Sometimes we all face some sort of adversity. I’m not big on sharing my struggles with everyone, but sometimes I like to believe that being open about them could offer some help or inspiration to others going through the same thing.

So, last month I talked about dealing with vertigo, and I might have also mentioned my ongoing battle with chronic hives. If I didn’t, well, that’s probably because the vertigo was really taking up all my attention. But things took a turn in March. The vertigo was finally easing up, but now the hives were getting out of control. Every day, new ones pop up, leaving huge, swollen, raised red patches. Sometimes they even joined forces, turning my entire arm into a puffy mess for days. The itching was driving me crazy. We’re basically on a wild goose chase trying to figure out what’s triggering these hives.

A little backstory: I started getting hives toward the middle of last year. I’d get two or three at a time (about 6 inches each). They would itch like made for about three days and then fade. I mentioned this to my doctor back in February and he gave me a referral to allergy.

My doctor ordered a full blood panel once he realized allergy wouldn’t be able to get me in until October.

I spent my days cooking and trying to treat the condition (and most importantly, not itch). Survival mode. It was so distracting that I couldn’t focus or sleep properly.

In the middle of March, he put me on corticosteroids. Now I’ve taken them before for my psoriasis and I know how I react to them. My brain already moves like it’s on speed and I slow down so my family can keep up with me. The minute that medication hits, I’m wired more so than usual.

Additionally, my normally introverted, keeping lighting thoughts to myself, quiet ass, can’t stop talking on this medication. I gave fair warning to both my husband and my son.

The only things that really were holding my attention during all of this were my crafting and a few video games. My current favorite games are Genshin Impact and Palworld.

Anyway, I’ve been out of my normal loop of reading and listening to audio books because, frankly, I couldn’t focus long enough to do it. So I’ve cut myself some slack and push back my book edits and reviews for another month.

On a positive note, I finished my Sophie’s Universe. I reorganized the entire upstairs. I made a fixed circular needle wall organizer.

And might have figured out the catalyst of my hives. We’ve had ladybugs every year in the house and some people are allergic to the proteins in their bodies. Since this winter was so mild, they never went away like usual. Between medications and wearing long sleeves, I haven’t had new hives in nearly two weeks.

Most importantly, I realized how much my son and husband love me, even with my super energetic self being a bit much for them this past month. I was non-stop, barely getting any sleep, only managing about three hours a night. Like I mentioned earlier, I always like to plan and write my content ahead of time. It’s March 19 today, and I’m still dealing with the steroids, but things are improving. The hives are fading, and my vertigo is more manageable now. I’m still using my crafts and video games to keep me grounded. Hopefully, April is a smoother ride, and as I move past these first few months of the year, I can refocus on my other work.