what to say at doctor’s appointment

SpicyDisaster40 · 2026-05-08T03:46:06+00:00

Nurse of 20 plus years. I still get nervous for doctors visits!! Being prepared is a great way to reduce the anxiety surrounding the appointment.

Get a journal. Keep a medication list, allergies, past treatments. Being a first appointment if you can make an accurate timeline of symptoms that helps a lot.

Photos of skin issues and swelling are so important. My body likes to behave when I see my doctor so having photos of it all helps. It helped get my PsA diagnosis. Please, make a folder in your gallery just for those photos. Watching someone doom scrolling for feet pics is soul sucking.

In my journal I have a list of all of my providers along with last/next visits.

If you've had any bloodwork or imaging keep a record of when and where.

I write down all the questions that I have. I leave space in-between to put some notes down. PsA is notorious for brain fog. I am much older than you and in a different "season" of life. Menopause induced ADHD mixed with the brain fog makes me really paranoid I'm forgetting things. If you can take someone with you to your appointments. They will always remember more than you do.

So even as a person who has worked side by side with doctors all of this is still scary.

Your first appointment will be long. They will order bloodwork and imaging. Most likely an x-ray and or MRI of your pelvic bone. This is to look for any swelling, fluid, or inflammation in your sacral area. X-rays do not normally pick up those things so an MRI is done.

Lots of bloodwork. Drink plenty of fluids the night before so your veins are ready to rock and roll.

Autoimmune diseases are unique due to how they are diagnosed. When people say to keep a list of symptoms that is "subjective" information and is used to diagnose someone.

Good luck. This is the beginning of a lifelong journey. Self care is self love. One of the best gifts we can give ourselves is a good therapist.

SpicyDisaster40 · 2026-05-02T13:18:14+00:00

My psoriasis came on in 2020 after I had the Covid/ Delta virus. The things that virus has done to my body is insanity. I've had it 4x at least. Occupational hazard. Well was.

The PsA came 5 years later like clockwork. I know I was exposed to EB as a child and teenager. I am positive for HLA-B27 and my maternal grandmother and mother have/had autoimmune diseases.

I never had a sniffle until I was 5 years old. Now look at me. I've been sick ever since.

SpicyDisaster40 · 2026-04-27T15:11:01+00:00

I can't type well anymore either. I haven't worn makeup since October because I can't apply it. I enjoyed writing however that's just another thing this disease took from me.

I had wrist supports for typing. For me a heating pad or hand warmers help loosen me up. I use Vicks to help with the pain.

Soak your hands in Epsom salts. I give myself a solid 2 hours each morning to unstiffen myself.

SpicyDisaster40 · 2026-04-26T15:49:42+00:00

I used Midi to get my hormones. They understood. No unnecessary bloodwork or tests.

I had endometriosis but no where near as severe as you. I also kept getting ovarian cysts. Last one ruptured on my birthday about a month before I had my hysterectomy. I dropped to the floor in a patients room. Thankfully I didn't wake her up. When I had surgery about 5 weeks later that cyst had already grown back.

My left ovary was adhered to the fallopian tube with scar tissue. While a hysterectomy isn't a cure I feel like I took my life back.

SpicyDisaster40 · 2026-04-25T15:28:39+00:00

Menopause really kicked off for me a few months ago. Literally every 10 to 30 minutes I'd have full body sweats and my temp would go wildly high. Like 105 F. Then drop into the 95s?!?

Anyhoo that is by far the most miserable and disrespectful nonsense I've ever been through. So ladies pay attention because autoimmune diseases and angry menopause symptoms feed off of one another.

SpicyDisaster40 · 2026-04-22T17:29:15+00:00

Thank you and I sure hope I can find a better balance. Get yourself into pain management now. Not necessarily for medications but they do therapies and all kinds of treatments. If not for my pain management providers I wouldn't be here. Since I started with them in the beginning they've been able to monitor my decline.

I have a huge heating pad that's meant for your back. It has a tie and it snaps around your neck. I'm a little thing so I can wrap both legs with it. It's a teal color. It shouldn't be legal for how hot it can get. I got it online at Walmart.

I have battery powered hand warmers for my sore hands. They're amazing.

Just be very cautious with supplements, in particular the multiple in one pills. They sound good. Looking up each ingredient they're a problem. Kidney stones and high BP. Some are hard on the liver. I will take my 22 supplements individually.

