I rang in the New Year with a plate of carrot pasta (pasta made out of long shreds of carrots for those of you non-celiac people out there who get to devour real pasta), a couple glasses of champagne, my husband and a lovely couple we tend to always eat out with on New Year’s Eve.
I arrived home a bit buzzed because I hardly ever drink (due to my affinity for migraines and unfortunately, alcohol can induce them) and turned on Taylor Swift’s Reputation Stadium Tour on Netflix and delighted in that during some of the first moments of the New Year.
It was wonderful! I hope you had a fabulous New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day!
I love the beginning of a new year.
It’s like the smell of the first snow of the season or the feel of fresh cut grass on your bare feet in the summer. Almost magical.
It’s a do-over. You get to say “see ya” to last year and decide you’re going to be the best version of yourself.
For a lot of us, this is a time to set new goals or resolutions.
And, I’m a goalsetter. Oh boy, I love to set some goals!
Goals really help me focus my time and avoid shiny object syndrome.
Before we dive into my top goals for 2019, I want to reflect for a moment on the last half of 2018 because this has been one of the toughest periods of my life.
For those of you who are new around here (hiiiiiiiiiii my darling!), I have serious autoimmune health issues. I’ve officially been diagnosed with CVID and just recently, one of my practitioners said she believes I also have fibromyalgia. This basically means that I have little to no immune system function and suffer with all over nerve pain.
I used to kinda be like bubble boy with no bubble which meant if I was in a room with anyone who was sick, I would contract it. The person could be in the very back of a movie theater that I was in the front of and I would still get sick.
After years of searching for answers, I found a specialist at UVA who had seen my set of symptoms before (no other doctor had) and suggested monthly IVIg treatments which means I spend one day a month at the hospital getting an infusion of other people’s immune cells so that I’ll have an immune system. No more contracting every sickness from any person I barely come into contact with! OH YEAH!
I’ve been getting the infusions for almost two years now and they work pretty darn well.
But, the infusions didn’t take away of all of my symptoms.
I still had severe pain everywhere…my muscles and joints and skin. And, a side effect of the infusions has been an onset of migraines that feel like a deranged rabbit is trying to rip its way out of my brain.
Due to the migraines and pain, my doctors have tried different medications and every time I take a new medication, my body freaks out.
It takes my body about two to four weeks to adjust to a new medication. You know those fun side effects that are listed for medications? “Call your doctor in case of nausea, vomiting, loss of energy, numbness, dizziness…”
Well, I always get a number of them until my body adjusts to the medication. I don’t know why…it just happens. Every. Single. Time.
My doctors changed my medications at least once per month from July to December. Sometimes, my medications changed two or three times per month.
I suffered from the usual side effects of nausea and drowsiness from some of the medications to super scary side effects like really blurry vision that I could barely see and involuntary tics.
August was one of the worst months of my life. I can’t even describe the type of pain that I was in. I laid in bed, moaning and crying around the clock, begging my doctors to figure something out.
That’s when one of my practitioners realized it was nerve pain. In the beginning of September, I was prescribed a medication for nerve pain and the pain went away. I was so grateful.
Unfortunately, a side effect of the medication was drowsiness and I didn’t adjust to it.
When I say that I slept from September to the end of November, I mean it. I ran Sunday Society and hosted all of the live calls for that program, but that was it. Other than that, I just slept.
My doctors kept saying that I would adjust to the medication, but after three months of sleeping day and night, they switched me to a different medication for nerve pain.
With this new medication, I only have to take it at night and it doesn’t cause me to be drowsy. THANK GOODNESS!
December has been my month of “getting back to April.”
My medications are all figured out for now! I’m no longer adjusting to side effects. I’m no longer exhausted from a medication that put me in the longest nap of my life.
I’ve hit a pretty good health plateau that is allowing me to get back to normal life. It’s the best I’ve felt since June of 2018.
Thank you to everyone who has been patient with my absence on social media. If you aren’t a member of Sunday Society, I’ve missed you to bits!
After a month of building my energy back up, I can confidently say that I’m ready to get to back to things as usual.
With that said, here are my goals for 2019:
1. Learn as much as possible about my health.
If you read the intro (if you can call that crazy true life story an intro) to this blog post, you know that my health was horrendous in 2018 and I’m finally getting back into the swing of things.
My biggest goal for 2019 is to find the right family doctor for me and get a lot of stuff re-tested.
When I started getting sick about seven years ago, my doctors tested me for everything. I saw infectious disease specialists, allergists, dermatologists, gastroenterologists, neurologists, and rheumatologists.
