Like many Americans, I have spent the last eight months in shock at the systematic destruction of our democracy. We are rapidly regressing into  a  corrupt dictatorship where a select few have rights. The rest become increasingly low wage workers with no rights.   No education. No healthcare. No meaningful work. No safety net. No vaccines. No scientific research. The new Dark Ages. We definitely need new leadership. I am speaking up now before we lose the rest of our liberty.  Remember our slogan from ourAmerican revolution, Give me liberty or give me death. Patrick Henry. We are Americans and we don’t want to go back to the stone ages.

That said, let’s talk about rheumatoid arthritis. The health of my  joints has continued to decline. My complications from all inflammation include atherosclerosis and osteoporosis. Bad for the heart and the bones.. So far, RA treatment  addresses symptoms. The biologics  help those symptoms  for a limited time.

Recently I had an endoscopy. There were red patches in the lining of my lower esophagus, stomach and small intestine. They were biopsied and found to be H. Pylori.  This is the bacteria that causes peptic ulcers and stomach cancer.

 I have had symptoms for 18 months. Mostly vague until this summer.  Some were attributed to RA but were caused by the bacteria. I endured a regimen  of tetracycline and another nasty medication that caused great discomfort. I can eat again. After considerable weight loss, my clothes are too big. My son says he wants to fatten me up. I hope I have seen the last of H. Pylori.

I have a book of my experiences and insight to rheumatoid arthritis. Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis is available on Amazon. Idid have more fun writing my first novel, Matilda and her Alien.  It is a story of love and adventure. A group of outcasts from a nearby planet settle on Earth in a colony in Minnesota. They travel by portal. No need of cars or airplanes. In book two the colonist will need to protect Earth from predatory aliens from deep space. Thomas finds love.