[~Christina]

Yes it’s truly an addiction.

I think it’s great your taking some time off , you need a break !

((( @lizardlady ))) ...

I battle those SI Dragons too ... I am so sorry that things are extremely rough for you right now.

A lot of stress equals a lot of Ouch!

I'm glad you're taking a couple of days off too ...

Maybe by getting one or two items off that full plate (if only for a day or two), it may help things to ease up a bit.

Just know that good thoughts are being sent your way ...

Still quite overwhelmed by recent turn of events but still not quite ready to venture into "treatment" for any of this right now.

With all that's whirling around in my head, I finally asked myself what do "I" want, and it's really quite simple ...

- To make it 5 more years so I can retire with benefits (Employer's Retirement as well as Social Security & Medicare) in place.
- To see The Grand Canyon live and in person.
- To live out the remainder of my days in peace & quite with as little disruption as possible.

If I decide to forego treatment altogether, I will live with the consequences of that choice ...

The toll all of that would have on my mental health is far more concerning to me than the toll this condition is having on my physical health.

[lizardlady]

Pfrog, it's your body and your life. You do what's right for you hon. You'll have our support whatever you decide.

Thanks, @lizardlady ...

I'm hoping I can be brave enough to at least have an MRI done to see the extent of the damage thus far ...

One Day, One Hour, One Minute ... Breathe, Pfrog, Just Breathe ...

I had my shower yesterday.

that's extra added pain for at least 3 days

Kinda weepy today.

Simply heartbroken by all the information I'm learning about this Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) Crap!

Late diagnoses (And mine is an extremely late diagnosis) simply do not have good outcomes (with or without treatment).

BIG D decisions to make and still overwhelmed by it all ...

Heartbroken ... Simply Heartbroken!

[lizardlady]

{*{*{*{*Pfrog*}*}*}*}

I'm sorry hon.

I am just glad the weekend is over. nothing to like about it: no plans, splitting headache, clicky back, panic attack, undercooked foodm, I hope this week will be a little better (she says as she's sat here still with a head ache and with no goals or plans for the week.)

I am so ashamed of myself.

I was a bit of a butt (no, I was a complete and total @$$) towards someone at work today.

I'd blame it on all that's going on with my health, but that is not an excuse.

My behavior was totally unacceptable.

I did apologize and they graciously accepted, but ...

I'm going to have to work extra diligently on my mood & 'tude, because regardless of what I'm going through, it's not okay to be unkind!

[~Christina]

Awww Pfrog, it happens, you made your apologies ... Try not to continue to beat yourself up. You have been going through a lot healthwise and it can make ya grumpy and short tempered.

Be kind to yourself

[~Christina]

Well hell .. 4 weeks now we have tried to take care of a giant Asthma flare, jerky right lung refuses to play nice, we tried an addl inhaler and steroid shot but nope nada ain’t helping. So I have no choice but oral steroids and yeah they don’t play well with my Bipolar at all... but hey I gotta breath

My liver enzymes have been running elevated since May, I saw my Rheumatologist last week for our 6 week followup and he said if it was still elevated he would get me a referral to see a GI for a work up, Yep it needs to happen. I already know I have a fatty liver but my enzymes were always with in normal limits.

So yeah another freaking problem.

I feel like I’m stuck on the worst possible ride at a theme park and no one will let me off, bleh !

My pain levels between all my physical crap is very high... “my pillow feels like a brick “ kinda pain.

I need to get some decent cheese for my whine.

Gentle hugs everyone

Gentle hugs back to you @~Christina ...

Sorry your liver is acting up and putting another serving of an unwanted item on an already overloaded plate!

Speaking of food (and cheese), I was wondering if you and @lizardlady have eliminated certain foods from your diet? If so, do you find it helps keep inflammation (and flares) in check?

*************

I've got an appointment for an eye exam tomorrow.

Concerned that I may have Uveitis going on in left eye.

Of all the things this stuff (PsA) can (and will) eventually do to our bodies, the thought of losing my eyesight freaks me out more than anything!

