1) Well pollinated
We are in peak pollen season here in Florida, which means every day, I walk outside to see a thin layer of yellow dust on my car. I got my car washed on Sunday and within 12 hours, it was again covered in pollen. Sigh. This is my first spring season in my new neighborhood, and it appears there’s really nowhere I can park my car without being affected. What I really want is for all these car wash companies in our area to offer quick “pollen rinse-offs.” I’ll pay $10 just for a quick rinse, no soap! Or maybe I just need to suck it up and finally get a car wash membership.
Thankfully, I do not have seasonal allergies, I’d probably be so miserable right now. Our parking lot is covered with pollen!
2) This comment 😭
I was scrolling through comments on Kyria’s post on where she finds inspiration, and saw this comment thread between Engie and Kyria! It touched me so deeply, more than they could ever know. I have been in a bit of a funk over the past month, and it’s led to feeling less inspired to blog. I feel like I’m barely hanging on some days, so to see such a sweet comment about my blogging style really lifted my spirits. I care a lot about this blog and the posts I’m publishing, and there is nothing better than knowing other people see the value I’m bringing! Thank you, ladies. I really appreciate the compliments!
3) PsA update
Yesterday, I had a follow-up appointment with my rheumatologist. I’ve been on my new long-term medication, methotrexate, for six weeks now (and have been on prednisone for a few weeks more than that). Last week, I had bloodwork done, and it was exciting to see that many of my inflammation markers have reduced. They still aren’t in the normal range, but they are trending in the right direction. (For example, my C-reactive protein started at 41.5 mg/L in January and is now at 20.4 mg/L. Normal range is under 8 mg/L, so it’s still high, but not as high as before.)
I was honest with my rheum that I hadn’t had symptom improvement beyond what prednisone has relieved, and she patiently reminded me that that was to be expected. Logically, I know this, but gah, I’m ready to feel better! Thankfully, I think the doc could tell I was frustrated because she agreed to bump up my methotrexate dose (from 15mg once a week to 20mg once a week) and wants me to start taking an extra half-pill of prednisone.
I’ll get bloodwork done again in four weeks, and then I’ll see my rheum at the end of April to see where things stand!
4) Lucy turns 5!
Sunday is Lucy’s birthday – she will be five, if you can believe that. (For newer readers, Lucy is my fur-sister, my mom’s dog, and she is my very best friend!) Who wants a trip down memory lane? Baby Lucy was everything.
5) Weekend plans
What’s going on this weekend? Today, I’m hoping to put together my outdoor couch and finish Homeseeking. Tomorrow, it’s a podcasting bonanza! Bri and I will record one or two episodes, and then our friend Amber is coming over to record with us. We’re going to talk about her life as an enneagram 6! And Sunday, I’ll take a fun trip to Dunedin with my mom and the dogs to get ice cream for Lucy’s birthday. Yay!
Tell me your weekend plans! Are you experiencing a pollen explosion like me?
Pollen season is a ways away for us – probably not until May. There is actually snow in the forecast for next week. Sob. It will melt right away not still. Enough, winter!
I can really empathize with how you’re feeling. It’s hard to deal with the gradual improvement of symptoms when the pain is so debilitating! My update this week is that my Hashimotos is no longer subclinical so I started a med for that. It’s annoying because it has to be taken on an empty stomach and then I can’t eat or have coffee for 30-60 minutes. So I really need to rejigger our mornings so I can eat before I leave for work. I don’t want to pack breakfast as it sounds like such a hassle
Oh no! I’m sorry to hear about the Hashimoto’s becoming a nuisance. It was nice to have it subclinical for a while? Do they know why you now have to take meds, or is it just “luck of the draw?” Taking meds can be SUCH a hassle! I have to take mine with food, which is fine on the weekdays but a nuisance on the weekends if I don’t eat breakfast at home. Then I have to remember to either take them with me in my purse OR take them later when I get home. Blergh.
I hope you can figure out a better morning routine so you don’t have to pack breakfast!
