tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1090474962738870685.post7300988502290225380..comments2024-03-24T16:09:41.260-07:00Comments on DancingWithDisaster: Happiness Can Be Found In The Darkest Of Times, If One Only Remembers to Turn On The Light...Drea In Real Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05222089946710607044noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1090474962738870685.post-17409820560346025172014-02-03T03:18:31.148-08:002014-02-03T03:18:31.148-08:00This is beautifully written Aundrea and I think it...This is beautifully written Aundrea and I think it'll help a lot of people in similar situations, so you should be seriously proud of yourself- not only for writing this but for everything you deal with on a daily basis and the fact that you keep going through it all and set such a good example for your daughter. Sending loads of love out to you hun. xxNurse Fancy Pantshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02988437672649266129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1090474962738870685.post-86783051407283029542014-02-01T09:22:10.795-08:002014-02-01T09:22:10.795-08:00My heart goes out to you Aundrea. The mother-in-la...My heart goes out to you Aundrea. The mother-in-law (I guess you could call her) is living with something similar so I can only imagine what you're going through.<br /><br />I really admire your attitude throughout this. You have to allow yourself to feel frustrated, God you're only human! But your strength through all of this comes across so strongly in your words and I've no doubt that will guide you through all of this.<br /><br />I wish you all the health and happiness during this time. I'll be keeping you in my thoughts - and if you ever need to vent, just go head and vent! xXxAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02673561532282140849noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1090474962738870685.post-16702012419588067772014-02-01T09:13:23.223-08:002014-02-01T09:13:23.223-08:00Whishing you all the best Aundrea. You are an amaz...Whishing you all the best Aundrea. You are an amazing Mam, never question yourself on that one! Realy hoping you get some relief soon. Xstonebabieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15850542535506886906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1090474962738870685.post-21322578608869525712014-02-01T04:11:42.775-08:002014-02-01T04:11:42.775-08:00I know we don't know each other, Aundrea, but ...I know we don't know each other, Aundrea, but I just want to sit you down over tea/coffee and give you a big hug. There is so much of this blog post that I could have written myself, I even have a half finished post about my struggle with the side effects of Methotexate saved in my drafts folder.<br /><br />I was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, which can be temporary or can stick around and become Rheumatoid Arthritis, when I was 12. With me there was a period of remission before I was diagnosed with RA and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (the wrist splints I was given to sort my CTS out have worked wonders though) at 19. Medication wise I've tried pretty much everything, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, really strong painkillers which left me in a drug induced haze for a long time and eventually I was prescribed Methotrexate. At this stage I've been on Methotrexate for more years than I care to remember and, thankfully, for me I found a dosage that worked at keeping the pain and inflammation at bay. At least until now. <br /><br />The fatigue never left me though and I've lost count of the amount of days/nights out I've cancelled at the last minute simply because I didn't have the energy, no matter how much I actually wanted to be there. Most of the time I'll battle through, in a 'I may have an auto-immune disease but I won't let my auto-immune disease have me' kinda way, but sometimes it just floors you so much that leaving the house is impossible.<br /><br />One of my main issue with Methotrexate, side effects wise, has always been the terribly itchy legs it left me with. Annoying, but I can deal with it. Over the last few months, however, I've had new side effects hit me. My hair is thinning at a considerable rate, I've developed pneumonitis (turns out that cough I've had on and off for over a year was Methotrexate induced) and the nausea (which I used to experience only the morning after I took my weekly dose) is now all day every day. I had been warned that these things could happen when I first started Methorexate, but hadn't been expecting them to strike all these years later without my dosage changing. Honestly, I'm at the stage where I'm wondering what to do next. <br /><br />Getting an appointment with a Rheumatologist would be a good place to start. I had been seeing one regularly, but since I moved last year my old clinic reckon I should be seen by the Rheumatology service down here and the service down here consider me to be already under someone's care so won't see me. Ugh, I hate the public hospital system sometimes! And although my new GP can monitor my bloods and prescribe Methotrexate, they're really not in a position to dealing with all my issues or suggest other treatments for me to try. So I wait. <br />It's good to see you have a decent support network around you. Having people like that in your life is invaluable. To pick up on Makeup Over Mind's comment from above, I'm not sure if you've already done this, but it might be worth checking if there are any Arthritis Ireland support groups in your area. I've dipped in and out of them over the years. <br /><br />I hope you manage to find relief, temporarily and long term. Auto-immune disease can be hell to deal with, but it is possible when you find the treatment(s) that work for you to be yourself again. It's just a shame that finding the right treatment(s) often takes a route down a long and dark twisty path.