A Pain in the Shoulder

My left shoulder is killing me.

It's been bothering me for probably the past three weeks. I think I aggravated it at the gym somehow and just haven't given it enough rest or something because, well, everyday life is getting in the way of that rest. You know. Things like getting dressed and sleeping and stuff.

Going to see a physiotherapist on Wednesday to see what he thinks. It was the shoulder that hurt like hell when RA first hit. But it's also the shoulder that can hurt slightly when I don't work out and my muscles start getting too weak, I think to support the joint.

Whatever it is, I'm getting really annoyed...

A New Chapter

It's going to be a crazy ride, folks! I've managed to land myself another job!!!

I've been in talks with the company for ages (since about two days after I was let go from my other job – and that felt good!), but I just officially started this week. It's with Canadian House & Home, and it's a freelance position with two titles, Editor, Special Interest Publications, and Consulting Editor. That essentially means I'll be the editor on the two special issues the company produces, as well as oversee some stories for the regular issues.

I'm absolutely thrilled! I'll be working with a great team and a great mag, three days a week for the most part.

That allows me to take care of myself. I'd like to take on some more clients once things settle down with this client, and I get a handle on what I'm doing for them. I'm looking forward to exploring the freelance life, but it's meant exploring things I know nothing about, like tax rules and getting an accountant, and getting used to tracking my mileage and keeping all my receipts. I'm also going to have to look into drug coverage through the government once my medical benefits through my old company run out.

Right now though, I'm just getting used to getting up early so I can get downtown on time! Last night I slept for almost 12 hours playing catchup! And while I'm at work and sitting at a desk all day, I'm determined to get out for 1/2 hour at lunchtime to move around and during the day to walk to people's desks when possible rather than just call them. Despite that, I was still really quite sore by yesterday, the third day at work this week.

Rheumatoid arthritis, I really would rather not be having a relationship with you!!

Methotrexate Volcano

So twice now when I've done my Methotrexate injection during really hot and humid weather, a little bubble of the toxic stuff has come oozing back out of my body when I've withdrawn the needle from my leg.

Ewwwwwww!

And it's not as if I've injected it any faster than usual or anything.

Weird, no?

Seriously? You're Kidding, Right?

All I did was stretch in bed just after I woke up in the morning, and my knee gave out.

I could manage to walk, but my plan to do cardio and upper and lower strength workouts was ruined.

Still, I hobbled over to the gym, and got in the upper-body part of the workout.

Later in the day, my knee was perfectly fine.

Is it just me, or is RA a bit like a two-year-old child throwing random tantrums????

A Tale of Survival

 Recently I had a flare that lasted two weeks. Have no clue what set it off. It just happened. And in the same way, it just went away.

So when I was invited to an outing that involved sleeping in a tent for a few nights, I wasn't sure what might happen. Anything was possible!

So off I went, armed with a down duvet (haha – yes, I was the only person there with a down duvet! Long story short: I have no sleeping bag.) I had no bug spray, which was silly, given my response to bug bites (see previous post), but I'd tried to find eco-friendly stuff, with no luck. I figured if it got really bad, I could retreat indoors or borrow some from someone else...

The weather, which has been crazy hot all summer, ended up being rather breezy. I went swimming, and got chilled even though the water was warm, and then stupidly sat there shivering in the breeze instead of putting on warmer clothes right away.

It got cool at night, which was good, cause it kept the mosquitoes at bay. That didn't stop the ants or spiders or whatever decided to munch on me and leave me with over 30 bites on my right arm alone, and random other bites on various parts of my body, but, HEY, what else are anti-inflammatories good for but keeping down bug-bite swelling??

And the cool weather also meant it was very comfortable for sleeping for three of the nights. The fourth night, it dipped down to 8°C (WTF!!!!!), and, boy, was I glad I had that down duvet! Everyone else was freezing with their appropriate-for-camping sleeping bags! I just got chilled on the air mattress side of things, even though we had a fleece blanket on the mattress.

I was sure that between the after-swimming chilliness and crazy winter-like nighttime temps and the bites, I'd end up all sore and flaring again, but, no!

Nothing!

Nada!

As it turned out, I survived everything!

That's rheumatoid arthritis for you!

P.S. It was also my first time travelling with Enbrel! Done + done!!!!!!!

One Lovely Blog Award

I've been catching up on all of my blog reading and realized that Helen over at Pens and Needles was kind enough to give me the One Lovely Blog Award! Thanks so much, Helen!

Now it's my turn to pass on the kindness by giving other bloggers with the award – very exciting! So many of the great bloggers I follow on a regular basis and whose posts I love to read have already been honoured, so I'll keep my list pretty short and won't re-reward (so to speak), people.

Here goes:

Feelin' Swell: My Life with RA Squirrel is endlessly funny and her humorous take on living with RA always keeps me feeling positive about things, even when I'm feeling crappy.

All Flared Up: An Arthritis Blog Ditto Amanda, whose sarcastic take on her RA woes slays me every time! Every time!

Bionic Pony Cause she's also funny, plus she's Canadian and loves pie – who needs a better recommendation than that, I ask??

Project Jennifer Jenn has had rheumatoid arthritis since she was a wee babe – she was diagnosed when she was 9 months old – and I am in awe of her and her positive attitude. She's a true inspiration.

The Seated View Lene is an artist, philosopher, writer and, oh yes, blogger! Check out her blog and learn...

Dual Sport Life This dude just keeps on biking, no matter what, and that's amazing to me and a great lesson to us all.

There are so many other great bloggers and blogs out there – this is just a teeny-tiny sampling – but I can't say enough about how much all of you inspire, support and comfort me through this journey that is RA. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

:) Laurie

A-OK – For the Most Part

My hemoglobin count has improved, so yay!!

Now if this flare would just come to an end, I'd be very, very happy...

That's all.