Why My Northwest Adventure Might Be Temporary

This post is not intended as a pity-party or a sympathy search.  But it isn't all fun and games living in the Northwest and no one is less happy than my joints.  Two years ago, in my first winter living in Portland, I went home to Salt Lake City for Christmas.  While I was home, I noticed an itchy bump on my pinky finger that I thought was a bug bite.  Within weeks of coming back home to Portland, the bump had swelled into an inflamed knuckle, and one by one the rest of my fingers followed suit (sparing my thumbs).  I wasn't in school, but I worked at a hotel and typing was so so painful.  Sometime around February, I started waking up with my hands disfigured into a fist and so much pain that it brought tears.  They would have to be soaked in hot water and massaged out before I could start the day.  My health insurance was so bad,  and doctor's sent me to specialists which drained my health savings account super fast.  I remember being stressed and scared, thinking that I would have to move back to Utah because I couldn't afford these medical bills.  The doctors prescribed prednisone, but it made me nervous so I "unprescribed" myself.

Then in April, Daniel and I went to Utah again and when we got back, the inflammation stopped.  Phew!

Doctors thought it might be a virus because I'm so young, but it comes back every winter, so my theory is that it's the weather.  I haven't been back to see a doctor for it because there's nothing they can really do so I just try to minimize the pain.

Right now it is hitting two fingers and the joints in my toes.  I have found that dry heat works best so I keep my apartment toasty, my feet always covered (love these moccasins), and I always wear gloves when I'm outside.

You can see a little swelling in my left index finger, but I am hoping I can be proactive to minimize damage.  That first year took a nasty toll and when I put my hands and toes in hot water, the damaged joints turn purple.  Its scary to be 25 and to think of having joint damage, but I draw courage from my Grandma Jean and my Grandpa Nielsen.  They both learned to face the days challenges despite pain and they both did it so gracefully.  I hope readers, that you see this post not as "Poor me" post but as a way for me to share the richness and depth of this thing called life.