I agree with Engie and Kyria that your blog is beautiful to look at and fun to read! I’m always happy to see the kitty pictures, and OMG, Lucy!!!! As a puppy!!!! She’s the cutest little sweetie pie EVER!
I’m SO glad to hear that you don’t have pollen allergies because, dang it, you have enough going on already. I’m thankful that you’re getting good care, and hopefully you’ll have your meds just right soon.
Thank you, Michelle. That really means a lot! I feel the same about your blog. <3
Yes, the last thing I need to be dealing with is pollen allergies on top of everything else! Whew.
GAH! Didn’t we just see photos of baby Chip, and I thought nothing could be cuter- BUT I WAS WRONG. OMG baby Lucy!!!!! Of course you have to celebrate her birthday!!! I hope she enjoys her ice cream.
I also agree that your blog is excellent. Every post is well put together and I love the amount of personal detail you include. Somehow you manage to keep it real about your issues, while also sharing the fun things Plus… CATS. Lots of cat photos. Thank you.
Thank you, Jenny! That is so kind of you to say. 🙂 The more cat photos, the better, is how I feel!
Baby Lucy was something else! And she was actually a pretty low-key puppy (a vast difference from Chip who was a monster, ha.)
Baby Lucy!!! So cute! I can hardly stand it! Such a little muffin.
Awww, I think your posts are exactly that – great formats that other people can follow! I love how you write about your daily life – what you’re reading, photos, five for Fridays. They are really easy to read and also a fun peek into your life. So I agree with Kyria and Engie!
Woof that’s a lot of pollen. The guys would be in agony – all three of them are already full-on into the Reactine. In Calgary we had a lot of spruce trees and there was one month – June, maybe – that the trees would kind of bud and EVERYTHING would be yellow for a couple of weeks. I don’t have allergies, so it doesn’t bother me, but I feel bad for the guys!
Thank you, Nicole! That means a lot coming from you. <3
I feel so bad for people with allergies! The pollen is OUT OF CONTROL around here.
Happy birthday tomorrow, Lucy! I love that you and your mom are celebrating her! Also, congrats on getting your inflammation markers down. It;’s such a long and slow road with these sorts of issues and I know it must be so frustrating to not just feel better when you’re doing all the right things. Hopefully that sign of progress makes it easier to stay the course and that you start feeling some actually relief soon <3
Thank you! It felt very good to see my bloodwork numbers improve after a short time on medication. Most of that is probably due to the prednisone, but it’s something!
I’m glad that comment made you happy. It’s true – I have “borrowed” many of your formats! I try to give you credit when I can!
BABY LUCY!! (I desperately want to know what Baby Hannah looked like. *sigh*)
It was such a delight to read that comment. Thank you so much!
Baby Lucy was something else!!
Just curious, is there any reason your rheumatologist started with methotrexate and didn’t offer you a biologic medication? Like cosentyx or stelara? They often work much faster and have fewer side effects than MTX
The way my doctor explained it, insurance forces them to try methotrexate first before any sort of biologic. It’s a pretty standard treatment pathway for psoriatic arthritis. Gotta love the US healthcare system, eh?!
Baby Lucy is the cutest! I mean, baby Chip is also cute but BABY LUCY! Such a little tater tot. Haha. I am glad that our comment gave you a boost. I know what you mean about not feeling like blogging. Even though it is satisfying, it sometimes is hard to get motivated! We are all here for you! I hope this treatment works for you!
That is such a nice convo to stumble upon between Engie and Kyria. I am so glad you saw it when you needed it, and sorry to hear you are in a funk 🙁 Life’s swings are so tough. I see you doing the hard work to take care of yourself mentally, physically, and emotionally, and am in your corner. <3
I hope your blood markers continue to improve and you get more relief.
I am HERE for discussions about allergies. OMG. They’re terrible everywhere—there’s no escape. I dream of relocating to a desert location and then read articles about how climate change and non-native plant invasions mean that “desert” no longer equals “allergen free”. Sigh. I’m here for the rinse off option, too, though mine is usually due to dust build up from my parking garage. And finally, baby Lucy. OMG. The cuteness is overwhelming.