Humira Pen vs. Syringe

I saw Dr. Max today, and all is good. We talked briefly about how things are going with Humira, and he suggested that since I’m doing so well on the pen, that I try out the syringe. I have a shaky hand sometimes, so while the pen is great most of the time, if my hand is shaking I can’t use the other hand to steady it because I’m using the other hand to hold my skin for the shot. It hasn’t caused a problem to the point that I can’t inject, but it was still weird enough that I felt I should mention it. He said that the syringe may be a better option, especially since I’m not scared of it.

 

If anyone reading this has had experience with syringe self-injection I’d love to hear about it!

Made My Day

Yesterday as I strapped my daughter into her car seat after daycare she looked at me, smiled, and said, “you’re too beautiful, mommy.”

Sh*t My Kid Says

I can’t believe how funny my 3 year old is. Even when she’s insulting me, it’s funny. Yesterday we were having a cuddle and she sweetly stroked my face and then asked, “why you have wrinkles?” Sigh.

 

And this weekend as we’re making meatloaf, I was narrating the recipe as we went, “first we add the meat, then the veggies, then we mix,” and she said, “when does it turn into cupcakes?”

Where I Injected Humira Last

I had an awful cold (again) last week, so waited until today… left thigh.

Why ALL Parents Are Better Than You

This Huffington Post article is so fantastic that all parents must read it right this minute.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/josette-crosby-plank/french-parents-better_b_1281984.html

Glee

I know I’m late to the game, but I just started watching Glee and it’s so addictive. One thing keeps sticking in my head, which is the similarities between Kurt and another adorable singing boy:

Agorafabulous

I’m currently reading a fantastic book about horrific anxiety called “Agorafabulous: Dispatches from my Bedroom.” It’s a tough read. True, it’s funny – VERY funny. True, the author is a good writer and the words flow well. But also true, it’s painful to get through. Sara Benincasa is such a good writer that you can’t help but feel everything she feels along with her. And what she feels is pain, shame, anxiety, terror – I am only a few chapters in and I know that never before have I fully understood what true anxiety is really like.

I met Sara several years ago – I’m a PR person and she was a reporter. I speak with dozens of reporters, but she stood out because she was so funny and interesting. I remember chatting with her on the phone about nothing in particular because I just couldn’t seem to tear myself away. Her book is like that. Like reading a friend’s journal, and not being able to stop.

I never would have guessed in my truly superficial talks with Sara that she had gone through anything like what she discusses in her book. At the same time, I doubt she would have known that when we were talking, I was battling Crohn’s and – at the time – losing. Because if there’s anything you want when you’re fighting an incurable illness, it’s to be normal.

On the Wagon

I’m not a drinker, but there’s plenty of other wagons for me to fall off of – the healthy eating wagon, for example. Sleeping well wagon. Exercise wagon. And of course, blogging wagon.

Over Christmas I started eating sweets and I justified it by saying that the Christmas season is really only a month.  But then January just seemed to bring more sweets. February brought Valentine’s Day chocolate. When I walked into CVS and saw a display of Cadbury Creme Eggs I knew it was all over for me. I have a mega sweet tooth but it leads directly to my stomach and tush.

At the same time, I started really feeling my lack of exercise. Now that I drive to work, I have to look for excuses to exercise. But it’s easier to find excuses to lay down.

 

I’m getting better, though. I started getting up at 5:15 every day to do an exercise video. I find myself thinking evil thoughts about the aerobics instructors on-screen, but in all fairness I am getting my heart rate up. I haven’t fully figured out how to avoid sweets, but I’m trying to have a cup of tea first each time I crave sweets, to see if it will help the craving go away. And last night was the first that I got to bed on time, just trying to keep myself from getting tired.

 

The other wagon I fell off was the seeing-my-doctor-wagon. I see my GI and rheumatologist regularly enough, but never seem to get around to making a PCP appointment, in fact I didn’t even have one anymore since we moved. So, I made an appointment for next week. I’m trying, trying so hard! We’ll see what happens next…

UNGH I am SO BEHIND

I’m sorry to those who like to read my blog for my complete lack of posting over the last few months. I’m happy to report it’s for good reason – my wonderful job allows me so much creative expression that I haven’t had much creativity left over to blog. But I do miss blogging, and so much has still been going on in my life.

Humira continues to work well for me and I’m feeling good. I also started some light therapy using a Philips Go Lite box, which I bought on ebay because they are pricey. It seems to work well – even though it’s that time of year that everything is dark, dark, dark, I haven’t felt down. It does help also with keeping me awake and energized – I’m back down to one cup of coffee a day!

And, I’m not sure if it’s decreased stress or decreased caffeine, but I’m having fewer migraines lately. That is a huge relief. I guess it was a bit of a cycle – I’d be exhausted so I’d drink coffee. The caffeine would give me a migraine. I’d take Exedrin or Advil and eventually get a stomach ache. I’d be so uncomfortable I couldn’t sleep. Repeat. The light box cuts into the exhaustion issues and kind of breaks that cycle.

Where I Injected Humira Last

Left leg, Nov. 1.