Hi all,

Not been around much recently for a load of reasons but I drop in every so often to see how everybody's getting on. Also feel a fraud for feeling like I do about this week, especially after reading how our brave Jenni is doing, but I feel a bit like the Black Knight in Monty Python and the Holy Grail where he's on the floor with no arms or legs shouting that he's still up for the battle. Yes, we're hard enough! So my week so far:

Monday Step mother's funeral, a fellow RA sufferer who manged to get run over by a bus whilst on holiday in Canada, it even hit the Daily Mail if any of you read it
Tuesday Rheumy Nurse basically saying I was fine get on with it, hence I am a double fraud. Is it all in my head then?
Wednesday Woke up with itchy forehead and virtually unable to open my right eye
Thursday Doctors, impetigo with cellulitis, watch out it doesn't turn into septicaemia, antibiotics, second infection in a month no MTX this week again. But 24 hour blood pressure monitoring fine so no heart attack or stroke quite yet. Find a report at work which obviously wasn't for my eyes which indicates they are probably going to sack me. Only been doing the job for 2 months without anything like any training!

This is the second lot of impetigo in a month anybody else getting this? GP said it could be suppressed immune system and down to the MTX?

So looking forward to a non-eventful day tomorrow!

Take care all
Sara
x

Hi Sara

You haven't had a good week have you? Like Anne says - no wonder you have had problems this week. It doesn't help that your rheummy nurse is very unsympathetic. I hope tomorrow will be the start of a better period for you.

Sheila x

Dear Sara, I'm so sorry you had a bad week and I hope the next one is better. Keep us posted about the work situation. I hope your rights are upheld. Best wishes from Naomi.

Hello Sara

So sorry to hear of all your problems you have had this week. You poor thing.

Very difficult to tell you 'the best way', we are ALL different and we ALL have
different needs. We all know our pain and you def are not a Fraud my dear.

Hope the week end will be relaxing for you

Rose x

sara, i cant add any more to what has been said, i hope this coming week will be lots better for you no wonder you are feeling down, i sometimes feel RA nurses dont listen to us or take the time to listen take care sara xxxxx

Oh Sara,

My heart goes out to you.

Hope you have a better week, good luck, will be thinking of you

hugs

Trace xx

hi sara poor you keep your chin up thinking about your situ puts mine second take care

Dear all,

Thanks all for your support and lovely comments, and yes Jenni you are so very brave, even though the Rheumy nurse said the joint in my hand isn't bad enough to inject I panicked just at the very thought of it and you've just done surgery and now the big steroid thing, good grief girl you must look like a pincushion! I get all worked up about a flu jab.

Conclusion I've come to is this is all down to a big dose of stress and upheaval. The MTX has suppressed my immune system and the stress has had a double whammy effect. So I'll just get less stressed and everything will be fine. We all think we can cope with anything life throws at us but sometimes just can't take one more thing and I'm afraid it all went a bit like this.

Had my business sold in the summer just to placate the medics who just keep telling me not to make soap anymore. So got myself a little part time admin job to pay the bills. Started new job without all the necessary skills which I was completely up front about but they failed to give me the appropriate training. Sale fell through so trying to be superwoman again. Big flare, but carry on regardless. Well you would wouldn't you if the sale of your business would pay off half your mortgage and so in the long run would reduce the pressure to earn money? Also in the process of starting up new business with 4 other people which will ultimate be a lovely way to earn a bit of cash, nothing to trouble Alan Sugar with but will make my soul sing. Husband trying to ignore the fact that everything is getting a bit tricky and something has to give. So I've given up negotiating with him and told him how it is, see below, he also has it in writing so he doesn't forget and tries to revert to his comfort zone. Jean, my step mother, got run over by a bus and died, this was the tipping point which immediately preceded the troublesome infections. You'll be pleased to hear no longer sore and weepy all over my face but nice, healthy, crusty scabs and cellulitis swelling much reduced.

The plan goes, keep trying to sell the business but if its not sold by the New Year we STOP. New business partner interested in making soap and it could feasibly fit in with what we're planning, so merge the two businesses. Not worry about the job thing. If they've made a mistake and employed the wrong person then that's their problem, they should have thought about my training needs before offering me the job. I have joined a union. Try to support my poor Dad as much as I can from a distance but not do the 300 mile round trip again before Xmas. Don't beat myself up about it, he has good support around him and because Jean had RA for 30 years and he cared for her, he of all people will understand.

Do you know something? Just pouring out everything on here I then almost immediately find the strength to formulate a plan. Best medicine in the world.

Off for a shower, the postman has just caught me in my dressing gown at 10.00, lucky him, but this lovely slow day needs to get a move on!

Take care all and thanks again for your support.
Sara
x

Core are you wonderwoman or what? Selling and merging businesses sorting dad out getting through your own losses!'wow

I just want to warn you that once it's all over with then you might need lots of emotional support.

Plenty of it here xx

A 'wow!' from me too Sara. You have been and are going through a whirlwind of stresses and emotions as well as a heap of physical symptoms you could well do without at the moment. Hang in there - I like the idea of putting it in writing! Might draw up a similar charter to motivate the 'children' - hardly the correct term when they are 16 - 25 but still got 4 in the nest!

Hope you start to feel better soon and can have a bit of a break from difficult times xx Ailsa