Author: hidradenitisandme

So, today was a little extra challenging. Soreness contributed to a slower pace and even some indecisiveness about going to my Christian mtg. My mtg starts at 12:30 on Sundays. I’ve had a pretty good rhythm the past few weeks of being back in person. I’ve been leaving the house a few minutes after twelve and arriving on time. Today wasn’t that kind of day.

My back and forth decision making had me leaving the house at 12:21, oy. Fortunately it’s only a four minute drive. Once there, I found a seat and twisted and shifted until finding a tolerable position for my buttocks 😓…. I got through.

The second thing on my agenda, was to pick up crab legs for my mom. She expressed wanting some. The soreness in my bottom made me contemplate going home, but I proceeded to the store. After doing a smell test, I purchased the crab legs and some other items and headed home.

Once home, my sister and I both thought there was a strong fishy odor. She washed them which seemed to alleviate that, and steamed them. I cracked one and had a small portion. The next one I was inclined to smell just to be safe. What did I smell??!! AMMONIA! I announced this so that my mom wouldn’t eat any of hers. After no success reaching the store by phone, much to my displeasure, I left the house again to take them back 😠(my Google search revealed that this smell occurs as seafood is beginning to break down) ..sigh.

I’m now back home and glad I got that out the way since I surely wouldn’t have wanted to leave the house tomorrow, which is my rest day. So yes, call it a day! I winced, shifted, twisted and turned with pain today…but bigger than that, Jehovah strengthened me to get through. Prayerfully some sound sleep will result 😴

It’s been quite a number of months since Hope for HS held any meetings or community meet-up sessions. I like attending because it’s a rare opportunity to be in a space with people that understand the multifaceted components of HS.

The mtg this coming Sunday will focus on mental health issues in HS patients. It’s important to maintain a positive attitude with any illness, but it’s also important to acknowledge, understand and face the effects and feelings that come along with this horrid disease. (the link to register if interested is below) Perhaps I’ll see you there.

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUlf-usqjouH9bSZjR3BMn0iPPxnuL2w-r4

Had to go into center city(my least favorite place) today for a dentist appointment. I chipped a tooth and wanted it to be looked at, so though tempted, I didn’t cancel.

Being that it takes me a long time to ready myself, I wasn’t thrilled that the appointment was at 9:45😒. My plan was to catch a Lyft to and from. It was such a blessing that my awesome sister adjusted her schedule to give me a ride to the appointment. 🥰🤗🤗❣️ Center city traffic is awful, but she willingly dealt with it, so as to make my life easier. She’s truly a blessing and gift that keeps giving.

Happy to be home and have that out the way. On with my week..,..

These words, found at Ecclesiastes 7:8, are very true of the past 24 hours for me! Not knowing when I’d get relief from the huge boil I unwillingly hosted was a source of frustration and anxiety, as it adversely impacted my daily normal functions.

Today, to come to the realization that it finally had opened was such a relief!!! Some of the soreness and sensitivity will persist a few days, but my joy is not lessened by that.

It would be awesome to be able to say that’s the last time I’ll experience a cyst like that, but reality leaves no room for that. I’ll simply say that it’s great having come to the end or at least end of the hardest part of this flare. There’s quite a contrast between how I felt yesterday and how I feel now! I’m thankful to Jehovah for sustaining me and for all the support of my friends and family 🙏🏽🙏🏽

After about three months now of dealing with a flare on my abdomen that in the past month became massive(4 inches wide and extending out half an inch), I finally see a sign of hope. There’s some skin breakage that will prayerfully soon be the site of what will be an explosion based on past experience with cyst this size.

Regardless of the mess it causes, I’ll be elated to be free of this burden. Fortunately, it isn’t really bothersome when not touched, but going from a laying to standing position isn’t an unforgettable thing😖 gravity allows me to feel the actual weight and sensitivity of the inflammation. That in addition to moving my bowels because of pressure from stomach muscles.