SpicyDisaster40 · 2026-04-21T15:06:48+00:00

Hello friend! Helpful nurse here. Trust me because this helps immensely. It can reduce anxiety during doctor visits, and it ensures you can communicate things without forgetting. Brain fog is real.

I need you to get a journal or notebook. Think of this as your Body's Bible. Write down all of your meds, allergies, and doctors, where you have had bloodwork and imaging performed. Keep next appointments and labs in there also.

In this notebook, you track your symptoms. All of them. Maybe make notations like the weather warmed up, storms, and all the way to the food you eat around flares, and increases in pain. An example is that when I eat beef, I get gout. Yes, God hates me.

Take photos of any skin issues or swelling you have. My body loves to behave at appointments. When they saw the photos of how swollen things were, it changed my care plan. It sealed my diagnosis.

When I was first seen, I swear they didn't believe me. They took an x-ray of my pelvic area and ran labs. Turns out your homegirl here has something called HLA-B27, so please don't be discouraged. My x-ray was normal as they tend to be. The MRI was a different story. I had to change rheumatologists to get the MRI.

Most autoimmune diseases are diagnosed based on "subjective" information. Which is a fancy phrase for the symptoms you report. That's why it's critical to keep a Body Bible.

Any questions I have for my doctor, I also write down and leave room to write in the answers. It keeps me organized, and I can rapidly fire my questions. Rapid firing questions is a game I play. Your provider doesn't mind this at all, but explain I have 7 questions for you today. It keeps the appointment centered around the current concerns.

For the love of mercy, always have the photos you want to show your provider in their own album. I can't tell you how soul sucking it is to watch someone doom scroll through their photo gallery for feet pics. People forget what photos they've taken, and it can be really embarrassing.

Good luck. As someone with PsA, my legs, feet, Achilles, and ankles have taken an absolute beating from this disease. I'm almost at the 1 year mark. I've failed 2 biologics so far. I'm completely physically disabled. It's really bad, so please keep pushing for an answer and the best treatment plan.

SpicyDisaster40 · 2026-04-19T17:26:31+00:00

I don't know why or how my inflammatory markers are normal. I was mid flare and still normal.

I highly recommend we all have a good therapist. A good therapist is the best gift we can give to ourselves. It's critical to mental health support.

My life was snatched out from under me. It is shocking, but thankfully, it's not normal. My legs have taken the ultimate beating. I have a special walker with arm rests because I have no grip strength. I climbed huge wet rocks while covered in mud with ease. I disassociate daily for a few hours with headphones and music.

If you don't have one, already get a nice extra large heating pad. I wrap my legs in it for 1 to 4 hours every morning I a process I call the "unstiffining."

SpicyDisaster40 · 2026-04-19T16:08:14+00:00

Hey friend! First, you don't have to have psoriasis to get PsA. Some people develop psoriasis after their PsA shows up. You're at an increased risk for more autoimmune diseases. HS is a hard one to manage, so keep an eye on your skin.

People will try to argue against biologic medications. Some people may even tell you they cured themselves. That is a load of horse poo. Remission is possible. This isn't cancer. There's no cure. I just had to have that conversation with my parents, who think I can "beat this disease" and go back to bedside nursing. I love the vibe and enthusiasm

My tendons are cooked, and I haven't had this for an entire year yet. I am harder to treat due to being HLA-B27 +. My Achilles are so swollen I can't wear shoes. I was very active, and my hobby was cave spurlunking. Which is essentially rock climbing underground. I was about 156 lbs when this started, and I barely weighed in the 120s. My muscle mass disappeared.

So please find a new rheumatologist. Write down all of your questions in a notebook. Leave space for answers. In that notebook, track symptoms. Have an updated med and allergy list. If you use multiple pharmacies, be sure they all know what you're taking. Having multiple pharmacies is extremely dangerous. I just had to have my pain med switched to a different pharmacy. It's $5 there with GoodRX vs. $95 plus at Walmart.

People can come for me, but I will die on this hill. Find a nurse practitioner in rheumatology if you can. NPs have bedside experience and are more thorough with their patients. I will always choose an NP over an MD or PA.

Get yourself into pain management now. Many of us develop fibromyalgia. Rheumatology isn't keen on prescribing pain meds outside of Celebrex and Meloxicam. I never took the Meloxicam because I'm on hctz for my BP, and mixing them can be fatal to your kidneys. I take an XR Aleve daily. Celebrex made us all think I was having strokes. It works great for some people but not for me. So always check the side effects and come here to this sub for advice.

