As an entire cliché, last year I promised to start updating my blog more often and instead I left it without an update for several months. And here we are, starting a new year, with a goal of actually making regular updates to the blog. I think the hardest part, for me, about blogging is knowing that I can write about anything I would like at any time and that amount of freedom is completely overwhelming. As a result, I write nothing at all.
This year, my goal is to create a structure to blogging that helps me to cut through the everything-ness so that I can find a topic and actually create something on a regular basis. I'm looking to write about my health as it pertains to my work, the books that I read, and regular art-related updates.
I ended 2024 in a place of cursing about healthcare. My autoimmune infusion is approved for my condition with 8 week dosing, but is approved for other conditions as frequently as every 6 weeks. The positive benefits from the medication for me wear off at 6 weeks, so my rheumatologist attempted to get me insurance approval for 6 week dosing. Unfortunately, it was denied as out of FDA guidance. Frustrating.
We agreed on adding back to my schedule a weekly injection of methotrexate - a form of chemotherapy that has been used at low doses for decades to treat autoimmune conditions. It works well but the side effects are difficult to tolerate. I was on this medication for years, but had been able to successfully discontinue. I took my first dose on New Year's Eve and rang in the new year by going to bed early to sleep off the worst of the side effects.
I also got my 8 week infusion on January 2nd. So we're starting off the new year strong with my health at the forefront of my mind. Hopefully this treatment plan will work to keep me functioning longer, with fewer flare ups. And if it doesn't, well, I'll use the blog to work through the feelings that come with medication changes.
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