The Adrenaline Drop by Lu Sobredo

THE ADRENALINE DROP

Needing rest after a vacation is familiar to most. What others may not know is this need multiplies when you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

After 11 days of meaningful and joyous road-trip, we arrived home Friday night. By mid-morning on Saturday we’re getting dressed to attend an event in Fremont, California. I joined hubby at his encouragement because I wanted to see my friends who would be there for sure.

Adrenaline works wonders. I’m sure I had it in spades during the trip. I make peace with the pain from my RA. Medications lessen or mask the intensity but the pain is with me all the time. I treat the pain like appendage or an uninvited guest that we still welcome with care.

Extending my party-status a day delayed the bedrest I had planned. I underestimated the effects of the adrenal drop. I could manage the bathroom necessities as well as ensure I hydrate sufficiently. But getting out of bed for those reasons is like squeezing from an energy source that’s mostly depleted; the pain would no longer be isolated to one or a few joints. It’s having a party all over me much to my annoyance. But I listened to my body, the fatigue, muscle weakness and dizziness, and I rested for two whole days unable to partake in household routine and chores. It’s like having a flu without the fever. The body stayed warm, the norm for inflammation from RA. I have meds for the discomfort and some labored breathing. The pronounced symptoms were not surprising yet a sad reminder of the severity of the disease.

Every movement of fingers and wrist caused nagging pain as I wrote this essay. It is emblematic of the struggles of one with a debilitating chronic illness.

PHOTO ESSAY (c) Lu Sobredo

All copyrights reserved.

August 26, 2025

PNeeding rest after a vacation is familiar to most. What others may not know is this need multiplies when you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

After 11 days of meaningful and joyous roadtrip, we arrived home Friday night. By mid-morning on Saturday we’re getting dressed to attend an event in Fremont, California. I joined hubby at his encouragement because I wanted to see my friends who would be there for sure. Adrenaline works wonders. I’m sure I had it in spades during the trip. I make peace with the pain from my RA. Medications lessen or mask the intensity but pain with me all the Needing rest after a vacation is familiar to most. What others may not know is this need multiplies when you have rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Adrenaline works wonders. I’m sure I had it in spades during the trip. I make peace with the pain from my RA. Medications lessen or mask the intensity but pain with me all the time. I treat the pain like appendage or an uninvited guest that we still welcome with care.

Extending my party-status a day delayed the bedrest I had planned. I underestimated the effects of the adrenal drop. I could manage the bathroom necessities as well as ensure I hydrate sufficiently. But getting out of bed for those reasons is like squeezing from an energy source that’s mostly depleted; the pain would. O longer be no longer isolated to one or a few joints. It’s having a party all over me much to my annoyance. But I listened to my body, the fatigue, muscle weakness and dizziness, and I rested for two whole days unable to partake in household routine and chores. It’s like having a flu without the fever. The body stayed warm, the norm for inflammation from RA. I have meds for the discomfort and some labored breathing. The pronounced symptoms are not surprising yet a sad reminder of the severity of the disease.

Every movement of fingers and wrist causes nagging pain as I write this essay. It is emblematic of the struggles of one with a debilitating chronic illness.time. I treat the pain like appendage or an uninvited guest that we still welcome with care. Extending my party-status a day delayed the bedrest I had planned. I underestimated the effects of the adrenal drop. I could manage the bathroom necessities as well as ensure I hydrate sufficiently. But getting out of bed for those reasons is like squeezing from an energy source that’s mostly depleted; the pain would. O longer be no longer isolated to one or a few joints. It’s having a party all over me much to my annoyance. But I listened to my body, the fatigue, muscle weakness and dizziness, and I rested for two whole days unable to partake in household routine and chores. It’s like having a flu without the fever. The body stayed warm, the norm for inflammation from RA. I have meds for the discomfort and some labored breathing. The pronounced symptoms are not surprising yet a sad reminder of the severity of the disease. Every movement of fingers and wrist causes nagging pain as I write this essay. It is emblematic of the struggles of one with a debilitating chronic illness.

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