One Week to Christmas

[Pisces24]

Well, countdown is one week until Christmas.  How is everyone doing? Got your shopping done? Overdid things and paying for it now or going to overdo things probably. Is an SJS flare rearing it's ugly head?

I'm done with shopping and just Done. I didn't overdue it but fighting a sinus infection with an antibiotic.  This one seems to want to stick around as: still draining in stomack for nausea, more tired and I am getting "cold" flashes where I will suddenly get cold for no reason.

No snow in Eastern Iowa yet but that is fine as will be easier for folks traveling. I thankfully have the Monday after Chrismas off so am planning to just relax.

How about you'alls?

[Sylvia49]

Hi, Pisces24,

I'm new here, and wanted to weigh in on Christmas.  Love it!  All of it!  And, yes, have overdone it.

Helped decorate the church first of the month, have gone window shopping, put up our Christmas tree, more shopping - then, bam!, pneumonia.  Have pretty well recovered, but had an interesting time at the ER.

They put me through the usual battery of tests, and couldn't find anything wrong.  But I was obviously coughing my lungs up, low grade fever, miserable pain and fatigue.  I had just been to my PCP who diagnosed CFS.  However, the young dr that saw me in the ER actually KNEW something about SS and Fibro!  He said that since my symptoms had been chronic for over 2 weeks, he wanted to be on the safe side, diagnosed pneumonia, and gave me an antibiotic.  In 2 days I was so much better!  Am mostly recovered now.

Merry Christmas !  ...and am already enjoying this site!

Sylvia 49

[susanep]

I have all shopping done, but ended up canceling an appointment for my mammogram, and ultrasound. I know that is terrible, but  I was too tired, and couldn't deal with it when the day came. I will have to reschedule soon.

The only thing I have left to do is make a set of pillow cases for my son to put in his camper. I hope to maybe do that tomorrow, but will wait an see. I don't have much time to do them though.

I have never made pillowcases ...lol....and on top of that, I am going to try making them the french way that leaves no seems showing. 

susanep 

[smallfry]

Yes all the boxes are ticked and ready here for Christmas and so far all good apart from the consant tiredness.

By the way welcome Sylvia 49

Merry Christmas all

Cheryl

[NanaDeb]

Hi all...I have been reading posts for the last few months and just decided to chime in. I was diagnosed in 2005 and really had it pretty good until august and I have been in a constant flare since.

My Rheumy started me on 200mg of Plaquenil in may...I'm starting to think that is what may be making my symptoms so much worse...she upped it to 400 in November...no improvement...the only time I get relief is when I am on prednisone, 2-3 days after stopping it all the inflam
Ation comes back with a vengeance.I have to admit I am a smoker and I'm wondering if that is interfering...any advice or feedback would be awesome. Debi

[Joe S.]

Welcome to the Form Debi. I hope that you can manage your flair. You may find this link informative:
http://butyoudontlooksick.com/navigation/BYDLS-TheSpoonTheory.pdf

Jan and I went on line yesterday to avoid all the stores and our Christmas shopping is done. Our daughter in the cities is having Christmas at her house so we may have no or little cooking.

[quilt4fun]

       I only have the last minute stocking stuffers--the rest of the gifts are bagged---I made Christmas cloth bags a couple of years ago, and all the family leave them with me, so I reuse them!
         
      I also have Christmas dinner to serve for 17.  I still have to get the fresh ham or pork loin roast- I'll see how they look, but will cook either one the same.  Our extended family is great about helping out with appetizers, side dishes and desserts; we should have a feast.
     
          I also spent the past week fighting an upper respiratory infection, and the beginnings of bronchitis.  Antibiotics and Vicks Fusion helped me get through the worst of it.  Still coughing though (hubby says I sound like an old smoker )
 
            And pillow cases ---- I made 13 personalized ones this month! It was fun trying to find fabric to match each person: bugs, ballerinas, herbs, flowers, hammers, teaching tools, fishing and frogs to name a few.
   
           I don't make dozens of cookies, but each year I make several kinds of candy to give away. The ones with peanut butter and chocolate seem to be a favorite. Also do almond butter crunch, peanut brittle, nougat, marshmallows, date balls, fudge.
       
        Busy, yes, but I don't work except for watching grandchildren 2 !/2 days a week. And the 4 year old grandson loves to help in the kitchen!!  So I pace myself. 
        May every one of you have a Blessed Christmas !

[irish]

Nanadeb, I just read recently that tobacco interferes with the absorption of plaquenil. Sorry that you didn't find this out from your doc. This was just the first time I had seen that info and I can't remember where I read it. Hope that you can get things straightened out.

I could tell you to stop smoking but I won't. lol. I used to smoke also and quite about 11 years ago and thankfully I did cause I just started plaquenil a couple of months ago. Good luck. Irish

[Meld256]

Hi NanaDeb,

Welcome to the forum! 

I'm glad you decided to jump in and post. Hopefully, you've already found lots of good info. here.  There are so many friendly, helpful people, too.

So sorry to hear you have had this constant flare lately; I'm hoping you begin to feel better soon. Maybe another talk with your doctor might help.

Please feel free to post away!  If you like, you can start a new topic and introduce yourself. Looking forward to hearing more from you. 
Melinda

[Meld256]

Pisces,

I hope you're feeling better by now.

My preparations are going ok, I guess.  Still a few gifts to buy-nothing like the last minute.    I always swear I'll be done by Thanksgiving, and it never happens.  I could make that next year's goal, huh?

I have everything done for the charities, the tree and decor are all up and looking good. I'm mailing a couple boxes and cards today, and will make some cookies.  Gingerbread...mmmnn, and some molasses cookies for my father. 

I think I've "got it made" this time as far as cooking, or the lack of it-WHoo-Hoo!!  I need to take a dish or two to the huge buffet for the family Christmas dinner/party at my husband's aunt and uncle's house on Christmas Eve here in Kentucky.

Christmas Day we will travel to our daughter/SIL's in Ohio and go to their side of the family's party- no cooking for me.  Our daughter insists on wanting to fix a ham dinner/trimmngs for her house, so all I have to do is help.  Definitely works for me!

Quilt4fun,
I love the idea of pillowcases!    This sounds so cute.

[Sylvia49]

Thank you, Joe, for "The Spoon Theory" link.  That makes a lot of sense...

I think I'll use it...

[season]

Oh no is it here already. I feel achy, throat hurts, ear hurts, glands swollen, cough cough cough, knees are hurting. So I will just push all that aside while I bake the cake, make the cookies, run to the store to pick up all the ingredients that i forgot to get on my list. Did I mention that I need to get the last of the last of my Christmas cards mailed.

Gifts to wrap-----oh, I have to buy them first.

I am running around in circles and Ifeel awful.

I love January 2.

[Meld256]

Oh, season! 

Sounds like you may want to slloooww it down if at all possible.    Can you enlist some help for things that must be done?

We don't want you totally in circles and then in bed for New Year's! My best 3 words for all of us: delegate, delegate, delgate. 

[season]

I'm all alone with this great big family that love me.