new beginnings

New week...new beginnings. After a much needed mental vacation, I am returning full force. It took some time, but I have just had to reflect on some situations and realize that, if I can't do anything to change a particular situation or relationship, I must just let go of it, no matter how much it pains me. Last week there was a development in my life that I let get to me in the worst way. I ended up, Thursday, in my dermatologists office with raging psoriasis and a cold sore, both of which are severly aggravated by stress. I was pushed into deciding between 3 treatment options, none of which are pleasant. I was told to pick my poison. Teary eyed, I chose a Kenalog injection. This same injection made me sick as a dog last time, but we decided to lower the dose and give it another go. My other 2 options were light therapy w/drugs..which can lead to skin cancer, especially given how fair I am or Enbrel self injections, which can lead to liver problems. When it gets to the point of having new spots on your hands and having a 1/4 of your body covered with this demon, you do, literally, have to pick the lesser of evils for treatment. Not being able to bend your elbows without pain can be quite the driving factor. I have already noticed an improvement and will add topical steroids today, to push it into remission if I can. I will still request the blood test from my GP to see if the white spots on my nails are an indication of having the tendency for Psoriatic Arthitis. My dermatologist blew me off by telling me my nails werent that bad, and that I should just paint them and not worry about it. The last three visits and calls to this same derm have not been without incident, so I'll also be looking for a new specialist in NJ. Dave and I are getting healthier as a team, and I am thrilled. We have both started working out again and dinners will all be much lighter. It is so much easier, as are most things, when you work as a team. So today is truly a new beginning, for hopefully a lot of things. Just when you thought I'd go away...ala Jack Nicholson.....I'm back...even though I'm not Johnny. Cheerio!