To be fair, Humira really didn't have a chance and wasn't really to blame.
After the last flu, I went back on Humira and methotrexate.
A month after I started the medicine again my "flares" were gone.
You know, I don't like to call them "flares".
It makes it sound like fashion accessories.
It, actually, feels like I have a little crew of dwarves who consider my body a mine, and are busy drilling and blasting away at all my joints.
So let's call them dwarves.
Okay, so the dwarves were gone and I was a happy little clam.
Then, suddenly, (this is where the scary music starts), I started feeling 'not well'.
I was nauseated and my abdominal area was uncomfortable. It wasn't bad, and I deal with side effects from all the stuff I take, so I ignored it.
Then my kidneys started feeling sore. So I did an over the counter UTI test. Inconclusive.
Then I found lots of blood in the toilet.
Well, that's embarrassing, which is why I posted it on this blog for the whole world to see.
So, of course, I didn't tell anyone for two days.
Then my fever started. At this point, you'd think I would go to a doctor.
Nooooooo! It's not that bad, I thought.
The fever was only 101.
I didn't have severe pain, just discomfort.
My kids wanted to go to the San Diego Zoo and Disneyland.
So, of course, I went to California and got worse.
So I finally went to the doctor when I got back.
He ordered a cat scan.
Whamo!
7mm kidney stone obstructing ureter with acute kidney infection.
Go Directly to ER, do not pass GO, do not collect $200.
So, of course, I went off the Humira and methotrexate, and three bouts of antibiotics later, I'm well.
At least, my kidneys are well.
My joints on the other hand ... dwarves.
Yesterday the dwarves mined into my shoulder.
It felt like they were inserting little pieces of glass in my shoulder.
After further research, I deduced that the medical establishment calls this "bursitis".
Today, the dwarves moved to my hip, where they are blasting away at the bursae there.
Tomorrow, I see my rheumatologist.
I hope he doesn't put me on a immune suppressant, but on the other hand, I think the dwarves need to go back into hibernation.
I have AP's to prepare my students for, Peru to go to, 30 students to take care of while in Peru, weight to lose.
Maybe if I sing a lullaby to the dwarves, they'll sleep.
Let's see if it works.
