Tag Archives: rheumatoid arthritis

FevER: My First Auto-Immune Hospital Trip

24 Tuesday Dec 2013

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Dealing with an auto-immune is the most frustrating thing I have ever come across. There is never a real explanation for why things happen.

 

Friday marked the first day I spent in the hospital because of my auto-immune. I always knew it was a possibility, but honestly, I never thought it would happen.

I woke up at my usual time but I felt unbelievably awful. I was flushed and weak. I could not move and the pain from my sinus headache was crippling. I searched around for my thermometer and took my temperature. 102.5! I have never had such a high fever.

I had a sinus infection but I was already on antibiotics for four days. It did not make sense I would spike a fever at the end of dosing.

I called my doctor and he told me to see my GP fast. Slight problem, I could not get up, let alone drive. He told me I had to get to the hospital, call 911. I could not sit and wait with a fever this high.

I called 911 and went to the closest hospital. Upon admission, my temperature was 101.6. They first drained me of my blood for all sorts of tests, gave me a liter of fluids and got me on amped up Motrin for the pain and fever. IV meds are glorious: within 15 minutes I felt less pain and more alert. However, I started dozing.

Sleep was the motif for the day. I was in and out of consciousness. They must have continually dosed me for the pain and fever because I could not stay awake, even during conversations.

My bloodwork came back normal. I did not have the flu. There was no rhyme or reason for the fever. They did a CT Scan to check my sinuses, gave me a liter of fluids and pumped me full of IV contrast for imaging.

Guess what? It was a mild sinus infection. Probably on its way out because of the previous antibiotics.

Seriously? Really?? I spiked a 102.5 fever and a health scare because of a mild sinus infection I already knew I had??

 

After the CT scan results came in, the doctors discharged me. Since then, I have slept, eaten, slept some more and rested. I am still rather weak but I feel a ton better. They put me on a higher dose antibiotic and the sinus infection is almost gone. Yay!!

 

Upon further speculation, I might have a reason why this happened. Wednesday night, Saachi slept with me. My allergies to the pets aggravate my sinus headaches. Thursday, my headache and my infection were worse and my immune system was working over time when I went to teach my class (2nd graders to 5th graders). While I did not contract anything new, I must have been exposed to a new bacteria that sent my body into overload.

That is my theory.

 

I am glad I came home the same day. I am glad it was only a sinus infection. It could have been any number of reasons so I am glad it was nothing worse. I am mostly relieved I have had no RA symptoms. I have not flared up!

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Even More Good News!

11 Wednesday Dec 2013

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I do not have to see my doctor for another two months! TWO! Count ’em: TWO! And I do not have to see my gastroenterologist for THREE MONTHS! Count ’em: THREE!

Okay, I do not know if that really has any real significance but in my head it means: no blood work, no keeping a close eye on me, no co-payment!

It may seem I am getting better. I might be. However, I think I finally hit a plateau. I may not be getting better but more importantly, I am not getting worse. Which means, I am managing!

I would really like to be better, but hey, at this point, I will take what I can get!

I am still having trouble with my fingers and wrists, fine motor skills seem to evade me sometimes. But I manage to push through.

The only thing my doctor is not pleased about is I went from 8mg to 11mg of prednisone. I should have stayed at 8mg or hopefully even 7mg! Given I cannot lower the pred right now (I will totally lose function of my hands), I will start a bone-calcium supplement prescription thing (can you tell I have not researched this medication yet? :P). I need to get an exo-scan and I will be all set!

Plateau! Yay!

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

A Little Good News

06 Friday Dec 2013

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Well, self-made good news.

I am climbing again! In the evenings so my nail painting schedule has gone a little wonky. But, I am climbing again!

The best part is, my stiff and painful joints are better, my mobility is better, and so is my endurance. It was just a few weeks ago  I could not even get up a 5.9 without feeling like I was getting worse. Now, I am scurrying up 5.10s with ease. Well, more ease 🙂  I can even do five or six climbs during one session! This is a huge step in the right direction.

