I’m so proud of us. I don’t think I say that enough. I spend so much time thinking about what still hurts, what still needs answers, what my body still can’t do, and what the next appointment, test, medication, or diagnosis might bring that sometimes I forget to turn around and look at the road…
Tag: autoimmune
Four Beats Short: When a “Negative” Tilt-Table Test Was Anything but Normal
An IST, Dysautonomia & Hyperadrenergic Health Update If you’ve been following my health journey, you know I’ve spent a ridiculous amount of time trying to explain one very specific thing: When I stand up, my body changes gears. My heart rate climbs. My blood pressure climbs with it. The longer I’m upright, the more likely…
Switching Things Up Again: A Gamble Trial-and-Error Medicine
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…
When Grief Packs Its Own Suitcase
Traveling amidst grief can create a unique exhaustion that blends emotional weight with logistical challenges. The author reflects on their experience accompanying their husband during family loss, navigating both physical illness and emotional turmoil. They emphasize the necessity of self-compassion, acknowledging that grief affects the body and mind, necessitating rest and support.
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…
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…
Transform Your Morning Ritual with Everyday Dose: An HONEST Review!
For years, my mornings started with a familiar ritual: the smell of freshly brewed coffee filling the air, the warmth of a mug in my hands, and that first sip of rich, bold comfort that signaled the beginning of a new day. As I sat quietly at my kitchen table, the world outside slowly awakened,…
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….
