Rheumatoid Arthritis Medicine and Christmas Cookies
Holiday Plan of a hysterical woman:
- Wednesday: Get Orencia IV. Experience immediate miracle.
- Thursday: Go Christmas shopping all day.
- Friday: Decorate the house & put up the Christmas tree. Stay up all night to make lots of homemade gifts.
- Saturday: Mail the gifts. Write Christmas cards. Make cookie dough.
- Sunday: Bake cookies & decorate. Deliver to friends.
- Monday: Wrap all the presents. Buy the Christmas groceries.
- Rest of week: Watch White Christmas & relax with family.
RA and a Reality check
I got sideswiped yesterday by my own caution… I didn’t want to wait any longer for my second Orencia IV infusion. I scheduled it for today. But there was one problem. I hadn’t taken the methotrexate in three weeks because of a chest cold.
I know that the methotrexate can help protect me from developing antibodies against the Orencia. It is about time for some Rheumatoid Arthritis medicine success around here. I feel like I’ve lost enough time to RA. So, I am sure to follow the guidelines…
I know the Orencia won’t really put up my Christmas tree. Or bake us some Christmas cookies. But, I cannot help hoping it will make a difference…
Anyway, yesterday my regular methotrexate shot made me sicker than usual since my body was no longer accustomed to it. I should have known that could happen. It would have been wise to decrease the dose for my first shot. I learned that lesson.
But I never seem to learn the other one. I still catch myself making these crazy plans – thinking I can do it all somehow. I hope laughing at me will make you smile.
Note: My first ever “chest cold,” mentioned in this post, was actually a bronchitis side effect of Orencia. Read more about Orencia and cough here.
Recommended reading:
- How well do Biologic medications help Rheumatoid Arthritis?
- Rheumatoid Arthritis and Medication: Are Natural Medicines Better?
- Is This the Best Time to Have Rheumatoid Arthritis? Part 1: Quality of Life
I will laugh “with you” not “at you”.
I used to fret just like you. Its hard to let go of being the perfect mom providing the perfect holiday.
Do what you can, and let others help you more.
I bet I have 20 boxes of decorations I dont even unpack now. Guess what? Noone cares or even notices.
Your family is really lucky. You will make it the best Christmas ever for them.
Kay, I am perfectly willing to accept help! :giggle:
Yes, fewer things come out of the attic… so far this year: none! Does that mean I win? O:-)
You: :bunny:
Me: :turtle:
shopping all day How you can possibly do that? And then you’d follow with other exhausting activities? Wow! You really had me going.
Wouldn’t it be nice to occasionally have a week like that? Hope you’re able to get at least half of it done!
Oh WS: you win the best use of smilies ever award! :present:
I wish I could shop all day, orencia or not! hang in there pal
Man, I thought I pushed myself, that wore me out just reading what you have planned to do. Just don’t overdo it and enjoy your family over the holidays.
😎 tharr, you got the joke right? Or were you pulling one on me too?
Glad to hear I am not the only one who goes for her Remicade and sits there dreaming of all the things I will be able to accomplish over the next week or so, it never happens but oh well it does not cost anything to dream. So I am smiling with you and seeing myself making the same plans. (I did try the shopping all day thing the week after my Remicade then spent several days trying to feel better..I think shopping kills all the good effects of biologics lol)
HAHAHA, why doesn’t life turn out this way. So many freaky bad things can happen, why not good ones too? I used to complain about all the work it took to “create Christmas for my family”.I put huge expectations on myself. I’ve found that Christmas is still here just as well, it’s simpler and we all work together. I like it better actually.
Yes, I have always told my kids: Christmas will come not matter what you do. Or don’t do. Because God loves you the same.
But it was easier to say that when I could stay up all night & surprise all w/ special things. I will try to learn from you. 😎
I sure hope that Orencia kicks in and starts giving you that miracle. While you’re waiting, may God’s peace be upon you and your family during the holidays. Don’t overdo it! 🙂
Andrew
I love your spirit and your wry sense of humor, Kelly. I also love your ability to plan out each day like you have. SO organized! 😉 See, I want to accomplish a lot of those same things before Christmas Day, but since I’m not so great at planning, I’ll probably be trying to do them all on Christmas Eve. Think Keystone Kops.
Seriously, though, here’s hoping your Orencia jab will give you that burst of feel-good energy you’re dreaming of. I also hope you’ll schedule in “REST” on each of those days, since you need to take care of yourself if you want to get ANY of that stuff done.
Thanks for the smiles. Like everyone else, I’m laughing with you, not at you. 😀
Thanks, Wren. Most of that will never get done. I will try not to let it get to me, as Kay says. As long as everyone is happy. But, they do like presents & pie… so I will try my best to do those.
Kelly,
How come your tree isn’t up yet? If your hubby is too busy to do it, then some friend or relative should’ve come by and helped so that you could feel some Christmas spirit while you were recuperating!
Hope your Orencia works well for you!
– RA SB
Love your blog, I also am on the med train for RA. I wish there was a shot that could get all of my Christmas shopping , baking and chores completed. What a Great outlook you have ! Happy Holidays
For what its worth, a friend of mine no longer rolls out her sugar cookies. She makes balls and flattens them on the sheet – they’re all round – no special shapes, but its a whole lot easier on her RA.
Kelly
Too funny, I at first thought, oh my how can she do all that. I went to Target the other day to get a couple of things and thought I was going to lay down right there in the store and take a nap. LOL. Just like the Whos in Whoville, Christmas comes without the tree and without the roast beast. Your post made me feel better and realize hey I am really not the only one who can’t do this stuff anymore. Must run now, well not really run but nice thought, to Rheumy’s office, Thursday is my MTX shot day. Haven’t started self injecting yet…scared, Anyone have any advice on doing the shots yourself for someone who hates needles? Doc’s office is not pushing me, but said I may want to learn when I am ready.
I am totally with you on that. Having those crazy plans thinking today is gunna be awesome because the meds are making me feel great but then reality sets in. Oh reality, sometimes I rather live in my happy bubble.
Love this entry. I decorated the Christmas tree yesterday and obviously overdid it. Today I can’t lift my arms so I look like Dorf (the Tim Conway character). RA – sometimes you just have to laugh.