About time for an update

Just wanted to get on here and throw an update out for all those that are curious about my health.

Things have been crazy for the last few weeks!!!

I started my Humira injections on Thursday, July 27th.

The next Friday, August 3rd, I woke up with my face feeling weird and puffy. By Friday night, the whole left side was swollen up and throbbing, and I had a fever. So off to the ER we went (at midnight. poor Ben). I immediately tell them I am on Humira, so they make me wear a mask. Apparently I had a small infection in a tooth (back molar). When my immune system crashed, my body couldn't fight that little infection and it turned into a full on absess and took over my face.
Because I was on Humira, they wrote me 2 antibiotic scripts and a pain pill, then I was out of there with in 30 minutes.

Things were BAD for a few days. I completely did not have a neck and my face was swollen up over the top of my eye. Don't believe me? here's a picture. eek!!!

By Monday, I was good as gold and back at work.

It was determined on that Monday that I would delay my next Humira injection until after the tooth/face infection was cleared up and I was able to get in with a dentist. (which if you know me, you know that I would rather cut my arm off than go to a dentist)

Now fast forward to Thursday, August 9th. I get to work, not feeling well at all. Had some pretty bad pains in the stomach area. I describe them as what I am guessing contractions feel like. It was a pulsating pain that had me doubled over. With an hour,I was throwing up from the pain. So, I leave work, and call my GI specialist. I am ordered to go directly to the ER. I get there, they give me an IV with pain meds, anti-nausea meds, and prevacid. Then I was off to x-ray and CT scan. It was determined that I had a UTI and a severe Crohn's flare up.

The Dr at the ER would have liked to have me admitted, but my GI Dr suggested that I stay out of the hospital if at all possible due to having no immune system. It was also determined that my body is resistant to one of the antibiotics that I was on for my tooth/face.

So, I came home with 1 of the same antibiotics, a new one, and some new pain meds.

Fun times, right?!?!?

So now that's where I stand. at an absolute standstill.

My dental appt is August 22nd and my next GI appt is August 23rd. At that point hopefully, I will be able to start back with my injections.

From what I can tell, the Humira is/was doing its job. It crashed my immune system as it was supposed to. and when it was time for the next injection, I had a flare up.

The problem was the infections that occurred during that time as a result of the Humira side effects.

So there you have it. I have come to realize that this will be my life for a while. I am ok with it. I have made peace with it. While I don't like being sick, or in the ER, or on all these meds....I have to keep looking at the end result.

I would really appreciate it if you would continue to keep us in your prayers. Also, please be understanding if we cancel plans, don't answer our phones or texts in a timely manner, or just flat out seem cranky some days. My health is one of our top priorities right now.

We greatly appreciate the wonderful support system that we have. Not sure what we would do without our support system. So thank you. You mean more than I could ever tell you.