Tuesday I had my second IVIG infusion. It was a bit more difficult this time
because I no longer have the pic line. The nurses were the BEST IV stickers
I've ever had!  Oh-my-gosh!  I couldn't even feel the needle go in which is
the part I usually dread. Of course you may say this was just a lucky stick
but I was stuck 3 times in all and no pain, well not with the sticks at
least. The first vein blew after about an hour and the medicine started
going into my arm. It was strange because I felt something strange while I
was sitting there. It felt like I was getting a needle stick. Silly me - I
should have known. That was when it happened. Anyway, I started getting sick
to my stomach and thought maybe I should go to the bathroom and that's when
the nurse noticed the infiltrate. So once they got that all fixed and such,
the nausea went away.  The only other thing that happened was my neck and
throat were flushing and the nurses just kept an eye on that. No itching or
throat swelling. Just the redness from just below my collarbone up my neck.
So all and all I think it went well. Took a bit longer this time - 6 hours.
In the car on the way home the nausea returned and hubby wanted to go to
Home Depot. So that wasn't fun with the nausea and I felt really wiped out..
But we stopped at Starbucks after Home Depot for a triple Venti Toffee Nut
Non-Fat Latte and that did the trick. Energy increased  Nausea went away.
When I woke up yesterday morning I felt like I'd been run over by a bus.
Didn't expect that one!  Eyes felt swollen in my skull and I have to say I
really felt like I had a hangover. Joints were very achy but then since
Tuesday was my Enbrel shot day I had skipped it because of the infusion and
I didn't know what to do about that. So I got up and took my shot. Had some
nice strong coffee with breakfast and ==== here's the good part ===== within
a half an hour!  30 minutes!  I felt --- dare I say it---- I'm going to
whisper--- normal. Again. Just like last month.

Ok so I'm having the wonderful energy burst. Feeling great and clear headed.
Multi-tasking. Oh what a joy that is!  I've been getting the house ready for
some painting and such for the past two weeks with the help of Nick and a
few of his friends. Cleaned out the extra bedroom of all the junk I had
stored in there and the game closet that hasn't been touched in 5 years. We
cleaned out the entire 3 car garage. I rented a storage unit and put my
Mom's stuff in there.  I'm having the crown molding put up tomorrow and then
the painters come after that so the house is fairly pulled apart. As long as
I had to mess everything up why not do it right and have a garage sale
before it gets too hot? So for the past two days I've been pulling junk out
and pricing it. So the next two days are garage sale sitting.  I couldn't
have even imagined doing this a few months ago.  I still have pain in my
feet and back but the rest of me is doing pretty good.

So I'm liking this IVIG stuff. My rheumy sat and talked with me for 45
minutes on Monday's appt. She said she's "cautiously optimistic" that this
will help.  I told her even if it only lasts a few days after the infusion
each month, I'll take it. It is just so wonderful to feel normal again.

So that's my update.  Thanks for listening!  I'll check back in soon!