But, I haven’t had my vitamin levels or thyroid or other things tested in years. Being vegan and gluten-free, I have a very limited diet and it does affect my health. If I’m low on B-12 or vitamin D, it could be affecting my energy and lots of other things.
The more I know, the better equipped I’ll be at helping myself.
I know I’ll have achieved this goal once I’ve found the right family doctor and have had testing I want done.
2. Try block scheduling for one month.
Block scheduling is basically blocking out time from your day for specific tasks. For instance, you might block out 8am to 10am to exercise, shower and get ready, block out 10am to 12pm for admin tasks, block out 12pm to 12:30 for lunch, block out 12:30 to 4:30 for writing, etc.
In the past, I’ve always worked from a to-do list with a top three (top three things that must get done), but I’d like to try block scheduling for one full month to see how it works for me.
Then, I’ll decide whether I want to continue with block scheduling or return to using a to-do list for each day.
***I would’ve started this at the beginning of January but I want to document the process and my video camera is currently getting fixed. I’m going to start once I get it back.
3. Go to pilates twice a week.
In the first half of 2018, I went to pilates pretty much every Tuesday and Friday. Because of the decline in my health, I missed a lot of my sessions in the second half of the year.
I want to pick it back up in 2019 because pilates makes a huge impact on my health.
It lowers my anxiety, in just under two months it helped me lose two dress sizes, I tend to feel creative and energized for hours after each session, and I have less overall pain when I go consistently.
This is a goal that I know I can reach because I’ve done it before.
4. Read every day I don’t have a migraine.
I wish I could list read every day in 2019 as a goal, but those of you out there who get migraines know it’s impossible to read when you’ve got one.
Reading brings me so much joy that it feels silly to list it as a goal, but I’m including it because sometimes I pick other things over reading at night that don’t make me as happy…such as Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime.
When I choose to read, I get better sleep and I enjoy my time before bed a lot more. I just need the reminder…or gentle push.
5. Publish 52 blog posts.
Other than in the last half of 2018, I’ve been known for my very consistent blog posts. In the eight years of running Blacksburg Belle, this was the first time I didn’t keep a steady blogging schedule.
That’s not happening this year. I’ve already got a TON of topics I want to cover and I’m ready to commit to publishing 52 blog posts this year.
I’m moving away from publishing them on the same day of the week every week but you’ll get a blog post every week from me. Make sure you’re signed up to receive my emails if you don’t want to miss them.
Happy New Year April! I hope that you have a fantastic year and those med’s keep that paint away for good! One of my goals this year is to slow down, leave open space each week and to live more in the moment. Best.
Happy New Year! I have missed you. I also want to try block schedule. I suffer from fibromyalgia and recently my family dr. Put me on a daily dose of zinc of which am deficient. Seems to be improving things
I’ll be posting about my experience with block scheduling in February!
Thanks for sharing…I’ve taken Zinc in the past but not long enough to know if it was effective or not. One of my specialists put me on it, but then I started seeing another specialist who adjusted my meds and I stopped taking it. This was years ago.
Awesome goals, Laural! Happy New Year!
I feel shocked and properly humbled April, because I had no idea that you had such a challenging time health wise. And yet you did Sunday Society! That’s commitment t and discipline and I feel properly humbled. I thought you were perhaps making changes to the business, concentrating energies elsewhere because after all you have given so many higly valuable blog posts that are still very relevant.
I am proud of you so much, and to belong to your tribe.
ALL the best for your goals – health wise and otherwise in 2019!
Thanks Renuka! That’s so kind. Happy New Year!
Hi April, I am so happy to hear that you are feeling better, and I can relate to your journey. I too, have had health issues the last few years, and it has been difficult to move ahead with my goals, but I am feeling much better, and having had my thyroid tested and finding out it was so low that the practitioner did not know how I was even holding my head up, in her words. So, I am on medication, supplements, gluten free and more. I feel more energy, and this year, I will be creating 13 monthly segments of a year long Enchanted Heart Wisdom Journey and putting it online as a membership site. I am enthusiastic about this and will be doing art along with it..love you and look forward to hearting more from you and sharing more with you.
That’s wonderful that you’re feeling better! Sounds like you’ve got some really exciting plans for this year. Woohoo!
