Wow has time flown since my last post.  I had a company year end, personal taxes, chasing my property tax refund from 2007-2009, and lots of snow to keep me busy.

Since I am “free” on Friday night for the first time in almost a year due to my daughter staying at my parents over night, I will be able to write tomorrow.

Til then….

Another reason to stay away from the pop….It can lead to pancreatic cancer.  Sadly, I know someone who is battling this cancer as we speak. 

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35294516/ns/health-cancer/

Well, I’m finally on medication again for my arthritis after going almost three months without.  I’m now on Simponi which is a relatively new drug.  I was very fortunate to get co-pay assistance for the next year which is a God send because I wasn’t taking any medication or seeing my doctor because I didn’t have any money.

So far, Simponi has been working for me with no new weird side effects, but I’ve only taken two injections, so it is still early. 

When I was on Remicade, I took it without any problems monthly for about three months before I had my allergic reaction.  My throat closed in the doctor’s office.  Thank God a gentleman in the room recognized the reaction (since he had the same one months earlier) and got a nurse.  I tried several times after the reaction, but the visits had me in the office for up to eight hours with the IV attached in the bend of my elbow.  I would loose the feeling in my hand because I had to keep it slightly bent and elevated.  After about three months, I gave up Remicade because it was aweful giving up one of vacation days each month just for a medical visit.

Humira was next.  Again, every seemed ok at first.  But then, I started getting massive headaches.  I would literally just lay in bed for hours in the dark bedroom and sleep, but that isn’t something you can do when you have a two year old and 4 pets.  I was also getting sores on my arms, face, back, and chest that were filled with oil and blood.  No matter what I did they didn’t want to go away for months.  The last headache I had was December, so they are starting to subside.  I still have several scars left from these marks that are raised and purple.  So I gave up Humira after about six to eight months.

Enbrel was next.  Another disaster to say the least.  After three months of being on the drug, I lost the feeling in my big toes.  Weird!  So I went to my regular doctor, who, after a thorough discussion, believed that it was drug, and not diabetes or neuropathy, like my internist thought.  So off that drug within five months.  I still have little bit of numbness in my toes almost a year later, but at least I have some feeling. 

So here I am almost five years after a diagnosis and knee surgery and still trying to find a drug that works with minimal side effects.  Let’s hope this is the one because there aren’t any more drugs for me to try.

Yep that’s right, I gave up my precious Mountain Dew and pop (a.k.a. soda).  On January 1st, I had three 2 Liter bottles of Diet Pepsi left from my Christmas get togethers.  So instead of dumping them down the drain, I decided to allowed myself to drink them every weekend in order to cut down on caffeine withdrawal since I don’t drink coffee, having my last one on my birthday as a gift to myself.

A little background, I have been an avid pop drinker for almost 20 years.  Drinking as many as six (or more) cans a day, that is all I would really drink.  I would go days without more than sip of water.  It is a complete wonder to me that I haven’t had kidney problems.  Giving up pop was like quitting smoking, something I knew I had to do, but not ready to do.  I finally kicked the smoking habit after buying my house which was caked in smoke from the previous owners.  Wiping the cabinets over 30 times in 3 years, still hasn’t gotten it all out.  YUK!

Back to the topic at hand, I knew I had to quit drinking the pop because I was adding countless calories that I didn’t need.  Yeah, I could have switched to Diet AGAIN, but let’s face, I always found myself going back to the regular.  And once, I really started drinking it, I would start eating a ton of junk food (chips, cookies, popcorn, you get the idea). 

So how do I feel a month (or so) after dropping pop out of my life, I feel really good all things considered.  I have dropped about 5 pounds, but I still need to drop more.  I don’t eat as much junk as I used to.  In fact, in March, I’m dropping the junk food and I’m giving up chocolate for lent.

I know I have to do this to loose weight in order to ease the pain in my joints.  I can’t change the fact that I have this disease, but I can change the way I take care of myself.  If I want to live a long life, I need to change.

After finally talking with my boss about some issues I was having at work, I thought it was time to take an inventory of the issues I may or may not have at home. 

One being always wanting a clean house, but never having the energy to actually clean it after a long day at work and taking care of Little A and pets.  I’m good at managing my time while at work, but when I get home, I just can’t seem to do it at home.  Like right now, instead of sitting here in front of the computer and TV, I should be starting the laundry and doing the pile of dishes. 

Two, I let too many things bother me.  I’m pretty good at letting some things go, like the family drama, but other things just seem to stick with me.  For example, Monday was the worst day I’ve had in weeks.  It all started with a nightmare about someone who was trying to kill me chased me up a large rather skinny building.  While I was at the top of the building, I pondered how I was going to kill myself since I didn’t want this guy to kill me.  Then I lost my purse, put on two different pairs of shoes, and was a half-hour late to work.  I let these events determine the course of my day which is completely wrong.  I need to just let things go.

Third, and final for today, is I need to snap out of depressed states quicker.  Most people with chronic diseases are depressed because the medication, the stress, anxiety, and frustrations that come with these diseases can be a bit much sometimes.  While I have some limitations to what I can do, I can’t let these limitations rule my life.  I need to continually strive for acceptance of my arthritis and why it has changed my life.