Eureka…

Bingo! Marty figured out why I am not getting better with this persistent pneumonia, and it turns out he’s right! 

I’ve been on the medication Humira since 2018 for my ulcerative colitis. It works brilliantly, and I have been in complete remission. 

Unfortunately, Humira lowers your autoimmune system, so I haven’t been able to shake this illness. 

I called Dartmouth Hitchcock, and they confirmed this is likely why I am not improving. 

I must stop injecting until I get the go-ahead from Dr. Levy, my gastroenterologist. 

I receive an injection of Humira every other week; I just got one on Tuesday and started feeling bad again on Thursday. 

This afternoon I went for another chest X-ray since last night was horrible. I couldn’t stop coughing even with prescription cough syrup. I coughed so much that my sternum hurts today. 

My appointment went fantastically. I had my X-rays taken, and the on-call doctor, who is new to the practice from NY, came in to look at the X-rays and speak with me. 

I shared our discovery with her, and she said, yes, the Humira may be delaying my recovery.

She told me sometimes she speaks Yiddish since she practiced in NY. She showed me on the X-ray my left lung was full of “schmutz.” 

The good news was it looked a little better than my last X-ray, which is great news. It completely changed my mindset of hopelessness. 

The on-call doctor was so easy to talk to and very nice. She said I would finish this last course of antibiotics and then come in for a series of X-rays until the radiologist says I am all clear. 

My gastroenterologist will now work with my primary doctor, so everyone is on the same page on my recovery journey. 

For now, I have to be patient and let my body continue to recuperate. I can go out and do things but not overdo them. Plus, I have to rest whenever I feel tired. Okie dokie! 

I am glad to hear that since we have tickets to see Hamilton on Tuesday night at Proctors Theater. My friend, Ann from Jersey, has a ticket and is coming to see it with us. 

So my hubby, who is always by my side, figured everything out. We don’t call him Smarty Marty for nothing!

He was proactive and got the ball rolling in figuring all this out. I am so lucky and grateful to have him and his smarts. He’s been worried sick about me.

I feel like I have hope at last! Happy Friday! ☺️