It may be that the powdered zinc I applied yesterday moved things along. I put some more on the area today in addition to draw out salve.🙏🏽🙏🏽

It won’t be necessary for anyone to inquire. When this monster breaks…. I’ll sound the bells…. BELIEVE ME!

It was my goal to devote at least 30hrs of my time this month to my ministry, inviting persons to commemorate the ransom death of Christ Jesus.

Despite an ongoing flare, typical soreness and sleepless nights, I’m very happy to say that Jehovah not only helped me reach my goal, but beyond! I was able to devote 40hrs to my ministry and I’m so happy about that!

Being engaged in the ministry doesn’t/hasn’t and won’t alleviate me of my maladies, but I find it’s been the absolute best way not to focus on them! I’ve enjoyed the enriching association.

I’m so appreciative to my family for their help in this. My sister many mornings has seen to me having breakfast, prepping my smoothies or fixing something to fortify me. My mom has made sure food items I’d likely grab before signing on for service were set out on the kitchen table and gone behind me to put them away so I can sign on in time, and my baby boy, my nephew, checks in to see what I may need. As recently as this afternoon I text to ask him to bring something to eat up to me after service, at which time he told me he’d already begun preparing something 🥰 I’m beyond fortunate and truly blessed!

My 30hr goal remains for the month of April. I’m confident that with Jehovah’s help and the help of my family, I CAN DO IT!💪🏽🙏🏽

We don’t always know how our example, life experience or endurance will effect the life of someone else.

I’m thinking specifically of a family friend that has endured a litany of physical maladies, both chronic and otherwise. Though not up close and personal with her journey, just knowing and recently being reminded that she’s still going despite her daily struggles, has given me the impetus to keep enduring.

For me, chronic illness, in my case HS can make you feel boxed into an unpleasant reality from which there’s no excape. It’s easy to feel that your life isn’t really your own, and that isn’t easy, but reflecting on how others are fighting their fight and not giving up, helps fuel my will to keep going. I hope my endurance does the same for someone else.

I’m content with my day and thankful I accomplished what was in my heart to do. This and next month mark an important season, as Jehovah’s Witnesses worldwide will be increasing their share in our ministry leading up to our celebration of Christ Jesus death. It was my aim to share in my ministry on this first day of March, and I’m very thankful that I was able to do so!

Physically, the past few weeks have been taxing, with soreness, a large flare on my abdomen and some shoddy sleep, but Jehovah no doubt gave me what I needed, and I’m thankful! Typically I’d max out at two hours of service on a Tuesday, but I was able to push through to three hours, and that left me feeling happy and put a smile on my face.☺️ It helped that my wonderful sister prepared breakfast to help fuel me to endure.🥰 No matter what the remainder of the day holds, for me it counts as a good day!

I’m so very grateful right now! I decided I’d make some tuna and have tuna lettuce wraps for lunch. As is typical for a Wednesday, I was slow about getting downstairs.

Before I even got to the kitchen, my mom told me that she’d made tuna…YAAAAAAY!!! I’m so appreciative that she sacrificed the energy to do something that made things easier for me. I call that a blessing! THANK YOU MOM😋😋🐟🥗

I never thought I would have been a retiree at the age of 36. Of course there were many days I didn’t feel like going to work, but I didn’t foresee that one day I’d stop working secularly altogether.

Retiring was a decision for my health. Even though I’d rather still be able to work and not have Hidradenitis, the blessings as a result of being home aren’t at all lost on me! Outside of doctors appointments, I don’t go anywhere unless it’s what I want to do. That’s even more significant in these pandemic times.

Again, it’s been four years that I’ve been gone from the DA’s office. I spent almost eighteen years in that place, and though the last 8 years required a lot of push while dealing with my disease, what stands out most are the good times and awesome people I had the pleasure of meeting. I have GREAT memories that make me smile to this day, of genuine good people that are still dear and connected to me🥰

Some chapters in our lives are harder to get through than others, but there’s no shortage of gratefulness in my heart for the many ways Jehovah has seen to me having the strength I need to get through!

HAPPY FOUR YEAR ANNIVERSARY TO ME🥰🙏🏽💕