LOTS! Going on - Yet "Spring" hits with "Winter" Weather, floods, Mudslides, Tornado Season - &?? CHRONIC PAIN!

Most of us have been looking forward to the sun, the warmer days, more light rather than darkness by 5PM, time for kids to be out for the summer soon, college students also, & those of us with chronic pain, hoping the "warmer" days will bring much needed relief.

Although most with different types of joint and muscle pain, such as "arthritic illnesses and diseases", muscle pain, spasms, even some of us that have had a hip repaired, or any type of joint replaced; often the ""cold, dreary, wet" time of winter, can make that pain even worse.

When I first began having migraines at 17 years old, I recall telling my doctors that the "weather" especially storms, or a drastic change between hot and cold, would make my migraines worse. I was told back then that the "weather" had little to do with it. In other words I was "full of bull".... YET... 20 plus YEARS later, and most doctors agree, that changes in the pressures, in the humidity, from cold to hot, or hot to cold, storms, any type of change in our weather, CAN and often DOES effect "pain, swelling, and our general health". 

I even told my Orthopedic Surgeon that operated and replaced both knees, that I had the same "feeling" of "phantom leg pain" at times, as if I had actually had an "amputated leg". Even though my knee was totally repaired, it was a pain as if the knee had not been "replaced" yet. Of course we still have ligaments, tendons, and those types of things that help to hold new "replacement" parts in have "nerve" memory. 

There are day I think back to telling the doctors what I did, and them dismissing me as if I were half nuts! Yet, not that many years later, research proves that it is very true and very possible. 

I've struggled (as many with the flu season as bad as it was and still is bad in some areas) the entire fall and winter, with being disgusted. The weather was so cool, rainy, many of us with "autoimmune issues", the flu being several strains, and many people even people in their 30's passed away from it. So, trying to stay away form the market, from going to Wally World, even from our physicians offices. People were so ill, and it was everywhere. I felt like a "caged animal" at times. It was myself and the fur-babies; we had our own "mini-Thanksgiving", "mini Christmas" and rang in the New Year ourselves at home... alone. 

Now it seems we are being "fooled" at the moment. Like today, it is "beautiful", sunny, not a cloud in the sky, yet the "wind" is either blowing from the North or South, and it's COOL! The mornings are still so cool, going out without a jacket on will be miserable. 

Then by noon, it's warm enough to shed the jacket, and almost warm enough for shorts and short sleeves. Yet, come about 5M, and it begins to cool down. Once again, I am hunting my longer pants and my jacket. 

I spent almost the entire holiday season trying to "nurse" a sinus infection. After weeks and weeks, I tried to "pick" a time when I thought not many would be in Urgent Care, right at the time, that hopefully not all with the flu would be there. The first visit, I got there and no one else was there. By the time, I was leaving, ALL of the staff, and ALL of the patients had masks on! They even gave me one although I was headed out the door, so I would not possibly be able to get contaminated. I would not go into the pharmacy. I drove through for several times, just so I would not get exposed, if I could help it. 

"So far".... I have been able to avoid the flu, BUT NEVER say NEVER... as it goes. For the most part, I feel it has "left the building" but I am still cautious in the market, and in the stores. Washing hands, using the wipes on the baskets, spraying down my reusable bags with Lysol, wiping down my purse, using the hand sanitizer... anything to "knock" down the issue of accidentally being contaminated. 

Yet, I am SO BEHIND! Behind on everything. One of my huge trees, almost has "passed" on me. I have 3 HUGE, HUGE CREPE MYRTLE trees

"Hectic Home" for the AAI Holidays???!!!

"Hectic Holidays For All of Us in a Foggy Brain Haze!"

