This is it. I’m pretty sure that I am back. Right after Christmas I got sick with the flu, one thing led to another, and I was taken off the drugs that I take to treat my systemic sclerosis (scleroderma). Yep. My autoimmune condition flared of course. Two weeks ago I was finally cleared to start my immunosuppressant drugs again.
Hello energy! Wow. This week a surge of creativity arrived. I was up and pulling together projects right and left while cleaning house (and putting away the Christmas decorations). About freaking time, huh. My poor yarn stash had started to despair. The loom was considering contacting an adoption agency (that darn spinning wheel put it up to it. He has always been a trouble maker…). Even the car was becoming depressed.
My energy level has come up just in time. Three weeks ago my internist sat down with me and gave me some bad news: I have developed symptoms that suggest that my lungs are now under attack and becoming scarred. I kind of expected it as I have been having shortness of breath episodes, but still it isn’t a good development. I made an appointment with the rheumatologist. Yesterday I saw him, he decided to increase my drug dosage, and he also ordered lung testing for next week. When I came out the door from the clinic the wind was blowing, the sun was shining, and I was happy to be alive. No matter what happens next week, this week I am full of energy and feeling pretty good. Got to love these drugs!!
So I decided to not go right home. I went shopping!! Hello! The rheumatologist is located in a city north of Denver near a major yarn store, Shuttles, Spindles and Skeins in Boulder, Colorado. I have needs. The loom is making threats…
I found the cotton that I needed pretty quickly. As I tried to walk to the checkout counter I happened to see the Dream Club kits…
While I was thinking about the bed socks the happy colors of the February Dream Club kit jumped out at me.
I don’t know how those kits jumped into my arms. It just happened. Clutching the cones of cotton for the dishtowels and the bagged kits I managed to get up to the check out counter and found…
Okay, I did find some more yarn to add to the pile, but I’m going to save it for a future post. I piled back into the car with all of my happy finds and headed south back towards home through some of the strongest wind in recent memory. Seriously, I was dodging tumbleweeds (while on an elevated overpass!) and playing chicken with wobbly tractor trailer trucks as I raced along through clouds of dust and howling 60 mph wind. It perfectly matched my mood of recklessly joyous living.
My last stop on the way home was at a jewelry store where I bought a new teal colored bead for my Pandora bracelet.
I am rocking the knitting tonight wearing my bracelet. This weekend I will get the warp wound for the dishtowels and the loom will get warped up early next week. You know I’ll be wearing the bracelet when I go for the pulmonary function testing next week.
I am tough. I knit!!
Yarn, Books & Roses 
Good luck for the testing!
Thanks. I made the appointment this morning. 🙂
Love your positive energy! 🙂
Well, it took me a couple of weeks to pull the positive energy together. I think I just needed my drugs to kick my scleroderma symptoms to the curb before I could get there.
Stay well
I’m trying! 🙂
Not only are you tough, just like me, you have a superpower – you knit! When I see something useful and beautiful that I created, I feel like I can leap tall buildings in a single bound and stop speedng locomotives! Sending more positive power your way.
That’s right. It IS a superpower. I just love creating things of beauty and purpose.
Nothing better than fiber therapy! Can’t wait to see your new purchases and finished projects. Happy you have your energy back! Good luck next week!
Thanks. I’m feeling positive. The sooner I know, the faster I can get treatment.
Great to hear from you and your joie de vivre!
It is great to have my mojo back. 🙂
I’m so glad that you’re feeling better but sorry to hear the diagnosis, I hope the increased meds will help! The yarn is just gorgeous and the bracelet just beautiful, you deserved a test after your rough start to the year. Take care. Xxx
Well, it’s not a diagnosis yet, but she suspects that I have a common complication of systemic sclerosis called interstitial lung disease. I watched some videos on lung disease from the last patient education conference and it appears that I am already on the best drug to treat it. Still, it is always good to know what’s up. 🙂 And I would get another doctor added to my team!