Having a major flare not helped by this hot weather. 10 days of swollen hot joints, aches in my shoulders, which means I have not been able to sleep. I am also running a temperature in the evening.

Yesterday I had had enough and phoned my rheumatology dept describing my symptoms to the receptionist. Within 2 hours my lovely rheumy doctor phoned me back and told me to come in this morning for a depo injection. She also told me, the nurse would take my bloods at the same time, so I would not have to wait in haematology.

How is that for service? Hubby tells me, I get better treatment, than going private, and I think, I am beginning to agree with him. Everybody is so friendly in that department, there is very little waiting and you always see the same doctor and nurse.

I have been resting all afternoon, the weather has cooled down a bit, but not much. Our bedroom is still hot, so I will most properly still have a night of tossing and turning.

I hope, all you who find the weather punishing will be having an easier night. I am putting my swollen knockles under the cold tap.

Merete

Merete

Well done now rest

Take care


Rose

for 5 star treatment thats lovely to hear

hope jab kicks in soon as,and cooler weather comes along for while.
im melting.
melly

Hi Merete

Thats good news, I too am having a flare and was shocked how quickly I was seen, it helps to know that they are there to help when you need them, only nurse did'nt give me depo as she wants to repeat das score in 4wks so I can go on anti tnf's so no relief for me yet, so happy for you hope the relief comes quickly.

Take care corinne xx

Hi Merete

So sorry you are having such a nasty flare, combined with hot days and nights it's a bad combination. But so pleased your rheumy team acted swiftly as you deserve and hope so much that the depo brings rapid relief.

I seem to remember you are from Palmers Green (my birthplace!), which hospital do you attend?

Take care and remember to rest well with a fan on nearby, I'm finding that helps a lot at the moment,
Love Liz
xx

[quote=m_nanasbaum I am putting my swollen knockles under the cold tap.

Merete[/quote]

Back in 1985, when I was hospitalised, my Rheumy team gave me bowls of ice to put my hands and feet in. I could withstand hands in ice but not feet! Not sure they still do this?

Dear friends,

Thank you for all your replies, it is so good to find people, who understand the ups and downs of RA.

Sorry I have not been much of a contributor this year, but I have still been looking in every week to follow you all. It has been a bit of a rough year. My brother became ill with incurable cancer in january and died 4th april (easter sunday). As all my family lives in Denmark including my 101 year old mother, we went over the third week of march and managed to see him a few times in the hospice, where he was the last 14 days of his life. We ended up staying in Denmark for 5 weeks to look after my mother, who still lives in her own home. (She does not want to live in a nursing home), so we had a lot of arranging to do to organize extra help for her, now her son is not there anymore. I can tell you, it was quite a nightmare.

Yes, Liz, I live in Palmers Green. You have a good memory. I am under Chase Farm Hospital, an old rather decrepit looking hospital, but they have been absolutely wonderful with me ever since I was diagnosed 18 years ago. Everybody from the receptionists to the nurses and the doctors are very friendly. It`s a bit like I can imagine a little cottage hospital would be, and not what it is a fairly large London Hospital.

Jean, thank you for having missed my small inputs. I have a feeling, we are more or less on the same level of RA and the same medicine. MTX, predniselone and Hydrx...They are now considering me for Humira, and making an appointment for a DAS score. I have had it before, but somehow the points that they press don`t seem to hurt on me.

Merete

I have a similar experience to yours. I think my local NHS rheumatology team are great, everyone I have seen (I remember I had 12 appointments in the month I was diagnosed), including the consultant, the DAS nurse, anti-TNF nurse, phlebotomists, physiotherapists, electrophysiologists (for my carpal tunnel syndrome), orthoptic department, occupational therapy, receptionists, the lot, they are all are fantastic. Dare I go political and hope this government doesn't do too much damage to the NHS?

Good to hear your having excellant treatment, I hope your on the mend now.I think we all know the agony you are going through,hope its over soon Take care Rosexx