In a very bizarre coincidence (that I don't buy at all), it looks like I may have the same auto-immune disease my ex has. It's not supposed to be contagious, yet I'm not the first woman to start showing symptoms about ten years later. It's called ankylosing spondylitis. Maybe I don't even have it, but my blood test shows I have some form of inflammatory arthritis, and it's not rheumatoid arthritis because my rheumatoid factor is normal. Every symptom I have is pointing toward it being a type of psoriatic arthritis. I've had very mild psoriasis in the past, so I didn't even go to a doctor for it. Just scratched at it for a while until it went away, the few times it bothered me. I certainly wouldn't have expected to be one of the few people who develop inflammatory arthritis from it. Ankylosing spondylitis is very rare. And it's even more rare in women, so I'm still holding onto the hope that I have something else. Something that isn't going to cost $72,000 a year to treat (yes, really). For now I'm on a lot of pain medications, in addition to high doses of cannabis.
We ended up buying a dual-monitor arm system, with a laptop tray so that I can work in bed. It's taking me forever to figure out how to configure it, and everything has to be tightened into place. The end result, however, is me working on my back in bed. Nice life if you can get it, right? Well, I have somehow managed to snag my dream job. I can't really complain. The pain comes with it, mind you, but I'm making it work somehow.
I have to say, I'll be eternally grateful for the love and support I get at home. Both my daughter and my fiancé are amazing people who make sure I'm fed and watered on a regular basis. They do stuff for me voluntarily, and always ask if I need anything. I feel like the luckiest woman alive despite everything going wrong with my body. It's a topsy-turvy world out there, though, so the best thing we can do for ourselves is decide we really like being upside down.
