In Shadows

My job is a very physical one and I have Rheumatoid Arthritis. When I was at my rheumatologist a couple of weeks ago, he showed me that my x-rays indicated ‘large amount of damage’ to my feet. That got me wondering. Would I ever notice a flare up if one occurred? Or would I just assume that it was the result of a ten hour / nine mile night at work and ignore it?

Well, my first official flare up after three years of being diagnosed and on medication began yesterday.

By 7am, I wondered what the hel was going on. By 8, I had a pretty fair idea. By 9am, I wondered if I’d be able to even get home before collapsing. (I did.)

Over twenty-four hours later, I’m hobbling better. My elbows are still bad, as are my feet, but the majority of the joints are beginning to calm down. Spent the night taking naps on the couch; for some bizarre reason, my right knee would not stop throbbing no matter how I positioned myself in bed. It only calmed down while I was on the couch.

Why the flare up? I have a sneaky suspicion. I took my new meds on Wednesday night. Thursday I suffered through a killer headache, but not much else. Friday morning, pleased I hadn’t had a hellacious bout of stomach nausea the day before, I celebrated by a breakfast of Cream of Wheat. A double bowl.

Some studies say that wheat is a culprit that can cause flare ups.

None of the side effects listed for MTX include flare ups, so I’m hoping that the wheat was the reason. I won’t know until next week, though, when I’m due to take my next dose. If, for some bizarre reason, I end up with another flare up without eating wheat products, I’m going to be at my rheumatologist’s office so quick . . . well . . . as quick as I can hobble there, anyway.