Sunshine, Sass, and Swollen Thumbs

Oh, honey… the drama that is my immune system. I’ve officially been up all night like I’m at a rave I didn’t RSVP for—except instead of glow sticks and beats, it’s just me, my heating gloves, and a thumb joint screaming louder than a toddler who didn’t get their Happy Meal.

We are currently deep in the trenches of a full-blown SnRA flare. And when I say flare, I mean the “burn-it-all-down” kind. My right thumb joint is doing the absolute most right now. Like, calm down girl—you’re not even the most important joint in the room. But nooo, she wants attention. She’s been cutting up since about 5 or 6 p.m. yesterday and is still showing out this morning.

Let me tell you, I charged and recharged my vibrating heated gloves THREE times overnight like I was jumpstarting a car. I gave them more power than my iPhone gets in a week, and all for what? Minimal relief and a whole lot of sass from my thumb.

Now here’s the silver lining in all this swollen chaos—I have an appointment with a new rheumatologist at the end of the month. Yes, queen, we are manifesting answers and maybe a better treatment plan that doesn’t involve me auditioning for a zombie apocalypse every night. I found the office through an intense Google rabbit hole (because who needs sleep when you can be your own medical researcher at 2 a.m.?), and the doc I’m seeing has some pretty solid reviews.

But let me be honest real quick… I 100% picked this practice because of the name. Sunshine Rheumatology and Arthritis Center. I mean, COME ON. If you’re gonna treat my chronic pain, at least do it under the metaphorical warmth of some Florida sun, right? I don’t know if they’ll fix my joints, but the name alone makes me feel like I’m about to walk into a spa instead of a clinic.

And let’s be clear: if this thumb keeps acting like a diva and I can’t catch some Zzz’s soon, I will be calling them for an earlier appointment. I’m talking prednisone, pain relief, holy water—whatever it takes. Because at this point, I’m one all-nighter away from wrapping my hand in bubble wrap and calling it fashion.

So, here’s to sunshine, sass, and survival—because this girl is NOT about to let her thumb ruin the vibe.