronically ill.' I cringe at that phrase. Chronic = very serious and long lasting. Illness = I'm sick. And I know I have a chronic disease: I know that I'm sick and probably will be for a very long time. But anyway, some of the things I came across on this website was really funny. Suggestions that people who are ill get that are simply  hilarious. What medical words really mean, or at least to us. It's a huge relief to know there are more people just like you. But what I laughed at, sometimes my friends didn't when I read it off. I know they wouldn't get all of it so I didn't read all of it to them, just things that I forget people don't understand. Like when people tell you that you take too many medicines and they're making you sick. They don't know. When I know I'm going to the hospital, I'll tell my friends I'm going to be ab...

I haven't updated much about my arthritis in a while so I think I'll start off with that. My muscles are really sore and my joints are creeky, but nothing out of the ordinary. What amazes some people is that I typically am in a lot of pain but I don't take pain medications. I mean, treatment like Methotrexate is just that: Treatment. It's not a huge pain reliever, though it is for some people. But mostly we all take medications to cope with the pain and some have nasty side effects. And I don't bother. Really. I can take about three times more ibuprofen in one day (Doctor prescribed) versus the average dose for others person and still be in a lot of pain. My mum tells me it makes me look more relaxed and calm and that's good when it's time to calm down like at night but not when I need to get homework and chores done, on top of finding time to talk with my friends. At the moment I am researching arthritis treatments that relieve pain. I've found a few ...

They all say its the easy fix. Methotrexate, they claim, is a little miracle and all it takes is some little pills, a little liquid or an injection once a week. That's all, and there shouldn't be any side effects and if there are, we'll take care of it with this little pill. They coax you to take it and claim any side effect is all in your mind. But it's much more difficult than that, I promise you.It has side effects! I take about 20.0 mg of this wonderful drug once a week. It's not a lot compared to the amount others take, and though I try and tough it out, today I simply cannot. I can't tell you which day will be my Methotrexate day: Some days I just can't handle taking it. It's an extreme battle for me to take it. I use a clear capsule to put all seven of the small tablets in. My mum does this for me because I can't handle the smell of it. When I actually take it, it's not the simple fact of swallow with a little water. It's choke it do...

Arthur is just fine: I doubt he'll flare up anytime soon. Our friend Methotrexate seems to be keeping him under control. Methotrexate is more complicated than I first thought. I asked my rheumy if the nauesa pill I take before Methotrexate is as strong as most stomach ache relievers. He told me there's no answer because the pill isn't for my stomach: It's for my brain. Turns out Methotrexate doesn't affect your stomach but you brain! The pill keeps the Methotrexate from reacting signals in your brain that make you sick. You learn something new everyday! This is probably why a lot of people get depression and such.

I'm definatly in a holiday rush. A little stress yes, but that is mostly from school. I'm too busy to be stressed! I'm pumping out paintings for the family like mad, trying to do homework, decorate, keeping human contact, and trying to enjoy myself. Of course, this has brought (as expected) soreness and more fatigue. I'm dropping dead in my bed later at night than I would like because I can't even pull myself off the couch. My rheumatologist put me on a pain reliever everyday but I'm wondering when it will work... My bestfriend (who lives very far away from me and also has her own Arthur) is dealing with some boyfriend problems and I've been feeling guilty because I can't help her much. :( Recently too I've learned to stop caring what people think of me. It works well too (so long as you're not having a bad hair day). I move awkwardly because of Arthur and I've come to accept that. I have a hard time making eye contact because I'm ve...