ONE HECK OF A TYPICAL MONDAY MORNING! 50 plus things to do and I don't know where to begin first! With this being a holiday weekend, which for us as far as the "day" itself, is not all that much trouble. We are taking Mom and going over to Waxahachie to eat at the buffet there at Ryans'... and more than likely we are headed to Winstar for XMAS!!!! I have a new coupons for 2 nights if we wanted to stay in their NEWEST 500 room HOTEL!! I hear it is fabulous! ;) Of course that is a while away. That will depend on weather how all of us feel etc. If we do we can't go but 1 night. I would not leave my dogs but for one night alone. They already have separation anxiety if just one of us leaves for an hour. So one night with us gone is about all they can handle. Even at that it is gotten to where we have to keep them only in our kitchen. We started having issues about a year ago with them peeing where they are not supposed to. Both of both have been house broken for years and years. But, something went on with them a while ago, that every once in a while for no reason one of them will pee in the floor, like behind our sofa etc. I have tried everything, but they get better. Like now this past few weeks has been so much better. But sometimes they will start it and do that for weeks, and then they seem to stop again. So we just don't just in leaving them if we are both gone for an entire day or so with the run of the house anymore. We did for a very long time, until this issue came along. IN fact they have gotten a bit older and I hate going off even over night without one os us here. But, they are always very safe and my kitchen area is huge! So, they are not just crammed in a tiny spot. They have lots of room in my kitchen. Anyway, enough of my moaning and groaning... then either I am having a flare start, or I am just too stressed. I am just on overwhelm.. and I know all of us are. The holidays are an incredibly stressful time for everyone! Then when you are chronically ill, with Autoimmune Arthritic  illnesses such as RA, Lupus, Sjogren's, plus the other hundreds of these diseases & that includes those with chronic pain on top of the entire ordeal,  it puts our "stress" into a whole new category!!!  Then add on how your entire "schedule" gets all turned upside down. For instance, I have a "set" time everyday that I take my medications and eat something for "breakfast". Well that is after the 1ST ONE with all of the pills, as my husband says. Then I also have a set time or day of the week that I clean, mop, sweep, even water my plants, and so forth. Well, this past couple of weeks from all of the "added and unexpected stuff" as in weather change so dramatically, Mom and a medication issue, my computer crapping out on me, Jim and his shoulder still not well, I am not feeling ll that well myself, and the list of "extra and unexpected" just just hindering the "regular" one. Then I had gotten blown out of the water with the holidays so quickly upon us! I haven't written my annual "Christmas Letter", there is fudge to make;  fruitcake that needs to be made early so it takes up all of the flavors. That doesn't include the other one of many things I am just now thinking of, which is we usually make "goodies" that we either put in a basket or a decorative tin. WE take those on Christmas Eve to our close neighbors (about 6 homes) and have made that one of our traditions for Christmas! Then I JUST remembered (another THING forgotten due to my COMPUTER crapping out) is our ANNUAL Sleigh Bell by Wallace we order every year. Since the first Christmas we were together we started buying these sliver and gold sleigh bells made by Wallace Silversmith's. In fact last yesterday we "celebrated" 10 YEARS of them! In fact they added a little note inside the one last year about they saw the we had ordered from them every year.  Actually a store in Kent WA that we found the first Xmas called Silver Superstore. That year it was so late and almost Christmas by the time we found them, that we got the very last one they had for that year. So, now they email me about 2 months ahead of time as a reminder. Well, until a moment ago, I had forgotten that I had not ordered it yet. Som I just told Jim while we were standing on the front porch I needed to come in and order it before they rub out. Low and Behold in my inbox, there was a reminder for me so I would not forget to order it!!! Now call that "ESP" or not... anyway I sure as hack just ordered it! :) If we do NOTHING else we made a promise that we would ALWAYS get our Sleigh Bell no matter what. :)

So, as I make out my TO DO LISTS, and the LISTS to "remind" me about my lists... and that list to make sure I don't forget about all of the other lists... I realize that in "reality" I am going to have to take one breath at a time, do ONE thing at a time, and also "step" into these moments to know there is no way I can do it all. Either I need to "cut" some things down smaller, or less, possibly try to NOT do some things, and then NOT feel "guilty" because I could not do it all.

