Doctors obviously love me...

.... as I got 'double booked' the other day!! HAHA xD probably not really that funny, but I found it funny... got a text saying I had an appointment a few days after and I was just, confused, as my letter said it was in March... so I rang up to ask and it turns out they'd just accidentally booked me in twice, but only sent me a letter for one. Weird! 

So yeah, the cold sucks, I went for a blood test on Tuesday, just for all my veins to be in hiding because it was too cold, so unfortunately that appointment was a waste of time and now I have to journey up to the hospital for it to be done there instead, which I'm sure will be jolly... (I still have a scar from the last time I had it done at the hospital as their plaster thing took off my skin!!! >.<)

This last weekend my knee got a bit swollen and achey, probably from a mix of the cold and a heck of a lot of standing around (as I did a show called Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead this weekend, and the backstage area wasn't the nicest to be in, as it was a bit smalllll), but thankfully, after some looking after it with hot water bottles & baths, it's all feeling better now! 

The cold just isn't very nice, it hurts and I HATE walking on ice as I'm just not very good at it! haha

well, keep safe in the cold weather!
TTFN, Ta ta for now!!

Reminiscing Over the Past 6 Months!

Happy New Year!! I'm back, and it's now only FIVE DAYS UNTIL MY BIRTHDAY!!! (I'm gonna be 20 - getting old!)

Sooo, on Friday I finally got discharged from physiotherapy as my physiotherapist told me I was "the best she'd seen me" and just to carry on with my exercises and maybe make them a bit more weight-bearing to carry on strengthening my legs! So that's pretty good really!

This lead me to reminisce over the last 6 months, and how much it's all changed, I started off 6 months ago, medicationless, in pain all the time and limping dreadfully... Now I'm walking fine, I can even walk up & down stairs normally! And plan on climbing a mountain a few months!

Although I may not like my medication, my injections and my blood tests, overall, it's making everything better gradually, which is of course is the aim... so it's all grand really!

I'm having my next injection delivery on Wednesday... It's weird to think I've had over 7 weeks of them so far, it feels like less? Weird! Anyway, I'm also back at hospital in March to see my doctor again, who will probably try and think of another solution for my (still bad) ankle! Here's hoping it might be slightly better by then :)

Anyway, not much else to say, except gradually making some changes to the blog! Check them out (for instance - my 'gallery' page... which seemed less weird in concept than it does.. oh well)

Also, on a last note... please check out my Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/Climb4CleanWater and give it a like? It would be a great help!

Thanks!

TTFN, Ta ta for now! :)

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! :)