If you’re wondering whether I enjoy switching biologics and weight-loss meds like Pokémon cards, the answer is no. No, I do not. But here we are again, standing at the crossroads of “this worked until it absolutely didn’t” and “please let this be the combo that doesn’t ruin my life.” This ongoing cycle feels a…
Tag: autoimmune disorders
Navigating New Medications: A Chronic Illness Journey
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…
When Pain Gets Weird: Living with Fibromyalgia Beyond the Obvious
Fibromyalgia. That word alone can make a chronic illness warrior sigh in exhaustion, pain, or both. When people hear the term, they often think “muscle pain” and maybe “tired all the time” — but friend, that’s just the beginning. This condition is like the trickster of chronic illnesses, showing up in ways that are downright…
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…
Skin Sensitivity and Fibromyalgia: Living with Allodynia
If you’ve ever winced in pain just from the feeling of a soft blanket brushing your skin, you’re not alone — and you’re not imagining things. This is a very real and often misunderstood symptom of Fibromyalgia called Allodynia. Allodynia can make everyday sensations, such as a light touch or the pressure from clothing, feel agonizingly painful, leading…
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…
