Definitely a snowy blowy day today. Yesterday I was very lucky to get a Cortizone shot in my right shoulder. My right arm has been bothering me for almost 2 months. I tried physiotherapy and medication and nothing would clear up the inflammation around my rotary cuff.

I have a very high threshold of pain, but at times it was a good eight out of ten level. I am definitely hoping that this Cortizone will relieve some of the inflammation.

I’ve had my arthritis in different stages since I was 12. I have learned to deal with the day-to-day aches and pains. Of course the damp, cold, low pressure days can be a little bit more stressful, but generally I can tolerate it.

You add my arthritis to a degenerative spine condition, which causes pain from my C4 and C5 vertebrae, and I’m just a barrel of monkeys. Oh, and don’t let me forget about my planter fasciitis. And you have to also include my type two diabetes, which causes funny little tingling in my feet and lower limbs that apparently is caused by the nerve endings being damaged. My sleep apnea is controlled with my handy dandy CPAP machine.

And of course there is also the vertigo that I get attacked with every couple years, plus I seem to get pneumonia about every 3 to 6 months, and apparently I suffer from some severe depression at times.

Yet each day my goal is to have the best time and manage to do the most exciting things that I can that make me happy. I have learned over the years that if I don’t move I seize up. And the more I seize up the more depressed I become.

Sadly, during a bout of depression, my go to is food and eating. And it’s usually all the bad foods that I can’t eat a lot of. So I eat the chips, ice cream, bread, and chocolate bars, and feel the effects from my high blood pressure, type two diabetes, my arthritis, and my weigh scale. I have an extremely slow metabolism. That means that long as I’m exercising and not eating starchy and high sugar foods, I can maintain my weight. But soon as I add any really good stuff, then I gain weight. I have always tried to stay around 1000 cal a day if I’m losing weight. About 1500 cal a day if I want to maintain my weight. When I get into my depression, I will eat until I have an aching stomach, feel nauseous, and I am totally uncomfortable. I have been to the point where I could hardly fall asleep because of over eating.

Today starts my road to getting better. First thing I did was find something exciting to look forward to. Something that I need to be in shape for. Something that will make me feel good both inside and outside. So I’m doing a 5 km foam bubble race fundraiser run for the Make a Wish Foundation in July!!

Unfortunately, every day is often a struggle. I can give into it and destroy myself both mentally and physically. Or I can remember all the other wonderfully great things that I have in my life. The beauty, the kindness, the people, and the joys that I experience every single day. Today I choose me. Today I can move. Today I can eat well. Today I can strive to do my best for me.

May I be safe. May I be healthy. May I be happy. May I live with ease.