A Little Relief

Finally a little relief since 4 May. My MTX shot on Saturday and last night's Orencia seem to be helping. I still have a lot of morning stiffness. My hands, knees, hips and shoulders are still inflamed, a little. I have also started a Essential Oil regimen that tends to help a lot. The thing with them, is I have to stay on top of them. 

So, I am doing a little better, now. 

I have found that one blend of oil (DigestZen) which can be put into veggie capsules or a beverage throughout the day, really helps to keep the inflammation at bay, plus makes me feel better overall. Also, the LLV regimen works wonders. It is 3 different all herbal capsules. They help me feel a lot better. 

So, those who want to add a holistic approach to their RD meds, this is one way. I can help with it, too. 

Time gets away from me

Time seems to get away from me. Since I have returned from California on 4 May, my Rheumatoid Disease has been in a flare. My essential oils have been amazing at helping me get through the day. They have also kept me from getting sick, when everyone else around me is sick.

It is really sad, though, that when it comes to getting my weekly shots, my husband said to me, "No, not going to give it to you." (half jokingly) Then he pauses and says, "They don't work anyway." My reply, "You've noticed? I thought I was the only one who noticed that."

I forgot my MTX this past weekend. It is too late to get it now. I will just wait until this Friday. Orencia is either today or tomorrow.

I am still trying to do everything I can around the house and yard. I find it is easier for me to do yard stuff than house stuff. Maybe because I am "communing" with nature. I take more breaks than I really want to take, because the joints start hurting like crazy. For me, it is most annoying.

The other day I helped a friend who had to move from her house. I wouldn't stop for a break, because I knew if I did, I'd feel the pain. I couldn't afford to feel it that day. She was in need of help, and I was not about to let her down. When we did stop, though, to go to her new apartment, my body pretty much revolted against me. My legs went numb and I couldn't walk anymore. I was exhausted physically from the work, my joints were inflamed beyond belief, and the mental exhaustion was unbearable because I forced myself to conceal the pain I was feeling, not just from others, but from myself.

Today, I woke up with extremely swollen hands, tender elbows, shoulders, hips and feet. My knees are not too terribly bad, yet. It seems the joints I use the most (hands/feet) are the ones in the most pain.

Then, add into the equation my neck, which likes to move this way and that, causing not only an annoyance, but neck pain & periodic headaches. I truly just want to crawl under a rock and hide for a while. 

Last night, the only way I was able to fall asleep, was to take 1 Tylenol PM. If I took 2, I would be out all day today. I could not find a position where my hands & legs felt comfortable simultaneously. I could get one area, but never the other. Thankfully, the medicine kicked in and I was able to rest a bit.

The one thing that scares me most about all this, my doctor said she is out of options for me if Orencia stops working. UGH......Add that stress to the rest of the disease stress and I worry far too much.

Wish it were better, but . . .

Okay. Birthday trip to California. Then, cleaning & Mother's day. Spring concert, sick little boy for a week, more cleaning and other stuff. *sigh* The flare started right after Mother's Day. I had to use my walker the night before my baby got REALLY sick. I couldn't use it any day after that, because I had to tend to him & carry him as needed. That was an 8-9 day stint. I aggravated it even more this past weekend when I did some work in the yard & repotted plants.

Because most of the family was ill the week after Mother's Day, I didn't take my Orencia. This week, I have a couple of open wounds, plus my nails are exposed because the false nails started coming off and ripping my nails with them.

So, here I sit. On a scale of 1-10, I'm around an 8, and that is being generous. I took one medicine to help with the fibro aspect of my illness. But my neck, hips, feet, toes, shoulders & fingers/wrists are so far in pain, I want to cry, but can't. Even typing makes my shoulders scream in pain, and I'm not moving my arms...

I'm not counting spoons, I am not asking for sympathy, I simply wanted to get this out because Rheumatoid Disease has me completely defeated.

