If you’ve been following my health journey for a while, you know my body likes to keep things… interesting. Between fibromyalgia, psoriatic arthritis, and the grab bag of autoimmune disorders I’ve got going on, I’ve become something of an unwilling expert in meds, symptoms, and side effects. Still, every new medication feels like stepping into…
Tag: autoimmune disease
The Weird, Ridiculous, and Downright Painful: Nail Pain & Foot Flares with PsA
Let’s talk about one of the least talked about and honestly most ridiculous symptoms of Psoriatic Arthritis… nail pain. Yes. You heard me. Nail pain. Not like, “Oh I broke a nail” pain. No, this is “My fingernails hurt like someone lit them on fire and then ran them over with a tiny emotional dump truck” kind of pain. It’s sneaky….
Finally… A Good Set of Labs!
Today, I cried—but not from pain, fear, or frustration. I cried tears of joy. After years of struggle, uncertainty, and appointments that left me feeling more unseen than helped (IYKYK), I finally got a good set of labs back. And let me tell you—it feels like a freaking miracle. It’s amazing how the body and…
A Long Drive for the Right Care: Why Advocating for Yourself Matters
There are days when chronic illness and autoimmune life feel like an endless series of appointments, pills, scans, and dismissive doctors who barely skim your file before deciding who you are. Days when your body screams for answers while the system quietly shrugs, leaving you to navigate a maze of uncertainty and frustration. The waiting rooms become…
When the Doctor Stops Listening: A Battle Cry for the Dismissed
There’s a specific kind of heartbreak that comes when a doctor looks at you—not with compassion, not with curiosity, not with hope—but with defeat. That moment when you realize they’ve silently decided you’re too much, too complicated, or worse, not worth figuring out. It’s the second you start talking about symptoms they can’t see on a chart….
Understanding Fibromyalgia: More Than Just Pain
When Your Muscles Twitch and Your Body Won’t Listen: The Hidden Layers of Fibromyalgia I used to think fibromyalgia was “just” chronic widespread pain and fatigue. I hate that I even put the word just in there — because even that would be a lot to carry. But as I’ve learned firsthand, this diagnosis brings with it…
Methotrexate: The Low-Dose Chemo for Autoimmune Diseases
Understanding Methotrexate: Yes, It’s Low-Dose Chemo — and That Matters When you hear the word chemotherapy, what comes to mind? For most people, it’s cancer treatment — a difficult, often overwhelming process involving high doses of medication, hair loss, nausea, and fatigue. But what many don’t realize is that chemotherapy drugs aren’t used only for cancer. One medication…
Supporting Loved Ones with Chronic Illness: A Guide
How to Support a Loved One with Chronic Illness (Without Losing Your Mind or Theirs)Because casseroles are nice, but compassion is better Hey there, soul tribe! Let’s talk about something near and dear to many of our spoons — chronic illness and chronic pain. Whether your bestie has fibro, your partner is navigating an autoimmune rollercoaster, or…
Navigating Perimenopause with Prednisone and Zepbound
When Prednisone, Zepbound & Perimenopause Walk Into a Bar… Let’s talk about what it’s like when your body decides to throw a full-blown hormonal tantrum, complete with party favors like perimenopause, a fiery autoimmune flare, and the not-so-fabulous trio: Prednisone, Zepbound, and Tremfya. Sprinkle in your monthly cycle for extra flair, and you’ve basically got…
Surviving Prednisone: Embracing Bloating and Emotional Swings
Devil’s Tic-Tac with a Side of Bloat Let me preface this by saying: I am grateful for medicine. Truly. If it weren’t for these tiny miracle pills, I’d probably still be in a pain fog, trying to convince myself that crawling to the bathroom is “just part of the journey.” But hot damn, y’all—nobody warned…
