Arthritic Critic

Yesterday Hope and I were watching Food Network as a chef was preparing a meal. The chef was listing ingredients..."oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, scallions and hot pepper flakes." Hope stopped in her tracks, turned to me and asked..."Mommy, why are they putting POISON sauce in that recipe?"

I talk a lot about going to the doctor but I don't talk a lot about why I need to go. I was diagnosed when I was 2 with JCA...a million years ago my arthritis didn't act like RA and they didn't quite know what "category" I fell into so it was JCA for me. I spent most of my childhood in remission, battling flare ups here and there. I have one strong memory of having my knee drained while in elementary school and then I had a really bad flare when I was 19 that took us about 6 months to get under control. Fast forward to '98, we're under the impression I'm dealing with PA due to family history, I start taking Enbrel, I'm miraculously cured and I lead a charmed life until I give birth to my daughter in '02...and then things quickly start to go bad. In '08 I'm diagnosed with RA after an elbow surgery. Now please don't misunderstand me, I'm not dying but the last 3 years have been extremely difficult. If it's not one thing it...

7 weeks ago tonight I was getting myself ready for my ankle fusion surgery due to my RA. While I was scared and worried, I was quite blissfully unaware of how difficult the next 7 weeks were going to be. The surgery went pretty well and a week after the surgery the incisions looked good, enter a double dose of Enbrel and Arava on the side and the incisions quickly took a turn for the gnarly. It's 7 weeks later and I still have a scab on my foot that is trying to heal. Needless to say the incisions have really done a number on me...it's hard to believe something that ugly can be attached to my person. I've worked really hard to get past it and embrace my foot and hope it heals quickly. I could have never guessed that I would also have a new disease to deal with. The day after the surgery I started to used the bathroom a little more frequently than before...before I knew it I was using the bathroom 7 or 8 times a day. I switched my diet back to gluten free, added folic acid, ...