Very few know that I've been having some health issues lately.  Since the end of July, I have been experiencing some difficulty with mouth sores.  We're not talking one or two, every so often, which would be normal for many.  Mine have been extreme with them going down my throat, making it difficult to swallow or even be comfortable, and they last for weeks.  I have had a breakout with them, where up to 10, or more, maybe be in my mouth at a given time.  This happens when my disease flares out of control, which has been going on for months now.

I had some testing down at the hospital to rule out any other swallowing issues, such as obstructions, etc.  I was also prescribed speech therapy to help me control some of the pain.  When this wasn't successful, my rhematologist decided to take me off one of my major medications which suppresses my immune system and helps control my overall pain, but this has created another problem of trying to function to some kind of normalcy.  My memory becomes bad, I have difficulty recalling information, I become weepy, and the pain can get pretty intense at times.  My body seems to be allergic to itself, and stress throws everything out of control.

I was able to go away on a little beach vacation last month and tried to get some R & R in, hoping that would help.  I think it did, but I returned to some other difficulties and seem to be back at square one again.

I'm sort of in a tailspin at the moment.  Being off the medication brought the sores down to only one or two in my mouth, so the doctor decided I could resume my medication Thursday, to help with my chronic pain, but trying a slightly lower dose.  Unfortunately, my mouth has filled back up with these annoying things.

I guess I should be grateful this is occurring now, instead of when Mike needed me so much the past few years.  And, I am grateful that even though this condition keeps the doctors stumped and constantly moderating my medications to allow me to live some kind of normal life, God is still in control.  And this condition keeps me humble...and not taking things for granted.  Life is such a gift.  Good health is a blessing.  May we never stop being grateful for all that God allows in our lives, to grow us, and mold us more into His image.