It's sad how fast things change. A year ago, I was adjusting to all my newly discovered free time. I had closed my portrait studio several months before. For the first time in years I was with out any real obligations other than my family and my health. It was a hard time. Not a click of the shutter for weeks at a time. My body was on a road of rest.
Just the year before, I had been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. It is a condition that results in chronic widespread pain and tenderness all over. I was doing ok. The medications prescribed by my Rheumatologist where helping but something was still missing from my puzzle. For a year, I underwent observation of my spine. X-rays, blood work and MRIs. Then in late 2014, just as I was making plans to start up business in real estate photography, I got the answer I had been waiting for.
I have ankylosing spondylitis.
According to www.spondylitis.org :
"Ankylosing spondylitis (pronounced ank-kih-low-sing spon-dill-eye-tiss), or AS, is a form of arthritis that primarily affects the spine, although other joints can become involved. It causes inflammation of the spinal joints (vertebrae) that can lead to severe, chronic pain and discomfort. In the most advanced cases (but not in all cases), this inflammation can lead to new bone formation on the spine, causing the spine to fuse in a fixed, immobile position, sometimes creating a forward-stooped posture. This forward curvature of the spine is called kyphosis.
AS can also cause inflammation, pain and stiffness in other areas of the body such as the shoulders, hips, ribs, heels and small joints of the hands and feet. Sometimes the eyes can become involved (known as Iritis or Uveitis), and rarely, the lungs and heart can be affected."
So after some careful thought, I've decided to turn what would have been a page about my old business, into a look at my everyday doings. Dr's appointments, medications, kids, cooking, church, crafts & more. Yes, there will be some photography involved as well. For so long, I've kept a lot to myself.
Would you call this therapy? Possibly. Will anyone read it? Probably not.
What ever happens here, I hope that it touches at least one person. I want others to know that there is lemonade to be made here.
Welcome to the page that's all about ME.
