Rheumatoid Arthritis - Flat Friday

You know when you have a reasonably good day, and get some stuff done, and you're all over how FABULOUS that is? And then you wake up the next day and it's all gone totally to hell in a handcart...? Especially since, although you got lots done, you didn't actually do anything stupidly physical that would over strain anything or push beyond sensible limits.

That's been my today. On a day when I'd usually do the grocery shopping, to prepare for Shabbat. Maybe make some challah. Some egg salad. 

Instead, I hauled myself down the road to do my blood tests - infusion on Tuesday - and then sat in my local (bless them for being right there opposite the doctor's surgery, and for having such excellent coffee) for the longest time trying to find the energy and focus to get back up, and drive the car the 800 meters back home... I was obviously there longer than I thought too, because suddenly there was Dragon Dad in front of me, en route to the hardware store, stopping in to check that I was there and OK.

So, I got home, and then managed to get through writing one of three work articles. Well, almost got it finished. By then Dragon Dad had got back from the hardware store with the supplies he needed to continue with the backyard Alcatraz he's been building to keep the littlest Siamese IN the yard (after discovering yesterday morning that she's been scaling all eight feet of it to go play with the builders over the back while they build the new house there). He had to keep going with that - small Siamese was driving us nuts being confined to barracks - but needed a work document scanned at Officeworks so it could be sent to the relevant parties, and could I possibly do that? For a moment, he hesitated and said not to worry, he'd do it, but I gathered myself and told him I could. And I did. And got back, made us both sandwiches, because it was well past lunch time. Then my stomach went berserk - because I'm flaring, flaring badly, so the IBS has to kick in too... 

I sat a bit, sipped a Coke hoping to settle the nausea, did a few runs to the bathroom - GAH. 

And you know what? THIS is what I totally hate about RA. That it can poleaxe you so comprehensively. I've been out today to do two very minor errands - in the scheme of things. I've written one very basic, short article. Made a couple of sandwiches. 

And I am EXHAUSTED. And I feel like shit. And I HURT. My gut is a mess. I can't think straight. And, I've done absolutely nothing to have caused any of that...it's just what my body does, because it's sick. 

Thankfully, we were on the receiving end of a lovely gift from Dragon Dad's brother and mother - a polystyrene box full of all sorts of lovely food that just needs warming, mixing, or a quick grill. SUCH a thoughtful thing. Dragon Dad hasn't been doing as much around the place since his surgery - the fence is the first big job he's done. So all the food shopping, cooking, organising, etc, has come down to me, and I've been deteriorating physically pretty quickly. So to have a couple of meals that required NO thought or real effort is a very special gift indeed. It means I have very little to do about dinner tonight.

So, at this point, I think it's probably time to close down the computer and relegate the remaining two articles for 'some other time', take the extra pain meds I've been putting off because that WILL be the end of my brain for the day, put my feet up, and just stop.

Self care, I believe it's called! 

Poncho - best ever local cafe