Life Update

Well, the stress continues to take a toll. I had another bout of night sweats last night; however, the severity was considerably less in relation to those I've experienced over the past week. I did need to change my night clothes at one point and grab a towel to sleep on something dry. The emails of support continue to pour in, offering reassurance that I am not alone in my experiences. Thanks everyone. The downfall of AS being such a hidden disease--and a very uncommon one as well--it's very difficult to connect with other people who share these personally-challenging experiences. It is very isolating when you envision that people don't understand when you talk about feeling tired, being in pain, or not being able to emerge from your bed. I'm sure this probably sounds like whinning; being in the midst of a flare that seems neverending can really alter one's mood. I have been trying to stay positive and upbeat, but I am so emotionally and physically exhausted by the end of the day, and that's when I tend to update my blog.

Today I switched my prescriptions from my local pharmacy to Women's College Hospital pharmacy. The pharmacist assured me that Enbrel is eligible for reimbursement under my new health benefits with Manulife Insurance. I am counting down the days until I can pick up my first box of Enbrel. I will need to find a few select people who would be willing and able to inject the medication into the subcutaneous tissue over my triceps (it's not an easy area to reach on your own). The photo to the right shows subcutaneous sites where Enbrel can be injected safely. Rotation of sites is recommended to minimize complications. When I rotate sites, I tend to prefer self-injecting into my abdomen as I find my thigh an extremely painful site. To inject elsewhere, I need to request assistance.

One of my concerns with starting Enbrel, particularly now that my primary mode of transportation to work is public transit, is the resulting suppression of my natural immunity to infections. People taking Enbrel are especially susceptible to respiratory infections. Taking public transit is like attending daycare during flu season. I currently have some bug at the moment: over the last week I have presented with a very sore throat (it feels like I am swallowing razor blades) and a low-grade fever. I'll have to determine if I should start Enbrel while experiencing these symptoms or if I should wait until my health has returned to baseline.