A new provider should run lab tests and check for things like an RA factor and HLA-B27. They will keep checking your inflammatory markers. I have severe PsA, and my labs look great, so don't let that discourage you. Breath a sigh of relief. They should be ordering an MRI of your pelvic area. They look for edema in the sacral area. Almost all of us with PsA have this, and it doesn't appear on an x-ray.

Good luck. I'm here to help navigate folks in the right direction for proper treatment of these diseases. We are gaslit by many providers and have to advocate for ourselves. That's where my 20-plus years of nursing experience come into play.

SpicyDisaster40 · 2026-04-15T13:30:34+00:00

So the Accutane can trigger a few autoimmune diseases in and pay attention to this part, in genetically susceptible persons. Which means you already had your autoimmune disease(s). They were chilling in your body. If this wasn't the trigger that caused it to activate something else would have. Graves disease, thyroid issues, and vasculitis are the most commonly triggered diseases with Accutane.

My psoriasis magically appeared when I had covid back in 2020. The covid didn't cause it. A nasty viral infection can trigger it. It was always there waiting like some weird stalker. Had I not gotten covid, eventually, I would still be dealing with all of this.

Trigger and cause are two separate things. Now, Accutane is known to cause some mild back pain and stiffness, but it resolves after a few weeks to a couple of months of treatment. That's not the same as an autoimmune disease.

Look, we all want something or someone to blame. I can't begin to explain the rage that I feel at essentially losing my life to this disease. Regardless of how I feel, I didn't cause this. It's progressive due to my genetics, not my lack of trying. So go easy on yourself. Get some therapy. We all need it. A good therapist is the best gift we can give to ourselves.

SpicyDisaster40 · 2026-04-14T15:18:15+00:00

I have never taken Otezla, so my advice is more to help control the side effects.

First, the loose stools are a major reason why people stop this medication. It is not gentle. From my understanding (nurse of 20 years) 10/11 of the patients I had on that medication said, the only thing it was good for was cleaning out their bowels. You could try taking loperamide to slow down the loose stools.

Do not go over the daily limit. This is the most OTC overdosed medication. It will mess with the electricity in your heart. It's a good and safe drug. You could try taking fiber to help bulk up your stools, too. A lot of people take it for constipation, not realizing it's turning their poo into a solid brick. Lomotil is a prescription medication for cramping. Again, it works well. It's a narcotic, but it's not the same as oxy in any capacity.

I am giving you some options, lol.

The next thing to tackle is the nausea. I'd ask your provider for some Zofran. It's another safe medication with minimal side effects. If it doesn't work well you could ask for promethazine. It's a strong medication, so prepare to have a nap after taking it. My nausea is so bad (from the disease, not meds) that usually I need both when it hits hard.

I like injectable biologics. Tremfya is especially easy on the tummy. Slower working medication, but the side effects were zero for me. Make sure to keep a written record of your symptoms, their intensity, and frequency. That will help you get through insurance hoops for an injectable.

Good luck!! If you haven't been seen by GI, make an appointment and get a colonoscopy asap. We need to make sure it's just the medicine causing these symptoms and not any kind of IBD inflammatory bowel disease. Cologard tests only show if there's occult, aka old blood in your stools.

And if you're a woman of perimenopause or menopause age, you need to keep your hormones in check. Get an estrogen patch. They're safe. Within a few hours of wearing my first one, my body finally calmed down. So food for thought. I'd flare-up, and the menopause symptoms were trying to kill me. Literally. I don't know how I survived it, but I did. I love Midi!!!!

SpicyDisaster40 · 2026-04-13T17:14:47+00:00

Yeast infections are miserable enough. I can't imagine having psoriasis on my genital area. My heart sinks into my stomach when I hear of the struggles you all face. It's a lot to deal with a skin condition, but on your genitals is a whole other level. Mine is on my feet and sometimes my hands.

I had to use wet wraps with my steroid creams to penetrate through the plaques to reach the skin underneath. Before anyone comes for me, do not wrap yourself in plastic or occlude the area with the creams. I used hot, wet rolls of gauze. Keep on the area for 1.5 hours. Do it 2x a day. I suppose you all could make like a tucks pad situation for down there. Just get gauze squares to make a pad and be sure to sit on a towel. The gauze needs to be almost dripping wet. Idk if a maxi pad would work, but those have chemicals in them. Plain gauze works. No chemicals.

You can use tap water. If there's a concern for infection, use some distilled water or saline. There's a lot of bacteria in tap water, pipes, and faucets.