As much as I sure as heck (like EACH of you) want to think I am "super human" especially with all of my "bionic" parts, one would think I was Super Human... I am admit I'm not... no longer can I do it all, be it all, make EVERYONE happy all the time, and be able to go on and not stop to find out I am just worn to nothing and come into a huge flare. Which I fear I am having now. Between sudden cracks in the corners of my mouth, my throat soar, and feeling just out of it... I feel as if I am definitely 'flaring" .
So I remind YOU! PLEASE TAKE CARE OF YOU FIRST!!!! I know, I know, we hear it constantly... but if we don't we honestly not of help to anyone if we make ourselves ill. So, some times as difficult as it is to say NO... that two letter word needs to be a GRAND word in our vocabulary.


I close for now in saying, that we are super at all the things we DO get done! We are NOT a disappointment if we aren't able to do it all.

Living Life In An AutoImmune Illness "Zone"....

Life as we have lived it... and now Life as WE that deal with AutoImmune illnesses Live it Differently  - Yet Happily!

As some of you know, I live in TX, just below the Dallas area. WE are having our first blast of very COLD weather today and over the next few days. We are now under a Winter Storm Advisory, with possibly sleet, ice, and some snow. Usually we get more ice than the fun stuff, snow. As I was talking about on FB, how I can "predict" the weather almost better than the forecasters can, the memories came pouring back to me of when I was able to go snow skiing. For years, before I had all of the illnesses happen, we went snow skiing, every year the week of my birthday. It was our annual vacation, that I saved up for as soon as I got home from the one we were on. I put money back in a "Christmas savings" fund every week for the entire year. Part we used for Santa and Christmas and the other was for our trip. Those are still some incredible memories for me. That was a time when I was on those skis, I felt completely "FREE". All of the snow and the forests, and just a quiet feeling of peace always came over me as I started down the mountain. Don't get me wrong... I took some hellacious spills. We always made videos so we could laugh about each other and our "Oh Crap" falls. You knew when one of us was going to take a very funny fall, because "Oh Crap" was all you heard! ;) Anyway, below is the post from Face Book that I wanted to share with everyone here. 

This may not sound like a "post" about autoimmune arthritic illnesses, yet it has all to do with then for me. Now I can no longer snow ski. In fact there are many things that have been crossed off my list, because I no longer do them. Mowing my lawn, and tilling the garden. Going to the lake and being in the sun. Making plans like a trip for something to do months away. I never know even a week before something is planned if I am going to be able to go or not. There are times I feel so bad that I cancel doctors appointments. I am just too fatigued to go, especially if the appointment are in Dallas. 

This comes to the place of why I can't do things any longer. It is certainly not age. There are MANY people I saw on those slopes as Wolf Creek Pass that were in their 70's. I am sure some of them lived close, so they have much more practice. But it is just the point "age" does not necessarily cause someone to stop doing things they enjoy doing. As you are reading this, I am sure you are thinking back to the times that are special to you also. Vacations, visiting family or friends, gardening, riding a bike, just a number of things that so many love to do, and do it. Age is not the factor at all. 

But, having an illness that can even strike when you are very young, in your teens, can stop you from doing many things that you loved to do, or would love to do. Is it a difficult thing to handle? You bet it is. I know I speak for not just myself but ALL of us with an Autoimmune Arthritic Illness, or any type of Autoimmune illness and/or Chronic Pain/Chronic Illnesses such as FM and CFS that also take away so many things in life that either we once took for granted; or at least never gave a thought that we would not be able to do them "the next time". Yet, it can strike anyone. Even though "women" are probably 80 more times or more to come down with one of these illnesses, men are also victims of these diseases. So, they do not discriminate when it comes to gender, age, or race. I have read articles and I am sure to do those studies that African-American people are more prone to these illnesses such as Lupus than other genders. I am sure researchers have been studying that one a great deal to find out why a nationality would make a difference. Also, why so many more women are much more likely to get the disease than men. 

My point to this is one, I did have some great memories flow through my mind when it comes to snowy weather. I also have these "blasting" memories of how much these horrid diseases take away from our lives. From changing relationships, families, jobs, and everything about your life basically, all of us can't help but be angry at times about it. Even though like myself, we come to accept it for the most part, I still feel at times like a piece of me has died... has left me... and changed me forevermore.

WE do learn to deal with it. I have in most ways. You find ways to compensate for what an autoimmune illness takes away. You learn new hobbies, or a different way to do them. You discover another way in a relationship to be close, and educate your spouse, and your family so they will truly understand the "why" of the things you can't do. 

