Fire Breather

The regulation mechanism for the flame thrower in my throat has gone awry. It activates at will. No schedule, no warning--just whooosh, and the invisible flames. After years of taking anti-inflammatories, Methotrexate and other medications; the regulation of acid from my stomach north seems to have gone haywire.

It's not so much a new problem--ulcers have been a reality for me since my late teens. The late night burning is nothing new. What is new, now, is the escalation of that burning. It rises up from my stomach as I would imagine a toilet overflowing. Sometimes in my minds-eye, I foresee a gush of blood perhaps appearing. Flames at the least. Nothing but acid so far, but in time, I'm afraid it will get the better of me.

With a stomach like mine, Nexium is a close friend, but not a saving grace. I've been told that age is no friend as it relates to stomach problems and acid reflux; so I'll think of that as a downer. I do wonder what role auto-immune disease plays in this process. I'm hoping for a cure--or at least some significant relief.

Bibliography
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/GERD-Acid-Reflux/Autoimmune-disease-and-acid-reflux/show/586218
http://www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/guide/understanding-heartburn-basics

Footrock

Stepping out of bed onto rocks was the first sign of trouble in the bottom of my feet. There weren't really rocks on the floor, but it sure felt like it. It was the small joints in the bottom of my feet that felt like sharp rocks whenever I stepped down. The first time it happened I almost fell over.

I stepped out of bed and went forward with fast tip-toe walking until I found a wall to brace myself. Overnight, both feet had become so inflamed, it was difficult to walk. Unsure what to think, I hit the search engines. Metatarsalgia.

The MRI of my right foot has shown the inflammation there. There's no doubt that the steroid shots help relieve the pain at times. Metatarsalgia. What a thrill. Another manifestation of my psoriatic arthritis. Mystery solved. Check mark.