I can totally relate to your health situation. Kudos to you for keeping your head above water, even when you probably didn’t feel like you could. It’s great to hear from you again. I love your enthusiasm for this new year! Last night I finally summoned up the courage to think about my goals for the year. Last year’s ones weren’t all reached and it’s been tough to look at that and assess the whys and wherefores – mostly my pesky health got in the way. (Honestly, I can’t wait for Star Trek medical technology to come along and fix us with one painless zap! 😀 ) So this year I am looking forward to trying out some new things to improve my health (first up is an infra red lamp for fibromyalgia), learning to love myself on film so that I can teach online sewing classes, having dedicated drawing time each week, and setting up my passive income stream (and thus my world domination mwahahahaha!). I wish you and your family all the very best for the coming year <3
Yes to a painless zap…bring it on!
Your goals for 2019 sound awesome. (P.S. I don’t love myself on video and I teach online classes. The more you do video, the more you get used to it.)
Happy New Year April!! So so glad to hear you are feeling better
I’ve been using schedule blocking for a couple of months now and I LOVE it!
My main goal is to declutter my whole house using the konmari method and the kids have been helping me get started!
Now I’m even more excited for block scheduling…woohoo!
That’s very cool that you’ve gotten your kids involved with the decluttering. Does it give you joy? 🙂
Sending you love, light and healing, April. I’m happy to see you stepping back into your AWESOMENESS!!!
I’m with you! My word of the year for 2019 is AUTONOMY. The freedom to choose, but with the freedom to not be stressed out. Paint Parties will go online this year, which will give me more time with my husband and kiddos. And like you, I have been trying the block scheduling in my Own Your Peace Daily Planner, so there are more spaces for quiet. But, this year…only focusing on one goal…leaving my day job and running my biz full time, but full of peace!
THANK YOU!
That’s a very exciting goal! Sounds like 2019 is going to be a big year for you.
So happy to hear that you took the time you needed for your health. Persistence in sharing side effects will give you the best health care.
For 2019, my main goal is to create a list of activities I’m saying no to so I stay focused on my yes goals. Happy 2019!
Good one, Marti! It’s so important to know what to say “no” to!
Happy New Year Dear April,
I am really sorry to hear about your health struggles. I had no idea. So thank you for sharing. I was also diagnosed with nerve pain last year and it set me back from achieving my goals. I finally figured out that one prescribed medicine makes the nerve pain a lot worse, so does certain foods. What helps is acupuncture. My doctor recommended it as well. Luckily, I am back on track and ready to achieve this year’s goal. I will publish my new blog about travel, lifestyle, and creativity shortly. Good Luck to you, your goals, and I wish you improved health in 2019.
Thanks for sharing, Monica! I’m sorry that you suffer with nerve pain as well. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. I’m paying close attention to my body to figure out what makes it worse and I have had to cut out certain foods, as well.
Happy new year April!
Wow! What a journey! My heart goes out to you and I’m so happy you’ve turned a corner and are feeling better. Loooong may it continue!!
My goal for this year is to grow my businesses. My handmade card biz does really well at Christmas time but I’d like it to be more profitable all year long. And my new interior design biz is still in its infancy so that needs a ton of work.
Can’t wait to “see” more of you in 2019!
Happy New Year! Thanks for the kind words!
Good luck with both of your businesses in 2019. So exciting!
April, I am sorry for all you have suffered bit happy yo know you are feeling better.
I have shared with you before that my health decline started with Fibromyalgia. I also was diagnosed with Polymyalgia Rheumatica.
Because everything hurt but my hair my primary care doctor prescribed a medication which eliminated all the pain but suppressed my immune system to the point I have no resistance to anything. I also gained 57 pounds in a matter of weeks.
Fast forward to today. After having a pulmonary embolism, lung cancer, pneumonia, and so much more I have had Septicemea twice with fear of Sepsis being very real. 18 months ago I got Shingles which left me with horrid chronic nerve pain. I take pain meds but like you I want to sleep all the time. I fall asleep all thru the day and sleep all night.
We don’t know what is causing the constant falling asleep. I am wondering if possibly I am taking the same med that you were taking and sleeping all the time.
Can you possibly tell me the drug you were taking. If it is the same as my med I want to go back to my prescribing doctor who insists the med is not the cause. I have tried eliminating other meds to no avail. The nerve pain is excruciating and the constant falling asleep has caused me to neglect my business,my family and friends. I no longer drive for fear of falling asleep behind the wheel.
My goals for 2019 are really priorities:
Health, Relationships and business.
I am so glad you are back for this year and I wish you good health and great success.
Ugh…sounds like you’ve been through the ringer, too. Sorry to hear it!
The medication that made me incredibly tired all the time was Gabapentin. It was great for my pain but I had to stop taking it if I wanted to stay awake more than a few hours at a time. I almost fell asleep in the middle of Thanksgiving dinner…and I fell asleep sitting at my desk multiple times.
