Gentle hugs back to you @~Christina ...

Sorry your liver is acting up and putting another serving of an unwanted item on an already overloaded plate!

Speaking of food (and cheese), I was wondering if you and @lizardlady have eliminated certain foods from your diet? If so, do you find it helps keep inflammation (and flares) in check?

*************

I've got an appointment for an eye exam tomorrow.

Concerned that I may have Uveitis going on in left eye.

Of all the things this stuff (PsA) can (and will) eventually do to our bodies, the thought of losing my eyesight freaks me out more than anything!

[~Christina]

I know personally I can’t do any artificial sweetness, every Doctor that I have seen that believe in Fibro has made sure to mention that.

I have zero will power this past 6/8 months, but if I literally avoid carbs of anykind I do have less overall pain and cuts big flares down.

Carbs are a comfort food to me but ... i feel sluggish physically and mentally if they are a staple , like right now. Hell I made mashed potatoes and a can of corn for dinner.... I know I’m on steroids so I always crave carbs on it. But still I need to get back to eating better.

I’m not sure about the connection between PsA and losing vision ??? I have never heard of that,

I hope your eye appt goes well an things can get sorted out.

Are you able to get enough sleep ??!

[~Christina]

Liz ,

How are you holding up ?

Gentle hugs

Appreciate the food information @~Christina ... I'm thinking of going a little more natural and bland (less sugar & salt) to see if it helps. I never cared for artificial sweeteners as they seem overly sweet so I guess I'll just get used to drinking my iced tea sugar free now ... I'll start adding more veggies and fresh fruit to the menu too ... Like you, I love my carbs - especially when needing comfort and may have difficulty giving them up altogether!

Regarding Uveitis, here's an excerpt from Mayo Clinic:

"Uveitis is a form of eye inflammation. It affects the middle layer of tissue in the eye wall (uvea). Uveitis (u-vee-I-tis) warning signs often come on suddenly and get worse quickly. They include eye redness, pain and blurred vision. The condition can affect one or both eyes.".

I'm experiencing a bit of that in my left eye. It came on in May and I figured it was just another round of age related vitreomacular adhesion that I'd already experienced in my right eye a couple of years ago. My right eye eventually cleared on up so I figured this one would too.

But upon reading that PsA can sometimes cause eye problems, I got to thinking that I better not wait this one out like we did the other thing as it may be something altogether different. I've got a good eye doctor that walked me through the other thing, so I'm right confident that if this is the Uveitis thing that he'll get me through that as well.

As far as sleep goes, if I can get through the night without waking up more than once or twice, I feel right special. I go to bed quite early to make up for all the disruptions. It's extra sweet if I make it all the way through without waking up even once!

I'm finding it more and more difficult to find comfortable positions to sleep in ...

How about you? Do you sleep okay or feel that you get enough rest?

Gentle hugs to you and @lizardlady ...

Hope y'all have a good day today, and I'll let y'all know how things went when I get back from my appointment!

[~Christina]

I use to work in opthamalogy and I never knew of that connection. But I also wasn’t burdened with PsA in my 20’s

It’s just a really sucky auto immune disease all the way around.

I have struggled with insomnia since I was a young child. I don’t know what it’s like to get a decent stretch of good quality sleep.

Im laying here and my husband cane to bed , moved around to get comfortable and he’s snoring took about 5 mins, I get so legit jealous lol

I’m going to just stare at my wall and hope I doze off if only for a short while.

[lizardlady]

The flare that laid me low a couple of weeks ago finally passed. Thanks for asking and good wishes.

Pfrog, over the years people have suggested I give up various foods for fibro. I've never done it for a couple of reasons. My doc tells me there's no evidence giving up whatever is effective. Plus I've had to give up so many things I enjoy because of other medical stuff I don't want to give up anything else. I hear you both about artifical sweeteners. They give me absolutely raging headaches.

Glad that flare has left you be @lizardlady ... Not sure how it feels for you, but I liken it to being in a vice grip and suddenly let go!

I appreciate you and @~Christina for sharing information and experiences with me ...