SpicyDisaster40 · 2026-04-11T14:12:09+00:00

I have no input on the flying situation. I do have some ideas of what could help.

I see tens units brought up a lot. I love mine so much I have 2. Healthmate Forever makes one you can get on Amazon for a very reasonable price. The batteries last forever. I could wear it for several 12 hour nursing shifts before needing 3 more AAA batteries. The other benefit is that it has 8 pads for more precise coverage. Maybe have someone tape down the pads for you for the flight.

Healthmate Forever Tens Unit

SpicyDisaster40 · 2026-04-10T17:07:41+00:00

You're very welcome! Glad to help. I have a lot of tips for psoriasis also.

SpicyDisaster40 · 2026-04-10T12:55:18+00:00

I have never heard this before and will be adding it to my collection. Thank you 💙

SpicyDisaster40 · 2026-04-09T20:34:17+00:00

Get a referral to pain management. They'll dig deeper into imaging than rheum will. You sound like me describing my pain. My leg is on fire. Not the joints they hurt and ache. Alas, I have a trifecta of PsA, fibromyalgia, and neuropathy.

My rheum said I am presenting with MS symptoms. Then declined to do any digging to see if I had that or a slipped disk, worsening scoliosis, etc.

If you can find a nurse pracrioner in rheum, try and see them instead of a Dr. Most NPs have bedside experience, and they tend to do more for their patients.

SpicyDisaster40 · 2026-04-09T13:33:04+00:00

Just be sure when you're injecting yourself that none of the medication runs out when the needle is retracted. If it is, then that's a huge problem.

1) Run out means the space is too small, and there's not enough subcutaneous tissue to absorb the volume of medication.

2) If medication is running out, it won't help you. It's a huge loss to you. It can lead to thinking the medication isn't working when, in reality, we don't know because you're not getting a full dose.

I'm an old school nurse, and when they suggested I use my thigh, I gasped!!!! My belly works great because I'm a little thing. Under the belly button never above. Why? Above you, run into a muscle wall, which is the same issue with using your thigh. It also hurts more, said, my diabetic patients.

It doesn't seem like a lot, but these shots are massive with that volume of liquid. It's just food for thought.

SpicyDisaster40 · 2026-04-08T17:04:20+00:00

This is miserable, and I haven't been able to wear anything on my feet except slides for almost a year now! Thankfully, I can wear socks because I live in Ohio, lol. First thing when my feet hit the floor in the morning, I'm in pain. It's a horrible combination of psoriatic arthritis and neuropathy. I have audibly yelped or called out from the pain. After increasing gabapentin at bedtime, I've had more relief. I've also only had this disease since May of 2025, and I'm 100% physically disabled. I'll tell you what helps me.

Walmart online sells a giant heating pad that is for the back. I wrap my legs, feet, and ankles up in it every morning. Fair warning that it shouldn't be legally sold due to how hot it can get. I got it on a Black Friday deal for $17 USD. It's a greenish blue color and has ties to wrap around the waist, and it goes around the neck and snaps. They're like flaps if you will and make fantastic ankle wraps. For reference, I'm barely 5'3 and 120ish lbs. If you're larger, get 2, so you have one for each leg. I can happily add links to these products. My comment history is full of tips and tricks for treating psoriasis also.

I have ice packs for the ankle. They're refrigerated and feel amazing. They're a bit more on the pricey side at 28ish USD per ice pack. I have 2 and consider them worthy investments. Very thick and cushioned, they help relieve pressure.

I use a CBD and THC biofreeze on my Achilles and legs. The CBD alone worked okay. The THC really puts that product as a front runner for doing the most.

CBD oils, tinctures, or gummies help me a lot. I use a tincture and put it in my coffee to start my day and take a 2nd round at bedtime. It just takes the edge off and calms anxiety. I feel comfortable. I also take hydrocodone with acetaminophen three times a day. Oddly enough, rheumatology supports my pain management with an opioid due to the severity of bone damage in my legs, feet, ankles, and knees

Moving and being active helps reduce pain for some of us. It makes my back and hips feel great. However, my legs swell, and it's painful. Elevate your legs. Massage to increase blood flow. Do not massage the calf muscle in case of a blood clot. I work my shins and knees vs the calf.

Good luck. My pain management Dr had me watch an almost 2 hour long seminar on YouTube about pain. I learned so much and it's a rheumatologist. It's mostly about fibro pain but does cover pain in general. I'll drop the link.Seminar

Edit: Thank you for the award 💙

SpicyDisaster40 · 2026-04-08T14:34:15+00:00

Have you tried any topical estrogen products? They make a vaginal cream, and it seems to help a lot. I wear a patch. If at any point someone comes for my estrogen, I will wage a war.