As I often talk about my life, a flowing river, where there are bends, turns, white rushing waters, and then the bridges I flow under. The climb to the top of life's mountain. I scratch, crawl, and inch my way up, and sometimes I slide back down, as the rocks and stones may scar me, I still look up and know that is where I am supposed to be. 

For the rest of the year, and into the next year, I hope each of you who suffer and are inflicted with these still misunderstood life altering illnesses, such as RA, :Lupus, Sjogren's, MS, Still's disease, MCTD, UCTD, JA, pernicious anemia and the 100 other AI diseases out there, can look UP and reach up to see that you also can stand atop your own "life"s mountain".... and reach up to the stars... and feel whole again... even if that means you must "change" how you enjoy life in a new way!!!!


This below is a Face Book post from this morning... I wanted to say it also along with the above writing.... 

 I imagine you are probably getting it up there worse than we are. they have changed the forecast so many times the past week, I was not sure what it was going to do.  But my "bones" always let me know... My thumbs and fingers have been extremely bad this past week or so. Not just pain... now it is more of them not wanting to bend, I have like almost "zero" flexibility. I can't hold onto things That has been going on for a while now. That is partially why I suspected MS along with all of the other ailments. I have just lost so much grip and strength in my hands, arms, fingers, and I notice it lately even in my legs. IF I am up for a long while at the house doing things, or I go to "Wally World" and walk for a long while in there, my legs feel like "rubber bands" of jello ... I feel as if I am going to just collapse. I guess partially illnesses, partially all of the surgeries, and then I guess I have to account for getter older!!! Even though that is NT one I really want to ADMIT!  Kind of like my memory... if I forget, or can't remember, I blame it on the brain fog...  better than saying maybe I have dementia... You stay warm up there and out of this weather... and of course avoid all of the "no driving fools" that try to drive in ice. No way most Texans from in this part can drive on ice. HAHAH Many of them can't drive on dry pavement, much less wet or icy!!! Speaking about "black ice" on the roads. One year we were coming home from snow skiing in Pagosa Springs, CO... at Wolf Creek Pass (some great memories of snow skiing for me)... we left Santa Fe... and already knew it was a possibility the roads could be bad. We got to the main highway from Santa Fe (I-40) to head to Amarillo state and all of a sudden we felt the van just slip a little... it was a solid sheet of thin ice on the roads and of course you can't see it. Anyway, we slowed down to a crawl. In fact we happened to have borrowed a friends van so we sure as heck did not want to be in a wreck, much less a friend's vehicle.. suddenly here comes an 18 wheeler SIDEWAYS beside us just flying past. He jackknifed it into the medium and then here comes several cars, and they were not expecting it. Each one that went around us were in the ditch when we got up ahead. In fact, we drove on to Amarillo, but it took us something like 12 HOURS to get there. We called 911 and reported the accidents, but the entire way there were cars and 18-wheeler in the ditches. It was nuts. Believe me I felt that the Lord was helping to drive that van for sure.

Another Monday, Hot Weather, Friends, Oceana & More

This truly hit home with me this morning. We have so many worries, concerns, and stresses in our lives, too often I know for myself, I forget to really remind myself, just how incredibly blessed I really am. I do have a little home to call my own, I have food and drink, I have a decent vehicle to get around in, I have my husband, my Mom, my two children, and now since the birth of Logan, a week ago today, three grandchildren. I also have my pride and joy, my "fur kid" my pug, Tazz, who is just a joy in my life. I do struggle with health issues that keep me from doing many things, yet I am still able to do other things I enjoy, from reading, writing poetry and short stories, crocheting, sewing, working some in my new garden, and the list goes on. No, I will never snow ski again, but I did have several years of going and so many wonderful memories from skiing and other vacations. I am able to worship where I want, and when I want, without being condemned or harassed... So, when I saw this, I wanted to share with you... because I am also very thankful for my friendship with you.

I wish you many incredible memories and times to come to make more... Pam

WHAT HAPPENS IN HEAVEN ?
(This is one of the nicest e-mails I have seen, and it really puts things into perspective..)

