Ankylosing spondylitis wife, mom, and grandmom!

I love Friday! The weekend is here...no school, sleeping in on Saturday, (not really because we're always so busy), Worship on Sunday..but just it's--- Friday! YEA! What I don't love, is it being methotrexate day. Wonder what the long term effects of being on chemo every Friday will be. Yes, I get 3 shots..the methotrexate and b-12 are every Friday. Holding off on B-12 today, because I've got to go to pharmacy (Publix) and get more "needles"! The metho. shot is a bit smaller than the B-12. Tried using the same size and it won't hold all the B-12. Don't know why I dread the Friday shot. Humira comes every 10 days and it varies as to what day...got it Tuesday and have the bruise to prove it! I guess, it's the differences in the medication. Humira hurts sooo bad going in (I'm talking soooo bad) and is soar a bit after. Usually leaves a bruise, but that's it. Methotrexate..doesn't hurt going in, but about 30 secs after..DANG! Leaves a littl...

Thinking that I am learning a lot about pain. What pain does to you mentally. The physical aspect we all know--it HURTS! But, what about the mental part of always being in pain.... The one thing that I am learning is that you can't give in to pain. I'm thinking pain-- is Satan--can't give in to satan. He's always there...tempting us to act and think like him. Well, pain is like that...tempting us to give in. Maybe it's through pain pills or alcohol. Or maybe it's by giving in and just laying there. We make choices everyday to live as Christ lives. To be that example for Him. So do we just let the pain/satan take over? Do we NOT live as Christ would have us too? If we are out of church, out of Christ...out of God's will then the pain will take over. Satan is in control at that point. Now, I'm not saying that you don't need medication or rest, believe me..I HAVE to take what I'm prescribed, but I'm not taking any pain meds for now. So, does tha...

In reply to the last post of not holding my breath for my meds to be dropped on my door-step on Thursday...to my suprise...THEY CAME! WOW! 8 more injections of humira to find a place in the fridge for! This morning my youngest yells.."where's the cheese"! Nothing like having injections in the cheese bin in the fridge!!!! About the blood work I was waiting for results...well, something messed up so I had to go in and give more Friday AM. Gotta make sure we keep a good record when you're on methotrexate...possible liver failure (among other organs) makes you do this. I certainly keep a check on when it's time and what the results are. So, I should know something next week. Had a wonderful time with my sister and her hubby last night. We enjoyed many laughs and a wonderful steak dinner my hubby fixed! Yes, I live in the south and we say fix, fixed, and fixen! Sis wanted to watch me give my injection of methotrexate. Yep, it's Friday methotrexate day! Then she had...

I didn't realize it was spondylitis awareness month...but I sure would like for folks to actually become aware of this disease! I know it's been a week since my last post. FACT-AS is difficult to diagnose, often taking up to 10 years from the time a patient experiences the first symtoms to the time the patient receives proper diagnosis. FACT-The CDC estimates that AS affects as many as 2.4 million adults in the US...notice I said adults here...fact is, AS also affects children. FACT-we look normal! But, we are in tremendous pain! FACT-Those of us with AS would like for YOU to learn about it! http://www.spondylitis.org/ FACT-re-read my first blog post and you'll see exactly what AS is! Hard week of catching up after vacation with the family. Makes it VERY painful as well. Last week was spent working...working..catching up and getting ready for a VERY busy weekend! Prom for my oldest...she looked BEAUTIFUL! I'm still exhausted from the long prom weekend! I guess, the word...

So this post may actually take me all day--in-between laundry and trying to prepare for Worship tomorrow (Thanks Jesse for selecting all female lead songs the week, I've been weak!) Learning...listening....praising Him! Maybe it's a good thing to listen too all day while your cleaning and unpacking! Thinking I need to thank Jesse! What an AWESOME week of relaxation, sun, fun and friends that we only see once a year during Spring Break! So glad I'm a singer--otherwise I think I would be sooo soar from laughing all week!!! Oh, wait--I mainly was laughing at my husband! Guess my abs (lack of) are used to his crazy self! So how's vacation with AS...a bit hard and at times a struggle. This was really new to me. I've often wondered why "joints" would hurt when traveling, but since this disease hit me hard over the last year--it's new things that I go through. Not having to jump up in the AM was good. Took my time in the mornings. Went ahead and packed the co...

Last night was spent waking to pain through out the night. Pain in the shoulder..then pain in the hip! I think the reason AS folks are soo tired is because we're "not so much" on a night of 8 hours of sleep. Now, that would be something to scream about! Packing for the beach is not an easy task either....one would think it would be the same as without AS...but not so much! I am excited to actually do nothing..not worry about anything and just sit and enjoy the sand, sun and the sound of the ocean. So, when you're on methotrexate and not supposed to be in the sun...are you supposed to vacation in Forks (I have teenaged daughters so if you don't know why I put that..go ask a teenage girl or the mom of one)?? Speaking of methotrexate....Fridays of course are "that shot" day and it always leaves me soo sick to the tummy for a few hours. Joys! Decided that I'd let the hubby inject the B-12 in the right "cheek" this go round. Being left h...