Holy cannoli, April! That’s such a lot to be going through and my heart goes out to you. My husband had to go back to Australia when his mum passed away and he stayed to get a proper diagnosis because of the national health there. Turns out for years he’s been misdiagnosed with depression when he’s had chronic fatigue. He can do very little, and he’s in pain all the time. His short term memory is gone. I take care of him and my elderly parents and I work at a school, earning just enough for food and bills. But life can’t be all about the problems so I decided to make 2019 my year of hygge. I spent a little money in the fall on houseplants and a few things for the house that we needed. It’s homey now. I learned to knit and I LOVE it! I’ve been fermenting foods and cooking to accommodate his condition and a chronic gastric issue I was diagnosed with. I make tinctures and infusions for both of us. I’ve ordered seeds for the medicinal weeds/herbs so I can make the medicines and teas from our own garden instead of buying them. I call my home “Little Hygge on the Prairie” as it encapsulates my goals and resolutions to take care of all of us with graciousness and a big dose of cozy. I’m sending you waves of hygge and coziness from my home. I wish you success in your treatments to give you pain-free days. Much love to you and happy new year.
So many people are misdiagnosed for years. It’s terrible.
I love the concept of hygge and it sounds like you’re well on your way to a cozy 2019! Happy New Year! Thanks for the positive thoughts.
Hey, girl, heyyyy! I totally get the reading goal. As a migraine sufferer myself and one who loves to slack off with Netflix or some awesome online shopping, I get it. I don’t know if you can try this with your medications but it’s worth asking your doctors. I take Topiramate (generic name), Topamax is the brand name, nightly! It’s a prescription migraine preventative. You know I love to play tennis and the migraines were keeping me from playing. It has changed my life!
I took Topamax but the dosage I had to take in order for it to be effective impaired my cognitive functioning. I took it at night only but during the day, I could tell something was making me less intelligent. Turned out to be Topamax. My neurologist said that my migraines can’t be prevented because they’re caused by my IVIg infusions which “turns into a glue-ish substance in my blood vessels in my brain which makes it hard for my blood to move.” I appreciate the thought and am so happy it works for you!
Happy New Year, April! I am sooo happy you are feeling better now. You were missed a lot. Glad that you are back. Take care.
I’m so sorry to hear about your health difficulties last year. My husband has chronic nerve pain (localized to one dermatomal pattern, thankfully) as well and those first two years figuring out what was wrong and getting him on the right medications were just awful. I’m so glad to hear you’ve found a system that works for you! 2019 is going to be your best year yet!
Oh my gosh April!! I’m so sorry it’s been so rough, but I’m glad you seem to be making some headway. I’ve had my bouts with a compromised immune system and fibro as well. I will say that living with it for almost 30 years now, I’m doing pretty good at this stage. I’m still unable to work a job like a normal person, because it’s so exhausting, and I get sick so easily. It’s frustrating. So I can relate to a lot of what you describe. I live with the fibro at this point. I guess I’m so used to it now, it doesn’t phase me anymore. I’ve kind of let my health and fitness slip the past few years working too much on my online stuff. So my goal this year is to take better care of me. I’m going to do less online and do more for me in the real world. So many things I’ve neglected, and I decided that has to stop. I’m not getting any younger, and I feel like so many things are slipping away from me. So this is the year I’m going to get back to living in my real life.
I’m so sorry to hear about your health problems and very glad the Doctors finally figured it out. You’ve got to figure out all your options and that includes other medical opinions. Glad that you are back on track for 2019. It’s not about how many times you fall down, but how many times you get back up and keep fighting.
Sorry to here of your health issues. Have you considered dietary changes. An anti-inflammatory dietlike Keto helps some. Thrre is a Dr. Perricone who has a 3day anti-inflammatory diet that is easy my allergies and joint pain drastically improve every time I do it. I have just started experimenting with A Keto diet and have experienced the same relief after just a couple of days.https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://foreveryoung.perriconemd.com/dr-perricones-three-day-diet.html&ved=2ahUKEwj4_KHDzu7fAhXrjlQKHS9VDc0QFjAAegQIAxAB&usg=AOvVaw3SzcHGakzU46Vx4qPE-hih
Getting my shop up and running (making 30-50k) by end of year. Taking the steps to make it happen. Along with other goals I have.
Hi. Autoimmune disease means your immune system is OVER active and mistakingly believes your own cells are invaders to be attacked. Autoimmunity DOES NOT mean you have no immune system as you write above. It’s the opposite of that.