My last post of 2014!

Hello!! Hope you're all okay and getting in the Christmas spirit!! I'm quite excited - got all my shopping done today at last!!

Thought I should probably post one last update before the end of the year!

So about 3 weeks ago I started on the Metaject (injections of methotrexate), and this is what they look like this...

I personally get quite tempted to paint them blue because in my opinion they could pass as a sonic screwdriver! >< that'd be awesome! Sonic Screwdriver injections would make them all the more joyful to have! :D

I'm not too bad at injecting them myself because they don't really hurt, they just sting a little afterwards - so that's all grand!

Today I was told I can now go back to one monthly bloodtests (yippee!!!) because my most recent bloods have all been good :D 

And also, tomorrow I finally finish this course of steroids!! Soo, it really is the season to be jolly! I look forward to enjoying my Christmas/New Year on slightly less tablets than I have been for the past 6 weeks! :)

I'll be sure to post again in the New Year! (until then - I am internetless anyway!)... So I'd like to wish you all a Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year!!!! :D

Clocking out for the last time in 2014!!! TTFN, ta ta for now! :D

I hate trying to think of a title...

Hello!

Gee, I'm no good at just regularly updating this am I? Sorry! ><

MOST RECENT UPDATES: I am now back off Sulfasalazine, as when I was about to move up to 4 tablets a day, I got taken off them (and my Methotrexate) as my liver functions were a bit off - So I had the delight of 2 weeks off nearly everything!! (it was seriously delightful), but now, since my most recent hospital appointment, I'm on Prednisolone (steroids) for 6 weeks, and Omeprazole for that time too (for my tummy), and in a couple of weeks I shall be starting the "METAJET!" (or whatever it's called) which is basically the injection form of methotrexate because, apparently it's more effective?

Omeprazole - lovely bright yellow capsules! Hard to lose!

Prednisolone (steroids) 

So yeah, we'll see how that goes, and hope for the best! - And the reason I'm on steroids for 6 weeks is because I very politely declined having a joint injection in my ankle... Basically, I'm a big pansy, and really don't want it unless they're gonna give me some pain relief! Sooo yeah, hopefully steroids might help that?

Still on with blood tests every 2 weeks, which is joyful, but I'm getting better at it.... (if you CAN get better at blood tests?) - then again, it's getting colder now, and I get worse at blood tests when it gets colder, so maybe I shouldn't brag, as it'll just get worse from now on :P

Well, the cold generally just makes everything kinda suck, you've gotta go out dressed as Mitchellen man (or whatever he's called) just in order to not get cold joints and get joint pain!! grr ><

Anyway! That's my update done!!

TTFN, Ta ta for now! :D

Update From the Hospital Appointment and Exciting News!!

So, I went to the hospital on Tuesday, and THANKFULLY didn't have to have a joint injection this time!! But there is a possibility I may end up having one next time I go in six weeks :(

In the meantime though, I'm back on my good ol' Sulfasalazine! (shown below)

At the moment, I'm on one a day, then after one week, it's 2 a day, then 3 a day & then 4 a day! I'm not looking forward to the 4 a day, because these are hugeee in comparison to my other tablets, so therefore, I do not enjoy taking them in the slightest! >.<

Maybe this time they will help? Maybe they won't... I suppose we'll see won't we!?

On another- quite exciting note... I've decided I'm going to climb Mt Kilimanjaro next year for a charity called Dig Deep!! Yes this could be a struggle with my ankle and knee as they are, but I'm willing (and excited) to take up the challenge! If anyone of you want to donate to help me fund raise, feel free!! At:  https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/mollyclimbskili I'm super duper excited for it, but have a very long way to go to get there and any help will be appreciated!! 

Thanks for reading!!

TTFN, ta ta for now!! :D

Sorry!

Hey hey readers!! Sorry my delay in posts, realised earlier I hadn't blogged for a while - my bad!