<br />Anyway, I'm sorry for the really long comment but I wanted you to know that there are people who understand completely what you are going through. You will find a way to turn on that light. It sucks in the meantime, but you will get there.<br /><br />Take care. x<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1090474962738870685.post-24064397457140876892014-02-01T04:02:23.712-08:002014-02-01T04:02:23.712-08:00Really hope things get better for you, sounds like...Really hope things get better for you, sounds like a really hard time but have my fingers crossed for you that something will come around that will help you Makeup Monsterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06227545098968589010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1090474962738870685.post-65389681641810303092014-02-01T02:57:29.427-08:002014-02-01T02:57:29.427-08:00So sorry to hear how difficult things have been fo...So sorry to hear how difficult things have been for you, Aundrea. The toll of a chronic illness on your well being can be enormous. The strength of your person shows through in your writing. It sounds like you get great support from the girls. I wonder what other supports might be available to you right now. It can be good to talk to someone going through a similar situation, whether there might be a specific RA group or one for people with chronic illnesses, it might be worth thinking about if you haven't already. I hope sharing your experience here has given you even some relief - temporary or otherwise. You're in my thoughts. XAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04740852997831031903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1090474962738870685.post-13920324167439219582014-02-01T01:10:08.656-08:002014-02-01T01:10:08.656-08:00Woah I had heard of rheumatoid arthritis before bu...Woah I had heard of rheumatoid arthritis before but I never knew what it was actually like!! That sounds horrific. You are so brave though for wanting to keep your routines and your life normal and be there for your daughter. This whole post is just so selfless. Obviously I have no real idea what you're going through but I hope that things will get easier and that seeing the private specialist will help once the carpal tunnel and tendonitis are dealt with. Also with regards the public specialist if you ring the person who made the referral/the actual specialist office (if you know where it is) and say how much your daily life is affected and how its making you feel you may be seen quicker...worth a shot. It is great that you have such supportive friends to help you through this and I really hope that while this is a life long thing that you manage to get treatment that will alleviate some of your symptoms and painAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01180787872420518592noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1090474962738870685.post-45150621366894493452014-01-31T18:30:09.479-08:002014-01-31T18:30:09.479-08:00Aundrea, this is such a well written, inspiring po...Aundrea, this is such a well written, inspiring post. Just from reading your blog or following you on Twitter I would have no idea of what you go through. There's really nothing I can say, but I hope you find some form of relief & that you can get back to feeling okay, & that all the little important things like playing with your daughter & doing your make up are part of your everyday routine soon. I will keep you in my prayers xChloehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06368565402802174632noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1090474962738870685.post-91736089703133466602014-01-31T18:08:41.350-08:002014-01-31T18:08:41.350-08:00Aundrea, I just don't know what to say, so all...Aundrea, I just don't know what to say, so all I can do right now is offer cuddles and say that you're in my thoughts.Robyn Mortonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11165636322245466537noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1090474962738870685.post-19893983171921218172014-01-31T18:02:51.360-08:002014-01-31T18:02:51.360-08:00This is such a brave post and I really admire you ...This is such a brave post and I really admire you for writing it. I really hope you find some relief soon and that they find a cure. You're so brave, your family especially your daughter must be very proud of you xxxOrlahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15381088470429300350noreply@blogger.com