The Vanishing Miss Volume

My health has been taking a nose dive lately & I finally crashed after overdoing it this weekend.
We recorded a Christmas Special at work which you’ll be able to hear over the holidays. While it was a lot of fun, I was (audibly) under the weather. I woke up Sunday with no voice, unable to get out of bed.
I wasn’t at work Monday. Ryan took me to the urgent care clinic & I was sent for a chest X Ray, bloodwork and given a prescription for some fancy steroidal nasal spray. Oh, and I’m on one week of vocal rest… which is tough with two young kids. Luckily, when you feel rotten it’s easy to keep your mouth shut.
It’s Tuesday night and the doctor’s office called with mostly good news; X Ray is clear (no pneumonia) but… bloodwork shows my RA (rheumatoid arthritis) IS flaring up, which is tricky as I’ve had to put my RA meds (y’know, the medicine that helps me WALK) on hold until this infection I’m suffering from clears up. This means walking & any sort of physical activity involving my more affected joints like my ankles, hips and hands will be significantly limited. I am also anemic (!!!) & it’s been advised I see my rheumatologist ASAP but she’s on holiday til next week. I’m told I’ve been put on her cancelation list, which is good.

Despite my lifelong health issues, I’ve actually never had to take time off of work to rest so I am in unchartered territory here applying for Short Term Disability. One week off work means half of a paycheck. I’ve got my forms filled out & waiting for the doctor’s sign off so hopefully I can tap into those benefits I (think?) I pay for (???). The whole process of filing a claim takes longer than the time I’ll be off work but that’s Insurance Companies for ya! At least I’m not on “texting” rest.
I am doing okay, though I’ve certainly been better. I did see this crash, burn out, flare up, whatever-you-wanna-call-it coming. Living life by the “next-dose” alarm for the next three days.
Speaking of which… it’s time for more meds!