Pain gone!

Well, I had my Humira injection last Wednesday and yes, it was like a bee sting, but only for 15 seconds. My head also felt fuzzy and heavy but by the evening this had gone. The nurse told me I would feel like a new woman the next day and I was extremly sceptical! I woke up the next day and I got out of bed, realising suddenly that I wasn't doing my usual ouch ouch dance to the bathroom. My pain had gone! My leg pain and shoulder pain was much better. Eureka!

It's been a week exactly since my first jab and I am still feeling pretty good. I do get a bit of pain in the joints but no where near enough to bother me. I can get up from an hour and a half train journey to work, without limping and hobbling off the train and up steps. I can now run up steps!

I went up the gym at the weekend and did 20 mins of stretches, 10 mins of cross trainer at level 3, 10 mins on the rowing machine and then had a small swim in the pool. Monday I was back to my aqua aerobics class for an hour and today I have just come back from the gym to do another big workout. It's nice to get back up the gym and try and get a bit fitter. I was just putting on  more and more weight sitting at home watching tv.

My next injection is next Wednesday. The nurse told me that I must come off the Humira if I get a chest infection. A cold is ok, it's just if I am bringing up lots of green phlem. I've also got to be careful not to eat raw egg products like mayonnaise, mousse, runny eggs.

Watch this space!

Humira day is here!

Just had my first Humira injection at Bognor hospital and it wasn't too bad at all. It was painful like a bee sting, but pain went after about 20 seconds. I have to go back to the hospital in 2 weeks time and they will let me do it myself under supervision. It's a pen like thing where you place against the skin and then push down the end of the pen where a needle comes out and injects you. You have to wait 10 seconds then it is all over.

I do have a bit of a fuzzy achy head afterwards, but should go by the evening. I should start to feel the benefits very soon as early as tomorrow. I will keep regular updates so that I know whether it is working or not.

At the moment I have pain in both hip joints and my right thigh and left shoulder. Let's see how I am tomorrow.

Another flare-up

My left SI joint started flaring up Thursday night getting back from work and was very bad Friday and Saturday. Started taking the dreaded steroids again and it started to ease up considerably on Sunday. Luckily I had Monday (today) off work which was really useful to get over this attack. I feel I should be able to go back to work tomorrow, so that's an amazing turn around. Just hope it carries on getting better, shame I have to go on the steriods to get this better.My left shoulder is very bad though still and wish the GP would hurry up with an appointment to see a physio about it soon.

Steve has come down with a cold/throat virus and is feeling very rough. I'm hoping that I don't catch that as well as I could then be in for a very bad December as well.

Blood test results came back, with my inflammatory markers going up to 40 again, same as 6 weeks ago, so the pain I am feeling everywhere is corresponding, which is good as people won't think it's all in my mind.

I had to cancel xmas shopping with my friends on Sunday because of my latest flare-up. Oh well, still time before xmas.

A day of medical dates

Quite a day with medical appointments. I saw a GP this morning about my ongoing pain in my left shoulder and she seemed to think it was due to my AS as I've had problems now for 6 years or so. It could be that I tore a muscle and made it worse recently when I put my car into reverse the other day and felt something go. So time for more physio treatment and another steroid injection, goodie!! sigh! I also mentioned the pain in my legs, knees, foot etc.. and again seems to be because of my AS with my body flaring up after having stomach flu in August. It seems that my immune system has been attacking my joints and muscles since the flu.

Also saw the physio at Bognor hospital who talked to me about the drug Humira and how it works. I had to sit down and mark on a sheet of paper how bad my pain and tiredness has been over the last week. He has agreed that I need to go on this drug so is putting my aplication through and should here further in a month or so.

In the meantime I've got to wait for my dad to have his radiotherapy dates through and his operation procedure dates through for his bowel treatment. I just hope he hears soon as my mum is getting more and more frustrated and going spare not knowing. Starting to worry about her health.

Missing the sunshine

Had a lovely holiday in very warm and sunny Tenerife and all my aches and pains were slightly better out there, proably due to the heat. We left Tenerife in 30 degree heat and came back to cold, damp 12 degree Britain, quite a difference! I manged to get a massage at the hotel which was lovely and relaxing, luckily I managed to choose it on the only rainy day, so didn't miss out on lieing by the poolside. After only being back for about 4 days my back, shoulders and arms have decided to return to it's flare-up position, so typical, back to square one again. I managed to get all the way to work yesterday and think the train seats and sitting at my work desk may have aggrevated everything yet again.

Went to Bognor hospital this morning to see the ward sister for a check up and she gave me a much needed cortisone injection which she says should help the pain all over my body. Fingers crossed as I have to get all the way to Stevenage tomorrow for a web standards seminar. Working from home this afternoon, so will have to get cracking on that soon. I also had a chest x-ray this morning in preparation for me taking Humira at some point in the future. Just waiting for confirmation now.

Pain in left hip - 6
Pain in left shoulder - 7
Pain in upper spine - 5

Going on holiday!!!

Well, finally it's here...holiday time!!! My back is finally a lot better and good enough to go away and get some sun. Shame the steroids and not being able to exercise has put weight on me again, so typical I had lost 7 pounds due to the stomach flu but have put it all back on again and have my tummy flab back... great...! Just in time  for the bikini wearing, may have to hide myself away now. Never mind, I shall get back on that diet when I get home and get back up the gym.

Flight goes tomorrow morning at 6.40am yikes!! So we are staying at Premier Inn over night tonight.

I have all my medication, walking stick, heat and cold packs. Hate having to fill suitcase with all this stuff.

See you in a week, hopefully my back will hold out!

Back at work again

I managed to get back to work today despite my left hip still giving me grief. My left SI joint was much better than on Friday though, which is important as I can't move about with that sharp pain. I almost turned round on my walk to the station this morning to go home, but I grit my teeth and carried on. Very pleased I made it in today as I didn't think I would be back this week. Hopefully I can make it through tomorrow and Wednesday and then after that it doesn't matter as I will be on holiday in warm and sunny Tenerife with my lovely husband Steve.

As of tomorrow I am no longer Acting Senior Librarian or working with serials, I'm back doing my document supply work. Looking forward to my colleague Lisa coming back from maternity leave tomorrow morning as I have missed her a lot.

Left hip pain morning - 7
Left hip pain evening - 5
left SI joint - 3