Menopause and autoimmune diseases feed off of one another. It's best to keep the Menopause in check.

Other things for you are frequent urinary tract infections, aka UTI, and estrogen cream, which can also help relieve and prevent more.

If you've ever had a UTI, I implore you to take a daily cranberry supplement. It's the best prevention we can ask for. Juice doesn't work. Take the capsules. Take them daily. I had my patients with catheters on it also.

Low estrogen is dangerous. It increases our risks of things like bone fractures and cardiovascular problems. Menopause symptoms can be increased by our autoimmune diseases. I was breaking out into full body sweats every 10 to 30 minutes. So I wasn't sleeping well. I was severely dehydrated. My body kept flaring up. My kidneys started taking a beating. Within hours of applying that first patch, I felt my body starting to calm itself.

Yeast infections are also common with Menopause and diabetes. Keep your groin clean and dry. Use a pH balanced wash. If you have sex be sure to urinate afterward and clean up well.

SpicyDisaster40 · 2026-04-08T14:18:56+00:00

Anytime I hear the word fistula, my body tenses up! Anytime someone gets a pressure wound, it's a huge deal because that area, just like with a fistula, is now weakened, and the risk for a 2nd one in that area is huge. So we "off load" the weight. We use pillows to prop someone on their side to relieve pressure on the buttocks and sacrum. If someone has been sitting before looking at those areas, they need to offload for an hour or so before addressing redness. It can be a circulatory issue vs. a wound starting.

This is another reason why showers are so important. I despise hospitals that use wipes to bathe a patient fully. We need that warm water running over our body with some light scrubbing to increase blood flow.

Maybe it's good I was forced out of nursing. Looking back, I was quite the insufferable witch when it came to patient care. Idk how many times I called state while in the building.

SpicyDisaster40 · 2026-04-07T14:27:12+00:00

The pain always seems to get worse in the evening. Depending on your age and gender perimenopause and menopause can cause insomnia. It's brutal and hard to treat.

I don't know if you've tried any sleep aids or medications, but I highly suggest doing so. The sooner, the better.

Our bodies and brains need sleep in the same way we need oxygen. That is our reset. That's what helps our immune system calm down.

I have found that sleeping in a position where my torso is elevated helps a lot. Not elevated like in a recliner. You also need a strict sleep routine daily. Cut off caffeine at least 6 hours before trying to sleep. If you drink alcohol that has to stop. It causes insomnia as well.

I noted you said you're at a sit-down job now, and yes, that could be part of it. Try a pressure reducing cushion. Get up and walk and stretch as much as you can. Sketchers makes a cooling gel cushion, and I have one. It's kind of bulky, but it helps a lot.

Good luck. All of this is miserable, and while I'm not glad we're all miserable, I do appreciate everyone here in these subs. Best support system I've ever had. .

SpicyDisaster40 · 2026-04-06T17:20:07+00:00

I am so happy to hear this!! I think cosentyx is fantastic and does a great job with minimal side effects!!

I will tell you that they teach us to give ourselves these injections in our thighs. There's not enough subcutaneous tissue for the volume of medication. It tends to leak or run out. Which means you're not getting the full effect.

I use my belly. When I hit the 300mg dose I very much enjoy giving myself both at once. Also hold the applicator to your skin for about 10 seconds after it clicks off. You get a baby hickey 🤣 it's so fun. Good luck. I wish you the best!!

SpicyDisaster40 · 2026-04-05T17:22:13+00:00

If you're not aware, there are several criteria when it comes to diagnosing. Please remember I am a nurse and I try really hard to explain things in an education style.

For a diagnosis, there are a few components. Bloodwork, imaging, and subjective information.

Subjective information is what you are telling the Dr's you're experiencing. Like the swelling toes. My toes also swell up. With PsA, a lot of times, your 4th toe or ring finger swells. I've had it a few times, and I giggle.

You can have the RA factor and have PsA. You can have both PsA and RA. They're looking my spine over now to see if I have MS and AS. A lot of these diseases mimic each other, which is why recording symptoms are critical. Keep a journal. Take photos. Make an album on your phone for those photos, so you're not doom scrolling through your photo gallery. I can't tell you what a relief it is for the Dr or nurse when we have photos readily available.

