Reactive Arthritis
In my last post, I said that my lack of writing here was due to focusing on my family. That is true, but I was skirting the real issue.
The truth is that Jessica has been terribly ill. Scary sick. Absolutely debilitating pain.
She was starting to get really sick when I wrote that post, and it has progressed so that the past several weeks have been some of the most awful either of us have ever experienced.
She is suffering from what the doctors call “Reactive Arthritis.”
In simple terms, she had an infection (we both got food poisoning about a six weeks ago, so that could have been it) and in the aftermath her immune system went haywire and attacked her own joints.
She has been in an incredible amount of pain, often unable to walk or use her hands, and the first drugs they gave her to treat it created a very bad skin reaction on top of her symptoms. Painkillers, even very strong ones, have provided minimal relief.
Jessica does not want any fuss made over her, that is not who she is. For a long time she did not want me to mention anything here (not that I had energy to do much but care for her & RZ). But this awfulness has caused us both to be very thankful for each other & our family/friends.
My beloved mother-out-law flew to Salt Lake a few days ago, and has been an amazing help. My own mom will come out & take over in a week.
Despite her illness, we feel so lucky our child is healthy. RZ is babbling & gurgling away happily, blissfully unaware of what is going on. She is a talker just like Dad.
The doctors say Jess will recover from this. It might be a few weeks, it might be six months, but eventually reactive arthritis does go away.
I can’t imagine how horrid this would be if she had something lifelong like this, or if it was terminal. My heart goes out to those who have had this experience. It is so awful.
Yes, I still sneak away to the rink now & then. And when I am there, I fully immerse myself in Speedskating, sinking into the baptism of focus that is such an essential part of the sport; to forget, to renew my spirit, to remind myself of health & what it feels like.
Filed under: from the coffee shop
Prayers are already being offered up. Hang in there Jessica!
Hi Jess and Andrew!…sounds awful and I am glad that you have the Moms around to help you over the bumps. Take it a day at a time and hopefully when the sunshine on your shoulders really starts to shed some warmth, you’ll be thru the worst of it.
Thoughts and prayers are with your clan.
Linda
Hi Jessica and Andrew-
I wish you a speedy and prompt recovery as also all the wellness that you want & can handle.
Take care and be well-
Oh how I wish Jessica the speediest recovery!!
I will pray for you and your Family in this time of need.
Our thoughts are with you , Jess and RZ. Hope it goes away completely and quickly
Sending Jess lots of prayers for a speedy recovery.
Jess and Andrew, I am so sorry to hear Jess is not feeling well. With so many huge life changes for you this year, THIS is certainly not one either of you needed. The only recourse is to believe the doctors “That this too shall pass”, but in the meantime, my thoughts and prayers are with you both that it passes quickly.
Jess, my mom suffers from ongoing pain, and the only advice I can give is to do something that completely engrosses you and takes your mind off the pain. A little meditation perhaps (focusing on ANYTHING but the pain, like your own personal little bio-feedback test. The mind is a powerful thing) Barring that, if you’re up to reading, for my money, reading “Into Thin Air” gets my vote for a book to lose yourself in.
Take Care - and Get Well Soon!
any updates?
Andrew and Jess- I hope you’re feeling better! I’ve had my run with pain, I broke my leg. What helped me get through it was making the best out of it. (With such an optimistic person as Andrew around, that’s probably not too hard
That combined with some awesome books and good movies kept my mind looking to the future. I hope you have a speedy recovery!
Hi Andrew and Jess,
Sending you well wishes. I just heard from Carla because we don’t read the blog often enough. Jess, we hope every day brings you closer to better health and answers!
Hugs & smiles,
Sparkie & Tim