This is a Flare, Isn't It?

It may seem unlikely, but one of the problems I have with systemic lupus is that I can't always tell if I am sick. When I feel a new ache or pain, or have a day that ends in severe fatigue, or "lose" a few words in the recesses of my brain, it may simply be an ordinary day with a few inconvenient symptoms. If the symptoms persist over several days and some tell-tale iconic signs arise, I suspect it is a flare. For me those signs are painful feet, an ache in my sacroiliac joints and feeling feverish in the evening. 

Those signs are not very specific and sometimes I am still not sure if the disease is "flaring", or becoming very active. Moreover, I'm attached to my healthy time and dread being sick. 22 years of this cycle has not given me an ounce of real acceptance, only resignation and dread. Frequently this leads to some foot-dragging in acknowledging that I am sick again, and a delay starting the necessary high-dose steroids. 

Last week I noticed some symptoms, said "Here it comes," and increased my prednisone immediately. My thoughts floated above the usual anxiety and indecision. I rested when I felt the need, kept as busy as possible and focused on the coming knitting business season. Is this some kind of crazy grown-up thing? 

The coming season starts next week when I set up a display of products for sale at the new Merchants Warehouse in Chattanooga. It is home for many local makers and a few small antique sellers. It is my first opportunity in this kind of sales venue, where I rent space in a retail emporium that is open every day, staffed with lovely, welcoming people. I will be free to stay home to design and make new products, with a periodic check on my inventory. Joy! A business change that doesn't require a strong back!

Photos soon.
Peace.

WTF: In a Good Way

Honestly. Honestly! I could use another phrase here but so far I've managed to keep my blog free of some of my favorite exclamations, but some days really make you wanna say WTF. In a good way.

I burnt my turkey burger (and Lucy's, too), installed the wrong cartridges in my printer and washed my debit card today. Everything came out just fine.

Lucy and I had slightly smaller turkey burgers as I removed the ring of char for discard. She didn't seem to notice the difference, expressing her "this is the best day of my life" attitude as I fed her tiny bites. She's lost a bunch of teeth so she doesn't chew anything if she can help it, so it takes a long time to feed her a burger. A long, happy time.

I had a form to print, fill out and return for my daughter. When I finally realized that the printer was telling me it didn't recognize the cartridges I had installed, I jumped in the car and went to FedEx Kinko's, the small, friendly one near my house. A nice, patient employee kept an eye on me and helped me get past obstacles like how to insert my very clean debit card. An amazing young man refused to take the computer and scanner ahead of me, and I chatted with his mom a bit as I did my scan and email chores. When I finished I bought myself a little bag of m&ms because it was that kind of day. Then I bought one for the nice young man in case he was having that kind of day, too.

The ink cartridge store didn't have the black cartridge I needed, but the man who helped me knew right away what could substitute for it. I wanted to make a commercial for them.

Perhaps the craziest thing is that I've had wild energy all day and none of this made me feel like falling on the bed with exhaustion. It is more remarkable when you consider that my last bio-therapy treatment failed, and I have not replaced it with anything. I've been cruising along for several months on a few milligrams of prednisone a day, and if anything I feel better. Lupus is a capricious disease. I never know if I'm waking to a good day or a bad one, but I appreciate this recent string of good ones.

Peace.