 

The difference comes from me focusing on my grip. Even though, in general, my joints feel better, my fingers are still a bit of a problem. I seem to have lost some fine motor skills but I can climb longer if I do not hold on to the holds very hard.

I focus on my leg and footwork and it really pays off! I pull less with my arms or “straight arm” the holds and it really alleviates some of the stress on my upper body joints! (Straight arming means keeping the entire arm straight, what this does is re-allocate pressure from the muscles to the skeleton).

I guess it is true what they say, a boulder that continually rolls gathers no moss.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

I Am Grateful Because… (A RA Thanksgiving)

28 Thursday Nov 2013

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I may be new to the diagnosis and passed through the “numb” stage to the “realization” stage of how this disease will affect my life but I know I could have it a lot worse.

 

I am grateful I only have rheumatoid arthritis and it has not affected other parts of my body.

I am grateful because I have not had to take time off from work because of my condition.

I am grateful because, even during a flare, I can still live my life.

I am grateful because I could be on more than 12 pills every morning.

I am grateful because, even though I cannot keep up with one full-time job, I am fortunate to have two part-time ones.

I am grateful because I can afford to buy food for me and my pets.

I am grateful because I can still take care of my “pack”.

I am grateful because, even though I would never have imagined living at home after college, I have a strong support system when I am unable to complete everyday tasks.

I am grateful because I have friends who never make me feel like a burden.

I am grateful because I can still rock-climb.

I am grateful because I can still work.

I am grateful because I have my independence.

I am grateful I can afford my nail polish and make-up/skincare addiction.

I am grateful because I am still under my father’s insurance and do not need to worry financially about my condition.

 

I am grateful because my RA has not taken over my life.

 

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

The Chronicles of the Infusion: November Orencia

27 Wednesday Nov 2013

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I decided to write about the infusion each month because apparently I do not have any clear idea of how I will react.

 

Last month, I was extremely weak. I slept for five hours straight and did not have the energy to take care of my pets the same evening.

This month, except for the sensitivity during the infusion, I felt okay. If I had work this evening, I could have managed!

I slept for about three hours. My arm was relatively weak, and in general, I felt a little tired but otherwise, functional.

 

Definitely a lot better than last month!

The Infusion, Part Three

27 Wednesday Nov 2013

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I should re-name this to the Chronicles of the Infusion or something of the sort.

 

I finally managed to sit for my infusion and was it horrendous! The tech very nicely increased the drip so it finished in 20 minutes vs. the usual 40.

This month we put the IV in my left elbow. We switch the IV between arms because of scarring. The scarring makes me more sensitive to the prick and makes it harder for the tech to find the vein. My left arm has more scarring than my right because of the added blood draws.

 

This month, I was feeling nervous and in turn, faint. My blood pressure was lower than usual and the needle prick was super painful. The tech could not touch my arm at all because of how sensitive I was. Within minutes my arm turned bright red and I formed a rash.

 

I think it was mostly psychological. I completely psyched myself out (which would explain the extremely low blood pressure) but it sucks that my left arm is so much more difficult than my right.

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.

Damage Done?

25 Monday Nov 2013

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Apologies on the hiatus. Because of the delay in my medications I started feeling worse and worse and completely uninspired..and a little pissed off.

A) I will sit for my infusion on Wednesday! (the day before US Thanksgiving!) so I will be down for the holidays.

B) I have not built up the medication enough so the week after the holidays I will probably feel awful as well.

Merp. (Aka the sound for how I feel right now)

Even though I do not feel well and I am experiencing a flare, I still push myself to work and exercise.

Here’s my question:

 

A flare = some amount of inflammation.

Some amount of inflammation = my immune system is going after the cartilage around my joints

My immunity attacking itself = damage?

 

I know the Methotrexate and Orencia protect my joints from damage and the Prednisone keeps the inflammation down, but….if I push myself even through a flare am I creating more damage? or am I just exacerbating the pain symptoms?

It is so difficult to see if I am causing damage since there are no visible symptoms…

I have decided that I am going to continue to push myself through my normal activities but rest hard…if that makes sense.

Thoughts? Should I just take a step back or should I just continue on?

 

Hi, my name is Monica and I have RA.