Diagnosis can be a blessing in disguise.

Hello friends & family,

Some of you may not know but 3 weeks ago I was diagnosed with

An autoimmune disease called “PSA or Psoriasis-Arthritis) along with Rheumatoid arthritis.

This does run in families, so sorry yall, not sure who I got it from, but if you’re in my family or have a family member with it, please let me know. Details help.

This isn’t just the pain of my joints and body, but the tiredness and quickness of the progression has been difficult. I went undiagnosed for over a year now seeking treatment from of specialist to another and no one connecting all the dots. My general practice after reviewing all the information. He made a diagnosis in less than 10 min and sent me directly to a Rheumatologist for verification, testing, and treatment.

The first step is getting inflammation under control. I am on heavy doses of Prednisone. Not a nice drug, but I can say it is working. The other not so nice thing is I am also now taking Chemo drugs once a week. Methotrexate. This is the only way to stop the progression and get the flare-up under control. There is no cure, I will continue to have blood tests every 2 weeks and be on drugs rest of my life. The Chemo treatments are very hard on my body and as of now. From Wed evening (taken at night) to Sat or Sunday. I can barely function. Fatigue and illness are rough. I do have some great anti-nausea pills and am praying now that I know what to expect I can better control by taking earlier.

So if you call and I do not respond, please understand. Right now I am not always physically able.

I give God all the glory for the people He has allowed me to witness too from the doctor’s nurses to the support group on FB that I am on. So many people have no hope, no salvation, no God to lean into. I do. I see and feel His hands all over this and through this. I feel honored that He would allow me to be able to help others with encouragement and words of true hope. So please don’t feel sorry for me. Be thankful for the time God has given me to truly rest. I have time to read, study, pray and just not feel guilty for the time I spend doing so. I see this as a blessing and time of true growth.

I have put off making this public, only because I truly want no one to feel sorry for me. I want God to have all the glory in my life for everything! He is after all the one in control and I am so humbled, grateful and at peace.

Romans 15:13- May the God of hope fill us all with joy and peace in believing, that we may and will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit in us all. Amen!

Blessings to all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Brenda