2026 Has Been Rough

Last week my mom was in the hospital for her heart. She seems to have a medical crisis every year, but this one was by far the scariest. Well, that's not true. In the moment they are ALL terrifying. But this one was the closest to death I think she has come. I was sure she was going to die. I'm not ready for that yet. Not ready to lose her from my life forever. But will I ever be? I'm sure no.

This year has been crap for me medically as well.

 

 Eye infection in January. Starting the year off with a BANG.

 

Bad pink eye in February. Yes, it spread to the other eye. 

 

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) in March. The fun just keeps coming.

Hives that pop up after compression, touching grass, hay or my dog's claws. Or just because.

 

My fingernail strangely lifting up off my nail bed (2 of them.)

In April I had another round of pink eye. But I didn't take any pictures this time. This will have to do...

Now it's May and I woke up with thrush yesterday. Fuck my life. 

This is a great reminder for me.

 

I had some labs done recently since I told my doctor I've been obviously have immune problems. 

She's referred me to a rheumatologist. I haven't seen one since 2018 (when I also had positive labs) and it wasn't a great experience. They thought I had Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but it ended up being Mitochondrial Myopathy. I was put on medication that just made my symptoms much much worse (plaquenil) for RA. So needless to say I'm nervous about it.

 

Next week I'm seeing a neurologist for the second opinion about my "silent seizures." Does she agree that I have them?

 

Then comes the ENT to review treatments for my right year that likes to plug up on me for days on end when the pressure changes.

 

Also the gynecologist to talk about possible HRT to help my post-menopausal symptoms.

 

In the meantime I'm hoping to get my referral for Botox for migraines. I've been fighting with them about that since November. 

 

And people like to ask what I do with "all my free time." The answer is I don't have any. 

I feel like I don't even have enough to do art, When I'm not doing all this I'm trying to keep up with my precious pups, the house or with the people I love.  Of course I also spend a huge chunk of my day unconscious.

 

So yeah. 2026 has been kicking my butt.  

 

Killer Conjunctivitis Strikes Again!

C'mon man.
The year has just begun and already we have my mom in a medical crisis, my best friend has lock jaw and me with another eye infection. Really? Is this how we're gonna play 2026?

Yup. I noticed I was getting a stye on Saturday. By Sunday it was full blown puffy. I did a Teledoc visit so I could get eye drops first thing Monday. Tuesday my ophthalmologist sent in some ointment too. Today is Wednesday and I think it's finally turned a corner. 

Right eye this time. Three sweet months since my last infection. Here's what it looked like yesterday morning.

I can feel it in my ear too!

Sick with no Taco Bell. AAAAAAAAAAA!

You can see that yesterday it started spreading to my left eye. Despite me changing my pillow case and blanket daily and using the tea tree wipes on it that my ophthalmologist's recommended. My immune system just suuuuuuuucks.

I think this would be no big deal in anyone else. But in me my whole body shuts down. And it's very hard to get it under control. I didn't ask for oral antibiotics this time because I feel confident that I CAN fight it off myself. It will just take a little bit.

Meanwhile I'm doing Ofloxacin Ophthalmic Solution 0.3%, two drops four times a day in both eyes and Erythromycin Ointment 0.5% in the morning and at night. I guess that is an antibiotic ointment. Hot compress, cold washrag and rest. Afrin nose spray for my ear.

I will say though, this is bullshit.

My ophthalmologist (who I JUST SAW) is now referring me to a different one. I'll see him at the end of March. Progress at a snail's pace. 

I wonder if swimming in a chlorinated pool regularly would help? Hmmm. Something to consider. 

But if it means not sleeping with my dogs forget it. I'd rather be on antibiotics the rest of their lives.