I think that's gonna help me through this more than the "professionals" even!

Great news on the eye exam! ... Not Uveitis, just regular old getting old(er) stuff ... A little Vitreomacular Adhesion and a small cataract is all ... Nothing to be alarmed about (and that isn't fixable somewhere on down the road) ... Slight change in left eye vision but good for another two years before next exam (unless something goes amiss) ... Two new pairs of glasses (one regular and one polarized shades) are ordered and on the way ... I liked the frame so much that I got it for both pairs!

Here's to more good and less bad days for all of us!

[lizardlady]

Pfrog, that's great news from the eye doc!

[~Christina]

Wonderful news Pfrog

Sometimes A Little Humor Helps ...

Possible trigger:

[lizardlady]

Love it Pfrog!

[~Christina]

Yes!!!!! Almost daily lol

Thanks for this

[lizardlady]

*sigh* I have another flare building.

I'm sorry, @lizardlady ...

Do they seem to happen more for you once the weather starts getting colder?

It seems that way for me.

I think I've found a rheumatologist I'm willing to give a try and have asked my PCP to make a referral to him for me.

It will be after the first of the year before they can work me in though.

To go or not to go ... That's the question!

I've been dealing with pain for over 10 years now, so what's three more months I ask myself.

I'm pretty sure that more damage is occurring even as I sit here and type this!

I can feel pain, stiffness and tightness in joints that haven't been involved before.

The time I'm able to stand and walk before the pain kicks up to that go ahead and put me out of my misery level is getting shorter and shorter.

I used to tell myself what a tough nut and cookie I am.

Now it's all I can do to just be present without bursting into tears.

I don't know what to think, feel or believe ... I'm just tired and want to not be in pain anymore.

The ADA thing is slowly plodding along, and ...

The much dreaded colder weather will be here before we know it.

Sometimes I just want off this pfreakin' ride!

Thank you for just letting me give all that jumbled up mess in my head a little bit of air!

[lizardlady]

Originally Posted by Pfrog

Do they seem to happen more for you once the weather starts getting colder?

Oh h e l l yes!

Originally Posted by Pfrog

I think I've found a rheumatologist I'm willing to give a try and have asked my PCP to make a referral to him for me.

It will be after the first of the year before they can work me in though.

To go or not to go ... That's the question!

I've been dealing with pain for over 10 years now, so what's three more months I ask myself.

I'm pretty sure that more damage is occurring even as I sit here and type this!

I can feel pain, stiffness and tightness in joints that haven't been involved before.

The time I'm able to stand and walk before the pain kicks up to that go ahead and put me out of my misery level is getting shorter and shorter.

I used to tell myself what a tough nut and cookie I am.

Now it's all I can do to just be present without bursting into tears.

I don't know what to think, feel or believe ... I'm just tired and want to not be in pain anymore.

The ADA thing is slowly plodding along, and ...

The much dreaded colder weather will be here before we know it.

Sometimes I just want off this pfreakin' ride!

Thank you for just letting me give all that jumbled up mess in my head a little bit of air!

I am sorry you are struggling so much, frog.

hope you start to feel better soon.

(remember we are always about if you need to talk!.)

I think it unconscionable that our insurance plans can dictate we jump through hoops (step therapy) before approving the medications our doctors think are best for us and our conditions!

[lizardlady]

Amen to that pfrog!

[~Christina]

As for Fibro my insurance required Neurontin first ... then after 3 months or so my Doctor sent prior auth and I was stared on Lyrica.

First biologic was Enbrel , which is what my Rhuematologist uses as his first choice. It did fail after a bit more than a year.

Humira is the next option as far as my insurance goes, but if I find no relief he will send a pre auth for the next one. I forget what’s next.

My Dermatologist and Rhuematologist both want me on Taltzs as they both think it would be best because I have major problems with the psoriasis showing up on my lady parts .. yes! OMG !! It was awful.

But yes I’m a poodle and I must jump through flaming hoops in order to find what will work

Big Pharma can bite me!