Hi lovies!
I know I haven’t been around very much the past few months and just wanted to give a lil life update. So, since the beginning of this year I’ve felt pretty shitty physically. I was fatigued all the time, sore all over and more and more my joints started hurting. It got to the point that my hands would ache driving to work and I was out sick all the time even though I never really came down with anything - I just felt sick. But I brushed it all off as stress or lack of exercise or whatever else and just kept going.
Well after my best friend got diagnosed with MS back in April I decided it was time to take my health more seriously. I made an appointment with my primary who decided I needed to see a rheumatologist for my joint pain. After a couple appointments and a lot of bloodwork my rheumy thinks I have inflammatory arthritis. My mom has had rheumatoid arthritis since I was little so part of me wasn’t surprised I also got a form of arthritis. For those of you who don’t know, there are over 100 types of arthritis and related diseases!
Inflammatory arthritis basically means my immune system is out of whack and attacking my joints causing inflammation and pain. But that’s not all! It can make you feel like shit in general, affect your eyes and makes me fall asleep at my desk tired (which is crazy and really how I knew something was going on with my body... I have always had more energy than I know what to do with. I don’t nap. I have never fallen asleep in class or at work. Listen to your body people!)
So, treatment... I started a DMARD (disease modifying antirheumatic drug) and they gave me naproxen which is just Aleve++ The naproxen helps and I know bc I was starting to feel better, stopped taking it, felt terrible and then realized I was just finally getting enough pain relief to feel normal LOL. The DMARD can take between 4-6 months to work and Ive been on it for two weeks so we shall see. Ideally this med with help with my inflammation, fatigue and stop/delay disease progression depending on who you ask. If it can help me from developing full blown rheumatoid arthritis that would be amazing but my rheumy was reluctant to make any promises 😆
So now my part in all of this is that I have to take excellent care of myself... sounds easy right? Wrong! I am bad at self care and great at ignoring my needs. Turns out this is unhealthy (who knew?) and now that I literally have to take care of myself to function I’m realizing how much I used to neglect myself. No more skipping breakfast, gotta eat to take my med. Want to maintain joint function? Better exercise (gently) and stretch every day! Etc etc etc. TBH it was a difficult adjustment for me at first, but one I’m finding to be enjoyable now. For the first time in my life, I’m going to put myself first and not feel guilty about it.
So I am sorry if I don’t post as often as I used to. I will try to more now that I’m feeling ok, but if I don’t please know it’s because I’m focusing on my health and taking care of me. And I hope you all do the same for your lovely selves! You deserve it 😘
Do you have a favorite self care routine? Or a chronic illness you have to deal with? And if you have arthritis does anything help you?? I’m curious to know 🖤
Love ya babes!
