I kicked ass on my "To Do" list early in the day...

I kicked ass on my "To Do" list early in the day so I spent the rest of the day mostly relaxing. I did my nails and hung out with Shaun and Shadow and the ani-pals. Tort Baby DEFINITELY got his exercise in today. 😂 Harley got to spend some time with Teyla and the dogs got to enjoy the nice weather. So that was all pretty nice. 🙂

I was so lazy that I ordered House of Chen for me and Shadow and had them deliver even though they are close to me. 😂 Oh well. It was worth it. 😃

The only complaint I've had would be periodic nausea and tiredness. I'm attributing that to my new pills. Since I only have to take them once a week I think I'll stick with taking them on the weekends. As much as that sucks I think I prefer feeling this way at home rather than at work or school. 😕

My plans for tomorrow include putting away all of the laundry I washed and studying for my Algebra test that is coming up on Tuesday. Woo. 😛

Anyway. I'm so very sleepy so I'm calling it a night. Yep, at 11 PM on a weekend. 😂 Have a good night, friends. ❤

So most of my dogs are outside enjoying the weather.

So most of my dogs are outside enjoying the weather.  I looked out and saw that Lowrider was stretched out on her side on the ground in the sunlight.  It was so adorable.  She looked like she was falling asleep.  🙂

I went to the game room to get Tort Baby and he was in front of the door so when I opened it it flipped him over.  😂  I looked down and he's just sprawled out on his back - not even trying to get up.  I have a feeling he knew he was about to get picked up so why bother?  😂

I think we're gonna have one of those nice, lazy, sprawled-out kind of days around here.  I am SO VERY ok with that.  😃

Well I got up wayyy early on a weekend. Someone congratulate me.

Well I got up wayyy early on a weekend.  Someone congratulate me.

I had some stuff to do so when Scooter woke up me at 8 doing the "Someone's gonna pee in the floor!" bark (he's such a tattletale!  😂) so I just stayed up.  I've been pretty productive considering that it's only noon-ish.  Woo for getting things done!

So far I guess my pills haven't affected me in a horribly bad way.  I've had waves of nausea hit me, but they pass and then I'm fine.  I feel pretty sleepy right now, but I don't know if that's from the pills or because I got up early so whatever.  Maybe I'll take a little nap later.  🙂

I gotta say that my hands don't hurt as much today - BUT, I think that's due more to the weather being nice than because of my pills.  I don't think they are supposed to help right away, but I'll take any relief I can get.

Anyway, so far, I'm ok.  Woohoo!  🙂

Saw Dr. Edmond. I feel good about that.

Since everyone is dying to know... my visit with Dr. Edmond went well.  The wait was more than reasonable - my appointment was at 9:30 and I think I was done around 11.  He's also SUPER close to work so both of those are huge pluses!  🙂

Dr. Edmond was really nice and even though our visit didn't take long I didn't feel rushed.  The main thing I went for was my psoriasis / psoriatic arthritis and while I didn't get a referral to a rheumatologist (like I was so determined to do), I am ok with that.  Dr. Edmond explained that he normally doesn't send patients to a specialist unless the medicine that he wanted to start me on doesn't help.  Since it sounded like he had a plan I felt comfortable with that.

SO... I am going to start taking Methotrexate tonight.  It is an immunosuppressive drug so if you're sick - stay the hell away from me.  😂  (But I'm not kidding.)  It sounds like it's a pretty serious medication... which to me is kind of scary, but I'm serious about keeping my joints healthy.  Thankfully I only have to take it once a week so I will like that better than twice a day like I was having to do with the Diclofenac.  I had to take Diclofenac with food so even if I wasn't hungry I was eating just so the pill wouldn't upset my stomach.  I was NOT a fan of that.

So according to the page I linked below this seems like the right course of action.  Diclofenac (an NSAID) isn't controlling my inflammation so now we're moving on to DMARDS, (which actually treats the psoriasis and arthritis rather than just the symptoms).  I think I like that better.  The only down-side (besides the host of serious side effects that I'm going to try hard not to think about) is that it can take several weeks for me to notice a difference.

Anyway, Dr. Edmond wants to see me again in a month so that is my plan.  🙂

https://www.psoriasis-association.org.uk/treatments-for-psoriatic-arthritis/dmards

Harley and Teyla

Harley and Teyla

Sitting in a tree

K-I-S-S-I-N-G

Kiss in progress.  If only I'd been fast enough to switch to video.  LOL

Sorry for the washed out-ness of the photo.  It's hard to get a good one under leezard lamps.  I  am late for work, so I didn't have time to edit.  If you feel like trying, go for it.  🙂

Another one of the kissing kids.

Another one of the kissing kids. 🙂

Man - what a week.

Man - what a week. I'm so ready for it to be over. 

I've felt so run down. I think I've been fighting off that killer crud that Shadow had last week. Blegh.  I might have even had a fever this morning because I was so hot (in the winter!) that I wore jeans instead of snow pants today and I regretted it.  A lot.  🙁

My skin is also getting really bad again. I will admit that I haven't been using the steroid cream that Dr. Hamer prescribed, but medicating as many spots as I have right now twice a day is unrealistic - especially since it's not even a cure. 

My hands are also still not good. I'm super glad that I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow, but if he does what I want and sends me to a specialist I probably won't be getting any treatment tomorrow. But at least it's a step in the right direction. 

Despite all of that I have been keeping up in school, but I've missed some time at work. I guess I can't do everything, but I have to try. Speaking of... I have a thing due tomorrow. I have to really not forget to do it after work or I'm in trouble. 😳 I am too tired to attempt it tonight.

Anyway. Goodnight, friends. I hope your week has been better. ❤