*cries*

I am so, ugh. Pain is terrible. I want to cry. I want to crawl into bed and not leave until the pain goes away. Probably barometric pressure. but.... I am so afraid, right now, that the medicines are no longer working. If that is the case, my rheum is out of options. I can't wash dishes. I can't stand long. Folding laundry is difficult on my shoulders. I don't mean to complain, but when the pain gets this bad, it reminds me what is _really_ going on inside my body.

I used an essential oil on my neck and hands yesterday. It was one of the best things I've done. It kept my pain at bay until bed time. I should probably do it again. 

These essential oils are AMAZING. They have helped us so much. It isn't a one time, easy fix thing. For some things, it is a constant or every day thing. Like my Rheumatoid Disease pain. That is a constant thing. I have to do it daily. 

Okay, I am done complaining. 

Essential Oils

For a long time now, I've been wanting to find something "natural" to help with the pain that comes with Rheumatoid Disease. I try to not take any type of pain killer, unless I am at the end of my rope.

Last weekend, I flew to California (home) and visited with my family. One of my sisters started using essential oils for a few of her ailments. It helped her so much, she began to sell it. For my birthday gift, she gave me Deep Blue Oil Blend & Deep Blue Oil Rub. I used it on my hands, and relief was amazingly fast. My sinuses were going crazy from the flight. A peppermint beadlet that I broke in my mouth with my teeth helped clear them, then swallowing it, helped the upset stomach I was getting from nerves.

So, with these two things, and hearing how they helped with my mom, sister & brother-in-law, I was on my way to being convinced. Then I heard how it helped a young lady, who had been suffering from an unknown ailment. Something doctors couldn't figure out, no matter how many tests they did. There was no more indecision in what I needed to do.

I now can sell the products. I bought a kit for the family. It has helped my daughter with her eczema. Me with a headache & TMJ. I am SO excited. I am going to make bath salts with peppermint & lavender. One to help with my pain and the other to calm my body.

I am so glad to have found something that can help me with pain management and other ailments. They also help with cleaning and one blend has been known to kill MRSA.

This is not a cure, by any means, but a way to naturally get relief.

Folic Acid, B-Complex -- A MUST

When I hear anemia, I immediately think of the need for iron in my blood. However, after the past few days, I have learned differently.

My rheum has always told me to take my Folic Acid because it will help with the side effects of MTX like upset stomach & hair loss. Never did I realize until I did research that it also helps with the reproduction of red blood cells. 

With MTX & Orencia on my medicine list every week, my RBC count is always on the low side. I never realized that this can cause anemia, because there is less O2 in my blood stream.

I was having breathing problems because my heart was on overdrive. I felt completely horrible. I thought I was having a heart attack, in all honesty. 

Between research, talking to a nurse & my doc, I figured out what was behind the problems. So, I took a B-Complex vitamin & Folic Acid. After 4 hours, my blood pressure began to return to normal, as did my pulse. Even the headache disappeared. 

So, something I thought was really not "important" turned out to be VERY important. PLEASES, if you are reading this and decide to not take vitamins, think again. 

Can I please schedule pain/inflammation??

It would be SO cool if we could schedule our pain and inflammation day(s) to jive with our schedules. 

After having wonderful labs a couple of weeks ago, I went into a massive flare. I know there is the joke/saying, "I don't have time for that." However, for me, it ISN'T a joke. I was supposed to help with district track meets this week in the concession stands. I couldn't do it, because there was so much pain, all over, and it just wouldn't go away.

I have been bordering on calling my rheum and begging for some sort of pain killer. I want to cry, but it will do no good at all. MTX and Oriencia are taking a long time to kick into my system. Hopefully, with this Friday's dose, it will kick in faster.

Between last week's storm and the wonky barometric pressure, it's crazy. It is EVERY joint. Neck, jaw, shoulders, elbows, entire wrist & hands, ribs, sternum, I really don't need to keep listing. 

I have so many things that need to be done in the house. Sort & start laundry, clean the living room, finish moving my "office" back upstairs to the _real_ office. But without relief in energy & pain, those things are a little hard to accomplish.
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Today, I took my daughter to get her blood tested. Something I probably should have had done to myself ages ago. She has so many of the symptoms. We should know SOMETHING in the next few days.