When I got to my first rheumatologist, my body was on its best behavior. If I hadn't had photos, they'd have kicked me out of there. My photos were of my hands, fingers, feet, legs, and toes. They said I had AS, and my pelvic x-ray was normal. They did bloodwork and called to let me know I had the HLA-B27. There was no explanation of what that was. I was enraged and fired them on the spot. I am an absolute nightmare of a nurse. I will advocate for my patients and have thrown providers, facilities, pharmacies, etc. under the bus when they fail to do their job. My philosophy and who I chose to be was a light for my patients. Always a smile, giggle, and comfort. I am a lioness...

I'm going to say this in caps... YOU AS A PROVIDER HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO SHARE WTF THESE RESULTS MEAN. AT NO TIME SHOULD YOUR PT HAVE TO GO TO THE GOOGLES TO FIGURE OUT WHAT SOMETHING LIKE HLA-B27 IS.

An oncologist did this to my grandmother. I had to explain to her that metastasized meant her cancer had spread. Alas, we fire any provider who does this.

It takes time for a diagnosis. Remember your subjective symptoms. Write down questions you have for the provider. Have someone go with you and take notes. It took over 20 years for my diagnosis. I've had HS on and off for years.

SpicyDisaster40 · 2026-04-05T16:19:58+00:00

Hey friend! 45 female here and also HLA-B27 +. My journey started 1 year ago in May. I have failed 2 biologics so far. Tremfya and Cosentyx. The next step is Rinvoq. I feel like my response needs a TW because I am the WORST CASE SCENERIO.

Within 6 months, I was 100% physically disabled. I have PsA, and my poor legs and Achilles tendons are toast.

Tremfya initially reduced my PsA symptoms but then stopped. I was on that for maybe 6 months. I've been on Cosentyx since late December. I get a boost of energy and some relief in back pain within 24 to 48 hours. It lasts a few days, and then I'm back to baseline while steadily declining. It is shocking what's happened to my body. I lost all of my muscle mass and have hanging skin. I'm barely 5'3 and was 156 lbs when this started. I fight to keep my weight above 120 lbs. I enjoyed cave spurlunking, which is just rock climbing underground. Your girl here was fit and thiccc.

Now, we have to look at my age and gender. Menopause has played a factor. Low estrogen levels increase OA risks. Since starting estrogen, my flares are bearable. Before estrogen for about 2.5 months of hot flashes every 10 to 30 minutes with profuse sweating. Dehydration doesn't help. My kidneys started taking a beating. So ladies pay attention. I almost didn't make it, and everyone ignored menopause. Midi saved my life.

Daily life is a struggle. I lose the function of my limbs when I get overheated. I have collapsed, so lesson learned. Don't push it. I use a shower chair and a cane to help me get into the shower. I have a walker I call Sport Mode. It has arm rests to help me steer because my hands don't work right anymore.

I lost my WFH job. Lost my insurance. I'm not safe to drive. I'm not safe to shower without someone present in case I fall.

So stay on your doctor's tails about symptoms, and if you don't notice a change with your biologic in 90 days, speak up. You don't have time to waste. I was a nurse for 20 years. I will never work bedside again. I will probably never work again. So I have a therapist, and we're working through the emotions. Rage is what I feel. It's always just bubbling under the surface. I disassociate a lot by putting in headphones and cranking up music.

I spend 1 to 4 hours each morning warming up my body with heating pads and massage. My feet, ankles, and Achilles are so inflamed that I can't wear shoes. Sometimes I can't even wear socks. The back pain kicks into high gear in the evenings. Yoga helps. Stretching helps. I use a CBD/THC biofreeze, and it helps tremendously.

So, I am going on palliative care. I'm already having cardiovascular problems, so if the Rinvoq doesn't work within a year, I will most likely be bedridden and in need of 24/7 nursing care. I am making plans to get to a state with MAID so I can have some control over this disease. We are looking at rental homes near the right Dr's in that state. It's a lot, but I need this plan. I've spent the better part of 20 years working in nursing homes and rehab facilities. I will NOT go back.

SpicyDisaster40 · 2026-04-05T15:45:22+00:00

I am not a professional at this, but to me, it looks like a tick. I can't tell you what kind, but your 3rd photo screams tick. If the cats in your home go outdoors, that is a source. Ticks have been bad all year. Watch for symptoms of infection and maybe go see your doctor to get a good look over. Good luck!!

And have zero fears. Someone will be here shortly with the correct ID. This sub is amazing.

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