On My Health, or Lack Thereof, and My Blogging, or Lack Thereof
About a month ago, I was diagnosed with another chronic illness: Sjogren’s (pronounced show-GRINS). It’s an autoimmune disease, kind of like rheumatoid arthritis, and it’s the reason why I’ve had so much pain/trouble typing. The good news is that, unlike fibro, there are drugs to help! I did a trial course of them last month, and at the higher dosages, they made a world of difference. Unfortunately, I tapered back off them, and I can’t go back on them until late next week after I’ve had some blood drawn (the drugs would interfere with some tests they need to run). That’s why my health took a nosedive almost two weeks ago, and honestly writing up a post for every day last week put me in too much pain. So, blogging will likely be sporadic around here until I get those drugs back in my system. ;) In the long-term, this is very good news though: having a regular control of the pain means I’ll (finally) be able to type up enough posts to create a bugger. And maybe I’ll be able to revert to my old, long-winded ways, at least on occassion! More immediately, I’ll definitely be posting tomorrow, as I already have the draft, and my mom’s going to the library for me today, so I’ll try to catch myself in a caffeinated, chipper state long enough to record a vlog for Friday, but no promises about anything after that (and I doubt I’ll be leaving many comments for now)! Except for one: I’ll be posting about my rereading project shortly, as I intend to begin on October 1st. :D
Curious about what Thistle was looking at so intently over that rock wall? Well, here’s what was staring back at her (actually, there were six, but the other five were more interested in their breakfast than a little dog):
Here’s to lots more reading, blogging, and walking in the park and lots less pain! :D
A Striped Armchair 
Sorry to hear that you are so poorly but hurrah for having something treatable! take care x
Take care of yourself, and be here when you are able. We miss you, but would rather have you feeling good than trying to do too much. I’m glad the new diagnosis means less pain when they can get you on the right medications.
Hope you start to feel better soon. I’m really intrigued by the re-reading project and look forward to coming back and reading more about it. Take care.
Gentle hugs!
My dog would have been bounding after that deer in a split second.
It’s funny the things we worry about. When I see you explaining your absence, I think, “Oh that sweet, silly Eva! Doesn’t she know how much she’s loved? I wish she would stop worrying about us.” But of course, I know how hard it is when you feel like you’re letting people down. I promise you though, you’re not! Even if you could only post once a year, you’d still have a billion readers. Because we love you, sweetie! All I want is for you to feel better!!! And I know that goes for everyone else, too.
I can’t wait until you can get back on the meds that help with the Sjogrens. And I hope they continue to relieve some of that awful pain. Now, if only they’d come up with a miracle for your fibro, too! But you know, hopefully that will happen one day soon.
Love you, Eva. Many tender hugs.
I also wonder why your dog doesn’t chase the deer. Size discrepancy? I have a friend whose dog tried to get aggressive with the deer that invaded her yard. After a time the deer figured out that the dog wasn’t going to actually do anything, whereupon they ignored her completely and even chased her away on several occasions.
Do not feel you need to respond to this comment!
Also, is there any possibility that one of those voice to text programs could cut down on the typing you have to do?
Eva, I’m so glad that you’ve gotten some drugs that can help the pain, although I am sad to see you with another challenge. Hugs going down the I35 highway to you! Gentle hugs! LOL
I can’t believe there is so much green in that picture of the deer. Guess that was from the rain last week? We were in Arkansas when it rained at our house. The first time since we moved in early August. It rained a lot in AR while we were there though. It seemed strange to see cloudy skies and a couple of nights there were heavy thunderstorms that almost shook us out of bed.
I’m so sorry to hear about your illness. Hopefully you will be able to control it to some extend rather than have it control your life.
Oh, Eva! I’m so sorry you have something else to wrestle with when you have more than your allotment already.
But on the bright side – what a lovely sight to have seen in the park – and what a well-behaved little dog!
I hope you feel better soon Eva, once the meds are working again! Thistle is so cute. I know having him must be giving you a lot of comfort.
Obviously it’s not a good thing that you’ve something else to think about, but I’m glad you’ve this other reason for what’s happening that there are some drugs for. Here’s hoping that you can get somewhat back on track! Best wishes :)
There is something about deer that is so lovely. I went on holiday once and suddenly there was a line of deer running across the fence. It was magic.
So glad about the health news! And, as many above have stated, please know we understand when you “go missing”. Hugs..and a hug for Thistle!
I’m so happy to hear that you’ve been able to get a diagnosis and find something that will help with the pain!
I’m glad to hear that the new drugs help and I hope that it works out. All the best and take care of yourself.
I am glad to hear this a way to manage this new diagnosis. The blogging world is just not the same without you in it!
Sorry to hear you are so poorly again. Though it is good news that medication will help it.
I’m so glad they’ve found some drugs to help with at least some of the pain, even if they’re not up and going right at the moment. On the plus side, since you can’t blog as much it gives you more time to read! (Ok, that’s lame, but you know… looking on the bright side :) )
Hi Eva,
I’m sorry to hear that you’ve been having a rough time. My mom has Sjogren’s and I remember that it took a very long time to reach a diagnosis. Even though any illness is not good news, it was a relief for her to finally know what she was dealing with and be able to treat the symptoms better. In fact, she is now in a kind of “remission.”
She joined the Sjogren’s Foundation and even went to one of their conferences and found that to be very helpful as well. I think they have a pretty strong member community with forums/support groups and such. Here’s the link, if you’re interested:
http://www.sjogrens.org/
Good wishes to you!
Nicki
I am so sorry that now have one more thing to deal with. *sigh* I’m glad to hear that there’s medication to help with it. *hugs*
I’m sorry you have yet another illness to add to your list, but I am glad that this one comes with treatment options. The way you manage your life despite your illness is a comfort to me as I learn to live with mine, although I am not in as much pain as you are.