I dreamt that I went to Heaven and an angel was showing me around. We walked side-by-side inside a large workroom filled with angels. My angel guide stopped in front of the first section and said, 'This is the Receiving Section. Here, all petitions to God said in prayer are received.'

I looked around in this area, and it was terribly busy with so many angels sorting out petitions written on voluminous paper sheets and scraps from people all over the world.

Then we moved on down a long corridor until we reached the second section..

The angel then said to me, 'This is the Packaging and Delivery Section. Here, the graces and blessings the people asked for are processed and delivered to the living persons who asked for them... 'I noticed again how busy it was there. There were many angels working hard at that station, since so many blessings had been requested and were being packaged for delivery to Earth.

Finally at the farthest end of the long corridor we stopped at the door of a very small station. To my great surprise, only one angel was seated there, idly doing nothing. 'This is the Acknowledgment Section,' my angel friend quietly admitted to me. He seemed embarrassed.

'How is it that there is no work going on here?' I asked.

'So sad,' the angel sighed. 'After people receive the blessings that they asked for, very few send back acknowledgments ..'

'How does one acknowledge God's blessings?' I asked.
'Simple,' the angel answered. Just say, 'Thank you, Lord.'

'What blessings should they acknowledge?' I asked.

'If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy .'

'And if you get this on your own computer, you are part of the 1% in the world who has that opportunity.'

'If you woke up this morning with more health than illness ... you are more blessed than the many who will not even survive this day .'

'If you have never experienced the fear in battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation .... you are ahead of 700 million people in the world.'

'If you can attend a church without the fear of harassment, arrest, torture or death, you are envied by and more blessed than three billion people in the world. '

'If your parents are still alive and still married ... you are very rare .'

'If you can hold your head up and smile, you are not the norm, you're unique to all those in doubt and despair.'

Ok, what now? How can I start? If you can read this message, you just received a double blessing in that someone was thinking of you as very special and you are more blessed than over two billion people in the world who cannot read at all.

Have a good day, count your blessings, and if you want, pass this along to remind everyone else how blessed we all are.

ATTN:
"Acknowledge Dept.":

'Thank you Lord, for giving me the ability to share this message and for giving me so many wonderful people to share it with.'
I thank God especially for all my family and friends !!

If you have read this far, and are thankful for all that you have been blessed with, how can you not send it on?


If you spent time to read the above, then you will see I am continuing from here. I posted the "What happens in Heaven" just due to how it hit me, that I so often want to gripe and fuss, rather than see all of the blessings I receive daily. We all get caught up in the negative sometimes, and have to be reminded, how much positive light we are given. Of course it is another Monday. Which means work for some, errands, running around, paying bills, or whatever and however your week begins. For myself, it begins with an extremely hot day. The humidity is already high, and we are to reach 90 degrees today, and more like 100 by Friday! I have to admit I am not looking forward to the heat. I guess old age has set in, but I have problems with extreme heat or cold now. My body just does not tolerate either. With the garden going, all of the new houseplants I have added to our home, we need to paint the outside of the house, plus everything else like cutting the grass and so forth, the extreme triple digit temps sure make those things much more difficult to do and enjoy. Thank goodness for the new propane grill. That way, we don't have to heat up the kitchen as much. Plus probably like most we tend to eat cooler and lighter meals, more salads, including tuna salad, chicken salad, taco salads, and things not as heavy as the Winter time meals.

My new grandson Logan, is doing well. Amanda says they are both doing okay. She is still tired and sore from the C-Section, but knowing her she is probably trying to overdo it too quickly. She says he is just such a good baby, that sometimes she has to wake him up to feed him. He is not wild about a bath yet, and she says he likes to be really bundled up tightly... probably like many, it makes them feel safe, since they are now out of the womb where they felt that.

Today is World Oceans Day... Oceana was started actually by the actor Ted Danson. Shortly after he began being in the sit com Cheers, he decided to give back... thus Oceana was born.

Not much to tell, still trying to get my shoulder completed rehabed, trying to stay cool, and just being... for a change...

I hope all is well with you... I wish the best for everyone.... Rhia