All the Sickness
Have you ever had a real doozy of a month? I have. I fell seriously ill and to be very honest, it was the worst.
Sickness and autoimmune conditions
If you have an autoimmune condition, you know how important is for us Spoonies not to get sick. Sickness sends our bodies into overdrive so we risk flares. Additionally, we are on immunity-compromising medications that suppress our immune systems so we cannot fight “normie” illnesses well.
I am going to flex for a moment and gloat the last time I was sick was about 8 years ago (this does not include my chronic sinus issues). I was very conscious of my risk and I adjusted my habits accordingly. So when I fell ill, I was surprised, confused, and I thought I had finally succumbed to COVID. It turns out it was not COVID but the flu! This was my first time with it and it was not pleasant. By the way, I had just gotten the flu shot so you can imagine my annoyance.
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View all responsesMedications and flare risks
I sat for my Orencia infusion at the beginning of the month. For a week before the infusion, I felt like all the moisture was being siphoned away from my body. I thought it was a Sjogren’s flare so I did not think much of it.
I went for my infusion in the morning to avoid traffic and get it over with. I had my water, my breakfast, and meds but I still felt parched. My technician gave me 2 bottles of water which I downed instantly. It’s funny because she looked at me and asked if I was getting sick since I looked a bit pale and my lips were cracked. I responded, “No, I feel good. Maybe it’s a Sjogren’s flare?”
A challenging recovery
Fast forward 2 days- I remember not being able to sit up. I used 4 pillows to prop myself up and the brain fog was so real. Thinking it was still a flare, I took a nap. Upon waking I had a 103 fever and it ended up lasting for 7 days. I missed 10 days of school due to it.
At the end of the 10 days, the fever and flu symptoms disappeared, but a sinus infection took its place. If you read my previous articles, you know sinus issues are the bane of my existence. I often let my sinus situation correct itself, but unfortunately, it turned into a roaring sinus infection. I started antibiotics, but the remainder of the month was quite miserable.
Reaffirming my "stay-healthy practices"
I haven’t been sick in so long so maybe this felt like a real shiner. I remember why I am so careful. Getting sick sucked but it did re-affirm my commitment to my stay-healthy practices: I will continue to mask, stay vigilant about hand-washing, and sanitize my items when I come home.
When was the last time you got sick? Let me know in the comments!
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