Yesterday, along with my husband, I went to see my primary care physician.  She examined my swollen joints – yes, it was VERY painful -, read through the pain journal I am now keeping per the pain management group’s request, went through all of my medications, and then prescribed some pain medicine as well as some medicine for the flare until I am able to get hold of my old rheumatologist.  She also had her nurse give me a steroid injection while I was there because, otherwise, it would have been near impossible for Carlos to get me back onto my feet and back into the van so we could go home.  The injection began working in about 10 minutes and I was able to feel well enough to go and get ice cream:  It is law, you understand, that when you receive a shot you MUST have ice cream afterwards.

Just knowing there is medication  to help my symptoms and the pain lifted the world off of my shoulders, and off of the Husband’s.

Today I have done very little.  For most of the day I have played Dragon Age:  Origins and little else.  I am not well.  The medicine was not a miraculous cure, but it did help.  I have also slept off and on today because I was unable to sleep for so many nights previously.  The plan, now, is to rest for the next few days and as soon as I am able, to begin doing my exercises, tai chi, and qi gong again.  Right now it is imperative to get more spoons saved up and heal as much as possible.  The arthritis flare is still going, and there is still tremendous pain, but, with a little help, I can get back on top of the pain mentally and emotionally now so it doesn’t completely ruin me and threaten to send me into shock, or worse.  Yes, it has been that bad.

Thank you everyone for your emails and your comments.  They have really helped.