It has been almost exactly four years since I last wrote on this blog. I don’t even know if people still blog! But, I will because I like to write.
It has been crazy few years. But I have to start with the most important change: I moved to Australia to attend. veterinary. school.
That’s right. I made it! 🏆
Unfortunately, today is not about vet school and all the good things that are happening.
Today, it’s about RA: that pesky autoimmune lurking in the background of my life.
I would first like to say that I have felt pretty darn good since moving here. I honestly don’t know if it’s the weather, the stress or the quality of food. I lowered my steroids, I take fewer Tylenol (Panadol) and the opioids are no longer a daily necessity. I am able to handle animals of any size and perform surgical skills without giving swollen joints a second thought…
At least…
Until:
October 23, 2026.
I have not had a particularly bad flare since moving to Australia. I’ve been lucky (especially since specialist visits are over $500 a pop and I certainly can’t afford that!)
But today…Today was different (by the way, I am dictating most of this post…).
Why?
Weather. ☔️
For the last ten days, we have had a spell of non-stop rain. Peppered throughout were a handful of thunderstorms. And, if you ever read any of my previous posts, you know that humidity, barometric pressure changes and cold are major triggers for me. For context, I am in the Southern Hemisphere and we are just getting out of winter. Technically, it is spring but it has been particularly cool.
But, I have to acknowledge there may be other factors at play. I have been lowering the steroids, I am between 7 and 8mg, and consistently taking the former. Usually I’m OK but maybe this ☔️ system pushing through was just too much. I simply cannot keep up right now. It will rain, at least, for another week and I am a little upset.
Maybe I thought I was close to remission. I am not on Orencia anymore, I do not take Prolia, and I am no longer on methotrexate…
And, it was working.
Maybe I got cocky?
I am a lot less active as the semester winds down. I stay at home and study. I am simply not moving around. While that may cause a flare in and of itself; it actually masked my rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. I didn’t know I was flaring. This is only an issue once a week when we practice surgical skills and today was revision of everything we’ve learned thus far.
I didn’t feel horrible so I did not take any pain medication before the practical…
I wanted to cry from the pain. I visibly winced with every movement. I couldn’t practice patient prepping or gloving. I couldn’t suture. I didn’t even practice draping because I could not lift my arms above my shoulders without wanting to die. In that moment, I wished I were dead simply because it was more comfortable.
And I descended into chaos. Even my costochondritis reared its ugly head ribs because it feels like I am breathing with a weight over my chest. It hurts to oxygenate.
This is extremely frustrating because I’ve done so well up until now. Yes, I have had small flares here and there but nothing so extreme…in YEARS.
Logically, I know this flare will pass; as each one always does. But I am just frustrated that the only way down is through a steroid bump. Yes, a higher dose will only be a few days but it was so difficult to lower to 7mg that I simply do not want to start at ground zero again.
I am about to go into finals. I have to sit at a computer to take my examinations. I have to show off my practical skills, standing, and I have to perform microbiology, parasitology, and bacteriology diagnostics in a lab…
Why were the last three years fantastic? Well, ‘fantastic’ is an exaggeration, but compared to how I feel right now I felt pretty darn good. So, what triggered the flashbacks of 2011 and 2023?
And, why now? I guess the only predictable thing about RA is its unpredictability.
So what’s the short term answer?
Steroids. Unfortunately.
As per, it’s about putting out the fire 🔥 and I guess, the why doesn’t matter as much.
Hi, I’m Monica and I have RA. And today, I hate it.
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