I’m sorry to hear about your illness and the pain you have suffered. I was also going to suggest looking into the voice to text option that Silver Season recommended. I haven’t checked it out yet but I’ve heard it’s not as expensive as I thought it was. I also have trouble with my hands so I’m going to look into it as an option. I surely do not want to have to stop blogging.
The picture of the deer is beautiful. I love the colors.
Cheers to meds that make a difference!!! I hope all is improved from here on. Looking forward to any longwindedness you have to offer! And the deer are precious. I bet Thistle was totally in awe.
So sorry to hear that you have been battling so many health issues, but I am relieved to hear that absolution is on the horizon and a lessening of your pain! At least you have your good pal Thistle to keep you company through all of this, and even if you’re not blogging, we all know you’re thinking of us in between all those wonderful books you’ve been tackling.
I so hope the medicine helps you. May you feel better, Eva.
Oh, and I LOVED the two pics! It is so rare to be able to get the viewer and the viewed. :<)
Sorry about the new diagnosis, but it’s indeed good news about the medication. Hope the visit to the doctor yesterday went well! All the best from this side of the world to you… and Thistle :)
Super-bummer about the new illness, but so glad there are drugs to help! I hope you are feeling better very soon. And I loooove the Thistle/deer photos! Sending warm, soft, healing wishes.
I’m sorry to hear about the diagnosis, but happy to hear it is accompanied by some good news. I’m sending good thoughts.
Also, I’m VERY interested in hearing about your rereading project. :-)
I am so glad to hear that a medicine that works! has been found. And I wish you the best while you wait until you can go back on it :)
Eva – you remind me so much of my mother. When she was your age, she was very sick, and it took years before she was diagnosed with Sjogren’s and later Lupus. Know that life should get better. If you’d like to talk to her, you’re more than welcome to email me, and I can introduce you two.
It’s difficult for me to understand where she’s coming from, but I also cannot imagine having to deal with the pain she does. BUT it’s still better than before she was treated correctly.
Wishing you the best, and I love that intense little pup of yours. :)
Good luck Eva, and may your health be good enough to make life worth living :)
Yay for drugs! I hope they get you all sorted out and happy very very soon.
On a semi-related note, I love it when British people say “poorly” to me when I am sick. It makes me feel better just hearing them use that word.
I’m happy to hear that the drugs are helping quite a bit. :) I hope you are feeling better soon.
I’m so glad to hear that you have found some medication to help you!
I’m sorry to hear that you’re struggling with your health. My son has an autoimmune disorder so I know how difficult they can be to live with. I wish you much success in your treatment.
This has been a sucky year for a lot of us, hasn’t it? I really hope that you can take those drugs long-term, Eva, and that they mean you can return to being as pain-free as possible. You have so much to deal with already, with your other illness, that this seems a little mean of the universe, doesn’t it? I know you and I have a lot to be thankful for, and one of many things is that there are such a luxury of books to read. May you always have unread books near your hand, Eva. Meanwhile, I hope you can feel better enough to blog more often again, I miss you! Take care, and hug Thistle lots :-)
Sorry to hear about the health probs. Glad there are meds to help with some of it. Please, hang in there !!!
I also have a friend with Sjogren’s. She is managing with the help of really great doctor. You remind me of her, such a “people” person, resilient, wise and optimistic. There is some relief in having a diagnosis that can be treated effectively even if it is just that, a diagnosis of a condition you would rather not have to know about at all.
We look forward to your return to blogging and all the brightness you contribute to so many reading lives. May your health continue to respond to the new meds.
Happy to hear that you will be feeling better again soon! Having something treatable has got to be a bit of a relief at this point. I truly hope that this is the beginning of a long “good spell” for you!
I’m sorry you have to go through so much pain Eva and I’m glad you have medication to make you feel better. Hope you get back to your usual chipper self soon.
Oh dear that must have been a blow to find out, but good to hear that the doctors are working on finding you the right medication to decrease the pain. Hope you feel much improved when you’re able to go back on it. Make sure you replenish that iron with plenty of necessary medical supplements (or tons of comfort food!) after the blood work.
I hope you start to feel better soon.
I hope that you are able to get everything figured out and I’m happy to hear that there might be medicine to help you out. Or at least make a difference ;) We’ll be here no matter what. *hugs*
I’m sorry to hear that you’ve not been feeling well. I hope that you and your doctor can get everything figured out so that you can start feeling better and in less pain soon.
Hope you feel better soon and hope you can find some medication that makes you feel a bit better. Get well soon.
Yay for diagnosis and getting the right drugs! Much better than ongoing mystery pain. Hope dosages get sorted out soon. x
Good luck with the pain management!
Oh, Eva I’m so pleased that there is *some* light at the end of this particular tunnel!
I am glad that there is some good news ahead. Blogging in a way that leaves room for us to be healthy and exercise self-care is so important. I am glad that you are able to do that!
This is the first time that I have visted your blog and I was interested about your illness; the fibro on which I presume you mean fibromyalgia which I have suffered from for many years, along with arthirtis and asthma. I have just recovered from a viral infection which effected me for about four months. I have never heard of Sjogren’s before. Can I ask you what the systems are? And how it affects you? A few months ago I visited my doctor and she said that I had ‘Dupytren’s Contracture’ which affects my hands. I just wondered if your illness was anything like the one I’m suffering from?
All the best to you and I will certainly be visiting your log again even if you don’t get around to answering my questions.
Jennifer.
Hi Jennifer! Yes, I have fibromyalgia. Sjogren’s main symptoms are: dry eyes, dry mouth, and joint pain. I get the pain & dry eyes; my doctor diagnosed me based on bloodwork. I’ve never heard of Dupytren’s Contracturem, sorry.