When I Said Evolution Was Fascinating, This Wasn't What I Had in Mind

     So once again, it's been awhile.  Part of the reason was writer's block, but mostly it was because as much as things change, they stay the same.  I'm essentially a basement dwelling hermit in my parents house.  My life consists of doctor's appointments, trips to the grocery store, pharmacy, and occasionally a few other mundane places.  Once my symptoms worsened last February/March and I was finally and correctly diagnosed and put on the right treatment by July, I all but shut down.  That is except to be angry at the previous specialist who misdiagnosed me for the previous 10 years and at the same time be happy I finally had a concrete, correct diagnosis of UCTD. But of course things change.
     The severe swelling has decreased from the Plaquenil (an antimalarial/antirheumatic) to the point that I can wear almost all of my shoes again, wear my rings most days, but most importantly, open my hands back up. The immunosuppressant in combination with it has helped to bring down my SED and C-Reactive protein rates.  Except I've had the dosage level on the immunosuppressant raised 4 times now because my inflammation rates are climbing again and my pain levels, once kept to a dull roar, are at a constant scream--including my back and spine.  My rheumatologist has even mentioned the word "evolved" during my last visit just before giving me an information booklet for a biologic medication and a script for a full spinal weighted MRI to look for signs of inflammation, degeneration, lesions--anything.  (Fun fact: when taking antirheumatics, immunosuppressants, steroids, or any medication to control an autoimmune disease blood test results for specific autoimmune diseases can be very unreliable, as the medication can cause false negatives). In my case, my doctor is suspecting an evolution into rheumatoid arthritis AND lupus right now.  Because that's the funny thing about overlap autoimmune diseases: sometimes they never develop into anything if caught early enough and treated (or just never develop if diagnosed late), sometimes with treatment they go into remission, sometimes they develop into only one autoimmune disease, and sometimes they develop into several full autoimmune diseases.
     I won't know anything for another few weeks but just knowing that I'm on a higher dose (again) of Imuran (the immunosuppressant) until my next appointment where I will receive my MRI results that will tell me if I have to add a biologic medication to the mix--which I found out is an injection.  I don't do needles, yet I might have to learn to inject myself?  HA! That should be fun.  One of my favorite books might be Darwin's "Theory of Evolution," but I really wish evolution would just stick to the animal world and not the disease world; especially when it comes to autoimmune diseases and my body.  I'm pretty sure I have my hands full enough.