[~Christina]

I know personally I can’t do any artificial sweetness, every Doctor that I have seen that believe in Fibro has made sure to mention that.

I have zero will power this past 6/8 months, but if I literally avoid carbs of anykind I do have less overall pain and cuts big flares down.

Carbs are a comfort food to me but ... i feel sluggish physically and mentally if they are a staple , like right now. Hell I made mashed potatoes and a can of corn for dinner.... I know I’m on steroids so I always crave carbs on it. But still I need to get back to eating better.

I’m not sure about the connection between PsA and losing vision ??? I have never heard of that,

I hope your eye appt goes well an things can get sorted out.

Are you able to get enough sleep ??!

[~Christina]

Liz ,

How are you holding up ?

Gentle hugs

Appreciate the food information @~Christina ... I'm thinking of going a little more natural and bland (less sugar & salt) to see if it helps. I never cared for artificial sweeteners as they seem overly sweet so I guess I'll just get used to drinking my iced tea sugar free now ... I'll start adding more veggies and fresh fruit to the menu too ... Like you, I love my carbs - especially when needing comfort and may have difficulty giving them up altogether!

Regarding Uveitis, here's an excerpt from Mayo Clinic:

"Uveitis is a form of eye inflammation. It affects the middle layer of tissue in the eye wall (uvea). Uveitis (u-vee-I-tis) warning signs often come on suddenly and get worse quickly. They include eye redness, pain and blurred vision. The condition can affect one or both eyes.".

I'm experiencing a bit of that in my left eye. It came on in May and I figured it was just another round of age related vitreomacular adhesion that I'd already experienced in my right eye a couple of years ago. My right eye eventually cleared on up so I figured this one would too.

But upon reading that PsA can sometimes cause eye problems, I got to thinking that I better not wait this one out like we did the other thing as it may be something altogether different. I've got a good eye doctor that walked me through the other thing, so I'm right confident that if this is the Uveitis thing that he'll get me through that as well.

As far as sleep goes, if I can get through the night without waking up more than once or twice, I feel right special. I go to bed quite early to make up for all the disruptions. It's extra sweet if I make it all the way through without waking up even once!

I'm finding it more and more difficult to find comfortable positions to sleep in ...

How about you? Do you sleep okay or feel that you get enough rest?

Gentle hugs to you and @lizardlady ...

Hope y'all have a good day today, and I'll let y'all know how things went when I get back from my appointment!

[~Christina]

I use to work in opthamalogy and I never knew of that connection. But I also wasn’t burdened with PsA in my 20’s

It’s just a really sucky auto immune disease all the way around.

I have struggled with insomnia since I was a young child. I don’t know what it’s like to get a decent stretch of good quality sleep.

Im laying here and my husband cane to bed , moved around to get comfortable and he’s snoring took about 5 mins, I get so legit jealous lol

I’m going to just stare at my wall and hope I doze off if only for a short while.

[lizardlady]

The flare that laid me low a couple of weeks ago finally passed. Thanks for asking and good wishes.

Pfrog, over the years people have suggested I give up various foods for fibro. I've never done it for a couple of reasons. My doc tells me there's no evidence giving up whatever is effective. Plus I've had to give up so many things I enjoy because of other medical stuff I don't want to give up anything else. I hear you both about artifical sweeteners. They give me absolutely raging headaches.

Glad that flare has left you be @lizardlady ... Not sure how it feels for you, but I liken it to being in a vice grip and suddenly let go!

I appreciate you and @~Christina for sharing information and experiences with me ...

I think that's gonna help me through this more than the "professionals" even!

Great news on the eye exam! ... Not Uveitis, just regular old getting old(er) stuff ... A little Vitreomacular Adhesion and a small cataract is all ... Nothing to be alarmed about (and that isn't fixable somewhere on down the road) ... Slight change in left eye vision but good for another two years before next exam (unless something goes amiss) ... Two new pairs of glasses (one regular and one polarized shades) are ordered and on the way ... I liked the frame so much that I got it for both pairs!

Here's to more good and less bad days for all of us!

[lizardlady]

Pfrog, that's great news from the eye doc!