In the past two weeks I’ve:
– Cancelled volunteering at the State FFA Convention
– Taken a couple half days of PTO
– Cancelled supper with a friend
– Did not attend a strategic planning session for a board I’m on.
– Did not attend a fundraiser event I’d been looking forward to
– left a family event early so I could go to bed at 8 pm.
All because of an AS Flare. Ugh. It feels like I climbed a mountain when I get the laundry caught up.
I’ve been doing so well for about two years. I almost forgot that I have a progressive incurable disease. AS is an Autoimmune disease; your body goes a-wall against your spine and joints. There are many types of autoimmune diseases, they are all too common, and this is my experience.
The invention of the biologic has been life changing for many with autoimmune diseases. The injected medicine tricks your body into not attacking itself. This dramatically slows the progression of the disease. The only problem is that for most people there body figures out the trick after awhile. I’ve now been thru three biologic medicines and starting the forth.
The gap between biologics can be hard. Real hard. A flare is slightly different by person but as a general you are dealing with: extreme fatigue, high inflammation, neck pain, low back pain, stiff joints. The pain is worse in the AM or after rest. It improves after walking around / moving a bunch.
My least favorite joint to get a flare in is my jaw. OMG that can hurt. Sometimes it’s mild and the jaw cracks and pops with only mild discomfort. Other times if can be like a knife stabbing through the jaw. The only redeeming quality is you tend to lose a few pounds with a jaw flare as eating isn’t fun.
Everyone has their journey; in fact 25% of the population has a disability as defined by the ADA. 75% of those are invisible. Whatever your journey is today I hope for you fast healing, positive vibes, and love abundantly.
On Friday I took a loading dose for a new biologic… come on buddy, work your magic.
My Journey 