My knees feeling better, but it's still a little bit achey every now and  then, but it's fine, because at least it feels slightly better? That's something, which is better than nothing!!
I have an appointment on the 30th Sept to see a rheumatolagy nurse for my dreaded joint injection in my ankle! I really would rather the nurse slapped me or something, seriously don't want this joint injection right now >< but... that's life!! Soo.. I'm going to be on crutches on my 2nd week back at uni... which is great... in fact, I have lesson the same day... a few hours later than when I'm at the hospital (my teachers don't know yet, so let's hope they don't read my blog!!) - I am going to tell them, just when I actually have them for my first lesson :P

So yeah, I'm really not looking forward to that, but I am looking forward to enquiring about skydiving again, and also about climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro next year for charity... It probably won't be the best time to ask... But it needs asking :P so fingers crossed, that the nurse I see can shed some light on that, and hopefully give me some high hopes!

Apart from that, there's not really much to say at the moment, except the physio was happy I got myself an exercise bike, there's already been some improvement in my leg muscles (probably because of it) which is good!

Try to actually keep updating this time!!

TTFN, ta ta for now!!

Time to Get Fit!

Hey there readers!

Today I finally received the exercise bike I ordered and it's all exciting!

This is the bike I'm going to use to hopefully improve my leg muscle strength, because with having arthritis in my ankle and knee, it causes limping, which means some muscles will be wasted and others will be relied on too much... So my aim is to try and even it out and make them all stronger and perhaps make walking easier.

It's also to keep fit in general (because I'm so lazy!) and don't want to be any more to be honest! I'm hoping to be more active in general in my second year in uni, hopefully starting climbing and I'm considering lots of other sports, so fingers crossed for my joints to keep all good for them!

On the note of my previous joint injection, I still haven't had much improvement in my knee, it's still swollen and a bit painful, so we'll see what the rheumatolagist nurse says about that when I go see her (I'm still waiting for that appointment), I hope they approve of this new activeness!

Cheers for reading!

TTFN, ta ta for now! :)

A Week and Two Days On...

Hey there!

It's been just over a week since my steroid injection in my knee, and unfortunately at the moment I appear to have no improvement... So this will probably mean when I go see the nurse for my next steroid injection, there'll be a change in  my medication.

At the moment, the options are either trying Sulfasalzine again (it previously hasn't done anything for me) or trying methotrexate injections again, obviously, anyone who knows me (or reads this blog) knows that I will pick the Sulfasalazine tablets because I HATE injections and will avoid them at all costs!

I'm already preparing myself for my next joint injection, planning on buying some new slippers, so I can put slippers on rather than shoes when I've been injected (because it makes your joint MORE swollen, so it's hard/painful to get on shoes) and I also plan on taking my crutches and a lollipop for after :P... I'm really quite scared, but I'm trying to keep myself positive and brave about it or I'll end up panicking about it, which I don't want to happen! 

I'm still waiting to receive my appointment, so there's no need to panic yet. Fingers crossed I get my appointment soon :)

TTFN, ta ta for now :)

Hey there!

Hey there! Sorry for the delay, I was internetless (that's not really a word, but heyho!) for a while, but now I'm back, in my new house for my second year of uni, and with internet again!

So, today has been a day of progress, because today I finally got to see a rheumatologist here in Lincoln, and, it was eventful to say the least... I just expected to discuss the options for the future of making my arthritis a bit better, but with that, I also got a steroid joint injection in my knee, followed by 10 minutes of being lightheaded and feeling very poorly (I do not deal well with injections!) especially seeing as this was the first time I'd had a joint injection with out pain relief such as laughing gas or general anaesthetic, but unfortunately, this is what 'adulthood' entails! And then to add to my sorrow of a joint injection, a nice trip to phlebotomy for a blood test! woohoo! But on the upper hand, the pain from my knee probably made me deal with this blood test the best I ever have!

So now I'm sitting on my bed feeling pretty sorry for myself as I can't bend my knee, and hobbling is no fun! Sad times, but on the happy side, this should hopefully generally bring the swelling and pain down in my knee, BUT on the unhappy side, I have to go back in a few weeks for another one in my ankle! :(

But apart from being a bit sore and achy at the moment, I've been having a good summer holiday, which is always good news and I'm hoping for the best from this hurty joint injection!!! Fingers crossed for a near future of not limping!

I'll keep you posted on the joint injection and my knee (I'm not leaving you this time!)

TTFN, ta ta for now!! :)