I got my delivery of abatacept yesterday - on time and as scheduled. I know I am very lucky given the problems may of us have had. Trying to be positive about another new drug, having done Plaquenil, leuflunomide, Cimzia, Embrel and Rituximab in the last 3 years (still on the MTX) The nurse from Bupa is coming to show me how to inject on Friday, but hoping it will be the same as the others. Glad it's not a 'pen' - they were fierce!

I will post on the surgery section about the foot. After months of stalemate it is all happening this week! Would like to share with anyone who is also on abatacept xx Ailsa

Good luck with it. Let us know how you get on xx

hi Ailsa,

hope the new drug works it's magic for you,

and you got on OK with the Nurse visiting today.

do let us know,

Suzanne x

Thankyou for your kind thoughts ladies. I think I got on ok. The nurse was really lovely and turned out to be the Mum of one of the nicest boys I teach! She was very reassuring about it all.

However, about an hour after she left, I felt I was having palpitations - a strange fluttering feeling somewhere between my chest and throat and I kept feeling i needed to cough. I checked my pulse and it was 90 - a bit high but not dangerous so just sat it out and I felt ok after another hour. It was very odd. I wasn't nervous or panicky. It was definitely a physical sensation, not an emotion. I will keep my eye on it and see what happens next week. Hopefully nothing!!

Hope everyone is managing to keep warm and dry this awful weekend. How's things with you Rose - hope all the flooding hasn't affected you. It looks terrible on the news.
xx Ailsa

Thanks Suzanne - yes, this one is weekly. Just need to swap sides with MTX each week xx Ailsa

Hello ailsa,

Sorry to hear not in the best of ways at the moment. Fingers crossed for this new one. Keep
an eye on it though .

Somerset is just TERRIBLE . Thankfully so far escaped us. I am on the coast and we appear to have a good
Sea wall as it has not been breached, however in land by just about 6 miles from here it is as you see it
On the news, miles upon miles of water. Goodness knows how those poor people are managing. Farmers and
The likes, it now Friday evening and the wind is 60 70 MPH and pouring with rain yet again - when will it end.
Just like this wretched RA. I am still employed 12 hrs pw, but have been off since mid November. Meant to have had a meeting
With HR on Thursday, but 3 hrs before they cancelled as the woman was ill. So so upset as I was so in a tizzy and
In a panic, so now need to wait for another. I am back on MTX and I went tee total for 5 months and now just started
Introducing the wine in at week ends so see how my bloods go. Still fatigued. Still in pain and so on so life pretty much the same really. What about your life now after RA? Are you working ?


Rose. X

So sorry to hear you are off work and struggling Rose. It is so stressful dealing with HR and meetings as well as being unwell, feeling nervous and bad about being off.

I have been put on attendance review with any absences between Jan- end of July resulting in a written warning, 2 of which could result in my dismissal. I was off for almost 4 weeks in October with a terrible flare (the first time I have been off with my RA) plus 2 weeks with a chest infection and 3 days with kidney infection in Jan/Feb last year. I'm in touch with the Union as there are lots of reasons why they say they can challenge the attendance review based on the OH report, disability related absence etc. i just feel overwhelmed and don't want to think about it or challenge it and make things worse but i think I have no option now that I'm going to need time off for the toes ops too. will keep you posted. hope things are quickly resolved for you too Rose.

I'm glad you are not personally hit by the floods, though it must be heart-breaking to see all the damage. It's bad enough seeing it on the news. Thinking of you and hoping you continue to stay safe xx Ailsa